On My J-Drama Wish List

 WELL, if FujiTV wanted to get me interested in their upcoming show, there is probably no easier method of coercing me than using this promotional picture of Alice Hirose, which made me immediately leap up and begin clicking the links to see what new drama she was promoting!

Called "Zen Ryoiki Ijou Kaiketsu Shitsu", this seems to be an X-Files flavoured mystery/Detective drama series following two agents Miyabi Okitama (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and Koyume Amano (Alice) whose specialty seems to be investigating the macabre and the unknown.

Sounds like a really interesting show, however the focus seems to be on Fujiwara's character Miyabi as the one with the special gift into the paranormal cases, while this is cool, I really don't want to see Alice as the "reactionary" character, (i.e the clueless by-the-book person who is confused and addled by Fujiwara's unorthodox ways, only to be amazed when he proves himself correct), rather, I'd like to see a real 50/50 partnership with him. 

STILL, with Alice looking SO PRETTY here, we ALL know I'll be watching this no matter what...even if it doesn't get picked up by a subtitling team, I'll have to at least CHECK it OUT!

Zen Ryōiki Ijou Kaiketsu Shitsu starts October 9th.

My Yukiko Okada 7 Inch Singles Box Set Arrives!!!

Yukiko Okada 7" Box Set!

 My Yukiko Okada 7 Inch Singles Box Set Arrived today- JUST in time for her BIRTHDAY!! !As some of you know well, I am a HUGE fan of 80’s idol Princess Yukiko Okada, and over time have tried to get as many original goods of hers as I could, especially regarding her albums, CDs and Singles. Of her original 45 single output, I was happily able to get four of her releases, Little Princess, First Date, Love Fair and Kuchibiru Network, but had less luck getting any of her others…not for lack of trying!!!

My four Yukiko Okada 45's

And so it was that I LEAPT at the opportunity when Pony Canyon announced a special BOX SET of ALL her 7 inch Singles (including her final release “Hana no Image”) in their original sleeves, newly remastered and pressed on COLORED VINYL for each single, and housed in a beautiful slipcase box.

The set ran for 18000yen, which came out to about $123.00, a modest price to finally be able to own some of those singles I was missing, especially ones like “Summer Beach” which featured covers I absolutely LOVED  (Yukko so adorable!) but never came across it on auction sites!

The Singles:

First Date/Soyokaze wa Peppermint
Little Princess/ Koi No Doubles
Dreaming Girl/ Kimagure Teenage Love
Futari Dake no Ceremony/ Private Red
Summer Beach/ Hoshi to Yoru to Koibitotachi
Kanashii Yokan/ Koibitotachi no Calendar
Love Fair/Futari no Blue Train
Kuchibiru Network/Koi No Etude
Hana no Image/ Himitsu no Symphony

Now comes the REAL dilemma: I want to display All the singles on my shelf- but at the same time, I feel it should be secured snugly in its slipcase box! The box itself is a work of art itself, and should look fine as a CENTERPOINT to my Yukiko Okada collection, but MAN, some of those covers are so PRETTY to look at!!!

I See What U Did There: Fun with Wakana Matsumoto

Ganbare, Saionji-san!!!

The fun drama "Saionji-san wa Kaji wo Shinai" features the oft-used trope of the "Two People Who Don't Get Along Pretend to be a Couple", with Wakana Matsumoto and Hokuto Matsumura as the respective leads. We're at the point in the drama where Wakana's character (the titular Itsuki Saionji) is desperately fighting her romantic feelings for Kusumi, making it hard for them to work together!

Even working on her computer is a task when the one she's trying NOT to think about sits down right next to her! He still thinks their alliance is a mere transaction but she's slowly falling head over heels for him!

Over beers Itsuki laments to her friends Himari (Kayo Noro) and Yosuke (Takashi Tsukamoto) about her plight. "I cant get him out of my mind!" she sighs, and it's here they suggest she try blind dating to get her mind off Kusumi.

"Yes!!" Itsuki thinks- a new guy to forget about a guy!

WELL, we all knew this point in the drama where she falls for her fake partner was going to happen as ALL dramas using this chestnut have them, however I HAD to LAUGH when, after starting a matchup app and making a date, Itsuki hooks up with her blind date...

...and the guy playing her prospective new boyfriend turns out to be none other than actor Matsuya Onoe!

LOL, As some of you may remember, both he and Wakana were a married couple in the turbulent drama "Yangotonaki Ichizoku", only in THAT one, Wakana's personality was on a TOTALLY DIFFERENT level- Whereas Saionji-san is thoughtful, level headed and kind, Wakana's character of Mihoko Miyama was of a manipulative, selfish and scheming dragon woman, with vitriol aimed not only at poor Tao Tsuchiya, but also her schleppy husband Onoe as well!

So funny to see them in Saionji-San as these shy and nervous blind daters being oh so polite to each other! On the dog walk with Saionji, Onoe's character says, "We Seem Like  Good Match!", oblivious to the fact that in another reality, he was in the Marriage from HELL with her! HAHAHA!

Not that it matters, because after trying a few more of these blind dates, Saionji eventually gives up and admits to herself that she's in love with Kusumi anyway! And of COURSE, we know that Kusumi HIMSELF is secretly falling for HER, too! How THAT will all turn out you can pretty much guess, but I must say I've been really enjoying Saionji San so far nonetheless!

PS: Love these behind the scenes photos with Matsuya Onoe and Wakana, showing that despite how their characters may interact onscreen, how sweet the two really are with each other!

PPS: Must also say again how friggin' CUTE Wakana is here!

Trouble in Paradise: “Sky Castle”

Compelling drama about a series of rich Physicians' Families living in the fantastic affluent gated community  SKY CASTLE, who will do anything to further their own successes in both work and for the educational future of their children, even if it resorts to cutthroat tactics!

There is the Asami Family, composed of Husband Hideyo (Seiichi Tanabe), surgeon at the hospital, obsessively-driven daughter Ruri (Miu Arai), youngest daughter Maju (Noa Shiroyama), and the outspoken and calculating wife Sae, (Nao Matsushita).

There is the Nikaido family, with demanding husband Wataru (Kosuke Suzuki), apologetic wife Kyoko (Manami Higa) and smart but always lectured and berated son Sho (Fuga Shibazaki)...

…the gaudy and, truthfully, rather unrefined Natsume family, composed of unkempt doctor husband Ryutaro (Chikara Honda), the loud wife Misaki (Maryjun Takahashi) and their unassuming son Kensaku (Shion Matsufuji).

Above them all is the seemingly on-top-of the world Saejima Family. Husband Tetsuto Saejima (Jun Hashimoto) is next in line for a huge promotion at the Hospital he works at, and Wife Kaori (Naho Toda) has secured a deal with a genius tutor who has just helped their son Haruto (Riku Ohnishi) pass the college entrance exam with flying colors!

They are the envy of all the others in the neighborhood, and it looks like there is nowhere to go but up for them…so it is a real SHOCK to everyone when, one evening Mother Kaori climbs to the top of the highest tower in town- and LEAPS to her DEATH!

This rocks the community and leaves everyone unsure of what is  happening around them. Following Kaori’s death, Husband Tetsuto finds he has lost his promotion at the hospital and abruptly, he and his son pack up and leave.  What on earth has occurred here?

The families don’t have time to think, however, for in no time, a new family has moved in the the unoccupied house, and these are the Minamisawas. Unlike the other wives, wife Izumi (Fumino Kimura) is a down-to-earth sort, more comfortable digging in her garden than rubbing elbows with the elite. Their son Aoba (Manato Sakamoto) is the highest-scored student at school, a real feat since he seems to have had no fancy tutor help and has achieved it all on his own!

. And as for Husband Kohei (Ryohei Otani), he’s the physician who has been hired to take the promotion slot meant for Tetsuto Saejima, much to the surprise of the other doctors!

 When wife Izumi goes to introduce herself to the neighbors, she is treated politely but curtly by the housewives, especially Sae, who makes it clear that she is the top hen in this neighborhood!

 Though her reaction is cordial, once she leaves, her disposition changes and hints at a past filled with some animosity towards those affluent wives of Sky Castle. What can their connection be?

And then there’s the mysterious genius Tutor Ayaka Kujo (Koyuki). Boasting a 100% success rate for her students, she doesn’t come cheap, and adheres to a cold and stringent method of teaching, but there is something about her that gives off a sinister vibe that one cannot put a finger on…

Gotta say that after only ONE episode, I am already HOOKED on this show- such GREAT characters and scenarios. Additionally, for anyone who’s seen dramas like “Mother Game”, you can always count on Fumino Kimura to shine as the”common” personality among the haughty and posturing socialites, and though her agenda is still not yet revealed, she’s already my favorite character and I can’t wait to see what unfolds!