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!

Sleepless Nights with Bakarhythm's "Non-REM no Mado"

Bakarhythm in Non-REM no Mado

 As someone who absolutely LOVES the works of off-kilter madman BAKARHYTHM and his wonderfully imaginative stories, set-ups and scenarios, when I found out he has a series of thought-provoking shorts called “Non-REM no Mado”, I knew I just HAD to check it out!

Starting off as a sort of “Twilight Zone” feeling show, the series slowly became more of a take on societal niceties, fun observations and funny gags, becoming more Jerry Seinfeld than Rod Serling!

At first, Non REM no Mado started off slow and seemed more like throwaway ideas left over from his dramas, (at least in my opinion) but by the third installment, it really seemed to pick up and become wildly fun to watch! Some I even now regard as full blown faves!

Hosted by Bakarhythm in his always stoic persona (think the dude in the white room purgatory in Brush Up Life and you get the idea), along with an abstractly dismembered Yuki Saito as his companion, they introduce each segment and talk about it afterwards, making for nice ‘bookends” to each chapter!

 

Just got finished wrapping 'em all up and thought I'd break the series down for anyone interested in checking it out! The synopses of the chapters and the guests appearing in them (of which there are MANY!) follow: 

Spring 2022 Special

"Our Love"

Kazama stars as a two-timing guy who wakes up one morning to find that his cheating heart has split him into two separate beings! Now free to date each woman exclusively, his life should be a breeze…or is it just inviting MORE problems?

Shunsuke Kazama

"Cancellation Game"

A man trying to cancel a subscription contract online find out just how difficult companies make it for someone to end their service, with hard-to follow instructions, hidden buttons and forms, til one is about to lose their minds! 

For those who have actually tried to cancel a subscription, you know that this is a scenario that is far too close to the mark to be funny!

Toru Nomaguchi

"Customize"

A young barista learning the ropes at a Starbucks-like cafe finds that there is a skill in learning and memorizing those agonizingly long customized orders of extra cream, low fat milk, two sugars, etc, and find there’s a status and art in it!

Mayu Matsuoka

Fall 2022 Special

"The Man from the Future"

Average guy discovers that he’s time-slipped back 3 years into the past, unfortunately, having lived a completely unremarkable life unaware of any real social events or advancements in science or technology around him, finds he has no way of using this power to his benefit!

Masataka Kubota

"Banned Terms"

Fumino as a Charismatic Newscaster who finds that in his current world of cancel-culture, easily offended parties and outrage baiters, it is becoming harder and harder to do her daily report without using words or phrases that might “set somebody off”. 

With Cancel Culture becoming a bigger and bigger thing nowadays, this is a very timely one!

Fumino Kimura

Yuno Ohara

 "I Want To Know The Password"

A game of cat-and-mouse between a housewife and her husband when, believing he is cheating on her, engages in a battle of wits with him as she tries to get into his phone, laptop, etc, for proof. But the savvy hubby is always one step ahead….

PS: MAN, Tae was so damn pretty in this chapter!

Tae Kimura

New Year’s Special 2023

"The Shelter Man"

Hilarious short of a schleppy guy who finds a fugitive at his doorstep, begging for cover from the police. Normally he would call the authorities right away, but she’s an absolute babe so he invites her in, with hopes of somehow getting it on with her. But will his sense of appearing gentlemanly to his beautiful guest dash his chances?

Disco Hoshino

Riho Yoshioka

"Proxy Society"

In a futuristic world where you can hire a proxy to stand -in for you at any event that makes you uncomfortable, Ryuta Sato is at the top of his game. His latest job is to stand in for a guy who wants to propose to his girlfriend for hand in marriage. But when the girlfriend sends in her OWN proxy, things can get a bit muddled!!

Ryuta Sato

"Making Friends as an Adult"

A short but sweet story of a woman who finds that as she approaches middle age, it gets harder and harder to make friends to do things with. When work and home connections fail, she must dabble in latest methods and fads in search of true friendship!

Also featuring Yu Kashii, whom I haven’t seen in forever!

Haruka Kinami

Yu Kashii

Summer 2023 Special

"Dilemma At Dusk"

A supermarket quandary we’ve all been in, where the line you choose to pay for your goods goes slowly while the other goes fast… and when you move to the faster lane, IT slows down and the line you left picks up. What is a customer to do! Yukiyoshi Ozawa as the frazzled customer and Kana Kita as the cashier. Really liked this one!!!

Yukiyoshi Ozawa

Kana Kita

 

"Can You Be My Oshi/Death?"

Kaho as a bored OL whose only happiness is supporting her Oshi in a local idol boy band. When her stan suddenly quits, she seeks a new idol to support, and eventually finds one...a clerk at the local convenience store she shops at!!

Kaho 

"For Those Who (Don't) Want To Get Ahead in Life"

Seto stars as a succesful entrepreneur who, after being chided by an attractive contemporary of his (Miori Takimoto) for being too “high falutin’”, attends a class which teaches one to lower self-goals and become a more “Down to earth” unachiever!

Koji Seto

Miori Takimoto

Winter 2023 Special

"Nozaki's-San's Dream"

A high-school girl (Mori) dreams of becoming a famous model, actress and singer when she graduates. In her eyes, she’s always had star quality and has never doubted success would be on the way. But while being complimented by a gushing classmate (Karin Ono), she senses that her peers may not have seen her in the same light! 

This chapter is PURE BAKARHYTHM, the dialog so zany, fast and quirky, it could have come straight out of Brush up Life, especially with the karaoke flashback scene! 

Nana Mori

Karin Ono

"Love Chart"

A middle aged Dad faces the nerve wracking ordeal of parenthood when his young daughter falls in love with a boy in school for the first time! Using her school journal as a guide, he tries to work out what’s happening in class while he’s at work!

Kenichi Takito

Yuno Nagao

"Death Game"

A down on his luck guy with nothing to lose (Okayama) enters a “Squid Game” like scenario where the winner wins millions-but to lose costs you your life! But unlike life or death dramas like Liar Game or Da Capo Shimasenka, THIS game is run by a couple who, though intimidating looking, appear to be novices to the whole death-game dealing thing and fumble right along with the would be contestants! HAHAHA, this one was freaking HILARIOUS!!!

Amane Okayama

Takumi Saito

Misako Renbutsu

That's it so far- Five Specials in the span of two years.... pretty good output! I’ve talked to friends about Bakarhythm’s awesome SUTEKINA SEN-TAXI series, and how we WISH he would make new seasons every year, and though he won’t be doing that any time soon (I would wager that Yutaka Takenouchi would be waaaay to busy to commit to THAT), it seems like we may count on more Non REM no Mado specials in the future!

PS: Also really love how Bakarythm continually uses actors and actresses from his previous series, Kaho, Haruka Kinami, etc,  even cute Yuno Nagao (who played young Ando Sakura in Brush Up Life) among others!

Will be waiting for MORE of this FUN series!!!