Favorite J-Pop Singles: Yoshino Kimura: “Iruka no Natsu”

As we go into season two of the lively buddy cop comedy drama “No Activity2” and are reunited with Yoshino Kimura as the brash and outspoken Police Dispatcher Satomi Misato, I thought it might be fun to harken back to 1998 and reminisce when Yoshino was moonlighting as a sweet, singing IDOL, and on Pony Canyon, no less!

Though her vocal career was brief, one of her songs really caught my ear and became one of my favorite songs of that summer: The song was “Iruka no Natsu” (Dolphin Summer), and I might have missed it altogether if not for my friend Golden, who included it in one of his many J-pop mixes! With its' jangly guitars and solid backbeat, it instantly captivated, and my first thought was, “EHH? That chick from Riso No Joshi can SING????” 

Yep, up until that point I’d only known her from acting in "The Ideal Boss" with Yuriko Ishida and Yasuko Matsuyuki (and Kyozo Nagatsuka as the titular boss), color me impressed when I found that she was a capable singer, belting out a tune that I had to grab for myself!

I had no idea where this song came from or what it was promoting, watching this youtube upload of the Iruka no Natsu MV, seems it was the CM song for some Instant Cream Spaghetti mix, huh, who knew?!

From here Yoshino would go on to star in dramas like "Over Time" and "(Not so) Perfect Love", among others, assuring her ascent into superstardom!

Secret Makeover~ "Maruhi no Mitsuko-San"

Haruka Fukuhara as the titular Mitsuko

 Just caught the first episode of the highly entertaining “Maruhi no Mitsuko-san”, the tale of an almost magical (think Mary Poppins) woman named Mitsuko Motomiya who specializes in the most extreme of makeovers!

Our Story: Yasuko Matsuyuki is Natsu Imai, a meek and unassuming caretaking tending to a business tycoon named Kenichi Kujo (Satoshi Jinbo) who was hurt in a fire.
His wife and children are all waiting for him to die on so they can inherit the business for their own selfish whims, and so none are particularly surprised when Kenichi mysteriously passes away.

They say Kenichi died due to his fire injuries, but caretaker Natsu swears he was getting better every day. Nonetheless, she is the only one grieving at his passing, seemingly the only one who cared about him at the end…and nothing proves this more when, at the reading of the will, she is the one to inherit the entirety of the company’s shares!
Mother Miki (Makiko Watanabe), son Haruto (Shuhei Uesugi), daughter Reika (Sara Shida) and Matriarch Isuzu (Rumiko Koyanagi) are all up in arms over the situation but feel they can easily manipulate the naive and easily bullied Imai into turning over the shares…enter Mitsuko Motomiya!

The mysterious Mitsuko arrives at the Imai household on the evening after Kujo’s will-reading, and though Imai’s children Tomo (Hiroya Shimizu) and Aya (Sakura Kiryu) are wary of this suspicious woman, Motomiya shows credentials showing she was hired by the recently departed Kujo to help Imai in her time of need.

It seems that while he was still alive, Kujo had intended to use his business and influence to build a city that focused on family care and closeness, and, with his future in question, had used his will to place his dreams on the only one who seemed to understand him-Natsu Imai.

The next day Natsu is summoned to the Kujo mansion where the unscrupulous family clearly intend to bilk her out of her inheritance by taking advantage of her naivety and trusting nature.

But they had not reckoned on Motomiya being there!

With a cool understanding of what's at stake and the game they're playing, Motomiya shuts down the proceedings and suggests they withdraw for the time being so everyone can have time to reevaluate their choices. The family's plans have been thwarted!

The shy and mousey Natsu cannot comprehend this ruthless world of business politics, but Motomiya assures her that she has the strength within her to push back if she really wants it. Does she want to take up the fight against the cruel family and create the dream Kujo dreamed of, or give in and let them have their way?

In the end, the decision comes down to Imai herself and she finally decides that YES, she wants to try, and with that a deal is made and Motomiya prepares an extreme makeover that will change her for good!

With seemingly magical flourishes, Mitsuko transforms the dull and drab Natsu into a vibrant, svelte looking business-woman, one whom looks ready to stand up to the power of the Kujo family and cut through their twisted desires and all their tricks.

On the day the company is about to choose its next President, the vote is interrupted by a new challenger- Natsu Imai herself! With a shaky but newfound resolve, she nominates herself as the next potential candidate for company president...while the family gawks in surprise! Is THIS the mousey caretaker they once knew?

Whether or not she can ultimately succeed is yet to be seen, but with the backing of the smart and savvy Mitsuko Motomiya behind her, it seems there's nothing she won't be able accomplish!

Mitsuko Motomiya is an enigma all her own. Positive, upbeat and completely in control of the situation, on her own, we see a different side of the peppy and spritely girl…one of bitter coldness and cutthroat methods of getting what she wants.

Where does this woman ACTUALLY come from, and what is her REAL agenda??? Only time will tell!!

WELL, this is a new kind of role for Haruka Fukuhara, for SURE! Someone always bubbling with sweetness, even when she is playing a character who becomes a betrayer (like in Hoshi Kara Kita Anata), she still conveyed cuteness, her role as Mitsuko Motomiya, however, is truly creepy even when she is smiling sweetly, you KNOW she's got some other motive in mind!

 Should be an interesting show!