Anata wo Ubatta Sono Hi Kara 終わり

The final episode of the Keiko Kitagawa child abduction revenge drama Anata wo Ubatta Sono Hi kara wrapped tonight, and, as expected, was full of gripping and emotional scenes from beginning to end! Anata Ubatte was my favorite drama this season (of the small handful I checked out), and it had me on the edge of my seat as the emotional story played out, keeping me guessing just what was going to happen next!

One thing this drama had going for it was a really really great cast, led by the amazing Nao Omori and Keiko Kitagawa as the parents pitted against each other for the loss of a daughter.

Sawa Niimura and Michitaka Tsutsui 

Ryohei Abe

Yukiko Koshikawa

Must mention newcomer Kasumi Isshiki who played the central daughter figure Mimi/Moeko, the aforementioned "abducted child" who was the heart that held the whole drama together.

Also must mention how great Yuna Taira was in this as the daughter Ririko. In my initial post I remarked that she was the one character who seemed to be unpredictable as she kept her true motivations close to her chest, and indeed, had one of the most pivotal arcs in the series.

I've loved Yuna for some time now, but was really impressed with her acting in this one!

While the Dan Rei Drama "Youkami No Semi" remains my favorite in the kidnapped/abducted child genre, Anata wo Ubatta Sono Hi kara was a compelling show in its own right, and is certainly another one of Keiko Kitagawa's finer efforts!

Looking forward to Keiko's upcoming film "Night Flower"!

Mr. Mom: Papa ga Mo Ichido Koi wo Shita

Papa ga Mo Ichido Koi wo Shita tells the tale of a businessman named 

Goro Yamashita (Yukiyoshi Ozawa) was a busy salaryman with an adoring wife named Taeko (Manami Honjo) and a precocious daughter named Tomo (Riko Fukumoto).

 But when Taeko passes away, it leaves husband Goro in a state of malaise, making him lose his job and lock himself up in his room.

His daughter and father try to support him best they can, but things aren’t looking too bright unless he can get out of his funk.

It’s then that a chubby old man (Muga Tsukaji) enters their life and begins taking care of the household!

 Goro and Tomo don’t know what to make of this man as he busies himself in their house- but are stunned when he announces that he is Taeko…reborn as a man!!!

Father and daughter naturally don’t believe a word of this, and the man is repeatedly tossed out of the house!

They try to keep him at bay with his repeated attempts to re-enter their lives, but whether or not this man is really the deceased Taeko reincarnated, one thing is clear- this torn family needs HELP, and it looks like HE’S the only one who can bring it!

Hahaha, Papa ga Mo Ichido Koi wo Shita is one of those wacky shows you can watch when you just want something lightweight and fun to pass the time…

PS: With a show full of young stars like this one, I am keenly aware to take notice of them since some of them may go on to become huge favorites of mine in some 6 or 7 years from now, including not only Riko Fukumoto, but also the actors who play her school pals like Serina Niimi,  Sawa Nimura and Jiei Wakabayashi…

 as well as her co-workers like pretty Haruka!

Always gotta remember that the kids of today are the stars of tomorrow!!!