Riko Narumi and The 9 Lovers

Riko Narumi as Kumi

Kumi Kanda is having a bit of a problem with her love life! Things started off fine when she was first being wooed by Kaze Matsukichi,(Funakoshi Eiichiro) a successful TV producer working in the building where she worked as a receptionist, and despite his older age, they soon hit it off and spent a wonderful 5 months together.

Eiichiro Funakoshi as Kaze

But it all came crashing down around her when Kumi found that Kaze, her so-called perfect guy, was a MARRIED MAN! It’s at this point that one would normally break it off, but as Kumi explains to the audience, she is the type who will continue on with a relationship even if it means having an affair because she feels her love is too strong, and thus is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Her friends Honoka (Yuriko Nitta) and Ayano (Hinako Sano) are quite frank about the situation Kumi’s gotten herself into, telling her she should forget the louse and move on. but she simply can’t. Despite their misgivings, these are friend that are always at her side, at least as close as you can get via cute and enthusiastic text messaging!

Hinako Sano as Ayano

Yuriko Nitta as Honoka

Then, out of the blue, Kumi gets a phone call from a mysterious woman who Kumi believes is Kaze’s wife. She wants to meet up, and Kumi spends the night in dread of what will happen. Will the wife sue her? Yell at her?  Or, in true drama fashion, throw a glass of water in her face? But when she meets up with her, Kumi is surprised to find an attractive and stylish woman named Kayo who is only friendly and cordial to her. 

Miki Mizuno as Kayo

Kumi bursts out in tears and begs the woman to forgive her for having an affair with her husband, and promises to never again go near Kaze, to which the amused woman states that not only is she NOT Kaze’s wife…but she’s another one of his lovers, just like Kumi!

 Kumi explodes with a “Ya Gotta be Kiddin’ Me!” and from there the two begin to argue, with Kayo saying she has years of relationship time with Kaze as opposed to Kumi’s 5 months, and Kumi retorts back that Kayo is just an old hag!

It’s then that another woman enters the picture and begins arguing with the mature Kayo-san. Her name is Miwa Yagami (Hitomi Sato), and after the two cool down and resume a more civilized tone, Kumi is stunned to find that THIS woman is a lover of Kaze’s, too!Kumi is FURTHER shocked when the two seasoned women casually tell her that besides the two of THEM, Kumi is actually the 9TH of Kaze’s lovers! 

Hitomi Sato as Miwa

"I'm one of NINE LOVERS????"

Wrapping her head around this news is hard for Kumi, and even harder to comprehend is the way these other lovers of Kaze’s are not only friendly with each other, but seem to regard each other as part of a group…and want HER to join in!

As the show progresses, we get to know not only Kumi and the women, butevern MORE of Kaze's lovers, including a sassy young thing named Shino Aiba (Reina Trendl, absolutely adorable here) who is an actress hired for the company’s latest project, and by the show’s end, Kaze even looks to be making the move on the pretty scriptwriter Natsuki Koyama (Megumi, a big fave of mine since like forever)!

Reina Trendl as Shino

Megumi as Natsuki

Such is the situation of these women in this highly captivating and seriously snazzy drama "Kuroi 10-nin Na Onna (Ten Dark Women)", sooooo much FUN, MAN, it’s been such a long time since i’ve seen Riko Narumi in anything and its a joy to see her in such a spirited show, but really, EVREYONE is pulling their weight here, each and every character is so much fun to watch! Such a wacky and spastic storyline, this show reminds me of the classic "Noises Off" in its' sheer screwball style, can't remember the las time I was so entertained!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com