Catching Up With Yuriko Yoshitaka

 While compiling my "Favorite Actresses" list, I noticed that there was a Yuriko Yoshitaka drama I had somehow missed from a few years back, the criminal justice drama "Seigi No Se" which had already long been subtitled and ready to grab!

Starring Yoshitaka as a novice prosecutor named Ririko Takemura, this show reminded me not just a little of the Takuya Kimura series "Hero" and in fact the sets look almost identical!

But whereas Kimura's character was a confident, eccentric genius, Yoshitaka's Takemura is a bit more flawed: she doesn't have all the answers and is frequently frustrated when her emotions get the better of her! But her heart is true and she tackles her cases with compassion and care, and you find yourself silently rooting for her!

Yasuda Ken makes a nice mentor to the frazzled Takemura and I think they have great chemistry together working the cases...such fun seeing them in action!

And a nice bonus is seeing adorable Alice Hirose as Yoshitaka's little sister Haruko whenever Ririko goes home to her quirky and always entertaining family!

 Not sure about Shohei Miura's character. In all these shows, there's a "heavy" character that is condescending to the main character (think Iura Arata to Satomi Ishihara in Unnatural) But Miura's character just doesn't have that weight to be a proper "foil" to Yoshitaka...Is he supposed to be a love interest?

Still, entirely enjoying this one and I must confess to even shedding a tear here and there! Yoshitaka is so charismatic and wonderful in this show... I absolutely LOVE this drama!!

Posted by zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

The Tao Of "Tootsie"

Takuro Ohno in Babysitter Gin!

Masahiro Matsuoka reprising his role in Kaseifu No Mitazono

I don’t know WHAT it is with these housekeeper dramas lately, but with Takuro Ohno’s BABYSITTER GIN! currently airing and TOKIO’s Masahiro Matsuoka’s “KASEIFU NO MITAZONO” entering its third(!) season, I think it’s safe to say that men crossdressing as women in domestic roles are all the current rage!

Matsuoka’s role of Kaoru Mitazono seems more along the lines of TOOTSIE or MRS DOUBTFIRE where everyone thinks of her as a woman, albeit a very BIG and rather masculine woman…

…whereas Ohno’s Gin Shimochiai seems to be more of a guy dressed up and playing the role of a Mary Poppins clone. Actually, after re-watching the first episode, not sure if anyone is supposed to realize he’s a dude since they don’t recognize him when he takes off the costume and makeup…

So far, BOTH shows are FUN and interesting, with a slight edge to Kaseifu No Mitazono though I was sad to find that Fumika Shimizu had left the series after Season One,she was one of my favorite characters! Her role was replaced by Ayame Gouiriki in Season Two and here in Season three by Inou Kei and cutie Rina Kawaie: 

Shimochiai’s character is a lot more spritely than the dour Mitazono which is a plus, but Babysitter Gin deals with (naturally) babies, who are screeching and crying seemingly throughout the entire show, a situation I just CANNOT abide!)

One thing: the lovely Anne Suzuki was in Babysitter Gin!!! Oh my GOSH I haven’t seen her since 1997’s “Aoitori” when she was a mere teenager! She’s all grown up now! 

and LOOK, J-Drama Deja Vu is alive and well in J-dramas-not only did Shimochiai Gin visit The Koi Ga Heta Apartment:

but also That Urban Apartment as well!

Where will they appear NEXT?

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com