I acquired the zany Naohito Fujiki comedy drama GALCIR awhile ago, but at the time I’d just finished watching Kou Kou Kyoushi and though I know there are many of you out there that like that drama, I just wasn’t in the mood for more Fujiki after that, so onto the shelf Galcir went.
It might have remained forgotten there if not for my current love of Iwasa Mayuko. While perusing her data sheet on dramawiki, I saw GALCIR listed, and thought, “Hey! I have that drama!” So I dug it up, and I am so very happy I did! Starring Fujiki as a spacey Japanese Cowboy who shows up in Shibuya to help the population of para-para dancing street-wise young ladies solve their problems, this show was REALLY a SCREAM!
Besides being hilarious as heck and sporting one of the catchiest ending credits ever (just can’t stop smiling whenever it comes on!), the show naturally featured a WHOLE BEVY of beautiful young actresses both whom I’d seen in other dramas and some who I’m seeing for the very first time!
After seeing Mayuko in Deep Love and Mei-Chan No Shitsuji, it was quite a switch to see her playing the sexy and sassy Rika, the tuff but amicable ganguro who’s singing and dancing in all her scenes! I just loved seeing her in such flowery girlish dresses, complete with suede boots and bleached-out hair done up in jewels and ribbons!
Actress Suzuki Emi, who will forever be burned in my heart as uber-babe Kisakura Karen in that wacky Jin Akanishi drama YUKAN CLUB, is here as Remi, queen of the Shibuya gal groups and reigning leader of the gal circle ANGEL HEARTS. Already striking with her tall posture, her appearance gets an added oomph by have Remi wearing the shortest cutoff shorts allowed on prime time TV!!
Another old love making an appearance on this show is Aragaki Yui, whom I’d fallen in love with back in DRAGON ZAKURA as her kogal-ish turn as Yoshino. Strangely enough, her performance of Nagisa is a more "tomboyish" take of a Kogal than the very girly one she played in Zakura!
Satsukawa Aimi is another one that looks almost unrecognizable to me because the last character I saw her play (that of persecuted Kiyomi in Funuke Domo Show Sme Love You Losers) was such an introverted and mousey girl- here, (though she’s still a bit meek) is a brighter and decidedly sunnier girl!
One of the girls that I’m seeing for the very first time is cutie Nishida Natsumi. Her portrayal of third-in-command Angel Heart Ran reminded me an awful lot of Nozomi Sasaki, and I actually had to check the dramawiki stats to make sure that it wasn’t her!
aguchi Mari plays Yurika, the Angel Heart that, at 23 is considered the “granny” of the group is a feisty bundle of pure energy, and as anyone who has seen old Morning Musume in their prime know, this is PURE MARIPPE unleashed! Really, this character couldn’t be any more similar to our beloved “Shorty” of the group!
And then we come to Toda Erika. Though Galcir is more or less an episodic drama where each episode focuses on a different girl’s trouble, this show is clearly hers. As klutzy but determined Saki, she is the girl that holds the group together and is the thread that ties that wacky Cowboy into the Angel Hearts and their problems. Watching Ms Toda in action has made me remember just how fun and sexy she really is! Though I began watching this show for Mayuko Iwasa, GALCIR has instead re-ignited my fire for Erika-chan!!! In fact, there are even MORE Erika Toda gushings coming in the next few posts!
Another added bonus is that just like MASSUGU NA OTOKO, the show once again features appearances by both Kamiwaki Yuu AND Miura Rieko! Kamiwaki’s role in the Angel Hearts is more or less a “face in the crowd” one…
But Rieko’s one is an entirely different role, where she plays the neighborhood’s “dorky” lady, and Rieko’s beauty is hidden behind glasses and pinned back hair! Whenever she’s in the scene, the old men always yell at her, “What are you doing here, ugly?!” Ah…but is she hiding something from them all…? Too Funny!
Right about now Galcir is really as good as it gets... A drama chock-full of beautiful actresses featuring stories with ridiculous comedy balanced out by dramatic situations with heartfelt solutions, GALCIR is a one of a kind hit! 
