Been watching the highly entertaining Ryuta Sato drama MASSUGU NA OTOKO, the story of a very “Tsuyoshi Kusanagi” type of guy named Matsushima Kenichiro who can’t help but help people in need, even at the expense of his own well-being. So far, the episodes have been great, and one of the things that makes this drama such an easy one to watch is the sheer abundance of GORGEOUS LOOKING WOMEN!
Starring the ever-precocious Fukada Kyoko as Sato’s primary nemesis/love interest Kurita Narumi (and looking entirely pinchable, I must add), it’s a fine return to the Kyoko I love: sassy, pretty and wholly dressed up the prettiest outfits! But the easy-on-the-eyes female cast doesn’t end there!
As Kurita’s struggling wannabe-actress roommate we have the luscious Sasaki Nozomi (whom I haven’t seen since her appearance as jet-setting hot-as-hell model REMI in “The Handsome Suit” movie) as Kayashima Yuki, Narumi’s friend in need, the only character who seems to know what she’s all about. As two Hottie Tokyo girls struttin’ their stuff, Kyoko and Nozomi really light up that screen!
Also along for the ride are the always affable Shihori Kanjiya and sultry Takizawa Saori as the friends of Sato and his co-workers. Though she had a cool demeanor in her recent Ryomaden appearance, Kanjiya’s portrayal of Yoshino, the girl who secretly likes Kenichiro, is the good ol’ buddy-type girl we’ve come to know and love from shows like LOVE SHUFFLE and BUZZER-BEAT.
Takizawa, on the other hand, is portraying a desperate cougar-type of lady, and she’s REALLY dialing up the ALLURE here! Quite a different persona from the hard-as-nails character Midori she played in SEIGI NO MIKATA! Whoo, look at this dolled up look here! My My, that’s nice!
Now, as a huge AAA fan, I’m quite ashamed to say that I didn’t recognize Misako Uno as Matsushima’s cute little sister Mina until the second episode!!! In my defense I have to say that she plays QUITE a different persona than I’ve been used to with her AAA gig. Where she seems very professional and leader-like in the group, in Massugu Na Otoko, she is this cheerful, chirpy (and slightly ditzy) girly-girl, a difference that I highly approve of!
And what made this show even BETTER was the appearance of two of my favorite Japanese personalities of yester-year; One of them being the still extremely adorable Miura Rieko as Matsushima’s Boss’s wife (as well as next-door neighbors), and it was SUCH a thrill to see Misako and Rieko sharing the same screentime together, almost like the gap of past j-pop goodness had been bridged! Both of them soooo cute!
I’m about halfway through this drama, and it doesn’t look like it will be boring me any time soon! With its the engaging stories, extremely likable lead (in Ryuta Sato) and the bevy of gorgeous ladies (I didn’t even get around to mentioning the bartender girl and secretary either!), this is ONE drama that I’ll be watching til the very end!!
