ZDORAMA, AGAIN: Crush Of The Day: Takizawa Saori

The Beautiful Saori Takizawa

If there’s one thing that watching “Anna San No Omame” has taught me (besides the fact that Becky is wacky beyond belief and Anzu Sayuri is Luv) is how awesome and UNDERRATED sexy and talented Takizawa Saori is! Like Itaya Yuka before her, she’s one of those actresses that seem to only be given these supporting cast roles, whether they be jilted ex-girlfriends of the male lead or older co-worker to the main girl, and I’ve always been waiting for her to get a starring role of her own…

As Yamashita Midori in SEIGI NO MIKATA (2008)

As Aki in SHIAWASE NI NARITAI (2005)

Though I’ve liked her ever since first seeing her as Yamashita, the highly acerbic co-worker of Yamada Yu in the brilliant SEIGI NO MIKATA, (correction: the first drama I saw her in was SHIAWASE NI NARITAI, though I didn’t know it was her at the time) it wasn’t until seeing her in MASSUGU NA OTOKO as Kanjiya Shihori’s boss Kumi that I realized how frickin’ GORGEOUS she was, and some of you may even remember my rant about her back here.

As Cute Morioka Kumi in MASSUGU NA OTOKO (2010)

As Ukita Natsuko in SCANDAL (2008)

Since then I’ve tried to keep my eye out for her, and I’ve seen her appearing again and again and AGAIN in these small supporting roles, from HIMITSU NO HANAZONO to SCANDAL to HONEY AND CLOVER, etc, but it was watching her in action on that wonderful aforementioned drama ANNA SAN NO OMAME that I just HAD to get up and do some proper GUSHING about her, she is SOOOOOOOO darn GOOD!

As Aki Kamino in ANNA SAN NO OMAME (2006)

Saori's role in Anna San No Omame is Aki Kamino, the dominatrix-ey head of a publishing house where Anna’s boyfriend Kyotaro works. She’s made a hobby of helping /tormenting the four “ikemen” guys working under her, barking out orders under whip and chain, and delights in giving Kyotaro crazy advice regarding Anna and her spastic friend Riri.

Oner of the funnier running gags is that Aki is one hot ‘n’ bothered older lady, and mixed in with her advice to Kyotaro are helpful suggestions regarding getting down with HER! Take for example these scenarios (subs by ZeeSees)...

Scenario One:

Kyotaro has trouble with Anna's friend Riri thinking he likes her. Kamino Shachoo tells him it's because of his own indecisiveness. She has a suggestion that should clear things up...

HAHAHA

Scenario Two:

Kyotaro's getting deeper in trouble dealing with the crazy Riri.

Kamino tells him it's because of his inexperience, and offers another solution...

LOL!

Then take this Third Scenario.

Kyotaro is worried because he wants to take Anna to a hotel on Christmas Eve and propose to her, but KNOWS that Riri will show up and spoil it. Again, Kamino shachoo has some advice to offer...

Ahahaha, these scenes are so FUNNY! I'm telling you, Saori Takizawa STOLE THE SHOW for ME, she was AWESOME!!! Funny, Sassy, Sexy and Positively Gorgeous, man, they could have made a drama just around these characters and I think it would have been a WINNER! I tell you, Aki Kamino is Saori Takizawa's masterpiece! Sadly, I’ve never seen her playing another character like this. Like I said, she seems to be the “Queen of Supporting Characters”, always playing the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Recently, I was watching an episode of the comedy drama MARUMO NO OKITE and was concerned because Saori playing one of those desperate older co-workers who’s vainly in love with the male lead…”Is this gonna be the kind of roles she’ll be playing 4eva?” I cried! I was a bit relieved to find that in the latest Kiritani Mirei drama JOTEI KAORUKO, she was playing a sexy rival hostess with a bad case of the meanies, which, though equally clichéd, at LEAST still portrayed her as a vibrant. gorgeous woman! Sigh.

As Makimura Kana in MARUMO NO OKITE (2011)

as Rei in JOTEI NO KAORUKO (2010)

You know, going back and rewatching some of Saori’s dramas so I could get screencaps of her really brought into focus how unappreciated she is- not only is she always a second tier character who’s simply there to fill in space, (usually just a member at the workplace or as a side-kick friend usually only seen at goukon-type parties) she’s also hardly given any solo screen-time! It was SO FRICKING HARD trying to find scenes where she was the only person onscreen! I mean, take these scenes from drams like PRIDE and GUILTY AKUMA TO KEIYAKUSHITA- they’re pretty blurry and grainy- that’s because shots of her ALONE onscreen are so hard to come by, and when they are, it’s like for only a second!