A Haruka Kinami Update...

Upon reaching episode 5 of the new "BOSS2" Detective Drama I finally got to see exactly which character Haruka "Murasaki" Kinami is playing. I was a bit in the dark since her Dramawiki info led me to believe she was a recurring character in the show, but listed no name (at the time) for her part.

Well, seems Haruka is indeed playing a recurring character, a waitress who works at the restaurant/bar that the detectives frequent (i.e: have their goukons, LOL) and who seems to be developing a sympathetic interest in Tamayama "Linda" Tetsuji's character Katagiri. Hope this develops into an actual story here in upcoming episodes!

Crush Of The Day: Kinami Haruka

Haruka Kinami as Murasaki in Yuusha Yoshihiko to Maou No Shiro

Just finished watching episode 6 of the hilarious sci/fi comedy drama Yuusha and it’s a fact, I SO have a crush on cutie Haruka Kinami right now! Yeah, I know she's not really the "Raving Beauty" type I usually gush about, but from the very first episode of the show, Kinami’s “Murasaki” character’s been stealing the show in every scene she’s in with her brash, unfeminine  and sassy attitude, and it’s finally reached to point where she’s my main reason to watch!

"...TEME!" Warrior Girl

"WTF?" Thinks Murasaki as she samples Merebu's latest spell

 I just love everything about her! I love her costume that resembles a wood elf. I love her cape that looks like a flowery child’s blanket and the stuffed yellow bird affixed to her left shoulder. But more than anything else, I love the biting and sarcastic remarks that flow effortlessly from her mouth whenever she’s putting down those around her, whether they be friends, allies or foes!

"...and then I was all like this..."

Picture Perfect!

Funny, this vitriolic character of hers is a far cry from the first time I ever saw her in the humdrum yawner Sunao Ni Naritakute as the chipper little sister of Hero Jaejoong, but even then I remember loving the scenes she was in and telling Car “The little sister is such a happy cutie!”

Above and below: with Hero Jaejoong in Sunao Ni Naritakute

Little sister getting scolded for shoplifting

At the time Haruka seemed to be channeling a sort of “Shida Mirai” image, cute and squeaky clean, more telling was her later role as troubled and introverted Akane in the haunting Matsuyama Kenichi thriller "Zeni Geba" which really showed a darker side of her.

as Akane in Zeni Geba

with Matsuyama Kenichi in Zeni Geba

Since my Haruka Kinami obsession went into effect, I've been faithfully watching Zeni Geba , and I'm looking forward to her appearance in the popular BOSS2 drama as well! Lucky there's so many other things I can see her in while I wait for more episodes of Yuusha Yoshihiko to Maou No Shiro to come out!

Below: one of my favorite scenes which perfectly captures the dual tuff and cutesy image of Murasaki.  In an attempt to have a Celestial Maiden (played by curvy Eiko Koike) cooperate with them, Murasaki adopts a spritely persona, inviting her to come BBQ with them, but when the Maiden calls her "Flat Chested", her "yankee" image comes out in full force! LOL

The Wonder of Nakamura Shizuka

Nakamura Shizuka in Yuusha Yoshihiko to Maou No Shiro

Was treated to a wonderful guest appearance by cute actress Nakamura Shizuka in the latest episode of Yuusha Yoshiko to Maou no Shiro as a nurse who falls in love with Yoshihiko while nursing him through a sword wound. Now, the joke of the show is that Yoshihiko falls head over heels for her and wants to abandon his quest not for any kind of true love, but rather, he states, because "I love Big Boobs!" LOL.

Yamada Takayuki and Nakamura Shizuka

While that was a hilarious twist in the show, it hadn't struck me that Shizuka was overly blessed in the upper area (probably due to the ill-fitting and loose kimono she was wearing), but Car told me she'd read that Shizuka was cast as the nurse primarily BECAUSE she was big-breasted! This took me for a loop, for I'd seen her before in several dramas (including both Seigi No Mikata and Mioka), and not once did I notice that she was amply endowed! And yet she was FAMOUS for it? Huh! A search was in order!

with Shida Mirai and Shimura Rena in Seigi No Mikata

with Mizusawa Elena in MIOKA

Going online, I found a few gravure videos she'd released, and after getting my hands on those and checking them out, I have to state for the record, "Holy Crap, Nakamura Shizuka's got some BIG Ol' Chi-Chi's!!!! Let me elaborate with these screencaps I made that clearly tell the tale...

 You know, when I'd see Shizuka in shows before, her features always  reminded me of a very young Eriko Sato, and now there's just one more reason to think so! Okay, TWO more reasons, LOL...

Narumi Riko eating Pizza

Yuusha Yoshihiko to Maou no Shiro

 While I wait/pray impatiently for latest episodes of "Arakawa Under The Bridge" to be released (and get translated) I've been biding my time checking out the equally wacky Yuusha Yoshihiko to Maou no Shiro drama starring Yamada Takayuki as the titular "Hero" Yoshihiko on a magical Dungeons and Dragons-ish quest to rid the world of the evil forces of MAOU in a self titled "Low Budget Action-Adventure Story"!

Takuma Shin, Kinami Haruka, Muro Tsuyoshi, Yamada Takayuki

Low Budget Kaijyu!

Like Arakawa Under The Bridge, the show is heavily steeped in sparkling fantasy, featuring a bevy of colorfully costumed characters whose magical kingdom seems to be integrated into the "modern" world... I mean, where else are you gong to have Nomads who'll instantly stop trying to kill you once the whistle blows and it's time to quit work for the day, revenge-seeking killers armed with plastic toy daggers, or a Mystical Budhha who can only be seen by the hero of the show if he's wearing crude 3-D glasses? LOL!

Takuma Shin, Kinami Haruka, Yamada Takayuki, Muro Tsuyoshi

Besides all of this, it wouldn't be me if I didn't mention the cute babes in this show, and Yuusha Yoshihiko features two of them in pretty Azusa Okamoto (totally reminding me of Emi Takei here) and Kinami Haruka, the latter of whom is practically stealing the show with her sassy "I don't give a Crap" attitude! 

Yamada Takayuki with Okamoto Azusa

Kinami Haruka as Murasaki

To top things off, the show is wrapped up with two wonderful song themes, the ending "Aishi Tsuzukerukara" sung by TEE and an absolutely kick-ass opening song  "Evo Revolution" by Mihimaru GT which I actually thought was Shakalabbits the first time I heard it, so exciting!

Right now I'm up to episode 3, but as it seems like there's only 4 episodes translated so far, I'll soon have a NEW dilemma: what to watch in the meantime while I'm waiting for new episodes of the show I'm watching in the meantime while I'm waiting for new episodes of Arakawa Under The Bridge? AHAHAHAHA

Kiritani Mirei Gets Hot 'n' Sweaty on Himitsu No Arashi!

Appearing on the Himitsu No Arashi-Chan "VIP Limousine" was Kiritani Mirei, there to promote her movie Ranhansha/Snowflake as well as her CD single/Photobook Sweet and Bitter, and I have to say that not only did she look as pretty as ever, I was pleasantly surprised to find what a fun and outgoing personality she had! Once she strutted onboard with Matsujun and Nino, she was immediately laughing it up with the boys!

I though she was lookin' mighty fine aboard the VIP Limousine, 

though my friend Car, who refused to be charmed by Mirei, stated, "She Looks Anorexic!"

As you all know, I haven't been too thrilled by the changes of format for my beloved Himitsu No Arashi Corners, but this episode really turned out to be a pretty fun one! The theme of the excursion was working up a good sweat, and they focussed on taking Mirei places where she could really let loose, starting with a Dance Studio where they were going to "Sweat to Zumba"!

Immedaitely hearing of thier task, Mirei burst out with a "That Sounds Like FUN!" and before you knew it, Mirei, Nino, Matsujun (and a few comedians thrown in for good measure) were having the time of their lives, totally letting it go, and sure enough, by the end of the dance, they were all dripping with sweat!

Nino, Matsujun and Mirei begin their aerobic workout for the day, and it was so cute watching her getting into it, though Car added, "She has no rhythm, and can't dance!" D'OH!

Dripping with Sweat after the workout, Mirei exclaimed ZUMBA...SUGOI!!!!

Thankfully, by the time they got to their next destination to have a bite to eat, they were all dry, clean and bright again, little did they know that THIS meal was a SUPER HOT CURRY dish that would get the trio all HOT and BURNING UP again!!!

It's Nino and Matsujun who are the brave ones downing huge pieces of red hot chili peppers, and what little of that hot stuff Mirei ate was more than she could handle herself, leading to a minor breakdown of sorts!!

Calling it quits!

Mirei's face went from a pleasurable dining experience to one of concern in only a matter of minutes, and she ended up coughing for the remainder of the meal! Poor Thing, though Car was quick to add, "Yeah, but Mirei really had it easy, the other week Yukina, Aiba and Sho had to eat a REALLY hot meal without water!" LOL

Thus ended the Trip of Perspiration for Mirei and the boys, and they wrapped it up by having her talk about  her awesome Shashinshuu/CD Single Sweet and Bitter as well as her movie, wrapping up what I considered an extremely entertaining episode!