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| Fumino Kimura in Mother Game |
You all know how much I’ve been wishing for a good, starring role to showcase awesome actress Fumino Kimura’s talents, and it looks like in the new drama “Mother Game”, I’ve FINALLY found it!
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| Kimura Fumino as Kiko and Yamamoto Ayumu as Haruto |
Fumino stars as Kiko Kanbara, a sweet, kindhearted and yet totally rough-around-the edges young mother struggling to bring up her son as a single parent. She makes her meager allowance by working at her Bento shop, so she doesn't have much in the way of funds to get her child Haruto to a good school. By chance she crosses paths with the headmaster of an elite Kindergarten Class for the upper crust (Muroi Shigeru), who takes a liking to Kiko and invites her to join her exclusive school.
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| Chance Meeting with Headmaster (Muroi Shigeru) |
From the get go Kiko knows she is totally out of place, and she quickly finds that there are rigid customs and unspoken regulations to apply, and not just as far as the school is concerned- seems the school is “run” by three specific Mothers who are the ones really calling the shots. From the get-go Kiko is at odds with them, but her no-nonsense nature helps her persevere, and when the chips come down, she may be JUST what this uptight school needs!
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| What a School! |
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| A Fish Out Of Water Situation |
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| "Hey I Know You!" Cheers Kiko. "Shh!" Hisses Yuki |
Kiko comes across an old acquaintance she knew from school named Kamiya Yuki, who is mortified to see her here. Yuki's been playing the life of an elite for years, and fears Kiko’s easygoing attitude will “show her up”. Yuki is brilliantly played by Shihori Kanjiya, who totally nails the wannabe socialite- rich looking on top, but wholly common underneath! As someone who’s had to deal with the ways of the school for awhile, she fears for what Kiko will have to go through with the “leading ladies”.
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| Shihori Kanjoya as Kamiya Yuki |
The three “Big Bad Mothers” at the top of the hierarchy are also well played three very pretty actresses who really know how to play up the beeyotch image, and they are:
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| Hasegawa Kyoko as Yano Satoko |
Hasegawa Kyoko plays Satoko Yano, the mother who is the first one Kiko meets. Though she extends the hand of friendship, it is clear that this woman is anything BUT a friend!
We find out that her personal life is so soul crushing that she cannot help but take it out on Kiko.
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| Adachi Yumi as Goto Midori |
Goto Midori is a bitter jet-setter in a cold relationship with her husband. She is the first to come right out to Kiko and tell her she won’t be accepted into the fold, by either her or the other ladies ! Midori is played by none other than Yumi Adachi, a sexy woman I still can't NOT think of as that cute little kid from back in the day! Maybe this show will change my mind!
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| Dan Rei as Odadera Marie |
And as the “grand poobah” of Parenting we have the glamourous Dan Rei as the stunning and intimidating Odadera Marie. Such a turn from the gentle and vulnerable person she played in “Utsukushii Rinjo”, this is one cool character, the one whom rarely speaks the one whom everyone follows and ALWAYS agree with!
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| Odadera Doesn't Know What to Make of this Kanbara Woman |
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| Family: Kiko, Haruto and Grandpa (Ryu Raita) |
At home, Kiko's family is comprised of herself, her son Haruto, and Grandpa Ryu Raita. Such a nice family, you really want to see good things happen with them- it helps that the boy is really likeable, too- readers of this blog know how much I generally dislike kids in dramas, but Haruto is such a good boy, can’t help but smile!
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| Helping an Old Lady pick up her change |
Man, I’m really loving this show so far- it makes SUCH good use of Fumino Kimura’s talents- her expressive face, exaggerated reactions and loveable demeanor are all utilized here for maximum effect! Yeah, this is the same girl I fell in love with in “Henshin Interviewer No Yuutsu”, but now she is so much more!!!!
