Executive Crush Status: Misato Tanaka

The Lovely Misato Tanaka

 Received the happiest surprise of my life watching the last story arc of the surreal sci-fi drama FACE-MAKER when who should appear as the show’s final guest but possibly the BIGGEST and most BELOVED J-drama Crush I’ve EVER HAD, Miss Misato Tanaka! 
As the titular heroine in the 1997 NHK asadora AGRI, (the true story of a girl in the 1940's who grew up to become the first Permanent Wave Beauty Salon owner in Japan), Misato stole my heart from the moment she came onscreen, captivated it the entire time it was on the air, and I’ve NEVER gotten over her!

Misato Tanaka as Agri

with Eisuke (Nomura Mansai)

"What a Weird Fellow Eisuke is."

Proud Flower Arrangement Girl

 Anyway, back to my recent Misato sighting! So, this drama FACEMAKER told the tale of a rogue former US Witness Protection Plastic Surgeon who performed face alterations on the black market for clients whom he deemed sympathetic, and one of the great thrills of the show is wondering which pretty female star will be revealed as the customer's new "look" as they remove the bandages from their face: Ai Kato, Akiko Yada, Mina Fujii, Mayuko Iwasa, Megumi and even singer Ami Suzuki, these are all actresses whom have guested on the show as the new identity of the person in question, and I couldn’t wait to see who was going to be the reveal for the last story arc (episodes 12-13).
 A running sub-plot of Face-Maker is that the surgeon, Shun Kirishima, can’t remember his past, and the only memento he has retained from that life is a charred photo of him and his forgotten former love. Throughout the series, the woman’s face has always been obscured, but for the final story arc, her features were finally revealed, and HOLY CRAP! I just about leapt out of my seat when I saw who it was…MY BELOVED MISATO!!!!

I was beside myself- was she gonna be IN the last two episodes? Was she just going to remain a photo? Then all at once, the woman herself strode into the Facemaker's clinic, and I mean to tell you, she knocked me out- she is still so Goddamn Beautiful!!!! 

Not only was Misato to be a prominent character in the last story arc, she was given the role of the pivotal person of whom Shun Kirishima has obsessed over since his amnesia! Not only that, we find that this woman has been living her life as a Cabaclub Hostess, so I got to see her all duked out in the most seductive of dresses, the likes I'd never seen her wear before!

Ahhhn, because her roles are so far between and sporadic, it’s so heartening to see her still appearing in recent dramas and movies! You know, right after AGRI, Misato was actually in a bunch of shows, all of which I watched religiously! As I recall her first big drama post-Asadora was the Yutaka Takenouchi romantic drama “With Love”... 

For awhile there, this drama (of a man and woman who are acquaintances in real life, but don't know that they are actually best friends online), was my favorite show, but ehhhhhh, the show's mediocre ending was so disappointing, and in fact a lot of people wrote Misato off after that, and I didn’t see her in any more co-starring vehicles.

As Murakami "TeruTerubozu" Amane

Takenouchi Yutaka as Hasegawa

""Why is this guy everywhere I go?"

Uncomfortable Chatter...If only they knew!

Having a Real Talk

The next thing I saw her in was in part of a great ensemble cast (along with Shiina Kippei, Namase Katsuhisa and Megumi Toshiaki) in the extremely wacky (though altogether fun) bathhouse drama Oatsuki No Osuki?

As Kinako in Oatsui No Osuki?

Ensemble Cast

with Shiina Kippei, Megumi Toshiaki and Namase Katsuhisa

 I loved seeing Misato in this cute slapstick role (as a kansai-ben loudmouth tomboy, LOL) and noted that I'd love just about ANYTHING this girl played...But after Oatsui No Osuki, I began to see her in only smaller, bit roles, and before I knew it, I wasn't seeing her in anything! She DID get to play the awesome role of Lady Oichi in Toshie and Matsu, though, that was cool!
Ah my Beloved Misato, so good to see your beautiful face again!!! Would that I could have MORE of these surprises! Seems not that long ago, but looking at it, it’s been over 18 years since she stole my heart as Agri in that same-named NHK asadora. I’ve always firmly claimed AGRI as my absolute favorite J-drama of all time, and always will, (of course this is obvious when you notice that the Zdorama Blog Banner I’ve always used above features Misato Tanaka as Agri in it!) and Misato Tanaka will always be regarded in my book as one of the top three (along with Takako Tokiwa and Tomoko Yamaguchi) Dai-Crushes of all TIME!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com