Dr. Asura おわり

Wakana Matsumoto in "Dr. Asura"

 The “Medical Drama with the Genius Surgeon” is surely one of Japan’s most enduring and popular tropes and follow such an unwavering formula that many episodes could be interchanges between shows with nary a hitch!

Despite their similarities, there are some medical dramas which strike me as mundane-and others which dazzle me and keep me on the edge of my seat, and I’ve concluded that it all comes down to the charisma and passion of the actor/actress/team who are are playing the lead role(s). It’s THEY who are responsible for my interest and involvement with the stories, and so it was with Wakana Matsumoto as the titular character and the terrific ensemble cast in the highly entertaining DR. ASURA, which kept the show as a “must see” for me this season!

From its first episode all the way to its very intriguing last, this drama kept me thoroughly entertained, holding my breath through its intense operating sequences and wiping away the tears during some of its more touching and inspiring passages!! 

Wakana Matsumoto has moved WAY up on my list of favorite actresses, and I'll definitely be keeping a lookout for what projects she decides to do next!!

A Wild Showadoriginzahodo Bridge Appeared!

It was only a few months back that I learned the name of that ubiquitous 4-way overpass bridge ( identified by hamanosilence as the “Showadoriginzahodo Bridge”), and it's been popping up EVERYWHERE, like in a latter episode of the Toshiaki Karasawa drama "Private Banker"...

Karasawa, Anna Tsuchiya and Nankai Candies Shizu-chan visit the bridge

...as well as the latest episode of the riveting Keiko Kitagawa/Nao Omori child-abduction drama "Anata wo Ubatta Sono Hi Kara"!

Keiko Kitagawa and Nao Omori

Watching these scenes, I can really see the allure of shooting here- every angle has a terrific backdrop no matter WHICH direction! This is definitely a place I wanna visit if I EVER do get to Japan- who knows, I may even see them shooting yet another drama scene there!!

The Happy Housewife: Mikako Tabe in “Taigan no Kaji”

Continuing on with Mikako Tabe’s string of wholesome roles comes “Taigan no Kaji: Kore ga, Watashi no Ikiru Michi!” with Tabe as Shiho Murakami, a mother of a young child who decides to give up work and dedicate her life to being a fill-time housewife, while her husband Torao runs an eatery.

For those of us from the X Generation and earlier, this is probably no big deal, but in current times where both parents strive to pursue careers while also juggling childcare, the Murakamis' choice of living can seem almost controversial!

Indeed, Shiho gets looked down upon and criticized by the the other mothers around her, including her next door neighbor, the business-obsessed Reiko Nagano (Noriko Eguchi) who looks upon Shiho’s withdrawal from the work force as a sort of failing.

There are also those parents like the stand-offish Tatsuya Nakatani (Dean Fujoika) who, while also trying to raise his child while his wife is away on business, is highly critical of Shiho and her methods, believing his stringent way is the only way to raise a child.

Of course, this is Mikako Tabe we’re talking about, so naturally her kind heart and caring sensibilities shine through even the harshest judgements, and even her hardest detractors come to realize that being a stay at home housewife can be as strong a choice as any prolific career!

talking it through with her neighbor (Misato Tanaka)

Funny how, whenever you see Mikako Tabe in any new drama, you can almost sense what kind of show it will be, she is like a female Jimmy Stewart or Tom Hanks where you know she will play an earnest character you will definitely like. Some of the most gentle dramas I’ve liked have starred her; Tsubaki Bunguten, Watashi no Kaseifu Nagisa-san, Ichiban Sukina Hana, all the way back to her sweet role of Sadako in “Kimi Ni Todoke”, she always charms, and this role of the kind Shiho is yet another fine one!

PS: If I thought it was surprising when I realized Morning Musume's Kusumi Koharu was the actress playing Hirona Yamazaki’s co-worker in the drama Jofu: Josei ni xxxxtte Hitsuyo Desuka, I was even MORE surprised to find out that the actress playing the gorgeous svelte wife of Dean Fujioka was none other than HIROKO SHIMABUKURO, she late of the popular 90’s group SPEED!

 Huh, had no IDEA she was acting, and to see her ALL grown UP was a particular shock! YES, as I've said often, time FLIES!!!

Below: LOL, the other wives' reaction when they see what a stunner Nakatani’s wife is couldn’t be any greater than if it was revealed that he was actually married to a member of SPEED, they’re THAT shocked!

Like Koharu Kusumi, I still think of Hiroko as a young girl in my mind, though she is five years older than Mikako Tabe and only four years younger than Noriko Eguchi!

Poisted by zdorama @zdoramaagain.blogspot.com