Adventures in Cuteness with Mio Imada and Shiba Inu

 Mio Imada continues to be the primary reason for me tuning in to Hanasaki Mai ga Damattenai each week, and this cute Shiba Inu moment with her and the lucky pup is yet another perfect example!

I first saw this clip in a "Behind the scenes" twitter post Fuji TV was using to promote the show in the days leading up to the episode, what great advertisement!  Quite a few gif-worthy scenarios each episode, but this one just took the cake! And as you can see, even the dog approves!

Ichiro: "Yep...Ladies Do Love Me!"

Sei Shiraishi Cuteness OVERLOAD

 I had mentioned in my post about the new Yuki Amami/Kouhei Matsushita mystery drama “Gouritekini Arienai: Tantei Kamizuru Ryoko no Kaimei”  that, while I had not seen her in episode one, was expected to see Sei Shiraishi make her debut in the next one.

As you all know, I am a HUGE Sei Shiraishi fan and was looking forward to seeing her, and while I knew she was going to be fine in whatever role they gave her, I had NOT prepared for how DOGGONE ADORABLE she would be!!!

She is introduced in episode 2 where Kamizuru and Takayama are hired by Kamizuru’s once boss and now scorned enemy Genma (Toru Nakamura), to find his missing daughter Kumi (Shiraishi). Though reluctant to help out a man who has betrayed her, she can’t forsake a missing girl and Kumi is eventually brought back home safe and sound.

It's a perfectly fine case, but it’s what happens AFTER that gives Sei the showcase to TRULY show off her stuff, when the too-sheltered Kumi decides the best way to become strong is to WORK FOR KAMIZURU! This is an idea that puts off the detective team, until Kamizuru reasons that it's the best way to keep track of Genma and tells Kumi she's IN!~ Watch her JUMP for JOY at the news!!!

From here Sei steals every scene whether she’s the focus or not- as Kumi is a naturally dense girl, she is constantly getting underfoot of the sleuthing team, and is usually confused as to whatever is being discussed above her head!

She is a particular thorn in Takayama’s side- not only is he a perfectionist used to working by himself to the strictest guidelines, his ONE weakness is being around PRETTY girls, one of which Kumi SURELY is!!!

"Do I smell??? Why is Takayama always avoiding me?"

"Takayama is nervous around pretty girls".

An epiphany!

"SO! he's nervous around women!" Kumi gushes. " Hmmm...but why isn't he nervous around YOU, Kamizuru?" LOLOL, that's cuz Takayama doesn't see Kamizuru AS a woman, natch!

Poor Kumi- all she wants to do is join in on the team activities, but she is constantly rebuffed by Takayama, leaving her lonely and rejected! Is this the beginning of a fruitful relationship??? Whaddaya THINK?

Trying to escape the powerfully cute aura of Kumi.

"Stay there!"

So disarming watching her bravely trying to understand the conversations going around as Kamizuru and Takayama discuss the current cases to liasons and associates, but never fear, her sweet innocence brings a different take on the facts, and it’s sometimes her own observations that inadvertently “crack the case” for the agency!!!

WELL, I can see that my screencapping skills will be put to the TEST with this show so I’d better limber up my fingers and prepare for the NEXT episode!!!

•

PS: I might ALSO add that Yuki Amami is totally on her GAME here as well, easily beating out much of her competition when it comes to “Quirky, Wacky, and Eccentric Genius Women” with her charismatic and madcap style!

 There was one scene which MAY be a easter egg for us longtime Amami fans when Kumi asks “Should I Call You BOSS?” to which Amami immediately wrinkles her nose! Could be just a throwaway line, but for lots of people, BOSS is THE Yuki Amami drama, the one she's most closely associated with!

Oh, and there was one scene where Kamizuru needs to infiltrate a dance club and goes undercover…but her idea of dressing up for clubbing is still stuck in the 90’s!!!

Takayama even remarks that she looks like she’s out of a 90’s drama, but I ain't gonna lie…Amami looked pretty darn attractive in that get-up!!!

MAN, you just don’t realize how long ago the 90’s were until you see her dressed up like this and go “WOW... I haven’t seen anyone look like that in….YEARS!” LOLOLOL

Such a FUN little drama!!!

Adventures In Cuteness: Fumika Shimizu

You may remember how much I loved Fumika Shimizu back in her stint in Kaseifu no Mitazono, as well as her fun role in the Suteki Na Sen Taxi Special. At the time I noted that Fumika was a former Kamen Rider Girl (because, of course she was…ALL young actresses I like are former Kamen Rider girls, it seems!) but I had to yet to actually see her in it...

Kaseifu no Mitazono

Suteki na Sen TAXI SP

Well, with Toei’s Official channel Tokusatsu World fully stocked with a wide assortment of their classic shows, I was finally able to watch some episodes of the show Fumika starred in, Kamen Rider Fourze. Not only was I surprised to see Kamen Rider Fourze alter ego Gentaro played by none other than Sota Fukushi(!), but…HOLY HANNAH, Fumika’s character of Yuki Jojima was the hands-down CUTEST and most SPUNKY and ADORABLE character EVERRRRR!!!

I’m not kidding, every scene she was in was completely STOLEN by her adorable antics, spazzy behavior and 100% ALL-IN enthusiasm, as evident in this terrific scene with Yuki and Gen:

A  monster has invaded the school and a hero is needed! Say, this monster reminds  me not just a little of Kome Kome Club's James Onoda!

Gentaro has the spirit to fight the baddie but not the smarts when he realizes he has no idea how to work the transform belt.

But never fear, Yuki Jojima is here to help!

Grabbing the device from him, she slaps it around his waist and tells him the switches and levers he must turn on to invoke the mechanism!

Then some genki words of encouragement  before running to hide behind a corner to watch the pyrotechnics!

"B-But how do I change after flipping the switches??"

"You make the moves like this...and say...HENSHIN!!!!"

HENSHIN FOURZE!!!

And thus Kamen Rider Fourze is born, much to Yuki's delight!!!

"YOSSSSHHHH!"

Fourze uses his newfound powers to vanquish the vile foe....

...and then it's time to celebrate their VICTORY!!!

Watching Fumika (now going by the name Yoshiko Sengen) in Kamen Rider Fourze, and how unbelievably charismatic she is, I’m astounded that she isn’t a more well-known actress. Is it because of her religion thing? Someone with this much radiance should be having dramas lined up down the road! And yet we haven’t seen much of her in recent years, such a shame!

BTW, I still can’t get over that it’s Sota Fukushi as Kamen Rider Fourze. And if that wasn’t enough of a shock, there was Erina Mano as Kamen Rider Nadeshiko to come in the Fourze Movie!