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!!!

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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!!!

A Wild Sumo Appeared

In the Keiko Kitagwa drama "Ie uru Onna", Keitan's character Machi Sangenya worked for Teiko Real Estate, which featured a Sumo Wrestler as their mascot. Besides having some hapless employee dress up as him outside, they had these collectible promotional figures of him which they gave out, and you could see him on the desks of all the employees.

PS: *sigh*, remember when Yuko Araki was still up and coming and was taking these B-level roles? Of course, once she became more established, she quickly dropped out of THIS series, LOL! Really miss her presence in the sequels n specials.

Anyway, so I'm watching the latest episode of the super fun "Brush Up Life" with Sakura Ando as a woman re-living her life over and over. In this latest incarnation, she is working at a Television Studio (NTV) as an AD and is involved with the behind the scenes business of dramas.

So I'm watching it, and on a shelf on her desk, I see the unmistakable boxed figure of a familiar  figure sitting there! 

"HEY!" I think, pausing the drama and looking closer. "Is that the Teiko Real Estate SUMO doll???" WHAAAAA

Indeed it WAS, and I wasn't too surprised when they announced to the staff a few scenes later that their station's next project was gonna be Ie Uru Onna!

They even got Toru Nakamura to cameo in the supposed first meeting between staff and talent (Of course they couldn't get Keiko HERSELF to make an appearance, though, LOL)

Actress Asami Usuda is a regular on Brush Up Life playing herself, and as she also was a prominent character in Ie Uru Onna, I knew they were gonna show her in her Kokoro outfit!

This show gets pretty META at times!