A Yumiko Shaku Sighting!

 We were listening to Namie Amuro’s Single Collection :”Best Fiction” this past weekend, and when it got to her excellent song “Baby Don’t Cry”, was asked, “So when was this single released?”, to which I replied, “So long ago that it was the theme song...for a Yumiko Shaku drama!”

The drama in question was of course her awesome 2007 show “Himitsu No Hanazono”, and it got me thinking about what ever happened to her! I think the last time I has seen her in a drama it was way back in 2012 as a guest in the MatsuJun/Eita action drama “Lucky Seven” and after that hadn’t seen her at all!

So it was with some excitement watching the just-subtitled penultimate episode of the fun “Dream Team” where they introduced the latest “angry co-star whom Sayaka Yamaguchi must win over” character , and it was played by none other than Ms. Yumiko Shaku herself!

As you can see, she’s still looking as lovely as ever and here’s hoping to see her appear in a bit more substantial role in the future!
PS: Sayaka is such a great actress- I’d mentioned before how she could command a sassy, no-nonsense look in “Radiation House”:

...and here in "Dream Team", manages to look completely lost and clueless as befitting her naive character, LOL!

PPS: What, they’re making a SEQUEL series to Radiation House???
Guess that show was more popular than i thought!!!

The Comedic Side of Maya Miki

Just started watching the 2007 Yumiko Shaku comedy HIMITSU NO HANAZONO, and though Yumiko-chan was as cute and adorable as one might expect, the actress who had me rolling on the floor with laughter was none other than sexy Maya Miki, better known as "That Forensics Scientist in GALILEO"!

Playing Yumiko's Eccentric Boss Kawamura Ryoko, Maya's just hilarious in every scene she's in, from falling into the arms of a young prince Charming......only to be accidentally dropped when he can't hold onto her and his phone at the same time...

Going on a sightseeing tour with her senior citizen co-workers to visit buddha stones, rising her head up too early, and finally saying "I can't deal with this" AHAHAHA

Failing at that old ritual of picking the petals of a flower while reciting he loves me, he loves me not...

Or being there for Kayo as she opens a birthday present, to have the gift pop out with a prank spring snake that shoots high in the air...and then to have the snake come to a crashing end by bouncing off her head! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

This comedic side of Maya is one that I haven't seen before, even in ZETTAI KARESHI she played pretty much the straight man for all the hijinks going on THERE, and coming off seeing her as Yuriko Yoshitaka's heartbroken mother weeping her eyes out week after week in the tragic drama MIOKA, I have to say that it's a refreshing change, indeed!!!

PS: among other great things besides the lovely Ms. Maya Miki, and deliciously curvy Shaku Yumiko, the show features one of the best theme songs with Amuro Namie's "Baby Don't Cry" and the most wonderful video montages to accompany it, so sweet and gentle...

Namie's voice is so soothing in this one, every time the credits run, I get a warm feeling in my heart! And for hours after i've watched an episode, the tune will keep playing in my head!

Shaku Yumiko eating Fruit Cake