Yamaguchi Ayumi makes a Beautiful Corpse in "Nazotoki Wa Dinner No Ato De"

*Slight Spoilers here if you haven’t watched Nazotoki wa Dinner No Ato De Episode 6 yet*

So I’m watching the latest episode of the Kitagawa Keiko/Sakurai Sho detective drama “Nazotoki Wa Dinner No Ato De” to check up on who the latest target is, and when they dramatically unveil the murder victim lavishly laid in a bed of Scarlet Roses, I take one look at the girl, and though she’s ten times more beautiful than the last time I saw her, my mind immediately thinks, “Whoa, that girl looks like a grown-up Ayumi Yamaguchi!” But what were the chances of that?

Well, I keep that thought in mind, and as the show goes on (with Keiko adorably channeling her old Mop-Girl Momoko persona) and they flashback to the victim’s earlier days, I take another look and go, “Hmm, maybe I’m wrong. That actress kinda looks like Rio Matsumoto now…” as a spiritual guide pushes her to her resting place in a mystic wheelchair…

But then when they cut back to another flashback (this time with the girl laughing and purchasing a package of kitty-cat snacks), I’m back to my original assessment, thinking, “Aw, that’s just gotta be Ayumi Yamaguchi!” Whether it is or not, whoever this girl is, she’s darn pretty!

Finally at the wrap of the show, they focus on an old photograph of the girl clutching a bouquet of roses, and as the camera zooms up to the shot, I leap up out of my chair and yell, “THAT’S AYUMI YAMAGUCHI FOR SURE!” And so it was! 

Checking up on the Dramawiki site immediately after the show ended, I see that not only is it the latest thing Ayumi’s done, it’s the only thing she’s done in quite a while since her last stint as Shoko Kohagura in 2007’s Churasan 4! It’s GREAT to see her back, and lookin’ more FINE than ever!

Adventures In Cuteness: Yamaguchi Ayumi

Ayumi Yamaguchi as Shouko in Churasan

Churasan: Mada Mada, or, "Ain't You Done Watching That YET?!"

Sigh. Yes, I’m still only up to Episode 124 of Churasan. Several of you have mentioned to me how surprised they were that I hadn’t finished the Kuninaka Ryoko asadora by now after all these months, but the truth of it is, ever since Eri and Fumiya got married and had a child, it became like watching a real married couple, i.e, interesting for them and their family, but not so captivating for me personally.

Just about the only storyline going on that interests me is the growing relationship between Keitatsu (Yamada Takayuki) and Shouko (played with adorable sweetness by super-cutie Yamaguchi Ayumi) but it’s rough having to sit through three “Eri's baby” episodes to get a single “Keitatsu and Shouko” scene…

Really hoping they expand on their storyline…they’ve JUST confessed their attraction for each other in this latest episode, so things are looking good! And speaking of looking good, yep, I’m really starting to develop a crush on Shouko-chan…She's SUCH a sweetie, and she gives the most hilarious of "stunned faces" LOL

Hahaha, what a HILARIOUS parade of flabbergasted expressions from Ayumi! Note in the above pics that Kuninaka Ryoko herself looks particularly adorable as well, while poor Aiko Sato strains to be in the conversation...LOL