Jofu: Josei ni xxxxtte Hitsuyo Desuka

 
“Jofu: Josei ni xxxxtte Hitsuyo desu ka?” stars Hirona Yamazaki as Akari Fujisaki, a girl who is tircked by a well-meaning friend into applying as an online administrator for a Male Escort service called Paradiso. 

A stunned Akari doesn't know WHAT to make of it!!!

Going in blind, she has no idea how the ins and outs of this world work, but with the teaching of the many colorful “therapists” on hand, she gradually learns that unlike mere prostitution, this establishment caters to the every need of the client, some more psychological than physical.

"Rio" (Yurai Beppu) explains to Akari what can usually be expected of the services he provides....

Mature themes and we do get into some risqué situations (such as this scene with Tatsuya Shirato and Miki Kanai in one of their therapy "sessions"...)

...but the thing that surprised me the most is realizing that the senior admissions director Miho who is older by Akari by few years is played by ex-Morning Musume Koharu Kusumi, whom despite her many sexy attempts to drop the idol image, still seems like a young girl in my mind!

I can’t believe Koharu’s older than Hirona Yamazaki whom, thanks to her roles in dramas like Affair Ender Rei and Grace no Rireki, I perceive as a much older woman!

This drama reminds me of "Fruits Takuhaiban" to a degree, and with Hirona on hand to charm throughout, it might be one worth sticking with! We'll see....

Onsha no Midare Tadashimasu: Affair-Ender Rei!

When a cheating individual begins having an affair it is  between them and their relations, however, if that case of infidelity creeps into the workplace and begins affecting work output and employee harmony, then it is time to put a stop to it, and that’s when the professionals are called!

Hirona Yamazaki stars as Rei Saesuga, a woman who enters the affected workplace under the guise of a mousey and bookish clerical staffer, investigates the situation and, once identifying the problem, acts!

It is here that the introverted lass transforms into a veritable femme fatale set to ingratiate herself into the infecting affair and, along with her partners Arata Kazuma (Hiroki Iijima) and Gan-chan (Kai Ogasawara), use their wit and wiles to extract the problematic cheaters  and get them to change their ways and repent!

Hirona Yamazaki is an interesting actress, one whom you look at and can’t quite decide if she’s a stunning beauty or not. Despite the fact that the first drama of note that I saw her in, the wildly zany and over-the-top Nanji No Na, she played a definite mankiller siren (set on torturing her sister Kie Kitano),

…it actually wasn’t until her small part on Grace No Rireki, as the unassuming daughter of a car mechanic, that I looked at her and thought, “Hey, ya know what…I'D take a spin with her!”

Onsha no Midare Tadashimasu has taken both elements of Hirona’s styles both the mousey and the vampishly sexy, and, while it certainly ain’t a reveal like Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality, it’s still cool to see her ‘transform” in each episode! Definitely one I’ll be watching with great interest!

Wonderfully Sombre "Grace no Rireki"

Kikuo Hasumi (Kenichi Takito) is a quiet pharmacist living with his vibrant and positive wife Minako. Since they live a low-key life , Kikuo is shocked when Minako suddenly quits her job and makes plans to take a trip to France! He can’t understand why she would do this on what seems like the spur of the moment, but knows she knows best.

In her beloved Honda she affectionately calls “Grace”, she says her goodbyes before leaving for Narita Airport where she’ll board the flight for France. She worries that he’ll be lonely without her, but he assures her that being alone is like second nature to him and that she should enjoy her vacation!!

Kikuo sends her off with a smile, but what he doesn’t know is that this is the last time he will ever see her alive. Some weeks later, Kikuo gets word of a horrible accident involving a Tour Bus in France, and his worst fears are confirmed when he arrives and she is among the passengers who died in the tragedy.

For the next few weeks, Kikou is a wreck, and he spends his days lying listlessly in the house alone. It’s only when Minako’s car is returned to him that he is forced to come out and interact with people.

The Car is among the items willed to Kikuo by Minako, with the written hope he will use it and learn to enjoy driving it like she did. Kikuo has never driven before, so must take lessons before he can get behind the wheel of Grace. But when he does, he finds a curious thing in the car’s GPS tracking system… A record of a FULL  WEEK worth of traveling in Japan BEFORE her flight to France!

Where had she gone? And what was she DOING and why was it SECRET? Using the Car’s navigation, Kikuo decides to use the GPS to retrace Minako’s steps in the week before her death,  taking a long journey into the unknown! And as he does, he will connect with old friends,  befriend new strangers and make new acquaintances as he eventually uncovers the truth and learns the final gift of love Minako has left for him.

MAN, this was one heart-wrenching and bittersweet drama! Very sombre and slow paced, I had to take the drama in small doses to really appreciate what it had to offer. Loved going along with Kikuo on his spiritual journey and thought the ending was just achingly perfect!

This was a drama from last season that I only now finished, and have to say it’s one of the season’s finer ones!