A Girl And Her Tub: "Furo Girl"

 Just wrapped up the entirely wacky show "Furo Girl", the story of a girl and her love of taking baths. Not really a "drama" per se, more like an "Info-Drama" those shows that are more about food, style, life hacks, etc with a loose plot around it than a drama proper.

 In each episode Bath-obsessed Sayoko Oyumino (Hinako Sakurai, last seen by me in the movie "He Won't Kill, She Won't Die") finds new and unique ways to pep up her soak time, using things like bath salts, props and even fruit to spice up a mundane event...

 Not really much of a show to comment on, but the show is stolen by Sayoko's manic and spazzy friend Aino Hiyama (A spritely Sakurako Konishi) who just slayed me in every scene she was in!

This show was a mere 6 episodes long. Seems most new shows are really short like this, is this due to COVID19 or is becoming the new regular lengths of dramas these days?

Tokusatsu GaGaGa, Ojisan Version

 Oji Mitsutaka (Hidekazu Mashima) is a successful and “kakkoi” businessman for a design firm who is loved and respected by his underlings and fellow co-workers.

Though his subordinates Rio (Miu Tomita) and Miki (Ayu Manaka) rely on jewelry, trinkets and idols to give them strength through their work days, they don’t think that their cool superior would have any use for such stuff!

But what they don’t know is that Mitsutaka is secretly in love with cute things, in particular a Pikachu-esque character named Pagtaro whom he obsesses over, collecting every toy, concession and plushie he can get his hands on!

Yes, Oji Mitsutaka is a secret otaku for all things cute, and just like Fuka Koshiba’s character of Kano Nakamura in the wonderful “Tokustatsu GaGaGa”, he has to hide his love of the genre, sneaking around to get his treasures, and just like Kano, has the same woes trying to get those elusive collectible toys from the vending machines, peeking around til the kids are gone to tiptoe over and take his chances!

When confronted by a guy (Tsubasa Imai) who sees him cradling his toys, he defensively says “It…it’s for a nephew!!” before fleeing the scene in shame!

And JUST Like Fuka, who had a panic attack cleaning up her obsession-draped apartment when her strict Mother was coming to visit, Mitsutaka has a similar meltdown when he finds his nephew Masumi (Taiyu Fujiwara) is set to arrive at his doorstep!!!

 

Besides all of these troubles, Mitsutaka also has to deal with a fussy co-worker named Wataru Naruto (Renn Kiriyama) who sneers at baubles like toys and idol paraphernalia, saying it clutters the workspace and invites laziness.

 But when push comes to shove, Mitsutaka’s love of all things cute and squishy win out and he stands up against him, saying that such things can only benefit the individual, garnering much applause and love from his dedicated subordinates!!!

As an almost carbon-copy of the Fuka Koshiba show, it goes without saying how wonderfully WACKY this drama is, and as I watch it, it makes me want to go back and watch Fuka in action again! Guess that’s what Youkai Share House is for!

The Serious Side of Minami Hamabe

After seeing adorable Minami Hamabe hamming it up in such wonderful, fun drams like Kuzushi Uketamawarimasu and Pure!, it’s quite a shock seeing her play a much more serious role in the dark drama Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru. took some getting used to, but a welcome chance to see another side of her!

Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru tells the story of a young woman named Nao Hanaoka who makes her living as a confectioner. 

 15 years ago, her mother was the primary confectioner of a long standing and well established house named Kougetsu An. She lived there with with her mother, and it is there she meets a young boy named Tsubaki. He is the same age as Nao and though he is the son of the owner and shouldn’t be hanging in the servant quarters, they become good friends.

 That is, until a fateful night when the master of the place is mysteriously murdered…and the young Tsubaki accuses Nao’s MOTHER of being the killer!

 From that point Nao’s life is torn asunder and she spends her life holding a grudge against the boy whose words causes so much pain to her, even as she moves up and becomes a confectioner in her own right.

 It is this skill that gets her invited to try out for a chance to service a prosperous wedding against another confectioner. And that company? Koegetsu An, and the confectioner she will be up against is none other than the grown up Tsubaki (Ryusei Yokohama) himself.

 Entering into the challenge, Nao doesn’t know what she intends to do or whether the grown Tusbaki will even recognize her, but she knows she has to do something.

Meeting up with Tsubaki again after 15 years, she is presented with an arrogant and rebellious young man who seems to be bucking the traditions laid upon him, and she isn't surprised to find his sweets lack something the house had before.

 Ultimately Nao loses the challenge and is set on her way. But nothing can prepare for what comes next when the boastful man approaches her...

 …and proposes MARRIAGE to her!

 A stunned Nao is taken back and the man rescinds his offer. But the spark of revenge is still flowing hotly within her veins and she finds herself boldly ACCEPTING his proposal..but to WHAT END?

Seems to be an intriguing drama so far and seeing Minami in such a mysterious role is surely a plus!

The confectioner angle to the story reminds me slightly of the classic NHK Asadora “Asuka” starring the young Yuko Takeuchi in the first drama I ever saw her in, and that also promises to keep the show interesting…

PS: Ryusei Yokohama has been playing such morose roles lately, from Shiro demo Kuro demo Nai Sekai de, Panda wa Warau, 4 Punkan no Marigold, nata No Ban Desu and now this dreary character. Hard to believe the first thing I saw him in was the entirely FUN and WACKY "Kareshi wo Loan de Kaimashita"!!