Tiger and Dragon

タイガー&ドラゴン
Cast:
Nagase Tomoya [TOKIO] as Yamazaki Kotora
Okada Junichi [V6] as Hayashiyatei Kotatsu
Ito Misaki as Megumi
Nishida Toshiyuki as Hayashiatei Donbei
Shoufukutei Tsurube as Nakatani Ken
Tsukamoto Takashi as Nakatani Ginjiro
Aoi Yu as Risa
Kiritani Kenta as Chibi-T
Genre: Comedy, Story-telling, Yakuza, JDrama

Episodes: Special + 11

Summary: Once, there was a man called Yamazaki Toraji. He was a Yakuza, and although it is not really required for a Yakuza to make people laugh, he was specially scary and boring. His parents died when he was really little, being a Yakuza was the only path for him, and he hadn't laughed from that time. Until he goes to collect debts from a certain Hayashitei Donbei, and finds himself laughing uncontrollably in a Rakugo theater.

He stubbornly pursues Don-chan afterwards, and finally convinces him to work out an agreement. Yamazaki, who is named Kotora in his apprenticeship, will pay his Shishou (Rakugo master) for tuition fees, and the tuition fees will be used by the Shishou to pay his debts. His Oyaji (Yakuza master) agrees, and says that he is free to pursue Rakugo, provided he collects the debts from Shishou first before he leaves the clan.

Kotora also meets Ryuji, the second son of his master, who was previously known as a genius in Rakugo, before he was disowned after he quit to become the designer of an utterly lame and failing brand called Dragon Soda. He also happens to be the reason for Shishou's debt. With a little help from Ryuji and a multitude of other characters, Kotora finds himself slowly being able to make people laugh with his own type of Rakugo.

Review: Loved this from the very beginning to the end. Each episode has a classic Rakugo tale converted to fit with the modern times, and the stories themselves draw you completely into it.

The fact that Nagase and Okada and the rest of the cast constantly have to act out their story counterparts in the past makes it funnier.

All the characters are very vivid, and exaggerated but still realistic, making them unforgettable.

Spoiler ^_^

The only thing I didn't like was how Ryuuji decided to go back to Rakugo, it was totally sudden and didn't have a proper reason/explanation but I suppose that little a thing can be forgiven in a drama this enjoyable.

How utterly lame Dragon Soda was, and Ryuji's infatuation with mesh was very amusing. I also loved how Nagase shifted from Apprentice Kotora mode to Yakuza debt collector Yamazaki mode. XD

Any review I write cannot do it justice, so I suggest you watch it yourself. Totally worth it.

Music:
Tiger & Dragon by Crazy Ken Band [Opening theme]
UTAO-UTAO by V6 [Ending theme]

Rating: 9/10

Quotes:
Don't make it sound so easy.
Although am not proud of it,
I'm the most boring man in Shinjiku!

~Tamazaki Toraji
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~More Quotes?~
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Note: I have a humoungous crush on Okada because of this. I first liked him for ユメニアイニ but this makes me kinda adore him so much more.
Nagase as always, was awesome. ちょ かっちょいい~
Sorry for the lame review, to tell the truth I haven't felt like reviewing lately and schools being really annoying, but I noticed that this hasn't been updated for two months so I thought I should update at least. Since seeing the Anego banner for so long is annoying specially because there is no pretty Jin in it.

4 comments:

Laora February 21, 2009 at 3:39 PM  

9 out of 10? NINE OUT OF TEN? Really? ^-^

*Adds to must-watch list* Ah, it keeps growing~

Fabler February 21, 2009 at 6:45 PM  

Oooh, another Nagase one! Mitaai!! And Okada was cool in SP, so I look forward to seeing him here too!

YuAeKito March 2, 2009 at 11:46 AM  

I ish visiting your house randomly and you is giving me that dvd.... *pokes*

Fabler April 11, 2009 at 9:52 AM  

This is not a place for personal announcements please. (Am i being rude wraithy?)

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