Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbou: Kyuuketsuki Densetsu Satsujin Jiken

金田一少年の事件簿: 吸血鬼伝説殺人事件
(The Investigations of the Young Kindaichi: Vampire Legend Murder Case)

Cast:

Kamenashi Kazuya [KAT-TUN] as Kindaichi Hajime
Ueno Juri as Nanase Miyuki
Kato Masaya as Kenmochi Isamu
Hoshino Mari Minato Aoko
Nakamura Shunsuke as Hiro Keisuke
Tanaka Koki [KAT-TUN] as a classmate
Nakamaru Yuichi [KAT-TUN] as a classmate

Genre: Detective, Horror, Vampires, JDrama Special, Kame-chan being adorable.

Episodes: SP

Summary: Hajime is the grandson of a famous detective and it appears he has inherited his grandfather's powers of deduction. Although he was eager to use them to solve problems as a child, he soon became tired of people comparing him to his grandfather, and stopped trying. He tries to be normal instead, and acts so damn adorably stupid.

His childhood friend [why is there always a childhood friend? I find it endearing but it also kinda annoyes me now >_<] invites him to go along with her club to a 'training camp', to an old abandoned village where her friend works. Hajime agrees to go along, so that he can hit on her friend, unaware that her friend is in fact a boy. Their teammates ditch them, so she goes there alone, and Hajime shows up late, having missed the bus and cycled there.

There is general scaring and creepiness and talk of the vampire legend in the village. Then people start seeing vampires, and things become a whole lot more serious when Miyuki witnesses the vampire killing a fellow guest, and they are not able to leave the village. Although Hajime at first wants nothing to do with it, he decides that he will definitely solve the case after Miyuki is accused of being the killer and has a near fatal accident.

Review: It maybe because I haven't had time to watch anything in a while, but I liked this a lot.

Sure, it was so predictable I kinda figured out who the culprit really soon [its always the least suspicious person whom the detective might have a blind spot for. Or the butler, but in this the butler was pretty suspicious so I figured it wasn't him.]

This also made the whole vampire legend into something plausible, and explainable (if you ignore the fact that nearly every person in the drama had 'Bombay Type Blood' despite the blood supposedly being very rare, and the rareness being the cause for the killings in the first place. -__-')

But the whole awesomeness of a detective case was there. There was a suspense filled mysterious atmosphere, and the explanations, although very unlikely were detailed and interesting.

It was also infinity creepy. The vampires, might possibly give me nightmares tonight. I started watching it with the lights off, but put them back on after I saw the vampire. >_>

Also, Kame-chan is adorable. And the Detective Ossan was HOT. *_*

Music: Tsuki no Michi by Kamenashi Kazuya [I ADORE this song]

Rating: 6/10

Quotes:

You know, this has nothing, to do with my grandfather.
Nothing, to do with my grandfather.

~ Hajime

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~ More Quotes? ~
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Note: It seems Kame-chan played this following Tsuyoshi, and Matsujun. Must say I'm impressed.

Also, it makes me gleefully happy now that I know enough 日本語 to tell that the subs are not literal translations and what the characters are actually saying is different.

Also, Kame-chan is cute, okay. I do not mind admitting that, at all. XD [which is why fandom is great. Even when you lose, you win. ^_~]

My Boss My Hero

マイ★ボス
マイ★ヒーロー

Cast:
Nagase Tomoya (TOKIO) as Sakaki Makio
Tegoshi Yuya (NEWS) as Sakurakoji Jun
Tanaka Koki (KAT-TUN) as Manabe Kazuya
Aragaki Yui as Umemura Hikari

Genre: High School, Comedy, Yakuza, JDrama

Episodes: 10

Summary: Sakaki Makio is the Waka(Young Master) of the Kanto Eigakai clan. He has been expected to take over the clan, so he has lived his life entirely for that purpose, leading a reckless, violent (yakuza-like) life style, befitting his position.

Unfortunatly, he also happens to be rather stupid. After messing up a very important deal with the Hong Kong mafia, because he didn't know how to add properly, his father announces that Makio cannot take over as the next boss, unless he manages to graduate from high school(he obviously didn't the first time as he was too busy being yakuza-ey). If he doesn't graduate, the clan succession will pass over to his younger brother Mikio.

There is just the little problem of him being 27 years old now, but his father manages to get him into a school through a 'back door'. For him to become the next boss, he has to graduate, and for him to do that, he has to control his temper, and yakuza-yness, because being found out would mean him being kicked out of school, and in doing so, he comes to realize and experience a lot of different things.

Review: First of all, the expressions Makio (Nagase) makes are to DIE for, Koki makes an awesome gangster, and Tegoshi is a girl. No, not really. But he sure ACTS like a total and utter and complete one. (and with his pretty face who can tell the difference?)

Next, the whole plot and concept of the drama is very cool and the whole thing is AWESOMELY funny. My personal favorite moment in the drama is when Teshi and Nagase stand in the middle of the school grounds their arms spread wide open looking up at the sky, shouting WATEERR. Surely no scene can compare to that one. Although the various "purin" (pudding) scenes come QUITE close.

This had quite a few emotionally touching scenes too and I liked the way everything worked out in the end. All in all I loved this, TOTALLY worth watching.

Music: Sorafune by TOKIO

Rating: 8/10

Quotes:

Hanya? (Kinda like huh?)

~Makio

***
WAAATERRRR~~

~Makio and Sakura Nantoka

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More Quotes?
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Note: Tesshi is a total girl. But we love him anyway don't we? *pink sparkles* ^_^

[The only reason there isn't much rambling here is coz I watched this somewhere around last May but never got around to writing the review, and only wrote it now. Just in case you were wondering ^_~]

Byakkotai

白虎隊 （びゃっこたい）

Cast:
Yamashita Tomohisa as Sakai Mineji and Sakai Shintaro
Tanaka Koki as Shinoda Gisaburo and Shinoda Yusuke
Fujigaya Taisuke as Itou Matahachi
Yakushimaru Hiroko as Sakai Shige (Mineji's mother)
Nogiwa Yoko as Sakai Mon (Mineji's grandmother)
Takashima Masanobu as Sakai Yasuemon (Mineji's father)

(Complete List of the Cast at Dramawiki ^_^)

Genre: Historical, JDrama

Episodes: 2

Summary: Sakai Shintarou leads a life where he is allowed to do whatever he pleases and is utterly irresponsible and ungrateful. His paternal grandmothers who lives in Aizu spots him hanging out on a street with his girlfriend, smoking, and having no respect or regard for other people when she comes to visit. So after she arraives at his house, she tells him off for not having the spirit that was there in their ancestors, who had the pure spirits of warriors of Aizu, despite being a direct descendant of the Sakai family. She informs that she be staying with them for three days to teach them how live properly and to rekindle the Byakkotai of the Aizu's spirit in them. Shinoda Yusuke, a friend of Shintarou who gets caught in the crossfire, and Shintarou decide to "escape" while they can.

They run away to Shintarou's grandparents house, since it would be the last place his grandmother would come to look for them. His grandfather takes them in and promises not to tell his grandmother who is at his house at the moment. Since they are in Aizu, he insists that Shintarou and Yusuke visit the Byakkotai Memorial, and they reluctantly go. In the museum they encounter portraits which uncannily resemble themselves, which makes them really aware that they are descendants of the Aizu and witnesses history through the eyes of their ancestors.

Review: This is based on a true story and the story of the Byakkotai is an extremely tragic one. It is a pretty awesome tale of very awesome times. I mean, there is something infinitely cool about the Code of the Bushido and everything. Although, I reaaaally don't understand the way they think that committing ritual suicide is honorable or dignified. I really don't.

As always, Yamapi was totally adorable in this (as if there ever was a doubt. o^_^o). I feel that his portrayal of this character was totally on the dot too. He was an honorable yet confused adolescent who was also SUCH a momma's boy, to perfection. It also needs to be stated how totally hot he looked in his modern version hairstyle in which you can see his forehead. *_* How he and Tanaka Koki coment on his characters grandmother much like she was a natural disaster and plan how to escape is soo adorable as well.

I really did like this drama. It was very interesting, in addition to being moving and funny at times and inspiring and touching and sad. (And sad it was. Very. T_T)


~Spoilers~

Specially when all the members of the squad Gisaburou was in committed suicide, it was soo sad, and I couldn't help thinking what a total and utter WASTE of life it was. I mean they were so youthful and full of life and so YOUNG. and it was entirely based on a misconception too since the castle itself was not burning, the roads around the castle was and they only thought that all was lost and their families had committed suicide too only in their desperate and distraught state. Although I really feel sorry for their commander too, coz he had to live with the guilt that it was possible that they might have lived had he not gotten separated from them when he went to find food.

I also like how the drama raises the issue of whether it was more honorable to live on like Mineji or to commit the ritual suicide like they are supposed to like the Byakkotai who did so on Iomoriyama. Because, depending on the times, and how their were raised, it was certainly admirable and maybe even honorable (although I still cannot agree with it), and it shows a certain strength of will and extreme dedication to their code of honour and what they were taught.

But I think, that Mineji, was much more braver, to choose NOT to die (although he was about to commit ritual suicide once, which had me holding my breath going 'nooooo' ~_~). Because due to the situation, there was a possibility that people would call him dishonorable and things, but he chose to live on because he felt that it was the right thing to do. And like the girl whom Koki's character had a crush on's mother said, Mineji would have to work much harder in living then the ones who died.

It was also soo sad when Mineji's mother died. At least she was able to stop being cold to him and Mineji was able to discover how much his mother really did love him in the end.

It had it's funny moments too, this drama. Like when they went for artillery lessons and didn't speak to any of the women coz they had been taught not to, and how when the woman spoke they went all awkward, and the women kept repeating "You don't have to reply."

It was also so cute how Mineji and Matahachi observed how Gisaburou and Sayako interacted. Specially when Gisaburou mistakenly answered her they automatically turned their heads and went "You spoke to a woman!" And how they commented that they too, can shoot perfectly but weren't complimented like Gisaburou was by Sayako-san.

Mineji confessing that he was actually envious of Gisaburou for speaking to a woman was so adorable too.

It was also so sweet and funny how Shintarou returned home and was so polite and stuff, and when people kept commenting on it he kept repeating that he "wasn't sure how long it would last". Heh. ^_^

Music: You Raise Me Up by Celtic Woman (I actually like this song and thought it kinda went well with some of the situations, but I found it extremely inappropriate in this drama, considering its a Japanese HISTORICAL drama and this is an English song.)

Rating: 8/10

Quotes:

One day, when people can live according to their wishes...

Mineji, at that time... I'll always support you no matter what.

Mineji, please be born as mother's child again in another life in the future... okay?

~Mineji's Mother

***
No matter how painful it is, if we live on,
the rain will definitely stop, and we'll see a beautiful sky.

~Sakai Mineji

***
I won't give it up. I'm only giving up the appearance.
If I don't cast off my Samurai clothes, I won't make it back to the castle alive, right?
Every living person should have pride.
In order to keep the pride of a Samurai, I can't die.

~Sakai Mineji

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More Quotes?
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Note: Apparently there is a poem by Matsudaira Katamori on the site where the Byakkotai are buried.

幾人の　涙は石にそそぐとも　その名は世々に　朽じとぞ思う
Ikutari no namida wa ishi ni sosogu tomo sono na wa yoyo ni kuji to zo omou
"No matter how many people wash the stones with their tears,
these names will never vanish from the world."

Tatta Hitotsu no Koi

One and Only Love

Cast:
Kamenashi Kazuya as Kanzaki Hiroto
Ayase Haruka as Tsukioka Nao
Tanaka Koki as Kusano Kou
Hiraoka Yuta as Ayuta
Toda Erika as Motomiya Yuuko
Kaname Jun as Tsukioka Tatsuya
Tanaka Yoshiko as Tsukioka Mitsuko
Zaitsu Kazuo as Tsukioka Yasuhiko
Yo Kimiko as Kanzaki Akiko
Saito Ryusei as Kanzaki Ren

Genre: Romance, Romance, Class differences, Life, Romance, JDrama

Episodes: 10

Summary: Kanzaki Hiroto is a factory worker. He didn't go to college and instead took over the factory his father committed suicide to save from bankruptcy. He works hard to support his little brother who is sick, his mother who, for the lack of a better word is insane, and the factory, which his father took his life for. Tsukioka Nao is the daughter of the famous Star Jewellary co-operation. They are both twenty when they first meet, when Nao knocks over the bucket of fish Hiroto was carrying and gets it all over her new dress.

Review: This drama is about young love, and how painful it is to be in love, because no matter what, you are two different people, who want different things in life and who have other people depending on you, whom you depend on. And maybe, there are a lot of chasms that love cannot bridge over. Specially when you are young and inexperienced and naive. No matter how much you wish it to be so, maybe it just cannot be.

This screams shojo manga from the very beginning. And proceeds to scream shojo manga till the end. Enough said. It was sickningly lovey dovey, and sweet, and painful and unrealistically realistic.

Yet, for some reason, I kinda liked it. I blame it on the soundtrack, which was very emotionally evoking.

I also think that this drama, somehow seems to suit Kame. I will grudgingly admit that he can act. A little bit. Also, the annoyingly sickningly lovey dovey stuff was sweet at times. And this was really sad too. Drove me to near tears.



Spoilers

Specially the part where Nao ran away from home, near the very end, and said that she would give up everything for him, and asked him to give up something for her too, and he said that he cannot. That he cannot give up anything, and that even if they ran away to the country and made a life, after three days, she would miss her mom and her dad and her brother and she would cry. She would cry and he would not be able to do anything for her...

Kame's character was dislikable and likable at the same time. I loved how he had no idea how to use a cellphone.It was sooo cute.

The little 'whales communicate over great distances' idea was very sweet too. And the orange thing. They acted like little kiddies about it too. heheh

Tanaka Koki was adorable in this. The expressions he made, were priceless. And he was totally cute and adorably sweet in regard to Yuuko, whom he loved, and when she and him went on the 'date' too, he was so adorable, saying he wasnt a "flower character" (as in he wasnt really the type that could easily give flowers), when she asked him when he was giving her the flowers he had put in the back seat of the car, for her, making her fall for him. Although it was pretty sad, yet realistic that they did not end up together after all in the end. Although it was sweet how they were still friends. And Kou said that he was nervous meeting her even after he was married. -_-'

I loved how Hiroto pretended he forgot about when he got her the orange thing and the festival where they first held hands and how Nao got mad because of that, and told him to give her back her precious memories and he got mad too and told her that she had no right to say that since SHE was the one who was getting married.

Although of course the ending was so cliche happy. I really didn't like how it ended since the guy that Nao was going to marry very nicely just gave up, conveniently making the way for everything.

Although Hiroto and Nao at the ending was kinda adorable. So was Hiroto running after the bus Nao was in shouting "Bus! Bus!" ^_~ And then everyone running after the bus, when Nao realizes she had forgotten her bag.

Oh yeah, and he says, that when he is with Nao, it seems like he is always searching for something. Which IS kinda true I suppose, since Nao fell for him when he fell into the pool WITH HER, and then looked for her contacts when she said they were lost, and her purse before that, and then the orange thing, and then one thing or another. Sweet ^_^

Sweet story, sad too, and occasionally a little funny. Good if your looking for a sappy love story. Which, I agree, we do need, sometimes.

Music:
Bokura no Machi de by KAT-TUN
Cool Whispers by Ike Yoshihiro

Rating: 7/10

Quotes:

I'm a "nice person"
Just a nice person.
Open 24 hours (for advice)
We are the same, Mr. Convenience store, lets work hard!

~Ayuta

***
I want to know...
How old do I have to be...
So that I don't get hurt?

~Kanzaki Hiroto

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~More Quotes?~
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Note: I am definitely staying away from Kame drama's for a while. I mean, I NEARLY caught the damn virus this time T_T It was bad enough, watching him all adorable in One Pound Gospel and then all sad and pfftish in this. I REFUSE to be caught by it. Neh-vuh!