I still remember last time, I watched J-dramas through television, because got no money to buy VCD box. But now, web technology and broadband help us to get to watch the latest J-dramas that is currently aired in Japan. Well, normally I go to some site and *ahem the drama, but actually, there are some sites that offer online streaming of J-dramas.
Since I was 15 years old, I am a fan of Japanese Drama. Although I had been stop watching for a while, but thanks to Densha Otoko, it brings me back to the “dark side”. Since then, I been continuing watching J-dramas until now. J-dramas already is playing an important role in my life, and there is 7 reasons why I like J-drama so much, and why you should watch too.
Everyone who watch should know that, J-dramas’ story normally depicting the daily life of a Japanese. For example, the story of a working class, a lawyer, or even a patient etc. So, I feel that Japanese drama is very “real”, and this makes the actors and actresses act in a very natural condition too. With a twist means something that makes the story more interesting. For example, there is a lot of small little cute sound effects in Gokusen 2, or in Haken no Hinkaku, when the heroin is walking on the crowded street, suddenly the wind start blowing hard and make a path for her to walk, hahah.
In every J-dramas, there is a message to tell to the audience. Sometimes the message is so strong and it might change a people’s perception or teach them the right way of solving problem. For example, in 14 Sai no haha, the story is about a 14 years old girl get pregnant. This is reflecting the current society because, you can read a lot of news about underage girls get pregnant, and it happens around the world.
While in “Proposal Daisakusen” that just ended, is about a guy who going back to his past to chase back his love ones who he never confess although he got so many chance to do it, and the girl is getting married to another guy. But he failed everytime he went back, so he decided not to look back to past anymore but what is in front of him. This tells us that, we should appreciate every moment of our life, and must live our life without regrets.
Normally a J-drama will have about 11 episodes, unlikely other country dramas that might run up to hundreds. This is very good because it makes the storyline more compact and every episodes is exciting, and most important: NOT DRAGGY. Sometimes the dramas so good that I hope that they can make it longer haha.
Normally a great j-dramas will come with a nice theme song, insert song or ending theme and original soundtrack. This will really enhance the story. For example, in “1 litre of tears”, the theme song “Only Human” by K, is really touching and the insert song “Konayuki” by Remioromen is also very nice. Or in “Densha Otoko”, the background music is superb and well blended. These musics makes the audience can feel the feeling of the scene more easily.
I like J-dramas that talks about school life, especially high school. I had been “jealous” about how interesting the Japanese high school life (not to mention their uniform). Their school have so many celebrations and events, I think that is just so cool. And the enjoyment, the friendship, the happenings just make me recollect all the memories of my school life, it is just so nostalgic. I missed my school life but no regret because I enjoy my school life!
Japanese dramas is so rich in terms of the story telling! Unlike the others, which is so boring because the story is so repetitive and predictable. But in J-drama, you can expect and unexpected. Heard from my friends who had watch “Karei naru Ichizoku” that, the story is so twisting and you can never expect how the story will go. Or in “LIAR GAME”, the story is very exciting and unpredictable too. This is why J-dramas outshine the others.
Yeah, when new drama comes in, the first to concern is who is gonna act in that drama?? Not just cute female, even male I also concern. Remember last time I watch dramas like “Beautiful Life”, “Beach Boy”, “Gal Circle” etc.. just want to see how they charming and pretty they are. The more idols in it the better, hahaha. For example, I like Toda Erika and Yamapi a lot, so the dramas that have them sure I will watch.
So these are my 7 reasons to watch J-drama. Actually there is one more, that is because I have a bunch of friends who like to watch J-dramas too! With them, my J-drama life will not be lonely! I would say that is really greatful because I met J-drama. I will continue to watch for the rest of my life! J-drama banzai! Wah, first time write so long article.
Anyone who watch Nodame Cantabile the J-drama should know this cute song haha :D!! Noda Megumi (act by Ueno Juri) or Nodame, who dream of becoming a kindergarten music teacher, wrote this song. Onara Taisou means “The Fart Exercise” in English. The song comes with exercise too! I still remember where there is a scene in the drama, where Nodame plays the onara taisou music piece and her teacher is exercising the move, hahaha, that was hilarious!
Because the song is so cute, and many people requested to release as single, and Ueno Juri sings the song. There are a total of 5 songs in the single. There is one song in it I quite curious about. The song name is called “Koi no G Cup”. What does the G Cup related to!? Funny. Click on title to get the lyric of the song. Credits to Random Flowers.
Recently Oricon posted up the single and album selling ranking of the first half of year 2007. Akikawa Masafumi big hit “Sen no Kaze ni Natte” top the single chart with a whooping 915,884 copies sold. His single leads a pack above the 2nd place as Utada Hikaru’s “Flavor of Life” only sold 629,904 copies. Akikawa’s single was not that hit when it first released 1 year ago, but after the performance of this song in last year’s NHK Kohaku Utagassen, it become a sudden hit and always into the top 10 singles ranking after then, and now it nearly reach the 1 million mark.
Both Hana Yori Dango 2’s opening and ending theme did quite a great job by taking the 2nd and 3rd spot. Both songs are soft ballads and really nice to listen. The 4th is Kobukuro’s “Tsubomi” and Kanjani8 took the fifth spot. Other honorable mentioned are the 8th place’s “Winding Road” by Ayaka and Kobukuro, 10th spot’s “Ashita Hareru Kana” by Kuwata Keisuke, 16th spot’s “Shirushi” by Mr. Children and 23rd spot’s “Tokyo ni mo Attanda” by Fukuyama Masaharu.
More than half of the single chart songs I already listen, but I was really impress by the Johnny’s music group, their singles are really well selling! Groups like Arashi, Kanjani8, NewS, KAT-TUN, Tegomass, kinki Kids, V6 can be seen on the chart, I wonder how they have such a power to make the fans buy their single? 😛
While the album chart, Mr. Children’s “Home”, tops the chart with the only album sold more than a million. 2nd place is Koda Kumi’s album “Black Cherry”. Both of them normally doing well in selling their albums. While Ayumi Hamasaki’s A Best 2 album selling is quite disappointing. I thought will hit 1 million mark for each of album but just over 600k. Haha, I think her popularity is dropping already, because her first best album “A Best” sold more than 4 million copies alone.
Avril Lavigne is damn popular in Japan! Her album “The best damn thing” takes the fifth spot, cool. She is quite influential in Japan because her music and fashion was favorites and followed many female Japanese teenagers. While the four Japan new Diva: YUI, Yuna Ito, Kimura Kaela and Ayaka take the 7, 10, 13, 17 spot respectively. This shows that they are quite popular in Japan now.
Check out the rest of the ranking!
Time running so fast… the spring season drama is going to end this month and the most anticipated summer season is coming right up in July! Click here to get to know what shows is up including SP dramas! If you don’t know nihongo, you can always go here. This year’s summer season is very young and manga feel, because many dramas are derive from manga and many young actors and actresses. Definitely is a great season of dramas and I’m quite interested to watch some of it.
Tamayama Tetsuji, Koide Keisuke, Nakata Atsuhiko, Aibu Saki, Karina, Toda Erika etc.
This drama has quite a big cast, and the most important is…my favorite idol Toda Erika is in it! She’s been active in dramas recently haha. Well the story revolves around six third-year students at the Tokyo University of Agriculture who go to Hokkaido for a summer to get first-hand training in an agricultural setting. They will perform tasks such as milking a cow, cleaning pig sties, and feeding animals. One scene even features a cow giving birth. This drama will takes place in natural green environment, so I think this is a quite refreshing to watch!
Horikita Maki, Oguri Shun, Ikuta Toma, Kimura Ryou etc.
Due to the popularity of the Taiwan version, Japan also wants to make their own. Maki Horikita is back since the not so good drama “Teppan Shoujo Akane”. Horikita plays the protagonist Ashiya Mizuki, a Japanese girl in the U.S. who one day sees the young athlete Sano Izumi (Oguri) compete in the high jump on television. She begins to idolize him, and decides to move to Japan to attend the same school as him. However, Izumi goes to an all-boys school, so Mizuki disguises herself as a boy to achieve her dream of being with her idol. This drama will features a huge bunch of IKEMEN or good looking guys, I think sure will attracts the females crowd.
Oguri Shun as usual, act as a leng chai character again, like in Hana Yori Dango. Really can’t hide his leng chai-ness hahaha. Definitely I will watch this drama.
Itoh Misaki, Fukada Kyoko, Oikawa Mitsuhiro, Koike Eiko
This is also a manga based drama. The story revolves around a woman working in a department store Itoh Misaki whose meager bust has earned her the nickname of “kabe onna” (kabe means wall, mean is flat lah haha, something like fei kei cheong in canto). Unfortunately for her, a well-endowed “yama onna” (yama meas mountain) gets assigned to the same department, heightening her insecurity.
I think the story could be quite interesting and fun to watch haha. Long time didn’t see Kyoko Fukada acting already. And I can see the uber pretty Itoh Misaki acting again! Wonder how she “hide” her assets because I think her body shape ain’t bad!
Ninomiya Kazunari, Sakurai Sho, Kikuchi Momoko, Matsuoka Mitsuru, Oshinari Shugo etc.
This drama also first made in Taiwan, based on Japan manga. The chinese name is 贫穷贵公子 acted by one of the F4 member. Ninomiya Kazunari plays the title role of Taro Yamada, a smart, good-looking, and athletic high schooler. Unknown to his classmates, however, is that Yamada is actually living in poverty. Not really interested in storyline thou, but I would like to give it a try.
Domoto Koichi, Nakamaru Yuichi, Kato Natsuki, Taira Tomi etc.
From the title itself already suggested that it’s going to be a food related drama! I think this drama should be quite interesting to watch… since I miss out Bambino! current season, which is also food related, so I gonna watch this.
Other interested titles that I would give it a try is FIRST KISS, Tantei Gakuen Q, Juken no Kamisama, LIFE and Papa to Musume no Nanokakan. Wow, that would be 10 dramas I interested in. I will watch the first episode, after that only judge whether will continue to watch or not. I’m going to busy download all those in next few months 😀
*Updates: Tokyograph also put up their guide. Click here.
So what’s your watch list? 😀
I first heard this song in the Music Station that aired in Friday on Animax Channel. They introduced a newcomer named Kousuke Atari. Absolutely no relationship with ATARI the game developer, he has quite a great looking face, but his appearance is a little simple, so I think he is not sing those pop songs. But when he perform his song, I was “pikkuri shimashita”. He sang like Hajime Chitose’s type of style and the song “Hana”, is very nice! Immediately I go find his biography and background.
Now I know, actually when he was young, he is a fan of Hajime Chitose. Having influenced by her, he starts to teach himself to sing in shima-uta style. The song “Hana” is very nice to listen, definitely a song worth listen, if you like Japan folk songs with a modern fusion, something like Natsukawa Rimi’s modern Okinawa style. And I want to share the lyrics with you guys too.
Today, YUI releases her latest maxi single My Generation/Understand. Actually, back in few days earlier, I already listened to this song from the PV that aired in May. The single is a rocker, I fall in love with this song and keep on looping in my media player. I like it because the song is like a expression of the youth.. actually I really dunno the lyrics but from the rock music and a little assist from the PV, I can feel that. And this song actually is the theme song for current airing drama Seito Shokun!
About the B-side of the song “Understand”, is more down paced. The single also includes the acoustic version of CH.E.R.RY. Has to thanks ch.e.r.ry because it was this song that intro me to YUI since March or April. Now, YUI is one of my favourite singer and you can see that in my Last.fm profile. Click this link to grab My Generation lyrics (Understand included too).
Japan popular young star Sawajiri Erika will make her debut as ERIKA with her first single “FREE”, to be released on 4th of July! Her “FREE” single will release in CD and CD+DVD version. CD+DVD version will features an original 12 pages color booklet. CD will contain three songs which is “FREE”, “Fantasy” & “Time to go home” plus original instrumental edition of “FREE”.
Sawajiri Erika, previously known as gravure artist, gaining her popularity through the tear jerking drama “1 Litre of Tears”. This is not her first time singing because, she released a single as Kaoru Amane entitled “Taiyou no Uta”, when she acted in a drama with the same name. The single became one of the top selling singles in year 2006. Maybe because of this encouragement and training, she decided to debut under her name ERIKA. Not much exposure about the new songs but Japanese now can first preview the song “Fantasy” via hand phone.
Actually the image of ERIKA is somewhere similar to Kaoru Amane, because the guitar is there too, seems like she don’t want to tag as “idol singer” but a more character way. I’m very eager to watch the PV of the song, because she looks kinda sexy in both single cover 😛
Credit: Ikimasshoi
Great news for all the Jdorama and Yamapi fans because his last year hit drama Kurosagi is going to make as film. This is Yamashita Tomohisa’s first movie and he act as the lead character Kurosaki. Maki Horikita and Yui Ichikawa, which appear in the drama will also participating this movie too. Yasuharu Ishii, who directs the recent drama hit “Hana Yori Dango”, will become this movie’s director. This movie is dated to release on Spring year 2008. Otanoshimi Kudasai!
Last year, I watched the drama too. I think this is a very unique drama because, it talks about Yamapi, a cheater who cheats other cheater. I still remember the intro narration when the drama starts “In this world there is three types of cheater: One is Shirosagi (white heron), a guy who cheats money; second is Akasagi (red heron), a woman who use sex appeal to cheat on other; and the final is Kurosagi (black heron), top among other cheater, experts in cheating Shirosagi and Akasagi.” haha..
Film Detail (in Japanese):
＜映画「クロサギ」＞
原作：黒丸・夏原武（小学館「週刊ヤングサンデー」連載中／コミックス1～13巻）
監督：石井康晴
主演：山下智久
出演：堀北真希／加藤浩次／市川由衣／田山涼成／奥貫薫／哀川翔／山崎努
2008年 全国東宝系ロードショー
Source: Tokyograph , TBS Kurosagi
I get to know this campaign on the ad in a Japan magazine call “TVnavi”. After I saw this, immediately rush to my desktop and start to look for more, and they have a special website for this as well as free wallpaper for download. I quickly grab all the wallies and keep it. Now the campaign is over and the wallpaper is gone. Phew luckily i grabbed all, but just 1280×1024 size. This campaign consists of seven current popular female idols, for example Nagasawa Masami, Yuko Ogura, Kaho, Aya Ueto, Maki Horikita etc.