Can it still be called a preview if some of the series kind of already started? :\ Ah, well, either way, here’s my preview of this season’s upcoming dramas. My top three this season are three definitely pretty boy dramas: Buzzer Beat, Orthros no Inu, and Otomen. (Although I probably will check out many more too, since there’s a lot of promise this season!)

Also is it just me or are there many more Johnny’s this season? 7 in lead or co-leading roles this season? Has that happened before?

Buzzer Beat

Meaning: Yamapi has a girlfriend, falls in love with another girl, plays basketball, and should demonstrate a certain level of sucking in all of the above. Sweetly, though.
Verdict: Yamapi, Kitagawa Keiko, Aibu Saki in one drama? Can this really be bad? DEFINITELY WATCHING!

Koishite Akuma

Meaning: Vampire boy unwittingly falls in love with human teacher – aka Twilight, Japan style.
Verdict: Oh gorgeous and talented Kato Rosa, why does your romance costar have to be a kid. This is also starring that Yuma from the spankin’ new pimped out but full of strange and unknown little boys Johnny’s group, so maybe it’s trying to suck in the kiddies of Japan like Twilight did to the poor preteens of the US.

Akahana no Sensei

Meaning: A hospital middle school teacher tries to make sick kids happy but fails.
Verdict: … and then he will succeed to get to the children, heartwarmingly. Sounds kind of predictable and boring. Kashii Yu stars though, so that might be the one bright point.

Dandy Daddy?

Meaning: Daddy writes romance novels but tries to forbid his daughter from dating.
Verdict: What can I say, just the gaudiness of the CM makes this seem like it’ll be hilarious.

Ninkyo Helper

Meaning: Kusanagi puts on his clothes (sorry, can’t help it) and plays a mob boss who has to help at a nursing home.
Verdict: And Kuroki Meisa plays the sexy and feisty rival female mob boss. She will be wearing black yakuza befitting yet sexy suits. Ahem. That alone would probably make this worth it.

Saru Lock

Meaning: A loser idol-wotaku uses lock picking to solve cases with presumably equally loser-looking friends.
Verdict: Interesting premise, but how badass can lock picking possibly be? Guess it’s late night for a reason…

Call Center no Koibito

Meaning: Big shot employee gets demoted to a call center but finds ~love~.
Verdict: Yawn. Too bad they didn’t make it like an online dating call center or something, then that might be more interesting. But at least it does star ex-prime minister Koizumi’s hot son.

Haken no Oscar

Meaning: Shoujo manga otaku semi-hallucinates and decides to kick ass, Rose of Versailles style.
Verdict: ……fine NHK, you win this time. If it’s subbed I’ll give this a try.

Orthros no Inu

Meaning: A evil dude heals people he touches, a nice dude kills people he touches, what will happen when they meet?!
Verdict: Lolol it’ll be nice to see both Tackey and Nishikido Ryo go around an entire drama not touching any people. Love it. Also Mizukawa Asami will be in this too, and she is awesome.

Kochikame

Meaning: Katori Shingo plays a presumably hilarious policeman who mugs around the neighborhood.
Verdict: Good if the presumably hilarious part plays out in ways more than just weird faces.

Karei Naru Spy

Meaning: Nagase Tomoya and Fukuda Kyoko are badass spies.
Verdict: It sounds like a very standard spy drama but, really, you can’t go wrong with spies!

Otomen

Meaning: The strong and manly Asuka is actually has super girly tastes! Mayhem ensues when he falls in love with a tomboy.
Verdict: YES. If they can do the adorable manga even 75% justice, this will be terrific to watch.

Kanryotachi no Natsu

Meaning: The economy sucks now, so let’s make a movie about when the economy was good to help make it better again!
Verdict: The title means “The Summer of the Bureaucrats.” Because what screams summer like sun, surf, and bureaucrats, right?

Made it in time for April 1st! Winter season was good, here’s hoping the momentum carries on this season.

So my “recommendations” for watchable dramas has sucked consistently – but just look, one of these days I’ll correctly predict the good dramas. For the new shows this season, I’ll be keeping an eye out on Atashinchi no Danshi, Quiz Show, and Meitantei no Okite.

Hancho

Meaning: A six-member squad resolve cases humanely.
Verdict: Your parents’ mystery drama of choice.

Konkatsu!

Meaning: A salaryman looks for love in the form of hottie Ueto Aya.
Verdict: Nakai playing a salaryman is, strangely, quite fitting. Drama seems to be going for quirkiness, as well as an awesome female cast (Shaku Yumiko and Ryo, together? Too much fierceness.) Also going to be the drama KAT-TUN fangirls salivate over, for Ueda.

Atashinchi no Danshi

Meaning: Poor girl marries rich guy to pay off debt; hijinks ensue.
Verdict: Horikita Maki and Kaname Jun are the mains and they are both brilliant in comedies. Also, written by the person who brought you Hana Kimi and Densha Otoko – I have high hopes for this!

Shiroi Haru

Meaning: Father (Abe Hiroshi) gets out of jail, meets as of yet unknown daughter (played by REALLY CUTE NOZOMI aka the Ponyo girl).
Verdict: Probably will be very touching, as the obasans of the world unite to watch this. (Also, does it make me a bad person that “white spring” makes me think more “Lolita” than touching family reunion…)

Rinjo

Meaning: Mysteries solved by a guy with a keen eye (aka he will solve everything).
Verdict: I hope his keen eye requires this to have CSI-style dead body investigation, because otherwise it looks ordinary.

Aishiteru

Meaning: Little kid kills another kid, families angst it out.
Verdict: …families angsting it out for a whole season, no thanks.

Hyoryu Net Cafe

Meaning: A sci-fi universe opens in a net cafe.
Verdict: The idea is cool but it’s a late night drama… if they can pull off effects, this has promise.

Ghost Friends

Meaning: Living girl falls in love with dead ghost boy.
Verdict: Either she will die to join him or he will stay dead and she moves on – and this is Japan, not Korea, so it’s obviously going to be the latter. Great for people who don’t want to see love relationships go anywhere in twelve episodes!

Yako no Kaidan

Meaning: Fujiki Naohito plays a beautician who is two-faced and encaptures women with his skillz.
Verdict: Fujiki Naohito: making beauticians women’s lovers, not gay bffs, since 2009.

BOSS

Meaning: Quirky detectives solve strange crimes under their boss lady.
Verdict: Focus more on the crimes and less on the love life of the main boss and I could be in for it, since I totally adore Toda Erika.

LOVE GAME

Meaning: People do weird things with love for money.
Verdict: Plot could be so-so. But here’s two words why you should watch this: Shaku Yumiko. Or “Sexy Chick.” Both mean the same anyways.

Konkatsu Rikatsu

Meaning: Marriage and divorce and love blah blah
Verdict: NHK DRAMA YAWNN

Smile

Meaning: Two people stay positive despite one being an orphaned half Filipino and the other mute.
Verdict: Matsujun and Gakki? Hell yeah, who cares about plot. But really, why does it matter if Matsujun is half Filipino.

Meitantei no Okite

Meaning: A mystery drama that mocks mystery dramas.
Verdict: I’m strangely reminded of 33 pun Tantei… and that’s a good thing! Could be really funny.

Godhand Teru

Meaning: Newbie saves patients in a hospital.
Verdict: Who needs medschool when you’ve got GODHANDS!!!

The Quiz Show 2

Meaning: Remake of the awesome late night drama with bigger names.
Verdict: The lovely plus of Sakurai Sho (Or if you’d rather, Yokoyama Yu, for those Kanjani8 fans.) Original plot was pretty good, so if they spruce it up for prime time, it could be amazing.

Harukana Kizuna

Meaning: Chinese and Japanese actors together, act out a love story.
Verdict: This seems like a good effort to give a chance to Chinese actors – OH WAIT, THIS IS AN NHK DRAMA. Whoops your chances to make it legitimately in Japan ended before it even started.

Kaze ni Maiagaru Vinyl Sheet

Meaning: Woman is devastated when her American ex-husband dies. Americans come to investigate.
Verdict: Hey, this sounds like the previous drama, except in an effort to integrate American actors – hey, what do you know, NHK AGAIN.

Kaette Kosaserareta 33pun Tantei

Meaning: Second season of the awesome 33 Pun Tantei.
Verdict: Season one was BRILLIANT. Watch this, and season one. Seriously, just do it, you’ll thank me for it.

Majo Saiban

Meaning: 12 Angry Men, minus the old crochety old men and plus Toma. And bribery. And shady stuff like that.
Verdict: If you’re going to name your drama “Witch Hunt” you better have the woman on trial be there for satanic mass murders instead of like… assault or something weak like that.

Ikemen Sobaya Tantei

Meaning: Good looking guy, inevitably more puns including soba, and quirky mysteries.
Verdict: Fujiki Naohito: Making beauticians and soba noodles look sexy since 2009.

Soratobu Taiya

Meaning: Guy will try to unveil evil corporation.
Verdict: I’m sure there are people out there who enjoy corporate and law dramas… yeah.

Well, more like quarter-season, but I feel like I’ve watched enough to give some recs. This season’s dramas are (by my standards, at least) unbelievably good. All the ones I’ve watched have English subs, found at, cough, the usual places. (Please don’t ask me how to find subs.)

Here’s my take on them. Since Valentine’s day has just passed, let’s do some rating in hearts!

Mei-chan no Shitsuji – ABSURDLY GOOD. The synopsis doesn’t do it justice! Orphaned Mei is suddenly thrust into high-class school St. Lucia as the heir of the affluent Hongo group with her own S-rank (super talented, and coincidentally super hot) butler. A lot of ridiculous antics from the crazy bitches at the school. All the protagonists are likable characters, there is possible romance and definitely mystery, and seriously crazy creepy antagonists you just shiver to see – this is so far terrific!

Uta no Onii-chan – Also unbelievably good. You’d think being centered around a children’s show it’d be stupid, but there’s actually a lot of injustice, heartbreak, and hope centered around these people dressing in costumes and singing children’s songs. It’s really good – the half star off is for Ohno’s character looking like a mad pothead 90% of the time; his acting is good and his surly face matches the character, but makes the plot slightly less believable.

Triangle – the first parts are really dry, but by the third episode it gets really good – trust me! Unlike most mystery shows, Triangle focuses on just one mystery, but becomes truly mindboggling as episodes continue and, despite more facts being unveiled, the plot becomes deeper and more confusing. It gets annoying in how addicting it is, and you really want to keep watching until you know what will happen.

VOICE – Despite its edgy advertisement, VOICE is less mystery and more human-relations show. It’s not bad – although the amount of mystery is little, the human interactions are touching. It’s more like a sappy tell-their-story drama than a find-the-murderer, but it does a good job. The best part of the drama would be how the group of forensic medicine students VOICE centers upon are diverse and really grow on you.

RESCUE: The production values are high – they have actual fires and explosions and stuff sometimes. Think a Code Blue with firefighters and more bromance – yep, you’ve got the possible-but-not-really romance, past issues, flashbacks, etcetc. Surprisingly engaging despite firefighting school being a rather dull subject.

Kami no Shizuku – Okay, I watched this for the heck of it since, despite having a big-name Johnny’s, it’s the lowest rated drama of the season so far. In actuality, it’s not as bad as you’d expect. It’s not good either though – you’d have to care about wine to enjoy it; otherwise, it’s rather dull because it honestly sounds like the characters are spewing out a bunch of made-up facts.

Zeni Geba: The first episode was crazy and almost unswallowable – the flashbacks of Futaro were painful (but probably the best-acted part), and the present Futaro is just off the bat insane. It gets a little better as Futaro starts scheming, but he always seems less like a money-loving evil mastermind than just a money-loving seedy pervert… no amount of Japanese poverty and grief can screw a normal person up this much. I’d like to see if his plot succeeds, but I really can’t bear to sit through too many episodes of this.

I wish I could give a more comprehensive review of this season, but looking as that I will be continuing to watch five of the seven I tried (my coursework will undoubtedly be neglected…) this is probably all I can manage. I strongly reccommend you to at least try watching the top five dramas on this list – believe me, they’re worth it.

Whew! I’ve done a year of drama previews already, and it’s time for 2009’s dramas.

This seems like a fairly weak season, by my picks would be Voice, Zeni Geba, and probably Uta no Onii-san for the laughs. I’m a little late for this season, but nevertheless -

Voice

Meaning: Five young and hot doctors will solve mysteries by dissecting dead bodies. Think hot, young, Japanese CSI.
Verdict: I like CSI. Also, Eita, Ikuta Toma, and Shihara Satomi are damn hot. Screenwriter not really known for good mysteries though… but I like CSI-ish shows…

Mei-chan no Shitsuji (Mei-chan’s Butler)

Meaning: Shoujo adaptation~
Verdict: So if this is about Mei and her dream butler, why are there like 20 people on the advertisement?

Triangle

Meaning: Expired murder cases! Cue the flashbacks scenes.
Verdict: Mystery show for SMAP fans. And possibly for fans of pagan sacrifices, if the creepy triangles on its website are any indication.

Kami no Shizuku

Meaning: Kame is going to drink wine even though he doesn’t know shit about them.
Verdict: To its credit, with the tabloids screaming about Kame getting drunk in gay bars, this is much more believable than Kame playing an overweight boxer last year…

Kiina

Meaning: Mysteries solved by capable chick played by Kanno Miho!
Verdict: Supposedly based on real life crimes – will either be totally kickass or play out like a sniffy Lifetime movie.

Q.E.D.

Meaning: Mysteries, by high schoolers!
Verdict: NHK drama, NHK drama, I have no expectations., For those of you who like Takahashi Ai and aren’t bothered that she’s still playing a little high school girl.

Arifureta Kiseki (Unsurprising Miracle)

Meaning: Human relations drama, brought to you by Nakama Yukie.
Verdict: Probably unsurprising(ly boring.)

Love Shuffle

Meaning: A hotter and (potentially) funnier and non-reality wife-swap.
Verdict: I might bite for this one. Tamaki Hiroshi, feel free to swap to be with ME anytime you want.

Uta no Onii-san

Meaning: Guy down on his luck becomes the guy on Minna de Utao who’s dressed in neon colors.
Verdict: LOLOLOLOL.  How do you go from being cast as badass murderer mastermind to the loser guy on Minna no Utao, HOW.

Naniwa no Hana

Meaning: Crime solving + samurai
Verdict: How did gorgeous Chiaki get stuck acting with some kid on an NHK drama. Oh Japan.

RESCUE

Meaning: KAT-TUN’s Nakamaru and NEWS’ Massu are going to be heroic firefighters.
Verdict: Try to keep a straight face when they announce that nobody-recognizes-him Nakamaru and dopey-and-hungry Massu are playing a drama where they’re the “best of the best.” Lol.

Zeni Geba (Money Crazy)

Meaning: Matsuyama Kenichi plays a psycho rich dude!
Verdict: Last line of tokyograph synopsis: “he makes victims out of everyone around him.” What a total badass. I’m in.

Moso Shimai (Paranoid Sisters)

Meaning: Three psycho girls have fantasies about being romance novel heroines in a quest to find their mothers…
Verdict: …ok, this is some screwed up shit.

Tenchinjin

Meaning: Historical drama.
Verdict: Okay I’m obviously not going to watch some historical NHK drama, but Tsumabucki Satoshi looks damn good dressed up in the ad.

Honjitsu mo Hare. Ijo Nashi.

Meaning: A cop is going to do police-y things in a remote island of Okinawa.
Verdict: Are people going to be slaughtering or sexing it up all over the island? Otherwise, what’s he going to do, stop people from stealing each others beach sandals? Good if you like watching shows to further hating your cold wintery life while these people play on warm Okinawan beaches.

I blog about j-pop and j-dramas, plus I’m critical of others (har, har) so I figured – who better to pass judgment on those subjects than me? (Rhetorical question.) It’s time for me to give my two cents on 2008.

And if you notice some heavy, heavy bias – well, everything is based solely on my and only my opinion. (:

Starting with:

Best Single*: Perfume – Baby Cruising Love/Macaroni

Both songs on this single are perfection. One is a danceable and fairly upbeat, while the other is mellow and almost acoustic, both showing the range of electronic music Perfume is capable of.

Runner Up:
2. Aoyama Thelma – Soba ni Iru ne
3. Arashi – Truth/Kaze no Mukou e
4. NEWS – Happy Birthday
5. Fukuhara Miho – Himawari
*Single judgment based on all A-sides and B-sides in a single.

Best Album: Perfume – GAME

This album won by a long shot; full of a variety of technopop, from aggressive tracks to electropop to just danceable techno, it’s a perfect album.

Runner Up:
2. Ikimonogakari – LIFE Album
3. Suzuki Ami – Supreme Show
4. Otsuka Ai – LOVE LETTER
5. NEWS – color

Best PV: Perfume – Secret Secret

Despite being pretty much a glorified Pino commercial, this video featured some of the most stunning visuals without seeming overdone, has an interesting concept, and holds a visual quality of being futuristic at times and old-fashioned cinema in the others. Just terrific.

Runner Up:
2. NEWS – Summer Time
3. Double and Amuro Namie – Black Diamond
4. Arashi – Truth
5. Kuroki Meisa – Like This

Best Johnny’s Song: Arashi – One Love

Absolutely no competition this year. Gorgeous ballad that makes me want to go off and get married to Arashi. Well, even more than I do usually.
Runner up:
2. Arashi – Truth
3. Tegomass – Ai Ai Gasa
4. NEWS – Summer Time
5. Hey!Say!JUMP – Dreams come true

Best Drama: Ryusei no Kizuna (Fall)

It has everything: comedy, mystery, plot twists, heart-wrenching sob-moments, hot guys, pretty girls, decently good acting – if there’s one drama worth checking out this whole year, it’d have to be this.

Runner Ups:

2. Seigi no Mikata – extremely sweet and charming comedy; terrific acting.

3. 33 Pun Tantei (33 Minute Detective) – not that popular a drama, but I thought it was quirky and very amusing.

4. Maou – gets repetitive and overdramatic but overall an engaging plot with good acting and mood.

5. Last Friends – gets repetitive plotwise, but has great acting and some convoluted yet relatable and unforgettable characters.

And… that’s it! 2008 was undeniably the year of Perfume (for me, at least.) Here’s to hoping for the best in 2009.

Summer season 2008 was terrific – granted, I’ve yet to finish all of them, but the ones I’ve watched and finished have been great. Unfortunately, it seems to be a trend that all the good dramas air in summer – how’s autumn looking up?

I’m checking out quite a few dramas out of loyalty for the stars I follow, but if I had to rec three to check out based on how the plot sounds, it’d be Ryusei no Kizuna, Bloody Monday, and Giragira. And now, to the dramas:

Innocent Love

Meaning: Life is hard for girl, then girl finds love.
Verdict: Horikita Maki!! Also, it’s written by the same writer of Last Friends – maybe worth checking out if you liked that one.

Celeb to Binbo Taro (Celeb & Poor)

Meaning: Rich girl Ueto Aya falls in love with poor guy, hijinks included.
Verdict: Ueto Aya acts like a bimbo for many episodes, and then happily ever after. Haven’t we seen this before?

Team Batista no Eiko

Meaning: ~Legendary~ doctors commit murder – or did they?
Verdict: Like they themselves ask: medical malpractice or MURDER? It could be really suspenseful and gripping, or overly dramatic and campy. Catchy premise though!

Oh! My Girl!!

Meaning: A guy lives with his little niece and her manager, finds family and love.
Verdict: Hayami Mokomichi and Kato Rosa are cute and will make a heartwarming drama. Aww.

OL Nippon

Meaning：OL teaches three Chinese employees stuff.
Verdict: Why are there so many OL dramas?

Nanase Futatabi

Meaning: Remake of a 1979 drama where a bunch of psychic kids fight psychic baddies.
Verdict:Good luck pulling this off with your crappy drama budget, NHK.

Shioni Kyumei

Meaning: Drama about a woman pediatrician.
Verdict: Skip watching little children get immunizations and whatsoever.

Kaze no Garden

Meaning: A dying old man returns to his hometown to reconcile with his kids.
Verdict: …I’m about four decades too young for a drama like this.

Giragira

Meaning: Married man works at a host club and teaches hosts that their job is actually about “human connection.”
Verdict: A drama about hosts inevitably means hot young actors. That’s a plus. The manga this is based on is supposed to be good, so there’s potential.

Ryusei no Kizuna

Meaning: Two brothers want to get revenge on someone their sister fell in love with.
Verdict: Based off the popular novel, and starring Ninomiya Kazunari, Nishikido Ryo, Toda Erika. Plus there’s also Nakashima Mika and Kaname Jun – it’s too much star power to resist.

Bloody Monday

Meaning: Genius hacker vs terrorists.
Verdict: Miura Haruma saving the world – yes yes yes. I mean, with a title like “Bloody Monday” it HAS to be intense, right?

Scrap Teacher

Meaning: Junior high students versus their dumb useless teachers.
Verdict: Pedo heaven. About half of Hey!Say!JUMP is in here (read: the young half), so those of you who go wild for Yamada Ryosuke will be loving this. Otherwise – was Gokusen 3 and Rookies STILL not enough to satisfy you?

ROOM OF KING

Meaning: Four people fight it out – presumably hilariously – for a posh apartment.
Verdict: The plot sounds really dumb right now, but I can see it working out to be funny. We’ll see.

Akai Ito

Meaning: Two young lovers are connected by the ~red string of fate~.
Verdict: If it’s a best-selling novel and is going to have a interconnected movie in December, maybe this is worth checking out. Plus, I’m getting a huge Koizora-vibe from this – definitely a good thing.

Dandan

Meaning: Twins who meet up again through ~fate~.
Verdict: Watching NHK daytime dramas will probably make mellow old age catch up to me faster. Sorry.

SCANDAL

Meaning: Four women have lives of betrayal! deceit!… and then they learn about family, marriage, and love.
Verdict: Yawn. A name like “SCANDAL” and no murder/drug use/cheating stuff? What a rip.

And for those hoping for another hilariously terrible Tokyo MX BL-flavored drama chock full of pretty boys, like Here is Greenwood of RH Plus – sorry. The time slot seems to be taken up by Ultraman.

Back for another season of dramas Here’s my take, but the official synopsis are over at tokyograph. My top picks for the season would have to be Maou, Cat Street, and – is anyone surprised – Code Blue!

Ando Natsu

Meaning: Another cooking drama, this time with donuts and pastries.
Verdict: All depends on how funny they can make it. No big names that I’m interested in, particularly.

Taiyo to Umi no Kyoshitsu

Meaning: ANOTHER school drama. This time with snooty prep school kids instead of gangstas though.
Verdict: I’ve had enough of the GTO/Yankumi wannabees. Also, the name translates to “Sun and Ocean’s Classroom” – so what are they going to do, show students the way of life by almost drowning them?

Shibatora

Meaning: A total fail cop will bumble around, solving crimes but making you wonder what Japan’s justice force is coming to.
Verdict: The synopsis sounds stupid, but Koike Teppei looks so cute in that cop outfit.

Monster Parent

Meaning: Lawyer vs. scary psycho parents of students.
Verdict: They’re either going to spew law at me or GTO-style parenting. Yawn. Hiraoka Yuta is pretty to look at though.

Gakko ja Oshierarenai!

Meaning: Fukada Kyoko will teach students how to find life through shakin’ their thangs.
Verdict: Pass. Unless you like looking at Fukada Kyoko, which a lot of people do.

Gonzo: Densetsu no Keiji

Meaning: Angsty detectives
Verdict: Maybe. These either go really well or really off, depending on how they pull it off.

Seigi no Mikata

Meaning: Yamada Yu is going to bully Shida Mirai. Endlessly.
Verdict: This actually looks pretty funny; and my sadistic side is always up for some bullying.

Cat Street

Meaning: People with issues join together and form. Romance ensues. (This drama won’t start until August.)
Verdict: I know nothing about Cat Street except that the manga is by the same person who did Hana Yori Dango. And I adore Hana Yori Dango; okay, I’m in.

Sono Otoko, Fuku-Shocho 2

Meaning: The same detective drama as season 1, except it’s season 2.
Verdict: Even the tokyograph syopsis says its an “ordinary detective drama.” Ordinary.

Yottsu no Uso

Meaning: A bunch of women get together and reveal their dirty secrets.
Verdict: I’m too young for these middle age crisis dramas, unless they tell me they killed a load of men in their youth or something.

Code Blue

Meaning: Yamapi, Aragaki Yui, Toda Erika, and others will be helidocs, flying in ur skies, savin’ ur lives.
Verdict: YES. YES. YES. Say it with me now. YESSSSSSSSSS.

Lotta de 6 San-oku Ni-senman en Ateta Otoko

Meaning: A poor dude wins a 320 million yen in the lotto.
Verdict: He will inevitably have problems with having so much money. Bull. If I had that much money my life would be sweet, even if I have to pay for a therapist with a few million out of that 320.

Maou

Meaning: Ohno Satoshi and Toma Ikuta will be sternfaced people dealing with crime. Or something.
Verdict: …well I like Arashi, so I Like Ohno. And I like Toma. So I’ll be watching this even if they don’t pull off the mystery part well – which they actually seem like they will.

Dageki Tenshi Ruri

Meaning: SuperOfficeLady, fighting crime!
Verdict: LOL.

Kagero no Tsuji 2

Meaning: Some drama about ancient Japanese people.
Verdict: Historical NHK dramas never were my thing; 95% chance it’s not your thing either.

Walkin’ Butterfly

Meaning: A beautiful, tall girl needs to get over being beautiful and tall to model.
Verdict: Wow, life is sooooooo hard for her. Unless she’s some 12 foot tall chewbaca, there’ll be no compassion coming from me. Maybe next season we’ll have some singer being too insecure by having too good a voice, or some athlete being insecure because she’s born too athletic.

Koizora

Meaning: The heartwrenching movie now dragged out into MULTIPLE hours.
Verdict: Nothing will beat the movie, but I love the plot, so I’ll probably get suckered into this. Again.

Yasuko to Kenji

Meaning: Love rectangles with former gang members, you know.
Verdict: TOKIO’s Matsuoka will be a shoujo-writing gangster. It’s just weird enough to get me at least a little interested in what otherwise would seem rather boring.

33 Pun Tantei

Meaning: Domoto Tsuyoshi will be a bad detective incorrectly solving crimes for 33 minutes. (This won’t air until August.)
Verdict: This can be either really stupid or really funny; either way, it doesn’t matter for me because I love Dots.

Tomorrow

Meaning: A doctor and a nurse have issues and try to rebuild a hospital.
Verdict: Go watch Code Blue.

Here is Greenwood

Meaning: The shoujo manga manga in live action form, with pretty boys galore.
Verdict: This is on TokyoMX meaning it’s going to be kinda cheap and loltastic but, you know, this is for you just incase you liked the manga/like looking at unknown pretty boys, since there’s no other big ~ikemen paradise~ show this season.

So aside from the ones I’m very enthusiastic about, the rest seems rather mediocre for a summer season – but who knows! In my opinion summer season always has the most dramas that turn out to be surprisingly engaging, so once everythig airs I might find a new second-favorite – after Code Blue, of course. (FUJI TV should give me a pat on the back for all the Code Blue love I’m giving, seriously. )

I’ve yet to get started on looking through the summer 2008 dramas, but this one’s really caught my eye. Maybe it’s because I love Yamapi to death, maybe because I adore Gakki, maybe because I really like Erika, or maybe because I just have some perverse fetish for scrubs and helicopters – I am so, so ready for Code Blue.

Code Blue is a Fuji summer drama airing Thursdays at 10pm starting on July 3rd. It’s tagline is “ドクターヘリ緊急救命” – Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyumei, or Doctor Heli Emergency Rescue. So yes, this is a medical drama about helicopter doctors. The drama is written by Hayashi Hiroshi, the screenwriter of the well-received Iryu – Team Medical Dragon so it looks very promising.

The drama is supposed to publicize emergency doctors, but let’s be honest – we’re not watching the drama to learn. The cast list is on dramawiki, but the five mains are Higa Manami, Asari Yosuke Toda Erika, Aragaki Yui, and Yamashita Tomohisa. Yamapi will be a sullen but talented doctor in training with a dark past; Gakki will be the unconfident doctor in training; Erika will be the fiery, competitive doctor in training; Asari Yosuke will be the doctor in training that is overshadowed by the other three (you know it’s going to happen); and Higa Manami will be the nurse that oversees the trainees.

(character chart, credits to kenzokenzo at LJ)

The press conference, subbed:

Yeah, does those sneak preview scenes look amazing or what?

This drama has everything that I like: my favorite guy in the world, two of my favorite female actresses, playing roles in a drama that’s actually probably going to be dramatic, with real life related events – I’m up for it.

And if you’re still not convinced – how about some eye candy?

Now, can you still not be excited? I can’t wait to see everyone (especially Yamapi and his fluffy doc-fro) in action – cruising over Japan and saving some lives!

Happy April! Happy Spring! (although not happy April Fools… it’s kind of a terrible excuse for a holiday.) This month, spring season dramas will be starting. Watching most of the dramas last season was kind of painful so I don’t think I’ll attempt it again Still, I thought it’d be nice to give an overview. Tokyograph always has a terrific synopsis of everything this season. I thought I’d look through everything and give my two cents.

My own personal recs? If there’s three I’m actually probably going to follow it’d be Last Friends, Hokaben, and Kimi Hannin Janai yo ne.

And onto the dramas:

CHANGE

Meaning: Kimutaku will do heartwarming things and become prime minister while being smoking hot.
Verdict: So he’s going to be prime minister now and have Madonna singing his theme song? Oic. This drama’s ratings are going to go through the roof. I might watch it… but if I don’t, call me back in two seasons when he’s going to play god.
(Edit: This is postponed to May… probably because of bad planning, as they haven’t even finished shooting more than two episodes at this moment.)

Zettai Kareshi

Meaning: Shoujo manga turned drama; basically a girl has a dude and a cyborg in love with her at the same time.
Verdict:Eh. I greatly disliked the manga (I thought it was annoying and frustrating), but all comes down to whether or not you like Watase Yuu’s plots. Some people love her stories, some people can’t stand her.

Muri na Renai

Meaning: A story of a guy’s mid-life crisis.
Verdict: He’ll probably find youth and stuff along with love. Not really my thing to watch. The banner sure is cute though.

Osen

Meaning: Yet another cooking drama but with cute Aoi Yu.
Verdict: Probably not up for it – although the highlight of food and culture sounds possibly interesting if they can pull it off in a non-preachy manner.

Hokaben

Meaning: Ueto Aya cosplaying as an earnest lawyer and pleasing fanboys.
Verdict: If you like Ueto Aya’s brand of genuinely enthusiastic characters, you’ll probably like it; otherwise, no. But Kato Shigeaki of NEWS also stars so I’m in to see him dress like a lawyer, ohyes.

Shin Kasouken no Onna

Meaning: Fourth season of that detective sciency thing.
Verdict: You know what to expect. The series as a whole doesn’t seem like it’s that exciting though.

Battery

Meaning: Baseball drama
Verdict: typical Baseball drama. Has a bunch of Johnny’s Jrs, if you’re into those young boys.

Shichinin no Onna Bengoshi 2

Meaning: The same lawyer show, season 2.
Verdict: Softcore lawyer shows aren’t really my thing. But Shaku Yumiko is hot. Dilemma.

Last Friends

Meaning: Sad human relations. If you watch you will cry.
Verdict: Sad human relations. Hikki singing the theme song. Plus, Nishikido Ryo from NEWS is going to be a wifebeater in here? I’m in. I need to stock up on tissues because I am probably going to bawl.

Puzzle

Meaning: Another detective drama set in school, but with Satomi Ishihara leading.
Verdict: It’ll all depend on if they have hardcore crimes (murder!) or if it’s some watered down crimes (stolen money from the class, ohnoes!) so we’ll see.

Around 40

Meaning: Older woman finds love in younger man.
Verdict: Sounds kind of boring, really. What’s up with all the mid-life crises this season?

Kimi Hannin Janai yo ne?

Meaning: Love and mystery and hilarity- at the same time.
Verdict: It sounds like fun – the detective has a problem of falling in love with his suspects. Definitely interested.

ROOKIES

Meaning: GTO + baseball.
Verdict: …why are baseball playing delinquents naked these days?

Gokusen 3

Meaning: Same old plot, a whole new round of young pretty boys to be the students.
Verdict: How much can they milk out of this franchise before it dies? I thought Gokusen 2 already sucked in comparison to Gokusen 1. I don’t want to watch this; but Miura Haruma (14 Sai no Haha, Koizora, Binbo Danshi) is going to star in it and I am minorly obsessed with him, so what a dilemma for me.

Top Sales

Meaning: Female empowerment story about a woman who becomes a car salesperson!
Verdict: …somehow, it doesn’t feel like this will be pulled off in a fun way.

81 Diver

Meaning: Shogi (Japanese chess-like game) drama.
Verdict: It’s based on a manga, so probably more about funny antics than shogi. Still, it centers around shogi. Would you watch a drama about chess even if it’s supposed to feature a maid? …well, maybe, if you like maids.

Hitomi

Meaning: Heartwarming family affair of a young girl who has to take care of kids.
Verdict: …this sounds sappy but I’m kind of intrigued by it.

Ryokiteki na Kanojo

Meaning: My Sassy Girl, except swap the young Koreans with older Japanese people.
Verdict: My Sassy Girl was a good romance – so if you haven’t watched it yet and like cute romance dramas, why not?

So here’s the continuation to the Part 1 of the drama review! Following the six from last time, here’s the next seven.

Shikaotoko Aoniyoshi (The Fantastic Deer-Man) is about a man (Ogawa, played by Tamaki Hiroshi) plagued with terrible luck all his life, and now that he’s at the end of his line he’s sent to an all girl’s school in Nara to teach. When he gets to Nara, where deer roam around, he catches the eye of… I dunno, deer gods? who can turn into humans. And they’ll get him to become the protector of Japan, under their instructions? This drama is ridiculous (talking deer!) but hilarious, with unbelievable events voiced over by Ogawa’s self-pitying deadpan that somehow creates a great mix. Having Tamaki Hiroshi starring doesn’t hurt at all. I am so completely confused by the drama and yet I love it already.
Watch status: watching!

Binbo Danshi is about a poor guy who believes friendship is the most important and thus still keeps lending money to others to help them. Sound like he’s a dignified hero? Actually, he’s just a complete idiot. It definitely helps that Oguri Shun, one of the hottest actors at the moment, is in the main role, but it’s painful to watch him run around getting himself in serious debt while giggling dumbly. Plotwise, it’s somewhat bland but has some amusing moments, character-wise, Yamada Yu and Yashima Norito are charming as they try to help, but unfortunately I find Oguri’s character completely unbearable. I really can’t enjoy this drama no matter how much Oguri Shun and Miura Haruma soothe my eyes.
Watch status: Not wathching. Maybe search up some screenshots now and then for some eye-candy?

Ashita no Kita Yoshio has an interesting synopsis: a man unlucky with the number 11 decides to commit suicide in 11 days, but then meets a guy who helps give him the 11 most eventful days of his life. Sounds like a thriller, doesn’t it? Actually, it’s a human drama. And as for human dramas, it’s rather weird, yet standard at the same time. There’s portions I can’t understand – fantasies, split personalities, what? But despite all the weirdness, the common plot of a meek male pining over a lost love and changing due to the influence of a new, radical friend just seems really… done.
Watch status: Not watching

Daisuki!! is about a mentally disabled woman who fell in love with a mentally disabled man; however, he died in an accident, and she was left pregnant. The drama’s a human drama, so it goes over her and her family’s experience in raising this child. Aside from how these two people with “the mind of an eight-year-old” learned to procreate, there’s a lot of issues: like who in their right mind would leave the newborn alone with this woman? They’re really letting her take the baby girl out alone? Sure, it has sweet and touching moments, but it’s far-fetched and unbelievable, which for me is the kiss of death to a human drama that is supposed to portray reality.
Watch status: not watching

4 Shimai Tantei Dan is about four sleuthing sisters – or rather it’s more like one sleuthing sister in this episode. It starts off with their house getting burned down, and they have to find the perpetrator. I won’t spoil anything if you’d rather watch it yourself, but plotwise, this is a rather standard detective drama. From the first case, it wasn’t too slick, but it wasn’t too bad either – kind of like detective drama watered down a little for more faint-hearted audiences. I don’t know if all four sisters will start to play a big role in the detective work later. Personally, I like my mystery dramas to be a bit more intense (wildly convoluted murders please), so I’ll skip on this one.
Watch status: not watching, but it’s not bad

Edison no Haha sounded kind of boring: an elementary school teacher teaches a kid who has social problems but could actually be a prodigy, like Thomas Edison. I read that and went “…seriously?” Surprisingly, this turned out to be pretty amusing. It’s a human drama, sure, but the comedic moments are timed right, and the kids are cute, and the kid playing Kento is great at playing someone adorable but completely insane – he convinces his friends to play with gas canisters. You’d also probably want to check it out if you’re a fan of Ito Misaki. Personally, it’s not something I’d follow weekly, but it’s amusing enough to maybe watch now and then or for a marathon.
Watch status: maybe watching

Sasaki Fusai no Jingi Naki Tatakai is about a man and wife going through divorce and being their own lawyers. It stars Inagaki Goro as the second SMAP drama this season. It’s great; the marriage that they have is so ridiculous I’m surprised they haven’t killed each other yet. I’m not sure if they themselves will actually get divorced or just represent divorcees, because they haven’t actually divorced yet (despite being close to it), but I’m amused by their antics enough to stay along for the ride to find out.
Watch status: watching

That’s all for this season. Another drama I was really looking forward to from the synopsis is Lost Time Life, which doesn’t air until February, and is in episodic, short-story format. Hopefully, it’s carried out to be as great as it sounds.