When They Knit Seriously - A Heart Warming Story

Title: Karera ga Honki de Amu Toki wa / Close Knit 

Genre: Drama, family, slice of life

Run time: 127 minutes

Release year: 2017    

Cast: 

Rinka Kakihara as Tomo 

Ikuta Toma as Rinko

Kiritani Kenta as Makio 

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Can you imagine Ikuta Toma as a transgender?! Well, me? Now I can and I love it! Close Knit makes me realize that Ikuta Toma is a versatile actor more than I could imagine before. Close Knit is a proof that despite his good look and masculine figure, he can also act as a gentle yet feminine Rinko chan  that we can't help falling in love. 

In Close Knit, the main story is about Tomo (12 years old) who live with her single mother. One day her mom run away and left her in the care of Makio, her uncle. On the way home, he tells Tomo that he is living together with his partner Rinko chan who is not an usual woman but a male born female or a transgender. Rinko chan works as nurse in a nursing house where he met Makio for the first time. Makio fell in love at the first sight with the gentleness of Rinko whe she takes care of her old mom. They fall for each other and end up living together. 

The same thing goes to Tomo. She find the mother's love in Rinko who made her beautiful bento everyday that she never gets from her real mom. Rinko's love also grows for Tomo as mother. Then, will they become a happy family with unusual composition? It's not as simple as it may seems because transgender woman still seen as the anomalie in the society. This is interesting because I can see the untold story of Japanese view for transgender that I thought more open minded than this. Close Knit try to reveal the hot issue, complex story in a really heartwarming, full of love, and cute story from Tomo-chan, Rinko-chan, and not forget to mention the gentleman here Makio.  

You should watch this gem!

8.5/10

More about Close Knit on Asian Wiki 

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Yowakutemo Katemasu! Even we're weak, we'll win!

The story revolves around a very weak baseball team of a school that try so hard to win the tournament so they can go to Koshien. 

Why you should watch this dorama? I'll give some reasons that I'm sure you will fall for them if you are really a dorama lover. Haha...Just in case you have the same taste as I am. 

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Title: Yowakutemo Katemasu | Aoshi-sensei to Heppoko Koukou Kyuuji no Yabou

Genre: Youth, school, sport

Episode: 11

Broadcast: April - June 2014

Theme song: GUTS! by Arashi

CAST:

• Ninomiya Kazunari as Tamo Aoshi
• Aso Kumiko as Tone Riko
• Fukushi Sota as Akaiwa Kimiyasu
• Arimura Kasumi as Tarumi Yuzu
• Hongo Kanata as Kamezawa Junichi
• Nakajima Yuto as Shirao Tsuyoshi
• Yamazaki Kento as Ebato Mitsuteru
• Mamiya Shotaro as Okatome Kei
• Sakurada Dori as Shikara Eisuke

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Here they are!

1. A lot of Ikemens!

It's unsual to see a lot of young ikemens in one dorama. Can you imagine Yuto, Sota, and Kento in one screen? Mabushii ne! (while covering my sight because the 'too dazzling' scenery from them. lol). Yep, for a fangirl or just someone who love the pretty boys, this dorama is a must! Starring by youth talented actors: Nakajima Yuto, Fukushi Shota, Yamazaki Kento, Mamiya Shotaro, this dorama is really like a dream team. Above all, we have Nino senpai here! Arashi's fans must have listed this dorama in the 'must watched dorama'. As for me, I really love Mamiya Shotaro. He's the main attraction for me. Oh Gosh, his eyes kill me! 

Mamiya Shotaro is so attractive :P

2. Unusual Theme!

Usually, you'll win because you're strong. You try so hard to become strong so you can be a winner. But not here! We'll win eventhough we're weak. This dorama tells us that it's not really about the weakness that matters in a game but use what we have to became our strenght. Sugoi desu ne!

3, Super baseball lesson from Nino Senpai!

Nino sensei kakkoii

Do you wanna learn about baseball, one of most popular games in Japan, from Nino senpai? oops he's a sensei here. Yes, Nino sensei? Me, of course I am. 
There's no doubt that Kazunari Nino is a good actor. Hey, just look at his awards for his acting skill. (Google it and you will know what I mean, ehm but I'm sure you already know. :D ) Through this dorama, I learned a lot about baseball. Somehow I now do understand why Japanese love the game so much. Koshien? What?

4. Bitter sweet ending
Did they win in the end? Nai! It's really a big spoiler but I do not care. Haha.. The ending is not a victory but it is sill a happy ending. Just watch it and you will know what I mean. It's hillarious!


Something to learn from Yowakutemo Katemasu:
"You still can do what you love even you're weak at it. You love it, that's all you need to do it!"

Do you agree with me?

More : d-addicts
8/10

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Nobunaga Concerto, Petualangan Saburo menjadi Oda Nobunaga!

Highly recomended if you like pretty boys, historical story, and adventure! 8.5/10 from me!

Oke, kali ini aku akan menulis sedikit review tentang Nobunaga Concerto (2014).Sudah pasti pada tahu kan ya. Dorama yang bercerita petualangan Saburo di jaman Sengoku dan menjadi Oda Nobunaga, satu tokoh paling penting di sejarah Jepang. Ceritanya yang pasti seru. Yang sudah baca manganya pasti ngerti kan betapa populernya cerita Nobunaga Concerto ini. Aku belum baca sih tapi aku cukup menikmati menonton dorama ini. Okey, mari sedikit bahas. Kenapa harus nonton dorama ini. 

1. Pemeran utamanya Oguri Shun. Cukup sudah sebagai penggemar dorama, nama Oguri Shun adalah jaminan untuk menontonnya. Sejak tenar sebagai Hanazawa Rui di Hanna Yori Dango, Oguri Shun semakin bersinar karir aktingnya di dorama. Dan, Nobunaga Concerto adalah salah satu dorama doi yang wajib ditonton. Meskipun, untuk menjadikan Oguri Shun memerankan anak SMA kok maksa banget ya. Secara doi udah om-om 30an. Aku tetap tidak bisa membayangkan Saburo itu masih anak belasan tahun. 

Oguri Shun as high school student Saburo

2. Ceritanya seru. Cerita time-slip menurutku nggak pernah basi untuk diangkat. Ya mungkin karena mesin waktu saat ini masih belum ada. Cerita yang diangkat dari manga karya Ayumi Ishii ini bercerita tentang Saburo, anak SMA yang tiba-tiba terjebak di jaman Sengoku atau jaman perangnya Jepang sekitar pertengahan abad 16 Saburo kemudian bertemu orang yang berwajah dan bersuara mirip dengannya yang ternyata adalah Oda Nobunaga. Apakah di sini ada yang tidak tahu siapa Oda Nobunaga? Hehehe.. 

Saburo dan Nobunaga pun akhirnya bertukar tempat dan petualangan Saburo pun dimulai. Perseturuan kakak beradik Nobunaga-Nobuyuki yang diakhiri dengan Seppuku Nobuyuki, berbagai peperangan antar klan, hingga ambisi penyatuan Jepang. Muncul kemudian tokoh penting yaitu Denjiro yang punya dendam kesumat dengan Oda Nobunaga yang asli dan kembalinya Oda Nobunaga sebagai Akechi Mitsuhide. Bagi para penggemar cerita sejarah Jepang pasti tahu lah siapa mereka itu. Seru banget! 

Dalam 11 episode, Nobunaga Concerto mencoba meringkas sejarah Oda Nobunaga sejak jaman abg-nya hingga menjelang insiden di kuil Honnoji yang terkenal itu. Selama 20 tahun lebih sejarah Oda Nobunaga dirangkum secara cerdas di dorama ini. Jika ada yang agak mengganjal mungkin adalah penampakan para tokoh-tokohnya. Masa iya, dalam rentang waktu puluhan tahun wajah Saburo dkk nggak berubah sama sekali, gayanya masih sama dan gitu-gitu aja. Hahaha.. Sejak Oichi (adek Nobunaga) masih gadis sampai punya 3 anak perempuan masa masih sama banget tampilannya. Aneh banget kan. Nah, karena itu juga aku tidak merasakan ada rentang waktu yang lama antar kejadian, seperti hanya kejadian dalam beberapa tahun saja begitu. 

Oiya, yang menarik dari kisah Saburo vs Oda Nobunaga ini mencoba mengetengahi kisah sifat Nobunaga yang katanya bertolak belakang. Ada yang bilang dia kejam minta ampun tapi ada pula yang mengetengahkan Oda Nobunaga sangat baik hati. Nah, sang mangaka sepertinya punya solusi jitu, yaitu ternyata memang ada dua orang yang berbeda. Hehehe.. 

3. Banyak ikemen yang bikin mabok kepayang. Hahaha.. Sebut siapa? Ada si cute Mukai Osamu, Yamada Takayuki yang cool, om Fujiki Naohito, Fujigaya Taisuke, Takahashi Issei, Yuya Yagira meskipun hanya 1 episode. Dan, ada satu lagi yang mencuri perhatianku saat ini meskipun di dorama ini hanya nongol beberapa detik. Siapa? Yup, Mamiya Shotaro. OMG, I love him so much. Sepanjang menonton dorama ini, mata benar-benar seger banget. Nggak cuman cakep, mereka juga keren aktingnya. 

Mamiya Shotaro as Tatsuoki Saito

4. Good cast, good act! Kalau menurutku sih, para ikemen tadi gak cuman jual tampang lah tapi aktingnya juga cukup baik. Catatan khusus untuk Yamada Takayuki yang bisaan banget jadi jahat tapi tetep keren. Meskipun minta ampun jahatnya tapi mata tak bisa berpaling dan seringainya itu lho. Sepertinya Serizawa masih bercokol sihirnya di sini. Hehe..  Yang berkesan juga adalah Takahashi Issei yang cool banget meranin Azai Nagamasa. Merinding banget pas adegan terakhir dia seppuku. Nangis sumpah, melihat dia harus memilih pilihan yang sangat berat. Pilihan apa itu? Nonton sendiri ya. Yang masih kagok akting menurutku si cantik Fujigaya Taisuke. Ha, masih muda.. Shibasaki Kou tak lupa, keren. Maklum sudah senior. :)

5. Cliffhanger ending. Endingnya klimaks dan bikin greget. Sampai sekarang aku masih nungguin filmnya rilis edisi dvd. Penasaran sumpah apa yang akan terjadi di kuil Honnoji. Ya, dorama ini akan bersambung di movie-nya. Jadi, siap-siap disajikan akhir paling menggantung yang bikin super penasaran. 

Jadi, bagi kamu pecinta dorama yang mungkin belum sempat nontoh dorama ini, kamu harus nonton! Atau kalau sudah pernah nonton, bolehkah kita bertukar kesan tentang Nobunaga Concerto ini. Silakan tinggalkan kesan pasti akan direply. Hehehe..

Secara personal aku kasih skor 8.5/10. Highly recomended!

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Title  : Nobunaga Concerto/ Nobunaga Kyousoukyoku

Genre : Jidaigeki, youth

Episode: 11

Broadcast period: Oct - Dec 2014

Theme song: Ashioto- be strong by Mr. Children

CAST

• Oguri Shun as Oda Nobunaga / Saburo
• Shibasaki Kou as Ki Cho, Oda Nobunaga's wife
• Mukai Osamu as Ikeda Tsuneoki
• Mizuhara Kiko as Oichi
• Kaho as Yuki
• Yamada Takayuki as Denjiro
• Fujigaya Taisuke as Maeda Inuchiyo
• Fujiki Naohito as Takenaka Hanbee
• Takashima Masahiro as Shibata Katsuie
• Hamada Gaku as Tokugawa Ieyasu

More : asianwiki, 

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Tenno No Ryoriban : A Must Watch Dorama!

The poster of TNR

Title : Tenno No Ryoriban / The Emperor's Cook

Genre : human drama, romance, biography

Episode : 12

Broadcast time : Spring 2015

Theme song : Yume Miru Hito by Masashi Sada

Cast:

Sato Takeru as Akiyama Tokuzo

Kuroki Haru as Takahama Toshiko

Suzuki Ryohei as Akiyama Shutaro

Kiritani Kenta as Shintaro Matsui

Tasuku Emoto as Tatsukichi Yamagami

Kobayashi Kaoru as Asami

I thought that Kimura Takuya's I'm Home was the best dorama for spring 2015. I was wrong. The best dorama for the season is undoubtedly Tenno no Ryoriban (TNR) aka Emperor's Cook. It portrays the life of Akiyama Tokuzo - the  legendary head chef of Emperor Hirohito. The lead role, Sato Takeru once again proved that he is one of the best young actors in Japan. Together with Kuroki Haru, Suzuki Ryuhei and other perfect casts, Sato Takeru makes Tenno no Ryoriban becomes not only the best but also most heartwarming and inspirative dorama ever. "Never give up on your dream and believe in yourself and love of all the people around you.", I got this line in my mind after watching TNR. If you are really a Jdorama fan, you should not miss this wonderful dorama.

Review, Peeling the Dorama

Story

Based on non-fictional biography novel by Hisahide Sugimori, Tenno no Ryoriban depicts the life of Akiyama Tokuzo. I haven't read the novel but after watching TNR dorama, I begin to search about this great chef in real life. I really wanted to know about him as the result of watching the dorama. Akiyama Tokuzo died in 1976. This dorama successfully portrays Akiyama's life in beautiful way, from his teenage days in early 20th century to his old days when he retires being the emperor's cook in 1972. I found it is funny, sad, warm, encouraging, and emotional while watching this dorama.

Plot

The story is started with 15 years old Akiyama Tokuzo who is sent home in drunk condition by 2 monks of a Buddhist temple where Tokuzo has stayed for several months trying to be a monk. It is not the first time Tokuzo failed to become something. He is such an easy bored person who can't stay in one job more than 3 months. He used to tried various jobs, from Kendo instructor, soldier, and even a rice market spectator. He is easyly absorbed in his job but also bored in a short time, 3 months. His older brother - Akiyama Shutaro  who is a diligent law student in Tokyo said that Tokuzo has just yet found something he's interested in, yet found his calling. That is so true, isn't it? When we haven't found our life calling, we'll always be bored and get tired of everything. But, not a lot people struggle for their calling. How about you? Me? I think I haven't found all of it tho. :(

Worrying about their son's condition, Tokuzo's parents makes Tokuzo gets married into Takahama family in Sabae,. He get married with Takahama Toshiko - a soft hearted girl in the same age as him. Not long after his marriage, Tokuzo met  Tanabe Yukichi , a cook of Sabae Army Infantry Regiment who also introduces Tokuzo to culinary world. The western style beef cutlet is a first key for Tokuzo to know his life's calling. With that, his adventure has just begun. The road to the world-class chef, the best chef in Japan, the emperor's cook has started.

Tanabe Yukichi (Hideaki Ito) who introduced Tokuzo to french cuisine

First cutlet that changed Tokuzo's life (Oishii!)

Tokuzo then moves to Tokyo, leaves behind his wife and new family, to get training about western food.  (Frankly, I really do not understand the way he thinks. How could he leave his family without saying nothing?!)  Through his brother's connection, Tokuzo is accepted as an apprentice or kitchen helper in Kazoku Kaikan, a western restaurant for aristochrat in Tokyo. The chef leader who will also next become Tokuzo's teacher is Usami san. Here, Tokuzo also will meet his best friends - Shintaro Matsui who  and Tatsukichi Yamagami - another kitchen helper at Kazoku Kaikan. Here, Tokuzo starts to realize that path toward his dream is a tough and difficult. And, the most important thing  to be a good cook is a sincere heart.   

Tokuzo's first time visiting a western restaurant in Tokyo, (Just after this, he will cut his lips! lol)

Toshiko divorced Tokuzo so he can pursue his dream. (so sad here)

Due to some accident, Tokuzo is fired from Kazoku Kaikan. This makes his family angry and his in law family in Sabae wants him to divorce Toshiko.  Next, he starts to stay and work at Banzai-ken,  a small traditional japanese restaurant. While Tokuzo is busy with his problems, he doesn't realize that his older brother is sick from a serious illness and Toshiko has miscarriage of his baby. Toshiko then divorced Tokuzo, to free him achieving his dream. Never give up of his calling, Tokuzo leaves Tokyo and goes to Paris, France to get more serious training, with support from people around him especially his sick older brother.

 The path toward his dream is not that easy. He must face hardship for being an only Asian in his new workplace. Even, he is called with the nickname 'monkey'. But, with patience and hard work he proves that he has the best talent to be the best cook. Then, he is acknowledged as the first Asian cook who has legal certificate as a professional  cook and work for Ritz Hotel- one of the best restaurant in France. There, Tokuzo works under supervision of the best cook at the time.  Tokuzo's success story makes the Japanese Empire wants to hire him as the Imperial cook. Then, Tokuzo goes back to Japan.

Shshhhh... He's cooking with a very serious expression!

Tokuzo in France (img source: here)

I almost forgot to mention that while in Paris, Tokuzo falls in love with a woman named Francoise. He also meets his best friend Shintaro who is hoping to be a great painting artist there, but fails.

Tokuzo's life as the Imperial cook then begins. His first job is a big success and the story about him becomes the family's pride. His older brother, Shuntaro  dies with a peaceful smile knowing Tokuzo now is a great person. Tokuzo also meets his ex-wife - Toshiko and they starts a new family again. His life as the emperor's cook and head of his family continues. He has 2 sons and 1 daughter. So many things he goes through. The saddest thing is when Toshiko died and leaves him. Soon, he realizes that Toshiko would never leave him. She is always around him wherever she is.

Time passes by and then difficult time has come. It is the war time and post-war. As the country that lost at the war, Japan is in very hard situation. Even, Emperor's situation is in danger. The destiny of the country is on the America's hand. Tokuzo, with all his might, wants to protect the emperor. He does so many things even he must swallow his pride and temper. And, together with colleagues he serves the  emperor and the Japan empire splendidly. Until then, 1972, when he is retired as the emperor's cook.

Actor

OMG! I love Sato Takeru so bad. He improves his skill in acting. He portrays the life of a legend cook heartfully. How do I know? I feel it. I feel the warm feeling by watching this dorama. You deserve an award Sato! And Haru is also very good. I don't know why, but I think that she is very good in portraying a good japanese housewife in that era with the low voice, the smile, the attitude, etc. She's a lovely woman. How she devotes her life for her family is really awesome. One more stunning character is Akiyama Shutaro - Tokuzo's nii yan. You will never ask for more for a kind brother like that. I was always cries when the I put my self in Shutaro's side. So sad but beautiful. Suzuki Ryuhei deserves an award too! :D

Suzuki Ryohei as Akiyama Shutaro, a very special character that deserves more attention

I want to mention one by one all of the best casts of this dorama but that seems too much. All I wanna say is that all the casts are awesome. Good job for all of you! Oops,... I need to say that only one cast that I think is not good enough. The cast for Francoise, the French girl who Tokuzo falls in France. How can I say but she's not the type that I can call beautiful or cute or whatever. I'm so sorry, but for me, she's not a good match to SatoTakeru . Or, is it me that got jealous? Lol

How can I not jealous with her!!!

 Setting and Costumes

Nothing to complain. I love both the scenes in Japan or France. Thanks for taking me a walk around Tokyo almost 100 years ago. The main street that shows Tokyo that time and the now condition that shown in ending song is very memorable. Is that the main road near the government building centers? I think I have visited that place in my trip last year. They look similar.

And the costume, ehm... Do you have complaint? Me, not! Maybe because other aspects are good so the detail becomes not a matter anymore. Does it? Or may be, it is really good? I think the last one is the answer. I like the most the women's costumes. I like the kimono or yukata or whatever it like. They are just so cute and girlish. Ahhh... I want to wear it too! Yeah, next time for sure. Hee...

OST and theme song

Awesome! I like the OST and theme song. The music did a really good job in dramatizing the story. Whenever the sad music was played, I was always almost to cry. In the last episode, I cried for along time tho. And the song, Yume Miru Hito sung by Masashi Sada, its lyrics is so meaningful. I love it! It really defines what is the meaning of pursuing a dream and follow the our passion in life. It suits well with Akiyama Tokuzo's life. Well written lyrics, it is!

Last but not least ( I think I will add some points to this review in my next free time), I just want to say that this dorama is awesome! Look at my high score for TNR! :D

9.5/10

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Bloody Monday (I) : Genius Hacker Vs Genius Terrorist, who will be the winner?

Title : Bloody Monday

Genre: Action, Suspense

Episode: 11

Broadcast period: Oct - Dec 2008

Theme Song: Over the rain - Hikari no Hashi by Flumpool

CAST:

Miura Haruma as Takagi Fujimaru (Falcon)

Kawashima Umika as Takagi Haruka 

Sato Takeru as Kujo Otoya

Narimiya Hiroki as Kanzaki Jun (J)

Tokunaga Eri as Anzai Mako

Fujii Mina as Asada Aoi

Kichise Machiko as Orihaya Maya 

etc.

Just recently, I had a chance to watch Bloody Monday where Haruma Miura played  a genius hacker against the terrorist group. How can I say about this dorama? Ehm, I think the story is very good yet the dorama is not that wow. Why? First of all, I really understand that Haruma Miura was still very young that time, so about his acting,.. Hemm... So so..  But, watching Bloody Monday was enjoyable enough for me. Narimiya Hiroki caught my attention and he played brillianty his role as the genius mathematician terrorist. We know that sometimes villains are more attractive than the heros, just like in this dorama. Here is my review on Bloody Monday. Check this out!

Synopsis (from d-addicts)

After a biological terrorist attack kills off the population of a Russian town; Japan's Public Safety Special Third unit, code name THIRD-i, believes that the terrorist organization responsible plans to unleash the same virus known as Bloody X into Tokyo. Subsequently, THIRD-i recruits the help of genius hacker Takagi Fujimaru to find out what happened in the Russia. However, as Fujimaru becomes involved, he soon finds out that he is in over his head and that the terrorist groups influence reaches not only his school but even the police. Fujimaru must now rely on his skill as a hacker to unravel the organizations sinister plot and find out the truth behind "Bloody Monday."

Review, Peeling the Dorama

Story and storyline

Based on an action manga with the same title by Ryumon Ryo and Megumi Koji, it is guaranteed for its story quality. At least in my opinion, a story about a young genius hacker, terrorist group, and national defense  is cool.

The story is started with a scene in Russia, a japanese woman kissing a Russian. Wait, it is not kissing actually, but killing. Yeah, killing by kissing. She is Orihaya Maya, the spy. Skip her for a bit. Takagi Fujimaru is just an ordinary high school boy except the fact that he is also the popular hacker  'Falcon' that used to hack the data system of Third-i Division, a special division regarding national defense of Japan. Sugoi ne! Cool, isn't it! Eventhough hacking is a serious crime, I will not deny that a hacker is cool. Hacking is an art too! Ha.. Anyone agree with me?

The terrorist group, a group of people who believe that Japan is a rotten country and need to be destroyed. They believe that to punish people at fault, they need to be the God who can control the life of other people. They come with an idea to use a very dangerous virus that able to kill human in minutes, called Bloody X. Their project is called Bloody Monday which means last Monday for Tokyo's people except the group. Tokyo is under terror and it can be vanished everytime. The Third-i Division that is responsible for public safety found that it's hard to handle this terrorist group. Then, Falcon is a big help for Third-i. Can you imagine a hacker who save a country? No need it, just watch this dorama. :)

Falcon logo. Cool, isn't it? (img source: here)

Something that I found interesting was about the young people that too much powerful here.  The leaders of the terrorist - J and K. J or Kanzaki Jun played by Narimiya Hiroki is a young genius mathematician who has unusual way of thinking. He enjoys making mathematical equations about his actions with the group. K is believed as the true leader of the terrorist behind J's shadow. What? K is a high school girl? J's little sister and Falcon's classmate? Yup! K is Anzai Mako who always stayed around Fujimaru before she was known as K. It was a big shock for me too. How can such a young people can be a leader of a terrorist group? Furthermore, J and K against Falcon - another high school boy? Too good to be true, I think. Seems like Third-i that consist of very capable officers are not an equal match to that young people. Hahaha.. Very unrealistic! But then, I remember that BM is shonen manga story. Lol. Got it!

I almost forgot about Orihaya Maya. She has a big portion in Bloody Monday. She works for money and she was hired by K. Before her identity got caught by Fujimaru, she was a new transfer teacher at the high school. She is always around in this story. Not only the first scene, the last scene is also with her. What an important side character she is.

Orihara Maya (img source: here)

It is easy to watch the dorama. The storyline is easy to understand. Even the theme is a little difficult for me - a non-tech person. I don't understand how Fujimaru did his jobs with hacking but you must agree that it is not important. The most important thing is how the story goes and what the result of this war. 

Setting and Costume

The Third-i headquarter is awesome. It looks like a real office of an elite division. Or is it just my imagination? Ha.. The school, the terrorist place, the city, etc - I think I have no complain about the location settings. They're perfect! Costumes? Hemm...  No complain again! I like Third-i uniforms, Takagi's style, J's style and also Otoya's messy hairstyle. Haha.. Sato Takeru looks funny in his hairstyle like that. I love you SatoTakeru! Haruka - Fujimaru's little sister - is always cute even though her acting was just so so. :P

Sato Takeru and his weird hair style

Actor and Actress

Like I wrote above, I really understand that Haruma Miura was still very young when he played his role here. Yeah, his acting somehow is not the best of him, just mediocre. It is really different with his perfect act in Last Cinderella. As a young boy who involves in a serious tragedy, lost his family, friend and saw many people die - I couldn't feel any desperate feelings of him. His eyes doesn't say anything, just plain and it seems so fake to me. Sorry to say tho. The same thing goes to Kawashima Umika who played Takagi Haruka and Fujii Mina who played Asada Aoi. Both of them sure are cute girls but talking about their actings here, I will say a big No. While, this is the first time I saw Fujii Mina , I've seen Kawashima chan for several times (Code Blue, Papa Doru). I will say that she just can't act. Yeah, don't worry, it's all just my opinion.

Narimiya Hiroki as J (img source: here)

Thumbs up for Narimiya Hiroki (J), Sato Takeru (Kujo Otoya),  Kichise Michiko (Orihara Maya), Matsushige Yutaka and Yoshizawa Hisashi. They played their roles very good. Narimiya's smile is unforgettable remark of J. One of my friends said that his smile is like Joker's smile, an evil and ambigous smile. You deserve it J! Orihaya Maya played by Kichise Michiko is always beautiful yet dangerous, she has a charisma of adult woman. While, 2 outstanding character of Third-i officers are Kano Ikuma (played by Matsushige Yutaka) and Kirishima Goro (by Yoshizawa Hisashi). They looked cool and their expressions are so real. Last, Sato Takeru. He has unique look and expression. I can't really describe what it is, but he is very good in BM.

OST and Theme Song

I like the OST. It helps in the developing of the story and make some scenes more intense and dramatic. And the theme song is over the rain - hikari no hashi  performed by Flumpool is good enough. It was not really caught my attention but the song is good. I just feel like the song is not that memorable for me. What kind of song do you think would suit a dorama about a hacker and terrorist? What a fool question, isn't it? Lol.

Well then, that's all my review on Bloody Monday. You may not agree with me, so share your opinion with me and let's talk about dorama.

I give  7.75 /10 for Bloody Monday (season I) 

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[Dorama] Long Love Letter: Live for the Moment!

Title: Long Love Letter/ ロング・ラブレター

Genre: Science fiction, human, romance

Episode: 11

Broadcast period: Jan - March 2002

Theme song: Loveland Island by Yamashita Tatsuro

CAST

Tokiwa Takako as Misaki Yuka

Kubozuka Yosuke as Asami Akio

Yamada Takayuki as Takamatsu Sho

Yamashita Tomohisa as Ootomo Tadashi

Nakajima Hiromi as Sekiya Noriko
Tsumabuki Satoshi as Fujisawa Ryuta

Setelah melihat Kubozuka Yosuke di IGWP (Ikebukuro West Gate Park) , aku langsung jatuh hati. Long Love Letter adalah salah satu dorama yang kutonton karena dia, selain juga memang ada Yamapi (Yamashita Tomohisa) yang ikut meramaikannya. Dorama jadul tahun 2002 inipun akhirnya sudah selesai kutonton dan berikut ini adalah reviewnya. :)

Sinopsis

Asami Akio, seorang mahasiswa bertemu pertama kali dengan Misaki Yuka, seorang florist, di sebuah toko buku. Perkenalan pun berlanjut dan mereka berdua bertukar kontak. Karena suatu kejadian, Asami kehilangan ponselnya dan sekaligus kehilangan seluruh kontak di dalamnya. Selama setahun, Asami dan Misaki tidak pernah bertemu lagi hingga kemudian tanpa sengaja mereka berdua bertemu di sebuah SMA tempat Asami bekerja sebagai guru.

Setelah liburan tahun baru, SMA mengadakan kelas perbaikan untuk murid-murid yang bermasalah. Saat itu, tanggal 7 Januari 2002. Sejumlah murid dan guru berada di sekolah untuk menjalankan aktivitasnya masing-masing. Misaki datang ke sekolah ini meminta tagihan bunga dari seorang guru yang memesan bunga darinya. Tanpa sengaja, Misaki bertemu lagi dengan Asami. Saat mereka sedang berbicara di halaman, tiba-tiba gempa besar terjadi dan membawa satu sekolahan itu menghilang.

Sekolahan yang menghilang di tahun 2002. (img source: here)

Masa depan di tengah gurun tandus. (img source: here)

Tidak hanya Asami dan Misaki yang terbawa pergi tapi juga sejumlah murid - Tadashi Ootomo dan Takamatsu Sho, dll - serta guru lain Sekiya Noriko dan lainnya. Sebanyak 22 orang yang berada di sekolah menghilang dari Yokohama pada 7 Januari 2002. Gedung sekolah dan penghuninya pun tiba-tiba muncul lagi di tengah-tengah gurun pasir tandus yang tak dikenal yang ternyata adalah masa depan. Di tengah usaha bertahan hidup dan keinginan untuk kembali pulang, ke22 orang ini akan memperlihatkan bagaimana perjuangan dan juga harapan manusia itu akan selalu ada. Dan bahwa cinta serta perasaan yang kuat dapat melampaui batas ruang dan waktu.

Menguliti Dorama

Long Love Letter terinspirasi dari manga berjudul Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu atau The Drifting Classroom karya Umezu Kazuo.  Secara keseluruhan, aku lumayan suka dengan dorama ini. Ceritanya bagus dan para pemerannya juga lumayan. Jika ada sedikit ganjalan, ya paling karena tampilan dorama ini terkesan jadul. Ya memang jadul sih. Hehehe. Selain itu,  melihat sejumlah aktor/aktris pada jaman masih unyu-unyu, menjadi hiburan tersendiri. Baru sekali ini aku melihat Yamada Takayuki, Mizuhara Asami, Takei Emi, dll yang masih muda. Kalau Yamapi sih, dari bayi aku juga sudah pernah lihat. :P

Ide Cerita

Meski bersumber dari manga, dorama ini ceritanya sedikit berbeda. Tokoh Asami dan Misaki adalah tokoh yang tidak ada di manganya. Jika di manga cerita lebih mengarah ke suspense dan horor, di dorama ini lebih menekankan di drama dan romansa. Yang sama adalah, latar kejadiannya yaitu sekolah yang menghilang dan muncul di masa depan bersama sejumlah orang di dalamnya.

Sekelompok orang yang terdampar di masa depan ini harus berjuang melawan kerasnya hidup di bumi yang sudah rusak dan tercemar. Tidak hanya konflik di dalam diri sendiri dan di dalam kelompok, mereka juga harus berhadapan dengan manusia-manusia penghuni masa depan. Mereka merasakan kemarahan pada manusia di masa lalu yang telah merusak bumi sampai sedemikian rupa hingga berubah menjadi gurun tandus.

Yang menjadi sangat manis di dorama ini adalah penggunaan judul dan juga pesan yang ingin disampaikannya. Long love letter, surat cinta yang menempuh perjalanan panjang menembus batas ruang dan waktu, untuk menyampaikan pada diri kita sendiri dan pada manusia, bahwa kita harus hidup sepenuhnya, melakukan sesuatu tanpa ragu dan menjaga alam lingkungan. Seperti yang Asami katakan di pembuka episode 1, "Live for the moment". Hidup yang kita miliki adalah saat ini, maka kita melakukan sesuatu di waktu yang kita miliki. Manis!

Alur dan Akhir Cerita

Alur yang digunakan adalah alur maju yang cukup mudah diikuti. Perpindahan dari dunia masa depan dan masa sekarang, cukup rapih dibuatnya, sehingga tidak membingungkan. Satu yang perlu dicermati mungkin di episode terakhir. Orang-orang di masa depan mengirim surat untuk orang-orang di masa lalu . Nah, di sinilah titik yang paling penting dan nyambung dengan judul doramanya - Long Love Letter-. Akan ada sedikit bolak-balik antara masa lalu dan masa depan jadi sedikit membingungkan. Satu yang kurang greget adalah akhir cerita yang kurang lengkap. Sejumlah masalah tidak terselesaikan atau tidak diperlihatkan selesai sehingga membuatku penasaran. 

Satu hal lagi yang agak aneh adalah munculnya manusia mutan di masa depan. Sepertinya, peran mereka di dorama ini tidak penting banget. Mereka hanya muncul sebentar dan sama sekali tidak memberikan kesan yang mendalam.

Seting/ Latar

Bagus banget! Lokasi gurun di masa depan sumpah bagus banget. Terasa benar-benar seperti di gurun yang suram, tandus dan tanpa kehidupan. Di mana ya mereka ambil lokasinya? Meskipun ini dorama tahun 2002, tapi efek-efek yang diberikannya tidak terasa 'tua' dan jadul. Kalaupun ada yang jadul adalah gaya-gaya rambut para pemainnya. Sudah sejak kapan ya rambut Yamapi jadi seperti itu? Hahaha...

Tokoh dan Pemeran

Kubozuka Yosuke memang tidak salah deh dijadikan idola pada jaman itu. Selain ganteng, dia juga pandai berakting. Sebagai Asami, aku suka sosoknya sebagai guru SMA yang gaul. Kalau punya guru kayak dia sudah pasti aku akan rajin ke sekolah. Setiap adegan sedih pun, Kubozuka sangat menjiwainya. Yang paling hebat adalah akting kesakitan saat dia sekarat. OMG! Aku seperti bisa merasakan sakit yang dia rasakan. Good Job Kubozuka! Tokiwa Takako sebagai Misaki juga bagus. Aku suka ekspresi matanya yang seperti berbicara. Pokoknya dia bagus deh. (Saking bingungnya aku harus bilang apa). Ah, semoga Asami dan Misaki dapat berbahagia di dunianya sana (yang sudah nonton pasti ngerti. ;P).

Pak guru Asami yang keren. :) (img source: here)

Misaki Yuka (Img source: here)

Pemeran lain yang perlu dicermati adalah para bintang-bintang terkenal saat ini yang pada waktu itu masih muda belia, seperti: Yamashita Tomohisa, Yamada Takayuki, Fujisawa Ryuta, Mizukawa Asami, Ishihara Hayato, Takei Emi, dan Karina. mengenal mereka saat ini dan melihat mereka di tahun 2002 pasti jadi sedikit pangling. Yang paling membuat pangling adalah si Yamada Takayuki. Jika sekarang doi sangat maskulin, sangat laki, di dorama ini doi masih imut-imut. Aktingnya sejak dulu sudah bagus. Lain halnya dengan Yamashita Tomohis a aka Yamapi, meskipun aku fans beratnya, tapi jujur kukatakan kalau akting Yamapi masih kurang greget di sini. Tapi tetap saja sih, dia ganteng banget. Hehehe... Ishihara Hayato, ehm.. So so lah. Mizukawa Asami sangat mudah dikenali karena wajah dan suaranya sama persis. Dia awet muda banget. Takei Emi juga masih imut-imut. Secara keseluruhan, para artis muda ini lumayan baik terutama si Yamada.

Mereka di Long Love Letter dan sekarang 

OST dan Lagu Tema

OSTnya tidak terlalu kuat atau memang aku mungkin tidak terlalu memperhatikannya. Tidak banyak komentar untuk OSTnya. Nah, kalau lagu temanya yang berjudul 'Loveland Island' dinyanyikan oleh x, sangat easy listening. Nada dan melodinya mudah terngiang-ngiang di kepala. Meskipun bisa dibilang ceritanya suram, tapi lagu ini nadanya ceria. Agak tidak nyambung sedikit sih ya. Tapi, yang mengejutkan adalah OST dorama ini mendapatkan penghargaan lho, sebagai musik terbaik di ajang  32nd Television Drama Academy Awards  tahun 2002. 

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Sekian dulu ya untuk Long Love Letter. Tidak menyesal aku mengutak-atik internet untuk mencoba menonton dorama jadul ini. Kubozuka Yosuke harus ditelusuri lebih lanjut nih sepertinya. Hehehehe..

Jya...

Goodpart: Kubozuka Yosuke, Nice story, Lots of young actors, realistic future desert

Badpart: human mutants, unfinished ending

7.75/10

Selebihnya tentang dorama ini di: d-addicts, asianwiki, jdorama.com

Yang mau download bisa di: doramax264,

Yang mau streaming nonton online bisa di: dramacool 

"Live for the moment" , Asami Akio

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