Kounodori, A Story About New Life and Gratitude for Being Alive

For me, this dorama is Ayano Go's best role. It's not a romance drama, Kounodori is a heartwarming story that touch everyone soul who has gratitute and love for life. That's why Kounodori is already one of the best doramas that I recommend for all of you. 

Title : Kounodori / コウノドリ / Dr. Stork
Genre : Medical 
Episode : 10
Broadcast period : Oct - Dec 2015

Cast : 
Ayano Go as Konotori Sakura 
Matsuoka Mayu as Shimoya Kae
Hoshino Gen as Shinomiya Haruki
Sakaguchi Kentaro as Shirakawa Ryo
Yoshida Yo as Komatsu Rumiko
etc. 

Here are 5 reasons why you have to watch Kounodori.

1. The Story

Based on manga series "Kounodori" by You Suzunoko, Kounodori tells a story about new life, birth of new life, babies, and the so many stories behind the wonderful moment when new life born in this world. With the setting in an obgyn and neonatal departments in a hospital, the professionals team consist of doctors, nurses,  midwife, and other skillfull workers together form a solid team to help everyone in needs. The main role is Konotori Sakura (Ayano Go), a gynecologist - also a pianist whose stage name is BABY. The call for birth time is something that can't be delayed. Konotori sensei will always stand by if his phone rings and run to hospital for helping patients deliver babies. 

The story around Konotori sensei and the obgyn-neonatal team is a perfect story that combines professions, love, family-love, human-drama, slice of life, and medicals. I really love this one. And each episode has new story that also links with another stories. 

2. Perfect cast 

Well Ayano Go is a versatile actor that can play so many roles. For me, Konotori Sakura is one of his best roles. I like his eyes' expressions that full of gentle love, and his soft words that will give you peace. Lol. We can't also say no to Hoshino Gen that full of charms. He's that kind of actor, well, he's not that good looking but full of x factor that made him interesting. I still remember how he played very good in Nige Haji. Yoshida Yo is really good also. The young casts are Sakaguchi Kentaro and Matsuoka Mayu are also good in playing the character, and both are good looking and becomes candies of the eyes. :).  Good teamwork minna! 

3. BABIES! 

Who doesn't love babies? So many cute babies here. I almost cry all the time whenever there's a scene with the innocent look of a baby in each episode. I love babies. 

4. Shun Oguri and his Daughter 

Yes! Shun Oguri also has role in this drama, as a father of a daughter. And guess what, the daughter is his! She's very cute. OMG. Where else can you find drama with Oguri Shun plays with her daughter? So lovely. 

5. It will make your emotion up and down but in the end you will feel enjoyment of being alive. 

It's a roller coaster to me. I cried a lot for both sad and happy. It is true that is only obgyn that there are patients who are healthy, and the only place where you can say 'congratulations' to the patients. Yes, obgyn is a happy place in a hospital. Even though, not all the things are going as our expectations. In this life, anything can happen anytime. Birth and death are normal process in this life, and also in the middle of joy of new life birth, there's always sadness from death. And in the end, we will feel grateful for being alive, the excitement of life. And, we will not only take life for granted. 


Well, that's all from me. It's really recommended for you! Thanks Kounodori.

8.5/10 

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The Monster Sitting Beside Me : The Last Time Suda Masaki Wearing High School Uniform

As we all know quiet well, Suda Masaki is one the best actor in his generation. And this movie, a live-action manga adaptation of Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun is adding to Suda's list of good movies, together with Tao Tsuchiya who is also my favorite actress. Not to mention other casts that are so beautiful and pretty! Lol! Who doesn't love pretty faces, good acting, and comical story? I love them the most!

Title : Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun / My Little Monster 
Genre : School, romance, comedy, friendship
Runtime : 105 minutes
Release Year : 2018

Cast: 
Suda Masaki as Yoshida Haru
Tsuchiya Tao as Mizutani Shizuku
Furukawa Yuki as Yoshida Yuuzan
Yamada Yuki as Yamaguchi Kenji
Ikeda Elaiza as Natsume Asako
etc.

Adapted from manga with the same title by Robico, this movie is the story about the life of a diligent and 'normal' high school girl named Mizutani Shizuku (Tao Tsuchiya) that changed after meeting a genius, super rich, werid, but naive student boy who wants to have friends. Yes, that weirdo is Yoshida Haru played by the genius (also) Suda Masaki. Eventhough genius, Yoshida has no real friends and he is often misunderstood as the bad boy. After meeting Mizutani and befriends her, Yoshida has more friends and the story about their friendship is the main story here. And as written in the cast list, all of the friends here are good looking! WTH. I guess I won't be able to join the group. Lol.

To make it simple, I will just give you 5 reasons (of course my version) why you have to watch this movie!

5 reasons why you have to watch this movie.

1. The story is funny, very comical and manga-like, and the adaptation is very good. Well, maybe it's not that objective because I don't read the manga. But, as a movie fans, I guarantee that this one is a good live-adaptation movie. Its story is easy to follow, the pace is good, and not boring.

2. Colorful! What is this? Well, I really like colorful movie, it gives me spirit and makes me happy. This movie color and nuance are full of youth spirits! Vibrant colors are everywhere! Even the school uniforms are orange, the color of the sunrise (and sunset). Bye-bye gloomy story. :)

3. Perfect Cast! Can't say anymore. They have good acting skill, good looking, and good chemistry between them. Furukawa Yuki is cool!

4. It's the last movie where Suda Masaki plays as high school student. So, you have to watch this!

5. Because it's good movie with happy ending! Who doesn't love happy ending?


Well, I think it's quite difficult for me to write more about this movie, but I guarantee that it's a good live-action movie. If you have same taste as me. Haha... Enjoy friends!


8/10

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Bitter Sweet - It's totally sweet

Bittersweet is the taste of goya, bitter potato - the super duper healthy bitter vegetable that some people (not me) love it. It's a challenge to consume goya, and it's an art to cook goya. Well, they said it is. Is this story about goya?

Title: Nigakute Amai / Bittersweet

Genre: Comedy, food, romance

Run time: 96 minutes

Release year: 2016

Cast: 

Kawaguchi Haruna as Eda Maki

Hayashi Kento as Katayama Nagisa   

Based on manga series "Nigakute Amai" by Yumio Kobayashi, Bittersweet starred by Kawaguchi Haruna and Hayashi Kento is a simple yet not simple story about the friendship between Eda Maki who hates vegetables and Katayama Nagisa who is a vegetarian. Katayama who is also a good cook and of course a good looking guy ended up living together with Eda and you know the story goes as predicted where Eda finally loves eating vegetables. And, they love each other. Wait! It's not as simple as it is. Katayama doesn't like woman, yes he is gay. Sounds interesting! Do they finally fall for each other? Well, just to make sure that you should watch this movie yourself because I don't want to give the ultimate spoiler which is not the main story I think. But, for sure I'ii tell you that Eda now loves vegetables. 

Here are again 5 reasons why you will enjoy this movie. 

1. The story is somehow very cute. Eda is a country girl whose parents have run a vegetable farm land. She hates vegetables because it reminds her of the farmland that she thougt to be the main reason why she find difficulties to communicate with other people and friends. She falls in love at the first sight with Katayama and ends up lving together despite the facts that Katayama is a gay and a vegetarian. Everyday Katayama cooks and makes bento for Eda. Then, they help each other to ease their trauma and to move on with their lives. You want to know why Katayama is a gay? I'll not spoil you here. 

2. Delicious foods and a good looking guy cooking. 

Well, what can you ask for more?

3. Arata McKenyu 

He's just a additional player here but how can you say no to his pretty face? He's also the love interest for Katayama. They both work in a popular private boys only high school. Ehm, sounds yummy for you all the BL fans. haha.. 

4. The plot is easy and it's not a long movie so it won't take too much of your time. You can watch this movie after work, which is that I did just now, and it just made my day. Maybe it apply to you too. 

5. And if you are a person who like something complex and totally not simple, you can also watch this movie because the background story, the relationship between the characters and how they deal with life are really interesting. I just got a glimpse of this thing because I am just a simple person but I feel the complexity behind its modesty. Believe me!

Done. I hope you enjoy this movie as I do. 

7.5/10

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[Recommendation] Best Japanese Drama of 2017

Well, I made this post in June 2018, half year in the year. I usually watch seasonal drama based on ratings, recomendation from friends, and the actors. From many dramas of 2017, I want to give some recomendation for everyone that maybe want to watch some awesome dramas (based on my opinion).

Japanese drama recommendation 2017

Romance / Romance Comedy
1. Tokyo Tarareba Musume : It's simply because I like romance between woman and younger man. Plus, Sakaguchi Kentaro is very cute here. If you want some romance, comedy, friendship and life motivation.

Tokyo Tarereba Musume

2. Boku Unmei no Hito Desu: For pretty face lovers! Yamapi and Kame reunion after populer drama 'Nobuta wo Produce'. The romance story is simple yet so cute. If you want to watch some light romance drama with candy eyes then this should be best option.

Boku Unmei no Hito Desu

3. Kahogo no Kahoko: If you want some sweet comedy, family relationship and super cute romance then this is the best choice. Kahoko is an overprotected girl who falls in love with art student (who is also orphan) in her colleague. The relationship between those two is really funny to watch. Not to mention Mitsuki Takahato cute expression and Takeuchi Ryoma's charisma.

Kahogo no Kahoko

Medical 
4. Doctor X 5 : Need no description why this one is must watch drama for medical geek. Daimon Michiko is in action again!

Doctor X season 5

5. Code Blue 3: Well, I think 2 previous seasons are better but Code Blue 3 is good too. Still with the doctor heli, now they have fresh new faces as the ER interns.

Code Blue 3

6. Kounodori 2 : Heart warming medical story with many cute babies. Expect to cry a lot in each episode.

Kounodori 2

7. A Life - Itoshiki Hito : It's just hard to say No to Kimutaku drama. lol.

A Life 

Action/ Detective/ Criminal / Thriller
8. Crisis : About a special security squad. If you like Oguri Shun and Hidetoshi Nishijima play together in an action drama then this one should be a gem. They are very cool here!

Crisis

9. Keiji Yugami : I wonder why this detective drama got low rating despite its good story. Kamiki Ryunosuke and Tadanobu Asano are guarantee of best act!

Keiji Yugami

10. Okusama wa Toriatsukai Chuui : Ayase Haruka played another action drama! She proves that she can play many roles. The couple Ayase Haruka and Nishijima Hidetoshi reminds me of their sibling story in Yae no Sakura. This drama is about couple consist of ex-spy housewife and public security officer husband. This drama is also about the friendship between neighbor housewifes.

Okusama wa Toriatsukai Chuui

11. Black Revenge : If you like intense drama and revenge theme. It's about political issue, media, mind control, and depression. This one is very good because it has many unpredictable storyline and strong dialogue.

Black Revenge

Mystery/ Complex
12. Quartet : One of the best dramas in 2017. It has music, romance, mystery, crime, and thriller. If you like Sakamoto Yuji then this one surely one his best dramas.

Quartet

Profession
13. Rikuo : Another best drama in 2017. Just like Shitamachi Rocket previous year, Rikuo is a drama full of motivation and inspiration. Furthermore for ikemen lover as me, Yamaken and Ryoma in one drama is too good to be true but here they are in Rikuo!

Rikuo

And that's my recommendation of best Japanese drama in 2017! Hope you enjoy it. If you have another recommendation, please let me know in the comment. 

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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 

---

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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An Overprotected Princess in Modern Life - Kahogo No Kahoko

It's a really funny, the story of 'Overprotected Kahoko' aka Kahogo no Kahoko. The title says it all, it's all about Kahoko, an overprotected girl who've been raised by her parents in a steril world without anything ugly in it, like a princess living her whole life in a castle. Then, the princess meet his prince- oops no way! The princess will eventually come out from his little castle and greet the real world! 

----

Title: Kahogo no Kahoko | 過保護のカホコ | Overprotected Kahoko 

Genre: Drama, family

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2017-Jul-12 to 2017-Sep-13

Theme song: Family Song by Hoshino Gen

CAST:

Takahata Mitsuki as Nemoto Kahoko

Kuroki Hitomi as Nemoto Izumi

Tokito Saburo as Nemoto Masataka

Takeuchi Ryoma as Mugino Hajime

Mita Yoshiko as Namiki Hatsuyo

Nishioka Tokuma as Namiki Fukushi

Kubota Sayu as Tomita Ito,

etc

----

Mitsuki Takahata played the role of Nemoto Kahoko, the last year university student who has been living in an overprotected way by her family, and now she's trying to find job. In the middle of difficulty finding job, Kahoko meets Mugino Hajime (Takeuchi Ryoma) an art student who lives the opposite way as Kahoko, he was in the  orphanage after his mother left him. Through the interaction between those two, the story is getting more interesting. Kahoko learns many new things in life that are beyond her imagination. The relationship between those two then also develops into romance. 

I enjoyed the show. The chemistry and plot development is really good with smooth pace. Not only about Kahoko, the most interesting part is Kahoko's father point of view as the story teller in this dorama. Well, I'll give you 5 reasons why Kahogo no Kahoko is a must watch drama. 

1. A Modern Overprotected Princess - Fresh Story of the other side of modern life

I didn't know if the story of Kahoko is really happened in real life. But, a friend of mine when she saw this dorama, she said that the story portrayed her life, even not to that extend. Wow! I can't imagine that since I live in a quite liberal family. The story about Kahoko's parents who want to protect her precious daughter at all cost, Kahoko's new experience in life, etc. I just love it!

2. It's Takahata Mitsuki and Ryoma Takeuchi best acts

For me, this drama really exposed their act skills, especially for Takahata Mitsuki. And they nailed it! Since the first time I saw Takahata in the 'Mondai no Aru Restaurant', her act steals the scene. I think she has bright future in the acting world. Also in this dorama, Kahoko pureness (sometimes too much) can be depicted through various expression that really funny and cute. Also for Takeuchi Ryoma (I hope he'll be another successfull Kamen-Rider actor in the entertainment world), he is very good. 

3. Kahoko's cute outfits

Maybe it's too childish but I like Kahoko's fashion style in the dorama. I am a fashion addict so I always pay attention to fashion detail in every dorama I watch. And I like Kahoko's unique style. 

4. Heartwarming family story 

It's a family comedy and also heartwarming story. If you like story about family then this dorama is for you. 

5. Happy Ending and OST from Hoshino Gen

Do not worry about the ending. The happy ending is just something that we love the most in a romcom dorama. And do not forget the OST, Family by Hoshino Gen! That just make this perfect!

That's already 5 reasons! Do you have any other reason why Kahogo no Kahoko is a must watch drama in 2017? Let me know! 

I give 8.5/10 for this wonderful dorama.

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"Your Lie In April" - Another Yamaken Prince-like Live-Adaptation Movie

Yamazaki Kento is a living version of almost every Manga princes! Having the main male role of live-action manga adaptation is not something new for Yamaken. He got almost every charming prince role in the doramas and movies. And again, Yamaken became the genius pianist prince in the live-action adaptation of manga series "Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso" by Naoshi Arakawa, "Your Lie In April", together with Suzu Hirose, Taishi Nakagawa, and Anna Ishii. It is a usual romance-story of high school students, nothing is really new here. Despite the sad story, but Your Lie in April is not enough to be categorized as a tearjerker movie, at least for me. But, it is a good movie with youth spirit and a sweet frienship story. 

The story is about the genius pianist, highschool boy Arima Kousei who used to be called 'the human monochrome'. He won many prestigious competitions since he was child. But due some circumstances, he stop playing piano until he met Kaori Miyazono, a violinist. Kaori encourages Arima to play piano again and enjoy the music freely with all his heart. Together with Arima's childhood friends Tsubaki Sawabe, and Ryota Watari , the four become bestfriend. 

The story is very nice, isn't it? But, that's only the beginning because the sad story will just follow it. I don't want to spoil the ending but I'll give the hint, Kaori is sick with a really life threatening disease. So, what will happen with it? Will Arima can overcome his problem? Will Kaori be cured from her illness? How will be their friendship. Just watch this movie and you will get the answer. 

For me, this movie is not a really my kind of favorite movies but I'll still watch it like another youth movies like Strobe Edge, Senpai to Kanojo, etc. How can I say, this movie is quite good and colorful but not suprising. Let's see if you have different opinion? 

7.5/10

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