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VCD Box
VCD Box
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| Synopsis |
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The most popular dramas recently are those that end after just one episode. But they don't seem to have the same kind of meaning behind them as weekly dramas do. So with this in mind, we've tried to create a new kind of drama. One episode doesn't seem to be enough, and more than 4 is too many. So we decided to change the main character every 4 episodes!
We needed to figure out what kind of theme would catch the attention of our viewers. So we came up with the theme of "struggles that women deal with daily" such as: work, the future, love life, marriage, independence, setbacks, and betrayal. These are the types of things that interest those of the "fairer sex."
We are living in times when being an independent woman is not a problem. Even so, the enemy of women is not men, it is those of the same sex.
Women have the freedom to work where they please and love as they please, which has caused even further struggles for them. So we thought that if we put together a drama that focuses on these kinds of things, it would attract more viewers.
At work, women have raised their potential. But is the same true for their love lives? Unfortunately not, because this isn't easy to change...
Who is your heroine? And how high is your "love quotient?"
Compare your love quotient to the 4 "leading ladies" featured in our stories.
Story 1 "Until the Fire has all but Burned Out"
Reiko is a 28 year-old that works at a housing maker. She suddenly gets dumped by her boyfriend Koichiro after 5 years together.
This is where the story begins...
Without any warning, "career oriented" Reiko gets dumped. Before that, she was happy because she was able to balance both her career and love life.
After the break up, Reiko finds herself not being able to concentrate at work, and starts making mistakes that she ordinarily wouldn't. Thanks to this, she finds herself close to losing her position at work. Furthermore, she gets to the point to where she's almost anorexic, and her looks start going down hill. Right now, for Reiko, life is the pits. And to add to her misery, she finds out that Koichiro has a new girlfriend.
"Being in love is no big deal, and neither is breaking up for that matter." This is what Reiko thinks to herself after she starts feeling like she doesn't know what she's doing anymore. "There are all kinds of problems in the world today like pollution and people struggling because of economic woes. How many people are there starving at this very minute?" "I need to think a little more about the troubles of the world," she thinks to herself as she begins to feel a little ashamed that her problems are only a drop in the bucket. But for Reiko, the real problem at hand is not war or hunger; it's Koichiro.
To this point in time, Reiko has tried to make the best out of life. She's really done all she can. The reward for this has been her position at work and a stable love life. Thanks to the break-up, the string that equaled stability in life snapped in one swoop. She never paid much attention to other women around her before, but she starts doing so now. She also does the same at work.
The solution she comes up with to her problem is to fall just totally head-over-heels in love, and ride the "wave" of love as far as it will take her.
Story 2 "Party"
Kotoko is a 29 year-old female that works at a foreign affiliated company. One day the company suddenly goes under!!
This is where the story begins...
Kotoko is suddenly stuck looking for a new job to keep her boat afloat in the big city. It seems though that Kotoko's standards may just be a little too high: work in Marunouchi, live in Daikanyama, and have dates in Aoyama. As if this is going to all happen...
While at a party, Kotoko meets a guy by the name of Natsume who works in a leading trading company. So now she has another option to possibly choose from; marriage. But it may not be as easy to reel in the big fish as she thinks.
Sometime after meeting Natsume, she meets Moriya, a geek that owns a small glass factory in Edogawa. It may be the opposite type of work environment that she's looking for, but it's kind of cozy, so she starts to work there. A stimulating love life, and a down to earth work environment.
Eventually, Kotoko starts dating Natsume. While working at the glass factory, she learns some lessons about "the heart" from the people there: a middle-aged woman; an older, yet very picky veteran glass worker; an Iranian, and a high-school drop-out teenage boy who doesn't talk much. This helps Kotoko to become attached to the possible idea of marriage to Natsume. Thanks to all of this, Kotoko starts searching for her "real" place.
Story 3 "Fighting Among Themselves"
This is the strange story about two women who work in the Marunouchi business district in Tokyo: a 34 year-old "old miss" and a 22 year-old who is just waiting for a marriage partner to come along. Although friends, the two eventually battle it out over one man.
The 34 year-old Tamako is considered an "old miss" at work. She's fairly attractive, good at her job, and has her own ideas about fashion and how she should lead her life. In other words, Tamako is a good-looking "adult" woman. So why is she still single?
At work, the new female recruits come in year after year, but all they've got going for them is good looks, because there's certainly nothing on the inside. Tamako forgets that she was once the same way, so she gets upset at the likes of them. Even so, she doesn't want to quit working. After all, she has to support herself.
It's not like Tamako doesn't have a boyfriend though...actually, she's having an affair. Her lover's name is Shiro, and he's 3 years older than her. She realizes that there isn't much in store for the future, but for now, it's the best thing going.
Is this the kind of love life that I was looking for?
Is this how I wanted to spend my life at 34?
Tamako is discontent, and has all kinds of reservations about herself.
Chie is a 22 year-old "office lady." She's just like the other girls who are waiting for "Prince Charming" to come along. More than work, Chie is always busy worried about "Mr. Right."
She wants to get out of the company and into a marriage! She's rather attractive and has a charming personality, but more than anything, she's young!!
She wants a good-looking man! Unfortunately though, she hasn't found one at work yet.
"It isn't supposed to be like this..."
Inside the office, she paints the image that she wouldn't harm a flea, but when she's in the kitchen at work, all she does is talk bad about her older co-workers.
"I don't want to wind up like them."
While waiting for her "Prince Charming," Chie is stuck with an aspiring actor; a poor one at that. Tsukasa may be poor, but he's got big dreams. Although she didn't want things to be this way, she's stuck on Tsukasa's "sex appeal."
One day, an elite, yet handsome guy arrives from New York! His name is Saeki, and he was "scouted" by the company to work for them in Tokyo.
Both Tamako and Chie vow the same thing, "I'm going to make him my man, and get out of this company!" But...while fighting over Saeki, Tamako isn't able to break things off with Shiro. The same is true for Chie.
"Ideals" and "reality," "aspirations" and "stability" are what these two are stuck between. | | Fuji TV |
| Soundtrack and Theme Songs (1) |
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| 1. | Nemurenai Yoru wa Kimi no Sei 眠れぬ夜は君のせい [MISIA] | [ LYRICS ] |
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| Drama Reviews (6) |
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!!WARNING!!
The review section may contain spoilers! Please understand
that you may find out about this drama's endings and plots!
| | 1. | because we can't help but fall in love [Rating: 8/10]
That is the theme of the drama that is repeatedly fed to us throughout by the bartender and the movie poster. Love is painful. Love makes you cry, love makes you do evil things, but love makes you laugh and makes you strong. Through the 3 stories, we are shown all these. Though the stories seem quite far stretched and too complicated at times, but these things do happen in life. Women do do such things sometimes for love. And yet, love is not always a happy ending. In fact, most of the time it is bittersweet. And yet, we go through the circle over and over again, because we cannot help but fall in love.......And perhaps that is the reality of life too.
Anywayzs~ kudos to great acting to Miki Nakatani, Tokiwa Takako and Kou Shibasaki...... loved Bar Air... wish there was something like that in my country..
Food for thought:Another interesting thing is the cocktails that the different girls drink. Miki Nakatani's drink seems to be a gin and tonic straight up... perhaps showing how she's such a power lady in her career and stuff, Tokiwa Takako drinks a manhanttan which somehow symbolizes the cosmopolitan urge of hers, while at the end, the bartender creates a new cocktail for the two leads, which he aptly names "love quotient". | | Reviewed by mysticalgal84 on 22 October 2004 | | 2. | really really good... [Rating: 9/10]
this drama kept me thinking about it after days of finishing it.. i loved all three stories, but the first was the most memorable... okada junichi really did a great job, surpassing his kisarazus' performance.. the casting was great.. everyone seemed perfect for their role.. all the female leads were superb.. special credit to nakatani miki for being so so good.. inagaki goro seem perfect for his role as natsume.. and tsunku and [bar AIR] fit into the show without a glitch.. i thought it was a very good idea to put three stories together.. somehow it worked even though i'm more used to the normal 12 ep 1 story style.. perhaps tv stations should try more of these type of dramas, the novelty makes it even better.. | | Reviewed by arashinokoto on 16 July 2003 | | 3. | Just The Second Story Which is Good [Rating: 6/10]
The first story, are so complicated and too unbelievable. The second story, more like a comedy with very nice couple and very funny because they're fighthing a lot, too bad the ending is unpredictable. The third story, even there are Takashi Kashiwabara who is tottaly cute, I still don't like it.
May be good if just the second story is make longer. | | Reviewed by rinarina on 1 August 2004 | | 4. | Entertaining [Rating: 8/10]
Taken place at "Bar Air", this woman empowerment drama unfolds 3 stories about love, relationaship, friendship, jealousy, hatred, glass ceiling.... All 4 women were left "manless" at the end but coming out stronger by finding something valuable about themselves.
My fave is the 3rd story: Fighting among themselves. The theme song is very good too. | | Reviewed by lovejdorama on 4 April 2005 | | 5. | 3 short stories in 1! [Rating: 7/10]
A drama evolved around 4 women and their view on love. My favorite is the second story with Tokiwa Takako. This is a good show! But I want more from this well known cast. | | Reviewed by jdfan on 27 April 2003 | | 6. | Mmm... [Rating: 5/10]
Some good, some bad. But it's ok. Maybe because the story was too short. | | Reviewed by akagi_nami on 6 July 2005 |
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| Comments From Users (43) |
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!!WARNING!!
This section may contain spoilers! Do not proceed if you
do not want to read about this drama's endings and plots!
| | 1. | Comments by marzyu [Rating: 10/10]
SUPER SUPER GOOD . . . . .well . . . . *ahem* only the okada junichi part ><" . .. don't get me wrong because i think the other 2 story is good too but i like the 1st one the most!!!!! it made me fell in love with junichi ^.^, i recommend this one because not that the plot is more different than any other love story but this drama has great casting too ^.^ u might fall in love with it too!!!! so why not give it a try ^.< . . . . . and i odn't need to put a review on this one because genma already putted a super detailed review on this page already!!! go read it . . . if u think it's too long . . .then don't . . watch instead ^.< | | 2. | Comments by warren.mcclendon [Rating: 6/10]
I bought this because I am collecting the Tokiwa dramas. I like her segment a little more than the rest. But this as a whole is a dud. Its just something thrown together to take advantage of the current popularity of the ladies in the drama. If I had known its multiple mini dramas instead of one drama with all the stars I never would have bought it. There is no real though out plots. If you are not a super fan of the actresses, do not waste your time or money on this. | | 3. | Comments by WD [Rating: 7/10]
Story 1 is definitely the most touching. I really love Story 1, it's something different from any doramas that I've seen! Miki Nakatani was really good in this one and Junichi Okada looked kakkoi! Story 2 is about life lessons, and Goro Inagaki suits the role Natsume perfectly. I also like Story 3 because it deals with friendship which is totally my kind of story. The chemistry between Naomi Zaizen and Kou Shibasaki is great! Overall, it's a pretty good watch! | | 4. | Comments by yume [Rating: 9/10]
An outstanding 9 for a gripping plot and believable characters. Just when you think our first main character, Reiko, has a life that can't get any worse or convoluted--enter more plot twists. It's the dirty grit of the battles, squables, and in-betweens of love and work. Okada also plays Reiko's male best friend EXTREMELY well. I'd recommend this drama for a thrill in seeing good, emotional acting about love that isn't always clean-cut and pretty. | | 5. | Comments by takuya_angel [Rating: 10/10]
This is one show that made me stop and think. I can relate to the storyline so much and felt that it actually spoke for my buried feelings.
I enjoy this dorama so much!
Junichi Okada really caught my eyes for his outstanding performance as Ryuji. Not to mention, he is extremely Kakkoii in this show!
I love the theme song by Misia too! Beautiful indeed. | | 6. | Comments by atheon [Rating: 8/10]
Feb 2004: Superb performance by miki san and okajun in the first story!! Not to mention shinohara ryoko, takako tokiwa, shibasaki kou......i really enjoyed every love story in this drama mainly bcos it was short. Some of the dramas withsimilar theme turned out draggy and boring. The theme song by misia really fits the mood of the drama. | | 7. | Comments by maguro666 [Rating: 5/10]
*** rating is for Takako part II only *** I haven't watched the complete drama. It feels a bit like Love Revolution and surprising goro actually looks ok. To be honest , he is the least likable member of SMAP. Yet he actually looks pretty good. and acts ok. No wonder SMAP is the most successful group in Japan. | | 8. | Comments by orenji [Rating: 9/10]
3 heart-wrenching and touching stories all brought into 1 dorama. Story 1 is my fave story out of the three. Nakatani Miki's acting was superb! Okada Junichi's role as Ryuji is worth mentioning about too... Goro's role as Natsume fits him totally... The theme song by MISIA just keeps ringing in my head. :) | | 9. | Comments by rastelou [Rating: 9/10]
Go watch this! The 4 female leads really put up superb performances which made me feel for them as they went through their emotional rollercoasters. The 3 stories were engaging and touching. Special mentions go out to Okada Junichi and Nakatani Miki - great acting! | | 10. | Comments by ryce [Rating: 9/10]
A compilation of 3 short stories about women (20s-30s yrs old) seeking love... The first story was very heart-wrenching... Good performance by Nakatani Miki. It was nice to see another Kashiwabara Takashi jdorama again... though a playboy... ^^" | | 11. | Comments by AngelXing [Rating: 7/10]
Nakatani Miki and Juinichi Okada were superb here....I loved the way they protray each characters in individual episodes....all of the woman have unique personalities....and well...it's a chick flick....if you get what i mean | | 12. | Comments by arashinokoto [Rating: 9/10]
one of the best shows i've watched.. everyone in the cast did a great job.. nakatani miki and okada junichi, inagaki goro and tokiwa takako, zaizen naomi, shibasaki kou and kassy.. the concept was great.. | | 13. | Comments by kamisen_fanatic [Rating: 7/10]
A bit draggy at times, like the part where tamako and chie wanted to get back at yukihiko...it took too long for them to realise and "plan" their get-back. but overall, it wasnt too bad, funny at times. | | 14. | Comments by ongrina82 [Rating: 10/10]
All the stories were just as good. I thought this drama will just be another normal drama but I change my view, very interesting drama. With my favourite: Goro Inagaki and Takashi Kashiwabara in it. | | 15. | Comments by Akakage [Rating: 9/10]
I love all of the three stories. All of the women actresses have delivered a superb performance. But I have to give my kowtow to Miki Nakatani who had given her best acting in the first story. | | 16. | Comments by miriya52 [Rating: 7/10]
I was only able to obtain the first episode, and it was kinda psyco-freaky, but somehow I can relate to it as a girl. I think that actors/actresses suited their character roles well. | | 17. | Comments by joyluck_sista82 [Rating: 7/10]
unique...and i can't really name which story is the best, coz i manage 2 find sumthing i like and hate in each story...but overall i like this dorama... | | 18. | Comments by jdfan [Rating: 8/10]
A drama evolved around 4 women and their view on love. This is just an average show! Big name cast�cbut still something is missing. | | 19. | Comments by vienna_sg [Rating: 9/10]
Brought this drama because so many famous artist starring in it. I like part 2 because i'm a fan of SMAP!!!.... | | 20. | Comments by kinki_txr [Rating: 8/10]
It talks about how woman in their 20s, 30s,40s view relationship.I am impressed with Okada Junichi acting here. | | 21. | Comments by Amika [Rating: 8/10]
3 short stories about how woman in japan deal with love, career.. like all 3 stories, a worth watching drama.. | | 22. | Comments by ct_subang [Rating: 7/10]
a r/ship drama that spands thruout 4 women in 4 different stories�quite interesting�liked the 1st one.. | | 23. | Comments by SushiMaki [Rating: 6/10]
Enjoyed the short stories, a good idea that you don't see with American soaps. Miki is a good actress! | | 24. | Comments by jetfire [Rating: 5/10]
Can't comment much coz only watched the 1st few espiode of the series bcause of Takako Tokiwa hehehe | | 25. | Comments by Bsalez [Rating: 8/10]
Nice story with a great act..4 story of a woman..4 kind of Relationship case u can learn here. | | 26. | Comments by v1olet [Rating: 7/10]
i don't like the 1st story. it's kind of depressing and boring. the 2nd and 3rd are ok. | | 27. | Comments by Warrior [Rating: 8/10]
Hei this drama is not bad!!It is about women's career,love,and every day's life | | 28. | Comments by sahabat9 [Rating: 8/10]
3 different stories about women.... i love this compilation of stories.. ;) | | 29. | Comments by thyelaine [Rating: 7/10]
4 different type of girls with different love problems.. quite interesting | | 30. | Comments by fybabe [Rating: 10/10]
Love the scripts. So insightful in a way. First and third story the best. |
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Read all 43 comments from users
| Users who voted for this drama (6) |
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| 1. | kotoko
my fave is the last story. really touched by the last scene where the 2 female leads say goodbye to the men. its a very meaningful story, highly recommended to ladies who are looking for love. because, there is really a lot to learn in love ==> this is what i learnt from the show. | | 2. | marzyu
THE DRAMA THAT MADE ME LOVE JUNICHI!!!!! MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LUV THE FIRST STORY SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! the other 2 are ok . . . but I have to admit . . this drama had GREAT casting . . .it's worth a try! Something different! | | 3. | arashinokoto
great great drama.. all stories were poignant in my mind long after watching the dorama.. i enoyed the stories soo much.. the four female leads were really the best.. | | 4. | jdoramafreaks
love from women's point of view...
How's yours? | | 5. | sahabat9
totally about women... :D | | 6. | fybabe
Love the scripts. |
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