 29-sai no Kurisumasu [29歳のクリスマス]
Rating: 8/10 (Bought & Watched)
Funny, loved the heroine. Ending was not what I expected. | Ame to Yume no atoni [雨と夢の後に]
(Bought) | Antique [アンティーク〜西洋骨董洋菓子店]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Very quirky, extremely funny, wonderful ensemble cast works together perfectly to produce one of the most original dramas I've ever seen. Takizawa Hideaki is so earnest that you just cheer for him every minute. Shiina Kippei as the owner was absolutely hilarious, as was Abe Hiroshi. And Fujiki Naohito is such a pretty and elegant man, I could watch him all day and not get bored. Koyuki was great as the reporter and showed a real talent for comedy as well. The stories were well written and kept us involved, while the ending was a surprise, although it's still a feel-good one. Highly recommended! |
Beach boys [ビーチボーイズ]
(Bought & Watched) | Bijo ka Yajuu [美女か野獣]
(Bought) | Brand [ブランド]
(Bought) |
Byakkotai [白虎隊]
(Watched) | CA to Oyobi [ＣＡ(シーＩ−）とお呼び]
(Watched) | Cheap Love [チープラブ]
(Bought) |
Dekichatta Kekkon [できちゃった結婚]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Do yourselves a favor and watch this drama! It was absolutely beautiful! Very funny, yet also touching. I've never cried so much while watching a comedy before. All the cast does a superb job, especially Hirosue Ryoko and Takenouchi Yutaka as the young parents-to-be. It can be a bit sappy at times, but what the heck, that's why we watch these things, right? | Densha Otoko [電車男]
| Diamond Girl [ダイヤモンドガール]
Rating: 8/10 (Bought & Watched)
Very entertaining legal drama. Mizuki Arisa and Kishitani Goro play off each other brilliantly, while the supporting cast is all good as well. The real standout was Kishitani Goro, who made his caustic character both humane and lovable. Definitely a feel-good drama--I recommend it! |
Dr Koto - Shinryoujo 2006 [Dr.コトー診療所2006]
(Watched) | Egao no Hosoku [笑顔の法則]
Rating: 8/10 (Bought & Watched)
This was a fun drama. Yuko Takeuchi was really appealing as the heroine who gets to basically wrangle a manga artist to finish his latest work at some out-of-the-way onsen. Takanori Jinnai overacts horribly as her brother, who works there as the chef. Hiroshi Abe is great as the manga artist, with whom she develops a creative rapport. There are some good moments between the very modern Yuko and the traditional onsen-owner. I would have liked to have seen more romance, though! | Engine [エンジン]
Rating: 7/10 (Bought & Watched)
This one wasn't quite what I expected. KimuTaku does his usual good job, but he can't get past a bad script and poor chemistry with his co-stars. The kids were cute, but that's not what I tend to want to watch in dramas. Ehhh. |
Erai Tokoro ni Totsuide Shimatta! [エラいところに嫁いでしまった!]
(Watched) | Friends [フレンズ]
Rating: 7/10 (Bought & Watched)
Short, interesting drama about the relationship between a Korean man and a Japanese woman. Won Bin sure is a looker, isn't he? The story wasn't very realistic, but it was interesting. I liked how they didn't shy away from the way Koreans are treated in Japan, or the prejudice a mixed marriage receives in either culture. | Fukigen na Jiin [不機嫌なジーン]
|
Gal Cir [ギャルサ]
(Watched) | Gokusen [ごくせん]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Very, very funny! Nakama Yukie can play comedy like no other actress I know, and Mastumoto Jun was perfect. I have to say those were the prettiest juvenile delinquents I've ever seen--my husband was like "What is this, the boy-band high school?" Also, Namase Katsuhisa (the guy who played the principal) was hilarious. | Gokusen Season 2 [ごくせん２]
|
Golden Bowl [ゴールデンボウル]
Rating: 9/10
I liked this one! It was quirky and fun. Really enjoyed the bowling theme! Kaneshiro Takeshi and Kuroki Hitomi pair up nicely in this drama. It's worth watching again! | Good Luck !! [グッドラック！！]
(Bought) | GTO [麻辣教師]
Rating: 9/10
Excellent comedy about a former biker punk turned teacher, who through pure brazen stubborness, manages to turn around a down-and-out private school. Sorimachi Takeshi is sheer brilliance in the main role, with wonderful supporting performances from the ensemble cast. Even the kids were (for the most part) pretty good. If you're trying to introduce a friend to Jdrama, GTO would be a good one to start with. |
Hana Yori Dango [花より男子]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Fun, enjoyable, very very cute. To be fair, I think I did like Meteor Garden better, but this was really good as well. MatsuJun stood out as Domyoji. Well worth watching. | Hana Yori Dango Season 2 [花より男子]
| Hatsu Taiken [初体験]
Rating: 6/10 (Bought & Watched)
This was a sweet romantic comedy, although I got a little tired of it in the middle and almost gave up on it. The only thing that kept me going to the end was wondering what was going to happen to Sa-chan's cat. Yes, Sa-chan and his cat were the real romance in this show. XD XD XD However, Mizuno Miki and Fujiki Naohito were well paired as the main couple, and did a very good job. Some of the supporting storylines were a bit boring, though. I liked the fact that she was a vet, and her Tales of Woe in the early episodes about her failed attempts to lose her virginity were a riot! |
Hero
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
I really liked this drama! Great story, excellent supporting cast, and the chemistry between the two main characters, played by Kimura Takuya and Matsu Takako, was really believable. I wasn't sure I was going to like the main character, but he really grew on me. Theme song was catchy, too. Highly recommended! | Himitsu no Hanazono [ヒミツの花園]
(Watched) | Hotman [ホットマン]
Rating: 6/10 (Bought & Watched)
A lot of people seemed to like this drama, but honestly, it left me cold. Soramachi Takeshi is a favorite of mine, but I didn't like his character in this one. Too preachy! |
Houkago [下課後]
Rating: 6/10 (Watched)
Trite, amusing body-switching tale. Cute, but not a lot of substance. | Itazura na Kiss [イタズラなKiss]
Rating: 8/10 (Bought & Watched)
Very cute manga-based high school drama. Sato Aiko is a bit shrill, but she does convey the awkward adolencent very well. The standout actor in this one was Kashiwabara Takashi as Naoki. His performance really shines, and you realize that underneath his indifference, he actually likes this girl. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but was so romantic that I forgave it. ;-D | Itsumo futari de [いつもふたりで]
Rating: 7/10 (Watched)
Got a little impatient with this one, but it was enjoyable. The hero was dense beyond belief, but he finally figured it out. |
Kamisama no itazura [神様のいたずら]
Rating: 6/10 (Bought & Watched)
Amusing series, although not very well written. Kishitani Goro was excellent as always and Suzuki Anne was really darling as his daughter. I think they tried to drag out the last few episodes too much...I was getting bored by the end. | Kawa, Itsuka Umi e [川、いつか海へ]
| Kekkon Dekinai Otoko [結婚できない男]
Rating: 9/10 (Watched)
Very funny comedy about an older single man. Abe Hiroshi is brilliant in this, backed up by a great supporting cast. Well worth watching! |
Kiken na Aneki [危険なアネキ]
(Bought) | Kimi wa Petto [きみはペット]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
This series is an absolute treasure! Extremely romantic and funny, perfectly cast. Don't miss it! | Koi ga shitai Koi ga shitai Koi ga shitai [恋がしたい恋がしたい]
|
Koi no Chikara [恋ノチカラ]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
I really loved this one! Very romantic. The first drama that I watched all the way through (every week on the International Channel). Well worth the time! And I just love the theme song!!! | Koi no Jikan [恋いの時間]
(Bought) | Koi wa Tatakai [恋は戦い！]
(Watched)
First couple of episodes were really funny. |
Koi wo nan nen sundemasu ka?
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Very good drama! The cast was all excellent. Some of the situations were a little unrealistic, but I liked how the story focused on married women and what the expectations they face. | Koibito yo [恋人よ]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
There is a reason this one is a classic. It's a three-hanky drama. Love! Misunderstanding! Betrayal! And More! Excellent acting all around, would love to see a subtitled version of this someday, cause I know I missed some things. Theme music is highly appropriate, although by the end of the series I never wanted to hear Celine Dion again... ;-D | Le Parfum De La Jaolusie (Shitto no Kaori)
Rating: 8/10 (Bought & Watched)
Actually, I _liked_ this drama! Granted, the twists in the story got to the point where I was like "Oh, not again!", but that was part of the entertainment value. Sakai Masato really stands out as the poor husband who ends up caught in the middle of a power struggle between the two women. Might not be to everyone's taste, and certainly not a "feel-good" drama, but I think it's worth seeing. |
Long vacation [ロングバケーション]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
There's a reason this drama is a classic. A great love story--all Jdrama fans need to see this one at some point. | Love generation [ラブジェネレーション]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Great chemistry! Pacing gets slow towards the end, but on the whole, the story is pretty good. I loved the main characters, although I did get annoyed with them at times. It's a good sign if you are involved enough in a drama that you are yelling at the TV screen when the character does something stupid. A must-see! | Love Revolution [ラブレボリューション]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
Oh, this drama is so wonderful!!! Now, granted, you have to be in the mood for something romantic, with pretty people and somewhat unrealistic circumstances. Escapist drama at its best! Great music, and enough twists between the characters to keep you guessing. I think I'm in love with Esumi Makiko, even though I myself am female and straight. She's just so gorgeous! I know I'm in love with Fujiki Naohito--he continues being excellent in this drama. Yonekura Ryoko really outdid herself in this one as well. Le sigh--what I wouldn't do for English subtitles!! Don't miss this one! |
Lunch no Joou [ランチの女王]
Rating: 7/10 (Bought & Watched)
Quirky and fun, but not a lot of substance. However, an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Standout in this one is Eguchi Yosuke--he really dominates each scene he's in! | Mukodono! [ムコ殿/女婿大人]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Really funny, really sappy. Nagase Tomoya shines as a pop star who in his heart is really a nerd longing for a cozy home. I laughed until I cried every time he and Takeuchi Yuko did their disgustingly cute couple routine, especially at the reactions of all the relatives and his managers. Good stories, too, especially the one about the brother. Very much a feel-good drama! | Musashi [武蔵]
(Bought & Watched) |
My Little Chef
(Bought) | Nanisama! [なにさまっ！]
Rating: 7/10 (Bought & Watched)
A very funny office comedy. I didn't care too much for the female lead (she grated on me after awhile) but the rest of the cast was fantastic. Well-written, kept me hooked the entire time. | Narita Rikon [成田離婚]
Rating: 7/10 (Bought & Watched)
The constant quarrelling between the two main characters got to me after awhile, but the story was a good one, and the supporting cast was hilarious. For a minute, the intro (in English, done in documentary style) threw me--I thought I had the wrong channel on or something. Very clever! I didn't much care for the main couple--the hero was a nice guy, but wishy-washy, while the heroine was downright abrasive. But the drama was well-written enough that even with unsympathetic characters, it held my interest. |
Nemureru mori [眠れる森]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Outstanding mystery! This is one of KimuTaku's best performances. The twists become a bit unrealistic, but by that time I was so into the drama that I didn't care. Nakamura Toru's performance is also outstanding. Strange, compelling and haunting. | Ningen no Shoumei [人間の証明]
(Watched) | Nobuta wo Produce [野ブタ。をプロデュース]
(Bought & Watched) |
Nurse no oshigoto Season 4
Rating: 7/10 (Watched)
Slapstick. Very funny, very silly. We enjoyed every episode. (I gave it a seven because I prefer romances, but if you want a comedy, by all means, watch this one!) | Okusama wa Majo [奥さまは魔女]
Rating: 9/10 (Bought & Watched)
Very cute adaptation of the classic American TV series "Bewitched". Is a lot more funnier if you are familiar with the original (my husband, who doesn't know any Japanese, but is a great fan of the original show, LOVED this show, even if he only understood the little bit I was translating for him). Yonekura Ryoko was hilarious, Harada Taizo seemed a strange choice but he worked (then again, think of the Darrens--maybe he was a good choice after all.) The best casting was that gal who played Arisa's mom...BRILLIANT!! Well worth watching. | Onmyouji [陰陽師]
(Bought) |
Ooku [大奥]
Rating: 6/10 (Watched)
Historical drama. I watched in on the International Channel without subtitles. They were at times using such a formal dialect that I couldn't follow what was being said (especially the ladies in the Ooku). There was a lot of backstabbing and politics, which was interesting to keep up with. The costumes were just gorgeous, and it was interesting to see the class politics (they showed the servants as well, who usually are kept very much in the background in historical dramas!). I liked that it focused on the women--samurai drama is cool, but one gets tired of seeing men fighting all the time! But with all the ultra-formal type language, figuring out what the heck was going on was a challenge! But....lots of pretty kimono!!! | Ooku Dai-ishou [大奧第一章]
(Bought) | Otousan [おとうさん]
|
Perfect love [パーフェクトラブ！]
(Bought) | Pride [プライド]
(Bought) | Saigo no Bengonin
Rating: 4/10 (Bought & Watched)
Even Abe Hiroshi couldn't save this one. Boooooring. Promising storyline is wasted by nonexistant character development in favor of lackluster crime tales. I think there was only one of the stories really surprised me. It's too bad--I've seen most of these actors in other dramas, and they're good actors. With a better script, this drama might have been good. Instead....eh. Don't bother. |
Sanbiki no goinkyo (1999) [痛快!三匹のご隠居]
| Seikei Bijin [整形美人。]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
I absolutely loved this one! The heroine was ditzy but really cute, and the romance was very sweet, especially in those rare moments when the hero smiled. Great ending. | sengoku Jieitai [戦国自衛隊〜関ケ原の戦い〜]
(Bought) |
Shinsengumi [新撰組]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
Almost finished--brilliant work. Sakai Masato as Yamanami Keisuke was a real stand-out. Starts a bit slow, but keep watching--you WILL be hooked! | Shinsengumi Keppuroku (1998) [新選組血風録]
Rating: 5/10 (Bought & Watched)
I think I've been spoiled by NHK's version of Shinsengumi! This one is okay, but stilted. Workmanlike performances, good action. Still, if you have a choice between Shinsengumi dramas, I'd pick the NHK version. | Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi [空から降る一億の星]
|
Strawberry on the shortcake [ストロベリー・オンザ・ショートケーキ]
(Bought) | Taiho shichauzo [逮捕しちゃうぞ]
(Bought) | Tokyo Love Cinema [東京ラブ・シネマ]
(Bought) |
Toshiie to Matsu [利家とまつ]
Rating: 9/10 (Watched)
Good historical drama. I've only seen a few episodes so far, but have enjoyed them thoroughly. Love the costumes, and the fact that this historical piece has more than one or two women in it! | Trick [トリック]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
Brilliant! Hilarious! If you have to get just one drama, get this one! (And it's sequels!) Nakama Yukie as the heroine Yamada just sparkles. She is wonderful. And Abe Hiroshi is a perfect match for her, with an excellent talent for physical comedy. You will not regret seeing this one! Mystery, action, comedy, a touch of romance, and a cop with a very strange wig! This drama has it all! | Trick Season 2 [トリック2]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
Wait! There's more! And it's even better than the first one! Yes, the crew from Trick are back, with more mysteries to solve. This season has more laughs, more sparks, more wig-moments. I laughed, I cried, I laughed so hard I cried. Try to find it with subtitles--I saw it with subs and without and it's a lot funnier when you don't have to puzzle through the jokes (there are so many of them!!). I think Nakama Yukie and Abe Hiroshi together work wonderfully--I'm really cheering them on, hoping those characters get together. The supporting cast is great as well. |
Trick Season 3 [トリック3]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
In this, the third installment of the popular Trick series, Ueda and Yamada continue to investigate weird psychic phenomena, with hilarious results. It is very much the same as the first two seasons, almost too much so. Ueda invades Yamada's apartment, blackmails her into helping him investigate something, and off they go on an adventure. Some more variety might have been nice.
Yabe-san and his wig are back, but Ishihara-kun has been replaced by another less charismatic younger cop whose purpose in life seems to be to try to outshine Yabe-san. He's just not as funny. The wig gets some action, though. Watch for it!
By now, one should know better than to expect lovey-dovey romance from Ueda and Yamada, but their relationship still has some surprises left. Abe Hiroshi and Nakama Yukie are as great as always--those two play off each other beautifully.
I wasn't going to rate this one as high as the others in the Trick series, but the last episode changed my mind. It really had an impact. | Virgin Road [バージンロード]
Rating: 10/10 (Bought & Watched)
Bring your tissues. This drama had me in tears EVERY SINGLE EPISODE. Not necessarily in a sad way, just very touching. Soramachi Takeshi does an excellent job and Wakui Emi manages to make her frumpy character endearing. Takeda Tetsuya really makes an impact as the father. One of the best dramas ever! | Wedding Planner [ウエディングプランナー]
Rating: 7/10 (Bought & Watched)
This drama is funny and touching at times, but loses points with me because the main couple was so annoying! The supporting players were absolutely great, though, especially Abe Hiroshi as the florist. |
With love
(Bought) | Yamato Nadeshiko [やまとなでしこ【大和撫子】]
(Bought) | Yaoh [夜王〜YAOH〜]
(Watched) |
Yoshitsune [義経]
(Watched)
Am watching now--points for gorgeous costumes! Not as good as last year's Shinsengumi, I think, but it's interesting to see how they're handling some of the story. It's still ongoing, will review again when finished. | | |
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Abe Hiroshi [阿部寛]
