xploring wrote:

http://www.divshare.com/download/3691072-d13 There are 4 tracks in this and one of them is the theme song for Churasan3.

Thanks. I have the original album. I think I've bought every album she's published.

You can see photos of where Churasan 1-4 was shot.
http://loca.ash.jp/info/2001/a2001_tyurasan.htm
Just click on �ʐ^

There are many more photos of locations of other jdoramas too...

xploring wrote:

You can see photos of where Churasan 1-4 was shot. http://loca.ash.jp/info/2001/a2001_tyurasan.htm Just click on �ʐ^ There are many more photos of locations of other jdoramas too...

Thanks. Those location shots are very interesting.

Well, after a long time watching, I finally finished Churasan. Not that it was hard to watch or anything like that... it's just loooong.. 39 DVD's of about an hour each (or 156 x 15 minute episodes, in true asadora format).

I loved this series. I had heard quite a bit about it from Wyn-chan and Ralph, and it definitely lived up to the hype. It was a little slow in the beginning for me, but after a certain point the story really took off and didn't slow down at all until the finish. The story itself (main plot and most of the side plots) was unrealistic, but that was kind of the point of it. Each character was perfectly cast, from the Okinawan family to all the other characters later on in the series (No spoilers here ) but Kuninaka Ryoko as the naive, eternally optimistic and sometimes maddeningly cheerful Eri-chan was absolutely fabulous. She IS Eri, I can't picture anyone else doing justice to the role.
I was totally unprepared for how outright hilarious the series was in some parts. There are some really funny parts throughout, especially some of the recurring jokes and I thought Obaasan (Granny) was an absolute hoot and one of the funniest charaters in the series.
I would recommend this series to anyone who can get their hands on a copy. A big thanks must go to Harriet, for faithfully recording every episode, to Ralph for doing such an awsome job of authoring to DVD, and to Wyn-chan, for copying & sending the entire series to me. Thanks guys, you rock!
My score: 10/10

Anime Dad!

I'm so glad you liked Churasan...Ralph must be soooo happy...Churasan is his internal spiritual home, and he wants to share his joy in Eri et. al.

He and I disagreed about it a little. Eri was so great as a young girl, very spunky and smart and interesting, and then, when she grew up, after I choked my way through Goya Man, she became the smiling Madonna do-no-wrong type, the object of adoration for all and the central force in every scene, whether she was there or not.

However, she grew on me, and I began to love her and the whole show. By the time I hit the sequels, she was my queen.

I taped the show for Ralph, because there is nothing I would not do for him...he's made my life so magical by opening up the world of Japanese television to me. He has great taste, even when we disagree!

What are you moving on to now?

The sequels. of course And i'm finishing off Haken no hinkaku, which I never finished because of sub problems. It stars another fabulous Ryoko, Shinohara Ryoko-chan, this time

Anime Dad wrote:

The sequels. of course And i'm finishing off Haken no hinkaku, which I never finished because of sub problems. It stars another fabulous Ryoko, Shinohara Ryoko-chan, this time

I only wish the original Churasan had the same video quality as the sequels.... It's a pleasure to see Eri in such clear color... oh yes and the scenery of the islands too....

Don't forget to squeeze in the Ryoko promo in your busy schedule. It's only 40 minutes long.

YAY, AD!!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the series!
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I found this little gem on Youtube.
First a short interview with the main cast of Churasan.
Then the theme song of Churasan 1 "Best Friend" sung by the original
group live (Kiroro):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g_-xx7vsPY&feature=related



Each time I hear this song it instantly takes me back into the serene peaceful world of Churasan.

ralphm1999 wrote:

I found this little gem on Youtube. First a short interview with the main cast of Churasan. Then the theme song of Churasan 1 "Best Friend" sung by the original group live (Kiroro): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g_-xx7vsPY&feature=related Each time I hear this song it instantly takes me back into the serene peaceful world of Churasan.

Awwww great find, ralph! The song really does bring back such wonderful memories!
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Wanna trade? My Drama List (UPDATED: July, 2013)

I watched episode 31-48 today. (Thanks Ralph!)

It was so much fun! I found myself smiling for much of the time, sometimes even during the opening credits before the episode has begun. ^__^ But I was also surprised by how much I was drawn into the story with the characters, and how it made me care about everyone of them. Even when some of them didn't figure much in the story, I still think about them and wonder what's in stall for them later on...

xploring wrote:

I watched episode 31-48 today. (Thanks Ralph!) It was so much fun! I found myself smiling for much of the time, sometimes even during the opening credits before the episode has begun. ^__^ But I was also surprised by how much I was drawn into the story with the characters, and how it made me care about everyone of them. Even when some of them didn't figure much in the story, I still think about them and wonder what's in stall for them later on...

Isn't it amazing how you begin to feel as if you are part of the family.
You must have reached the Tokyo episodes. You're in for a treat from here on.

I have just finished Churasan tonight. It was great. ^__^

There are so many things I could say about this series, some of which I have probably forgotten because it was just so long, but in saying that, this was one of the funniest and the best feel-good series I've watched. Even that doesn't cover how good this series is... Like many others have said, the cast was great at delivering those wonderful characters, even the minor ones who didn't figure much in the story. It really impressed me how much I was drawn into the story and felt for almost all of them. By the end, I can't really think of anyone who hasn't endeared him/herself to me in some ways. I love the parts when the story was focused on Eri's life and the people at Ippokan, and Yugafu. Watching them get together, whether it be to talk about their troubles, or scheming with a common purpose, I thought it was really special (the best). Apart from the cast, I like the writing and the messages it puts across a lot too. I never thought I would laugh so hard so much in that short span of time, and so many times too. Almost at the same time, to seamlessly go from a poignant/serious moment to being absolutely hilarious the next, that was another one of the great things about Churasan for me...

The characters were great too. My favourites are probably Mariya, Shibata, the manager of Yugafu, Obaa, Keibun, and of course Eri.
Keibun seemed like such a hopeless loser on the surface,

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

but every now and then, he showed the other side of himself, a magnanimous person and a great father.

That was great.
Initially, I had some doubts at times about Kuninaka Ryoko's performance, but she looked every bit the heroine at

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Kohama after Eri's confession, and in the second half, it suddenly hit me how Eri's has subtly matured throughout the series.

I really enjoyed watching Eri and her smile.

Man, I'm rambling. Now comes the room for improvement parts. Fumiya's character was rather plain and not very well developed I thought, given his importance, and in comparison with the other characters. The romance part of the series was a bit disappointing after the Ippokan part.

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I would have liked to see more of the connection between Eri and Fumiya, and Eri's work at the hospital, dealing with her patients, I wished more time could have been spent on that too.

Overall, I had a great time watching Churasan, and will definitely watch it again, and again.

You might want to put some of that in spoiler tags, maybe?

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

I was of the same opinion about Fumiya, but then I thought that there had to be ONE straight, bland character amongst so many over-the-top funny ones

Anime Dad wrote:

You might want to put some of that in spoiler tags, maybe? Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: I was of the same opinion about Fumiya, but then I thought that there had to be ONE straight, bland character amongst so many over-the-top funny ones

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after watching this umpteen times, Fumiya grows in stature with each viewing. I agree that one straight laced character offers some contrast.

BTW in case you wonder if fumiya ever appears in anything else he had a supporting role in Haru To Natsu.

Anime Dad wrote:

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: I was of the same opinion about Fumiya, but then I thought that there had to be ONE straight, bland character amongst so many over-the-top funny ones

Actually, Keitatsu and Katsuko were the voices of reason for me ...

Katsuko was the BEST. I'd have her for my mother anytime!

Who were your other favourite characters? Apart from Eri, Obaa, and Katsuko. There were so many to choose from.

xploring wrote:

Who were your other favourite characters? Apart from Eri, Obaa, and Katsuko. There were so many to choose from.

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

I really liked the nurses. They always got a laugh out of me. Sato Aiko is awesome!

I thought Fumiya was cute. But I liked Mariya the best. And Keitatsu (I thought he was hot.) And pretty much everyone.
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