Ready to go!! Winter 2016 dramas!!
Seems that Japanese entertainment is self imploding early on this year.
Becky killed her good image dating a married musician, Daigo and Kitagawa Keiko got married, naked parties by Tegoshi,
My favorite: Anne and Masahiro Higashide having twins (due this summer!)
And of course, SMAP trying to get independent. But as we don't have yet any official announcement, we can't properly say they're disbanding or ZOMG the Jimusho is sinking!!! but mostly that the inner war for succesion is almost ending.
Since months ago there were some inner movement with Kisumai, ABCZ, Sexy Zone and Yamapi going back to Julie's side. I'm kinda fearing a Shuuji to Akira single for summer. >.>
The thing is if SMAP can't walk out the Jimusho, how we can expect Junno can do it this spring? At least seem they're gonna promote this last single a lot. IDK.
I was hoping for Ijima taking KAT-TUN to their side and work damage control if Junno marries (it wouldn't be the first time Ijima make a damage control for KAT-TUN, she did it for the Jinapocalypse).
Even if SMAP goes to Tamori's agency, it would be great if Junno would be invited to keep working over there.
Despite the fandom anger against Ijima's management of Kisumai, they're a lot on tv and CMS. Let's see if we have a full group image from now onwards.
About Sexy zone, my personal theory is (aside Sou busy on school) they were giving extra training to Marius and Sou until they become OF AGE to give them full promos. Or going all Sexy without being cringeworthy. Admit it, Marius needed that Jr. training.
On the other hand there's a lot of Eito and NEWS lately on TV, which brings me to the Winter Drama listings.
As always, I'm busy, so here are the picks of the season.
I decided over New Year to watch Gegege no Nyobo and I'm watching Asa ga Kita as well since finally it's being subbed (some day I'll post about Asa ga Kita, but you should watch it!)
* Nagase gets his House on in Fragile, where all the tall people assemble (Takei Emi, Nomura Shuhei, Koyuki). First time in years Nagase plays an educated character, as a sassy doctor.
* Kame goes all damage control in Kaito Yamaneko, based on the series about a thief who stole 100 million yen from a shady company. It's Kame, I'm watching. with Narimiya Hiroki, Hirose Suzu, Nanao, Otsuka Nene, Sasaki Kuranosuke
* In the best clashing of fandoms, Kiriyama Renn, king of midnight dramas (he has been consistently on late night dramas every season) as the lead in Kasa wo motanai aritachi, based on Shige's short stories' book. So far the first episode was well-paced and even had Shige as a side character. <3
I was pretty impressed to see them side by side and I suspect Shige is gonna be the gay friend from one of the short-stories because I never really got how tall Kiriyama is, since his character in Tenimyu was on the small side. Did he had a grow spurt? Everything was properly staged to look smaller than Yuki Juuta? How tall is Yuki Juuta? I need to rewatch Rikkaimyu. (lol at the fake "Gravity" poster in the background)
Also I wasn't ready to see Kiriyama in underwear. ::fans self:: So my biased review is YES, I'm watching. It's only 4 episodes long, anyway. And the theme of the drama is by NEWS. so it means more promo. (BTW, there will be a spring tour for NEWS)
* Kazoku no Katachi. Ueno Juri is back on tv, Katori Shingo is the lead of this drama and I hope the smapocalypse don't make flop this drama about 30-somethings who doesn't wanna marry at all but have their parents crashing on their lives. Nice side cast (Mizuhara Kiko, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi, Chiba Yudai, Nishida Toshiyuki, Fubuki Jun, Mizuki Arisa as Shingo's Ex GF!!) so I hope it gets subbed.
* After 2 SPs, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi got a regular season of Specialist, and then the smapocalypse happens. Still interested in this series about an ex-convict helping the police to expose a big conspiracy. Wada Masato and Hiraoka Yuta co-star.
* Fujigaya leads MARS, based in the manga, where there will be a triangle with Kubota Masataka and the leading girl (IDC who she is). Sounds so Súbete a mi moto. XD
* Watashi wo hanasanaide, based in the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never let me go. Stars Ayase Haruka, Miura Haruma and Mizukawa Asami. Giving a couple episodes to check it out, since it's a bit of a sci- fi story.
*Actor-wise, Tokyo Sentimental sounds great, with Yoshida Kotaro, Oguri Shun, Takahata Mitsuki, Otsuka Nene; about the heir of a confectionary store who spends afternoons walking around old Tokyo taking pics and meeting women and fleeting romances begin.
SPs
* Nino as the lead in Botchan, based on Natsume Soseki's novel.
* Nakajima Yuto is gonna ride the Pink and Gray movie wave, playing a twirly detective in Keiji Ballerino. Yes, ballerino as in ballet. >.> Yes, I'm watching. I hope he finally gets the accolades he deserve.
* Chiba Yuudai stars Kanojo ga koishita Shokunin-san, about a foreigner interested in Japanese artistry, visits Japan and Chiba Yuudai, son of a third-generation owner of a small workshop, hates the family business yet is asked to show her around. Seems cheesy and I don't care. I need a link for this.
If I didn't have a life...
* I'd watch Sanadamaru with Sakai Masato, but then I rememeber his wife is gonna be Nagasawa Masami and then DNW.
* This can't be worse than Koinaka: Fuji TV's Getsu9 has Arimura Kasumi and Kora Kengo in Itsuka Kono Koi o Omoidashite Kitto Naiteshimau. Also stars Takahata Mitsuki (can't wait for her next asadora!), Nishijima Takahiro (from AAA), Morikawa Aoi and Sakaguchi Kentaro, about the life and love of 6 youngsters from the inaka who come to live in Tokyo.
* Kiritani Mirei goes all 65 on 20 in Sumika Sumire, about a woman who spent his life taking care of her family without having a life of her own and after her mother dies, she wakes up as a 20 year's old university student. Has Oikawa Mitsuhiro and Tasugi Masahiro in the cast.
* Arechi no koi is based on the life of Kitazawa Taro, post-war poet who launched the literary magazine Arechi, and around the 1970's fell in love with the wife of his friend and left his home and family going after her. With Toyokawa Etsushi, Suzuki Kyoka, Kawashima Umika, Matsushige Yutaka.
* Rinshou Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri, Saito Takumi and Kubota Masataka are a (creepy) criminologist and a mistery writer who unravel cases together. The novels covers are so fanservicey, and we know that's Takumi's forte. XD
* I winda want to watch Dame na watashi ni Koishite Kudasai because of Dean Fujioka and Miura Shohei but I don't like Fukakyon. XD;;
* This Fuji TV special, Utsukushiki Mitsu no uso, sounds interesting, about three murder cases.
P.S. Kamen rider Ghost is meh.
Yes, I'm leaving out many dramas and you can see the rest at jdramas.wordpress.com
Becky killed her good image dating a married musician, Daigo and Kitagawa Keiko got married, naked parties by Tegoshi,
My favorite: Anne and Masahiro Higashide having twins (due this summer!)
And of course, SMAP trying to get independent. But as we don't have yet any official announcement, we can't properly say they're disbanding or ZOMG the Jimusho is sinking!!! but mostly that the inner war for succesion is almost ending.
Since months ago there were some inner movement with Kisumai, ABCZ, Sexy Zone and Yamapi going back to Julie's side. I'm kinda fearing a Shuuji to Akira single for summer. >.>
The thing is if SMAP can't walk out the Jimusho, how we can expect Junno can do it this spring? At least seem they're gonna promote this last single a lot. IDK.
I was hoping for Ijima taking KAT-TUN to their side and work damage control if Junno marries (it wouldn't be the first time Ijima make a damage control for KAT-TUN, she did it for the Jinapocalypse).
Even if SMAP goes to Tamori's agency, it would be great if Junno would be invited to keep working over there.
Despite the fandom anger against Ijima's management of Kisumai, they're a lot on tv and CMS. Let's see if we have a full group image from now onwards.
About Sexy zone, my personal theory is (aside Sou busy on school) they were giving extra training to Marius and Sou until they become OF AGE to give them full promos. Or going all Sexy without being cringeworthy. Admit it, Marius needed that Jr. training.
On the other hand there's a lot of Eito and NEWS lately on TV, which brings me to the Winter Drama listings.
As always, I'm busy, so here are the picks of the season.
I decided over New Year to watch Gegege no Nyobo and I'm watching Asa ga Kita as well since finally it's being subbed (some day I'll post about Asa ga Kita, but you should watch it!)
* Nagase gets his House on in Fragile, where all the tall people assemble (Takei Emi, Nomura Shuhei, Koyuki). First time in years Nagase plays an educated character, as a sassy doctor.
* Kame goes all damage control in Kaito Yamaneko, based on the series about a thief who stole 100 million yen from a shady company. It's Kame, I'm watching. with Narimiya Hiroki, Hirose Suzu, Nanao, Otsuka Nene, Sasaki Kuranosuke
* In the best clashing of fandoms, Kiriyama Renn, king of midnight dramas (he has been consistently on late night dramas every season) as the lead in Kasa wo motanai aritachi, based on Shige's short stories' book. So far the first episode was well-paced and even had Shige as a side character. <3
I was pretty impressed to see them side by side and I suspect Shige is gonna be the gay friend from one of the short-stories because I never really got how tall Kiriyama is, since his character in Tenimyu was on the small side. Did he had a grow spurt? Everything was properly staged to look smaller than Yuki Juuta? How tall is Yuki Juuta? I need to rewatch Rikkaimyu. (lol at the fake "Gravity" poster in the background)
Also I wasn't ready to see Kiriyama in underwear. ::fans self:: So my biased review is YES, I'm watching. It's only 4 episodes long, anyway. And the theme of the drama is by NEWS. so it means more promo. (BTW, there will be a spring tour for NEWS)
* Kazoku no Katachi. Ueno Juri is back on tv, Katori Shingo is the lead of this drama and I hope the smapocalypse don't make flop this drama about 30-somethings who doesn't wanna marry at all but have their parents crashing on their lives. Nice side cast (Mizuhara Kiko, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi, Chiba Yudai, Nishida Toshiyuki, Fubuki Jun, Mizuki Arisa as Shingo's Ex GF!!) so I hope it gets subbed.
* After 2 SPs, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi got a regular season of Specialist, and then the smapocalypse happens. Still interested in this series about an ex-convict helping the police to expose a big conspiracy. Wada Masato and Hiraoka Yuta co-star.
* Fujigaya leads MARS, based in the manga, where there will be a triangle with Kubota Masataka and the leading girl (IDC who she is). Sounds so Súbete a mi moto. XD
* Watashi wo hanasanaide, based in the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never let me go. Stars Ayase Haruka, Miura Haruma and Mizukawa Asami. Giving a couple episodes to check it out, since it's a bit of a sci- fi story.
*Actor-wise, Tokyo Sentimental sounds great, with Yoshida Kotaro, Oguri Shun, Takahata Mitsuki, Otsuka Nene; about the heir of a confectionary store who spends afternoons walking around old Tokyo taking pics and meeting women and fleeting romances begin.
SPs
* Nino as the lead in Botchan, based on Natsume Soseki's novel.
* Nakajima Yuto is gonna ride the Pink and Gray movie wave, playing a twirly detective in Keiji Ballerino. Yes, ballerino as in ballet. >.> Yes, I'm watching. I hope he finally gets the accolades he deserve.
* Chiba Yuudai stars Kanojo ga koishita Shokunin-san, about a foreigner interested in Japanese artistry, visits Japan and Chiba Yuudai, son of a third-generation owner of a small workshop, hates the family business yet is asked to show her around. Seems cheesy and I don't care. I need a link for this.
If I didn't have a life...
* I'd watch Sanadamaru with Sakai Masato, but then I rememeber his wife is gonna be Nagasawa Masami and then DNW.
* This can't be worse than Koinaka: Fuji TV's Getsu9 has Arimura Kasumi and Kora Kengo in Itsuka Kono Koi o Omoidashite Kitto Naiteshimau. Also stars Takahata Mitsuki (can't wait for her next asadora!), Nishijima Takahiro (from AAA), Morikawa Aoi and Sakaguchi Kentaro, about the life and love of 6 youngsters from the inaka who come to live in Tokyo.
* Kiritani Mirei goes all 65 on 20 in Sumika Sumire, about a woman who spent his life taking care of her family without having a life of her own and after her mother dies, she wakes up as a 20 year's old university student. Has Oikawa Mitsuhiro and Tasugi Masahiro in the cast.
* Arechi no koi is based on the life of Kitazawa Taro, post-war poet who launched the literary magazine Arechi, and around the 1970's fell in love with the wife of his friend and left his home and family going after her. With Toyokawa Etsushi, Suzuki Kyoka, Kawashima Umika, Matsushige Yutaka.
* Rinshou Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri, Saito Takumi and Kubota Masataka are a (creepy) criminologist and a mistery writer who unravel cases together. The novels covers are so fanservicey, and we know that's Takumi's forte. XD
* I winda want to watch Dame na watashi ni Koishite Kudasai because of Dean Fujioka and Miura Shohei but I don't like Fukakyon. XD;;
* This Fuji TV special, Utsukushiki Mitsu no uso, sounds interesting, about three murder cases.
P.S. Kamen rider Ghost is meh.
Yes, I'm leaving out many dramas and you can see the rest at jdramas.wordpress.com