Japanese culture & Hanayome to Papa
Someone on my friends list pointed out last night's Japan Times article, "Manga frenzy proves that we're all kids at heart", which reminded me of a post I really liked at neomarxisme's blog: "Massing, Demographics, and the Beginnings of Japanese Pop Culture". I can't remember if I ever linked to it before, but it's an interesting read on the youth-oriented culture trends in Japan.
I finally finished the finale to Hanayome to Papa! It was wonderful! Truly, in keeping with the spirit of the drama, it ended very well, and I loved it. To think that I had such low expectations for this drama and it exceeded them by so much to become my favorite spring drama...well, color me amazed. It was dorktastic, spastic, and completely over-the-top in terms of broad, exaggerated humor. But it was also deeply poignant and full of heart, and a very touching story about family and love. I'm so glad I watched it.
Watching Taguchi emote through this episode made me realize that even though he isn't a great actor, or even a very good actor, Junno grew a lot through this role. I definitely feel a difference from his performance in the first episodes and his performance in the end. I hope it was a good experience for him. He made me forget that he's an idol and that he climbs onto a stage in shiny, spangly outfits and sings pop songs and does backflips. He made me believe that he was Miura, a dorky office boy with a heart of gold. He made me believe that he loved Aiko and her father, and that he was really struggling to do the right thing for everyone. So kudos to Junno for all of that. I'm pleased.
The second half of the finale was lost in a mist of tears. :) When Aiko read her mother's letter aloud to her father and Minako, it was extremely affecting. I also loved that Aiko insisted that Minako should stay because she was a part of their family. One of my favorite things about this drama is Aiko's less conventional family unit - single father and non-romantically linked Minako. Not to mention the extended family of her father's co-workers.
Watching Aiko, her father, and then Miura play ball just past halfway through the episode was wonderful. It was a nice bridge between the high emotions of the surgery and everything that happens with Miura's father, and the wedding at the end.
I'll be honest. I hated the skirt of Aiko's wedding dress. *is blind* However, the top part was lovely, and she was a gorgeous bride! I loved Ken and Aiko singing together at the end. And then, just when I thought they might leave me on a downer note with the short scene of Ken by himself in his house, they gave us the hilarious final moments at the airport. When I saw Ken pull a passport and ticket out of his jacket, I burst into laughter, and that was the right way to end a wonderfully warm drama. I'm sorry it's over, as I really enjoyed the time I spent with Ken, Aiko and Miura.
Below the cut is a small picspam of some images from the second half of the finale:
I finally finished the finale to Hanayome to Papa! It was wonderful! Truly, in keeping with the spirit of the drama, it ended very well, and I loved it. To think that I had such low expectations for this drama and it exceeded them by so much to become my favorite spring drama...well, color me amazed. It was dorktastic, spastic, and completely over-the-top in terms of broad, exaggerated humor. But it was also deeply poignant and full of heart, and a very touching story about family and love. I'm so glad I watched it.
Watching Taguchi emote through this episode made me realize that even though he isn't a great actor, or even a very good actor, Junno grew a lot through this role. I definitely feel a difference from his performance in the first episodes and his performance in the end. I hope it was a good experience for him. He made me forget that he's an idol and that he climbs onto a stage in shiny, spangly outfits and sings pop songs and does backflips. He made me believe that he was Miura, a dorky office boy with a heart of gold. He made me believe that he loved Aiko and her father, and that he was really struggling to do the right thing for everyone. So kudos to Junno for all of that. I'm pleased.
The second half of the finale was lost in a mist of tears. :) When Aiko read her mother's letter aloud to her father and Minako, it was extremely affecting. I also loved that Aiko insisted that Minako should stay because she was a part of their family. One of my favorite things about this drama is Aiko's less conventional family unit - single father and non-romantically linked Minako. Not to mention the extended family of her father's co-workers.
Watching Aiko, her father, and then Miura play ball just past halfway through the episode was wonderful. It was a nice bridge between the high emotions of the surgery and everything that happens with Miura's father, and the wedding at the end.
I'll be honest. I hated the skirt of Aiko's wedding dress. *is blind* However, the top part was lovely, and she was a gorgeous bride! I loved Ken and Aiko singing together at the end. And then, just when I thought they might leave me on a downer note with the short scene of Ken by himself in his house, they gave us the hilarious final moments at the airport. When I saw Ken pull a passport and ticket out of his jacket, I burst into laughter, and that was the right way to end a wonderfully warm drama. I'm sorry it's over, as I really enjoyed the time I spent with Ken, Aiko and Miura.
Below the cut is a small picspam of some images from the second half of the finale: