[news] Kazoku no Katachi
Katori Shingo will be the lead of TBS drama, Kazoku no Katachi (The Shape of Family) starting January on Sundays 9pm slot, which will replace the currently airing Abe Hiroshi's Shitamachi Rocket. Ueno Juri, Nishida Toshiyuki and Fubuki Jun will co-star.
It's a comedy drama about a single pair of man and woman who decided not to get married and stay alone for the rest of their lives. Katori will play a 39 year old office worker, Nagasato Daisuke. He's an employee in a stationery manufacturing company. He enjoys being alone and doesn't let other people intrude his personal space and boundaries. Ueno will play a 32 year old office lady who works at a big company, Kumagai Hanako, who actually once married but had a divorce and then she decided that she will never get married again, and she has carefully planned on how to go through her old age alone. Hanako often calls to Daisuke's company to complain about their stationery. They didn't realize they live in the same apartment building. Daisuke's apartment is right below Hanako's. They often get into a fight and arguments but they actually resemble each other.
Nishida Toshiyuki plays Daisuke's father, Nagasato Yozo, who suddenly come to Daisuke's apartment after 5 years without contact. Apparently Yozo got married again and his new wife had a son. Just recently, she disappeared without any trace, so Yozo brought his 13-year-old step son together to Daisuke's place. Daisuke who likes to be alone feels extremely disturbed by his father and his step son's appearance. Fubuki Jun plays Hanako's mother, Kumagai Ritsuko, who interferes too much and annoys Hanako. She decided to leave her retired husband who is spending time and relaxing, living in Karuizawa. Then she comes to Hanako's place and decided to live together with her.
The first episode tells how Daisuke moving in to his dream mansion (luxurious apartment) he just bought himself. When he was talking to the movers about where to place his stuff, a female panty girdle comes floating down from above. He looked up and a saw a woman. Apparently the girdle fell from the 5th floor's balcony. He went to the 5th floor to return the girdle to the woman, but she just opened the door a bit, snatched the girdle and closed the door back without saying anything. Daisuke thought "What a weird girdle woman..."
The following day, he got another phone call from his customer, a woman who often complains about the quality of their stationery. She's a frequent caller and everyone in Daisuke's office calls her the "Claimer Hanako." At the end of the day, his colleagues asked him to go out for a drink, but he refused, then he goes to the training gym alone, exercising with a running machine, a bench-press, etc. When he arrived home, there's a fire truck, running firefighters and a crowd gazing at the smoke from his apartment building, he saw the girdle woman and she said "It might come from my place..." But turns out, the smoke comes from his own place. His father, whom he hasn't seen for 5 years, said he got the keys from the landlord and he was just grilling smoked salmon at Daisuke's place...
Ueno said "This is a heart-warming drama about two people who has given up marriage learning how important marriage and family by talking to their parents and colleagues."
Katori said "There bound to be countless ad-lib by Nishida-san. I'm looking forward to our ad-lib(improvised) talks during the shooting. It is a very cheerful and funny drama, filled with family fight scenes,"
The producer, Han Choru gave a message "The percentage of men in Japan who never gets married in life, is over 20% at the persent time and it is still increasing. In this era where it is getting normal for someone to choose not to get married, I'd like to make a drama that supports various shapes of family, and makes everyone think about marriage and family in a fun way."
Filming will start on December, next month.
source: http://www.tbs.co.jp/drama/kazokuno-katachi/
To be honest, I have lost interest in SMAP members' dramas in recent years. They are not of quality as high as it used to be. When was the last time I really enjoyed and so engrossed in a SMAP member's drama? Probably, it was Ninkyo Helper (2009). The last Takuya's drama I loved so much was Kareinaru Ichizoku (2007). Yes I absolutely enjoyed HERO 2 (2014) but it's a sequel of a masterpiece and nothing's new about it. The rest were a range of a disappointment, okay, so-so good at best, or I haven't watch it because I'm simply not interested. I'm making an assumption that this is due to the fact that Iijima has been given additional tasks by Johnny starting 2010, thus she has less time to focus her energy in creating good quality dramas for SMAP, though the drama department is suppose to be her number one strength (or used to be).
Last Shingo's drama I was crazy about, was Bara no nai Hanaya (2008). KochiKame (2009) was still okay. But Shiawase ni narou yo (2011), Kasuka na Kanojo (2013), and Smoking Gun (2014) were major disappointments for me. (MONSTERS with Yamapi was okay, though) Wait a minute, maybe I shouldn't judge Smoking Gun cause I've only seen one episode of it and decided not to continue. I forced myself to continue "Shiawase" because one of my friends loved it and I just wanted to see if I'd love it too in the end, but I had to swallow my own vomit in each episode... I finished it though! (yoku dekimashita!) With Kasuka, I stopped after the first ep and had not the appetite to continue, but then again, some of my Smappy friends loved it. Then after I watched DATE and have come to love Anne as an actress, I decided to watch "Kasuka." Anne is a cute ghost in the drama, but gosh the whole story was deadly boring, for me. "Shiawase" is still the worst, though. I think I loathed that drama, lol.
"Kazoku no Katachi" has 50-50 chance. It has great cast, I love all 4 main cast.
Shingo is the type of actor who cannot adapt himself to different conditions and situations. His acting skill is very selective. When he get a role and a genre that suits him, he'd be able to perform excellently. When he doesn't get the right ones, he'd fail badly, and I can easily see when he's not really into a role, no matter how hard he tries. He is really good at what he's good at but really bad at what he's bad at. Iijima managed to see this through and seems really careful in selecting dramas for Shingo in the past, but recently I don't think she cares, or at least, has the time anymore to be selective for Shingo's dramas. Nakai and Kimura's recent dramas has better quality because they have that picky traits in them. While as Shingo said before in a magazine interview, he accepts any kind of jobs offered to him, he's just grateful enough in getting a job. In other words, he's not picky. So when Iijima doesn't have enough time to look after Shingo's dramas job offer anymore, Shingo just simply accepts any work.
The one thing from this drama that catch my attention the most, is that they cast Nishida Toshiyuki, the king of improvisation (ad-lib). He is my number one favorite actor from the older generation since I saw his brilliant performance as Tokugawa Hidetada in the 2000 NHK taiga drama. Everyone knows he does adlib more than anyone. It's his acting style. While, Shingo is the prince of improvisation. He has very good comedic sense and timing and usually very good at comedic improvisation. Nishida Toshiyuki vs Katori Shingo's adlib battle, is something I really want to see.
It should be very interesting for NG scenes (too bad this isn't FujiTV). But I think they will definitely include the adlibs in the drama, since they include their adlibs as one of the highlights of this drama. There might be a chance that this is where Shingo can shine.
To be honest, Ueno Juri is only appealing for me when she plays Nodame. I'm a huge fan of Nodame and maybe because I watched Nodame too much, I immediately associate Juri with the character, so when I see her in other roles, it's not pleasant to see for me. I don't know... somehow... she comes off as harsh and rude in her other roles. None of her other roles gives a pleasant feel, for me. But then again, she hasn't played comedy again since Nodame, so this may be it. Since there'll be funny fights between the characters, I really hope her Nodame-side will emerge once again XD
I can't see Shingo and Juri as a romantic couple, yet, though. Wait a minute... will there be any romance? None of the news mention that yet. They mention this as home comedy drama, but not romantic... But since the topic is "kekkon dekinai/shinai" I can imagine the leads getting attracted to each other gradually, no? At least, that's the predictable direction. I don't know how well Shingo and Juri's chemistry will be... I can't picture them as a couple. But then again, I have not seen Juri having a great chemistry with any other actor, except Tamaki Hiroshi. While, Shingo normally has good chemistry with most actresses he worked with, except Kuroki Meisa. I can only hope Juri won't be another 'Kuroki Meisa'. Maybe there will be hints of romance, but they'll not focus the story on that?
Anyway...
Fubuki Jun... ahh the mother of all mothers... haha... she was everyone's mother! I love her in DATE! The downside of the fact she got a role in this drama, is that it's impossible for a DATE 2nd season in January!! T_T Lol... oh well, hoping for spring!
I checked out the crews and their experience with comedy dramas. Original script by Goto Noriko. I've never heard of her before and apparently she has never done much of comedy before. This worries me. The director is Hirano Junichi. Didn't know him either and seems like he was only secondary director in well-known dramas. Finally Han Churo as the producer, who was responsible for ATARU's success. I also loved the comedy in Ouran Highschool Host Club which he produced and directed. So, he's the only man in the production team I can count on.
The theme of the story has been used a lot in recent years. So that could be the minus factor. It depends on how they'd carry it out. It does still have a 50% chance to be a good drama I'm gonna be crazy about... I hope.
I'm not gonna place my expectation high but I have enough hope for this drama.
Also, this could be IT for Shingo!
Mizuki Arisa got married 2 years after she played a woman who cannot get married in Goen Hunter (2013) and she said that time that maybe not getting married for life, is not a bad option at all.
Kanno Miho got married 3 months after she played a woman who cannot get married in Kekkon Shinai (2012).
I hope Shingo will get married a year after this drama! :D
oops... or no... maybe the effect will be on Ueno Juri, though, LOL.
It's a comedy drama about a single pair of man and woman who decided not to get married and stay alone for the rest of their lives. Katori will play a 39 year old office worker, Nagasato Daisuke. He's an employee in a stationery manufacturing company. He enjoys being alone and doesn't let other people intrude his personal space and boundaries. Ueno will play a 32 year old office lady who works at a big company, Kumagai Hanako, who actually once married but had a divorce and then she decided that she will never get married again, and she has carefully planned on how to go through her old age alone. Hanako often calls to Daisuke's company to complain about their stationery. They didn't realize they live in the same apartment building. Daisuke's apartment is right below Hanako's. They often get into a fight and arguments but they actually resemble each other.
Nishida Toshiyuki plays Daisuke's father, Nagasato Yozo, who suddenly come to Daisuke's apartment after 5 years without contact. Apparently Yozo got married again and his new wife had a son. Just recently, she disappeared without any trace, so Yozo brought his 13-year-old step son together to Daisuke's place. Daisuke who likes to be alone feels extremely disturbed by his father and his step son's appearance. Fubuki Jun plays Hanako's mother, Kumagai Ritsuko, who interferes too much and annoys Hanako. She decided to leave her retired husband who is spending time and relaxing, living in Karuizawa. Then she comes to Hanako's place and decided to live together with her.
The first episode tells how Daisuke moving in to his dream mansion (luxurious apartment) he just bought himself. When he was talking to the movers about where to place his stuff, a female panty girdle comes floating down from above. He looked up and a saw a woman. Apparently the girdle fell from the 5th floor's balcony. He went to the 5th floor to return the girdle to the woman, but she just opened the door a bit, snatched the girdle and closed the door back without saying anything. Daisuke thought "What a weird girdle woman..."
The following day, he got another phone call from his customer, a woman who often complains about the quality of their stationery. She's a frequent caller and everyone in Daisuke's office calls her the "Claimer Hanako." At the end of the day, his colleagues asked him to go out for a drink, but he refused, then he goes to the training gym alone, exercising with a running machine, a bench-press, etc. When he arrived home, there's a fire truck, running firefighters and a crowd gazing at the smoke from his apartment building, he saw the girdle woman and she said "It might come from my place..." But turns out, the smoke comes from his own place. His father, whom he hasn't seen for 5 years, said he got the keys from the landlord and he was just grilling smoked salmon at Daisuke's place...
Ueno said "This is a heart-warming drama about two people who has given up marriage learning how important marriage and family by talking to their parents and colleagues."
Katori said "There bound to be countless ad-lib by Nishida-san. I'm looking forward to our ad-lib(improvised) talks during the shooting. It is a very cheerful and funny drama, filled with family fight scenes,"
The producer, Han Choru gave a message "The percentage of men in Japan who never gets married in life, is over 20% at the persent time and it is still increasing. In this era where it is getting normal for someone to choose not to get married, I'd like to make a drama that supports various shapes of family, and makes everyone think about marriage and family in a fun way."
Filming will start on December, next month.
source: http://www.tbs.co.jp/drama/kazokuno-katachi/
To be honest, I have lost interest in SMAP members' dramas in recent years. They are not of quality as high as it used to be. When was the last time I really enjoyed and so engrossed in a SMAP member's drama? Probably, it was Ninkyo Helper (2009). The last Takuya's drama I loved so much was Kareinaru Ichizoku (2007). Yes I absolutely enjoyed HERO 2 (2014) but it's a sequel of a masterpiece and nothing's new about it. The rest were a range of a disappointment, okay, so-so good at best, or I haven't watch it because I'm simply not interested. I'm making an assumption that this is due to the fact that Iijima has been given additional tasks by Johnny starting 2010, thus she has less time to focus her energy in creating good quality dramas for SMAP, though the drama department is suppose to be her number one strength (or used to be).
Last Shingo's drama I was crazy about, was Bara no nai Hanaya (2008). KochiKame (2009) was still okay. But Shiawase ni narou yo (2011), Kasuka na Kanojo (2013), and Smoking Gun (2014) were major disappointments for me. (MONSTERS with Yamapi was okay, though) Wait a minute, maybe I shouldn't judge Smoking Gun cause I've only seen one episode of it and decided not to continue. I forced myself to continue "Shiawase" because one of my friends loved it and I just wanted to see if I'd love it too in the end, but I had to swallow my own vomit in each episode... I finished it though! (yoku dekimashita!) With Kasuka, I stopped after the first ep and had not the appetite to continue, but then again, some of my Smappy friends loved it. Then after I watched DATE and have come to love Anne as an actress, I decided to watch "Kasuka." Anne is a cute ghost in the drama, but gosh the whole story was deadly boring, for me. "Shiawase" is still the worst, though. I think I loathed that drama, lol.
"Kazoku no Katachi" has 50-50 chance. It has great cast, I love all 4 main cast.
Shingo is the type of actor who cannot adapt himself to different conditions and situations. His acting skill is very selective. When he get a role and a genre that suits him, he'd be able to perform excellently. When he doesn't get the right ones, he'd fail badly, and I can easily see when he's not really into a role, no matter how hard he tries. He is really good at what he's good at but really bad at what he's bad at. Iijima managed to see this through and seems really careful in selecting dramas for Shingo in the past, but recently I don't think she cares, or at least, has the time anymore to be selective for Shingo's dramas. Nakai and Kimura's recent dramas has better quality because they have that picky traits in them. While as Shingo said before in a magazine interview, he accepts any kind of jobs offered to him, he's just grateful enough in getting a job. In other words, he's not picky. So when Iijima doesn't have enough time to look after Shingo's dramas job offer anymore, Shingo just simply accepts any work.
The one thing from this drama that catch my attention the most, is that they cast Nishida Toshiyuki, the king of improvisation (ad-lib). He is my number one favorite actor from the older generation since I saw his brilliant performance as Tokugawa Hidetada in the 2000 NHK taiga drama. Everyone knows he does adlib more than anyone. It's his acting style. While, Shingo is the prince of improvisation. He has very good comedic sense and timing and usually very good at comedic improvisation. Nishida Toshiyuki vs Katori Shingo's adlib battle, is something I really want to see.
It should be very interesting for NG scenes (too bad this isn't FujiTV). But I think they will definitely include the adlibs in the drama, since they include their adlibs as one of the highlights of this drama. There might be a chance that this is where Shingo can shine.
To be honest, Ueno Juri is only appealing for me when she plays Nodame. I'm a huge fan of Nodame and maybe because I watched Nodame too much, I immediately associate Juri with the character, so when I see her in other roles, it's not pleasant to see for me. I don't know... somehow... she comes off as harsh and rude in her other roles. None of her other roles gives a pleasant feel, for me. But then again, she hasn't played comedy again since Nodame, so this may be it. Since there'll be funny fights between the characters, I really hope her Nodame-side will emerge once again XD
I can't see Shingo and Juri as a romantic couple, yet, though. Wait a minute... will there be any romance? None of the news mention that yet. They mention this as home comedy drama, but not romantic... But since the topic is "kekkon dekinai/shinai" I can imagine the leads getting attracted to each other gradually, no? At least, that's the predictable direction. I don't know how well Shingo and Juri's chemistry will be... I can't picture them as a couple. But then again, I have not seen Juri having a great chemistry with any other actor, except Tamaki Hiroshi. While, Shingo normally has good chemistry with most actresses he worked with, except Kuroki Meisa. I can only hope Juri won't be another 'Kuroki Meisa'. Maybe there will be hints of romance, but they'll not focus the story on that?
Anyway...
Fubuki Jun... ahh the mother of all mothers... haha... she was everyone's mother! I love her in DATE! The downside of the fact she got a role in this drama, is that it's impossible for a DATE 2nd season in January!! T_T Lol... oh well, hoping for spring!
I checked out the crews and their experience with comedy dramas. Original script by Goto Noriko. I've never heard of her before and apparently she has never done much of comedy before. This worries me. The director is Hirano Junichi. Didn't know him either and seems like he was only secondary director in well-known dramas. Finally Han Churo as the producer, who was responsible for ATARU's success. I also loved the comedy in Ouran Highschool Host Club which he produced and directed. So, he's the only man in the production team I can count on.
The theme of the story has been used a lot in recent years. So that could be the minus factor. It depends on how they'd carry it out. It does still have a 50% chance to be a good drama I'm gonna be crazy about... I hope.
I'm not gonna place my expectation high but I have enough hope for this drama.
Also, this could be IT for Shingo!
Mizuki Arisa got married 2 years after she played a woman who cannot get married in Goen Hunter (2013) and she said that time that maybe not getting married for life, is not a bad option at all.
Kanno Miho got married 3 months after she played a woman who cannot get married in Kekkon Shinai (2012).
I hope Shingo will get married a year after this drama! :D
oops... or no... maybe the effect will be on Ueno Juri, though, LOL.