FierceStriker

This is a cute drama with a great lead. However, the acting is way over the top and not believable. Meanwhile, the dad is way too annoying for viewers to be sympathetic. That whole concept about "doing everything for the child's benefit" just annoyed the hell out of me. A psychiatrist is desperately needed for this overgrown needy old imbecile who drains the life out of his daughter. If you want to watch a good oyako kankei drama, watch Papa to Musume no Nanokakan instead.

A very serious take a the News room story. Intriguing stories and good cast keep you going and going. I would have scored it higher if not for the somewhat lackluster/predicatable (think Koori no Seikai) kind of ending. This one is definitely worth a watch, however, so you know that News is not all about chasing girls/boys like so many other dramas make it seem like. I recommend it.

Quite a feel-good and easy-going drama. The after-taste is just like having had a plate of cold soba or a day of walking around the mountain - refreshing and relaxing. The actors are great too (well, except Fukada Kyoko aka Fatty, she is still the one-face-girl). Iijima Naoko as the older sister Hana is perfect. She brings out the character like nobody can (especially when she tries to hide her own sorrow to make others happy). The parents played by Chii Takeo and Yoshida Hideko are sooooo funny, I especially like Yoshida as the mother, so modern and hip (the Japanese version of a former hippy mother, :) ). Tamayam Tetsuji did a great job too as Junpei, the guy who always liked Akari and only tries to make her happy. The gaijin actor who played Keith Corbet, is a little, let's say, low on the acting side and his Japanese is quite mono and horrible as well. However, his ignorant look and boring personality is what fits the character (what do you expect a gaijin character to be like in a Japanese drama other than a gimick and a source to be poked fun at...well, serve them right, look at how they portray Asians in their TV shows and movies). Oh and the fact that he is actually Australian even though the writers tell the audience he is American, not that they would be able to tell the difference.

Overall, a very relaxing fun drama, kind of reminded me of Beach Boys. Not as good, but more exciting and funnier. Watch this, even though Fukada Kyoko is in it, watch it for Iijima and all the other great actors.

This show is soooo funny. Suzuki Sarina acted so well as Sakuradamon - the Makeup Bijin. I laughed so much almost every episode. Even though he is a supporting actor here, Odagiri Joe does a good job as the crazy Playboy who tries to impress her (he actually looks good with COMPLETE blond here, better than his black buzzcut, hmm). His character is so sweet, I hoped for him to be with Sakuradamon at the end in stead of the main guy, :). Watch this! It is even funnier than Shomuni, with a more story-driven plot about, what else, becoming beautiful in the name of love. SPOILER!! However, the fact that her face never went through Seikei even though the rest of her did, suggested that the drama still beheld the idea of one's true self - as Sakuradamon said, "if my faces changes, than my jibun (self) disappears." So it is not all about vanity here, ;).

Soooo funnnnnnyy. This show is based on an equally outrageous comic series. It is a visual battle - a fight to be the most beautiful. Sarina did a great job as the busu with excellent makeup skills and so does the rest of the cast. Watch this!!! more OL madness, hehe.

Great setup and good story-telling, very intense. Not as dark as Taiyou no Kisetsu. Still very good. Watch it. The bengoshi lady is totemo kakkoi.

With Love is a pure love poetry. Its use of music in accordance to the themes of alienation, helplessness, fear, and desire of love is perfect. Yutaka did a great job and looks so good in this dorama. The female lead did a great job too and fit her role very well (even though most people seem to dislike her but I think the casting director did a good job).

The ending dragged on a little too long, however, and it kind of ruined the overall symphonic love feeling, but it is a minor issue.

A nice sweet and FUNNY dorama. I have seen Nurse no Oshigoto 2, 3 and 4; 2 (this one) is the best one so far. Arisa and Mabo look cute together, :), better than her with Naohito, muuuccch better. Watch this, it is GOOD!

Quite an entertaining if not too formula-driven drama. This is obviously one of these Idol Promotion dramas for the sake of the MAX girls. However, they did a pretty good job portraying the four majos. The story is quite interesting as well, even though the dynamics amongst the girls never seem to change or develop over their MAX colleague relationship. The last two episodes are really good, quite intense. It is worth watching if you don't mind superhero girl dramas. However if you want better supernatural themed drama, go with Psychometrer Eiji I or II, or DxD (Dangerous Angel and Death Hunter).

Another great campy Tokyo-western supernatural show. DxD has a lot of charm not to mention the great casting. Nagase Tomoya and Okada Junichi are great as the Baka Aho double team, :). They have such excellent chemistry here and make you really believe in their Aibo relationship. However, the last episodes seem to go too far, may be if the series is longer (22 episodes, for example), the show could have had a better development to the finale. Nontheless, great show, very cool, it is definitely well worth watching.

Really heart-warming and sweet show. Feels like a female version of Muko Dono, :). Everyone is so well casted especially the sisters and the mother. It makes you realize how important the bonds of a family is and, for the first time, I realized from the mother's point of view, how painful it is to see her own children leave the house to pursue their own lives. Very well done! Highly recommend it! Oh, did I mention it is also hilarious, I laughed so hard. Well, I'll conclude this drivel with a Chinese saying: "There is no never-ending party" and I add: "cherish its joy while you can."

The Japanese version of "Legally Blond". Instead of the Blockbuster sugar pill, this Diamond Girl is not only good-looking and well-dressed, but has a heart of gold and a superior fighting spirit as well. Mizuki Arisa did a fantastic job as Nanjo, the girl chasing after the fiancee who abandon her because she lacks "inner quality". She interns at his law office to win him back first, but ends up having a complete change of heart. It is a romantic story and many law and justice tales in one. There are so many heart-felt moments that makes this dorama worth watching. For those people who ignored this gem just because the leads are not the most gorgeous surely lack "inner quality." Do not forget that a diamond is born within a rough surface.

Wow, what a wonderful dorama, a kampeki remake of the Bewitched show, even down to the smallest details. Even more, in my opinion it was more heartwarming, and updates the show very successfully. Ryoko-san as the Majo is perfect, so it the husband, the colleagues, neighbors (the neighborhood wife is a dead-on imitation of the original character from Bewitched, soooo funny. Actually a lot funnier than the original), and clients, not to mention the kawaii Tsubasa chan.

Overall, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, and very very very heart-warming. From the ending, I can bet that there will be a sequal (at least one) coming up, :). Hope it can be just as good.

Love is a promise between souls and feelings are best expressed through your heart. This dorama is soooo well done and soooo moving. Mayuko and Shinichi's love story is as poetic and as beautiful as the sky. This is my favorite Japanase Dorama ever, it makes me want to seek out and embrace my soulmate. The music is very relaxing as well, soul-soothing perhaps. Soul-soothing, this is the best word to describe this dorama. Watch it and hear your soul sing.

Ryoko chan is soooo funny in this. She has such charisma and "sugar power" to bring out the Honami character. I really like this dorama, light mood, great music, and well-paced story (I liked the story board about the Busu twins).

I like the way it ended too and its philosophy - Beauty IS important, damn right.

An accident caused by destiny but made dreams come true - that's what this drama is all about. Take a quick glance, nothing seems too extraordinary, another shobu drama, another love story, HOWEVER, never have I such a drama done so well, and soooo moving. The love in Golden Bowl in stronger than those specifc love dramas. You really get to see how the bond builds and truly hope for them to be together. The two leads are excellent Shu-chan and Hitomi-chan, both are charismatic and they have such excellent dynamics with each other!!! Highly highly recommended. It is predictable yes, but predictable in the fact that you will definitely be moved beyond your expectation.

This show is GREAT!!!!! I have never been so moved and happy for the couple to end up together (even if it was obvious) since Long Vacation. Great dynamics between the leads. Who says Takako has to pair up with KimuTaku, she is fantastic with Sakaguchi Kenji kun - the perfect sweet couple. A highly recommended feel-good drama.

Just a note here: the change of Kashiwabara's character bothered me at first, however, the replacement actor did a good job as well and gave an excellent performance as well. Why wasn't he listed in the cast section???

This is one of the most unique J Dorama I have ever seen. Truly a twisted, mind-bending experience. This is a psychological drama (nightmare is perhaps more appropriate) with very heavy symbolism, no wonder a lot of people find it weird and cannot understand it.

SPOILER WARNING!
Some people commented that this drama symbolizes the chaotic Corporate world of Japan. In fact, it is actually the opposite, the problems, chaos in a corporation about to decease symbolizes, in the drama, the mind of a human being, which is also composed of thousand and millions of "employees" - memories, thoughts, hope or lack of. It is the destruction of such components that lead each character to their mental breakdown. There is the inability to face a father's death, fatal obsession over weight loss, hatred steming from a lover's betrayal, etc. Everyone pretends to be normal, like the company in the drama, they hide their problems (like the stealing issue in the company) and expect everything to be fine. However, once a "virus" enters, the company structure/the human mind built on self-denial crumbles. This drama is excellent in the fact that it represents such change of emotions by utilizing humor in the beginning and chaotic even psychotic breakdown in the later half. The viewer experiences the same thing as the characters, and that is why many viewers will feel uncomfortable, disturbed. That is what is intended.

EXPLANATION OF THE CONVOLUTED ENDING AND WHO KARASAWA IS
About the ending, Sorimachi jumped out of the window after kissing Karasawa, seemingly draining the "undying virus" (represented by the transfer of the blue eyes) from him. He dies to kill that "virus" he has taken upon himself. This death is more symbolic. The virus represents human complexes - a trauma, a fear, a hatred, etc. poisons resulting from life's changes. It is what corrupts everyone's life. Karasawa, even though being the physical representation of the virus, is in fact a victim as well. From the minimal info revealed, he is the illegitamate son of a powerful politician, born from a mistress. He himself carries such virus or complex, so strong that he seeks destruction to end all misery. If you notice, when Sorimachi jumps out of the window, a drop of tear came out of Karasawa's corpse - he has been released as well.

This drama is a dark comedy, a psychological thriller, an unexplainable success. It is disturbing, mind-bending, and maddening, rightfully so. If you are up for the challenge, watch it and try to comprehend it, it is well worth the chaos.

One of the saddest dramas I have ever seen. A true tragedy as the title Million Falling Star implies (as in the falling of a star implies the death of someone on earth).

The writer has certainly matured a lot since the vague ending of Sleeping Forest and the unnaturally, laughably happy ending of Ice World. He has finally mastered the key of human emotions, the key to all human games - "emotional manipulation" deprived from "solitude," from "fear of solitude," from "hatred of solitude," to "numbing of solitude."

All the actors are perfectly chosen for the role. The music appropriately "positively negative." Lots of symbolism.

Go watch it and hear your heart ache.

An unexpected accident, an unlikely love affair, a star-crossed couple.

This drama has a very interesting story setup, with plenty of twists in between. Be prepared for some shocking moments. Suna no ue no koi bito tachi, as the title suggests, is about love. The love between Akira and Rei are very well conveyed through the various painful moments they had to go through. It is what is not said that elicits the deep feelings, such as the first time they held their hands.

The concept of Tsugunai, or atonement and the torturous guilt are also well presented in here. Making this love story even more layered and meaningful.

The characters, Akira and Rei try to find what love really is, especially Akira. He progresses with the progression of the story, at the end, he finds what he is looking for and makes his decision.

This is a drama that requires deeper comprehension and appreciation. Many people who are just looking for another Love Generation or the sort will certainly not find that here. However, what one does see here is a wonderful multi-layered story that is about one thing - true love.