Tu_triky

This is easily one of the funniest doramas I've ever seen. The acting, the writing, and the uncoventional storytelling combined to produce some of the most brilliant Japanese comedy I've seen in recent memory. The chemistry b/n the actors was nearly flawless and the multiple personalities of the main players was great to watch. I think this is the best work I've seen from Nagase Tomoya. Winner of the following TV Academy Awards for 2005 45th Television Academy Awards: Best Drama; Best Actor: Nagase Tomoya; Best Supporting Actor Nishida Toshiyuki; Best Screenwriter: Kudo Kankuro; Best Music Arrangement: Nakanishi; Best Opening: Katayama Osamu

A brilliantly offbeat dorama with credible performances by all three main actors. An endearing story about the depth of friendship and how we all suffer and triumph with the struggles of the human condition. Worthy in many respects, this show will definitely elicit much laughter, cheer, and heartache. YamaPi gives a stellar performance as the undeniably exceptional "Akira." This character will standout as a hallmark of funny and grossly entertaining efforts given by an actor in the oft used "school dorama." Wildy funny and unique.

this show is a RARE gem. exceptionally well cast, witty, and humorous until the end. the characters are an interesting demonstration of various stereotypes present in japanese society. moreover, the soundtrack is exquisitely perfected and highlights both the emotional drama and the laugh-out-loud humor the show has to offer. a modern day fairy telling of the "beauty and the beast" with all the flair only real life could inspire. based on a true story! recommended for both new and old fans of japanese dramas.

Despite the glowing reviews this drama received I found it to be overly dramatic at times...the subject matter is far from trivial but the dramatic skill of a very young kyoko fukada is lacking here and she OVER acts a number of times. I did feel sympathy for the characters to be sure but not as intimately as I would have expected given the gravity of the plot. Takeshi Kaneshiro is the better actor of the pair and he helps ground the show somewhat. Slow paced at times but more importantly the drama suffers from the inability to suspend disbelief at various points in the storyline

An enjoyable dorama about a race car driver's life and the children whose lives he touches...the show steers clear of the conventional and is well-served by a great cast, Kimura Takuya & Koyuki not least among them. Kimura Takuya's character, is refreshing as a protagonist that is not imbued with the stereotypical qualities of the male lead. A well-paced show that picks up slowly but gains speed and draws the viewer into the lives of the characters in a meaningful way. The insight into the lives of each of the individual characters in the show, both adult and children, will surely touch upon aspects of life that most viewers will be able to personally relate to on some level.
So start your engines and take a few laps around the tracks!

an interesting performance by kimura takuya, quite different from the majority of his roles. the darkness of character was indeed mysterious and well-conveyed. akashiya sanma, eri fukatsu, and kou shibasaki also add worthy performances. however, the evolution of the plot was exceedingly slow which ultimately ends up detracting from the suspense of the storyline. in fact, by the eighth episode i had already figured out the "big surprise" ending which you have to wait for a tad too long. not a drama for the happy go lucky crowd....in it's somber tone it conveys some of the same dark emotions as kou kou kyoushi 2003. far from a masterpiece yet may appeal to fans looking to see something different

not a bad drama but it took me quite a while to get into it...i left it on the shelf for a long time after the first episode and then finally proceeded to finish watching it much, much later. the character of jinno sakurako is the ultimate gold digger....i mean the ultimate....she's plays fools like michael jordan...she punks 'em. i won't give this a 10 as many did...i think that's being too generous....the ending was very conventional as well. fun to watch but i wouldn't call the entire work exceptional...the one thing i did enjoy was the healthy dose of comedy which i found helped carry the show more than the purposeful romance at times.

Enjoyable star studded cast that portray individuals with realistic ideals and struggles. Kimura Takuya, great performance as per usual. Kou Shibasaki was wonderful with her realistic portrayal as the icy cool mechanic Ayumi Ogawa. Very believable and refreshing in that her character represents a departure from this stylized ideal of Japanese femininity. Kuroki Hitomi as Noriko Hitomi was awesome and lovely looking as ever. A seasoned actress with a great capacity when it comes to acting. Not as uber-depressing as some dramas that leave you drenched in tears. If you want to watch something light-hearted and romatically mellow, this might be your thing. Some intense dramatic moments but balanced out so as not to be too "heavy."
Watch it....and "good luck."

This drama was absolutely fantastic. I sincerely would not hesitate to use multiple superlatives to describe my love of Orange Days. I am so completely swept up by how great this drama is as an artistic endeavor and a grand exposition of humanity on so many levels. I would UNEQUIVOCALLY recommend this show to anyone and everyone. The story was great and the acting, greater. Kou Shibasaki's performance was so compelling it instantly became unforgettable to me as one of the most equisitely humane portrayals ever on Japanese television. Satoshi Tsumabuki is a much matured actor and is surely poised to be Japan's next big thing. I found very little regrettable about this show and its fine qualities are too many to enumerate here. Please do yourself a favor and watch this drama.

as mentioned by others, the story unfolds very slowly and fails to precipitate a sense of excitement that many of the best dramas stir up. a few great individual talents but as a whole, the drama is somewhat lacking in direction and storytelling. enjoyable at times, but uninspired at others. not inamori izumi's best work, although that's not her fault.

A feel good comedy with it's share of heart ache and pain. A bit formulaic in its execution but nonetheless enjoyable to watch. If you've seen Otousan and/or Oyaji don't expect something fresh but if you enjoy indulging in those types of shows this is one drama you can't afford to miss! Great acting by both male and female leads respectively. I really enjoyed Ryoko Shinohara as Satsuki (nee-chan) Arai. Pulled off the cool, well-finished woman off perfectly!! O, just watch it...you'll like it :)

an enjoyable drama which has kimura takuya sporting a character that is perhaps a bit more flawed and less likeable than some of his other roles but it only goes to show the inner vulnerability of the character. takeuchi yuuko was amazingly bright and pretty. her character was not necessarily a model of modern feminism but nonetheless realistic in the portrayal. i recommend this drama too for those interested in the themes of friendship, duty and loyalty. the supporting cast was quite entertaining as well.