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I have seen reverse-Cinderella type dramas before (Only You Aisarete, Bus Stop, Yamato Nadeshiko...), but Tokyo Wankei is all the more enjoyable because of the cultural-difference factor. For the first time I can truly say that Yukie Nakama deserves to be a leading lady. Wada, despite his unassuming demeanor throughout (think Mitsuhiro Oikawa without the posing), comes through as a good, but not great, lead. (Is he another Takeshi Kaneshiro who only does movies?) Anyway, the supporting cast is good, particularly Ryuta Sato as Mika's good Japanese friend and Toru Nakamura, a behind-the scenes supporter. Not the greatest drama of the season, but you won't be much disappointed.

From the creator of Long Love Letter and Queen of Lunch comes this new series. So far so good on the love triangle with Yuko as its apex. Uchino is cooler than what he was in Love Generation, too.

If you've never seen, or for some reason can't remember, Ai to iu na no moto ni, go for this one, the faces here are fresh and talented but the plot is WAY too similar. And then people in this site dare compare Boku Dake no Madonna to Long Vacation...

Risa Sudo rules! It's too bad she had gone on to dowdy roles.

Way more dynamic and funny than Mika Omori's previous dorama project, Long Love Letter (the first one featuring the "triad": Tsumabuki, Yamashita & Yamada), in which they play second fiddle this time to Yuko Takeuchi and Yosuke Eguchi. Despite Tsutsumi not appearing for most of the episodes due to his outlaw character, he's very funny too.

I want to see more passion between Manabu & Misaki...

Only good thing about this one was the music and the ending chapters.

This is the reason why I prefer Koichi over Tsuyoshi. And Noriko and Yuki are so CUTE!!!!

Sure it may be unrealistic but it takes you on a tour of the Japan you've never seen if you're so weaned on Tokyo storylines! Miho Nakayama may have lost sexiness, but she's still talented and cute to be the main eventer. Nishida, Wakana and Kotaro make for greatly funny supporting characters, the bad thing is that the husband's face is never shown, a trend previously seen in Omiai Kekkon with Ayako Kawahara's on-screen hubby.

-Nonomura is gone. (Toshihito Ito had died before filming, so they replaced him)
-New, younger president. The company is now called "Manpan-George Smith" after a merger.
-The real ending to the Shomuni saga is the special known as "Shomuni Forever" which aired on this New Year.

This is one of the better doramas I've watched. Miki and Nagatsuka play their roles well. Sakaguchi, Hara, Sachiko Kokubu and Kotaro Koizumi show good ability. Aoi Miyazaki, who was with Sakaguchi in "hatachi no kekkon," is so grown into an attractive girl. The plot is straightforward and even spinoff plots (Miyazaki, Kotaro, Sachiko, and Minoru Tanaka) don't veer too far. The ending is bittersweet, but still very satisfying. Sachiko is so underrated here!

Less than what I expect from such talent because:
-There's no buildup to the eventual relationship between Kanno and Ito;
-Eguchi's influence is overpushed, as is the conflict between Miho and her father (actor = Kazuyoshi Kushida).
I had actually turned off the TV in 2000 when this came out and only recently took the time to watch it in its entirety from rentals.
The ending is good, but at the same time disappointing. Seems to me as unlike Kono Yo no Hate, these guys are just happy to be themselves and there's no reflection on what the relationship means to both.

One of my personal favorites, mainly because I've been depressed myself (though never to the point of being a drug addict, however). I must say Maria's method to cure Shiro is quite effective, if only because of all the love she puts into it. This has a religious connotation, Maria representing the Virgin Mary and Shiro her dying Son whom she nurtures. Either way, it must have been very controversial when aired. Suzuki and Mikami show great chemistry as a realistic, rugged couple with their ups and downs.

Reminds me too much of Mukashi no Otoko, only without the sex. So far the same is there - "other woman" is made the victim, we're supposed to feel sorry for her, etc. Only real good thing is the side story with Sonim and Hiro Amano, believe me. Nao is hot, but I will be p'ed off if she doesn't bag the guy...

I actually enjoy this drama. Oshio has shown me he's made of good stuff, and Tomosaka Rie plays better as a normal person (instead of the limited person she was in Kimi ga Oshiete kureta koto, which is also a favorite of mine). The 2x3 group of friends is actually more lively and better than the one in Omiai Kekkon. Overall a fun comedy.

This was actually the first dorama series I rented in many months, and it didn't disappoint me. The relationship between Masaki and Haruko comes off well, despite they not having a burning rivalry as the synopsis proclaims. Tamayama has evolved a lot since I saw him in Gao Rangers (thanks to my kid brothers), and the rest of the cast plays very well.

A note to Webmaster: The one who plays Teruko is not Kanako Fukaura, it's Miyoko Asada. If there's an older woman I'd fall for other than Hitomi Kuroki, it would have to be her.

Overall not bad, but if you expect bitter business and personal rivalry, then you'll be disappointed.

Whereas the title character is too sweet, Kyoka certainly steals the show. It gives a more realistic view into unnatural causes of death. Certainly more realistic than Kori no Sekai, I'd say.

This is actually the first J-dorama that I watched one that hooked me on the genre. Honami is superb in her last comeback ever. She had been a top idol since 1986, and with good reason. Her acting with current teen favorite Takizawa shows a lot of good chemistry. You almost wish Honami was really his mother... Nagatsuka, a veteran of samurai and workplace movies, plays a good fountain of wisdom. Norika is very credible as the antagonist. Fukigoshi actually looks better here than in Naguru Onna (too plain) and Ashita ga Aru sa (a weasel). A great drama which I recommend!

If you like amorous/friendly/funny battle royals, hot girls, and/or hunks, this is a good one to watch. It made me laugh more than anything else (aside from, of course, watching Yuka, Yonekura, Anzai, and even Hirayama) and you may get annoyed from all the shouting. More like a loud Addams Family.

Hagure Keiji has been a staple of Japanese TV since 1988 and the seasons that came around here, NY, USA (97-99) were the only Japanese subtitled material around, so I had taken to watch them.

Somewhat unrealistically, nearly all the criminals caught in the weekly whodunnits have sad stories of their own, (or else accused people have them), so Yasuura and his colleagues must use them in catching the real criminal, or if they already have 'em, force 'em to confess.

Most of the episodes I've watched include Shigeru Joshima as the junior detective. I haven't seen previous ones nor the recent one including Kane Kosugi as well as Cha Kato as a new staffer (forensics expert). I must say that nevertheless the stories are not to absolve criminals, but to show each and everyone of us their human side which becomes warped in the presence of hate or otherwise disdain.

One of the best of all time! Whereas it did not have the drawing power of any of the Honami Suzuki dramas, Narumi Yasuda's acting convinces of why she is a legendary idol. Her partnership with Akina Nakamori is convincing as the odd couple who in the end sees that their friendship is the only cure against betrayals by men and abandonment by other people. Watch it - you'll enjoy the story.

OK, so I never watched the original nor its sequel, so go ahead, flame me... But I still think this was one of the best doramas I've watched. Hoshino, in his first leading role, shows a lot of promise to be a great actress. The supporting cast works good for their ages and don't seem to "pretend" to be something they are not.

And the best part of all - this one ACTUALLY had a GOOD ending. I won't say GREAT since the ending situation isn't so good (see for yourself!) but it's still satisfying.

The theme song as sung by Hoshino is great and has me hooked as well. Too bad most idiots who think this is Rocky III may overlook it.

Very weird and not one where you can even blink as loyalties shift and the "war" between the Secretarial Section factions goes on. Yoshino and Ito convince as sexy @$$-kicking bitches. Karasawa and Sorimachi make a good tag team, but you'll be really surprised at the way they fall out (they will).

Yoshino shows that she can play funny as well as meek (OverTime) or @$$-kicker (Love Complex). She and Fukuyama make a cute, funny couple. The supporting cast is very good (particularly Yusuke and Hatano).