Kita no Kuni Kara (From the North), a 24-episode series airing in 1981-82. A simple hardworking father (Kunie Tanaka) separates from his Tokyo beautician wife (Ayumi Ishida) and takes their two young children (Hidetaka Yoshioka, who also narrates the story, and Tomoko Nakajima) back to his Hokkaido birthplace to live. The children, to their horror, discover their new home is a dilapidated shack, with no running water, no electricity, no phone, and no neighbors as far as the eye can see. The series recounts their first year struggles to survive in the harsh Hokkaido environment. But this series is not simply a back-to-nature story. It also encompasses a wide range of subjects such as divorce, puberty, discrimination, the generation gap, unrequited love, even UFOs. The series reflects life in a honest, realistic way running the gamut of human experiences: tragedy and joy; heartbreak and humor; confusion and clarity. Deliberately paced, it has none of the artifice, shallowness, and freneticism prevalent in much of the dorama of recent years.
I would recommend this series to those who:
A) enjoyed Yasashii Jikan (and not solely because Nino was in it) or
B) are not thrilled with the dorama trends of the 21st century or
C) would like to see some big-time names at various stages of their acting careers: for example, veteran character actor Kunie Tanaka in the middle of his six-decades long career; the iconic Ryutaro Otomo at the end of his six-decade career; Juzo Itami and Nobuko Miyamoto, only
several years away from their rise to the top of Japanese cinema and international fame; Mieko Harada, so youthfully pretty, in the early part of her accomplished career or
D) believe patience is a good thing in dorama or
E) appreciate a story well written and well acted.
I have read that this series is often ranked among the top three favorite dorama of all-time in polls of Japanese viewers, and after watching it, I can see why. BTW, over the next 20 years there were eight specials produced which updated the lives of the characters; since the original cast was used in each special, viewers got a chance to see them age in real time. I would love to see English subbed versions of any of these specials.
SOS, Majo no Jodan, Boku no Moron, Shiwase ni Narimasen, Okama Boys, and Craposagi.
what an inspired list
i've gone thru the lists...the spring dramas don't look very appealing at all and i think i'll wait a bit on the summer ones - think i'll go back to reading HP for now, lol
the selection this year doesn't look too impressive unfortunately....not that i'm really surprised, with the lack of good dramas in recent years _________________
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:10 am Post subject:
Shindou wrote:
what an inspired list
i've gone thru the lists...the spring dramas don't look very appealing at all and i think i'll wait a bit on the summer ones - think i'll go back to reading HP for now, lol
the selection this year doesn't look too impressive unfortunately....not that i'm really surprised, with the lack of good dramas in recent years
The most recent doramas that I really really enjoyed were Karei-Nariu Ichizoku, Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, Nodame Cantabile, and Tiger & Dragon....not to say there weren't others...but I really enjoyed those foure in the past couple of years.
The most recent doramas that I really really enjoyed were Karei-Nariu Ichizoku, Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, Nodame Cantabile, and Tiger & Dragon....not to say there weren't others...but I really enjoyed those three in the past couple of years.
haha, all watched already..unfortunately _________________
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:21 am Post subject:
Shindou wrote:
haha, all watched already..unfortunately
I'd expect nothing less of you Though these doramas are not from the '07 season I will admit that I also enjoyed Haikei, Chichiue-sama as well as Brother Beat (basically a flip version of Otousan)
Though it's not a dorama I've been raving about the two Ultimate Sushi Restaurant torrents over @ D-addicts...subbed in English, delicious, and informative.
I'd expect nothing less of you Though these doramas are not from the '07 season I will admit that I also enjoyed Haikei, Chichiue-sama as well as Brother Beat (basically a flip version of Otousan)
Though it's not a dorama I've been raving about the two Ultimate Sushi Restaurant torrents over @ D-addicts...subbed in English, delicious, and informative.
thx, i'll have a look into those i suspect harry potter will occupy the immediate future tho _________________
Though it's not a dorama I've been raving about the two Ultimate Sushi Restaurant torrents over @ D-addicts...subbed in English, delicious, and informative.
I've downloaded all of part 1, but part 2 is taking a long time: not very many seeders.
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Though these doramas are not from the '07 season I will admit that I also enjoyed Haikei, Chichiue-sama as well as Brother Beat (basically a flip version of Otousan)
i suspect harry potter will occupy the immediate future tho 
