The 112nd Drama Academy Awards (Spring 2022) - Best Theme Song

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) The Answer by Naniwa Danshi (Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo)

2) Sore wo ai to yobu nara by Uru (My Family)

3) Genkou by WANIMA (Nanba MG5)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) The Answer by Naniwa Danshi (Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo)
2) Watashi by SixTONES (Koi nante, honki de yatte dousuru no?)
3) Sore wo ai to yobu nara by Uru (My Family)
4) Odoru you ni jinsei wo by King & Prince (Uketsuke no Jou)
5) Genkou by WANIMA (Nanba MG5)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Sore wo ai to yobu nara by Uru (My Family)

2) Genkou by WANIMA (Nanba MG5)

3) Hatsukoi ga naiteiru by Aimyon (Koi nante, honki de yatte dousuru no?)
4) Koi wo surunda by Hey! Say! JUMP (Ore no kawai wa mou sugu shouhi kigen!?)
5) Walkin' in My Lane by milet (Yangotonaki Ichizoku)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) COMEBACK - Itoshiki hahen - by B'z (Mirai e no 10 count)

Genkou by WANIMA (Nanba MG5)
3) so far so good by Oda Kazumasa (Shoujiki Fudousan)

The Answer by Naniwa Danshi (Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo)

intersolid by Miura Touko (Nanika okashii)

Source: The Television

Quick Review #9: "Hagane no renkin jutsushi Kanketsuhen Fukushuusha Scar" (movie)

Title: Hagane no renkin jutsushi Kanketsuhen Fukushuusha Scar 鋼の錬金術師 完結編 復讐者スカー

Currently available for viewing on: Netflix (subject to geographical location)

* Do note that this is Part 1 of the finale so there is no ending as yet.

Rating: 2/10

Recommended for: 

- Those who have no prior knowledge of the original manga

- Those who have prior knowledge of the original manga but don't mind alterations to the storyline and character settings

Liked:

Actually, nothing. The reason why I gave it 2 points was for the efforts by the cast and staff in attempting such a difficult task of doing a real life adaptation for this manga.

Disliked: 

- Despite the title, the story didn't put enough focus on Scar and his elder brother so the whole motive behind his hunt for the State Alchemists, his internal turmoil after "inheriting" the alchemy powers from the latter and why his elder brother was obsessed with research into alchemy were not presented in its entirety. As such, it was difficult to empathize with Scar or even see him as a dark hero given the skewed portrayal of who he was. If there had been a proper explanation on what happened, I think it would have made Scar a more compelling and attractive character. In view of this, I can see why Arata Mackenyu couldn't bring out the depth in Scar's character but it also didn't help that he was too young to bring out the masculine and jaded sides of Scar. Muscles and trying hard to put on a cold face alone are just insufficient.

- There were also many side stories going on clamouring for attention as if they were in a hurry to wrap everything up. I get it that this is the finale but still... For example, I vaguely remember that during the Scar arc, the story about the Xing royals seeking the secret to longevity wasn't featured so I got the impression that the timelines were also jumbled up to squeeze everything together. Not to mention the longtime issue with the Homunculi as well as King Bradley's identity.

- Maybe it's the pandemic that made it impossible for them to go on location shooting in Europe like what they did in the first movie. The CG this time was very unnatural in certain scenes e.g. when Hohenheim left Pinako's home and the surrounding scenery stood out like a sore thumb. Maybe it's best to spend most of the CG budget on the fighting scenes which were generally OK.

- As for the cast's suitability for the roles they played, I could go on and on about that. However, I think the issue this time is more about everyone having to fight for limited screen time with so many storylines going on that nobody really stood out. They were pretty much going through the motions so there wasn't much character development to speak of.

Preview of "HOTEL - NEXT DOOR -" - Summer 2022

Title: HOTEL - NEXT DOOR - 

Official website: here

O.A. Start Date: 10 Sep 2022

Timeslot: Saturdays at 10pm

Broadcast by: WOWOW

Original manga by: Ishinomori Shotaro

Cast: Dean Fujioka, Kusabue Mitsuko, Kato Masaya, Ishibashi Renji, Murakami Hiroaki, Abe Junko, Omi Toshinori, Toyota Maho, Tsubokura Yoshiyuki, Masuoka Tooru, Nagai Masaru, Negishi Toshie, Moro Morooka & Yada Akiko

Preview of "Uzukawamura Jiken" - Summer 2022 (WOWOW)

Title: Uzukawamura Jiken 鵜頭川村事件 (The Case of Uzukawa Village)

Official website: here

O.A. Start Date: 28 August 2022

Timeslot: Sundays at 10pm

Broadcast by: WOWOW

Total number of episodes: 6

Original novel by: Kushiki Riu

Cast: Matsuda Ryuuhei, Renbutsu Misako, Ibu Masato, Kudo Asuka, Yamada Anna, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi, Mashima Hidekazu, Ayata Toshiki, Itabashi Shunya, Tomite Ami, Yoshioka Mutsuo, Wada Misa & Usa Takuma

Romaji lyrics of "Warui Onna" by Higuchi Ai (Ending theme song of TV Tokyo Summer 2022 drama "Yukionna to kani wo kuu")

Title: Warui Onna

Sung by: Higuchi Ai

Lyrics & Melody by: Higuchi Ai

Ending theme song of TV Tokyo Summer 2022 drama "Yukionna to kani wo kuu"

[nikai gurai shita dakede

kanojozura shinaide]

sou iisute satta saiaku na hito

anata wa imademo saiai no hito

atarimae no shiawase

nugisute tobikonda

kekkon suru nara ano hito dakedo

tonari ni itai no wa tada anata datta

takusan aenakya yada yo

onnanoko to asobanaidene

nante ieru kenri hitotsu mo nai no ni

yoru wo mataide asa wo mukaeta

uragiri demo asobi demo nai

watashi ga kitto dame dattan darou

sou omoeba raku ni naru kara

anata wa warukunai

watashi ga warui warui warui onna

omoidaseru omoide

nanshuu shitan darou

sukunai kuse ni irokoi mon dakara

asetemo yabuketemo sutetari dekinai

shigoto de isogashii toka

honto ka uso ka wakarumon dane

naniga warukute naniga yokatta no

kotae awase no jikan wo choudai

uragiri demo asobi demo nai

datoshitara chanto namae tsukete

sou janai to kitai shichau yo

kantan ni okiru yo kiseki gurai

anata to deaetan dashi

isshun no netsu dato ka

anata wa sou omotteru kedo

watashi wa zutto koi wo shitetakara

machiwaranai shisen kowakunatte

negao bakari miteita

uragiri demo asobi demo nai

watashi ga kitto dame dattan darou

sou omoeba raku ni naru kara

anata wa warukunai

watashi ga warui warui warui onna

Winners of Nikkansports Dorama Grand Prix - Spring 2022

The numbers in brackets indicate the number of votes received. Voting was conducted via Nikkansports.com between 17 and 24 June 2022. The top 5 winners in each category will be nominees for the annual awards in the year 2022.

Best Drama

1) Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo (6,006)

2) My Family (3,408)

3) Shoujiki Fudousan (3,267)

4) Jizoku kanou na koi desuka? (1,850)

5) Tokusou 9 Season 5 (808)

Best Leading Actor

1) Michieda Shunsuke - Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo (6,070)

2) Ninomiya Kazunari - My Family (3,744)

3) Yamashita Tomohisa - Shoujiki Fudousan (3,350)

4) Yamada Ryosuke - Ore no kawai wa mou sugu shouhi kigen!? (864)

5) Oguri Shun - Kamakuradono no 13 nin (620)

Best Leading Actress

1) Ueno Juri - Jizoku kanou na koi desuka? (3,272)

2) Ayase Haruka - Motokare no yuigonjou (2,165)

3) Imada Mio - Waru (2,063)

4) Tsuchiya Tao - Yangotonaki Ichizoku (1,516)

5) Kuroshima Yuina - Chimudondon (896)

Best Supporting Actor

1) Ichihara Hayato - Shoujiki Fudousan (2,373)

2) Hamada Gaku - My Family (2,254)

3) Sawamura Ikki - Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo (1,855)

4) Tanaka Kei - Jizoku kanou na koi desuka? (1,750)

5) Mukai Koji - Tokusou 9 season 5 (1,112)

Best Supporting Actress

1) Tabe Mikako - My Family (3,056)

2) Fukuhara Haruka - Shoujiki Fudousan (2,478)

3) Kamishiraishi Moka - Chimudondon / Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo (1,530)

4) Igawa Haruka - Jizoku kanou na koi desuka? (1,240)

5) Aragaki Yui - Kamakuradono no 13 nin (1,231)

Source: Nikkansports

Romaji lyrics of "Hoshi no ame" by Johnny's WEST (Theme song of TV Tokyo Summer 2022 drama "Yukionna to kani wo kuu")

Title: Hoshi no ame

Sung by: Johnny's WEST

Lyrics & Melody by: Keiya - amazuti - (KEYTONE)

Arranged by: Ikuta Mashin

bokura no mae ni nagareru hoshi no ame

tsukamitakute tsukamenakute mata te wo nobashi

soko de yume kara sameru

wasuretai noni wasurete ii noka wakaranai noni

kagayaki dake wa oboeteiru

moshimo kamisama ga iru nara donna kao shiten darou

nante itta monono kyoumi mo nakute

tada tsuzuku michi wo hashiraseru

supiido wo agete mukaikaze wo ukeru tabi

konna kisetsu nanoni sukoshi hadasamuku kanjite shimau you na

betsu ni mou sabishikunai yo zenzen kono toori sa

chizu wa nai kedo mi wo makasete miyouka

itsu datte heiki da heiki da

bokura no mae ni nagareru hoshi no ame

tsukamitakute tsukamenakute mata te wo nobashi

soko de yume kara sameru

wasuretai noni wasurete ii noka wakaranai no ni

zankoku da kagayaki dake wa oboeteiru

edawakare shiteru basho ni nando mo sashikakaru

tottekita toko torazu kita toko

ima mo tatazunde hitori

toki ga tatte wasurete shimatta you de

chanto oboeteiru koto mo attarishite

ano yoru mo ano asa mo

tada mou sukoshi ato mou sukoshi dake

nekorogatte hateshinaku tsuzuku yozora ni

sotto te wo nobashitemiru

hoshi wo todoreba boku dake no katachi ni naru kana

asa ga kuru sono mae ni mata hashiridasu

me wo sameyou oshikomou

kyou mo utsukushii ichinichi ga boku wo matteiru

waratte iyou oshikomou

sugu soko ni aru chiisana kiseki niwa

nakanaka kizukezu sugoshite shimau kara

umaku ikanai mon dayona

demo tashikana ondo wa

kimi to boku ga kanjita hazu no bokura dake no kono jinsei wa

shinjitai tada sore dake

bokura no mae ni nagareru hoshi no ame

tsukamitakute tsukamenakute mata te wo nobashi

soko de yume kara sameru

mou todokanakutemo mou soko ni aru hazu mo nakutemo

kimi to mita kagayaki dake wa oboeteiku

Preview of "Junai Dissonance" - Summer 2022

Title: Junai Dissonance 純愛ディソナンス (Pure Love Dissonance)

Official website: here

Official Instagram: here

Official Twitter: here

O.A. Start Date: 14 Jul 2022

Timeslot: Thursdays at 10pm

Broadcast by: FujiTV

Theme Song: "Fate or Destiny" by Hey! Say! JUMP

Cast: Nakajima Yuuto, Yoshikawa Ai, Higa Manami, Takahashi Yuuto, Kakei Miwako, Wada Masato, Hata Mei, Fujiwara Taiyu, Jinbo Satoshi, Tezuka Tooru, Mashima Hidekazu, Tomita Yasuko, Mitsuishi Ken & Sato Ryuuta

Status update of Summer 2022 dramas - 1 Aug 2022

Now that we are already a month into the Summer 2022 drama season, it's time for a recap of the dramas which I've watched, will continue watching and have already dropped. With this, you will know if I will continue to cover a drama with my episode reflections or will just round up at the end with a quick review. 

To read my past episode reflections posted on Twitter and Facebook, simply search for the hashtags on the Dorama World pages.

What I watched (at least 2 episodes; in order of start date):

1) Old Rookie

2) Unicorn ni notte

3) Teppachi!

4) Okutou 

5) Junai Dissonance

6) Yukionna to kani wo kuu

7) Ishiko to Haneo 

8) Kyousou no bannin

9) Hatsukoi no akuma

10) Mahou no rinobe

Dropped

1) Teppachi! (watched up to Ep 4) 

2) Okutou (watched half of Ep 3) 

In danger of being dropped

1) Unicorn ni notte

2) Kyousou no bannin

Will continue watching but may switch to doing a quick review at the end instead

1) Yukionna to kani wo kuu

2) Old Rookie

3) Junai Dissonance

To continue with episode reflections barring unforeseen circumstances

1) Ishiko to Haneo

2) Hatsukoi no akuma

3) Mahou no rinobe

In the last season, I only finished one drama to the end with episode reflections i.e. "My Family" while I did a quick review for "Koi nante honki de dousuru no". Considering that I've only dropped 2 out of 10 at this stage, it seems that the offerings this season are better in terms of quality and appeal, at least in my opinion.

However, things may change again in the span of an episode or two so it's still too early to tell which drama will make it to the end.