Quick Review #139: Ame ni kieta himawari - Summer 2022

Title: Ame ni kieta himawari / 雨に消えた向日葵　　　　　　　　　　　　

Rating: 7 / 10

Recommended for: 

For those who want to watch a story about family ties and overcoming crime-induced trauma but don't mind the lack of suspense and/or would like to watch Muro Tsuyoshi and Sato Ryuuta's serious acting

* Potential spoilers ahead!

* Disclaimer: I have not read the original novel.

Liked:

- The good thing was that this drama was only 5 episodes long so despite the heavy themes about the difficulties of overcoming crime-induced trauma and how families grapple with their loved ones being victims of crime, I thought that the overall mood was emotional but not too draggy. By showing those who are embroiled in the current case vs. those who had supposedly emerged from the pain of past trauma, it provided a good contrast and conveyed the message that time is the best medicine to cure those wounds but everyone has their own way and timeline to do that.

- Given that Muro and Sato tend to act in more funny or somewhat eccentric kind of roles, it was a refreshing change to see them getting serious in this drama. However, I liked the fact that they didn't seem to be trying too hard to put on a straight face and their balanced acting this time would probably convince viewers that these two are indeed capable of good acting. Might take a bit of time to get used to seeing Muro hardly ever smiling in this drama though.

Disliked: 

- The thing is, the original novel is said to be a mystery story but there was really nothing to deduce especially with regard to the ongoing case featured in the drama. While this is one of the rare dramas which does not take a critical view of the police nor paint them to be unfeeling jerks when dealing with the victims and their families, you can't help but feel that the drama also didn't showcase them in a positive light especially when it comes to the investigation process. Somehow, I felt that the lapses in the process or how analogue their methods were just seemed to be quite illogical so that's why it took them so long to find the culprit and victim. As such, if you don't mind the lack of suspense or rather this element is considered weak in this drama, you might be able to enjoy this for the humanity aspect instead.

Quick Review #44: Subete wasurete shimau kara - Summer 2022

Title: Subete wasurete shimau kara / すべて忘れてしまうから

Rating: 3 /10 

Recommended for: 

NA (I think this drama will be quite polarising in terms of viewer response - either you love it or cannot stand it. That is why I struggle to find a reason as a recommendation.)

Liked:

- Personally, Ep 9 was the highlight of the entire series. I liked how it illustrated the message of how time and tide wait for none through the relationship of M and F changing in the 6 months they were apart and how F had changed as a result of her desire to change her life. While things may look like they are still the same, nothing actually remains as a constant and shouldn't be taken for granted.

- Abe Hiroshi and Ono Machiko along with some of the supporting cast members did well in their own ways but it would have been much better if the story turned out to be more compelling. There are also some unexpected cameos to look out for.

Disliked: 

- I actually dropped this once after watching 4 episodes and only resumed finishing the rest of the episodes recently (albeit at a faster speed). There were two reasons for my lack of enthusiasm - the pace was so slow and I wasn't seeing where the story was heading. The title seemed to suggest that the journey of M trying to find out where F had gone and why she had disappeared would be a process of helping him to remember the things he forgot in life. However, it was till the end that I felt - actually, M's discoveries about F hardly filled in the pieces as to why she took off suddenly without a word. As such, it would probably take a lot of patience for viewers to sit through this if they want to find answers about the relationship between M and F or know more about M and his past. And because things were so draggy (if you want to put it nicely, it's relaxing and laidback), I think you need to be in a certain mood or state of mind to be able to enjoy this. I guess I wasn't so I felt quite annoyed at the drama.

Since the drama is based on an essay series, perhaps the less-structured way of storytelling could be the reason why I felt that the drama was going on a wild goose chase. Just like how M really didn't seem to know his girlfriend well at all.

*Now available on Disney+

The 113rd Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2022) - Best Drama

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -
2) Hatsukoi no akuma
3) Roppongi Class

Voters Ranking Top 5

1) Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -

2) Teppachi!

3) Shin Shinchoukouki

4) Kyousou no bannin

5) NICE FLIGHT!

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Hatsukoi no akuma
2) Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -
3) Roppongi Class
4) Mahou no rinobe

5) Yukionna to kani wo kuu

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -

2) Hatsukoi no akuna

3) Mahou no rinobe

4) Okutou ~ kanjou sousakan Shinno Akari ~

5) Roppongi Class

Source: The Television

The 113rd Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2022) - Best Leading Actor

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) Nakamura Tomoya - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -

2) Sakaguchi Kentaro - Kyousou no bannin
3) Takeuchi Ryoma - Roppongi Class

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Sakaguchi Kentaro - Kyousou no bannin
2) Machida Keita - Teppachi!
3) Nagase Ren - Shin Shinchoukouki
4) Nakamura Tomoya - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -
5) Tamamori Yuuta - NICE FLIGHT!

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Hayashi Kento - Hatsukoi no akuma
2) Nakamura Tomoya - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -
3) Takeuchi Ryoma - Roppongi Class
4) Nakano Taiga - Hatsukoi no akuma

5) Ayano Go - Old Rookie

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Nakamura Tomoya - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -
2) Takeuchi Ryoma - Roppongi Class

3) Hayashi Kento - Hatsukoi no akuma

Nakano Taiga - Hatsukoi no akuma

Ayano Go - Old Rookie

Sakaguchi Kentaro - Kyousou no bannin

Source: The Television

The 113rd Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2022) - Best Leading Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) Arimura Kasumi - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -
2) An - Kyousou no bannin
3) Haru - Mahou no rinobe

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) An - Kyousou no bannin
2) Arimura Kasumi - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -

3) Nagano Mei - Unicorn ni notte

4) Sugisaki Hana - Prism

5) Kuroshima Yuina - Chimudondon

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Arimura Kasumi - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -
2) Nagano Mei - Unicorn ni notte
3) Haru - Mahou no rinobe

4) An - Kyousou no bannin

5) Kuroshima Yuina - Chimudondon

Kuroki Haru - Boku no Neechan

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Arimura Kasumi - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu -

2) Haru - Mahou no rinobe

3) Kuroki Haru - Boku no Neechan

4) Nimura Sawa - Anata no butsu ga, koko ni

5) Kuroshima Yuina - Chimudondon

Source: The Television

The 113rd Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2022) - Best Supporting Actor

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) Akaso Eiji - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -

2) Saotome Taichi - Roppongi Class

3) Yasuda Ken - Hatsukoi no akuma

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Akaso Eiji - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -
2) Sano Hayato - Teppachi!
3) Nishihata Daigo - Shin Shinchoukouki
4) Nishigaki Sho - Minato Shoji Coin Laundry
5) Saotome Taichi - Roppongi Class

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Saotome Taichi - Roppongi Class
2) Emoto Akira - Shin Shinchoukouki
3) Yasuda Ken - Hatsukoi no akuma
4) Mamiya Shotaro - Mahou no rinobe
5) Bandou Ryota - Unicorn ni notte

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Nishijima Hidetoshi - Unicorn ni notte
2) Akaso Eiji - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -

3) Saotome Taichi - Roppongi Class

4) Kagawa Teruyuki - Roppongi Class

5) Yasuda Ken - Hatsukoi no akuma

Source: The Television

The 113rd Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2022) - Best Supporting Actress

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) Matsuoka Mayu - Hatsukoi no akuma

2) Hirate Yurina - Roppongi Class
3) Koike Eiko - Kyousou no bannin

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Koike Eiko - Kyousou no bannin
2) Shiraishi Mai - Teppachi!
3) Yamada Anna - Shin Shinchoukouki
4) Hirate Yurina - Roppongi Class
5) MEGUMI - Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Matsuoka Mayu - Hatsukoi no akuma
2) Hirate Yurina - Roppongi Class
3) Higa Manami - Junai Dissonance
4) Eikura Nana - Old Rookie
5) Yoshikawa Ai - Junai Dissonance

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Matsuoka Mayu - Hatsukoi no akuma
2) Hirate Yurina - Roppongi Class

3) Koike Eiko - Kyousou no bannin

4) Asada Miyoko - Akai Nurse Call

5) Iriyama Noriko - Yukionna to kani wo kuu

Source: The Television

The 113rd Drama Academy Awards (Summer 2022) - Best Theme Song

Overall Ranking Top 3

1) Sansan by Miura Daichi (Chimudondon)

2) Start Over by THE BEAT GARDEN (Roppongi Class)

3) Hatsukoi no akuma by "SOIL& ""PIMP""SESSIONS (Hatsukoi no akuma)

Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Chikara no kagiri by GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE (Teppachi!)
2) GLOW by idom (Kyousou no bannin)
3) Ningen gokko by RADWIMPS (Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -)
4) TraceTrace by King & Prince (Shin Shinchoukouki)
5) Two as One by Kis-My-Ft2 (NICE FLIGHT!)

TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Sansan by Miura Daichi (Chimudondon)

2) Ame sansan by King Gnu (Old Rookie)

3) Start Over by THE BEAT GARDEN (Roppongi Class)
4) Bakasabaibaa by Ul-fuls (Anata no butsu ga, koko ni)
5) Hoshi no ame by Johnny's WEST (Yukionna to kani wo kuu)

Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Hatsukoi no akuma by "SOIL& ""PIMP""SESSIONS (Hatsukoi no akuma)

2) Start Over by THE BEAT GARDEN (Roppongi Class)

3) Hoshi no ame by Johnny's WEST (Yukionna to kani wo kuu)

4) Chinokate by Yorushika (Mahou no rinobe)

5) Ningen gokko by RADWIMPS (Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? -)

Source: The Television

Quick Review #17: Hatsukoi no akuma (Summer 2022)

Title: Hatsukoi no akuma 初恋の悪魔

Season: Summer 2022

Broadcast by: NTV

Rating: 7.5/10

Recommended for: fans of Sakamoto Yuji and the cast as well as those who like to ponder over the meaning of the lines

Liked:

- The acting from the cast. To begin with, I like the 4 main actors so it was a joy seeing them in action together. The chemistry between them got even better as their characters' friendship developed. Nakano Taiga and Matsuoka Mayu were the stars from the beginning to the midpoint while Hayashi Kento was the highlight towards the end. It was a pity though that Emoto Tasuku's role didn't get much of an opportunity to shine especially since Kotori's romance with Hattori didn't amount to much in the end.

- The subtlety of the gestures and actions rather than using words to illustrate a point or reflect the relationships and closeness between characters. It felt like being in a detective game where you had to look for clues such as body language to understand what was going on beyond what was spoken.

Disliked: 

- I would say that this drama can be quite polarising. Sakamoto Yuji's dramas are not that easy to understand at times with lots of dialogue in the conversations between characters so the subtlety this time can be a double-edged sword. You can either love or hate it. And till the end, I still wonder about the meaning of the title. I've thought of various interpretations but none of them seem that convincing even to myself. Thus, I am left wondering, so what exactly have I watched for the past 3 months?

- The dialogue this time didn't resonate as much with me as compared to some of his works like "Quartet" and "Omameda Towako" where there were countless quotable quotes and developments which hit close to my heart. Maybe it's the genre this time (the case solving wasn't challenging intellectually but I guess it never was meant to be), or maybe it's the setting that wasn't so engaging but I remember that I wasn't particularly satisfied nor fond of this drama after watching the first episode. There were some notable highlights as the season progressed but somehow, I never got to the stage of being "excited" or "fond" of this drama. Much as I think the characters were endearing in their own ways, I just felt that the story was decent but lacking at the same time.

Winners of the Nikkansports Drama Grand Prix - Summer 2022

Note that the numbers in brackets indicate the number of votes received between 14 and 21 Sep 2022.

Best Drama

1) Shin Shinchoukouki (1,482)

2) Hatsukoi no akuma (1,000)

3) Roppongi Class (766)

4) Kamakuradono no 13 nin (313)

5) Junai Dissonance (243)

Best Leading Actor

1) Nagase Ren - Shin Shinchoukouki (1,485)

2) Hayashi Kento - Hatsukoi no akuma (991)

3) Takeuchi Ryoma - Roppongi Class (670)

4) Oguri Shun - Kamakuradono no 13 nin (308)

5) Shigeoka Daiki - Yukionna to kani wo kuu (233)

Best Leading Actress

1) Arimura Kasumi - Ishiko to Haneo (1,014)

2) Haru - Mahou no rinobe (617)

3) Sugisaki Hana - Prism (562)

4) Kuroshima Yuina - Chimudondon (412)

5) Nagano Mei - Unicorn ni notte (394)

Best Supporting Actor

1) Emoto Tasuku - Hatsukoi no akuma (547)

2) Saotome Taichi - Roppongi Class (502)

3) Hamada Gaku - Shin Shinchoukouki (412)

4) Mitsushima Shinnosuke - Shin Shinchoukouki (310)

5) Yasuda Ken - Hatsukoi no akuma (273)

Best Supporting Actress

1) Yamada Anna - Shin Shinchoukouki (1,033)

2) Matsuoka Mayu - Hatsukoi no akuma (904)

3) Hirate Yurina - Roppongi Class (832)

4) Koike Eiko - Kamakuradono no 13 nin (434)

5) Iriyama Noriko - Yukionna to kani wo kuu (173)

Source: Nikkansports

Quick Review #16: Junai Dissonance (Summer 2022)

Title: Junai Dissonance 純愛ディソナンス

Season: Summer 2022

Broadcast by: FujiTV

Rating: 2/10

Recommended for: NA

Liked:

- The first episode. If you had read my thoughts about that episode on Dorama World's Twitter and Facebook pages, you probably would remember how I praised it for being better than expected. If not for this episode, I would have given this drama a lower score.

Disliked: 

- The story is the biggest issue. The warning signs were there but I still pressed on till the end, with the hope that the story would turn things around especially how Ep 1 had shown so much promise. On hindsight, it was clear that the story was not prepared to go to the extent of showing true "dissonance" and the romance was so lacking that it hardly met what a "junai" love story should be - the love between the leads was hardly considered pure nor heart-wrenching. 

Often, the villains looked as if they would do something drastic and evil but all "pulled back or were pulled back" from going that final mile so every bad thing done just felt half-baked and the so-called "consequences" of the bad deeds hardly left an impact nor impression. To make it worse, there were times when there was no logical explanation on why someone behaved in a certain way or had a change of mind. 

If the drama had been like this from the start, I think I would have been less frustrated and annoyed at it - at least there's consistency. To start off high and go all the way down, that's also a feat, albeit in a not-so-good way.

- Due to the limitations posed by the story, I thought some of the characters were not developed to their full potential so it was such a pity that they ended as forgettable roles. And that's a pity considering the cast this time who could do more than this. I was so looking forward to see how things would develop between Higa Manami and Sato Ryuuta's characters.

For example, the cynical Nitta Masaki who disappeared after Ep 1 - I thought this would have given Nakajima Yuuto a great chance to showcase the gap between the goody-two-shoes surface and the jaded and untrusting inner self. Although I understood that Nitta's pride and self confidence took a serious beating in the 5 years after he left his teaching job, the monologue scenes about Nitta's true feelings about the people around him and the world he was in helped in making the character more comprehensive and easier to understand so it wasn't surprising that the Nitta I saw from Ep 4 onwards felt so flat and one-dimensional.

Likewise for Sae, the spunky teenager just evolved to become a wishy-washy adult who seriously lacked that elusive charm for viewers to believe that she would have 2 men going gaga over her. I get it, she went through a lot in the 5 years but still... It also didn't help that the wardrobe and image design in her adult years were not so flattering to look at.

Manami's change to become a love story writer also felt terribly forced. It was not mentioned specifically why she chose this path as by the time she got together with Nitta, she was still the unglam version back in the high school arc. And the weird vibes between her and her elder brother - that was also never addressed which could have given an idea as to why she was so antagonistic towards Kosaka or developed an interest in Nitta.

Last but not least, Michika's hatred for Manami's father disappeared so quickly but there had to be some more build-up to explain how he grew to fall for her and forget about the past. And there really wasn't much of an explanation of any emotional turmoil he had when it came to putting down his revenge and choosing love instead. It seemed that he was more hung up over whether Manami could forget Nitta. Same goes for Manami's side - I find it a bit difficult to reconcile how things happened between them when there were just some "touch-and-go" interactions that hardly featured prominently in the story.

Quick Review #15: Mahou no rinobe (Summer 2022)

Title: Mahou no rinobe 魔法のリノベ

Season: Summer 2022

Broadcast by: Kansai TV

Rating: 8.5/10

Recommended for: those who like to watch renovation shows and slice-of-life romantic comedies as well as fans of Haru & Mamiya Shotaro

Liked:

- The better-than-expected story: although the format of each episode is the same i.e. solving the problems faced by customers through renovation, the underlying story of Koume, Gennosuke and the people at Marufuku "renovating" their lives and solving the issues they had was presented in a very heartwarming manner that made these characters really endearing and easy to empathise with. I found myself rooting for Koume and Gennosuke in particular which is surprisingly rare for me of late because there were many love stories I watched where I couldn't care less whether the main couple got together or not.

- The acting from the cast especially Haru and Mamiya Shotaro - to be honest, I have not really taken to Haru's acting in love stories so far because I always had a nagging feeling that she hadn't fully immersed herself in these roles and it felt so much like forcing herself to "love" someone on screen. Maybe it has to do with her cool demeanour which can come off as icy at times and somewhat emotionless even though the stories may require her to show the excitement and dizziness of someone in love. However, her collaboration with Mamiya this time felt really natural and the interactions between them flowed so smoothly that it was easy to picture them as a couple in the drama. Mamiya also managed to show the adorable and somewhat pitiful sides of Gennosuke so well that it was hard not to like him despite his "not-so brilliant" track record in his love life.

- The amount of effort put in to showcase the before-and-after changes - usually for such shows, I wouldn't be surprised if the "after" scenes would be presented in drawings or 3D simulations. However, to see the proposed designs come to life and how the customers could improve their lives through renovation (sometimes, they were just minor tweaks only) was very interesting and made the ending credits a must-see in every episode. I wonder how much money they had to spend to make these for every episode?

Disliked: 

- The slight hiccup before the last episode where Koume had to leave Marufuku for a while in order to protect the people there - I felt that it wasn't that much of an issue in the first place and could have been ironed out by talking things through and dealing with the problem directly. Of course, in dramaland, such things don't happen since there must be a conflict to lead to a resolution and ultimately the climax.

- The so-called conflict between Kuranosuke and Arikawa was rather underwhelming. I was expecting something major but it turned out to be quite meh? I get it that Arikawa felt betrayed by Kuranosuke quitting from the company and leaving him to face the music when they screwed up but then, instead of wallowing in self pity and wasting energy on trying to snatch business from Marufuku, there could have been other things Arikawa could do. However, I guess the kind of atmosphere that this drama created didn't allow for overly dramatic or extreme developments so this would have to do given the constraints.

Quick Review #14: Kyousou no bannin (Summer 2022)

Title: Kyousou no bannin 競争の番人

Season: Summer 2022

Broadcast by: FujiTV

Rating: 3/10

Recommended for: those who like David vs. Goliath stories where the underdog does not give up when faced with a more powerful enemy or want to know more about the Fair Trade Commission 

Liked:

- The cast although it was such a waste that they didn't get to perform to their full potential

Disliked: 

- David vs. Goliath stories are interesting to watch only if the underdog manages to overcome the odds to topple the giant. However, the biggest limitation of FTC is that they do not have the right to arrest anyone and any form of judicial action taken on a case they have investigated has to be conducted by the police and prosecutors. As such, the drama was already "handicapped" in the first place because the members of Dairoku cannot exact justice on their own and always had to let others take credit for their work. In addition, those being investigated actually can refuse to have their premises searched which further cripples Dairoku's power to seize evidence for their investigations. Without such a "climax scene" in this drama, you can imagine that there was effectively no "climax" for viewers to look forward to in each episode.

Despite these limitations, the drama didn't try very hard to show a way out of this dire situation and simply kept emphasizing that Dairoku was powerless and so weak that they could be bullied, belittled and ostracized. Compared to "Ishiko to Haneo" which tried to offer alternatives and got creative in seeking justice for the weak who suffered injustices, I thought that the way how the drama portrayed the FTC was extremely unflattering and it was really difficult to root for them as "heroes" to take out those who engage in anti-competition behaviour.

 

- As I've not read the original novel, I cannot ascertain if the bland developments/cases in this drama were due to the novel or the script. However, considering that they took 3 episodes to work on 1 case and everything else after that was rather standard and predictable (even the one against the big baddie), it felt as if not much effort was put into the story. That last episode was truly redundant too and could have been a standalone SP instead.

Seriously, it can't be a coincidence that FujiTV "messed" up 2 novels from the same author in 2 consecutive seasons (the other being "Motokare no yuigonjou" in spring) so I can't help but wonder what happened this time. Is it because the novels concerned are not so suited to be dramatised or is it that the method to dramatise these novels was somewhat lacking? 

- Due to the inherent problems with the story, the cast were severely handicapped in developing their characters. Other than Koshobu (Sakaguchi Kentaro) and Shirokuma (An) who had slightly more airtime showcasing their lives outside of Dairoku, not much is know about the others. As such, the key members felt rather flat and one-dimensional and it was difficult to relate to them or feel for them. It was such a great pity though because these actors definitely could deliver more than this.

Quick Review #12: Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? - (Summer 2022)

Title: Ishiko to Haneo - Sonna koto de utaemasu? - 石子と羽男―そんなコトで訴えます？―

Season: Summer 2022

Broadcast by: TBS

Rating: 8/10

Recommended for: those who are interested in legal/investigative stories and/or those where the weak fight against the rich & those with power

Liked:

- The chemistry between Arimura Kasumi & Nakamura Tomoya as their characters progressed from bickering foes to soulmates who could support each other in all areas except for the romantic aspect. Although I thought it would be nice to have them end up as a couple, this current state of being soulmates actually turned out to be better than expected. It was good that Haneo managed to stand up against his father by proving his abilities instead of arguing. I also liked the final scene when Haneo gave Ishiko a gentle nudge in the back and "offered an umbrella" to her so as to get over her emotional trauma. However, rather than having Haneo supporting her throughout, it was great that Ishiko could walk the final leg of her journey to become a lawyer on her own. 

- The legal topics covered in each episode not only provided lots of useful information in an easy-to-understand manner but also offered food for thought on what may be true justice. I also liked it that the story didn't try to push through with just one or the standard perspective but rather showed that the truth or what's considered justice can be viewed differently depending on your position in the issue.

- The scenes where Ishiko and Haneo were eating mega-sized dishes together - those always made me hungry after watching!

Disliked: 

- The romance between Ishiko and Oba was just too awkward to watch and I didn't get any romantic vibes from them at all. Moreover, I was rooting for Ishiko and Haneo to become an item so it was very disappointing to see her end up with Oba. Nothing against Oba though.

- Dangling potential twists but to find that they amounted to nothing. For example, the explanation of how Oba was the president of a company despite supposedly being of a modest background and having difficulty in finding a permanent job - I struggle to believe how gullible and dumb he might have been. This was really unfathomable especially after he went through so much in his previous job. I would have assumed that he would become more street-smart after that unpleasant experience but clearly, he hadn't. And how he chose to keep quiet in order to protect his younger brother in the arson case - I just cannot understand why he had to do that. I would have thought his stint at the law firm could have given him a bit of legal knowledge but apparently not. Likewise, the part hinting that Wataro had something to do with Mikogami - it also ended up with nothing much to add value to the story. As such, these anti-climatic developments in the last few episodes turned out to be so bland that it contrasted greatly with how the drama began with a bang initially.

- The way how Mikogami's case concluded - this is where it can be viewed differently. The fact that his involvement in the fraud scheme wasn't proven meant that Ishiko and Haneo had to take an alternative route to get him punished in another way for a different crime. I could accept that because in real life, there are times when it's impossible to have things go your way all the time and that there are people who can exploit loopholes in the law to get away with things. On the other hand, the crime that he was held accountable for may seem comparatively trivial compared to fraud so it leaves a lingering sense of regret and dissatisfaction that Mikogami didn't really get what he deserved. I would be OK with this way of ending the case if it wasn't the finale. To end the drama with a big baddie being treated in this way just felt as if everything fizzled out without a trace.

Quick Review #11: Unicorn ni notte (Summer 2022)

Title: Unicorn ni notte (ユニコーンに乗って)

Season: Summer 2022

Broadcast by: TBS

Rating: 5 / 10

Recommended for: fans of the cast or those who want to have a basic understanding of IT start-ups

Liked:

- Kotorin & President Haneda i.e. Nishijima Hidetoshi & Hirosue Ryoko. It was just a pity though that their subplot wasn't explored in greater detail but the ending suggested that they have the potential to become an item.

- Hirosue Ryoko's weekly show - except for one outfit which I thought looked quite odd for a CEO, the others were very nice to look at. She certainly looked the part as a charismatic CEO but her airtime was really limited.

Disliked: 

- A story which doesn't really fit the title. To begin with, there wasn't a lot of emphasis nor indication that Dream Pony was to become a unicorn company or was actually working towards this goal. Coupled with the fact that its status at the end of the drama was a subsidiary of a listed/major company, that sort of deviated from the title's essence. However, if the title was meant to show that people with nothing to their name due to their backgrounds and lack of resources are very unlikely to achieve success like how elusive the unicorn is, Sana's state at the end of the drama would mean that she had defied the odds to become successful in both her career and love life.

- The lacklustre romance. Although it was implied that there might be a love triangle, it didn't really happen except for a brief period when Sana wondered if she liked Kotori romantically. And Kotori certainly didn't see Sana in the romantic sense other than being kind towards her. On the other hand, things between Sana and Kou were so bland and hardly engaging for viewers unlike some of the more successful love stories shown in this particular timeslot. A love story that doesn't make the viewers excited nor squeal in delight or wish for the couple to be together certainly cannot be considered as one which qualifies as a good romance story. I must say, I couldn't care less for what happened between Sana and Kou but I certainly was rooting for something to happen between Kotori and Haneda.

- In the early stages of watching this drama, I felt that it was quite similar to the Korean drama "Start Up" in terms of its vibe (youngsters trying to realise their dream against the odds with romance on the sidelines) but somehow, the passion and enthusiasm about starting one's business and working hard to make it in the industry was lost on me in this drama. And it certainly didn't help that the story sort of simplified many things in business and adopted a touch-and-go approach when it came to depicting challenges faced by Dream Pony. It was as if, a problem cropped up, they were troubled about it for a brief moment and someone came to save them like a fairy godmother without them actually doing much to save themselves. For example, the patent filing by a rival company was settled so easily through external help that it seemed nothing more like a slight dent to Dream Pony's journey. However, that certainly could have become a major issue which could cripple the company and I felt that Dream Pony didn't really learn from that episode. Likewise, until Kotori joined the company, it felt as if the company operated on a system of "do-it-as-you-like" to foster creativity and promote freedom etc. but basic business decorum (sending Oseibo and Ochuugen gifts to your associates and clients) and dressing appropriately for a business meeting (tattered jeans and a T-shirt, seriously?) were clearly not on their minds. Makes me wonder how the company could survive in the Japanese corporate world for 3 years? I know people tend to be a bit more lenient towards start-ups but they aren't in the creative field to begin with.

Quick Review #10: Old Rookie (Summer 2022)

Title: Old Rookie (オールドルーキー)

Season: Summer 2022

Broadcast by: TBS

Rating: 7.5 / 10

Recommended for: sports fans who know a lot of Japanese athletes, those who are interested to find out more about sports management and keen on stories about people moving on to second careers

Liked:

- Some of the TBS Sunday 9pm dramas can be a bit overboard in terms of acting and story especially if there is an emphasis of how passion, enthusiasm and perseverance can overcome almost all the obstacles in life. This drama was fairly toned-down in terms of its messaging so it didn't come across as hard-sell and was comparatively easier to watch. Coupled with the heartwarming interpersonal relationships among the characters, there were quite a number of touching parts which made me smile and cry along with them.

- The acting of the cast was pretty good on the whole and most of the characters were presented in a multi-dimensional manner which made them easier to relate to and like. Ayano Go stood out for his subtle emotional acting and I have to admit, his portrayal of Shinmachi was much better than I expected initially. I also liked the fact that the scriptwriter chose to make Kanako somewhat different from the other wives in the Sunday 9pm dramas to date. Usually, the wives play a supporting role to the husbands and hardly have much airtime in the dramas. However, Kanako was hardly someone who stayed in the background and was definitely not passive at all. She could take charge of the situation, give her husband a good shake-up when he was in denial and self-doubting himself, offer him comfort and support at the right time and not wait around for solutions but took the initiative to solve problems. As such, I really like the relationship dynamics between this couple which came across as both cool and very heartwarming. Likewise, I also thought that Umeyashiki and Fukazawa were quite a cute couple although it was too late for them to develop their relationship further in the drama.

- The sports management aspect of the story was interesting at times. Prior to watching this drama, I thought that it was just about managing the athlete's career, both in the sporting arena and outside e.g. CM and sponsorship deals, TV appearances, media engagements. However, there was more to that because the manager has to take care of things such as arranging for training venues, training partners, resources, equipment, negotiate for transfers to other teams, medical care, physiotherapy, mental care. As such, the parts when Shinmachi was still trying to learn the ropes were an eye-opener because a lot of time was spent on explaining the workflow. It would have been good if this continued in the second arc but I guess building up to the conflict of ideals vs. reality demanded more airtime so it couldn't be helped.

Disliked: 

- Compared to the first arc which took great pains to illustrate the internal turmoil that Shinmachi was experiencing after his professional career as a soccer player was ended prematurely, the second arc of the drama seemed to be wrapped up in a great hurry. Just when the conflict between Takayanagi and Shinmachi in the second last episode marked a climax which could be explored a bit longer and in depth, the resolution felt like a rollercoaster ride heading downwards. I thought that was a bit wasted so the pacing of the story could be improved in this aspect.

- For sports fans familiar with Japanese sports stars, this drama would probably make them quite excited to see these athletes make guest appearances. However, for the viewers who don't know them well, the excitement would be lost on them. I have to admit, I could only recognise a handful of them. This is more of a personal problem but for the benefit of viewers like me, it might be good to have a line or two to "introduce" these stars as seen in a couple of episodes when the athletes' names were mentioned.

- The part about how Igaki managed to overcome his nerves and deliver a stellar performance on the pitch was a tad too unrealistic. In fact, this was a common issue as seen in some of the featured athletes' stories which were wrapped up in a similar fashion. While the overall storyline was largely believable and realistic, the same level of detail and attention probably wasn't extended evenly to these subplots.

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

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