My second favorite opening video (see previous post for first) is Micro’s (from the duo Def Tech) Odore. I am a big, big fan of Def Tech since the first time I’ve heard their songs from Brother Beat. I knew it was Micro singing even before they showed the credits on screen. But before the song had registered in my brain, I was more captivated by Aoi Yu swinging this red & white flag so gracefully. Wow, this girl is getting prettier year after year. I remember watching her on Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003 with Fujiki Naohito and Ueto Aya. I also remember dismissing Aoi Yu unceremoniously after seeing her in such an unflattering one piece school bathing suit and a character so piss-worthy. That is before watching the acclaimed Hana & Alice, of course. This girl has a long list of hit movies, maybe on par with Ueno Juri, but definitely superior with the likes of Ueto Aya, Sawajiri Erika, Ishihara Satomi, and the annoying japanese actress list goes on and on and on.
I love the first episode of Osen; I only liked the subsequent episodes. That’s why this drama slipped in my runner-up position after CHANGE. What I love about this season aside from the Soundtracks, are the characters and the actors that represent them. In Osen, Aoi Yu, not only is she pleasing in the eye, but her innocently old-fashioned character infused with an alcoholic tendency is love at first sight. Girls, you can all have Ruka…I’ll have Osen. Hak Hak Hak. I call myself the “traditional” type.
This is also Uchi Hiroki’s second work after the underage drinking incident where he got pulled off and replaced by Taguchi Junnosuke in Gambatte Ikimasshoi. I really have no high expectations from another Johnny boy, but Uchi is a pleasant surprise. The plot slightly reminds me of Bambino and Mukai Osamu strengthens the reminder even more. But thank God, Uchi is NOT another Bambi or MatsuJun. Thank God! I kinda like his style of acting. He doesn’t come gratingly annoying like MatsuJun
Osen will definitely be episodic. I haven’t read the manga so I can’t confirm how it compares with the original work. I am just so glad we didn’t get another Teppan Shoujo Akane or, or, or Kuitan. Yay for another quality food-dorama!
Food dorama! Traditional washouku dorama! YUMYUM…
So the guy is another Johnnies’ guy eh. I never knew.
Hey speaking of Aoi Yu, did you see her in the movie version of Honey and Clover? I saw a little bit of the movie and thought it was preety but the guy who plays Morita somehow gets on my nerves. LOL
Oh yes I did. I thought she was a more fitting Hagu, actually.
I like the intro of Osen as well, and I do like Aoi Yu, she’s mainly the reason I began watching it. I like the food and tradition theme, but I find so hard to bear the ‘leading’ male. LOL’ I think he’s very annoying, but maybe that’s just my opinion.
And you mentioned Ruka… Ruka is such a meaty role. LOL’ All my non-Japanese, non-JDrama friends are all over Last Friends. It’s really quite the addictive show, even my dad watches and is a fan of Ruka and Juri Ueno xD
hi i found your blog by mistake, but I really like it.
Your blog becomes my reference for watching movie while enjoying my job assignment in Vietnam until December (I am Indonesian)
Have you watched ENGINE – Kimura Takuya. Now I am watching it. I believe this is one of the best movies I’ve ever watched.
Keep the spirit…
I really like your blog.
Thx for your efforts
Thanks for getting lost and finding my blog! Hehe…Yup, I’ve seen Engine (it’s actually one of my Kimutaku favorites!)
Indeed. She is extremely talented and very pretty. Her gorgeousness is very natural and so soothing to look at.
Oh my, what a great actress she is! Nobody can pull of this role like she did. NOBODY. She is one actress that when we watch her acting, we forget about her and immersed into the role she carried upon.
OSEN really my fav. and Aoi Yu my top fav.
Her profile is really amazing ney?
“She has also won numerous awards, including the prestigious Japan Academy Prize for best supporting actress in 2007, for her portrayal of Kimiko Tanigawa in Hula Girls, for which she was critically-acclaimed.
During the same year, she also received both the Blue Ribbon Award and the Yokohama Film Festival award for best actress, both for her performance in Hula Girls and her portrayal of Hagumi Hanamoto in the Honey and Clover live action movie. She also received the Hochi Film Award, the Kinema Junpo Award and the Mainichi Film Concours for best supporting actress for her performances in Hula Girls, Honey and Clover and Rainbow Song. She also received the Nikkan Sports Film Award for best new talent for her performance in Hula Girls.
Earlier, in 2005, she had also won the Japanese Professional Movie Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Setsuku (Alice) Arisugawa in Hana and Alice.”