Upcoming Japanese Dramas

[jade_frosts]

You said it jade. Oda Yuji kirai da! Masaya Kato or Yosuke Eguchi would be better candidates and more of eye candy factor for me but this is really wacko. I don't care who pairs up with Oda Yuji but not the lovely Juri. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I have to go over there and crack some heads.

To make it worst, it's a comedy. Oda Yuji plays a character who is the only male in the family and who is troubled by an unexpected corporate restructuring. I can't imagine him in such a role. Last Christmas was bad enough.

[jade_frosts]

I was looking forward to this (Ito Hideaki ) until I realised Hasekyo was the other lead. What's with the TV stations' casting nowadays?!?

Upcoming Spring Drama 2007

Kodoku no Kake ~Itoshiki Hito Yo~
Date: Thursdays, 10:00pm
Station: TBS
Cast: Ito Hideaki, Hasegawa Kyoko, Igawa Haruka, Sakai Masato, Aota Noriko, and Takaoka Saki.
Synopsis: Based on the novel by Junpei Gomikawa this is a love story between a lonely man and woman. Hideaki plays an ambitious young businessman who is propositioned by a designer played by Kyoko, as he becomes "king of the night" building an empire in the night-time entertainment industry. She approaches him with a request for a loan of 20 million yen, using her own body as collateral.

[Grifis]

I was looking forward to this (Ito Hideaki ) until I realised Hasekyo was the other lead. What's with the TV stations' casting nowadays?!?

Upcoming Spring Drama 2007

Kodoku no Kake ~Itoshiki Hito Yo~
Date: Thursdays, 10:00pm
Cast: Ito Hideaki, Hasegawa Kyoko, Igawa Haruka, Sakai Masato, Aota Noriko, and Takaoka Saki.
Synopsis: Based on the novel by Junpei Gomikawa this is a love story between a lonely man and woman. Hideaki plays an ambitious young businessman who is propositioned by a designer played by Kyoko, as he becomes "king of the night" building an empire in the night-time entertainment industry. She approaches him with a request for a loan of 20 million yen, using her own body as collateral.

Looks like I have to boycott Japanese series for a while. I adore Hideaki Ito but Hasegawa Kyoko I don't like. I cringed enough in Tentai Kenzoku (when she had a brief flirting time with Hideaki) but this will be full time flirting so I doubt I can endure. I have to pass this as well. Sayonara Jdrama and mismatching couples. I make a promise to myself that I will only watch dramas with pairings I like.

[Lady Zhuge]

Another Spring 2007 drama is Jikou Keisatsu 2. I've been meaning to see the first part since it's in the mystery genre, but it's gotten very mixed reviews. If I enjoy that, then I'll certainly be looking forward to this second season. Joe Odagiri has really been growing on me during my viewing of Satorare.

[jade_frosts]

The list of bad dramas grows longer.

Upcoming Spring Drama 2007

Hotelier
Date: Thursdays, 9:00pm
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Ueto Aya
Synopsis: Remake of the Korean drama series "Hotelier." Ueto will play the heroine (previously played by Song Yun-ah), an assistant manager at a high class hotel. The storyline will remain roughly the same as in the original series.

Spring 2007 will probably go down in my memory as the lousiest drama lineup ever.

[jade_frosts]

Prime-Time Spring Dramas 2007 (Entire Lineup)

Puropozu Daisakusen
Date: Mondays, 9.00 p.m.
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Yamashita Tomohisa, Nagasawa Masami, Fujiki Naohito, Eikura Nana, Hiraoka Yuta
Synopsis: Love comedy about a romance that slowly unfurls between two young people. Friends for many years, Yamapi falls in love with Masami who is about to marry but Yamapi is presented with a chance to make Masami his girlfriend when a time slip sends him back in time during the wedding ceremony.

Hanayome to Papa
Date: Tuesdays, 9.00 p.m.
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Ishihara Satomi, Tokito Saburo, Taguchi Junnosuke, Koizumi Kotaro, Shiraishi Miho
Synopsis: Ishihara plays a new 20-year-old OL working in the apparel company of her dreams. Her father, played by Tokito, loves his daugther excessively to the point that he compels his daugther to follow his house rules: 6.00pm curfew, no socialising with the opposite sex. Nevertheless, she falls in love with her colleague, played by Taguchi, and marries him.

Oniyome Nikki Iiyu Da Na
Date: Tuesdays, 10.00 p.m.
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Mizuki Arisa, Gori, Ebihara Yuri, Takachi Noboru, Kawashima Naomi, Nogiwa Yoko
Synopsis: Sequel to Oniyome Nikki.
Official Site: http://www.ktv.co.jp/oni/

Sexy Voice and Robot
Date: Tuesdays, 10.00 pm
Station: NTV
Cast: Matsuyama Kenichi, Ohgo Suzuka
Synopsis: Based on the manga of the same name by Kuroda Iou. Matsuyama will play a young otaku who likes robots.
Official Site: http://www.ntv.co.jp/sexyvoice/

Keishichou Sousa Ikka 9 Gakari II
Date: Wednesdays, 9.00 p.m.
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Inohara Yoshihiko, Watase Tsunehiko, Hada Michiko, Fukikoshi Mitsuru
Synopsis: Sequel to Keishichou Sousa Ikka 9 Gakari I.

Bambino
Date: Wednesdays, 10.00 pm
Station: NTV
Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Kitamura Kazuki, Karina, Sato Ryuta, Uchida Yuki, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Ichimura Masachika
Synopsis: A drama adaptation of a popular comic written by Sekiya Tetsuji. Jun plays the overenthusiastic protagonist who comes to Tokyo with the desire to become a chef. The drama will display cooking skills and the Italian language.
Official Site: http://www.ntv.co.jp/bambi/

Hotelier
Date: Thursdays, 9:00pm
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Ueto Aya, Oikawa Mitsuhiro, Tanabe Seiichi, Saeko, Oda Akane, Fueki Yuko, Hori Mayumi, Azuma Mikihisa, Komoto Masahiro, Katahira Nagisa, Takenaka Naoto
Synopsis: Remake of the Korean drama series "Hotelier." Ueto will play the heroine, an assistant manager at a high class hotel. Oikawa Mitsuhiro stars as the M&A expert who takes over the hotel. The storyline will remain roughly the same as in the original series.
Official site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/hotel/

Fufudo
Date: Thursdays, 9:00pm
Station: TBS
Cast: Takahata Atsuko, Takeda Tetsuya, Takuma Seiko, Motokariya Yuika
Synopsis: Fufudo focuses on the lives of a middle-aged couple, played by Takahata and Takeda, who run a tea shop. They have a son and three daugthers.
Official Site: http://www.tbs.co.jp/fufudo/

Kodoku no Kake ~Itoshiki Hito Yo~
Date: Thursdays, 10:00pm
Station: TBS
Cast: Ito Hideaki, Hasegawa Kyoko, Igawa Haruka, Sakai Masato, Aota Noriko, and Takaoka Saki.
Synopsis: Based on the novel by Junpei Gomikawa this is a love story between a lonely man and woman. Hideaki plays an ambitious young businessman who is propositioned by a designer played by Kyoko, as he becomes "king of the night" building an empire in the night-time entertainment industry. She approaches him with a request for a loan of 20 million yen, using her own body as collateral.
Official Site: http://www.tbs.co.jp/kodoku-kake/

Watashitachi no Kyoukasho
Date: Thursdays, 10.00 p.m.
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Kanno Miho, Tanihara Shosuke, Ito Atsushi, Sakai Wakana, Ookura Kouji, Mizushima Hiro, Sato Jiro, Maekawa Yasuyuki, Fubuki Jun
Synopsis: Kanno Miho stars as a lawyer, Tamako, who investigates the truth and the dark side of the school where various ulterior motives swirl when one of its junior high school student falls. Tanihara Shosuke also plays a lawyer who is Tamako's love, while Ito Atsushi plays a teacher.
Official Site: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/kyoukasho/

Seitoku Shokun!
Date: Fridays, 9.00 p.m.
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Uchiyama Rina, Horikita Maki, Hongo Kanata, Shiina Kippei, Watanabe Ikkei
Synopsis: Based on the manga sequel Seito Shokun! Kyoshi Hen by Yoko Shoji, Rina plays a female teacher who will take on current education problems such as bullying, suicide, and declining student performance.
Official site: http://seitoshokun.asahi.co.jp/

Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go
Date: Fridays, 10.00 pm
Station: TBS
Cast: Tanaka Koki, Kuriyama Chiaki, Tsukamoto Takashi, Kato Rosa, Hirayama Kami, Kimura Ryo, Toyooka Masumi, Ookouchi Nanako, Hashimoto Jun, Endo Keiichi, Yoshiyuki Kazuko
Synopsis: Koki will play a college student named Ichiro Tanaka, nicknamed "Tetsu" because he is a rail fan. Chiaki plays Tanaka's love interest.
Official Site: http://www.tbs.co.jp/tokkyuu3/

Kuitan II
Date: Saturdays, 9.00 pm
Station: NTV
Cast: Higashiyama Noriyuki, Morita Go, Kyono Kotomi, Ichikawa Mikako, Suga Kenta, Sano Shiro, Ito Shiro
Synopsis: Sequel to Kuitan which combined gourmet food and mystery.
Official Site: http://www.ntv.co.jp/kuitan/

Liar Game
Date: Saturdays, 11.00 pm
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Toda Erika, Matsuda Shota
Synopsis: Adapted from a manga, Liar Game is about a college student, Kanzaki Nao, who gets involved in a one to one game with 1 hundred million yen at stake. The game involves swindling to win the prize and the loser will be saddled with a huge debt. Nao, bothered by this matter, meets a swindler Akiyama and seeks his help.
Official Site: http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/liargame/index2.html

Joudan Janai
Date: Sundays, 9.00 p.m.
Station: TBS
Cast: Oda Yuji, Ueno Juri, Otake Shinobu, Tanaka Kei, Naka Risa, Kanno Rio, Morisako Ei, Taguchi Hiromasa, Kusakari Masao
Synopsis: Oda Yuji plays a 40-year-old man who marries a 20-year-old woman played by Juri. But soon after, he finds out that his wife's mother is a former lover.
Official site: http://www.tbs.co.jp/jo-dan2007/

[jade_frosts]

Upcoming Drama Special

Kaiki Daisakusen Second File
Date: 10.00 pm on 2, 9 & 16 April 2007
Station: NHK
Cast: Nishijima Hidetoshi, Kishibe Ittoku, Terada Minori, Tanaka Naoki
Synopsis: Remake of the popular drama series Kaiki Daisakusen (Operation: Mystery!). Shimizu Takashi (Ju-on) and Nakata Hideo (Ring) will each direct one of the episodes.

[Lady Zhuge]

Upcoming Drama Special

Kaiki Daisakusen Second File
Date: 10.00 pm on 2, 9 & 16 April 2007
Station: NHK
Cast: Nishijima Hidetoshi, Kishibe Ittoku, Terada Minori, Tanaka Naoki
Synopsis: Remake of the popular drama series Kaiki Daisakusen (Operation: Mystery!). Shimizu Takashi (Ju-on) and Nakata Hideo (Ring) will each direct one of the episodes.

This piques my interest. Too bad they couldn't make a full length drama out of this one, starring, say...

[jade_frosts]

Upcoming Summer Drama

Shin Machiben (New Street Lawyer)
Date: Saturdays, 9.00 pm from 30 June
Station: NHK
Cast: Watari Tetsuya, Ishizaka Koji, Chii Takeo, Sakashita Chiriko
Synopsis: Shin Machiben, the sequel to 2006's Machiben but with a different cast, revolves around three men past retirement age who decide to set up a law firm. Kuroki Hitomi, Koyama Shigeru, Kohinata Fumio and Tsurumi Shingo guest star in the first of six episodes.

[junny]

Hotelier
Date: Thursdays, 9:00pm
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Ueto Aya, Oikawa Mitsuhiro, Tanabe Seiichi, Saeko, Oda Akane, Fueki Yuko, Hori Mayumi, Azuma Mikihisa, Komoto Masahiro, Katahira Nagisa, Takenaka Naoto
Synopsis: Remake of the Korean drama series "Hotelier." Ueto will play the heroine, an assistant manager at a high class hotel. Oikawa Mitsuhiro stars as the M&A expert who takes over the hotel. The storyline will remain roughly the same as in the original series.
Official site: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/hotel/

Have they run out of plots so badly that they need to remake this? C'mon.

[jade_frosts]

Have they run out of plots so badly that they need to remake this? C'mon.

Yeah they are running out of ideas. In the spring season alone, there are 3 sequels, 4 manga adaptations, 1 novel adaptation and 1 foreign drama adapation. The worst lineup in memory.

Ichi Littoru no Namida SP (One Litre of Tears SP)
Date: 5 April, 9:00pm
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Sawajiri Erika, Narumi Riko, Nishikido Ryo
Synopsis: The drama special, based after Aya's death, centres around her younger sister, Ako, who now aims to be a nurse, and Aya's classmate Haruto, who has become doctor in psychiatry medicine.

[junny]

^ What? Man, that's terrible. They should get some better scriptwriters! They had so much good stuff in the late 90s & early 2000s. Whatever happened?

[jade_frosts]

Upcoming Drama Special

Hoshi Hitotsu no Yoru
Date: 9.00 pm, 25 May 2007
Station: FujiTV
Cast: Watanabe Ken, Tamaki Hiroshi, Sasano Takashi, Kuninaka Ryoko, Ishida Ayumi
Synopsis: In this 2-hour special written by acclaimed author and screenwriter Taichi Yamada, Watanabe plays Hiroji Nonoyama, an employee on the janitorial staff at a concert hall. He shuns people and has a potentially dark side. The story unfolds when he finds 500,000 yen in cash in the pocket of a coat left behind at the concert hall.

[jade_frosts]

Upcoming Drama Specials

Shakespeare Drama SP ~ King Lear
Date: 9.00 pm, 6 April 2007
Station: NTV
Cast: Nishida Toshiyuki, Inoue Mao, Wakamura Mayumi, Nakajima Tomoko, Sakaguchi Ryoko, Nagato Hiroyuki


Shakespeare Drama SP ~ Romeo & Juliet
Date: 9.00 pm, 7 April 2007
Station: NTV
Cast: Takizawa Hideaki, Nagasawa Masami, Takenaka Naoto, Yamashita Shinji, Tanaka Misako, Miura Tomokazu

[strawberry]

Upcoming Drama Specials

Shakespeare Drama SP ~ King Lear
Date: 9.00 pm, 6 April 2007
Station: NTV
Cast: Nishida Toshiyuki, Inoue Mao, Wakamura Mayumi, Nakajima Tomoko, Sakaguchi Ryoko, Nagato Hiroyuki


Shakespeare Drama SP ~ Romeo & Juliet
Date: 9.00 pm, 7 April 2007
Station: NTV
Cast: Takizawa Hideaki, Nagasawa Masami, Takenaka Naoto, Yamashita Shinji, Tanaka Misako, Miura Tomokazu

wah, Nagasawa again?!....

[jade_frosts]

wah, Nagasawa again?!....

She's the flavour of the moment. We'll be seeing much more of her for a long time to come whether we like it or not.

[jade_frosts]

Upcoming Drama Special

Kiseki No Doubutsuen 2
Date: May 2007
Station: FujiTV
Cast: Yamaguchi Tomomitsu, Toda Erika, Koide Keisuke, Hirosue Ryoko
Synopsis: A sequel to Kiseki no Doubutsuen which aired last May, the new special takes place at the same Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido.

[jade_frosts]

Upcoming Drama Special

Maison Ikkoku
Date: 9.00 pm, 12 May
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Ito Misaki, Nakabayashi Taiki, Sawamura Ikki, Eikura Nana, Kishibe Ittoku
Official website: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ikkokukan/


Upcoming Summer Drama

Sushi Ouji (Sushi Prince)
Date: 11.15 pm, from July
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Domoto Koichi, Nakamura Yuichi
Synopsis: Domoto Koichi returns to drama after 5 years in this drama. He stars as Tsukasa, the "Prince Boss" who has to make sushi and fight against baddies as he travels nationwide. Nakamura Yuichi plays Tsukasa's buddy, Taro.

[strawberry]

Am I the only one that thinks the ending theme for Proposal Daisakusen is lovely?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqHaBBorukk

[Lady Zhuge]

Sushi Ouji (Sushi Prince)
Date: 11.15 pm, from July
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Domoto Koichi, Nakamura Yuichi
Synopsis: Domoto Koichi returns to drama after 5 years in this drama. He stars as Tsukasa, the "Prince Boss" who has to make sushi and fight against baddies as he travels nationwide. Nakamura Yuichi plays Tsukasa's buddy, Taro.

This sounds a lot like Teppan Shoujo Akane, except with a male lead who's not looking for his father. Hopefully the outcome will be better.

I know it's a dismal season (at least on paper), but which spring dramas are you guys following or planning to follow? I'm going to watch at least a few episodes of Liar Game, Bambino, Watashitachi no Kyokasho, Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go, and Proposal Daisakusen to see which ones are worth following 'til the end. I'm also going to watch the 1 Liter of Tears special.