Nodame Cantabile

[jade_frosts]

juz finish the last episode.....sob sob......so so touching.......love all the cute scenes with Nodame n Chiaki....especially those when he was at her home with her family.

I'm glad for the good casting choices they made in pairing Tamaki Hiroshi and Ueno Juri, and for the well-balanced and nuanced script. I'd say this is my favourite manga adaptation and I love the story so much more than Hana Yori Dango.

I'll try to put some screen caps of the Nodame Cantabile team from Waratte Ii Tomo soon.

[Grifis]

jade, I agree that the casting choices were great. And I don't even hesitate to say the casting was perfect so you know how much I've grown to adore them. I seriously missing them after the drama is over. The feeling is like I was lovestruck and now my lover is not by my side. (Now I'm on a frenzy scouring for any Tamaki/Ueno material.) I'm itching to get my hands to 'the box.'

Waiting to see your caps.

[f.alchemist_freak]

yep - i love the pairing of Ttamaki Hhiroshi and Ueno Juri as well...hehehe

anyway, i'm juz curious - do the actors (especially those music students characters) come from a musical background - or did they actually have real musicians come and act in the show - or did they have intensive training before filming - or something else? coz everytime i watch those scenes involving playin those musical instruments, it really looks realistic to me (which was one of the major reason tis drama was so enchanting!!!)

[f.alchemist_freak]

I'd say this is my favourite manga adaptation and I love the story so much more than Hana Yori Dango.

actually the J-dorama; Hana Yori Dango Live Action was really good (in my opinion). it's adaptation of the manga was very nicely done with great casting as well.
but for now - Nodame Cantabile is my current fav.

[jade_frosts]

actually the J-dorama; Hana Yori Dango Live Action was really good (in my opinion). it's adaptation of the manga was very nicely done with great casting as well.
but for now - Nodame Cantabile is my current fav.

For me, I'd say that the adaptation of Hana Yori Dango was well done but I didn't appreciate the acting. I felt that Matsujun was the only who pulled off Domyouji with flair, and that was probably what I most enjoyed about the drama. The other characters were flat. Mao Inoue was fine but not remarkable.

Nodame Cantabile was more enjoyable for those points I'd mentioned. The music was great too. That, plus the storyline of people passionate about their craft, surmounting the odds and confronting their demons to pursue their dreams and desires really appealed to me because I can relate to that. And this, in my opinion, gave it more depth and made it infinitely more delightful and memorable.

[jade_frosts]

Screenshots of Nodame Cantabile team from Waratte Ii Tomo Autumn SP:

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The team: Juri Ueno, Hiroshi Tamaki, Keisuke Koide, Eita, Asami Mizukawa and Naoto Takenaka.

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"I'm a conductor!" Takenaka tells Nakai in a falsetto voice.

The other teams were the casts from Boku no Aruku Michi, Yakusha Damashii, Dr Koto Shinryousho 2006 and Waratte Ii Tomo.

More screenshots from the show's segments soon.

[beansprouts]

anyway, i'm juz curious - do the actors (especially those music students characters) come from a musical background - or did they actually have real musicians come and act in the show - or did they have intensive training before filming - or something else? coz everytime i watch those scenes involving playin those musical instruments, it really looks realistic to me (which was one of the major reason tis drama was so enchanting!!!)

I believe Ueno Juri has some music background but not so for the rest. The cast definitely went through training prior to filiming, to at least look convincing while playing the instruments and conducting. They look convincing enough to me, a complete music idiot, so I guess the bunch of them did alright.

I am feeling a little lonely now that the drama is over, I haven't enjoyed a jdrama so much for quite a long time now. Everything from casting to acting to timing to character development were excellent in the show, certainly the best manga adaptation I've ever seen. The anime will be coming out soon, I'm not sure whether it will match up to the high standards of the drama, but certainly looking forward to it.

[Grifis]

Thanks jade for the caps. I'm so tempted to get the whole file of that iitomo show. Couple of last caps I was too lazy to post before.

Remembering how Tamaki cried.

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[Grifis]

Last one.

And their lovely embrace.

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[jade_frosts]

Thanks jade for the caps. I'm so tempted to get the whole file of that iitomo show. Couple of last caps I was too lazy to post before.

You should! I enjoyed watching it even though I didn't understand everything they said. It's difficult to get Waratte Ii Tomo though so I had to settle for a real media version which explains the quality of the caps.

Here's more from the Title Call ~ Monomane segment which is like charades except that the team member doing the charade must say the drama's name while mimicking an action/person within the time limit of 90 seconds.

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The Nodame Cantabile team introduces their roles,

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Juri's bashful. After Eita said he plays a violinist, Juri immediately told Nakai she plays a pianist and then suddenly becomes embarrassed and clings to Tamaki's arm for a brief moment before wandering back to Eita. "I thought we should follow a proper sequence," she says.

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After some pushing around, they finally get Takenaka to be the first to start the game.

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Sneeze!

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Fireworks! Tamaki leaps but says the wrong thing in a funny moment that has everyone laughing.

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Lighter!

[jade_frosts]

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Ultraman!

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Trying to guess Keisuke's rendition of Ultraman.

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They're still stuck ... with 2 seconds to go.

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The Nodame Cantabile team score a respectable 360 points with 12 correct guesses.

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Gathering together after the end of Title Call ~ Monomane.

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Memorable actions: Juri signs Beat Takeshi.

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Memorable actions: Juri signs Akkanbe.

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Keisuke discusses his interpretation of Ultraman.

At the end of this segment, Nodame Cantabile and Waratte Ii Tomo team have 360 points, Boku no Aruku Michi team have 420 points, Yakusha Damashii team have 330 points and a half-strength Dr Koto Shinryousho 2006 team have 240.

[Grifis]

I downloaded it. At beginning there's the commercial of Shosuke's noodle thing. I guess that was a surprise bonus. During the part where those 10 crazy guys came out for them to pick Hiroshi and Juri looked so bored and there was a chilly air between them. It got better after they did good in the archery competition though. The funny part was when those older men coming out with their 'stylish' outfit with the 'sliding beer glass' game. I thought it was funny when this guy came out with a jacket and under it was the net tank top (wifebeater) with lots of holes in it. Nakai was like "Are you from Johny or something?" It was fun to watch.

On the side note, I got my waterboys dvd today and watched it for the 3rd time. I also watched part of the behind the scenes and stuff. OMG, Tamaki sported this funny punky hair before he shaved it off. He shaved all sides except the very top which he dyed it blond (and it was sticking up.) He was such a punk. The behind the scenes didn't feature many of his scenes but it showed they practiced really hard for the final showdown. In the scene of the public bath I don't know if it was the last scene for all of them or one of the guys, Tamaki and all the other guys were all crying. It was so sweet. I'll be watching more of that later.

[jade_frosts]

Yeah, the second segment was quite a bore and many looked deep in their own thoughts or stared blankly at the proceedings.

Anyway, here are the screenshots from the second segment, Nandemo Ranking, which is a ranking game in which the different teams have to avoid guessing the person who ranks first for a particular segment. If they don't, they will lose 50pts and have a penalty.

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First segment: Monthly mobile phone expenditure of 10 young entertainers

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Discussing their choice

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20pts if they get it right ... and they do

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Juri and Tamaki look distracted while the other teams take their turn

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The Nodame team are amused as Nakai flubbed his line

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More discussing

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70pts this time if they get it right

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What are we doing here?

[jade_frosts]

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Second segment: Anzai's predictions for luck in 2007

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Smiling as Keisuke and Asami go up

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Keisuke and Asami are 2 of the 10 people whose fortunes have been told

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One of the Waratte Ii Tomo team members is picked. Irked he asks whether bad luck is written on his face, and predicts that Nodame Cantabile will flop. Juri smiles in reaction

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Asami ranks 6th

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The Nodame team discusses their choice

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Still deliberating ...

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And deliberating ...

[Grifis]

Yeah, the second segment was quite a bore and many looked deep in their own thoughts or stared blankly at the proceedings.

Anyway, here are the screenshots from the second segment which is a ranking game in which the different teams have to avoid guessing the person who ranks first for a particular segment. If they don't, they will lose 50pts and have a penalty.

Thanks jade for the pics. The truth is I didn't understand how the game works. They were not supposed to pick #1 but other than that they all got points. Confusing as hell. But anyways...

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What are we doing here?

This is what they're thinking:
Hiroshi: (What should I say to her? Nice dress? Nice haircut? Umai? What am I thinking?)
Juri: (I have to say something but he's so shy...)

Yup that's what it is.

In this pic, Eita seems to be getting along rather well with the girl who plays Kiyora. They're chit chatting already while Hiroshi and Juri are playing the shy game.

[jade_frosts]

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Eita finally chooses Matsu Takako

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She asks 'Why?' Takenaka cheerfully tells her that she looks like the sort to have lousy luck

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Takako ranks 3rd. Takenaka's not so right after all

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The Nodame Cantabile team get 40pts ...

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And end the second segment with 490pts

Next update: my favourite archery segment...

[huongduong]

Thanks jade_frosts and Grifis for the pics, luckily that you guys downloaded the games. Youtube took all the game videos down . Fortunately I already watched them . But I want to watch them again and again . Hiroshi & Juri are so cute, I hope they're an item in real life . I love Juri when she jump around as she scored 200 pts for the archery game and she did the table cloth thing . I wanted to jump around when I saw that too . Everything about Hiroshi & Juri ' shyness make me smile. I prefer they're that way. They're a heavenly made couple Hiroshi sure is handsome. Indeed, he's one of my "top 10 hot guys" (don't worry Grifis, I won't take him from you) . Juri , on the other hand, is not beautiful but she has something special about her. I think it's her personality that make people adore her. She has a face that make a guy's day bright up as well... I guess

[Grifis]

Thanks jade_frosts and Grifis for the pics, luckily that you guys downloaded the games. Youtube took all the game videos down . Fortunately I already watched them . But I want to watch them again and again . Hiroshi & Juri are so cute, I hope they're an item in real life . I love Juri when she jump around as she scored 200 pts for the archery game and she did the table cloth thing . I wanted to jump around when I saw that too . Everything about Hiroshi & Juri ' shyness make me smile. I prefer they're that way. They're a heavenly made couple Hiroshi sure is handsome. Indeed, he's one of my "top 10 hot guys" (don't worry Grifis, I won't take him from you) . Juri , on the other hand, is not beautiful but she has something special about her. I think it's her personality that make people adore her. She has a face that make a guy's day bright up as well... I guess

huongduong, you can always download it at d-addicts (but of course you have to be patient.) I concur that they're made for each other and I do agree they should get married and have children in real life. If I can turn the wheel of fate, I surely would make that happen.

Hiroshi Tamaki went through a very interesting image change. He started with this punk rock image with blond hair before shaving it to show (afro hair/bozu hair) in Waterboys. It is truly the days of youth.
Pocari Sweat CM (the punk rock image is still there)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKOtYXcCTb0

NEC CM with Juri (Here the image gradually changed into the guy next door. With his light brown slight long hair, he looks ordinary and approachable here.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfMWu...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL7BvuU8-nk

Citizen CM (Hiroshi looks classic and sophisticated in white. This image here is a totally transformation. He looks handsome with that nice charismatic smile. He really sparkles like a star in here.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=067Fp8khnbc

Cha-han CM (The real guy that he is who can cook and likes Cha-han. Yes, he is stalk worthy. )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xYWqwKXNBA

And so the current image is of sophistication (like in Nodame Cantabile) with fairly short black hair in white shirt together with his real personality which is the nice and approachable guy that he is. This total package makes him very attractive (well to me anyways). All the while though, he was doing pop as well which I didn't really pay attention to very much. From what I've heard, the image he projected didn't wow many pop fans (not that I care.)

Yeah Juri is not extremely beautiful but she is no doubt a very pretty girl and they look lovely together. Their personalities complement each other very well. Juri is the type that speaks as she thinks while Hiroshi thinks too much before speaking and ends up not saying anything at all.

[huongduong]

uh, forgot to tell you, I hate that "d-addict" thing, I tried that thing once and I gave up. Too many steps, so much time . My watched my Jdoramas either online or i just buy them. I saw Last Christmas and Engine

Thanks for the links Grifis ! I prefer a guy with a black , cleaned cut hair style. So I love Hiroshi Tamaki the way he is now. I don't like it when he shave his hair or let it grew long/dyed it. I think Asian guys look best with black hair. Maybe it's because I like how Hiroshi Tamaki dresses off-screen and on-screen (as Nodame Cantabile time) . Not too dressed-up but sophisticated enough. Yah, I agree with you. He and Ueno Juri, their personalities complement each other. She's outspoken, he's a lil quiet. I really don't like a guy who's talkative (further more, it'll be weird if a guy at his age talk a lot , he's 27, you know. But Juri is still young , 20, she's funky, sometimes so innocent ). My gosh, I've never love a couple of artistes like this for a long time. I hope they'd appear more for some PR stuff. But too bad, the drama ended so I don't think they have to do any PR now. I love to see how they interact in real life. Should I compliment how nice Ueno Juri look with her hair style? You know, it's hard to find a person that look good in bobs with bangs. Gosh, I can go on and on about how they're made for each other.

I hope you would be nice to post more pictures of them/the cast. Thanks for your time and effort.

[Grifis]

I actually did watch a bit of Last Christmas too (for Tamaki recently) but I couldn't really get into it. It was the same with Engine. I saw a bit a while back when it first came out and it was so boring. I didn't even know anything about Juri before and even now knowing it was her in there didn't really help. Maybe it was because of Takuya or maybe I didn't like the theme (same as Pride.)

Yeah Tamaki will turn 27 in a few days. You already saw that PR on xmas day before they showed the last ep on Youtube right? Hiroshi kept glancing at Juri as she was at him (sending rabu signals or maybe it was all in my head. Yeah it was probably all in my head. ) And then they showed part of the scene when they hugged. Juri had this shy smile on her face and she was like "doki doki". They're so cute. I can't help my damn self going on and on about them as well.

So far I don't have more pics of them. The pics on the Waterboys dvds are so small. It's not even worth scanning. I'm ordering the novel from the drama though and hopefully that'll come with some nice pics.