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Hitorigurashi (90s Japanese Drama Review)

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Hitorigurashi Review Drama: Hitorigurashi Screenwriter: Aoyagi Yumiko Network: TBS Actors: Tokiwa Takako, Nagasaku Hiromi, Takahashi Katsunori Duration: 45 min. 90s Japanese dramas are known for having the best romance genre but I wouldn’t recommend this one if that is what you are looking for. Hitorigurashi is more of a coming of age, character study and the subject is the main lead Miho Hanabuchi who is in the phase of her life where she decided to be independent for the first time in her life. She moved to a new place away from her parents as she decided to live alone. This is a very relatable story as I imagine the demographic for Asian drama fans is the same age or same situation as the main lead of this drama. Living alone Miho realizes a lot of things that it is not the ultimate freedom as she thought it would be but there is unexpected loneliness and a lot of responsibilities. Sheltered by her parents for a long time, Miho desperately wanted to grow up fast. From impulsive buy...
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Kaso Girei Review

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Kaso Girei Review Drama: Kaso Girei Japanese: 仮想儀礼 Writer: Egashira Michiru, Minato Takehiko Network: NHK BSP Duration: 50 min. Actors: Aoyagi Sho, Daito Shunsuke, Minami, Matsui Rena, Kawashima Ririka Japanese dramas are the king when it comes to absurd premise like this one. Two unemployed dudes desperate for money so they establish a service business which is religion. Kaso Girei is a hilarious black comedy at the start but the tone starts to shift in the second half. It got more serious, dark and a very good social commentary when it comes to cults in Japan. It shows us the in and out of cult stuff in Japan and how it connects to politics in the country and even the politics in the cult itself. The drama is very entertaining. There are a lot of back stabbings like watching a yakuza film. Suzuki Masahiko is a public servant. He has a strong sense of justice like your typical public servant. He is very studious and has keen interest in religious topics especially buddhism. We could s...
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Over Time (90s Japanese Drama Review)

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Drama: Over Time Japanese: オーバー・タイム Screenwriter: Kitagawa Eriko Network: Fuji TV Actors: Sorimachi Takashi, Esumi Makiko, Kimura Yoshino, Ishida Yuriko, Shiina Kippei, Nishida Naomi Let me give you a fair warning most people I see hated the ending but for me they just don't understand the theme the writer is trying to convey. Not all romance dramas should stay the same creativity is what I value the most which ironically I found it with these old dramas, modern dramas don't take as much risks anymore. Written by Kitagawa Eriko which is known for writing some of the best Japanese dramas of the 90s this drama is no different from the vibe of great dramas of that era in fact this maybe controversial take but I like this drama more than Long Vacation, yes I just said it. I was afraid at first when I saw that cast of 8 because I know huge cast for a romance genre is a formula for a disaster so I am glad they just focus to only 4. I am mostly glad that they drop the infidelity scena...
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Ashura no Gotoku Review

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Ashura no Gotoku Review Drama: Ashura no Gotoku Japanese: 阿修羅のごとく Writer: Koreeda Hirokazu Network: Netflix Duration: 55 min. Actors: Miyazawa Rie, Ono Machiko, Aoi Yu, Hirose Suzu The latest Hirokazu Koreeda collaboration with Netflix is an adaptation based on the classic Japanese drama of the same name, Ashura no Gotoku . I haven’t seen the original work so I can’t compare but from what we know both have 7 episodes so this could be a 1 to 1 adaptation. "Is it really happiness for women like us to live without making waves?" This is the quote that has been revisited throughout the entire drama. The theme of patriarchal culture in Japan is a theme that has been used in many Japanese movies. It is almost as known as Godzilla or Classic samurai films like almost everybody already knows it. The setting is 1979 Koreeda didn’t change or modernize it. It could probably be his commentary saying that even decades have passed, Japan may have progressed a bit but it still remains as pa...
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Perfect love (90s Japanese Drama Review)

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Drama: Perfect love Japanese: パーフェクトラブ！ Screenwriter: Asano Taeko Network: Fuji TV Actors: Fukuyama Masaharu, Kimura Yoshino This drama didn't aged well I am not talking about the video quality but some of the writing. Modern drama watchers would hate this I mean we have a playboy male lead, a stalker clingy female lead, serial cheater and pervert side characters oh I forgot old school father. But since it is a coming of age romance genre characters grow throughout the story. They learn to be true to themselves, have goals and be independent. Nowadays when it comes to romance I only enjoy old school dramas I just can't explain there is some authenticity in them. The way they look at each other seems real and 90s actors didn't have any problem kissing each other. It also have fun parts great editing made me laugh at unexpected moments. The insert song "Squall" by eiko matsumoto is also darn good makes scenes more romantic, the end of episode 8 is a masterpiece. The...
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Teasing Master Takagi-san Live Action Review

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Drama: Teasing Master Takagi-san Romaji: Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san Japanese: からかい上手の高木さん Screenwriter: Imaizumi Rikiya Network: Netflix Actors: Tsukishima Rui, Kurokawa Souya I know there is an anime and it is very popular but I haven't watched it so I can't compare. I actually have no plans to watched it until I saw the director and screenwriter is Imaizumi Rikiya my new favorite slice of life director so I decided to check it out. Just like what I expect it is very slice of life. It consists of long shots but not super slow, dialogue heavy but not boring. The drama was separated by different skits in which Takagi is just teasing Nishikata.  The drama has so much youth energy and innocent vibe. They did a very good job exploring youth crushes and the emotions it could bring. The contrast between the personality of Takagi and Nishikata is addicting to watch their chemistry is just that good. The banter never gets boring even sometimes it felt too long already. At times it fel...
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Best Slice of Life Japanese Dramas

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Best Slice of Life Japanese Dramas What makes Japanese dramas different from other dramas from other countries such as Korean dramas or Chinese dramas is how diverse it is. From mystery thrillers, Romance Manga live actions, tearjerkers, quirky comedy to job oriented ones, but my favorite and without a doubt their forte is the thought provoking slice of life genre. The slice of life genre is very broad. There are romance with slice of life elements or job oriented dramas with relatable life aspects but I want to focus on purely slice of life like how Japan likes to do it. I watch a lot and I notice there is a formula to it, laidback, meaningful dialogue, fun characters, symbolism, and Japanese sensibility at its core. These Japanese script writers are very good in observing the human connection, exploring the Wabi Sabi philosophy, and inserting the theme of Ikigai into their stories. Nagi no Oitoma (2019) One principle of Wabi Sabi says that we should find the beauty in imperfections b...
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