ルーキーズ / ROOKIES

Title: ルーキーズ / ROOKIES
Aired: 2008-Apr-19 to 2008-Jul-26
Genre: Sports
Episodes: 11

• Sato Ryuta as Kawato Koichi
• Ichihara Hayato as Aniya Keiichi
• Koide Keisuke as Mikoshiba Toru

DramaWiki's synopsis: Koichi Kawato is the new Japanese Literature teacher at the ill-famed Futakotamagawa high school, whose baseball club is composed of thugs and bullies who have been suspended for a year from all school competitions, for causing a brawl during an official match. The newly appointed teacher finds that the club members left are only interested in women, smoking and doing nothing until, under Kawato's guidance, they discover their dream of going to the Koshien high school baseball tournament. However, the road to Koshien is far from easy as many obstacles await them.

Thoughts: It is a bit of the typical inspiring-teacher-reforms-deliquents show, and rather predictable, but that doesn't make this drama boring. I think the feelings expressed in the show as well as how each of the characters overcame their weaknesses for the sake of their common dream is quite inspiring. The teacher is also a laugh, seemingly yelling random quotes out of nowhere, but in the end, as is expected, the one who is the true backbone of all of them- the one who brings them all together and earnestly supports them.

魔女裁判 / Majo Saiban

Title: 魔女裁判 / Majo Saiban
Aired: 2009-Apr-25 to 2009-Jul-11
Genre: Suspense, legal
Episodes: 10

• Ikuta Toma as Yoshioka Toru
• Kato Ai as Watabe Izumi
• Higa Manami as Motomiya Kaori
• Suzuki Ryohei as Kurokawa Ryuichi

DramaWiki's synopsis: Toru is a young part-timer who has no interest in social issues. He gets called in as a juror in the trial of a woman labeled as a "witch", charged with a murder over an enormous inheritance. Though it appears that she is definitely guilty, one by one the jurors begin casting their votes for "not guilty." From the shadows, there is a mysterious organization buying control of the jury. At the same time, strange events start happening around Toru. When another juror is threatened, Toru is determined to save her. However, Toru's girlfriend, a newspaper reporter, seems suspicious of their relationship. And so, Toru begins his lonely fight for the truth.

Thoughts: This drama can be considered the epitome of unpredictable. Just when you thought you figured it out, BAM. Twists the other way. Not kidding, this drama is full of twists and turns right up to the last minute of the show.

BOSS

Title: BOSS
Aired: 2009-Apr-16 to 2009-Jun-25
Genre: Detective
Episodes: 11

• Amami Yuki as Osawa Eriko

DramaWiki's synopsis: This series revolves around a group of peculiar detectives in a new division created to fight against an increase in atrocious crimes. Osawa Eriko is a beautiful career woman who has just returned from training in the U.S. and is appointed as the "boss" of this division. But despite her intelligence and capabilities, she can never understand a man's heart, so she remains unable to find a husband. In fact, her assignment in the U.S. was really a demotion after she ruined her career track over a man. So why was she chosen as the boss of the new division? Even though the detectives are talented, they all have some kind of issue or flaw, and they are considered to be the "problem children" of the police force. In the end, the division's true purpose is just to isolate these problematic detectives.

Thoughts: First time watching this lead actress and at first, felt she was a bit... old? But she quickly grows on you! Each episode contains a new case and shows how the team solves them together and in it, grow together. I quite enjoyed it, especially the "profiling" part of suspects. I wonder if it really works like that in real life...

CHANGE

Title: CHANGE
Aired: 2008-May-12 to 2008-Jul-14
Genre: Human drama, Comedy
Episodes: 10

• Kimura Takuya as Asakura Keita
• Fukatsu Eri as Miyama Rika

DramaWiki's synopsis: With the deaths of ruling party's Fukuoka Member of Parliament and his eldest son, his heir apparent, in an plane accident, a by-election had to be held right away and, Kanbayashi Masaichi, the House secretary of the ruling party,conceived the idea of fielding the second son, Asakura Keita, and sent his secretary Miyama Rika to complete the task.

Keita was an elementary school teacher in Nagano and his hobby was star gazing.He had no interest in politics. At Rika's persuasion and the pressure of his family, he reluctantly agreed to run for office but with no intention of winning. However, with the help of Nirasawa Katsutoshi, an election strategist, he went on to win by a narrow margin of just 164 votes.

When the Prime Minister was forced to resign over allegation of sexual harrassment, Kanbayashi concocted the idea of nominating the inept Keita to run for the party's leadership and thereby becoming the next Prime Minister as he thought it would be easy to manipulate him and work the situation to his own advantage so he would become the next PM when Keita failed. However, the sincerity and hard work of Keita soon won over every sceptic and as Kanbayashi found out, he was not a puppet on his strings. Kanbayashi had to come up with another scheme to destroy Keita. How far would he go to realize his ambition? Could he succeed?

Thoughts: Takuya Kimura is as always, a joy to watch. One of the few reasons why I would watch something as dry as politics. But to give the main character (Asakura Keita) credit, he is not your typical politician and thus also adds to the appeal of a political drama. Asakura is funny, honest and has a way with words and hearts. Don't be turned off by the political part of the drama! This drama shows politics through the eyes of a normal citizen who somehow landed up as a politician and is truly enjoyable

Mr. Brain

Title: Mr. Brain
Aired: 2009-May-23 to 2009-Jul-11
Genre: Comedy, Mystery
Episodes: 8

• Kimura Takuya as Tsukumo Ryusuke
• Ayase Haruka as Yuri Kazune
• Mizushima Hiro as Hayashida Toranosuke

DramaWiki's synopsis: Tsukumo Ryusuke is a quirky, yet brilliant neuroscientist working for the National Research Institute of Police Science. Wielding a unique perspective and psychology, Tsukumo tackles the nation's most baffling crimes and scandals, going head-to-head with the most brilliant and twisted criminal minds. But his eccentricities and poor social timing can also aggravate people and circumstances, further complicating matters.

Thoughts: Very interesting main character, portrayed by the brilliant Takuya Kimura. Each episode has a main case, which is mostly solved within the same episode. No real running storyline, though Tsukumo's character development could have been expounded a bit more to make the drama more rounded. Even so, this drama is definitely enjoyable.

魔王 / Maou

Title: 魔王 / Maou
Title translated: The Devil
Aired: 2008-Jul-04 to 2008-Sep-12
Genre: Suspense, Romance
Episodes: 11

• Ohno Satoshi as Naruse Ryo/Manaka Tomoo
• Ikuta Toma as Serizawa Naoto

DramaWiki's synopsis: This drama is a remake of the popular suspense drama The Devil that was aired in Korea last year. Ohno Satoshi will be playing the role of a two-faced lawyer, one of which is a kind hearted soul and the other who is plotting revenge, using his brilliant mind, on the person who killed his relative. On the other hand, Ikuta Toma will play the double lead role of the man, who has become a detective due to his dark past, who is pursuing the mysterious series of murders and fighting against the devil.

Thoughts: Superb drama. Suspense-filled throughout the entire 11 episodes. Loved the brilliance of Naruse in how he crafts the entire murder, then successfully gets an acquittal for the defendant. Getting his revenge right under the eyes of law! Ohno did an excellent portrayal of Naruse, showing the conflicting emotions between revenge and morals. Ikuta also did a commendable portrayal of Serizawa, struggling with his past and present. In short, a superb drama! Did I say this already?

ライアーゲーム / Liar Game

Title: ライアーゲーム / Liar Game
Aired: 2007-Apr-14 to 2007-Jun-23
Genre: Suspense
Episodes: 11

• Toda Erika as Kanzaki Nao
• Matsuda Shota as Akiyama Shinichi

DramaWiki's synopsis: Kanzaki Nao is an honest college student who receives a hundred million yen one day, along with a card saying she has been chosen to take part in the "Liar Game". The aim of the game is to trick the other players out of their hundred million dollars. At the end, the winner gets the hundred million and the loser is a hundred million yen in debt. The next day, she receives notification that her opponent is her former teacher, Fujisawa Kazuo. She goes to him, seeking help, but ends up getting tricked into handing her money over. Desperate, she approaches the police for help, but they are unable to do anything. However, she is told of a mastermind swindler, Akiyama Shinichi, who is to be released from jail the next day. Desperate, she goes to him for help.

Thoughts: First of all, I have no idea why Matsuda looks like he's wearing a friggin' wig and looking like a shitty 3rd rate delinquent in that banner. I promise he looks much better in the drama! I enjoyed Matsuda's performance thoroughly. But Kanzaki is an absolutely annoying character. I think no matter what, there's a limit to how much trust you can have in a person after he tricks you for the 2394823098th time. If you're gonna watch it, watch it for Akiyama's strategies in tricking people and ignore Kanzaki.

流星の絆 / Ryusei no Kizuna

Title: 流星の絆 / Ryusei no Kizuna
Title translated: Ties of Shooting Stars
Aired: 2008-Oct-17 to 2008-Dec-19
Genre: Suspense, Family, Comedy
Episodes: 10

• Ninomiya Kazunari as Yamada Taro
• Nishikido Ryo as Ariake Taisuke
• Toda Erika as Ariake Shizuna

DramaWiki's synopsis: “When we grow up… We’ll kill him together”. Koichi, Taisuke, and Shizuna are three siblings whose parents had been brutally murdered when they were just in elementary school, and they vowed to avenge their death. Fourteen years later, their vengeful plan unravels countless new facts. A shocking revelation leads to an overwhelmingly emotional ending. What will become of the siblings who have lived their lives solely in reliance of their bond alone?

Thoughts: I enjoyed the drama, though I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. The nicest part is that the main storyline runs throughout all 10 episodes, with little stories occurring in between.

メイちゃんの執事 / Mei-chan no Shitsuji

Title: メイちゃんの執事 / Mei-chan no Shitsuji
Title translated: Mei-chan's butler
Aired: 2009-Jan-13 to 2009-Mar-17
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 10

• Eikura Nana as Shinonome Mei
  
• Mizushima Hiro as Shibata Rihito
• Sato Takeru as Shibata Kento

DramaWiki's synopsis: The story revolves around a young woman named Mei, who was rescued as a young girl by someone calling himself her "butler." With only a vague memory, though, the experience seems like just a dream. But one day, after her parents' accidental death, he appears: Rihito comes from a line of outstanding butlers, and he has been appointed to serve her! Now her ordinary life has completely flipped, as she discovers that she's actually the heiress to a fortune, and is forced to transfer to St. Lucia Girls' Academy, where all the students have butlers! As a result, her childhood friend Kento decides to enroll in a butler school so that he can stay close to her.

Thoughts: Rihito is awesome. Mei is too big-sized. In the manga, she is much smaller-sized than Rihito, but look at that banner above- she's as tall as him! And she's also less cute. In short, I like this drama because I'm a sucker for butler-related things, plus this drama has some semblance of a decent storyline. Only gripe is Mei's character portrayal.

１リットルの涙 / Ichi Ritoru no Namida

Title: １リットルの涙 / Ichi Ritoru no Namida
Title translated: One litre of tears
Aired: 2005-Oct-11 to 2005-Dec-20
Genre: Human drama, Family
Episodes: 11

• Sawajiri Erika as Ikeuchi Aya
  
• Yakushimaru Hiroko as Ikeuchi Shioka
• Nishikido Ryo as Asou Haruto
  

DramaWiki's synopsis: 15-year-old Ikeuchi Aya was an ordinary girl, the daughter of a family who works at a tofu shop, and a soon-to-be high schooler. However, odd things have been happening to Aya lately. She has been falling down often and walks strange. Her mother, Shioka, takes Aya to see the doctor, and he informs Shioka that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration - a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. A cruel disease, as it does not affect the mind in the least. How will Aya react when told about her disease? And how will Aya live from now on?

Thoughts: This is based off a true story. Sawajiri's acting is so good you'll really start to think of her as the real person with the disease. Prepare a bucket and plenty of tissue. You're really gonna cry a litre of tears.

絶対彼氏 / Zettai Kareshi

Title: 絶対彼氏 / Zettai Kareshi
Title translated: Absolute Boyfriend
Aired: 2008-Apr-15 to 2008-Jun-24
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 11

• Hayami Mokomichi as Tenjo Night
• Mizushima Hiro as Asamoto Soshi
• Aibu Saki as Izawa Riiko

DramaWiki's synopsis: Robot maker, Kronos Heaven, finally develops "Night Tenjo", the perfect male humanoid programmed to be devoted and completely loyal to his lover. The company chooses temp worker Izawa Riko to take part in a 5-day free trial. At first, Riko only sees Night as a household appliance. But when she finds out how deep Night's devotion to herself is, Riko finds herself falling in love with him. Joining the love triangle is Asamoto Soshi, a distinguished young executive at her company who has feelings for her.

Thoughts: I was following the manga of this drama so faithfully, yet it ended so tragically. (read: author gave a slip-shod, crappy ending) I was hoping for this drama to make up for some part of the imcompleteness, but it didn't really happen. I didn't even feel like Riiko even liked Night at the end! Hayami made a perfect Night. Mizushima caught my attention as well. But Riiko... could have been much better. Watch only for the eye candy that is the 2 male actors.

のだめカンタービレ / Nodame Cantabile

Title: のだめカンタービレ / Nodame Cantabile
Aired: 2006-Oct-16 to 2006-Dec-25
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 11

• Ueno Juri as Noda Megumi aka Nodame (Piano)
  • Morisako Ei as young Nodame
• Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki Shinichi (Piano/Violin/Conducting)
  • Fujita Reo (藤田玲央) as young Chiaki

DramaWiki's synopsis: Based on the hit comic book by Tomoko Ninomiya, this is a fun-filled quirky romantic story of two very opposite people.

Megumi Noda, or “Nodame” is a piano student at Momogaoka College of Music. An extremely talented pianist who wants to be a kindergarten teacher, she prefers playing by ear rather than reading the music score. She is messy and disorganized, takes baths several days apart and loves to eat, sometimes stealing her friend’s lunchbox when it is filled with delicacies.

Shinichi Chiaki, is Momogaoka’s top student. Born into a musical family, he is talented in piano and violin and has secret ambitions to become a conductor. An arrogant multi-lingual perfectionist who once lived abroad in the music capitals of the world as a young boy, he feels mired in Japan because of a childhood phobia.

They meet by accident. Nodame quickly falls in love, but it takes much longer for Chiaki to even begin to appreciate Nodame’s unusual qualities. Their relationship causes them both to develop and grow. Because of Nodame, Chiaki got the opportunity to lead a student orchestra and begins to have a broader appreciation of people's musical abilities. Because of Chiaki, Nodame faces her fears and enters a piano competition. Opportunities open up as both begin taking risks, stretching themselves far more than they ever thought possible.

Thoughts: Excellent drama! Good balance of the storyline, character development and humor all in one. Nodame is absolutely lovable, and Chiaki? Just made of awesome. Even NPB says so, and he's a guy!

RHプラス / RH Plus

Title: RHプラス / RH Plus
Aired: 2008-Jan-02 to 2008-Mar-26
Genre: Fantasy, Action
Episodes: 13

• Miura Yuu as Nogami Makoto
• Tochihara Rakuto as Seto Ageha
• Ojima Naoya as Tamura Masakazu
• Takano Hassei as Kiyoi

DramaWiki's synopsis: This series follows the daily lives of 4 vampires that live together in a European-style building: Kiyoi is the eldest who takes care of the others, Masakazu is a college student who gets information on criminal activities, and Ageha and Makoto both go to high-school (and tend to end up helping Masakazu whether they really want to or not). They fight against crime when the cops are unwilling or unable to do so. The series is based off of a shounen-ai manga published in B's Log. Whether you like shounen-ai or not, it hasn't been very obvious in this series and it may not be... the jury's still out on that.

Thoughts: Drama wiki classified it as a horror genre. Whut? The only "horror" part I can think of is just that they are vampires. Other than that, I would rather think it a comedy instead. I was basically snickering from beginning to end. Not that the storyline is particularly funny... but the acting! Oh, the acting! Priceless. So awkward, so amateurish. PLEASE DO NOT WATCH. Unless you feel like a trip out from normal acting. Or your love for vampires is so overpoweringly strong.

野ブタ。をプロデュース / Nobuta wo Produce

Title: 野ブタ。をプロデュース / Nobuta wo Produce
Title translated: Makeover of Nobuta
Aired: 2005-Oct-15 to 2005-Dec-17
Genre: School
Episodes: 10

• Kamenashi Kazuya as Kiritani Shuji
• Yamashita Tomohisa as Kusano Akira
• Horikita Maki as Kotani Nobuko

DramaWiki's synopsis: Kiritani Shuji is the popular guy who gets along with everyone, from the jerks to the nerds to the just plain weird. The one person Shuji cannot stand is Kusano Akira. To Shuji, Akira is just plain annoying. He laughs, talks and acts funny. Things heat up when a new student comes to school. Her name is Kotani Nobuko, a girl who has no self confidence at all and is content at being made fun of and bullied in school. Shuji and Akira come to an accord that in order to make use of their "youth" they will "produce" Nobuko as the next popular girl. One of the conditions, however, is that nobody should find out that they are working together as a team to make this concept possible. Unveiled here is the story of true friendship between three unlikely candidates who would not have been friends if not given the special circumstances.

Thoughts: Quite a highly raved drama, but I didn't enjoy it very much. Maybe because I'm not too crazed over Kame or Yamapi? It doesn't connect with me for some reason -shrugs-

山田太郎ものがたり / Yamada Taro Monogatari

Title: 山田太郎ものがたり / Yamada Taro Monogatari
Title translated: The Story of Yamada Taro
Aired: 2007-Jul-6 to 2007-Sep-14
Genre: Comedy
Episodes: 10

• Ninomiya Kazunari as Yamada Taro
• Sakurai Sho as Mimura Takuya

DramaWiki's synopsis: Yamada Taro, a freshman on a scholarship at Ichinomiya Private Senior High School, is high-achieving, strikingly handsome, and truly athletic and seems perfect. But he is actually extremely poor. The story humorously portrays Taro, who tackles problems that occur because of his poverty, and his six younger brothers and sisters.

Thoughts: I LOVED this drama. This was one where I was alternating between crying and laughing. I truly recommend this to anyone who is looking for something to watch.

花ざかりの君たちへ / Hanazakari no Kimitachi e

Title: 花ざかりの君たちへ / Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Title translated: For you in full blossom
Aired: 2007-Jul-03 to 2007-Sep-18
Genre: Comedy, School, Romance
Episodes: 12

• Horikita Maki as Ashiya Mizuki
• Oguri Shun as Sano Izumi
• Ikuta Toma as Nakatsu Shuichi

DramaWiki's synopsis: Based on a popular comic, this hilarious comedy follows the chaos, troubles and friendship at a boys’ boarding school after a girl-disguising-a-boy joins. Ashiya Mizuki has just come back to Japan from California where she was raised. She fell in love with Sano Izumi, a hopeful high jump hero, who has quit after an accident. As she wants him to go back to the sport once again, she enters the same high school as a boy! With a short hair, flattened chest and lowered voice, she starts sharing the same room with Sano.

Thoughts: Didn't really enjoy this so much. Somehow wasn't able to feel for the storyline. But I loved Nakatsu! Absolutely hilarious and adorable.

花より男子 / Hana Yori Dango 1 & 2

Title: 花より男子 / Hana Yori Dango
Title translated: Boys over flowers
Aired: 2005-Oct-21 to 2005-Dec-16
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 9

• Inoue Mao as Makino Tsukushi
• Matsumoto Jun as Domyoji Tsukasa
• Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rui
• Matsuda Shota as Nishikado Sojiro
• Abe Tsuyoshi as Mimasaka Akira

DramaWiki's synopsis: Makino Tsukushi is the only poor student at Eitoku Gakuen, the school of the ridiculously rich and privileged that is ruled by Flower 4 or F4, a group of four boys who come from extremely powerful families: Domyoji Tsukasa, the leader and heir of the Domyoji World Finance Group; Hanazawa Rui, the introverted son of a large company; Nishikado Sojiro, a player who is the heir of a tea ceremony school; and Mimasaka Akira, a madam killer with ties to the underground. If a student gets on the F4’s bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school.

Makino hopes to pass her days quietly-- without drawing any attention to herself-- but one day, she stands up to Domyoji in defense of her friend. The next day, Makino gets the dreaded red notice. Even though she is harassed, Makino decides to keep going to school because she is a “tough weed”. She declares war right back on the F4. Her resolve gets the attention of her crush Hanazawa Rui and oddly enough, rouses romantic feelings in her worst enemy, Domyoji Tsukasa.

The series is based on the Japanese shoujo manga "Hana Yori Dango" (Boys Before Flowers) by Kamio Yoko.

Thoughts: Finally! Something to stand up to the crappy Taiwan version. All of them suit the characters well, especially Matsumoto for Tsukasa.

Title: 花より男子２ / Hana Yori Dango 2
Title translated: Boys over flowers
Aired: 2007-Jan-05 to 2007-Mar-16
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 11

• Inoue Mao as Makino Tsukushi
• Matsumoto Jun as Domyoji Tsukasa
• Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rui
• Matsuda Shota as Nishikado Sojiro
• Abe Tsuyoshi as Mimasaka Akira

DramaWiki's synopsis: This second season of Hana Yori Dango picks up right after Domyoji leaves for New York. After confessing to Domyoji, Makino has not spoken to him for a year. Rui and the other members of F4 try and help Makino meet Domyoji again by going to New York for the christmas holidays. Though F4 and Makino meet Domyoji again, he has become a completely different person, and so they leave for Japan.

Some time later, Domyoji's mother annouces that they will be returning to Japan. There, they hold a giant super-rich and classy birthday party for Domyoji and announce something very important. Domyoji, like in the first season, is engaged to a rich girl and heir. The only difference is that they are to be wed soon. What will Makino do?

On the side, Rui begins to fall in love with Makino... will this become a love... square?

Thoughts: RUI. IS. LOVE.

僕だけのマドンナ / Boku dake no Madonna

Title: 僕だけのマドンナ / Boku dake no Madonna
Title translated: You are my only Madonna
Aired: 2003-Jul-07 to 2003-Sep-15
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 11

• Takizawa Hideaki as Suzuki Kyouichi
• Hasegawa Kyoko as Kataoka Surumi

DramaWiki's synopsis: Kyoichi Suzuki is an average college student in his junior year. Although he's not in one of the top universities, he's satisfied with his college life studying architecture. Kyoichi left home and is finally on his own, living in a beat-up apartment in Tokyo. However, this apartment building is home to some out-of-the-ordinary residents, who are always bugging Kyoichi. His next-door neighbor hits Kyoichi up for a loan when he finds out that Kyoichi just got paid. His other next- door neighbor who works at a nightclub, always calls Kyoichi, demanding him to come pick her up, because she's so drunk. Other than that, Kyoichi is satisfied with his normal life, until he meets a girl one day...

Kyoichi comes home from his part-time job as a night-time security guard. He returns to his room to find a girl sleeping on his bed-a girl he has never seen before. She looks a bit older than Kyoichi, and is quite beautiful. Kyoichi can't believe his eyes.

Kyoichi closes the door, and goes outside to the entrance of the apartment, to make sure he's in the right apartment and room. There's no mistake. He returns inside...but the girl is gone.There's nobody in his room. Was it just his imagination? Was he hallucinating? Kyoichi can't understand what just happened.

Later, he discovers that something is missing from his grocery bag-the Chinese noodles he was looking forward to eating are gone...

This is how Kyoichi first meets Surumi Kataoka. After they meet, Surumi continues living in Kyoichi's room.

She points to an apartment visible from Kyoichi's room, and says that the guy living there dumped her for another girl. Surumi says that she's waiting to check out the girl she was dumped for. Kyoichi doesn't know if he ought to believe her or not.

All Kyoichi knows is that while Surumi is such a charming girl, the expression on her face is sad at times.

Kyoichi is not that disappointed about sharing his room with a cute girl. He starts to think that this lifestyle may go on forever, until one day, Surumi suddenly disappears-just like the day she suddenly appeared. All she leaves for Kyoichi are unanswered questions.

Thoughts: Kyoichi is the main character, but easily the most boring. The other residents in the block are slightly off the loop, but plenty funny, and Surumi is spontaneous, fun and GORGEOUS. I enjoyed this drama mostly watching her :D

魔女の条件 / Majo no Jouken

Title: 魔女の条件 / Majo no Jouken
Title translated: Witch's requirement / Forbidden love
Aired: 1999-Apr-08 to 1999-Jun-17
Genre: Romance, Human Drama
Episodes: 11

• Matsushima Nanako as Hirose Michi
• Takizawa Hideaki as Kurosawa Hikaru

DramaWiki's synopsis: Michi, a 26 year old high school math teacher, tentatively accepts her boyfriend's proposal of marriage, uncertain of her love for him but feeling pressure from her father and society to do what is expected of her. Hikaru, a 17 year old boy frustrated by his home life with his single mother and having been expelled from many high schools for bad behavior, enters Michi's class as a new transfer student. As their relationship grows they realize that they both feel that they have lost themselves to the pressures of those around them, and it is this common bond that draws them dangerously close. What follows is a heart-wrenching story of forbidden love where Michi must face society's judgement for corrupting a minor, abandoning her fiance, and disappointing her parents and co-workers.

Thoughts: This is quite a depressing drama from beginning to end, but touches on real and often hushed up topics- societal pressures and forbidden love. Sometimes the situation feels so hopeless you feel like switching off the monitor to escape it. But on the other hand, you want to know what happens, if the fates of the protagonists will improve. The acting is commendable, especially for young Takizawa.

ストロベリー・オンザ・ショートケーキ / Strawberry on the Shortcake

Title: ストロベリー・オンザ・ショートケーキ / Strawberry on the Shortcake
Aired: 2001-Jan-12 to 2001-Mar-16
Genre: Human drama, Romance
Episodes: 12

• Takizawa Hideaki as Irie Manato
• Fukada Kyoko as Misawa Yui

DramaWiki's synopsis: At some point, Irie Manato began to withdraw himself from the world. Even when picked on, it's not the real Irie, but an act. However one day he meets a strange girl - Misawa Yui. Yui, who finds the tedium of everyday life unbearable, teases Manato with her almost too upfront and honest manner. Alone and afraid Manato wavers but finds himself drawn to her. But his feelings for Yui are doomed to be unrequited.

Thoughts: Another drama I watched very much earlier. No real storyline to it, except to show the relationships between the different people in the show.