Sunday, October 05, 2014

DramaQueen favorite Jdorama Part 2



Title: Hakusen Nagashi

Also known as White line

Starring: Takashi Kashiwabra, Nagase Tomoya, Sakai Miki

Theme song: Sora Mo Toberu Haza -Spitz

Year of Boardcasting: 1996 

Storyline: Sonoko (Sakai Miki) a rural high school student notice stars drawn on her desk. It seems that sitting on the same desk at night is Wataru ( Nagase Tomoya), a poor teenage night class student. He is forced to work in the daylight and study at night. 

One day, Sonoko and Wataru crushed into each other on the street. She leave a book about stars behind and Wataru picks it up. They begin to develop feeling for each other. Sonoko's friends Madoka (Kyono) and Fuyumi (Mabuchi) are very good supporting characters. Yusuke (Takashi Kashiwabara) plays sonoko studious classmate that has a major crush on her. 

My thoughts:

This is an old school drama that left a great impression on me. When I first watch this jdrama, I was very young then. The only cast that I know is Takashi Kashiwabara and Sakai Miki from the hit movie - Love Letter. I actually hope that this onscreen couple will finally be reunited and have a happy ending. Sadly, that did not come true. 

I wondered why is Takashi Kashiwabara a second male lead? Initially, I was frustrated with the love triangle between Wataru, Sonoko and Yusuke. Like many fans, I thought Sonoko is literally blind when she did not choose Yusuke. 

This drama was well received in Japan and they continued to flim a few special seasons. I wonder why the Japanese did not do so with the other popular idol drama - Itazura Na Kiss? Anyway, Takashi Kashiwabara got me hooked to this drama with his gentle demeanor and handsome face.

I like the side story of Sonoko friends too. This is a story about these youth and their story at different stages of life. I am able to connect to each character in the drama. The storyline was good, although I struggled through the entire series because of my poor Prince Charming Yusuke. The scriptwriter "tortured" him for many years and I felt sorry for him.

Subsequently, they flimed a few drama special and seasons till 2005. The cast had grew more matured and I felt like I grew up with them too. This drama became part of my memories and is no doubt one of my favorite drama. 


Title: Pride 

Starring: Takuya Kimura, Yuko Takeuchi, Kenji Sakaguchi

Theme Song: I was born to love you - Queen 

Year of broadcasting: 2004

Storyline: The story revolves a corporate ice hockey team, the blue scorpions. Haru Satonaka (Takuya Kimura) is the captain of the team. Haru treat his relationship as a game. He begin a contract relationship with Aki Murase (Yuko Takeuchi). At the same time, Haru Satonaka had to deal with the inner conflict within the ice hockey team. How is the iceman Haru going to deal with the obstacles? 

My thoughts:

How to miss out this great drama from Japanese King of drama Takuya Kimura? I am glad to be able to watch these jdrama during my younger days. Both Takuya Kimura and Takashi Kashiwabara were such suave men. I love Takuya Kimura in other jdrama such as Love generation, Hero and Good luck! In my opinion, Takuya Kimura has a strong charisma and acting skills. He is really good in protraying every character that was given to him. 

The reason why I love this drama so much is because I am totally impressed with the storyline and our main character Takuya Kimura. I was actively engaged with the 11 episodes drama and there was never a dull moment. The theme songs matches the drama perfectly well too. 


Title: GTO Great Teacher Onizuka

Starring: Takashi Sorimachi, Nanako Matsushima 

Year of broadcasting: 1998

Storyline: This is a high school comedy adapted from a manga. Onizuka ( Takashi Sorimachi) is an ex-delinquent- turned high school teacher. He used his unique ways to motivate and change the young minds. 

My Thoughts:

This is a great drama that have a few seasons later on in the years. Despite all the remake of this drama throughout these years, the one that left a great impression on me is the first live action drama. 

The chemistry between the two leads Takashi and Nanako is fantastic. Anyway, we know that they became a couple after this drama. The storyline was motivating and I like Takashi Sorimachi performance in this drama. There were some light-hearted moments and some touching moments within the story. It is definitely one of the best Jdorama I have ever watched.


Title: Gokusen

Starring: Yukie Nakama 

Year of Broadcasting: 2002

Storyline: This is a manga turned life action drama series which was highly successful in Japan. Kumiko Yamaguchi ( Yukie Nakama) is the granddaughter of a Yakuza boss. Her parents died when she was seven years old. She is next in line to head the family business. However, Kumiko lifelong dream is to become a teacher. She becomes a teacher in an all boys high school. Her class is full of delinquents, but she tried her hardest to teach them not only academic but also lessons in life.

My Thoughts:

Initially, I am not particularly interested in this drama until I watched one of the epsiode and was immediately hooked. I like Yukie Nakama protrayal of a strong headed high school teacher. 

This story is similar to Great teacher Onizuka. Both Yukie Nakama and Takashi Sorimuchi were excellent in their role. Although sometimes their expressions were exergerated, I still can accept it since the drama was adapted from a well-known manga. 

At the same time, I realized that the Japanese really like to film this type of motivational comedy about high school students. Jdrama had once upon a time impacted the whole Asia with their drama series. Gokusen is definitely one of the must watch jdrama. 














































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