Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-

It has passed what now.. 9 years? since we heard this song for the first time, to me this song is still as good as it was when it came out. For some reason I cannot get tired of it.
I think I watched too much of Hana Yori Dango, still there is a part of me that wants to re-watch it although I know the whole series by heart!!

Anyway for you who hasn't heard this, ENJOY!!

ウロボロス

Can I say that this drama caught my attention because of the three main actors?

The time slot is so-so I guess, but still it doesn't matter for me.

I look forward seeing this drama, my first of 2015. It's fun to see Ikuta Toma and Oguri Shun again, but if completely different roles from last time ^^

Also, to kick off the year, Arashi is making the theme song, a bit unexpected, yet I do not complain. What I have heard so far of the song I like ^^

I hope I can follow the drama along the original broadcast, we'll see what happens ^^

Title: ウロボロス (Ouroboros)
Tagline: この愛こそ、正義。 / Kono ai koso, seigi.
Episodes: TBD
Broadcast network: TBS
Broadcast period: 2015-Jan-16 start
Air time: Friday 22:00
Theme song: Sakura by Arashi

Synopsis
"Ouroboros" is an ancient symbol that depicts a snake eating its own tail - meaning infinity. Based on a popular comic, a clumsy detective and a cool gang stand up to true evil. Ikuo and Tatsuya grew up in a children's orphanage together. When their favorite teacher, Yuiko, is murdered, a policeman wearing a gold watch covers up the incident. Ikuo and Tatsuya promise each other to avenge their teacher someday. Twenty years later, Ikuo is a detective in Shinjuku second police station investigating various cases with elite detective - Mizuki, while smart and handsome Tatsuya has become one of the top members of a gang group.


Cast
Ikuta Toma as Ryuzaki Ikuo
Oguri Shun as Danno Tatsuya
Ueno Juri as Hibino Mizuki
Yoshida Yo as Tachibana Tomiko
Muro Tsuyoshi as Fukamachi Takeshi
Seino Nana as Tamura Konatasu
Takeda Kumiko as Abiko Kirino
Mitsuishi Ken as Hibino Kunihiko
Takito Kenichi as Chono Shinichi
Yoshida Kotaro as Mishima Kaoru
Nakamura Hashinosuke III as Kitagawa Kanichiro
Hirosue Ryoko as Kashiwaba Yuiko

足音 〜 Be Strong

As I'm here in Japan, I better share some Japanese music (like I never do it..lol)
Here's Mr Children's latest song called 足音 〜 Be Strong.
The single will be avaliable for purchase this upcoming week, but the PV came out last month already. The song is used for Fuji TV's drama called 信長協奏曲 (Nobunaga Concerto) starring Oguri Shun.

Enjoy!

ルパン三世

I have wanted to watch this ever since it was announced! And the trailer made me wanting to see it even more. And while browsing the JAL catalog over movies they are showing during my flight, I saw that this is one of them!!! Could it be any better?

I'm happy to know that at least two movies will entertain me on my long distant flight that will take place in a few weeks from now!!! Oguri Shun is one of my fave actors in Japan, not only because he's good looking..haha

Title: ルパン三世 (Rupan Sansei / Lupin III)
Directed by: Ryuhei Kitamura
Written by: Mataichirō Yamamoto
Release date: August 30, 2014
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese, English

Plot
Lupin and friends infiltrate a highly secured fortress-like safe named "Ark of Navarone" (ナヴァロンの箱舟) to claim the "Crimson Heart of Cleopatra" (クリムゾンハート・オブ・クレオパトラ?)

Cast
Shun Oguri as Arsène Lupin III
Tetsuji Tamayama as Daisuke Jigen
Gō Ayano as Goemon Ishikawa XIII
Meisa Kuroki as Fujiko Mine
Tadanobu Asano as Koichi Zenigata
Jerry Yan as Michael Lee
Kim Joon as Pierre
Nick Tate as Dawson
Nirut Sirijanya as Pramuk
Rhatha Phongam as Miss V
Thanayong as Royal

info @ wikipedia

ルパン三世

Maybe one the most anticipated movies this season is LUPIN III
Ever since I heard they started shooting I have been excited!
I finally had time to watch the trailer and well.. I so I wish I could hit the movies this August and watch it!!

ボーダー

This is another drama I'm keen to watch. Of course it's because of Oguri Shun.

But then again, since my schedule is kinda tight I'm not sure if I can follow it along "live" broadcast but I'll do my best ^^

Also the role seems to fit Gurin kinda well so I think it will be a very exciting drama!

Title: ボーダー /BORDER
Episodes: TBA
Broadcast network: TV Asahi
Broadcast period: 2014-Apr-10 Start
Air time: Thursday 21:00
Theme song: evils fall by MAN WITH A MISSION


Story
Ishikawa Ango (Oguri Shun) is a detective with smarts and a keen sense of observation. He's in a great physical shape and also highly ambitious. Ango also only focuses on his work and his personal life is pretty much non-existent.
One day, a former police officer is killed by a gun shot. Ango goes to the scene of the crime, but is shot in the head by the killer who is lurking at the crime scene. Ango hovers between life and death. At that time, he thinks to himself "where do people go after they die?" and then "I don't want to die." A miracle then happens. Ango survives with the bullet still lodged in his head. He goes back to work.
A new murder case takes place. When Ango goes to the crime scene he notices a boy who looks like he is about to cry, but only Ango is able to see the boy. The boy is the one who was killed. Since Ango was shot, he can now see and talk with the dead.

Cast
Oguri Shun as Ishikawa Ango
Aoki Munetaka as Tachibana Yuma
Haru as Higa Mika
Endo Kenichi as Ichikura Takuji
Furuta Arata as Akai
Takito Kenichi as Suzuki
Nomaguchi Toru as Hacker Garfunkel

info @ dramawiki

Woman

The latest drama I'm following is this one... Woman.

I have to admit I found it because I like Oguri Shun, then I heard it's the same screen writer as for the drama series Mother, which I followed back in 2010. Then also, the story in itself is very interesting and I think this is a big problem not only in Japan but in many countries around the world.

Anyway so far I have seen the 3 episodes that has been released and I'm hooked. I wonder how the story will develop.

Title: Woman
Title (romaji): Woman
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Family
Episodes: TBD
Viewership rating: TBA
Broadcast network: NTV
Broadcast period: 2013-Jul-03
Air time: Wednesday 22:00
Theme song: VOICE by androp

Story
Currently, there are over 1 million single mothers in Japan. Their average annual income is about 2 mil yen (1.8 mil if government subsidies are excluded), which is about a third of the nation's average annual income of 5.4 mil yen. We cannot begin to imagine the stress they are under to make ends meet. Shunned by society, they find it difficult to find a way out of their poverty. This drama showcases how a single mother gives her all in trying to provide for her beloved children.

Koharu (Hikari Mitsushima) lost her husband Shin (Shun Oguri) in an unexpected accident. Koharu must go on for her two children Nozomi (Rio Suzuki) and Riku (Rai Takahashi).
Koharu works hard to make a living, but her financial situation does not improve. She goes to the social welfare office to apply for assistance, but is refused due to not meeting certain requirements.
An employee at the welfare office asks Koharu if she has family that can support her, but she says no. Koharu's father passed away and her mother Sachi (Yuko Tanaka) left her and her father for another man (Kaoru Kobayashi) twenty years ago. They have been estranged since then.
An employee at the welfare office then contacts Sachi. Her mother makes it known she will provide support for Koharu. Meanwhile, Koharu is stunned by her mother's response. After twenty years, Koharu decides to meet her mother again.

Cast
Mitsushima Hikari as Aoyagi Koharu
Suzuki Rio as Aoyagi Nozomi
Suda Rio as 4-yr old Nozomi
Takahashi Rai as Aoyagi Riku
Tanaka Rei as 1-yr old Riku
Oguri Shun as Aoyagi Shin
Tanaka Yuko as Uesugi Sachi
Kobayashi Kaoru as Uesugi Kentaro
Nikaido Fumi (二階堂ふみ) as Uesugi Shiori
Tanimura Mitsuki as Sunagawa Aiko
Miura Takahiro as Sunagawa Ryosuke
Takahashi Issei as Sawamura Yugo
Usuda Asami as Kamata Yuki
Kose Tatsuya as Kamata Naoto
Takada Manato as Kamata Masato

Rich Man Poor Woman - in New York SP

This preview came out the other day, it's one week left!!
Who else but me is curious to watch it? I'm so excited my heartbeat is raising sky high!
It looks like they find it difficult to be together, also Asahina Kousuke left Next Innovation.
Anyway I believe it will end happy but it will be very fun to watch.

Let the countdown begin ;)

For more info visit the official Rich Man Poor Woman Homepage

Get ready... April 1st!

There are news out that the Special Episode of RICH MAN POOR WOMAN starring Oguri Shun and Ishihara Satomi will be aired on APRIL 1 at 9pm (Japan time)
This news was posted on the next inn twitter account ^^

Time to get excited ^^

https://twitter.com/next_inn_info/status/307263142302449665

リッチマン、プアウーマン

My new fave drama, or one of them is Rich Man, Poor Woman.

I have no idea why I didn't finish it earlier, but I guess I got busy in Canada and all!! Also last summer I kept on thinking about the trip...

But anyway, I finally finished this awesome drama! I love both Oguri Shun and Ishihara Satomi, they are a perfect match!!! ^^

Also this story is fun to follow. To think about it, I miss it already!! This really goes on my TOP 10 list of Japanese drama series I have followed.

Title: リッチマン、プアウーマン (Rich Man, Poor Woman)
Episodes: 11
Broadcast network: Fuji TV
Broadcast period: 2012-Jul-09 to 2012-Sep-17
Air time: Monday 21:00
Theme song: Hikari e by miwa
Insert song: Napa by miwa

Story
Oguri Shun plays Hyuga Toru, an affluent man whose personality is on the contrary, speckled with flaws. A CEO of an IT firm who is published on Forbes as a billionaire, Toru attained his fortune through chance and pure luck. A woman who meets Toru and eventually becomes attracted to him is Sawaki Chihiro, played by Ishihara Satomi. Chihiro is a hardworking college student at Tokyo University who has prepared for her future as much as she possibly could through studies and obtaining licenses. Despite her efforts, she has yet to land a job. Upon meeting Toru, she begins to unravel a genuine pureness inside him and solitude resulting from such pureness, which eventually draws her closer to him. The two repeatedly conflict each other, but little by little learn about one another to grow and develop together.

Despite the worldwide recession and financial difficulties, there are people like Mark Zuckerberg who began work from merely an apartment room or a garage that end up growing to be companies generating over ten billion dollars revenues after merely 10 years or so, embracing their new found wealth by living the dream life. Whether it's a game or application software, Ecommerce, or other IT related firm, there are more than a few who rose in fame to such status in recent years. On the other hand, Japan's unemployment rate for new grads dropped to a record low and those who want to work are unable to, or their wishes to work at their company of choice is not granted.

A Cinderella story of the real world. Will the two be able to compromise their values and lifestyles to become a happy couple?


Cast
Oguri Shun as Hyuga Toru
Ishihara Satomi as Sawaki Chihiro/Natsui Makoto
Aibu Saki as Asahina Yoko
Asari Yosuke as Yasuoka Michiya
Nakahara Takeo as Fueki Tadamasa
Nakamura Yasuhi as Ogawa Satoshi
Furukawa Yuki as Kuga Tomoki
Nomura Masumi as Ono Haruka
Yagi Nozomi as Miyamae Tomoka
Maikawa Aiku as Tateishi Risa
Ueki Kiyohiko as Hosoki Riichi
Maruyama Tomomi as Nogi Yuta
Sano Shiro as Yamagami Toshiyuki
Iura Arata as Asahina Kosuke