With Love (1998)

Starring:
Takenouchi Yutaka as Hasegawa Takashi
Tanaka Misato as Murakami Amane
Oikawa Mitsuhiro asYoshida Haruhiko
Fujiwara Norika as Imai Kaori
Asada Miyoko
Kawaoka Daijiro as Kinoshita Kentaro
Hara Chiaki
Hara Sachie as Midori
Shibuya Kotono
Shirai Akira
Sato Hiroyuki
Sada Marie
Kitamura Soichiro
Fukazawa Kuniyuki
Hiraga Masaomi (ep8)

It all started when Takashi (Takenouchi), a talented composer who could not write a love song ever since his girlfriend Rina left him suddenly, accidentally sent an uncompleted piece of his latest work to Amane (Tanaka) via email. Deeply touched by his music, Amane wrote back to him, without getting a reply. Amane continued writing to him, pouring out her thoughts. Only when she signed as "Teru Teru Bozu", did Takashi responded with a mail saying "WHO ARE YOU?", because what Rina left him as a farewell gift was a teru teru bozu! --JDorama.com

How do I go on about this drama? This one is it! This is my #1 favorite Asian drama, as of right now!

This drama had so much going on. It had a mix of the Korean dramas Soulmate and Who Are You? in it. Geez-a-lou! I watched the final episode last night and I'm still reeling from it all. I cried. Damn, did I cry.

This is one freaking beautiful story that touched me on so many levels that it's not even funny.

Can you find true love on the internet? Do you believe in destiny or fate? Could your true love be closer than you think? I'm tellin' you people this was one helluva a story. And, I'm officially declaring that Takenouchi Yutaka as my favorite actor of all time. Why in the hell have I put him off so much?

I thought he was great in Tomorrow and thought I would hit some of his dramas and.....well....here ya go. I found my ultimate favorite.

This whole drama put love in perspective. That sex isn't everything its cracked up to be. COMMUNICATION is the keyword here people!!!!

I'm so in love!!!

Takenouchi Yutaka

Love Generation (ラブジェネレーション -1997)

Starring:
Kimura Takuya as Katagiri Teppei
Matsu Takako as Uesugi Riko
Fujiwara Norika as Takagi Erika
Uchino Masaaki as Katagiri Soichiro
Junna Risa as Mizuhara Sanae
Moriguchi Yoko as Shiroishi Nami
Hirata Mitsuru as Kurosaki Takeshi
Kawabata Ryuta as Yoshimoto Tamio
Izutsu Shinsuke as Sasaki Taisaku
Kishi Hiroyuki as Ootemon
Fukiishi Kazue as Uesugi Midori
Nakamura Ikuji as Ishihara
Inoue Takashi as Yoda
Yamazaki Naoki as Hosaka
Kondo Kyozo as Tsuji
Harada Shuichi as Hioki
Nomura Shinji as Shimamura Mitsuru
Shiina Kippei (guest) as Ogasahara Korekiyo
Igarashi Izumi as Uesugi Youko
Suzuki Mie as Uesugi Sachiko
Kurotani Tomoka as Harumi
Igawa Hisashi as Uesugi Ken'ichi
Namase Katsuhisa as Ando-san
Sato Tamao
Shinagawa Toru

Katagiri Teppei (Kimura Takuya) is a promising creative agent, but whose attitude gets him transferred to the sales department. He has to learn to adapt to the new working environment, which includes cutting his precious locks of hair to create a neater and more appropriate image. Helping him along the way is Uesugi Riko (Matsu Takako), whom he tried to pick up along the street earlier but was tricked by her instead. Riko does not have a good impression of him at first, but falls for him gradually. However, Teppei runs into his ex-girlfriend Mizuhara Sanae (Junna Risa) who is now the girlfriend of his brother Soichiro (Uchino Masaaki). Consoling him is Riko, whom Teppei likes gradually. Just when Teppei and Riko start dating, Sanae realises that she still likes Teppei...
-- JDorama.com

This is the second time I have watched this. I think this was one of the first dramas I had seen. I think I had been on a Kimura Takuya kick then. I watched a bazillion of his dramas in a row. LOL!

This, too, is one of my favorites. You watch as Teppei slowly falls in love with Riko. Their first encounter was a bomb in a male pride way. LOL! Their friendship started as affible, grew, and grew. I will admit I wasn't all that with Riko's character at first but you eventually understand how her love became almost a possession but then yet her actions (even though a little extreme) were absolutely believable from a female perspective.

If by chance, you haven't seen this drama, give it a whirl. It is an oldie but goodie. And, he too, is a little younger (this being 10 years ago!) and oh soooo cute!!