Searchin' For My Polestar (天体観測 （てんたいかんそく）,Tentai Kansoku -2002)

Starring:
Ito Hideaki as Sayama Kyouichi
Sakaguchi Kenji as Kawamura Tomoya
Odagiri Joe as Kisaki Takeshi
Koyuki as Sawamura Mifuyu
Tabata Tomoko as Miyabe/Yamase Satomi
Konishi Manami as Ida Yuri
Yamazaki Shigenori as Yamazaki Kenta
Hasegawa Kyoko as Arisaka Nanae
Uehara Misa as Matsumoto Arisu
Matsushige Yutaka as Matsubara
Otani Naoko as Mama Terumi
Tanaka Tetsushi as Yamase, Satomi's husband
Jinbo Satoshi as Section Chief Yoshida
Koike Teppei
Asami Reina
Yasui Kenichiro
Asano Kazuyuki
Yashima Norito
Akimoto Naomi
Okada Megumi
Ogi Shigemitsu

The main characters of "Searchin' for My Polestar" are 7 friends that met at college while in the astronomic observation club "Sagittarius." Being in the club was just an excuse for them to go to the beach in summer, and skiing in winter. Actually, the only time they ever observed any stars was at summer camp during their senior year.

Dreaming of a bright future, the seven exchange vows for eternal friendship. However, over the next several years, their busy schedules cause them to begin drifting apart.

It's been 3 years since that summer when they laughed together gazing at the stars. Will their friendship continue to drift farther and farther apart? Or will they manage to strengthen their friendship again? --Fuji TV

Okay, okay. I'm totally balling like a baby. Episodes 8-12....killer! I was not expecting this drama to catch me, hook, line and sinker. First of all, I started watching this because of my Joe-san. He's so kawaii! Well, I have to be upset with the wardrobe department....why do they dress him off like he is a hustler from the 70's? Drives me CRAZY!

This was an awesome drama. Actually, I really think the Japanese drama, Friends, is a knock-off of this drama. Okay, there is no wife beater in this drama but the husband of one of the main characters is distant and treats her like a servant. Totally a jerk. Then you have the friends all go through some rough patch in their lives and someone always trying to fix the others problems. Then the interlove triangle/quadrangle that never really was a love thing in the first place. That was totally confusing.

The end...well, suffice it to say.....just tore me to shreds. I'm still in tears. It was wonderful. My only beef was the very, very, very, very last scene.....when the main three characters walked in different directions. That just tore me up because they are ALL best friends....they should all be together to the very end. At that point, I wanted a best friend like all seven of them were. I want that sort of relationship. Something that is not gender bound and that special person in the group would always be there for me. *Okay the tears are really flowing again. My throat hurts from holding back the sobs. And the snot won't stop running out of my nose.......*

God, I really LOVED this drama.

Ito Hideaki


Koike Teppei

Ummmm? He has abs....OMG!!! Too bad he's too young for my taste......So I know some other girls will likey this pic. LOL!

Wonderful Life (ワンダフルライフ -2004)

Starring:
Sorimachi Takashi as Kirishima Akira
Hasegawa Kyoko as Isayama Mizuki
Yashima Norito as Tsumasaka Masayoshi
Horiuchi Ken as Okegawa Osamu
Taguchi Hiromasa as Hayashi Jiro
Inuyama Inuko as Hayashi Nobuko
Muramatsu Toshifumi as Onoda Isao
Oshima Satoko as Onoda Sanae
Yoshimoto Miyoko as Shinoda Mika
Ichikawa Yui as Katsuragi Touko
Hamada Mari as Isayama Yukie
Kaneko Noboru
Oishi Megumi
Masu Takeshi
Ito Shiro
Nishimura Masahiko as Isayama Yasushi
Sato Kazuya
Sawamura Ikki (ep5, 8)
Moriguchi Yoko (guest)
Takahashi Kento

Momonoki Jaguars
Kawaguchi Shouhei as Isayama Sho
Matsukawa Naruki as Konsuke
Kumatani Tomohiro
Kawakita Junya



Kirishima is the most famous baseball player in Japan. However, an unfortunate injury forces him to retire. His family abandons him, and all that's left is a vacant coaching position at a local baseball team for young boys. This club is on the verge of being disbanded—so far, they have never won a single game. Will Kirishima be able to help the club?

Through the television screen, popular baseball player Kirishima tells the kids, "dreams come true." His baseball techniques are so fantastic that he is called the "miracle man." But in reality, Kirishima is an arrogant and selfish flirt who spends money like there's no tomorrow.

Mizuki is a girl who wants to become a lawyer. Her brother plays on Kirishima's team, but can't stand the sight of Kirishima. She hates men who fool around, and especially those who deceive children. Will Mizuki and Kirishima be able to come to a mutual understanding? --Fuji TV

I loved this drama. Sorimachi Takashi hit a home-run with this series. Geez, I cry everytime in one of his dramas. Doesn't matter if it's a comedy or not. This man is great! I hope to God that he is like his characters that he plays. I love the morality of the story. It was heart felt, endearing, sad at moments, funny when needed, and inspiring all in one.

When life seems to be over, it's not over until your final swing at bat. It might be bases loaded, one point behind, 9th-inning, 2-outs......until you do your best....you can always come from behind to win!!

After watching this show, memories of my youth swirled in my head. I'm a girl in a local softball association. We were pretty good. I was the catcher. Our pitcher was awesome. We played fast pitch. She was so good that everytime the ball she threw hit my glove, my palm would burn. And not to boast, I was really a great batter. I loved that time in my life. All seemed to be perfect..................

Ganbatte!!!

Sorimachi Takashi