Water Boys ( ウォーターボーイズ -2003)

Starring:
Yamada Takayuki as Shindo Kankuro
Moriyama Mirai as Tatematsu Norio
Eita as Tanaka Masatoshi
Ishigaki Yuma as Takahara Go
Ishii Tomoya as Ishizuka Futoshi
Miyaji Mao as Onishi Asako
Kashii Yu as Hanamura Kyoko
Tani Kei as Mr. Ozaki
Fuse Akira as Mr. Yamaoka
Sugimoto Tetta as Mr. Sugita
Manabe Kaori as Miss. Sakuma
Kikuchi Maiko as Miss. Onogawa
Emoto Akira as Mama (of a bar)
Tokui Yuu as Chi-mama
Takenaka Naoto as Mr. Isomura
Yashima Norito as Isomura Kiyomasa
Tamaki Hiroshi as Sato Katsumasa
Takahashi Hitomi as Shindo Miwako
Asano Kazuyuki as Shindo Kanichi
Ikari Yukiko as Shindo Hitomi
Nishida Naomi
Katayama Reo as Kitajima Daichi
Aibu Saki as Hayakawa Atsumi
Hiraizumi Sei as Mr. Tatematsu

Synchro Boy Group
Hojo Takahiro
Fujisawa Yosuke
Arakawa Yu
Kato Koki
Nozaki Tenma
Tanaka Kei
Shiozawa Hidemasa
Isaka Tatsuya
Hamada Hiroyuki
Abe Atsushi
Ebata Hiroki
Ichitaro
Chikada Shintaro
Takeuchi Taiyo
Kawamoto Takanori
Sekita Atsushi
Hyuga Takashi
Namiki Nobuyuki
Washizu Isanori
Shin Shinichiro
Wakizaki Tomohito
Watanabe Dai

Two years ago, five high-school boys brought fame to a small town in Japan. What was so unique was that they formed a "men's synchronized swimming club." Their involvement and struggles while learning synchronized swimming - known to be a sport for girls - brought much attention to their school and town.

Two years have passed since that summer, and the boys of Tadano High School are still in the club. The Fuji Television drama "Water Boys" shows how these young boys fight to learn synchronized swimming, fall in love, and enjoy friendship with one another.

I cannot believe I put this show off for so long! I watched the movie (actually I think the movie was the first Asian movie I saw for the first time. I'm almost positive because I did a Tamaki Hiroshi search and that came up. I'm STILL looking for Rockers! Errrr)

Okay, I loved this. Oh yeah, Eita in a speedo! Hello!?!! Ishigaki Yuma in a speedo. Oh yeah baby! LOL! This is probably the only drama where I thought Yamada Takayuki looked decent. Yeah, he's a great actor. Really great! But his looks don't give me the.....*sigh*. Ya know?

This was a great family comedy/drama. I loved the end with all the choreography and stunts. The music was cool too! This wasn't the greatest of all dramas go but it was really fun to watch. Oh and Moriyama Mirai didn't disappoint in his comedic role. His facial expressions crack me up. He, also, isn't a "looker" but he too has that "somethin', somethin'", aura, appeal.......whatever that draws your attention to him. Love him! I'm never disappointed in his roles whatsoever.

Have fun. Sit down. Grab a soda. Watch the show.

Hojo Takahiro


Tanaka Kei


Tamaki Hiroshi


Eita

Waiting in the Dark (Kurai tokoro de machiawase / 暗いところで待ち合わせ -2006)

Starring:
Rena Tanaka - Michiru Honma
Bo-lin Chen - Akihiro Oishi
Haruka Igawa - Harumi Mishima
Koichi Sato - Toshio Matsunaga
Mao Miyaji - Kazue Futaba
Shiro Sano
Fumina Hara
Ittoku Kishibe - Michiru's Father

Michiru has recently lost her eyesight. To make matters worse, her father dies shortly afterwards. She is now all alone and spends most of her day isolated in her home.

Akihiro is a Chinese-Japanese immigrant, that has had to deal with racism all throughout his life. He is now tormented at work by one of his older co-workers named Toshio.

One day at a train station in front of Michiru’s house, Toshio is thrown into the path of an oncoming train. The only person seen at the train stop was Akihiro. Akihiro frantically flees from the scene and manages to enter Michiru’s house without her knowledge. After a few days, Michiru starts to sense the presence of another person in her home. -- Lunapark6



I'm so glad I watched this movie. Okay, it's waaaaaaay slow but the story is so sweet that it was actually nice.

Okay, I admit that I was surprised to see Wilson (Bo-lin) Chen in this movie since it's a Japanese movie. He actually spoke the language well for the time given. Lucky him though since most of his acting was sitting in a corner not speaking at all.

I have to admit I would think that it would be scary to have someone in my home watching me if I was blind. But lucky her, he's cute and he's not malicious at all...but helpful to her. A little twist comes into the story and a relief it was for me. I had prepared myself for the worst but was surprised and elated at the end.

As I got to know the characters, I melted and yearned for their happiness. Not just as a couple but as they grew out of their shells. Even though they were different people, different backgrounds, they both shared a common bond....a personal prison that kept them from showing their true natures and their will to communicate without chains that held them to theirselves.

Really a good movie. I know most wouldn't like the movie because of how slow it moved but I thought it refreshing and meaningful to their characters.