Maou (魔王 -2008)

Starring:
Ohno Satoshi as Naruse Ryo/Mannaka Tomoo
Kouno Hiroki as young Tomoo (11 years ago)
Ikuta Toma as Serizawa Naoto
Kimura Haruki as young Naoto (11 years ago)
Kobayashi Ryoko as Sakita Shiori
Masuyama Kayano as young Shiori (11 years ago)
Tanaka Kei as Kasai Hitoshi
Uemura Yuto as young Hitoshi (11 years ago)
Oshinari Shugo as Soda Mitsuru
Honma Haruo as young Mitsuru (11 years ago)
Waki Tomohiro as Ishimoto Yosuke
Nakamura Ryunoshin (中村竜之慎) as young Yosuke (11 years ago)
Uehara Misa as Takatsuka Kaoru
Shinohara Mai as Nishina Eri
Shimizu Yutaka (清水優) as Yamano Makoto
Horimoto Takaya (堀本昴弥) as young Makoto
Iida Kisuke as Ishihara Kanrikan
Tonesaku Toshihide as Kurata Takashi
Kichise Michiko as Serizawa Mari
Gekidan Hitori as Serizawa Noriyoshi
Miyake Yuji (三宅裕司) as Nakanishi Hiromichi
Ishizaka Koji as Serizawa Eisaku
Takeuchi Toshi (竹内寿) as Mannaka Hideo
Guests
Ninomiya Kazunari as Kumada Masayoshi (ep1)
Asaka Mayumi as Mannaka Yoshimi (ep1,2,4)
Morishita Tetsuo as Kumada Takahiro (ep1,2)
Kitaro as Hayashi Kunio (ep1,2)
Okunuki Kaoru as Shintani Tae (ep2-)
Ono Momoka (大野百花) as Shintani Sora (ep2-)
Musaka Naomasa as Ikehata Takahiro (ep4-7)
Yuka as Naruse Makiko (ep4-7)
Tanino Ota (谷野欧太) as the real Naruse Ryo (ep5-)
Shimada Kyusaku as Osumi Kazuma (ep5-)

This drama is a remake of the popular suspense drama The Devil that was aired in Korea last year. Ohno Satoshi will be playing the role of a two-faced lawyer, one of which is a kind hearted soul and the other who is plotting revenge, using his brilliant mind, on the person who killed his relative. On the other hand, Ikuta Toma will play the double lead role of the man, who has become a detective due to his dark past, who is pursuing the mysterious series of murders and fighting against the devil (maou).

OMG! OMG! OMG! This drama rocked my world and then some.

This was the very first drama that I had to wait patiently for but it was so hard. I would check all drama websites for updates. I would scream and curse if it wasn't posted yet. *Nothing against the subbers. I swear!* I just loved this drama so much. I loved Arashi's opening theme. I loved the actors. I loved the script. I loved the whole damn thing from the bottom of my heart.

It was sooooo hard to hate Naruse (Ohno). You understood his dilemma, his pain, and his revenge. Ohno-kun was perfect for this role. He balanced the evil and angelic parts so well. His face was the perfect picture of self-righteousness and fallen angel. As the story went on, it got so hard to see the evil in him but only the spiral of the hurricane that had swept him out into the abyss of retribution.

I wasn't at all sure how well Toma-kun was going to pull off the character of Serizawa Naoto. All I can see is the dumb, goofy guy from Hana Kimi. Well, taking on the serious role of the rebellious but yet law abiding detective fit him perfectly as well. Every episode, I would silently weep for him and the travels he had to take to receive redemption. *sigh* It was like, how much more should he suffer after carrying the weight of guilt of his past sins? How much more did he have to suffer?

I will say that as I watched the ending...the last episode...I felt myself tense up. I wasn't sure how this would play out. I didn't want a crappy ending. But there was hope...this is a Japanese drama after all.

As it got closer and closer....my heart ached. Then I got angry. Then I cried some more. Then this "whoosh" of air was expelled from my chest as I realized I was holding back my breath and the pain of my tears. The ending became PERFECT. I won't say if it was a happy or sad ending but will say that I now have a runny nose and tear stained cheeks. Tears of joy? Or happiness? You decide.

Ohno Satoshi

Look at this pretty face.......*sigh* Can I keep him?

Hana Kimi (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e - Ikemen Paradise, 2007)

AKA: Hottie Paradise!



The HOTTIES:
Oguri Shun~Sano Izumi
Toma Ikuta~Nakatsu Shuichi
Daito Shunsuke-Sano Shin
Shirota Yuu-Kagurazaka Makoto

First Dormitory Students
Ishigaki Yuma as Tennoji Megumi (Dorm Leader)
Takahashi Mitsuomi as Daikokucho Mitsuomi
Takeda Kohei as Kitahanada Kohei
Suzuki Ryohei as Akashi Soichiro
Sato Yuuichi as Tetsukayama Shota
Hayakawa Ryo as Gotenyama Sakyo
Matsushita Kouji as Shojaku Ren
Nishiyama Sousuke as Shichido Soma
Hagiwara Tatsuya (萩原達也) as Ishikiri Hiroto

Second Dormitory Students
Mizushima Hiro as Nanba Minami (Dorm Leader)
Kimura Ryo as Senri Nakao
Okada Masaki as Sekime Kyogo
Yamamoto Yusuke as Kayashima Taiki
Igarashi Shunji as Noe Shinji
Mizobata Junpei as Saga Kazuma
Sakimoto Hiromi as Kyobashi Arata
Chiyo Shota as Yodoyabashi Taichi
Tajima Ryo as Arashiyama Jyo
Shimegi Enoku as Tannowa Kyoichi
Okada Hikaru as Takaida Riku
Ikeda Jun as Kamishinjo Itsuki
Shibasaki Keisuke (柴崎佳佑) as Minase Manato

Third Dormitory Students
Kyo Nobuo as Himejima Masao (Oscar M. Himejima, Dorm Leader)
Kato Keisuke as Yao Hikaru
Watanabe Toshihiko (渡辺俊彦) as Imamiya Sho
Takahashi Yuta (高橋優太) as Shijo Haruki
Matsuda Shouichi as Kuzuha Junnosuke
Miyata Naoki as Saiin Tsukasa
Furuhara Yasuhisa as Ogimachi Taiyo
Ojima Naoya as Kaizuka Kohei
Suzuki Kota (鈴木康太) as Uenoshiba Kanata
Nakada Yuya as Katabiranotsuji Ken
Kawakami Yu as Korien Genji

St. Blossom's Academy
Iwasa Mayuko as Hanayashiki Hibari
Matsuda Madoka as Kishizato Juri
Kiritani Mirei as Amagasaki Kanna
Kurose Manami as Imaike Komari
Taira Airi as Abeno Erika

The drama is based on the popular manga of the same name by Nakajo Hisaya. Horikita plays the protagonist Ashiya Mizuki, a Japanese girl in the U.S. who one day sees the young athlete Sano Izumi compete in high jumping on television. She begins to idolize him. Sano gets injured one day in America while trying to help Mizuki escape from some gangsters. He stops high jumping ever since. Mizuki blames herself for the incident and decides to go to Japan and help Sano find his love for high jumping. However, Izumi goes to an all-boys school, so Mizuki disguises herself as a boy in order to meet with him again.



So many cute guys, not enough blog space. *sighs then frowns* I had to watch this again. Why? Well, it was one of the first jdramas that I watched. At that time, I didn't know who Oguri Shun, Mizushima Hiro, Shirota Yuu, Ishigaki Yuma, or anyone else was at the time. I was a newbie through and through. Watching it again, I'm more aware and appreciative of it this time around. Oh, Oguri Shun.....*sighs*.

If you noticed when they showed torso shots, his left breast is sunken in. At the time I didn't realize but he has a genetic disorder called Pectus Excavatum. It was quite obvious this time around since I couldn't take my eyes of his absolutely cute self. The disorder didn't matter though. In pics, I'm sure they photoshop those to hide the minor problem. I say MINOR because it definitely is no big deal.

If you haven't seen this drama, why haven't you? This is any drama fanatic favorite. You'll know by all the forums that worship this show. I have to agree, the hottie factor is HUGE!!!

There were so many things I missed the first time. This time around, I was able to focus and be aware of its testosteronal surroundings. Hehe!

I think I might watch Nodame Cantabile again because I miss Chiaki....*smiles* Tamaki Hiroshi was my first love....*sighs then giggles*

This time around...I'm putting pics of the not so popular guys and because I don't have enough space to put more Oguri Shun up. (OMG! I can't believe I said that.)

Who to put? Who to put?

Toma Ikuta


Shirota Yuu

First noticed him in the movie Prince of Tennis, loved the manga/anime had to see the live-action. He did Tetzuka so well. They picked an "ace" when they chose him for that part. He always plays the "cool" characters.

Okada Masaki