Swing Girls ( スウィングガールズ -2004)

Starring:
Juri Ueno - Tomoko Suzuki
Yuta Hiraoka - Takuo Nakamura
Shihori Kanjiya - Yoshie Saito
Yuika Motokariya - Kaori Sekiguchi
Yukari Toyoshima - Naomi Tanaka
Nagisa Abe - Reiko Shimoda
Noriko Eguchi - Shop Assistant at Muscial Instruments Shop
Hana Kino - Manager at supermarket
Fumiyo Kohinata - Yasumi Suzuki
Fumiko Mizuta - Yuka Yamamoto
Naomi Nishida - Masumi - student at music school
Mutsuko Sakura - Suzuki Mie (Tomoko's Grandmother)
Miho Shiraishi - Yayoi Itami
Issei Takahashi - Band Leader
Masaaki Takarai - Kubota-sensei
Naoto Takenaka - Tadahiko Ozawa (math teacher)
Yoji Tanaka - Manager of Pinball Parlour
Kei Tani - Morishita
Eriko Watanabe - Sanae Suzuki
Asuka Yamaguchi - Chika Kubo
Hidekazu Mashima
Yu Tokui
Chise Nakamura
Seiji Fukushi

It's a sweltering day during summer vacation in a remote town in northeast Japanc
The Yamakawa High School brass band clambers aboard a bus, off to provide moral support for their team at a local baseball championship. 13 girls, all of them losers, watch from classroom window. They're stuck in remedial math with Mr. Ozawa (Naoto Takenaka), but their minds are miles away and their ability to focus, . . . .huh? One girl, Tomoko Suzuki (Juri Ueno), stares enviously out the window at the musicians as their bus pulls away. Suddenly, she notices that a caterer's van has pulled up. The driver is beside himself when he realizes that he's missed the bus. As Tomoko watches, an idea takes shape in her otherwise vacant mind.....

"Teacher, I'm sure those guys are super hungry. I think we should take them their lunches."

Within minutes, the girls have ditched summer school math and boarded a local train, ostensibly off to deliver the lunches. Heady with their newfound freedom, they sample and then gobble down, one of the lunches, doze off and miss their stop. Before long, they're walking back to the stadium in the sweltering heat, complaining every step of the way. By the time they finally deliver the food, it has spoiled in the heat and the whole band, along with its director Itan (Miho Shiraishi), are rushed to the emergency room with stomach cramps. Only Takuya Nakamura (Yuta Hiraoka) escapes this fate, thanks to the girls who devoured his lunch on the train.

Before long the baseball team is practicing for another game, but the band that normally cheers the team to victory is still out of commission. Takuya Nakamura tries to throw together a new brass band, but his efforts only draw the 13 loser-girls plus 3 other misfits. A brass band needs a lot more than 17 players. Takuya's thoroughly discouraged until he realizes that 17 is the perfect number for a jazz Big Band.
Intense training sessions on school band instruments follow. The girls, who have trouble at first even making a sound, gradually start to play entire melodies and manage to limp their way through "Take the A Train." Gradually, what started as a scheme for cutting class gives way to actual enthusiasm for music.

Everything is hunky-dory, until. . . .

One day before the championship baseball game, the regular band troops into the rehearsal room, fully restored and ready to play. They thank the girls for covering for them and the girls feign relief at not having to perform in public. But on the way home, they burst into tears over their shattered dream. The summer ends on a note of frustration.

When school starts up again in the fall, the girls go back to their usual routines but they can't forget the pleasure and satisfaction they found in music. Still, they're too proud to actually join the regular school band. In an inspired moment, they decide to start their own Big Band, the Swing Girls. Since their former instruments belong to the school band, they'll have to get their own. Brass is pricey and even used horns add up. The first step in getting the band off the ground turns out to be fundraising. The girls try everything, from working part-time jobs at a supermarket, to poaching wild mushrooms in the forest, wreaking havoc wherever they go. Discouraged, some drop out and the Swing Girls dwindle to five, but they finally get their hands on a trumpet, a trombone, drums and a pair of saxes and make a meager start.

Their remedial math teacher turns out to be a jazz enthusiast and he coaches them through the "community noise pollution" stage into some real swing. Excited to see their friends' transformation, others return to the fold, and the Swing Girls finally achieve that Big Band sound. When they hear about a student music competition the girls decide to enter. If their audition video makes the grade, they'll have the chance to play on a real stage. They tape their audition against the spectacular backdrop of snow-capped mountains, but.......

If it isn't one thing, it's another. The Swing Girls future hangs in the balance. Will they ever get the break they need. . . ?




This movie was okay. It was rather dull at the beginning but picked up at the end. The only reason I stayed was because of my new found love Hiraoka Yuta. *sigh*

Okay there were some rather funny moments in the movie.....the high school band getting food poisoning, the drummer girl while eating ice cream stands up and rips her skirt then it falls off while a bike rider passes by he freaks out and loses control of his bike and down a hill he goes. I'll admit that part had me blow soda out my nose.

This movie is rather another high school coming of age story. There weren't any poignant moments or tender-heart scenes. Just an all out fun comedy. Now I'm not saying it was the best by any means. There were moments that could have been cut out. Some scenes that were supposed to be funny weren't. But I guessed the funny parts with the bad evened itself out enough for me to enjoy the ending, which by the way was....SUGOI!

Hiraoka Yuta


Fukushi Seiji

Nodame Cantabile (のだめカンタービレ -2006)

Starring:
Ueno Juri as Noda Megumi aka Nodame (Piano)
Morisako Ei as young Nodame
Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki Shinichi (Piano/Violin/Conducting)
Fujita Reo (藤田玲央) as young Chiaki
Eita as Mine Ryutaro (Violin)
Koide Keisuke as Okuyama Masumi (Timpani)
Mizukawa Asami as Miki Kiyora (Violin)
Saeko as Saku Sakura (Contrabass)
Uehara Misa as Tagaya Saiko (Vocal)
Takenaka Naoto as Franz Strezemann (Milch Holstein by Nodame)
Akiyoshi Kumiko as Momodaira Minako
Endo Yuya as Okochi Mamoru (Conducting)
Iwasa Mayuko as Ishikawa Reina (Piano)
Takase Yukina (高瀬友規奈) as Tanaka Makiko (Piano)
Kondo Kouen as Tamaki Keiji (Clarinet)
Sakamoto Makoto as Hashimoto Yohei (Oboe)
Matsuoka Rinako as Suzuki Moe (Flute)
Matsuoka Emiko as Suzuki Kaoru (Clarinet)
Yamanaka Takashi as Iwai Kazushi (Contrabass)
Kobayashi Kinako as Kinjo Shizuka (Viola)
Fukada Aki as Inoue Yuki (Cello)
Kojima Tenten (小嶌天天) as Kanai Kento (Horn)
Inoue Yoshiko (井上佳子) as Suganuma Saya (Vocal)
Ibu Masato as Mine Tatsumi
Nishimura Masahiko as Tanioka Hajime
Toyohara Kosuke as Eto Kozo
Shiraishi Miho as Eto Kaori
Fukushi Seiji as Kuroki Yasunori (Rising Star: Oboe)
Mukai Osamu as Kikuchi Toru (Rising Star: Cello]
Hashizume Ryo as Kimura Tomohito (Rising Star: Violin)
Namioka Kazuki as Katayama (Rising Star: Horn)
Sakurai Chizu as Aizawa Maiko (Rising Star: Flute)
Kimura Ryo as Takahashi Noriyuki (RS: Violin - new concert master)
Kuroda Chieko as Miyoshi Seiko (Chiaki's mom)
Hatano Hiroko as Kawano Keeko
Oikawa Mitsuhiro as Sakuma Manabu
Kichise Michiko as Elise
Ito Takahiro as Segawa Yuto (Nodame's childhood piano classmate)
Ogawa Koki (小川光樹) as young Segawa
Zdenek Macal as Sebastino Vieira
John Hesse as Kyle Dune (Kiyora's professor)
Manuel Doncel as Professor Auclair (Judge in Maradona Competition)
Iwamatsu Ryo as Noda Tatsuo (Nodame's dad)
Miyazaki Yoshiko as Noda Yoko (Nodame's mom)
Betto Yuki (別當優輝) as Noda Yoshitaka (Nodame's brother)
Eto Kansai (江藤漢斉) as Noda Saburo (Nodame's grandpa)
Ohkata Hisako (大方斐紗子) as Noda Shizuyo (Nodame's grandma)
Yashiba Toshihiro as Momogaoka teacher
Masuda Keita
Nagaoka Mami (photo stills)


Based on the hit comic book by Tomoko Ninomiya, this is a fun-filled quirky romantic story of two very opposite people.

Megumi Noda, or “Nodame” is a piano student at Momogaoka College of Music. An extremely talented pianist who wants to be a kindergarten teacher, she prefers playing by ear rather than reading the music score. She is messy and disorganized, takes baths several days apart and loves to eat, sometimes stealing her friend’s lunchbox when it is filled with delicacies.

Shinichi Chiaki, is Momogaoka’s top student. Born into a musical family, he is talented in piano and violin and has secret ambitions to become a conductor. An arrogant multi-lingual perfectionist who once lived abroad in the music capitals of the world as a young boy, he feels mired in Japan because of a childhood phobia.

They meet by accident. Nodame quickly falls in love, but it takes much longer for Chiaki to even begin to appreciate Nodame’s unusual qualities. Their relationship causes them both to develop and grow. Because of Nodame, Chiaki got the opportunity to lead a student orchestra and begins to have a broader appreciation of people's musical abilities. Because of Chiaki, Nodame faces her fears and enters a piano competition. Opportunities open up as both begin taking risks, stretching themselves far more than they ever thought possible.

I'm crying right now. This is my second time to watch this drama. I finally got the nerve to download the series and specials associated with NC. I'm not crying because this was sad because it had to end. I'm not crying because I'm so happy for Nodame and Chiaki. I'm crying because I remembered that feeling I had when I first watched this. The music, the actors, the story. *The tears won't stop......* I'm crying because I fell in love............

This drama will always be my first love. It really wasn't my first "drama" because the Coffee Prince was the first ever. But it was this drama that sucked me in hook, line and sinker. I was captivated. Tamaki Hiroshi was just the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. This drama was so entertaining. I wanted more and was so happy they made specials to finish it off even though the manga is still being written. *Which reminds me that I need to read the latest chapters........*

My heart aches. I've moved on to new drama's and movies. And when I decided to go back and watch this again I didn't realize all the famous actors and actresses that were in this. Yes, I new Hiroshi-kun, Juri-chan, and Eita-kun were in this but as the faces flashed by my mouth opened and dropped, then closed and smiled. Going back to the day when I decided to watch this drama, I was a newbie to Asian culture and the language. My only reference was the anime Naruto. LOL!

I cry because this drama will never tire me out. This was a masterpiece in my heart. There will never be one that can top this. Oh, there have been several close calls but nothing will overtake this one.

Everyone should watch this drama....over and over and over and over again. The music is breathtaking. I can sit and listen to it for hours and dream of Chiaki-kun. *sigh*

I dearly hope that they will make a second season because Nodame and Chiaki's story isn't over yet.......................

Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers (Kame wa igai to hayaku oyogu/亀は意外と速く泳ぐ-2005)

Starring:
Juri Ueno ... Suzume Katakura
Yu Aoi ... Kujaku Ogitani
Ryo Iwamatsu ... Shizuo Kugitani
Eri Fuse ... Etsuko Kugitani
Jun Kaname ... Kato
Masato Ibu ... Nakanishi
Shunsuke Matsuoka ... Nirayama
Yutaka Matsushige ... Ramen Chef
Kenji Mizuhashi ... Policeman
Yoichi Nukumizu ... Barber
Kyusaku Shimada ... Fukushima
Vincent Giry
Yasuhito Hida
Yoshiyuki Morishita
Toshifumi Muramatsu
Nobuto Okamoto

Suzume Katagura is an ordinary housewife.Her husband has been sent overseas on business, and although he phones her regularly, he is more concerned with the health and welfare of his pet turtle. The days pass by monotonously… It is as though no one pays her any attention – even her husband. “Does anyone notice me? Will I just get old, and die?” These thoughts scare Suzume… The ordinariness of her life is interrupted one day when she spots a flier in the stairwell advertising for spies! Intrigued, Suzume phones the number. Three days later, Suzume is instructed to go to a run down apartment. She is greeted by a man and a woman – he is unemployed; she is a shopping mall announcer. They claim to be spies working for a foreign state. Just like Suzume, they are ordinary people with ordinary lives. The couple persuades Suzume to become a spy too. They virtually force the 5 million yen first mission fee on to Suzume, and so begins her life as a spy!




I was not liking this movie at all. I know some movies will start out slow but this just didn't really keep my interest. It bored the hell out of me. The only good parts of the whole thing was the segments with Kaname Jun. Oh that was fun. That gorgeous man with a bald head. I'll admit that was the only part out of the whole thing that made me laugh outloud. Just the picture in my head makes me giggle.

But in all, this movie wasn't worth a dime and a nickel. I was hoping for more since it was a Ueno Juri movie. That was sad..............

Last Friends-The Final Episode

I finally watched it. The end.

This has got to be one of the best Japanese drama's yet. The ending was astounding. It was everything that I had hoped for and wished for and dreamed of. You won't be disappointed. It's sad, reverent, happy, and glorious.

Eita, Ueno Juri, Nagasawa Masami, Nishikido Ryo.....thank you for making it such a wonderful experience in my life.

This is what a show is supposed to be like. MEMORABLE.

I have tears of joy!

Kindaichi Shonen No Jikenbo-Movie Special (Kyuuketsuki Densetsu Satsujin Jiken-2005)

AKA: Legendary Vampire Murders


Starring:
Kamenashi Kazuya as Kindaichi Hajime
Ueno Juri as Nanase Miyuki
Kato Masaya as Kenmochi Isamu
Hoshino Mari Minato Aoko
Nakamura Shunsuke as Hiro Keisuke
Tanaka Koki
Nakamaru Yuichi
Kato Rosa as Tsuji Yuria
Hosaka Naoki
Abe Nagisa
Yajima Kenichi


"Kame" as Kindaichi Hajime.

A month after Kinda'ichi went on his bicycle riding vacation, he sends a letter to Miyuki, inviting her and Kenmochi to a themed inn named "Ruins", where one of their former classmates has a part time job. The inn is located in a virtual ghost town due to rumors regarding vampirism that sprung up a few years past. The rumor comes to life when guests of the inn are found dead, their bodies drained of blood, with two puncture wounds on their necks -- which appear to be vampire bites. Worse, the murders are impossible, unless the killer really is a vampire... or one Miyuki Nanase...


I love KAME! If only..........*sigh*

I loved seeing Kame in a murder mystery. Yes, he was still comedic at times but the situation was dire and serious. I love this side of Kame. I know he was the third Kindaichi portrayed that is why I watched him first so I couldn't, or yet, wouldn't ruin his portrayal. Now I can watch Domoto Tsuyoshi's version and Matsumoto Jun's. Woo-hoo!

I don't know what it is about KAME but he makes my heart all a-flutter..........

Kamenashi Kazuya

Last Friends

Starring:
Eita - Takeru Mizushima
Asami Mizukawa - Eri Takigawa
Masami Nagasawa - Michiru Aida
Ryo Nishikido - Sosuke Oikawa
Juri Ueno - Ruka Kishimoto
Aki Nishihara

Last Friends deals with issues such as domestic violence, sexless couples, and other problems that people suffer today. The youths in this drama are all suffering from different issues. They come to live together in a share house.

Hair stylist assistant Michiru Aida comes across Ruka Kishimoto, her best friend in high school. Ruka is living in a share house with her friend Eri, and is aiming to become a motocross racer. Ruka invites Michiru to live with her in the share house, but Michiru declines because she has plans to start living with her boyfriend Sosuke Oikawa, who works at the child welfare division at the ward office.

The same day at the same store, hair & make-up artist Takeru Mizushima bumps into Ruka and picks up a cup that she dropped and broke. Takeru chases after Ruka to return the cup, but she mistakenly thinks that he's trying to pick her up. Ruka yells at Takeru and walks away.

Soon after this, Michiru moves in with Sosuke. She is filled with happiness when Sosuke promises he'll never leave her side, whatever happens. But one morning, Michiru wakes up to find Sosuke looking at her cell phone checking her text messages...



Okay, okay, okay. I finally broke down to watch this. Why, oh why, did I wait so damn long? I think this is the best Japanese drama yet. This drama is like no other. The love-quadrangle is fascinating in its own right. I really don't know who to route for.

I have to say it's hard to watch Nishikido Ryo play the villainous boyfriend, Sousuke. We've seen him play the sweet, innocent boyfriends in the past. So to see this is really disheartening but yet we see the realm of acting that Ryo-kun is able to portray. He has really grown up. *sigh*

Eita, well, I love him like a rabid-dog in heat. Everytime I see him, I melt. He has already established himself as an A-class actor. This time around his character, Takeru, has been sexually abused by a family member and he has a hard time of accepting physical affection of any kind. Some start to believe he is a gay male because he can't be around women physically. (Oh why did the fashion department dress him the way they did. They made him look too "girly". Ah well, he's still a hottie!)

Juri-chan, our Nodame Cantabile sweetheart, is not even relatively close to this character. Ruka is a sweetheart in her own right but in a different fashion. She plays a masculine female who is in love with her best friend. Her best friend, Michiru, is the woman being abused by her boyfriend Sousuke (Ryo-kun).

Two other characters fit in to the maze of friendships but are more co-stars that keep the dialogue going. The first episode was a slow go but once the show established itself...whoa!...I was hooked like catfish bait. So far there are only 8 English subbed episodes with only 16 scheduled episodes to be shown...so we are halfway there. I can't wait for the next episode.

Eita

This pic is from Nodame Cantabile...Mine Ryutaro!


Nishikido Ryo