#hana yori dango
Wow it’s been a while! Thanks for being patient with me :-) I have finished school and summer has officially begun!! ….which means compiling a couple of my top dramas into a post so everyone can fangirl with me!
In lieu of an introduction (because none of these dramas really NEED an introduction…they are all fabulous!), I am just starting out by saying these dramas are all 15/10. They break my scale…which says a LOT because I have ridiculously high standards xD
Ouroboros (2015): The most recent out of all of these and definitely the BEST drama I have watched in general. It is of mystery/suspense genre and has 0 romance (well… there is something between Ryuuzaki Ikuo- played by Ikuta Toma & Hibino Mizuki- played by Ueno Juri, but very minimal), which first sounded not so appealing, but BOY do Ryuuzaki Ikuo (Ikuta Toma) and Danno Tatsuya (Oguri Shun) kick that skepticism out of the window. Even for a pretty high-level Japanese speaker, I thought the crime terminologies were more difficult to understand but it was super enlightening, super dramatic, super charismatic, super wonderful, and everything good in this world. (I have permanently fallen for Toma because of this drama and there is no turning back…!!!!)
Hana Yori Dango (2005-2008): Just by looking at the span of years, you can definitely tell that this one is like the Bible of Japanese dramas. It is the absolute classic romance story: rich guy [Domyouji Tsukasa (Matsumoto Jun) cracked me up so much with his developing acting skills] and poor girl [Makino Tsukushi (Inoue Mao) didn’t get annoying unlike many dramas I’ve watched with the whole ‘poor girl’ storyline] fall in love and things don’t can’t work out. There is a season 1, season 2, and a movie chronicling Domyouji & Makino’s relationship.
Nodame Cantabile (2006-2010): Nodame Cantabile looks like such a long series, but the truth is that season 1 aired in 2006, 2 specials in 2008, Movie Part I in 2009, and Movie Part II in 2010. Definitely an understatement to say it was a popular series. If you are a music lover, you are in for the biggest treat of possibly, your entire LIFE, and if you’re not, you’re going to BECOME a music lover. I think Ueno Juri’s portrayal of Noda Megumi and Tamaki Hiroshi’s portrayal of Chiaki Shinichi absolutely perfectly embodies the manga from the first second of the drama to the last second of the movie. I have nothing to say other than it is one of the best series ever!
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e: Ikemen Paradise (2007): I watched this one before I watched Ouroboros and didn’t think much about the Toma-Shun friendship, but WOW I even rewatched this drama once I finished Ouroboros. This hilarious story is about a girl named Ashiya Mizuki (Horikita Maki) that disguises herself as a male to get Sano Izumi (Oguri Shun) to high-jump again. Another important character is Shuuichi Nakatsu (Ikuta Toma) who becomes Ashiya’s best friend & confidant about Sano. This one’s about gr9 friendship, hilarious Nakatsu moments, and pretty irritatingly predictable story line (but super great nonetheless). ***Not to be confused with the new Hana-Kimi that aired with a different cast in 2011.
Rich Man Poor Woman (2012-2013): This drama includes season 1 and a special. You can probably tell by now but I have a very happy bias towards Oguri Shun. I think he’s a very talented actor. Anyways, Rich Man Poor Woman is a romance story about Hyuga Toru (Oguri Shun), who is a very wealthy and successful IT CEO, and Natsui Makoto (Ishihara Satomi), an elite Tokyo University graduate who struggles to find a job along with millions of recent Japanese Todai alumni. Natsui somehow begins to work for Hyuga’s company (there will be an explanation as to how she ends up working there) and the relationship takes its tumbles but is a happy ending? You tell me ;-)
Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo (2013-2015): Another one of those classic dramas!! This ItaKiss has a spinoff because of the Tokyo setting, but follows the same story of Aihara Kotoko (Honoka Miki) falling in one-sided love with a popular guy at school, Irie Naoki (Furukawa Yuki). Honoka is hilarious- sometimes a teeny bit TOO much, but I enjoyed both season 1 and 2!
Hotaru no Hikari (2007-2012): Okay this is another one of those seemingly long series but the first season was in 2007, the second season was in 2010, and the final movie hit the roads in 2012. I started watching this drama casually, as I knew there wasn’t going to be an Ikuta Toma or MatsuJun, but I found out that I like Naohito Fujiki more than I thought I did. Let me just leave this drama at it’s absolutely HILARIOUS and pretty heartwarming. Hotaru Amemiya (Ayase Haruka) became my absolute fave after this drama.
Kyou wa Kaisha Yasumimasu (2014): Following the Ayase Haruka streak, this one is one of my absolute fave among the fave. First of all, let’s talk about Tanokura Yuto (Fukushi Sota) and his fabulous PRESENCE and also the other lead, Asao Yu (Tamaki Hiroshi). Two VERY talented & attractive males along with a klutzy 30-year-old single lady. Bound to be a heck of a ride.
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (2010): Last but certainly not least, YNSH is a little bit of a different drama than the rest. It is romance, but you can almost say that it’s GOTHIC romance (as strange as that sounds for a drama). Nakahara Sunako (Oomasa Aya) is a gothic girl that only wears a black cape around and thinks normal people are too “bright” to stare at because of this one incident in the past. However, there are 4 beautiful men (not even surprised, right?) that live in her house to try to get her out of her shell, INCLUDING the leader of the pack, Takano Kyohei (Kamenashi Kazuya)!!!! He is so great! Also, another perk is that the opening song/theme song is sung by KAT-TUN and it’s SO catchy. You’ll be singing it all day.
This is the end of the list that I thought off the top of my head, but there are SO many more good dramas out there!
Some that you should check out: Shiawase ni Narou yo (2011),Dear Sister (2014),Buzzer Beat (2009),Last Cinderella (2013),Kurosagi (2006),Summer Nude (2013),Proposal Daisakusen (2007)… if I think of more, I will update!
LASTLY, I am watching Youkoso, Wagaya e (airing right now, 2015) starring Aiba Masaki and I’m loving the suspense!
P.S. Always appreciate those follows~ Please keep them coming <3
Love always,
Christina xxx
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Flower Troupe Survey! The Best of Yuzuka Rei (PART 2)
The Troupe Survey is a current segment in the TakarazukaGRAPH magazine in which each month a different troupe is given a survey on their Top Star and a selection of their answers are printed in the magazine.
There are 4 parts to this article:
1.The things about (Top Star) that have made a big impression on us
2. Stage: Shows or scenes which have stayed in our hearts
3.We want to see (Top Star) as a…
4. The (Top Star) Awards
(The Top Star gives out special awards to troupe members)
As this article is so long I will be publishing the translation in parts!
You can read part 1 here
Part 2 is under the cut!
Part 2: Stage - What Shows or Scenes have remained in your heart?
1st place, 23 votes: “Boys over Flowers” (2019)
Miharu Ayu: The fight scenes she has against Sakurako (played by Oto Kurisu) and Rui (played by Seino Asuka). I always love seeing Yuzuka in fight scenes but this show was extra special because they were staged as fistfights, which is pretty rare for Takarazuka and made the otokoyaku even more masculine! Seeing her using her whole body to protect Tsukushi (played by Shoroki Mirei) really moved me.
Takasho Mizuki: Domyouji (Yuzuka)’s dance during the song Metamorphoses. I have no other words for it other than that it’s the definition of coolness.
Oto Kurisu: Maybe this is in part due to the show itself being set in modern day, but she felt so real as Domyouji that I found myself thinking she was him even when we weren’t performing. Yuzuka’s acting is always so natural.
(in the photo, Domyouji in the original Boys over Flowers Manga, and the stars of the original 2005 Jdrama adaptation, Matsumoto Jun and Inoue Mao, with comparison shots to Yuzuka Rei and Shiroki Mirei)
Yuzuka’s Comment:This show is really important to me too! Even now whenever I think back to it I’m just overwhelmed by all the fond and warm memories I have from that show. I’ve done quite a few fight scenes with swords and guns before, but very rarely with my bare hands. That scene was one of those “fights between men” that is very typical of teenage boys. All the members of the F4 have a strong sense of chivalry which was suuuuper fun to play.
2nd place, 20 votes: “Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern” (2020)
Ichinose Koki: The back and forth she had with Miss Benio (played by Hana Yuuki) would change every day. I never stopped being excited the whole run because I’d always be wondering “Ooh what’s going to happen between them today?!!”. The kiss scene at the end of the show was especially well done. Whilst I watched I’d be thinking “wow the Lieutenant (Yuzuka) is real! He’s come straight out of the manga!”! I really wish there had been a compilation made of every performance of that kiss scene! (laughs)
Keina Maya:In the finale number where she dances in the silver military uniform she has this beauty that is so dignified and cool! That number is filled with a certain charm that you can’t see in any other show. I love it.
Haruya Yuri: She was just so cool in everything she did on stage, from how she would wrap Miss Benio in her arms, to when she fought to protect her men during the attack in Siberia! Also, let’s be honest, otokoyaku in uniform are the best.
Yuzuka’s comment:It’s such a wonderful show isn’t it? The Lieutenant is meant to have an almost fantasy-like beauty and charm, the kind that you don’t find in the real world, so I was quite anxious about how I could make him come to life on stage. But I also have fond memories of those days, even when I was having trouble with the character. I like the army uniforms too but they make it hard to show the lines of the body, so it took me a while to figure out how to wear it well.
3rd place, 11 votes: Dance Olympia (2020)
Yuunami Kei: The flamenco scene. Not only was her technique amazing, but she managed to make the whole theatre focus on one point, the sound of her feet. She performed an outstanding solo number that will go down in takarazuka history.
Mano Kazuma: The flamenco dance. It was a passionate performance full of life and soul which was so moving that I teared up watching it. I won’t forget it for the rest of my life.
Futaba Yuyu:The flamenco number is one of those moments where Yuzuka’s every movement takes your breath away and shakes your very soul! Yuzuka, are you actually spanish?
Yuzuka’s comment:In that scene, I wasn’t thinking about how to present myself as a takarasienne, but rather, as a human being. With the help of our choreographer, Satou-sensei, I focused on dedicating myself to the essence and feeling of flamenco.
END OF PART TWO
Read in Part 3!
For more zuka-relatedtranslationsclickhere
Part 3 coming soon!
Still in love with this scene:
it’s 2076. you spit out ur dentures in excitement: the 31st adaptation of Boys Over Flowers just dropped
I made something…
This man is the loml. Every remake they do has me falling for him over and over again.
So I’ve been noticing a lot of Boys Over Flowers slander lately and now I know why…
People need to stop saying that its a “masterpiece” to new kdrama watchers. It’s not. Its trash but thats that makes it good. Its a cult classic. Keep the expectations low and let ppl enjoy the chaos. Literally watch it while ur drinking with friends and take a shot anytime they say tacky english phrases, or plays a random instrument in odd places, etc. Its so funny.
Yo the thai version of boys over flowers actually makes it watchable wtf.
Makino tsukushi is one of the main character of the anime series hana yori dango or Boys Over Flowers ( 1996- 1997 ) . Makino hates all of the F4 except Hanazawa Rui.
OMFG Hana Yori Dango 1 and 2 are on Viki! It’s about damn time it got out on streaming somewhere!
