Drama Season - Winter 2012

[rosa_elefante]

It's time to make the usual post :)

Hungry!



Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 10 January 2012
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Mukai Osamu, Takimoto Miori, Kuninaka Ryoko, Tsukamoto Takashi, Miura Shohei, Suzuki Sawa, Katagiri Hairi, Ishiguro Hideo, Tayama Ryosei, Hayashi Tantan, Yamashita Rio, Hashimoto Jun, Katahira Nagisa, Osugi Ren, Inagaki Goro, Kawabata Kaname
Synopsis: Yamate Eisuke (Mukai Osamu), who is nearly 30, transforms from an aspiring musician to the successor of his family’s French restaurant after the sudden death of his mother. The ex-bassist of the rock band ‘Rock Head’, he gives up his dream and struggles to open his own joint with his former music associates, Sumiyoshi Kenta (Tsukamoto Takashi), Hiratsuka Taku (Miura Shohei) and Fujisawa Tsuyoshi (Kawabata Kaname). He also finds himself in a love triangle, wavering between Tachibana Mariya (Kuninaka Ryoko), a 32-year-old bank employee, and Okusu Chie (Takimoto Miori), a 20-year-old university student. Chie, who comes from a family of farmers, adores vegetables and delicious food. She initially has a bad first impression of Eisuke, but becomes captivated by him, the instant she eats his food and gradually starts to care for him. Mariya loves Eisuke, but gets a shock when he quits music and starts a restaurant. He hardly has time to see her, and she begins to grow conscious of the gap between them.
Reasons: an ex-bassist of a rock band who now is a French cook? YES. Also, this 'ex-bassist of a rock band who now is a French cook' isn't a random man. No. He's Mukai Osamu. GOD. I don't need a serious reason anymore. Oh, and there are Goro-chan and Miura Shohei:) There's also that bad actress who were in Ikemen Desu Ne, and she seems to have a quite important role. That's not good :/ (didn't like her in Ikemen Desu Ne: she was one of the main reasons I didn't like the drama)


Lucky 7



Date: From 9.00 p.m., Mondays, 16 January 2012
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Eita, Naka Riisa, Kadono Takuzo, Tanihara Shosuke, Fukuishi Kazue, Koyama Koichiro, Okae Kumiko, Oizumi Yo, Matsushima Nanako
Synopsis: Tokita Shuntaro (Matsumoto Jun) becomes a detective at a small detective agency in Tokyo’s Kita Shinagawa as a result of some incident. A detective should be level-headed, but Shuntaro gets too emotionally involved with his clients and investigation targets, which spell frequent trouble for this passionate rookie. In contrast, the cool Nitta Teru (Eita), who works in the same agency, is not impressed with Shuntaro’s tendency to step over the line, and the two are always at odds. Asahi Junpei (Oizumi Yo), their senior, has been a detective for a while. He regards himself as their older brother and serves as a buffer between the two. The agency of seven people initially starts off hard on the trail of small case(s), but they soon develop into a major event.
Reasons: I'm quite used to detective dramas, so it's not a problem anymore. It seems nice, anyway, and the cast is really good. And there's Matsujun, and this is an enough valid reason XD


13-sai no Hello Work


Date: From 11.15 p.m., Fridays, 13 January 2012
Station: TV Asahi
Cast: Matsuoka Masahiro, Yokoyama Yu, Kiritani Mirei, Tanaka Taketo, Mitsuishi Ken, Furuta Arata, Fubuki Jun
Synopsis: 35-year-old Kogure Teppei (Matsuoka Masahiro) of Shibaura Police Precinct’s Community Safety Division has longed to be a detective with the First Investigative Division since junior high school. His dream was to take charge of the investigations of violent crimes, but that has still not been fulfilled and he finds himself dissatisfied with his current circumstance. One day, Kogure runs into a karaoke bar and gives in to despair after finding no hope of changing occupations, and being dumped by his girlfriend too. He drowns his sorrows in drink and drifts off to sleep. The next morning when he wakes up, he discovers that he has gone back 22 years to the bubble economy of the 1990s! He cannot believe the situation that he has landed in. However, he encounters his optimistic 13-year-old self (Tanaka Taketo) and begins to consider starting his life over again through retraining...
Reasons: come on. Yoko + Mirei. When I read the news I was dying. Two of my biases together (I'll ship them HARD, I know it already XD). And there's Matsunii too! Anyway seems nice, all this thing like 'Returning to the Future' X'D


Strawberry Night



Date: From 9.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 10 January 2012
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Takeuchi Yuko, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Koide Keisuke, Ukaji Takashi, Maruyama Ryuhei, Tezuka Satomi, Owada Baku, Tsugawa Masahiko, Watanabe Ikkei, Endo Kenichi, Takashima Masahiro, Namase Katsuhisa, Takeda Tetsuya
Synopsis: Assistant Inspector Himekawa Reiko (Takeuchi Yuko) rose from the non-career track to become the only female section chief in the Tenth Homicide Section of the Metropolitan Police’s First Investigative Division. Director Hashizume (Watanabe Ikkei) has been keeping tabs on her because of her daring investigation methods. Team Himekawa is made up of dutiful subordinates Kikuta Kazuo (Nishijima Hidetoshi) and Ishikura Tatsumo (Ukaji Takashi), the diligent but withdrawn Hayama Noriyuki (Koide Keisuke) and newcomer Yuda Kohei (Maruyama Ryuhei). They proceed with investigations while fighting against Teams Kusaka (Endo Kenichi) and Katsumata (Takeda Tetsuya). Although Reiko has personal problems and past trauma, she does not bring this to the workplace. She tackles cases head-on and closes in on the truth with her sharp instincts.
Reasons: another detective drama, but it may be more 'serious' then 'Lucky 7'. We'll see. At the beginning I was undecided about this one, but then it was announced that Maru was in the cast, so I decided to watch it *shallow* Anyway it seems a 'normal' detective drama, and there's also Koide Keisuke, and I love him XD The problem is that I've seen Takeuchi Yuko in NatsuNiji, and hated her. We'll see if with this drama I'll change my mind! (I've always disliked Matsushima Nao, then I watched Control and totally changed opinion!)


Hayami-san to Yobareru Hi



Date: From 9.00 p.m., Sundays, 15 January 2012
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Matsushima Nao, Inohara Yoshihiko, Nakamaru Yuichi, Kaname Jun, Morinaga Yuki, Funakoshi Eiichiro, Kotegawa Yuko
Synopsis: Kanai Yuriko (Matsushima Nao) is the daughter of a company executive and full-time housewife who had taken great pains to bring her up. Although she has always dreamt of marriage, she has led a sheltered life and is not able to do any housework. Yuriko marries Kyoichi (Inohara Yoshihiko), the eldest of four brothers (Nakamaru Yuichi, Kaname Jun, Morinaga Yuki), and the two of them should have lived their newlywed life on their own … … or so she had thought. However, the disappearance of her husband’s mother (Kotegawa Yuko) results in her settling down in a household of men. She cannot get used to the family which has a different set of values and background, but her love for the family grows as she lives together with them, and she becomes an integral part of the family.
Reasons: I'd like to say first that I've decided to watch this drama way BEFORE I knew Nakamaru would be in it *proud of herself without a reason*. The story intrigues me, and I don't know even why XD And after Control I like a lot Matsushima Nao, so~


Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai



Date: 3 January 2012
Station: Fuji TV
Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Aragaki Yui, Sato Ryuta, Kanjiya Shiori, Takashima Masahiro, Yasuda Shota, Narimiya Hiroki, Kimura Ryo, Emoto Tokio, Yamaguchi sayaka, Takahashi katsumi, Kaname Jun, Kitaoji Kinya
Synopsis: Ohno plays the role of Tarui Shotaro, an ordinary guy who dreamed of becoming a hero when he was a child, but now gets by as a part-time worker. The unexpected story unfolds when one day, the daughter of a yakuza boss asks him to plan a make-believe kidnapping. Sato Ryuta plays Shotaro’s co-worker who helps him with the kidnapping. Kanjiya Shihori plays Satsuki, the eldest daughter of the Hanazono yakuza clan, while Narimiya Hiroki plays Satsuki’s college senpai who joined the Hanazono clan after graduation. Takahashi Katsumi plays the head of a rival organization who has fallen in love with Satsuki. Kitaoji Kinya plays Satsuki’s father and the head of the Hanazono clan.
Reasons: the storyline is not that great (but hey, it's a tanpatsu, so it can't be so complicated9, but WHAT A CAST!! The actors line-up is very, very, very good. Also, I loved Kaibutsu-kun, and I understand that 'he' was very important douring this difficoult year, but honestly I'm tired of seeing Ohno as him. He's a great actor, and very versatile, so I really want to see him in different roles.


Taira no Kiyomori



Date: From 8.00 p.m., Sundays, 8 January 2012
Station: NHK
Cast: Matsuyama Kenichi, Nakai Kiichi, Kohinata Fumiyo, Tamaki Hiroshi, Matsuda Shota, Fujiki Naohito, Mikami Hiroshi, ARATA, Kunimura Jun, Yamamoto Koji, Abe Sadao, Nakamura Baijaku, Kamikawa Takaya, Fujimoto Takahiro, Daito Shunsuke, Okada Masaki, Kato Koji, Toyohara Kosuke, Horibe Keisuke, Fujimoto Takahiro, Kaneda Akio, Nakamura Atsuo, Morita Go, Cho Tamiyasu, Ito Shiro, Sato Jiro, Watanabe Tetsu, Omi Toshinori, Satoi Kenta, Fukada Kyoko, Narumi Riko, Kato Ai, Wakui Emi, Takei Emi, Tanaka Reina, Dan Rei, Ryo, Matsuyuki Yasuko, Fukuishi Kazue, Anne, Matsuda Seiko
Synopsis: During the late Heian era, a youth who did not know his birth parents was raised by the Heike (also known as the Taira), a samurai clan of emerging influence. Taira no Kiyomori (Matsuyama Kenichi) was in truth the illegitimate son of Emperor Shirakawa. With his adoptive father, Tadamori (Nakai Kiichi), he got rid of the pirates in the Seto Insland Sea, and was trained to be a samurai. In a period where the samurai were being discriminated by the aristocrats of the upper echelons of society, Kiyomori, who was adept at winning hearts and minds, controlled the pirates. He worked to reform the aristocracy, persisted with the way of life of the samurai and built up the mighty Taira clan (Nakamura Baijaku, Kamikawa Takaya, Fujimoto Takahiro, Daito Shunsuke). Before long, he rose from a senior courtier of the third rank to become the chief minister and the ruler of Japan.
Reasons: this is an experiment. i've vener watched historycal dramas, neither dramas with about 50th episodes. This drama will end only at the end of 2012. But I'm interested. I don't know, maybe because there are so many actors I know (and I like), maybe because I really want to try watching something like this. I'll try it~


THINGS I'M NOT SURE ABOUT

Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata ~Ending Planner



Date: From 9.00 p.m., Thursdays, 12 January 2012
Station: TBS
Cast: Yamashita Tomohisa, Eikura Nana, Sorimachi Takashi, Maeda Atsuko, Chinen Yuri, Ono Ito, Yamazaki Tsutomu, Otomo Kohei
Synopsis: Ihara Masato (Yamashita Tomohisa) becomes the fifth generation owner of a funeral parlour after his father dies and he takes over the family business which he has always hated. As a purveyor of the police, all this funeral parlour handles are “imperfect” dead bodies. Masato ends up facing these silent dead bodies, which have died of various causes, and the harsh reality of the world, together with a rookie detective Sakamaki Yuki (Eikura Nana) whom he and his siblings (Sorimachi Takashi, Maeda Atsuko, Chinen Yuri, Ono Ito) have become acquainted with in an unexpected way. On occasions when the police dismiss dead bodies as just accidental deaths, Masato tries to find out the truth for the sake of the surviving family even though he knows that he is being meddlesome. As he does so, he starts to face up to his own lifestyle and family...
Reasons: I really don't know. The story doesn't intrigue me at all :/ But I'd like to try it because of Yamapi (though he's not a good actor, I still like watching him acting *nonsense*). But there are also two members of the cast I really don't like (Chinen and Eikura Nana) so I really don't know. Maybe I'll try to wait and ask to other people who are watching it


Switch Girl



Date: Saturdays, 24 December 2012
Station: Fuji TV Two
Cast: Nishiuchi Mariya, Kiriyama Renn
Synopsis: “Switch Girl!!” is a manga series by Aida Natsumi that currently runs in Shueisha’s magazine Margaret and has sold close to 5 million copies total. The story revolves around a high school student named Nika (Nishiuchi) who appears to be a stylish and fashionable girl at school, but that’s really a fake persona that she uses when she’s in public. At home, she “switches off” the facade and her returns to her true slovenly nature. Kiriyama Renn (26) plays the good-looking transfer student Arata, who is Nika’s love interest in the story
Reasons: I've always wanted to read the manga, but never do it :/ It should be quite enjoyable, but I'll try the first episode and decide after watching it~ (also, she's a Seventeen's model, if I'm not wrong, and I'm weak against those girls --> see Mirei-chan and Takei Emi)

And that was all!
What will you watch this season?

Sources: Jdrama Weblod, dramacrazy

Comments

[swimmer-chen.livejournal.com]

so many intrigue me! will be reading the synopsis and adding dramas to watch to my list!!!!!!! lol

[swimmer-chen.livejournal.com]

you really like detective and history dramas huh.
history, as in, those that wear traditional clothes haha ^^;

This is my list:
Wanna watch:
1)Hungry!
2)13-sai no Hello Work
3)Hayami-san to Yobareru Hi
4)Switch Girl
Maybe：
1)Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai
2)Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata~Ending Planner

If I am updated enough, I think this will be the first drama Chinen is in that shows his low voice? Scrap Teacher was when his voice was changing so that doesn't count..

[rosa-elefante.livejournal.com]

Actually that isn't even my favourite genre XD But in Japan, every season there are at least 2 or 3 detective dramas, so...

But we're gonna watch almost the same dramas!
(I've just seen that there's already the raw of the firs ep od Swith Girl. Didn't remember it started the other day O_O)

Mmmh, yes, I think? Scrap Teacher was aired douring... 2008, maybe? I'm pretty sure it was before Hidarime Tantei. And in that period his voice was definitely not low XD

[swimmer-chen.livejournal.com]

haha, that's only from the list you have up there. i didnt do extra research for what dramas are showing in 2012 haha... ^^;

yeah. so i just wanna watch to see Chinen acting with his new voice. Idk if i'm gonna finish, depends on how much it attracts me.