Back to dramas in Saturdays

Ayase and Osawa in Jin.

Saturday's my rest day. Usually, I laze off and wake up late in the morning. I don't do anything in particular, but most of the time I do what I want to do aside from school. Our house is currently undergoing renovation and the moldings were still in progress. I cannot go out of the room since the workers were in the living room, so I decided to watch shows in my laptop.

So recently, when I want to relax, I watch dramas. No, not the usual Korean dramas or romantic comedies. Those dramas are certainly a good watch, but I realize, they are not really my cup of tea. I have been watching western dramas before and I honestly enjoyed them. But, I wanted something new.

Uchino Masaaki as Yamamoto Kansuke in Furin Kazan

Well, I'm watching Japanese dramas. Before, I don't really watch Jdramas, because I don't usually like their acting (it turns out I watched the cheesy kind of dramas where there is less acting talent in it). However, I had a change of heart. Last April, I was able to complete the Taiga drama (a period drama that runs a whole year) titled Furin Kazan (2007). It's a story about the historical genius strategist in the Sengoku Period of Japan, Yamamoto Kansuke. His arch-rival, Kagetora is played by none other than the Jrock icon, Gackt(!). It's very educational as well as moving. Honestly, at first the acting was a bit awkward for me since it's almost kabuki-like acting (I thought they were screaming but its a normal conversation), but later, I was able to adjust with it. People say it's for old people...my taste is weird for most people at my age. After that, I wanted to check other Jdramas available.

Most of the time, people recommend me romantic comedies for Jdramas, but I tend to dislike them for some odd reason. Then, I was able to find some good Jdramas along the way.The most memorable dramas I watched in June were 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi Sensei Season 6 and Jin. Well, they are certainly not the romance genre dramas. Hahaha I'm so unromantic. 

Jin was one of the most outstanding dramas produced last 2009 and it has recently ended it's season 2 just last week. The story is about a skilled neurosurgeon named Jin Minakata who time slipped into Edo Period, during the end of the Tokugawa Bakufu (shogunate) in 1800's. It's a mystery, sci-fi, and period Japanese drama. Weird combination, I know. The story shows the struggles of Jin to save his comatose fiancee in the year 2009 through advancing the hand of medicine within the Edo period. However, the story goes on, his time-slip is more than just saving his fiancee, but as well as creating a new history and indulging with very prominent historical figures during the Edo period. One of the moving scenes in the drama was when Jin questions his purpose on being time-slipped. As he fights on saving people, his greatest enemy is history itself. It's a very well-written drama based on a Seinen manga with the same title. The actors of the drama are very skilled and talented. Several actors of this drama are my favorites like Masaki Uchino (Furin Kazan), Takeda Tatsuya (Kinpachi Sensei) and Ayase Haruka (ICHI). The drama kind of reminds me of Naoki Urasawa's intricate plots (remember Monster's Dr. Tenma...also a skilled neurosurgeon). I'm happy I watched both Season 1 and 2. Perhaps, I'll write a longer review about it in the near future.

3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi Sensei 6 (2001-2002) is one of my favorite non-period drama I've watched so far. The first school Jdrama I watched was Gokusen and now that I've watched Kinpachi Sensei I realized that the drama Gokusen is kind of a parody about it. Of course, the storyline is different. It's a long running drama about the most dedicated Junior High School teacher of Sakura Middle School, Kinpachi-sensei. The drama was aired from 1979 and ended this year with eight seasons and about 240 students all in all. It may seem to be an ordinary family drama, however this drama tackles about heavy stuff from teenage pregnancy to homosexuality, the taboo issues of teenagers. The main lead, Tetsuya Takeda is a very talented actor. I actually first saw him in Jin and shouted Merlin/Dumbledore/Gandalf at him ( I actually didn't exactly remember which name I shouted, but I remember is that all that was lacking was his magical staff...). He is an effective teacher, though not a real one, since I can recall most of his lectures...virtually. I watched the first episode of the first season and he was sooo young back then in 1979. Kinpachi-sensei was the teacher with  nice hair (lol just remember Future Trunk's hair which was not trimmed for a year). Season 6 also was the known drama that helped Aya Ueto become a star and get into the role of Azumi. Her character was of a student with Gender Identity Disorder and she did a good job as Tsurumoto Nao. She's really a good actress even then and she was only in her teens. Perhaps, I'll also do a reveiew about it in the near future.

I watch all of them online. I don't download them since I am very careful with my disk-space. Hahaha~ When I have time, I'll make sure I'll write the reviews, as of now, I'll sleep. :P