Just Watched: Banjo no Himawari

Yeap, you guessed it right! I am on my Japanese drama roll! This sudden free time allows me to catch up on the dramas I missed this past summer. After watching two feel-good dramas, I decided to go back to one of my favorite genres in Japanese dramas. Mystery and crime. I selected Banjo no Himawari not just for that, but also because it is only 4 episodes long. The atmosphere of this drama is dark. And cold. This drama also introduces me to shogi. What a mind blowing game! Have you heard of this board game?

Currently Watching: Manpuku

As I am about to complete my first Asadora, Manpuku is my second daily I started shortly after. Though this show is subbed quicker, I have not been able to focus much. The show lacks the handsome factor that got me going from one episode to another *giggles*. I know, I know… I sounded extremely superficial. Well, I am! This series dedicated to family, invention, survival and family. As you know, I love a tiny bit of romance in my show especially in a 151-episodes daily drama. I just surpassed episode 51 which means I have 100 episodes to go. If I put my mind to it, I could finish it before I leave China. But could I?

Currently Watching: Hanbun, Aoi

It’s been a while since I watch daily dramas. I did not miss the craziness at all but I enjoyed the development of plots (for a better or worse) which powered me through the end of the series. When Bel introduces me to Japanese daily drama, I did not hesitate. In my mind, I thought it would be something similar to Korean daily dramas. But as it turns out, despite the series has 156 episodes, each episode is less than 15 minutes! Hearing that I’m even more motivated to invest my time in watching Japanese daily. My only concern is will it get subbed?

Currently Watching: Chanpon Tabetaka

Chanpon Tabetaka is my latest addition to my drama watch list. Though it is a 2015-produced drama, it was only recently a subber decided to pick it up and sub it. I really appreciate when someone does this. Such a great angel. We all know it is difficult to get Japanese dramas subbed. I don’t know what the reason is but it is difficult to even see Japanese dramas available on streaming channels. I really wish that these channels would pick it up one day. I hope they sorted it out whatever difference they have with all Japanese television networks. It is a shame that most of us couldn’t watch it because of them. The market is huge, people!

Anyway, Chanpon Tabetaka is a 9-episode drama produced by NHK. The show follows the life of Sano Masashi, a future violinist prodigy, who moves to Tokyo to follow his dream. His parent trusted him that he would go to school and attend his music lesson religiously, all while taking care of himself alone in his boarding room. Sano-kun is a smart child and he participates in a poetry class. One day, he faced a slump. He does not want to continue being a violinist. He starts singing and forms a music band with his friends. Even though the school prohibits their students from entering music competition, he and his friends went ahead and entered a music band competition. Though they lost, the experience they gained really uplifted the moods.

To be honest, this friendship drama is extremely boring. At least it is for me. But I really love the relationship Sano-kun has with his friends. He clearly unites them together. Right now, I am waiting for two more episodes. I can’t wait to finish it. And just be done with it.

Just Watched: Guardian of the Spirit

Right after I completed Guardian of the Spirit (season 1), Bel tweeted me that “you can lament with me that we have to wait until 2017 for the next season!” Shut the front door!!!! What???????? Next year? 2017? Why next year??? If High & Low could produce the next season immediately, why can’t Guardian of the Spirit??? Why the fudge, why? This can’t be happening to me!!! The show, obviously from my rant, is bloody awesome! Why can’t we have dramas like this? Seriously, this drama is so entertaining. I started two episodes last night, saw the third one in the wee morning and completed the final episode while having breakfast. Yeap, if I had my way, I would have watched all four episodes straight!

To be honest, this is my first Japanese fantasy drama. Guardian of the Spirit is an adaptation of manga and anime but I won’t check them out. I’m not interested. However, the way this season ended, I won’t be surprised if some fans may seek to read the manga to find the answer. Yes, I must warn you up front that season 1 ended with a major cliffhanger! My jaw was on the floor. I need season 2 now!

If you decided to watch Guardian of the Spirit, you will find that the storyline is common. Balsa, a female warrior was asked by the second Empress to take the second prince, Chagum, away from the empire. They initially met when Chagum fell into a river and Balsa was able to save him from drowning. Chagum bears the egg of the water spirit, hence, he is the Guardian of the Spirit. The Empress asked Balsa to take Chagum away and return the egg to its rightful owner. Balsa vowed to never kill so to protect Chagum makes her job twice harder. To protect the prince she may ends up hurting others which a no no to her. Because the Empress helped Chagum escape, the Emperor put her on house arrest. The Emperor then sent his assassins to kill his son!

So why the Emperor wanted to kill his son? He believed Chagum and the egg spirit were the reason for the drought, and by killing him, he would end the drought. Things like this make it so interesting. And hence, though the storyline is common and quite typical, the execution of this drama is superb! I’m so glad Bel suggested it. By 2017, I will be Elsa! I hope you get that joke *laughs*. I highly recommend this drama. The cliffhanger will make you want for more! Yes, I want more!!!!

Just Watched: Liquid – Oni no Sake, Kiseki no Kura

Out of blue, I decided to watch Liquid. Thanks Bel for uploading this drama for me to watch! What happened was that Ito Hideaki’s upcoming drama is coming up soon and Bel tweeted me our next Jdrama watch. And that’s how I remember Liquid. This NHK produced drama is 3 episodes long. They should have made it into a movie instead. Anyway, Liquid is yet another simple drama. Shuichi’s mom passed away and he is left with a dying family business. Sake-making business. In the beginning, he sees himself to be working in a corporate. But after his mom’s passing, he decided to plunge into the business. Besides, with his recent divorce, he really need to get out of his box.

So Shuichi has to recruit expertise to make sake. He also was forced to invest on equipment that exceeds his budget. And he hired Yusaku, a retired sake expert to make the best sake so he can sell it. Yusaku wants to make the perfect sake whereas Shuichi, a typical banker, is thinking on how to make money out of it. Well, the gap generation is the villain in here. This drama is more like a docudrama. The sake making is pretty intense. But overall, I found it very boring. The Japanese take pride in whatever they put their mind into, which I really respect it. I love the dedication in this movie. Not everyone has the patience like them But the drama isn’t for me. Too booooring… *yawns*.