Hana Yori Dango Finale/花より男子ファイナル

Genre:Romance/Drama
Language: Japanese
(I realized I haven't reviewed the Hana Yori Dango series, but I'm sure I will eventually.)

This is the story of Makino Tsukushi(Mao Inoue), and Tsukasa Domyoji(Matsumoto Jun), who are to be married in the Spring. After officially announcing their engagement, Domyoji's mother presents the "Smile of Venus", an amazing crown, worth billions. However it is stolen and they then must chase it around the world. Will they be able to regain the crown and are they really compatible for marriage together?

Review:
I'll start off with saying, this is a movie, not a drama. I normally find Japanese movies to be...disappointing. I find that they are like....over-cliched extra episodes. I'd say this could even be considered a souped-up SP, not even a movie ;). However apparently it did well in Japan...
Anyways, if you liked Hana Yori Dango you'll want to see it (like I did). As I finished watching this today, it's still pretty fresh in my mind.... Like I said, it's okay, nothing more, nothing less. I was rather amused at how they portrayed an American trucker though....ah I always love seeing the Japanese-English at work in Jshows.

In closing, watch it if you've seen the Hana Yori Dango series. If you haven't then....go watch the dramas first. ^_~.
.
Random Note: I actually have the photo book for this movie, Rei (my Japanese exchange student), brought it for me.

Yasuko to Kenji/ヤスコとケンジ

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Language: Japanese

Kenji is a manga artist who lives with his sister Yasuko and his two assistants. Their parents died when they were young; causing Kenji to leave his violent gangster past in exchange for something he could support his younger sister with. This dorama is the story of when Erika, also a previous gangster, and her younger brother Jun moves into town . Yasuko falls in love with Jun, while Erika is in love with Kenji. Can they overcome their barriers and find true love? Will they be able to overcome their character flaws and become one, big, happy, family?

Review:
This is probably one of the lamest dramas I have ever watched. I liked it, however it was far too cheesy for my likings. The main thing that kept me coming back was Matsuoka Masahiro as Kenji. The rest were such generic characters it was hard to stay interested. I particularly found the main heroine to be boring, and not very pretty. Her love interest, the supposed heart-throb, was pretty uninteresting to put it lightly. The script wasn't that good, and to be honest the actors weren't either. (Man I sound so harsh! >_>)

Well if you are looking for a drama with uncountable cliches, predictability, but with still enough funny to, maybe, keep you amused. This could be for you.

I've Been Married to Hell/エラいところに嫁いでしまった!

Genre: Comedy
Language: Japanese

Kimiko Makimura marries into the Yamamoto family, via Isojirou, an incompetent, yet kind-hearted man. She soon learns that the Yamamoto family is no ordinary family, but one obsessed with traditions. As well her Mother-in-Law believes she can do no wrong; she believes that Kimiko wants to learn all the customs of their home, as quickly as possible. Each time she visits them she vows never to return, but nonetheless still gets sucked back. Each episode shows how Kimiko interacts with her new in-laws and their quirks.

Review:
Just finished this one last night. (Watched some of this series with my mom.) An alright drama. If your looking for something kind of dopey, but sweet, this is it. The whole series is a bit slow, but you do grow to really like some of the characters. Kimiko, (who is played by Nakama Yukie, the lead in Gokusen) does well. The mother-in-law played by Matsuzaka Keiko is really endearing, and quite the loving mother. However I admit the ending, like in many Jdoramas, is rather weak. I didn't even realize it was the finale until I looked at the title half way through the episode....

Anyways so in a nutshell not the best drama ever, but definately a family watch. If you are looking for a time killer this is a cute, short series with only 9 episodes.

結婚できない男/The Man Who Can't Marry

Genre: Comedy
Language: Japanese

This is basically about the daily life of Kuwano Shinsuke, an eccentric architect. His relationships with the people around him, and just his normal behaviour cause for interesting episodes.

Review:
This was one of the first dramas I watched, and started my love for Abe Hiroshi. He is quite the funny guy. If you want something to be amused by, it's this show. No it isn't an idol-cliche-romance-dorama, it's just plain interesting. Don't be weirded out by the first episode though! (Ahaha I remember I was....) if you persevere it is really a fun show. I even watched this show with my mom, and a friend or two, when I was first trying to show the great world of Japan's TV to them.

The Evolution Of Taste (in gaming)

In the beginning....

When I was a child, my brothers owned a sega. That opened my eyes to the world of gaming.

One Christmas (I think....) we were delighted to the gift of a N64 (still one of the best consoles, in my eyes). During those years with the N64 I discovered the joys of Harvest Moon, the farming sim game. I mean who wouldn't love picking turnips, wooing...uh...girls (they didn't have girl versions back then), and petting cows. I even got my first calluse from playing the N64 so much. (Haven't had one since that I'm aware of...)

Ahh...memories....

As the years passed we found it was time to upgrade. We bought a gamecube, (also there was a short time with a playstation, but it was for only a week, when I rented it for my birthday....to play Harvest Moon: Back to Nature....). To this day my gamecube sits rather forlorn and sad in the corner. The only games I really played on it were Harvest Moon, LOTRO, and Mario Party. I was never into those shoot-em ups or sports. Yuck x 200.

Ah consoles....I used to love you....before I met the internet. Plus consoles these days are far too expensive, I'm too much of a cheapskate to keep up.

These days I don't game as much as I used to. Back in my younger days I would play Puzzle Pirates, Age of Empires, Civilization....Now the only game I really play is LOTRO. (level 40 Elf Champion) Such a good game...Once again the main reason I'm not more into the MMORPG scene is the price. I mean the only reason I finally gave in to LOTRO was because it was on sale >_>;.....I highly recommend this game, in case anyone is looking for a new RPG. Perhaps one day I will do a post on it alone. Not today though.

Anyways, so what fond memories do others have of their gaming days? Now or past?

To this day I own 5 Harvest Moon titles (with the consoles to play them.)GBA: Friends of Mineral Town, More Friends of Mineral Town (girl version of afore mentioned), GC: A Wonderful Life, Another Wonderful Life (girl version of afore mentioned), and Songs of Happiness (includes option for boy or girl, seriously I think the suckiest Harvest Moon made...I've only played it a few times...). I even have the stuffed dog from pre-ordering one of them <3.

Random Note: One of the first reasons why I wanted to learn Japanese as a really young child was so I could get Harvest Moon before it was released in Canada (as it would first come out in Japan). haha...

A Personal First!

Ah the smell of baking!

For the first time, I baked with no outside help whatsoever. Normally when I actually bother to cook or bake it's with someone else. I mean sure I've made the occasional no-bake cookies by myself...but otherwise I've been pretty dependent on people for help. Well no longer!

Above is a picture of one of my scones I made today. I even mushed it/kneaded it with my fingers (which is an accomplishment I assure you.) Though they differed slightly in the size department, the taste seemed un-effected.

With determination, reading abilities and a good recipe the previously thought impossible was brought to light! (I even filled the flour canister up, which weighs a ton!)

I feel so...independent now. Like I could cook rice and chicken and have them ready at the same time.....Actually I better not push it, last time I made chicken....well....lets just say Tandoori chicken will never be the same in my mind.

Anyways there is the amazing story for today, they were ほんとうにおいしかった！ (Really very delicious) If you too want to experience the thrills of scone making, let me know! The recipe I have is great, whipping cream....vanilla.....stuff that's not in the average scone. Easy enough too!

If I can do it, you can to!

Hmmm I don't feel like going back to gr.8...

Well I just was looking at the average height & weight for teenagers here: http://teens.lovetoknow.com/Average_Height_and_Weight_for_Teenager
I was comparing myself, and thought, "oh man! I'm in such a young range" but then realized I was looking at the boy graph. boy...man ahahaha
So I scrolled a bit further and realized it was still, "oh...maybe I really am short..."
As I fit under the 12-13 year old range.

Now really I'm...muscular and uh...really rather tall, 6'1 at least.... statuesque girl...people even call me muscles at school...I'm sure....
Nonetheless this sorry little spreadsheet says I am only in the range of baby gr. 7-8'ers ;_;.

Boohoo, ah well I keep telling people I still have a foot left, which would bring me up to 7 '1 (or rather in reality 6'1. ). Trust me I can feel it. Just need to start downing the milk. I think the reason I'm short is probably from my time scrunched up sitting in a computer chair. Yeah that's it. Although if shortness is the price to pay for my computer <3 I think I'm pretty close to paying my dues...