Boys Over Flowers/꽃보다 男子

The classic Asian drama story of a poor girl,

who falls in love with a rich boy

...or two....or three...

Genre: Romance/Drama
Language: Korean

Geum Jan Di ends up attending an expensive, upper-class school, after saving a boy from committing suicide. While there she meets the F4 (flower 4) a.k.a the leaders of the school. They are known for giving anyone they don't like a "red card" which spells out ostracization and bullying from the rest of the school. She revolts against the strange system, and in doing so she stands again Gu Joon Pyo, the prince of princes. Oddly it causes him to fall in love with her, but her heart is unsure.,..

Will they be able to overcome their problems such as his evil mother?

Or will they be separated forever?

And who does her heart truly belong to?

Review:
Note: This will not be a comparison between the Japanese and Korean versions. They are too different, and it would take up too much space....and I haven't yet seen the Taiwanese version.

The cast as a whole did well. To be honest, in the beginning I wasn't very impressed, with Kim Hyun Joong *though I've loved him since "We Got Married"* but he improved significantly. As his character evolved, so did he, and became my favorite character.
His looks improved too, wait for the hair-cut, it's worth it.....
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I though Goo Hye Sun really portrayed her character well, although I found her character a little...바보-ish...but not her fault, the scripts.
I remember commenting,
"I could be the actress for Geum JanDi, I'd just flop over and close my eyes"
...she faints/collapses/is drugged/drunk(ed?)/...etc for half the show :P.
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Lee Min Ho pulled off the character of arrogant/stupid/loveable prince perfectly. Enough said.
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The rest supported well enough. I found Lee Min Jeong a little annoying, but that was her character... I wasn't sold on the whole Kim Bum/Kim So Eun love story....
I also wasn't very impressed with Kim Bum, nor Kim Joon. One part in particular was when Kim Bum plays the Saxophone...knowing the basics of a reed instruments means you have to fold your bottom lip under... seems easy enough, but when he played it was like he had a sucker in his mouth....
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..I have to say this, "I hate the amnesia story-line!"
I didn't like it in the Japanese version, nor this one. *sigh* I guess they were just trying to follow the manga....

Drama, drama and drama again. What girl couldn't like this drama? 3 good-looking guys(won't mention the 4th of the F4...) and a story every girl wishes she was a part of. Of course I was sucked in, it's nature. However I'm not going to lie, it's repetitive, and it gets to be a bit much. But I digress, it's a good watch,
Chickflicky? Over-the-top? Maybe...Love Triangles/Squares? Happy Endings? Evil Friends? Romantic? Of course!

This is a favorite and a classic.

Proposal Daisakusen/Operation Love/プロポーズ大作戦

(I'm Back :)

Genre: Romance/Drama
Language: Japanese

Iwase Ken realizes, only too late, that he has feelings for his best friend, Nagasawa Masami. On her wedding day, just as the slideshow starts at their reception, everything freezes! Iwase Ken discovers that the angel, of the church, will give him a chance to go back in time. He can go back to the pictures in the slideshow, and change the endings, so that they are happier. He does his best as he goes through the pictures, from highschool to college.
But can Ken really change the past?

Review:
Hmm I liked this one. Didn't love the lead girl, thought she was a little...too needy? However I'm a Yamapi fan. It is rather...drawn out though. However there are some heart-warming moments. The whole idea is at least a little original. The angel is pretty funny too. "Hallelujah Chance!" fuufuufuu....

Last year in Japan, I started to watch the Proposal Daisakusen Special....however I was dead tired (like most nights) and had to go to bed :(. It was a lot tougher without subs too...I later watched the Special back home, it wasn't the best...>_>;

"Honey, I'm Home ♥"

(The shoes pictured above are Ugly + Used = and are approx. $230.00 Canadian)
Well I got home on tuesday.
With a throat, ear and chest infection. Ah I love Japan.
Last year I got sick too, but had only a week to get sick.
This time around, with two weeks, I had a pretty awful time coming back.
However my stay was enjoyable.
Made a tonne of wonderful memories with my Host Family, and worked on improving my Japanese. Almost the entire time I spoke only Japanese, which was exactly what I wanted. I did long for some English conversation a few times, but I survived :). I was able to understand most of the stuff people said to me, however that was normally in simplified Japanese, or so I'm thinking ;).

First Week:
-Had school in Japan (a big woot for school uniforms ^-^)
-Discovered I'm not a fan of natto (fermented soy beans :x)
Basically smells like nail polish...>_>
-Rode a bike to school (dangerous to say the least)
-Went to Disney Land
-Sat through an 8 hour piano recital T_T
-Ate delicious food ♥ such as gyoza
-Began to get sick

Second Week:
-Had School in Japan
-Went to Disney Sea & Fuji TV
-Went shell hunting for clams, and to a nearby spa.
-Bought, ridiculously cheap, music from a second hand store
-Bought some cute clothing :D all pretty cheap too.
-Went to Asakusa, Ueno, Shibuya, Harajuku, Ikebukuro and Namja Land (a.k.a. Ghost Cat Town?)
-Watched the Gokusen III Special
☻Died just about every day from being sick.

I did mean to have this blog continue to update without me.
However the day before, when I tried to post it in advance, it wouldn't let me o_o;.
It was messing with me, so I had to let it go....
Will try to go back to updating, but school is pretty busy right now.
Will also try to do a few posts on my time in Japan.
For now, off to dinner :)

Rookies/ルーキーズ

Wow, this post was a pain! Had to re-write it all out after an attempt at embedding the soundtrack failed....

Genre: Drama, Baseball
Language: Japanese

Koichi Kawato is an, always, optimistic high school teacher. When he arrives at his new school he discovers the remnants of the old baseball team. Now it mainly comprises of a bunch of bad kids who smoke, and do other delinquent-y things; since being suspended from playing baseball because of initiating a violent attack against an opposing team. Koichi becomes determined to return the baseball club back to its former glory.

He teaches the kids how to never give up, and to fight for their dreams!

Review:
This is actually quite a good drama. (Although I'm probably a bit biased xD) A very feel-happy, empowering, style drama. You get sucked into it, even if you aren't into baseball :P. You grow to recognize the faults, and strengths of each member of the club. Plus Koichi, despite being optimist, isn't an idiot (most of the time)! Bonus!

Even just the theme song brings back such warm memories. (Kiseki by Greeeen. for your information)I watched this last summer with Rei, my host-sister, and it reminds me of our time together. We watched the drama series in a week, only 11 episodes, and fully enjoyed ourselves (It was also the first, and essentially only, time I ever used bit-torrent too....)

Watch this. I hope you end up with good memories of it too. It has a pretty satisfying ending from what I remember.....I admit, I had to watch the last two episodes without eng-subs. However.... I understood most of it, just horse-guy's Japanese threw me :P.

Plus...Shirota Yuu is in it too....♥....>_>;

Random Fact: Greeeen, the artists that sing the theme song are all dentists (or in school to become one), and have never shown their faces before to the public. Weird eh?

Lunch Queen/ランチの女王

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Food...
Language: Japanese

Natsumi's favorite time of the day is lunch! Food is one of her passions, and she loves trying new restaurants. One day she runs into a distraught young man, Kenichiro, who asks her to pose as his fiance. Somehow she agrees to it, and ends up being abandoned by him....in front of his family! His brothers feel obliged to take care of her, and she begins working at their family restaurant.

Over time all the brothers start to care for Natsumi.

Who will Natsumi's heart really beat for, of all the brothers?

.

Review:

Wow, I watched this one a long time ago.

Still, if my memory serves me well, this was a cute series.

Normal dramas have long shots of good-looking fellows,

or the heroine, this one has long, dreamy shots on....food xD.

They really get across the "in-a-restaurant" feel,

and watching will often make you hungry!

The ending isn't great, but that's not completely unusual for this kind of show.

I recognized a few of the minor actors, like: Ito Misaki(Kiken Na Aniki), Yamada Takayuki (Water Boys), and Yamapi...(Who doesn't know this guy?!) :).

In closing, its a okay way to waste 12 hours.

Go ahead watch the story unfold, there's even a bit of action, involving a criminal!

Returning to Japan

I was accepted to go to Japan again...

(Taken in Asakusa).

I get to go for longer, probably two weeks :D.
Since the time we go is inbetween their school years,
I get to go to a week of school
(since they only get a week off between, weird I know)
I will even get to wear my friends old uniform ^-^, I hope it's the same as everyone elses...

(Taken from Tokyo Tower)

.

I also get to stay with the same host family, as last year,

the same home where my exchange student, this summer, came from.

Ahh I can't wait to see them all again!

.

(Taken in Tokyo Disneyland)

.

I can't wait to stock up on Japanese music! With my new camera I can take double the pictures I took last year, plus I will be staying double the time. Last year in a week I took 300+ photos >_>. I'm the worst gift buyer though, and hardly bought anything last year, except for music xD. Most of my presents brought home were omiyagi (gifts from my host family.)

Please give me gift ideas for my host family!

The Japanese are huge into gifting, but I'm not too imaginative.

Plus I used up all my ideas last year and this summer :( .

(You have to give gifts when going and recieving)

Last years presents: (Everything had Canada insignias on them)

-Mugs

-Key chains
-Shirts

-Little gift boxes

-Maple Syrup

-Maple Cookies

-Bouncy Balls

-Nature Books

-Towels

-Jelly Bellys (I realize not Canadian :P)

-My mother crocheted a blanket

-I also brought pancake mix, 4 types of home-made jam, Canadian paper plates, and napkins. Then I made them a pancake breakfast :D.

Warning: Jam is a very heavy when thinking about weight in luggage :O

....and more, I just can't remember right now :(

So taskute kudasai ! (Please help!)

I'm sure you have imaginative gift ideas :D.

So far I've thought of...socks....and Archie Comics....

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.

Kimi wa Petto/きみはペット

Genre: Romance/Comedy
Language: Japanese

One day a downtrodden business women, Iwaya Sumire, stumbles upon an unconcsious good-looking fellow, stuffed into a box. She then proceeds to attempt to rescue him by bringing him back to her apartment. Long story short she allows him to stay only if he becomes her pet. That means eating, sleeping, not talking...basically to be an animal. (she even pets him....>_>) Eventually they bond and you get to watch their relationship evolve and how they react to problems.

Review:
Ah this was one of the first shows I watched. With the famous Matsumoto Jun. (I remember my host-mom loved him, even had pictures of him on her phone xD.) It was okay, not my favorite, but it had it's moments. Matsumoto Jun was cute in his role. Kiyuki was a solid enough career women, she portrayed the realization up of her character's feelings well.

With a slightly shifty story line, and a relatively predictable ending, Kimi wa Petto still becomes a good dorama. I would say if you have some time to burn, may as well try this for wood.

One Litre of Tears/１リットルの涙

Perhaps one of the most famous Japanese tear-jerkers?

Genre: Drama, Tear-Jerker
Language: Japanese

This is a dorama based on the diary of a young girl, who became ill with a progressive disease (one that can't be cured.) Despite her daunting circumstances, and declining health, she decides to try her best to live her life to the fullest.

Review:
This was one of the few sad doramas I've watched. It was really touching, and you really begin to sympathise with the characters. To this day one particular scene still remains vivid in my mind. It really breaks your heart, to watch her declining so rapidly (literally since Jdramas seem to. almost always, have a max. 12 episodes.) I didn't cry during this, but I considered it.

I recognized a few of the actors, like Ryo Nishikido; but not the main girl, Erika Sawajiri, although she did do a good job.

So watch it, no it is not a comedy, but there are sweet moments too. (Not all heaviness :)

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...

ごくせん/Gokusen: A brief review of 1,2 & 3

Genre: School Comedy
Language: Japanese

All three Gokusens revolve around a Yakuza teacher, Yamaguchi Kumiko. She always ends up teaching delinquents; and through the season the fellows of questionable repute are slowly changed, by "Yankumi" (her nickname).

Each episode follows the same outline: boys are accused of something they didn't do, Yankumi believes them, they get beaten up by a gang, Yankumi saves them and they learn an important moral.

Review:

I really enjoyed this series. I admit 1 & 3 were my favorite, I found 2 just a little too similar/boring for my tastes. Although like previously mentioned, they all have the same basic plot structure, which could perhaps become monotonous (as you can easily predict what will happen.)

The main difference between the 3 seasons is the students and teachers. Although the Vice-Principle/head teacher is the same in all of them. The chemistry that goes on between Yamaguchi sensei and Kojousensei is extremely funny. He is one of my favorite characters.

Main Re-Occurring Cast:


Nakama Yukie (pictured above)






Namase Katsuhisa













Utsui Ken






The main student actors are: (according to seasons)

Season 1






Matsumoto Jun

Season 2






Akanishi Jin

Kamenashi Kazuya


Season 3






Takaki Yuya











Miura Haruma
(I love his hair)

ホタルノヒカリ/Hotaru no Hikari

Well I've decided to start doing a weekly, or perhaps monthly review of a show that I've watched or am watching. Perhaps for lack of interesting events in my life, as well as to inform you, the viewer. This weeks Dorama is Hotaru no Hikari!

Genre: Romance Comedy
Language:Japanese

The main story line is about a successful business women (played by Ayase Haruka), who at home is the total opposite of her work persona, as she's actually a slob/himono-onna (driedfish-woman); who prefers to drink beer on her porch, rather than go on dates. Somehow, her recently divorced boss (played by Fujiki Naohito) ends up moving in, which makes for some interesting moments. The show revolves around her life, love, and work.

Review:
I really liked this show, I thought it was rather funny. From what I can remember, as I watched this awhile ago, so don't take my word as exact..., it's well enough paced, and most episodes are enjoyable. Not SUPER romantic, more cute comedy.
I've seen a few shows with Fujiki Naohito, and it was nice to see him with a bigger role. It was the first time I saw a show with Ayase Haruka, she held up well enough I suppose, pretty too... Anyways, overall a good show.

P.S. I've started Korean lessons :D

New Camera

Well when my exchange student left, I sent my camera to be fixed. As as soon as I would put batteries in it, I would only get maybe 5-10 photos before it shut off, saying I needed to change the batteries. This was not the first time I had sent it away either, not long after buying it my focus stopped working properly, so I had to get a new part for it.

Anyways this time it was "uneconomical" to fix it, therefore I was free to get a new one! Yay! I love warranties! The only thing being, was that my ol' Canon A540 was a good two years old, and my replacement was half the price! Ah with new cheaper technology my old $300 camera became worth only $150. Therefore I decided I may as well fork out some bucks to upgrade.

Still being too cheap to go up to an SLR, I went for a megazoom. Although the pickings were rather slim. As I am anti-sony, and pro-Canon. With only one Canon model present, I bought it, and the return lady gave me a bargain (i.e. she gave me my camera free....being $300 approx. the same price as my old one. So I only had to pay for my new warranty and my case.)


So I am officially the new owner of a S5 IS Canon PowerShot. Nothing too spectacular, but I'm pleased with it so far. Although the lensecap is a tad annoying, as it constantly falls off....

Oh and update on Korean lessons, I am now getting Korean lessons, in exchange for teaching Japanese. Fighting! Starts Sunday, will do my best :P.

Doramas...Koramas?

So I watch Japanese television. Who doesn't right? I've watched around 30 series from start to finish...with 12 episodes each (approx.) an hour long...that equals out to....around 360 hours.
I realize it's not that impressive compared to others, but I only started last summer.

Recently I decided I would just, "try" watching a Korean show called, "We Got Married".
To be honest my hopes weren't too high.
I had watched two Korean movies so far, and one was slower then I would of liked, and the other was plain...ungood/dumb.
(am I going to get flamed by Kdrama lovers for saying this? Haha like anyone reads this anyways)
Anyways I am now officially hooked, and currently on episode 10. I started watching them...yesterday if I remember correctly. Even wilder, I watch them with my mom. She thinks the show is hilarious (I think she's become way too attached, she even cried when Alex left....) Love you mom...<3.

So now I am into Korea, south anyways ahaha, and I really want to learn Korean.
It's not as shallow as just because I watched a show though.
I have read a few travel and educational books about Korea, and found it really interesting.
Now watching the show I find myself really liking their culture,
and the language sounds great too.
I'm doing the best I can do on the computer.
Sadly it's not a school course; like I could get it at my school anyways....
So I am stuck trying to either con a Korean person into teaching me, or trying to teach myself.
I don't think I have the dedication for either...

Other then that, nothing new or exciting. Other than that I finally have purchased a Japanese-English dictionary. Canon Wordtank V300, in pink, should be here in a week. ^_^ I'm excited.

Japanese: yes or no?

So I went to Japan, been there, done that, want to do it again.
Now I have a Japanese family, *mochiron ^-^*, from my home stay.
I phone them....I'd say once a month maybe.
I normally ask for the mom, because if I don't this is what my conversation sounds like.
(My questions translated)

Me: So are you good?
Japanese-twin: un
Me: Is the weather good?
Japanese-twin: un
Me: Do you have school today?
Japanese-twin: unUun
Me: So...what are you doing today?
Japanese-twin: ano.....etooooo.......wakarimasen. Betsuni....
*translation: ummm...aaaahhh....I don't know.....nothing.....*
(long pause)
Me: Well...talk to you later
Japanese-twin: un

So here is your Japanese lesson for today, "un" and "unUun" mean "yes" and "no" respectively. "No" is basically "yes" with a warble. It's informal, but that's how much they love me.
Back in Japan, I personally would warble it willy-nilly, just to be a rebel.
So basically head nodding or shaking was essential when I used them.