Currently watching, or not as the case may be...

The slow demise of my computer has had two consequences. First, I've bought a new computer. Second, in transferring data across from the old PC to an external hard drive, I had the chance to decide what I would keep watching.

Last Cinderella fell at the second episode. It had one big problem: it just kept reminding me of Renai Neet, with its “older woman seduced by younger man with mysterious motives” theme. I found it quite frustrating to watch, with little new in the various relationships. I know the argumentative relationship between the two leads was meant to set up a kind of “Will they, won’t they” situation. But it was more like “Will they, won’t they ever shut up?”

Otenki Oneesan lasted until episode three. I tried to like it, because I'm a bit of a fan of Sasaki Kuranosuke, who was the pathologist with a huge crush on the crime busting weather girl. But I couldn't face it any more. There are two ways of making a character in a story look clever. One way is to make them say clever things. The other way is to make everyone else say stupid things. This series goes for option two.

Take Five didn't last too long, either. There was just a complete lack of camaraderie amongst the team. I know it’s only been one episode, but for most of that episode none of them seemed very happy to see each other. When the same attitude continued into the second episode, my patience ran out.

I'm still watching Galileo, and it’s the best thing I've seen so far (but I've still not watched Lady Joker or Miina Esper Dayo!) even though it’s not without its flaws. I wrote earlier it was nice to see Yoshitaka Yuriko in a less ditzy role. Well, I may have spoken too soon. I’ll stick with it because it’s still not too bad, but things are looking very grim this season.

Currently watching: Last Cinderella

This is another in a long line of dramas about people who can't find love in modern Japan. And it's becoming a very long line indeed.

Shinohara Ryoko plays Sakura, a 39-year old beautician who gives advice about love to her customers but hasn't had a boyfriend in ten years.

To be honest, this drama doesn't add to the genre. It feels a lot like Renai Neet: an old woman meets a sexy young man, but there seems to be some hidden motive behind his interest. Is this all just a game for him?

Add to this a love-hate relationship with the shop's new manager, a flirty friend who sleeps around, and it all feels very familiar. The writing is quite flat, and relies a lot on coincidences to move the story along, and some of the acting in a couple of scenes is very wooden.

I shall give this a couple of episodes, but I can't see myself lasting until the finale, unless there's a drastic improvement.

Just watched: Jam Films

Well, you certainly get value for money. This set of short films from 2002 is packed with seven quirky and interesting stories. For something that tries to have an indie sensibility, there’s a lot of famous faces from TV dramas involved. Listing the actors who make appearances would take too long, but the directors are notable and they include Kitamura Ryuhei (Versus, Azumi), Yukisada Isao (Parade) and Iwai Shunji (All About Lily Chou Chou). And to top it all off, it’s produced by Sega!

What could go wrong?

Luckily, nothing. It looks great, and the stories are always clever and original with some twist to keep you paying attention. For example, one segment begins with what looks like a family sitting down to dinner together, until you realise that the man is holding the others hostage.

Each part has its own feel and style, and they all have something worthwhile. Because they’re so short, when most parts finish, they leave you wanting more. It’s a smart collection of vignettes, and if you fancy something a bit different from the norm, but not so different that you’re left scratching your head, then this is for you.

Just finished: At Home Dad

This show (broadcast in 2004) was one of the first J-dramas that I watched and Sars fansubs have just finished off the end-of-season special so I thought I’d mark it’s ending with a post. The story involves two men who have to look after the house and family while their wives go out to work. One of them has been doing this for a few years, while his neighbour has only recently lost his job and is new to all this housework.

Most of the comedy comes from amusing attempts by the reluctant newcomer Yamamura Kazuyuki (played by Abe Hiroshi (Trick, Shinzanmono)) to cook, clean and prepare his daughter’s things for school. The story also covers how house-husbands are viewed by the wider community, and Kazuyuki often gets reactions of disappointment, pity and amusement from other people when he tells them what he’s doing these days.

It's got a good cast: as well as Abe, it has Shinohara Ryoko, and Miyasako Hiroyuki (Zettai Reido) and the first few episodes set up the situation well, with Abe Hiroshi nicely portraying Kazuyuki's difficulty accepting the situation. But the script is somewhat aimless and after twelve episodes and a special the writers don't have much to do except make the wife work too much so she (almost) misses something important.

Since I'm not Japanese nor live there, I can't say how accurate it is as a social commentary on the changing roles in parenting, but it is pretty funny which is all I can really ask from a comedy.

Just finished: Ogon no Buta

I don't think I'm giving away too many spoilers when I tell you that this series ends with bad guys punished, good guys happy, uplifting music in the background and a sense of justice fulfilled.

The storyline of fraud in public institutions had been getting larger and larger for some time and so it was no real shock that the Prime Minister was involved in the last illegal act. Meanwhile, our team of crime-busting auditors had been double-crossed, disbanded and put in personal danger before deciding some things were too important to ignore and that they weren't going to give up.

The dialogue in episode nine often seemed like it was taken from chapter headings from a self-help book, and the action didn't really get going. There was a distinct lack of tension in the air towards the end, and the series as a whole never seemed to fit together.

However, halfway through the last episode, it spoke about a network of tunnels under Tokyo. Now, I’m a sucker for hidden cities and things like that so I decided to check to see if it was true. I found a story from the Japan Times, which seemed to indicate that it was, even if the journalist has some pretty odd ideas about things – for example, that there’s some meaning to the depths of certain stations on the London Underground.

There’s more on the subject here.

I'm not convinced it's actually true, but it's a nice idea...

Just watched: The Uchoten Hotel

It’s the first of January, and I’m writing about a film set in a hotel on New Year’s Eve. It’s almost as if I planned it! I didn’t, of course: I’m not that organised. But when I sat down yesterday evening to watch this, you can imagine how pleased I was to see that the date in the film matched the date on the calendar.

This film, also known as Suite Dreams, is a comedy from 2006 about the various misadventures of a group of guests in a high class hotel as the staff prepare for the end of year celebrations. It’s directed by Mitani Kouki and stars Koji Yakusho (who previously worked together on the excellent University of Laughs) and is an homage of sorts to the screwball comedies of the 1930s. The comedy is kept light and sophisticated, and the stories intertwine very neatly. Most of the first ninety minutes is spent making everything go wrong, while the last half an hour is spent putting everything right. Well, most things.

 The cast is full of well-known faces. I won’t list them all because half the fun is spotting them, but noble mentions go to Shinohara Ryoko as a call girl, and Takako Matsu as a maid who gets mistaken for the mistress of a rich man by his son. There are plenty of cameos to enjoy, and it looks like everyone is having a lot of fun making it.

It’s a perfect holiday film, and if you can find it then watch it quick, because it’ll be a whole year before you can see it without thinking “I wish it actually was New Year’s Eve.”

Currently watching: Ogon no Buta

Well, I’m torn. Blinded, as I certainly am, by the lovely gorgeousness of Shinohara Ryoko, even I can’t help but worry that this show isn’t going to be particularly good. While episode one was engaging and funny, I’m now starting to suspect that was because most of the story was about introducing the characters.

The series is about an ex-con, played by Ryoko, who is forced into joining the Audit Office (or something) as part of her parole. In the team she’s joined is a naive newbie, a boss who’s hoping for a promotion, a cyncical career-minded type, and a guy who was previously conned by her. If that last one seems a bit unlikely, it does at least give a bit of spark to their dialogue.

Now, however, all that work’s been done. The situation is established, and the story can unfold. The trouble is that episode two, if you look closely, has no story at all. Without giving away what happens, it goes something like this: Establish an impossible-to-defeat enemy. Introduce a sad story. Make impossible-to-defeat enemy seem even more impossible. Remind people of the sad story. Get last-minute evidence from unlikely source. Defeat the enemy. Oh, and remind people of the sad story again.

There. I just saved you fifty minutes.

So, two episodes. One good. One bad. This could go either way. Place your bets.

The return of Kabachitare!

Well, this was unexpected. When I saw this back on the first page of d-addicts, I thought it was someone bumping an old thread, asking if anyone can re-seed it. Turns out that B.O.N funsubs have picked this up to finally finish it off. Previously only two episodes had been subbed but those two were enough to get me interested.

The programme (originally broadcast in 2000) is about two women: a pessimistic, cynical lawyer, and an optimistic, naïve waitress. They are brought together by chance and forge an unlikely friendship, mostly based on complaining that they're still single. The storylines are pretty flimsy, but it's the interplay between the two women that's the main attraction. Fakatsu Eri can go from cold and impassive to quirky with ease, and she talks so fast that I'm not surprised that the original subbers dropped it. Tokiwa Takako also shines as her idealist friend, and the two of them complement each other perfectly.

It also has some nice cameos, from Shinohara Ryoko as a vindictive police officer, and the comedian Abukawa Mihoko in two brief but memorable appearances in episodes one and two.

Cross fingers that the new subbing team can go the distance...

J-dramas that should be shown in the UK

I sometimes try to work out which J-dramas would make it onto British screens. Unlikely, since UK television has an aversion to any foreign shows with only Wallander from Sweden having a series on BBC3, although an episode of the Italian detective series Montalbano was shown once in 2008.

Given the nature of British TV, of course, most Japanese stuff simply wouldn't make it. The female characters are often too subservient or girly, or in the case of hard-hitting dramas, the bitter pill of social injustice is smothered by a sweet sub-plot, in which the teenage thug really does love his mother, or the murderer was trying to avenge the honour of his father.

So, here's my list of shows that would comfortably make it onto British screens. Not necessarily prime-time on a major channel, but they could find a home somewhere and not look out of place. I've put them in order from “no changes at all” to “needs quite a bit of work done to it”. And I've added where in the schedule they might fit. Ah, I missed my vocation – I should've been a programme planner.

1. Jikou Keisatsu
I've only recently started watching this, which is why I haven't mentioned it before. This is a detective series in which a policeman has a hobby where he investigates crimes that happened over 15 years ago and so cannot be brought to trial. Directed by Satoshi Miki and starring Odagiri Joe and Aso Kumiko, it's very funny and intelligently written. I'd put this on instead of Atami no Sousakan (same director, same cast) because Atami's constant Twin Peaks references would have people complaining it was just a rip-off, but this stands on its own two feet and I think it needs no changes at all to work abroad.
Channel: BBC2 or Channel 4, around 9 or 10 o'clock

2. Ueno Juri no Itsutsu no Kaban
No need for explanations, since I've written about this before. This series of short dramas is quiet and quirky, and would work fine pretty much as they are.
Channel: BBC2, after Newsnight. 11.15 ish

3. Galileo
I watched this ages ago, and keep meaning to write about it, but never seem to find the time. A scientist genius is used by the police to solve seemingly impossible crimes. The writing is great, and the explanations never disappoint in their ingenuity.
Channel: Late night ITV3, I reckon

4. Ashita no, Kita Yoshio
When people think of the Japanese, they tend to think of high suicide rates so I do wonder if this show (about a man who's decided to commit suicide in eleven days) would only reinforce that stereotype. But the series is so good that I'd take that risk.
Channel: BBC3 or 4 perhaps?

5. Akihabara@Deep
Definitely not prime time, but would easily fill a gap for cult movie-watchers and otaku. Some of the jokes may not make any sense to the British, but what the hell. Put it all on. Its energy and originality should be enough.
Channel: E4... or perhaps it could just make it onto Channel 4

6. Camouflage
While this show is excellent, I can't se your average UK viewer sitting through the intro and outro of every episode. So with a bit of editing, I think you've got a very strong four part series.
Channel: similar to Itsutsu no Kaban, so again BBC2, after Newsnight. 11.15 ish

7. Lost Time Life
The first J-drama I ever watched and still one of my favourites. But let's be honest, not all of the ten episodes are great and the one about food is simply too Japanese. People will ask themselves: what's so great about sukiyaki? Cut it down to a six-parter and you've got something special.
Channel: late night BBC3

8. Anego
Another series I haven't written about yet. Hmmm, I feel like I should apologise. Anyway, this show is about an office lady who hits 30 and has no husband and no sign of any coming soon. A sort of Japanese Bridget Jones. Shinohara Ryoko is fantastic in the lead role, and while the storyline may be a bit wobbly in places, this could work. Just about. A bit of editing, maybe?
Channel: Hmm... E4?

9. Puzzle
This series is great. Funny and mysterious. Unfortunately, episode one relies on a word puzzle that most British people would get in seconds, thus making the audience wonder what all the fuss is about. Not sure how you'd get round that. It'd need a lot of editing. After that, though, this would work fine.
Channel: E4

10. Liar Game
This would need a complete remake. The female lead is too passive for British audiences, and the number of crash zooms in an average scene is ridiculous. But if they do make it for British audiences, I think it would work well. Geeky things are in vogue just now.
Channel: Hey, if you give it to Steven Moffat, BBC1!

Just finished: Tsuki no Koibito

* tiny spoilers *

The last episode of this series set in the giddy jet-set world of furniture design and retailing ends with a double-length episode. Watching it wrap up all the loose ends with a whole bunch of happy endings was pleasant enough, though I was left wondering what the attraction to Rensuke was.

With barely any emotional display on his part, I was reminded of an experiment I read about when people were shown a photo of a baby next to a photo of someone with a blank expression. They described this person's expression as caring. Then they were shown a photo of a knife and the same photo of the person again. This time they described the person's expression as being angry.

This is kind of how I felt watching the show. Rensuke hugs a woman with the same expression as when he carves a bit of wood or looks for his keys. I felt like the show was asking me to read into those scenes whatever I wanted. I'm aware of the fondness in J-dramas (and videogames) for the hero to be a blank slate, tongue tied and distant, but it's one I'd never really liked. Give me Final Fantasy 9's wise-cracking romantic Zidane over FF8's sour-faced Squall any day. And so it was here. After Mr Brain I did hope for something more from Kimura Takuya, and reading people's reactions on various forums, he's been better in other romantic comedies, so I'll hunt around, give those a go. Perhaps.

Shinohara Ryoko, though. Aces ten.

Currently watching: Tsuki no Koibito

It’s weird, but sometimes you meet people who really impress you. They’ve got a confidence and an air about them that makes me want to like them. Although I’m old and cynical and should be above being so easily led and even though when I think back and look at it dispassionately, I’m sometimes left wondering about my eagerness to please.

Tsuki no Koibito has a similar effect on me. If you were to describe it to me, I wouldn't give it a chance. But having watched it, I find a super confident, charismatic show that’s clearly had a lot of money and talent thrown at it. Japanese is joined by Chinese and English in the dialogue to give it a jet-set international feel, and it’s all done with such chutzpah that it’s easy to get swept along.

Set in a successful company that runs up-market department stores, it follows the adventures of the dispassionate president (Kimura Takuya, Mr Brain), his scheming PA (Matsuda Shota, Liar Game), the President’s girlfriend who’s more of a business deal than a life choice (Kitagawa Keiko) and a Chinese woman made unemployed by the company and then hired as a model (Lin Chi Ling) on the orders of the President, who’s in love with her. Maybe.

Should this sound too glamorous, there’s the down-to-earth designer (Shinohara Ryoko, looking fantastic in casual clothes) and her assistant who seems to take a similar delight in the gossip as the viewer is supposed to. Add some neat cameos, and you’d be hard pressed to find a weakness in terms of performance.

The story, too, is solid. Although there’s an uncharacteristic dip into sappy cliché at the end of episode one when the opening of the company’s first store in Shanghai is accompanied by the usual feel good images, which don’t really sit well with the rest of the show. Obviously, the main story continues throughout the series, so my guess is that this scene was added on just to give some kind of conclusion to part one. Things are looking interesting enough that I'm going to give this a shot.