Rikokatsu Episodes 1+2

Once upon a time, there was a jdorama called Narita Rikon about a couple who decided to divorce upon coming back from their honeymoon to Narita Airport hence Narita Rikon and it was good. 

Many years later, we have a spiritual sequel, Rikokatsu about a JSDF husband played by Eita and a magazine editor played by Kitagawa Keiko who hastily married and quickly decided to divorce!

The interesting part of the show is everyone else is going to get a divorce and the couple that got married hastily will of course learn to love each other by the end of the show. The everyone getting divorced part is brilliant because it gives the two main characters things to do besides bicker and things to learn from.

My favourite part of the show is Eita as the JSDF officer husband is an exaggerated showa ideal of what a man should be. He is hilarious in his rigidness to his father's brainwashing and Kitagawa Keiko pointing out inconsistencies between his motos and his actions.

I am enjoying Rikokatsu because it feels like the clashing of values: old showa values of what family is versus new values and what people can learn from each other. 

Thanks for citrine for subbing and I look forward to the rest of the series. Watchable and best case scenario Rikokatsu can become Shitteru Wife, a feel good romance dorama that I like more than I should. 

Hamsapsukebe Jdorama Awards 2020 Updated V2

UPDATE:

Thanks to Anonymous for pointing out that Shitteru Wife and Ore no Ie no Hanashi were 2021 shows! Can't believe I did not notice. Oh well, at least I do not have to rewrite the whole thing. 

 

With 24 Japan finally finished, I can turn my attention to the annual tradition of celebrating the best in Japanese doramas! The only other show from 2020 I want to watch but haven't is Kiken na Venus but I can't find half the English subs and I am too lazy to retime the Japanese ones.

This is probably the hardest awards I had to do because instead of having 5 standout must watch shows in 2020, we had at least 10 good and watchable ones so I feel like celebrating them all but what would be the point of awards then? I have had to do this list and sleep on it before revising so without further ado...

BEST ACTRESS AWARD

NAKAMA YUKIE - 24 JAPAN

Most of the year I was thinking Shibasaki Kou had it sewn up for 35-sai no Shoujo. She's got good competition from Uchida Rio (Raise wo chanto shimasu), Suzuki Kyouka (Kyouen NG) and Hirose Alice but I have to give it to Nakama Yukie in 24 Japan because her character kept me interested through the 24 episodes.

 

BEST ACTOR AWARD 

KANAME JUN - AKUMA NO BENGONIN

Technically not the most impressive acting job ever as he just has to look sullen and not smile but I just love his character and the show.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

 

SUZUKI HOMAMI - 35-SAI NO SHOUJO

Another no smiling acting role where less is more.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

IKEUCHI HIROYUKI - SIREN NO ZANGE

He really made up for Araki Yuko's lack of acting ability and carried the show for her and the role of a supporting actor is to make the main actress look competent. Plus he did a decent job in 24 Japan. Always good at supporting roles.

BEST JDORAMAS OF 2020

5. RAISE DE WA CHANTO SHIMASU

Very well done sex comedy that isn't about virgins. You have no idea how refreshing that is and I hope sex comedy jdoramas can now move on. (As if) Seriously, its a very fun feel good show.

4. ISEKAI IZAKAYA NOBU

Who would have thought a light novel turned jdorama about a izakaya in a medievil land would be so entertaining and would get me through covid lockdown? Super super feel good jdorama for me. Sorry Ore no Ie no Hanashi, this should be your spot.

3. COLD CASE SEASON 3

Episode 9 was one of the most unforgettable episodes ever and Season 3 is the strongest Cold Case yet.

2. AKUMA NO BENGONIN

Its a bit of a cheat to put this here since it started in 2019 but what the hell, I love this show more than I should and it is infinitely rewatchable. It has every reason to be a bad jdorama but its so understatedly good.

1. ALICE IN BORDERLAND

By the jdorama gods! This is what happens when Netflix money and time meets one of the best jmovie directors in Sato Shinsuke.

 

SUMMARY

This is one of the weirdest awards post where the jdorama that got two acting awards didn't get into the top 5 but I guess this is what happens when there are a lot of decent jdoramas and not enough must watch ones. If you said that the top 5 jdoramas of 2020 should be 35-sai no Shoujo,High Position, Tetsu no Hone and Konya wa kono ji de, I would not argue except for Alice in Borderland for the sheer quality.

Kyouen NG Episode 2-6

First of, I just want to say that pleaseignore is subbing Kyouen NG at d-addicts. 

I have also finished watching it with Japanese subtitles it is a fun jdorama about a bunch of actors who were purposely cast with people they don't get along with (kyouen NG actors) and the most famous of all kyouen NG actors, Nakai Kiichi and Suzuki Kyoka have to work together to keep the dorama from falling apart.

I thought the script was entertaining and smart. It doesn't have the banter magic Okada Yoshikazu's Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi but I enjoyed watching the behind the scenes stuff of making a jdorama and I can't imagine the juggling of egos and personalities that producers and directors have to deal with all the time.

Kyouen NG is a fun, feel good watching all the characters come together. 

I am a tiny bit disappointed that it never reached must watch level for me despite the talent involved but if a show about people who don't get along making a jdorama sounds interesting, then this show is for you. Watchable.

RIP Tanaka Kunie

 

Its a bit late but actor Tanaka Kunie passed  away on March 24. Long time jdorama fans will know him as the dad from the long running series Kita no Kuni Kara. Tanaka Kunie's role as the simple but warm Goro is one of the most iconic and memorable jdorama characters ever and all I can think about is the theme song and his smile. Rest in peace, Tanaka Kunie.

If you want some old school jdorama about living the simple life in Hokkaido, I recommend Kita no Kuni Kara. It is slow but it will warm you right up, even with all the snow in Hokkaido.

24 Japan 8-24

 

Finally, 24 Japan is finished! It was a fun ride of ups and downs for this Karasawa Toshiaki show since we rarely get action jdoramas.

My thoughts on 24 Japan haven't changed much since the first 8 episodes. Absolutely love the cast and I thought Nakama Yukie did a great job as the would be Prime Minister. I was engrossed in her story all the way through.

I didn't like Karasawa's daughter and wife but I do realise that is because they have to do certain things to make it a 24 episode series.

My only complaint is the action directing is pretty bad but that is also because they don't have Netflix money.  Some of the sets look very bad and there are too many camera shots of the actors full on so that we don't see the sparse backgrounds.

I wonder if they had an action master like Sato Shinsuke, would the action scenes have been better?

It would have been better but due to budget and time constraints, I think this is probably as good as it gets for a non WOWOW action jdorama.

If you keep your expectations realistic, 24 Japan is a watchable show. 24 Japan is being hardsubbed on nyaa by CTU. I hope they do a second season. A big thank you to anonymous on nyaa who uploaded the JPTV rips and retimed the Japanese subtitles because they made watching it so much easier.

Ore no Ie no Hanashi review

Kudo Kankuro and Nagase Tomoya reuniting since their jdorama classic Tiger and Dragon with the main character being a wrestler and heir to a Noh family? Ore no Ie no Hahashi has all the makings of a smash hit. 

Plus, Tiger and Dragon made entertaining use of a traditional Japanese art rakugo so could Kudo Kankuro make lightning strike twice?

To be honest, I wasn't impressed with the first few episodes. Ore no Ie no Hanashi wasn't funny and it turned out to be a dorama about caring for Nagase Tomoya's dad. Not to mention the family dorama stuff seemed generic and I hated that Pretty Hara character and had no idea why Kudo Kankuro put a skinny dude in a wrestler's role? Surely there's plenty of muscular dudes he can put in that role?

The best parts were anything with Toda Erika in it as she plays this carer who becomes the dad's fiance who everyone suspect is gunning for the inheritance.

It took some time for me to warm up to the show when it became clear that Ore no Ie no Hanashi is about being prepared for when we will die and was not just a giving care to the elderly jdorama. Ore no Ie no Hanashi got me thinking about things like mortality and leaving things to my partner when I go.

Plus, I grew attached to the characters and Kudo Kankuro finished it with a great ending.

On the whole, a lot better than his last work Kangoku no Ohimesama and a watchable show except for Pretty Hara. One of these days I am going to need to rewatch Tiger and Dragon.