How Soshite, Dare mo Inaku Natta was made.

The following conversation might have or might not have happened at the offices of NTV.

Producer 1: Ok. Let's hear your pitch.

Writer: Last year, the my 'number system' was introduced. Some people are worried about this system because it reduces a person to a set of numbers and allows the government access to things like your bank account. I want to do a slow burn thriller about someone slowly discovering that someone has been using their 'my number' to steal their identity.

Producer 2: Hhhmm. Sounds ok but I think you are thinking too small.

Producer 1: I like your idea but let's take it one step further. How about if the main character creates a system that can delete any persons information on the internet and every computer!

Writer: That sounds like a lot more than one step from someone using another person's my number. Data on the internet is not so easily deleted as its stored in many different places. And you are talking about a system that can bypass any and all security!

Producer 2: Why do your writers' have no imagination? Do we have to do your job for you? If that Snowden person can hack wikileaks than anything can happen!

Writer: Snowden and wikileaks are two different things and have nothing to do with a computer system that can...

Producer 1: Stop complaining! If I can catch Pikachu in Shinjuku Goen, then a computer system can erase all my dick pics I send my hostesses before my wife finds out!

Producer 2: Wait, you've given me a real good idea! Let's call this computer system Miss Erase! I am a genius!

Writer: I don't see the correlation between Pikachu and being able to access every server and computer....

Producer 1: My man, that is why we get paid the big bucks. They don't pay us enough money to write doramas as well or else I would do it!

Writer: Assuming if such a thing were possible, this is more than just identity theft! Miss Erase would be a weapon of mass destruction! We're talking matters of national security and political implications...

Producer 2: Woah. Let's not make things complicated cause the Japanese audience like things simple. Instead, I want you to give the main character a bunch of old friends who hate secretly hate him.

Writer: For what reason?

Producer 1: Just make it up as you go! Have someone die in episode 3 or something, I don't care. We just need to create as many mysteries as possible to hook the audience.

Producer 2: I think once the audience hears the name Miss Erase, they will be hooked because it will strike fear into their hearts!

Totto Terebi

WHAT IS TOTTO TEREBI ABOUT?

Its about the history of television in Japan with Kuroyanagi Tetsuko being the main character. She is still hosting the longest running talk show in Japan and was there for the very beginning.

WHY SHOULD I WATCH IT?

Its got Mitsushima Hikari in the main role and she's not playing a talking t-shirt along with a great cast including Mimura. Plus, the historical part of it is interesting along with why some songs you hear at snacks all over Japan got famous.

IS IT A MUST WATCH JDORAMA?

Sadly, no.

WHY?

Its got that annoying asadora narrator thing along with fourth wall breaking stuff. Sometimes it feels like I'm watching a History Channel show where the narrator is telling me historical facts and then we have actors acting them out instead of letting the audience be in the moment. So many times I'm shouting in my head at the show to stop telling me stuff and show it to me instead.

SO, IT'S NOT WORTH WATCHING?

Not at all. The acting is so good that there are great moments especially episodes 4 and the last 3 episodes about her relationship with certain main characters but I feel that it would have been a must watch if they had gotten rid of the narration and made it more of a dorama.

SUMMARY

I think its a watchable show that could have been a classic. Being thanks to carameltz for subbing and providing all the extra information. I couldn't have understood the whole thing without the subs.

Berserk Eps 2-7

THE GOOD

+ Finally, the first really good episode of the series in episode 7! Great pacing and action and it got me really excited although I knew exactly what was going to happened. This is the episode fans can show unbranded people and say this is why Berserk is awesome. Unfortunately, its the 7th episode.

+ The last shot of episode 7 gave me goosebumps.

+ They are getting at knowing when to use animation and when to use CG.

+ I'm really enjoying the Puck and Ishidoro manzai comedy team. I usually just glanced over their stuff in the manga but I'm finding them very funny.

+ Rape horse and goat guy didn't get cut out!

THE BAD

- Took them a long time to fix pacing issues. Some scenes still feel a bit rushed. I think pacing is more important than being faithful to the manga.

- They've still kept that horribly drawn intro video. Why not just use the old anime which looks 100% better or Kantaro Miura's art?

THE UGLY

= Why do people in this anime not have nipples?

Ryu Ga Gotoku 6/Yakuza 6 is coming!

For Jdorama/movie fans, they've got a whole line up of all stars.

First off is Beat Takeshi and his mumbling voice. Thank goodness RGG has Japanese subs or I would have a hard time understanding him.

Next up is Omori Nao who jdorama fans will remember most from Hagetaka. If you have not seen Hagetaka, you don't deserve to call yourself a jdorama fan.

Next up is Miyasako Hiroyuki. Don't know why the cast him as a yakuza but comedians are usually good actors as long as they don't overact.

Maki Youko! One of Japan's best actresses better have a meaty role. She says in the video that her character has a deep connection to Haruka. She says that she has a low voice so she has difficulty doing sounds like kyaa!

FujiTatsu who looks like is playing a weaker character. Fangirls should be happy.

Last and not least, Oguri Shun. Can't believe this guy went from GTO to RGG 6. He says that he was envious of his friend Daito Shunsuke who was in Ryuu ga Gotoku Ishin and got Daito to tell the RGG team that he wanted in.

I hope the story is good like Zero was not crappy like Ishin. I'm very worried about the battle system from the demo. I hope they are smart and go back to the old one.

Mitsushima Hikari can really sing!

Mitsushima Hikari singing Nakajima Miyuki's Milk 32.

OMFG. I know Mitsushima Hikari was in Folder 5 but my god, her singing is so good. I've been watching Totto Terebi which she gets to sing as well. I'm in love. :) The video is from a concert where lots of great singers sing the legendary Nakajima Miyuki's songs.

In this one she's singing Kome Kome Club's Roman Hikou and her version is 100% better.

And this one is Nakajima Miyuki's Fighto!

Is Japan's arguably best actress also one of the best singers?

Audio only of Mitsushima Hikari singing Fighto! in Osaka.

For old time's sake, Folder 5's believe.

Why Kibougaoka no Hitobito might be the best show this season

WHAT IS KUBOUGAOKA NO HITOBITO?

Sawamura Ikki's wife dies and he and the kids move into her childhood house in Kibougaoka.

WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT IT?

1. Its a WOWOW dorama. That automatically guarantees its at least better than 70% of shows this season.

2. Its being written by Okada Yoshikazu fresh off giving us the excellent Kiseki no Hito after misfiring on Kokoro ga Pokitto ne and Dokonjo Gaeru. If I were Okada Yoshikazu, I would work exclusively for WOWOW and NHK.

3. I haven't seen kid characters this good since Suzuki sensei. Most of the time in jdoramas, kids are just there to be cute or pitiful. In Kibougaoka, the two kids feel real, not just because the acting is good but also the dialogue. They just sound like real kids with real personalities.

4. Sawamura Ikki is good as the widower who is trying to deal with loss and struggling to connect with his two kids.

5. Real family fights where they fight over stupid reasons but the fights are actually about something else.

6. Interesting and weird supporting characters.

7. There are a couple of scenes which start into encroach into the Soredemo Ikite Yuku/Woman level of 'holy shit this is so tense and wonderful'.

8. When I hear the characters speak in Kibougaoka, the dialogue doesn't feel generic. I feel like Okada Yoshikazu is really channeling the characters. I just have this feeling that he is channeling the characters in his head or maybe I'm just going crazy.

9. The cute waitress in yellow, Sumire always has something to do as a background character.

SUMMARY

When I first found out about the premise, I thought it would be a very difficult job to make it work. I can pretty much imagine the generic Fuji TV version with way too much crying but Okada Yoshikazu has written a very good human drama so far.

Like Kiseki no Hito, it is oh so close to must watch. I really want to give it a must watch because its just so good but I'll wait and see what happens in the last two episodes. Raws are available at nyaa and doramax265. This definitely deserves to be subbed.

Speaking of subbing, Juken no Cinderalla is being subbed at d-addicts and I highly recommend it if you love Medaka and Dragon Zakura.

Jossy's movie review

WHAT IS IT?

A tokusatsu/power rangers parody movie starring current 'it' girl Kiritani Mirei, Fujii Mina, Totonee-chan, unknown girl and lead by this collection of skin and bones known as Kiritani Mirei.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY TOKUSATSU/POWER RANGERS BEFORE

Then this movie isn't for you though you still might enjoy Kanpai Senshi After V.

IS JOSSY'S FUNNY?

Yes it has funny bits. I laughed like crazy during the 20th Century Boys bit but on the whole it doesn't flow very well.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE MOVIE?

The pacing is not so good and some stuff gets repetitive but worst of all they could have done a lot more with as a tokusatsu parody. For example, it goes into the fact that all the girls don't get paid. They could have made it a lot more interesting with them discussing working conditions while fighting against the bad guys and finding out that people fighting for the kaijuu side are being treated a lot better than them.

IT IS WORTH WATCHING FOR THE EYE CANDY?

Skin and bones, I mean Kiritani Mirei gets most of the screen time so unless that's right up your alley, I wouldn't bother.

SHOULD I CALL THE U.N. TO GIVE KIRITANI MIREI SOME FOOD AID?

Let her waste away. If we can only save one malnourished actress, it has to be Toda Erika!

IS THERE ANY FANSERVICE?

This is a family friendly female-centric, show so no. Plus all the actresses are flat chested anyway.

SUMMARY

Its better to watch the first season of After V than Jossy's. It doesn't suck but it feels so much like a wasted opportunity. You can get Jossy's from nyaa or avistaz.

Quick Jdorama reviews 31/7/16

HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI EPS 3+4

I enjoyed the twins  storyline for this story arc but once again everyone dies at the end and in episode 5 we go back to the start again and this time concentrating on another girl. Someone recommended the anime to me but why should I care about the characters when non of them remember what happened? Maybe this will make sense when all four girls' storylines are explored but 4 episodes in there's no mystery that has me excited. Avoid.

SUIZOKUKAN GIRL 1+2

Shoujou dorama set in an aquarium with clumsy ganbatte girl always getting scolded by love interest. So pedestrian its not worth watching unless you really like to see behind the scenes stuff at an aquarium. If you want a shoujou dorama, watch KoeKoi instead.

BOKU NO YABAI TSUMA

I actually finished this one because I wanted to see how it would end and the ending was not bad. I love the twists and turns that Yabai Tsuma goes through as everyone makes alliances or set up people up. Kimura Yoshino owns this role as the enigmatic housewife.

What pulls this show down is the directing and tone of the movie. Its too bright and there's too much overacting. Somethings feels off about the visual tone of this thriller. Put this show on NHK or WOWOW, get the Iryu guy to do the music and Yabai Tsuma could have been a must watch. Surprisingly watchable.

DOCTOR CHOUSAHAN 1-3

The very definition of generic waste of time medical show. The sad thing is this show about this team of people going undercover in hospitals to investigate malpractices has a very good cast which is why I struggled through 3 episodes hoping for some bright spot.

Its a crime that Fujii Mina does not get to do anything in this show. If Doctor Chousahan were a generic cop show instead and Fujii Mina had stuff to do, I would have at least watched it till the end. Do not waste your time.

HAJIMEMASHITE, ASIHITEIMASU Ep 1

Did someone get  a hangover and accidentally go overboard with photoshop. I watched this streaming and this is exactly the super bright, overacting dorama that's not a comedy that I hate. An absolute waste of Ono Machiko and Eguchi Yosuke. I'd rather they cast some crappy idorus who cannot act instead of these two. If somehow the super dazzling poster peaks your fancy, this show is for you. The rest of us should avoid this like a Gouriki dorama.

Juken no Cinderella Episodes 1 -3

WHAT IS IT?

Juken no Cinderella is basically Dragon Zakura + Medaka + Biri Gal. In other words, its a jdorama about getting into Todai with the main character being a high school student who studies at night school and is poor. Koizumi Kotaro is the tuition teacher who specialises in getting students into Todai with a 90% passing rate.

WHAT I LIKED

+ Great cast all around including Tomita Yasuko (Suzuki Sensei) as Kawaguchi Haruna's mom and Yamaguchi Sayaka.

+ I enjoyed watching Koizumi Kotaro play against his usual type as an arrogant teacher with a hot temper.

+ Who doesn't like an underdog story? How can anyone not support a poor girl trying to get into the most famous university in Japan?

+ Its also a tale of redemption.

+ About two characters who need each other at the lowest point in their lives.

+ Its an NHK BS show so the directing is better than average and they do really seem to specialise in making feel good shows.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

- Theme songs sucks. Great music would have pushed Juken no Cinderella towards a must watch show. I don't think I would have rated Medaka must watch without Spitz's Masayume.

- I can't believe so many subbers chose to sub crappy shows over Juken no Cinderella.

- Found out that there is an old movie starring Mr Lan Evo Toyohara Kosuke but it's not available from my usual places.

SUMMARY

I really enjoyed the first three episodes. Can't wait for episode 4. My guess is its going to end up like a lot of NHK BS shows like Coffee-ya no Hitobito and Kiseki no Hito being feel good shows that are just below the border of must watch. You can get the first two episodes from nyaa and episode 3 is up at jplovetv.

OL Desu ga, Kyabajou Hajimemashita Episode 1

Kuramochi Asuka stars in a idoru filled show about being a hostess.

She plays a 25 year old OL working in advertising agency called Nanako. Her specialties are eating, sleeping and running.

This is Nanako's boss who's specialty is banning all sorts of things. In this scene, he is banning Nanako from talking to herself.

Nanako is in dire need of money.  Her electricity has been cut off and she applies to be a kyabajou but finds out that the starting salary is not as high as she thought.

Her boss tells her how to properly sit with a poor guy to rip off I mean customer and maintain a distance as well as deal with unwanted touching.

Then we are introduced to the club's 7 goddesses.

No. 1 being Ishikawa Rika from Momusu!!!!! Me so happy me doing dance of joy!! WTF is Yossie?

Let's skip no 2 and go straight to no 3 Mari who apparently has the biggest boobs.

No 4 Kyouka who I'm 100% is an idoru.

No 5 Megumi.

Let's skip no 6 and go straight for no. 7 Kazumi.

So Nanako is a complete newbie so the show has to explain what shimei (nominate) is and what a help's job is.

No. 4 Kyouka is asked by this customer what colour underwear she was wearing.

Kyouka skillfully asks him what his favourite colour is and promises to wear that colour next time he nominates her.

Kyouka has to leave and horny dude turns his attention to the newbie Nanako promising to nominate her if she gives her a kiss.

Rika skillfully comes in to save the day.

OL Desu ga, Kyabajou Hajimemashita basically functions as a hostess instruction video done in an entertaining fashion. The raws for the first three episodes can be found on nyaa. Its not so bad its good like Giragira but its fun. There needs to be a jdorama about the skills to not get ripped off by kyabakura.