Everyone, I'm back with some dramas this summer 2019.

I'm happy to write about it since this is the same as introducing

more good stories to people.

I'm not into Western drama, but Japan & Korea have interesting drama

that suit my taste more than Western.

The everyday life scene taken, example how Japanese hang their clothes to dry

is very essential to me (from Kahogo no Kahoko).

It depicts our (Asian) everyday life so much.

So I'm here to introduce a few of them, that I watch this summer.

Yes, the first picture is from asadora-asa(morning) & dora (dorama)
from NHK, Natsuzora!

I'm watching it from first episode to week 16.

So let's go one by one.

01. Natsuzora

This picture won't depict all member since it is from first season.

The 1st season told Okuhara Natsu's life from child to graduating high school.
I'm not sure about season though.

This is a morning dorama, just 15 minutes each episode.

But the video will get compiled to 6 days, which means 1,5hours.

The store is about Okuhara Natsu, Japanese first female animator.

Film was taken from the life of Okuyama Reiko.

The picture here described Natsu's life in Tokyo as an animator.

Natsu was first working in a cow farm from
her foster parents' job in Tokachi area, Hokkaido.

But Yamada Tenyo (Yoshizawa Ryo) introduced her to drawing pictures.

She pursued carrier to Tokyo as an animator.

While working, she met her long lost older brother,

Okuhara Saitarou (Okada Masaki).

But too bad, her younger sister, Okuhara Chiharu (Kiyohara Kaya)

wouldn't meet Natsu face to face because she had other life now.

At first, I thought Natsu will end up with Tenyo.

But it is sad that this won't happen.

Based on real life, Kanda Nissho married another woman and died at 32.
In here, Tenyo marries Yamada Yasue (Oohara Sakurako).

I could stand watching asadora for months because of Yoshizawa Ryo..

This is sad...

He won't appear as much as previous episodes now.
Even though Tenyo and Shibata Takeo (Naohito Fujiki) had challenge
each other in a ski competition to tell feelings to Natsu.
It was all useless since they both married another woman.

Week 14 was the most shocking and heartbreaking scene that happened here.

Many Japanese also commented on NHK's instagram,

feeling sad because Suzu didn't end up with Ryo in Natsuzora.

Now, she is doing her best to create memorable animation,

suitable not only for children, but also for adult with

the help of Ikkyuu-san, Sakaba Kazuhisa (Nakagawa Taishi).

I think Natsu will end up marrying Kazuhisa later.

She already had a few dokidoki moments with him.

For example, here.

She was dreaming of the old man who saved her life in stormy winter.

But Kazuhisa appeared in a surprising moment for Natsu.

He was smiling to her in the dream.

Here too, Kazuhisa helped Natsu to create Hansel and Gretel's monster.

And after Hansel and Gretel has done, Kazuhisa tells Natsu

that he wants to create more animation with her.

Natsu agreed.

They had a picnic in the end after so much work.

 Too bad, Natsu's senior, Mako-san (Kanjiya Shihori) will quit working to get married.

This is Natsu's family in Tokyo.

I like Saitarou's foster mother a lot, Kishikawa Ayami (Yamaguchi Tomoko).

Her style is perfect and she always helps Natsu and her friends a lot

through her obvious and to the point talking.

Meanwhile, not only Natsu has problems.

Obata Yukijiro (Yamada Yuki) also must struggle to live as an actor.

This is the scene when Yukijiro tried to be a voice actor.

But he always did wrong, so his senior shut Yukijiro's mouth,

then saying his line to end the process faster.

Poor Yukijiro...

This is the picture of Natsu's family in Tokachi.

I'm moved by Natsu's grandfather feelings, Shibata Taijuu (Kusakari Masao).

I hope Natsu can get happy while struggling as a female animator.

This dorama was good for us to learn the struggle of life.

Since the film was taken in the year when female tried to work on her own,

many scenes gave us their thoughts of working with men.
Most of them felt they should work more than men.

I hope the English subs can get faster so I can watch with it.

Currently watching without subs and I can't understand a few parts

in working dialogues.

I'm not qualified to watch hard to understand dialogues,
dorama like this, but I can keep going on for Natsu (and Ryo).

This is the first asadora I watch without subs.

The first asadora I watched 10+ years ago was called Asuka.

It was a beautiful dorama about female wagashi maker.

Same like Natsuzora, full of tears and hard working female.

02. Heaven?: Gokuraku Restaurant

 What will you do if you already resign from current work,

then come to another job just to know that the place

is near cemetery and at the edge of going bankrupt?

Iga Kan (Fukushi Sota) was scouted by Kurosu Kanako (Ishihara Satomi)

to work at her new French restaurant.

But he found the place was weird.

He must walk to cemetery and the customer only can use

funeral home's toilet.
The restaurant, Loin d'ici, is also far from the train station.

Kanako scouted Iga with her smile.

But she actually scouting 20 other people that day and had forgotten about Iga.

He was sure because Kanako helped him to move forward.

But he must walk through cemetery to get to his new job.

And the other workers aren't sure if the restaurant will be a success or not.

Although Kanako bought the place for its botan.

Iga could only smile with resignation.

Anyway, if you open the window, the restaurant only have graves.

They can't have any thought be heard by Kanako.

Only struggling by themselves without asking help from the owner.

This is how to reach toilet.

They must go through funeral procession too.

This is a weird restaurant, but hopefully the owner will have a happy life.

But she just wanted to have a drink and money.

Ishihara Satomi's character here is similar to IU in Hotel del Luna.

She recruited her worker, especially Iga, with a believable phrases.

But in the end, Kanako also have other candidates.

Both of them don't want to work as hard as their employee.

But actually, both owner believes in them.

03. Hotel del Luna

This is the most popular K-drama right now.

 IU as Man Wol is the hotel owner because of her sin in the past.

The hotel is for ghosts to stay before going to rest for eternity.

Koo Chan Sung (Yeo Jin Goo) is hired as the manager,

the only living human inside the hotel.

As for Man Wol, she is also a human who can't die.

 By Man Wol's cunning scheme, Chan Sung finally works in Hotel del Luna.

She made Chan Sung see ghosts so he must live closely with her.

Weirdly, Chan Sung can dream about Man Wol's past.

She was waiting this man for her entire life.

I don't know why I kept seeing Ito Kentaro while watching Lee Do Hyun.

Their eyes and nose are a bit similar?

Ito Kentaro while in a drama Ashi Girl.

Chan Sung was shocked by the scenery in the fake world below.

While Man Wol was reminisced about his beating heart.

Man Wol look sad here.

But she could give this fierce look.

And here too.

Her eyes are full of words.

Meanwhile, I like how Lee Joon Gi made an appearance here at ep3.

He was an exorcist, similar with Choi Yoon (Kim Jae Wook) in The Guest.

I like The Guest so much and Park Il Do was mentioned in a few dramas,

such as here and Waikiki 2.

 

 Man Wol was more scared by Lee Jon Gi.

He is an exorcist anyway, and Man Wol works with ghosts.

When Joon Gi said he wouldn't come to Man Wol before capturing Park Il Do,
I was thinking "Well, Park Il Do won't die so it won't happen".

I mean, Joon Gi won't happen to go to Man Wol...

Now that we already know Man Wol's past

and Chan Sung saw the dream, I wonder what will happen next.

What is the relationship between Chan Sung and Man Wol?

The drama is very interesting to watch and wait for next week.

I don't know why we have strong but weird female character nowadays.

I'm watching IU and Ishihara Satomi at the same time now...

04. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung

I wonder why I'm watching it.

Maybe because I was interested in what Cha Eun Woo would do

in his new drama.

But it turned out bad at first episode.

I'm sure you all know how Cha Eun Woo is very handsome and pretty?

Yep, he is too pretty for historical drama.

His face is too modern for past era.

And first episode is full of shocking expressions.

See for example:

I don't know why must the leads were given this scene.

I don't like their expressions here. 

The way it was filming is bad!

This is the story of first female historian.

Goo Hae Ryung (Shin Se Kyung) is a noble lady, but she is not rich.

Meanwhile, second prince Lee Rim (Cha Eun Woo) wrote romance novel.

The king burns all the books he feared,

including Lee Rim's novel.

And the crown prince Lee Jin (Park Ki Woong) agreed to some ministers

to hire a female historian.

He knows the ministers means bad to hire a female historian,
and would interfere with king's decision, so he wants to make an exam.

Goo Hae Ryung might go in the exam.

 Cha Eun Woo's expression at the beginning was bad.

But he can make this kind of expression in episode 2.

He was crying because the king, his father,

didn't approve of his talent.

The only person who supports him is the crown prince.

Goo Hae Ryung helps a child to be free from bad people.

Hae Ryung will have a rival, Song Sa Hee (Park Ji Hyun).

Sa Hee will participate in the exam.

I know first episode was boring.

I don't know why the producer made that kind of storyline.

But episode 2 was better.

I can feel the intrique in the palace and the feelings of Lee Rim.

And sound effect in some scene at episode 1,

which is supposed to be funny doesn't look funny at all.

But episode 2 have a few scenes that made me laugh.

Obviously, it is getting better.

I hope next episode will get  better too and not drop down to ep1 again.

This is because the drama tells of an interesting story.

I want to compare history with Natsuzora.

Goo Hae Ryung will be an interesting rival with Natsu

since both of them are the first female in their job.
If I don't like it anymore, I might drop this drama.
Beware, Goo Hae Ryung!

05. Gisou Furin

Hama Shoko (Watanabe Anne) goes on an individual trip to Hakata.
She is a single woman in age 32.
Meeting Jo Banno (Miyazawa Hio) on the plane,
Shoko begins her affair by telling him fake stories that she already married.
Even though she tells Banno of her marriage,
the two of them keeps spending the night together.

Banno saw the ring Shoko brought with her clothes.
It was her sister, Yoko's ring.

Watanabe Anne is good at comedy.

Yeah, she is not as pretty as most of Japanese girls.
But she is good at acting too.
Sometimes, I kind of see Kimura Fumino in her face.

Meanwhile, Shoko's older sister, Yoko (Nakama Yukie)
already has a kind husband, Yoshizawa Kenji (Tanihara Shosuke).
But Yoko might have an affair with hot pink-haired younger man,
Yagami Futa (Seto Toshiki).

Yoko & Kenji together with Yoko's parents.
They are living as neighbors.

Despite their happy marriage, it seems Yoko meets this younger man often.

Will Shoko tell the truth to Banno that she is still single?
Will Banno accept Shoko even though their relationships is not an affair?
And what will happen to the marriage of Yoko & Kenji?

Miyaza Hio is a new actor.
I have watch him in Todome no Kiss.
But his role is not important.

It might be easy to guess the ending.
But the relationship between Shoko & Banno is actually interesting.
The dorama tells a story of love affair even though there is marriage.
It depicts modern life right now.

Poor Kenji.
He loves Yoko so much and helps her family a lot, including Shoko.

Nakama Yukie is still pretty.

What will happen to Banno after Shoko let him see her (fake) husband's picture?

The picture is her brother-in-law...
Of course, you might have guess right.

There are some funny moments in it.
And even though I had not see Watanabe Anne's film before,
I could tell she is good at comedy.
She is already married with one of my favorite actor, Higashide Masahiro.



06. Lupin no Musume


I didn't intend to watch it.
But I would love to watch Fukada Kyoko in a tight suit.
The dorama is typical Romeo and Juliet, in a term of police and thief.
That's why there are a few musical scenes,
where Enjoji Akira (Onuki Yusuke) sings.

This kind of musical moment between Enjoji and Hana is weird.
But love to hear him singing.

Mikumo Hana (Fukada Kyoko) is a daughter from thief family, Clan L.
Her boyfriend is Sakuraba Kazuma (Seto Koji),
whose family are all police officers.
It gets dramatic when Hana and Kazuma introducing themselves to each family.
A few won't acknowledge their relationship.

The meeting moment of police and thief's family.

The real furniture inside thief's mansion.
I love the grandma so much.
She is too cute to get old.


And Takehara Yoshiko is also good at acting cute like this.
Look at her eyes.

I watch it for funny scenes.
My favorite actor here is Hana's grandmother, Matsu (Takehara Yoshiko).
She is an energetic woman in age 59.
And Yoshiko has this childish smile.

Hana's brother, Mikumo Wataru (Kurihara Louis),
who is a NEET but good at technology.

Hana's parents who are still energetic and clever as thieves.

You can see a different side of Fukada Kyoko here.
But she had acted as another strong woman character before,
in Joker Game as Rin.

And her eyes is very strong here.

The dorama is an easy one to take.
It doesn't have detective-like story telling so it is a bit cheesy too.
 But I can still watch it because it has comedy.

 What will happen to Hana & Kazuma's relationships?


07. Coffee & Vanilla


The dorama was taken from manga I have read before.
The manga is still ongoing and turns very cheesy lately so I dropped it.

I think this dorama is being filmed like a manga.
The camera often zoom out at the face of actors a lot.
And sure, they are all pretty & handsome.

It seems like watching a moving magazine than a drama.
The filter is very good, their skin look smooth.

Shiroki Risa (Fukuhara Haruka) is a university student.
She met older guy, Fukami Hiroto (Sakurada Dori) and they fell in love.
At first, Fukami seemed to be a mysterious man.
Risa had once doubted his intention of going out with her.
It turns out Fukami has feelings for her ever since long ago.
The story is focusing on their relationships, at least in the manga.
So I don't think there is much problem occur,
if not to separate our two protagonists.

Risa was enchanted in Fukami-san's handsome face.

Of course, since Sakurada Dori have pretty and cute face.

They shared a kiss in no time.
This series is very cheesy, I warn you.
How come this woman trust a man she met for a first time?

Kissing scene from manga.

And another manga art.
This is when Fukami asked Risa to date him.


Sakurada Dori is too cute to be Fukami.
In manga, Fukami should be a mature man with perfect appearance.
But I know why he is chosen as Fukami.
Sakurada had appeared in a mature dorama lately, Perfect Crime.
Watch it with caution.
Perfect Crime has similar content with Coffee & Vanilla.
Sharing a night together and affair, Perfect Crime is more mature than this.
I think despite his cute face, Sakurada Dori is often have sex scene too.
Beware by his cute face, this little devil...




Anyway, the story in most drama here is not hard and again, just to fill time.
I'm excited to watch Hotel del Luna right now.
And of course the long dorama, Natsuzora.
I want to know Natsu's marriage partner so much!
Even though Yoshizawa Ryo is already out of list,
I will keep watching Natsuzora until the end.

 In this drama list, I can find similarities between each drama.
I wrote that Ishihara Satomi & IU's character are similar.
They both are a strong woman, weird in some aspect,
and cunning their employee to move to their hotel / restaurant.

The other similarity is Natsuzora have Nakagawa Taishi as actor,
and Heaven? have Fukushi Sota.
Both of them are look alike, with almost the same height.
Sometimes, I forgot who is who...
Well, it is not related to the story though.

I will keep writing more interesting review of drama later.
Stay tune in drama section.
Maybe next fall / winter?
I'm excited to watch more dramas because the story is enticing.
I hope I can keep up with Natsuzora.
It will end in September, so just need 2,5 months to go.
Phew, I'm surprise I can stand watching asadora without subs.
This is my first time.
Please watch Natsuzora if you can.