Archives For japan

Yu Aoi to Guest Star on TBS Unubore Deka

June 14, 2010 — 1 Comment

I thought I would never EVER say this, but this is too much Yu Aoi.

The TBS website for the upcoming drama Unubore Deka (Conceited Detective) just announced guest-stars, and Yu Aoi will be appearing on the 2nd episode. Also guest-starring, actress Kanako Higuchi (ep03), and Kyoko Koizumi.

Mika Nakashima stars on the show alongside Tomoya Nagase, who plays the deluded detective.

A 30-year-old single detective (Nagase Tomoya), who is under the illusion that he is popular with females is called ‘Unubore’ by friends. He is an ultra romantic and susceptible to conceitedness. He has such a strong desire to marry to the extent that he has bought an apartment for his newlywed life. He falls in love with female criminals at first sight each time. While the sheer desire to meet wraps around him, he will get proof that the female is the culprit. And so, he will thrust both the arrest warrant and marriage papers at her, proposing with the words, “If you marry me, I won’t arrest you.” If that still does not work, he will hold out an engagement ring and his handcuffs. In the end, the criminal will choose to be arrested and his heart will be broken. He will cry as he puts the handcuffs on her…

via DramaWiki.

To be honest, the premise sounds BLAH.

But Nagase is funny… at least he was on Tiger & Dragon, but that was a different monster. However, I will probably give it a go… after all, if I don’t like it, it’s only going to be two episodes. [added to the calendar]

Let’s play 6 Degrees… Mika Nakashima starred on Worst by Chance — and Yu Aoi made a short appearance there. Tomoya Nagase was on Tiger & Dragon with Yu. Kanako Higuchi played Aoi Miyazaki’s mother on Atsuhime… Miyazaki is besties with Yu. And Kyoko Koizumi starred on the stage piece Gakuya with Yu.

In Celebrity, English, Japanese, Photographs, Sharing, Television , , , , , ,
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High School Teacher 2003 – Koukou Kyoushi

June 9, 2010 — 3 Comments

As the name suggests, this 2003 drama is about a high school teacher who is dying of an inoperable brain tumor, then one night he meets Hina, a 16-year-old girl who is pretending to be a 20-year-old beautician. They end up in his apartment for the night, even though nothing happens. The next day, she discovers he is her new high school teacher.

Of course, she keeps trying to get with him, and he tries to keep his distance… after all, he is dying. Then, with those crazy Japanese-language misunderstandings, Hina believes she’s about to die. Suddenly, the teacher finds solace in her… and that’s when it just gets creepy and frustrating.

I understand hot-for-teacher.

But I spent 98% of the time watching this [I just finished episode 8] saying how inappropriate.

First, the male lead was just so… ugh, infuriating. I guess it’s not really him, it’s the character that annoys me. I could get it, the way he is for the first 2 episodes. He’s dying, he’s afraid of being forgotten, whatever. However, by episode 7, it just gets tiresome. Man up already! But instead of manning up, and telling Mina that she’s not dying, so she doesn’t need to find physical pleasure to feel alive… because, well… she’s got time.

He goes and diddles the student.

Is that supposed to be romantic?

And then people go on and tell him he looks different, more relaxed. Of course! He’s diddling the student! whom he lied to by saying she’s got an inoperable brain tumor. And the doctor plays along? Lying to her?

Mina should totally sue their asses.

Gosh!

Okay, having said that. Reason why I watched this? Of course, Yu Aoi. I wasn’t gonna watch it because the title is so bland, and I don’t normally do jdramas. However, while looking for the latest Anan photoshoot, I ran into a post that talked about a “rape scene” [on ep08] in the series, so I went all “OMG, I need to check this out.” So I did.

Besides the dragging storyline of the dying teacher who diddles the student who thinks is dying, the series talks about suicide, depression, prostitution, and bullying. The big bad of the series is Yuki, played by Hiroki Narimiya — whom I had already eyed on Tiger & Dragon, and Nana LOL — but his crazy antics get tiring by episode 7 too. I mean, he’s just bad because he’s bad, unlike Koike on Love Exposure who is bad for being bad with a background.
Continue Reading…

In Celebrity, English, Japanese, Rants, Reviews, Screencaps, Sharing, Stills, Television , , , ,
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Hayaku by Brad Kremer

I think it’s time for a “time-lapse” tag, don’t you?

I think it’s amazing how some shots look like a scale model.

Posted on June 5, 2010 In English, Japanese, Motion, Sharing , ,
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Yu Aoi for Anan

June 4, 2010 — 1 Comment

Trivia bit?

This issue came out on March 2010. Yu also appears on the Anan covers for March 2009 and March 2008. And she’s got at least 5 Anan covers in total, though I dunno their dates.

How I noticed? I name my photoshoot files with name of magazine and date of publication, and if possible… photographer, though that usually happens with publications in English.

Continue Reading…

In Books, Celebrity, English, Japanese, Manga, Photoshoots, Sharing , ,
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Japanese and Chinese Readers/Translators for Chrome

June 3, 2010 — Leave a comment

I have been using Rikaichan and Perapera-kun for about 2 years know, and it’s really improved my reading skills. Though, I am still lazy to remember how to actually read the kanji out-loud. LOL

But now I have been using Google Chrome a bit more than when it first came out, because it’s faster and it’s just there. However, since I browse so many Japanese and Chinese sites, I always end up browsing through them with Firefox because of my add-ons. LUCKILY! Google Chrome has add-ons now!

Rikaikun is like a lighter version of Rikaichan, works just like it.

and Zhong Wen, which is pretty much a light version of Perapera.
thank you, Chinese Hacks~

All I’m missing is a Koren one, which Perapera said they were working on. I wonder what happened to that business… haven’t seen updates since then.

In Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Sharing , , , , , , , ,
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Remembering Jinseitte Uso Mitai – Life is like a Lie~

From WOWOW’s experimental 2008 drama, Camouflage.

Ryo Kase and Yu Aoi = LOVE.

I think this one was the BEST chapter of the series. [here for the recap]

have a good not-suffering end of the weekend, but an overall relaxing Sunday.
or you know, have a good new week if you’re on the other side of the world~~~

Posted on May 30, 2010 In Celebrity, DVD/BR, English, Japanese, Sharing, Snapshots, Television, Torrents & Digital Streams , , , , , , , ,
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New So-En Mag Issue with Yu Aoi

The newest issue of So-En Magazine (yes, the famous one with Yu as a boy) has recently hit the stands with Yu on the cover once again. As you can see, the cover is sporting the look for Yu’s newest Photo Exhibit and upcoming Photobook Uso. (Lie.). So she’s pushing hard to promote this.

Maybe it is because I didn’t know my sources well, but if I recall correctly when Portugirl came out, there wasn’t much promotion for it, at least not that I recall people blogging about it.

Anyway, I found this info on Japanese Streets, where they guide on how to get issues of So-En magazine, which by the way is a renowned fashion magazine that started in 1936. 1936!!! Otherwise, you can get it on Amazon Japan, or somehow get it from Bunka Publishing ~~~ and… you can pre-order Uso. over at HMV Japan.

by the way… anyone attend the event on the 29th? or anyone attending the exhibit?
would love to hear from you.

Posted on May 30, 2010 In Books, Celebrity, English, Japanese, Photoshoots, Sharing , , , ,
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Shanghai Trailer

Not gonna tag this as trailer yet, because I need a graphic, and I’m gonna miss that photo of Yu-chan from Raiou… LOL but it seems like Shanghai doesn’t have a distributor in America? What? Is it because the only major American star there is Cusack and the rest are Asian? But it’s got Harvey!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEmU2VcJz24

Gong Li is pure hotness here.

And though Kikuchi is not credited on this Chinese trailer, I’m pretty sure she’s in it. As well as Franka Potente. Both will probably show up in the Japanese trailer, and the International trailer.

Posted on May 29, 2010 In Chinese, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing, Trailers , , , ,
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Presenting the Yoshida Brothers

You know I’m a sucker for traditional music fused with modern music, so it wasn’t a surprise that I’ve gone pretty nuts about the Yoshida Brothers thanks to this post.

Though I am unsure on how their discography works (Japanese releases and International releases), since I don’t know if all of the albums contain different songs, or if some of the releases are just compilation of others.

Anyway, Rising blew me away.

as did KODO (literally meaning palpitation)

https://youtu.be/Ron17xFNBf0

but not only do they do this, they also do fusion with blues, latin music, and even celtic!

Posted on May 29, 2010 In English, Fun, Japanese, Music, Music Videos, Sharing , ,
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Joe Odagiri and Chiaki Kuriyama for New Satoshi Miki Drama

May 26, 2010 — 4 Comments

Two of my favorite people are teaming up with one of my fave Japanese directors for a new drama for Asahi TV. Joe Odagiri was set to star on Atami no Sousakan (熱海の捜査官, Atami Investigators?), a series directed by Satoshi Miki (Turtles Swim Faster than Expected, Instant Swamp) that will start airing on Asahi TV on July 2nd (Friday) at 11.15pm. And now, Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill) has joined the cast.

Now… wonder, is anyone subbing this, or am I watching this and figuring out the plot as I go. LOL

via Tokyograph.

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*EDIT*

I dunno why I posted July 2nd
it starts July 30th

In Celebrity, English, Japanese, Photographs, Sharing, Television , , , , , ,
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