Noriko goes to Seoul (2011)

Country: Japan/ South-Korea
Format: movie
Genre:drama, music
Cast: Takashima Reiko, Lee Hong Ki, Katsumura Masanobu, Ikura Manami, Kim Ji Young, Han Jung Won, Oh Yong, Im Jong In, MayBee, Kim Sun Hwa,
Synopsis: Mori Noriko is a Japanese housewife, with workaholic husband and complicated teenage daughter. Noriko is starstruck with Hallyu star Kim Hyun Jae and studies Korean because of him. After finding out that she has lung cancer she makes a decision to go to Korea to take part of music audition in order to proudly stand on the stage in front of world, family and Hyun-chan. On the first day of audition she meets Kim Min Ha, a young Korean man, who is aiming to debut as a singer. They become each other mental support and coaches through music and life.
Rating: 4/5
It is a must see movie for Lee Hong Ki's admirers and to be honest he was the reason why I wanted to watch it in the first place. As usually I have freaking weird thoughts before watching it and I was kind of sure that there will develop something love-like thing and then it is put on test by their age, nationality and the fact that Noriko is married for 17 years and has a 16 years old daughter. Thank Kimchi that most of my thoughts are not right. I do feel a bit silly at times..

Rurouni Kenshin (2012)

Country: Japan
Format: movie
Genre: live-action, action
Cast: Sato Takeru, Takei Emi, Aoi Yu, Aoki Munetaka, Eguchi Yosuke, Kikkawa Koji, Kagawa Teruyuki, Sudo Genki, Ayano Go, Tanaka Taketo, Okuda Eiji,  
Synopsis: In 1868, after the end of Bakumatsu war, former assassin Kenshin Himura is a wanderer who carries reverse-bladed sword with him to defend people without killing anyone. He saves Kamiya Kaoru from gangsters who work for opium drug lord Kanryu Takeda. Kaoru asks Kenshin to stay, but Kenshin's past starts to haunt when people are starting to recognize him.
Rating: 5/5
It is one of the best live-actions made and I am not the first nor the only one saying it. I actually have read some comments saying that it is not a great movie, but those comments have come from "Samurai X" (the name under which OVA-s and anime movie aired in North-America) watchers or from people who say "cartoon-version" about anime. I have my own opinion about those people and I hope that they either educate themselves or shut the ramen up. Sadly I have not read the whole manga yet, I have just watched first episode from anime and some chapters of manga, but it is on my definitely-to-do list.

Hana Yori Dango

Hana Yori Dango (2005)

Country: Japan
Format: drama season 1, 9 episodes
Genre: romance, comedy, school
Cast: Inoue Mao, Matsumoto Jun, Oguri Jun, Matsuda Shota, Abe Tsuyoshi, Nishihara Aki, Kaga Mariko, Sato Megumi, David Ito, Sada Mayumi, Tomiura Satoshi, Kobayashi Susumu, Ishino Mako, Matsushima Nanako
Synopsis: Makino Tsukushi goes to elite high-school which is ruled by world-famous F4 - Flower 4 -  the richest and most powerful guys in the school - getting a red notice from them means definite leaving from school. As a commoner Makino tries to live her high-school life being unnoticed, but everything changes when she gets on bad terms with F4's leader Domyouji Tsukasa. Makino's first name stands for "though weed" and she proves that she deserves it by declaring war to F4. Oddly enough slowly she is starting to fall for the enemy.
Rating: 4/5
It took me years until I convinced myself to watch it - after all everybody are praising it to heaven and it is one of the must-see classics. Before watching these were my thoughts - "I'm gonna hate Curly, luv Sweety and dunno 'bout others" (Excuse me for slang - these thoughts are already simplified from the actual slang in my head - you do not want to know how my mind works) But lets see how and why my thoughts changed after watching it.

Zenkai Girl (2011)

Country: Japan
Format: drama in 11 episodes
Genre: romance, life
Cast: Aragaki Yui, Nishikido Ryo, Hirayama Hiroyuki, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Rebutsu Misako, Tani Kanon, Takagi Seira, Reina Asami, Takeushi Riki, Kaito Aiko, Suzuki Ryohei, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi, Minagawa Sarutoki, Aoyama Noriko, Sato Jiro,
Synopsis: Ayukawa Wakaba dreams of becoming an international lawyer. After getting into Samezima Sakuragawa law firm she gets her first assignment: babysitting boss's 5-years old daughter Hinata until the real nanny returns. In Hinata's preschool Wakaba meets a group of solo-dads who are the opposite of her ideal man, especially Yamada Shota, ex-chef who gave up his dreams in order to raise his ex-wife's son (from first marriage).
Rating: 4/5
I was surprised by "Zenkai Girl" as it was on my watch-list for 2 years already and my first opinion on it was not the best. After watching it, as you see, it got 4 stars and I admit that there was only a little missing from the last star.

Shin jidan Koshonin ura file (2011)

Country: Japan
Format: tv-movie, related to "Jidan Kosho Jinnai Tamako Ura File" Sp-s

Genre: law, slice of life
Cast: Takahata Atsuko, Kato Shigeaki, Matoba Koji, Kobayashi Chiharu, Yajima Kenichi, Orimoto Junkinchi, Hashizume Ryo, Suzuki Maika, Fujiyoshi Kumiko, Nashimoto Kenjiro, Kanayama Kazuhiko, Ueshima Ryuhei, Kobayashi Nenji, Watabiki Katsuhiko,
Synopsis: Hashima Ippei works at insurance office. He is transferred to an elite department that handles difficult investigations in order to find out if and how much money they must pay out. Though it is said to have been put together of elite workers from other departments, his new colleagues turn out to be more than just unique people.
Rating: 2/5
To start off, just who are insurance people to do the job of detectives or criminologists? If anyone can tell me a good reason I might reconsider the amount of stars, but I guess 2 stars are even more than enough for it. If you are not a fan of any actor/actress who is playing in here, then I think it is pretty much worthless to watch. Sorry if I am being to mean.

Nihonjin no shiranai nihongo (2010)

Country: Japan
Format: drama in 12 episodes
Genre: school, language
Cast: Naka Risa, Ikeda Narushi, Aoki Munetaka, Harada Natsuki, Asaka Mayumi, Blake Crawford, Sethna Cyrus Nozomu, Olga Alex, Sebastiano Serafini, Camilla, ZOE, Zhang Mo, Dasha, Mayor Akintoye,
Synopsis: Kano Haruko used to work as a charismatic shop assistant, but she has a dream of becoming a high school teacher. Her former teacher asks Haruko to stand-in teacher position for 3 months, but for Haruko's surprise this job is not in high school. She becomes teacher at Japanese language school for 9 foreigners, who have rather wild thoughts and dreams. 
Rating: 2/5
I will be honest and say that this drama needs a lot of tolerance (sister gave me word "script-supervisor"). As foreigner perspective it can be reaaaaaaallly annoying and rude as those foreign students are not portrayed as the most intelligent people.I have not read the original manga, so I am not sure whose fault it was - mangaka or scriptwriters?