Sotsu Uta ~ Best friend~ (2010)

Country: Japan
Format: part of Sotsu Uta series
Genre: friendship, life
Cast: Shida Mirai, Kutsuna Shiori, Irie Jingi, Sometani Shota, Muro Tsuyoshi, Nagasawa Masami,
Synopsis: Ayumi and Mami are best friends at school. While Ayumi falls in and out of love really fast, then Mami never talks about her feelings. But no matter what Mami always stands behind Ayumi supporting her in everything.
Rating: 1/5
It is difficult to write a review about it, because first of all it is really short and secondly they concentrate on one storyline, so forgive me if this review is also short.

Seigi no Mikata (2008)

Country: Japan
Format: drama in 10 episodes
Genre: comedy, family, romance
Cast: Shida Mirai, Yamada Yu, Mukai Osamu, Hongo Kanata, Takizawa Saori, Nishiuchi Mariya, Irie Jingi, Yamaguchi Izumi, Hiraizumi Sei, Tajima Yusei,
Synopsis: Yoko is a young girl who thinks that she has lived her whole life in a pure hell where the devil is her older sister Makiko. Of course for everyone else Makiko is the best, the most beautiful and smartest woman in the world. People go even as far as calling her "the ally of justice" (it's the meaning of "Seigi no mikata") and do not see how self-centered and egoistic she is nor how she takes advantage of her little sister. With new guy in Makiko's offing, Yoko finally figures it out - if Makiko marries and moves out, she can be free to do whatever she wants. 
Rating: 4/5
To tell you the truth, I watched it with one night - I made a marathon with friends. If only all dramas/movies would go so fast. But watching that so fast also means that my first impression was much better and later I started to take stars down and down.

Yoko is a really cute character, but she easy to manipulate with. It is funny and sad at the same time to see how much she is used by her sister. I know they try to give the reasons why she is doing it, but I have grown up with 3 sisters and like Yoko says in one episode "it took time to understand that their relationship is not usual" (you don't say?). I could say that it is only Yoko's fault that Makiko bosses her around, but actually the whole society around them compares the two sisters, which makes me just angry. I liked how Shida Mirai acted her in a cute comical way, but also you can see her own thoughts and feelings too.

My favorite character was Okamoto Riku. I cannot say if he really was Yoko's love-interest, because at first that girl was to busy with sister's affairs to even recognize that dude as one of the hottest things in school. I actually liked Riku for personality, the fact that Hongo Kanata played him was just a bonus. Riku is sweet, helpful and rather shy as he only had two girls to talk to. From the middle of the drama I only rooted for their storyline, because it was so sweet young fresh first love (rather was that first crush, not love).
Makiko's character reminded me "Hanawake no yon shimai's" Fujiko and Takemi, because Makiko

was exactly the mix of those too (actually it should be vice-verse, because "Seigi no mikata" was written before "Hanawake"). She was very egoistic, glutton and total career-woman. It is sad that in drama she is shown more self-centered than she actually was in manga. In drama there must always be some advantages for her to make a move, which is sad, because I really did not get her actual feelings. But I was really impressed by her actions towards Naoki, even though she always gave diverse emotions, I wondered how far is one woman willing to go? especially when that woman is known for small and frequent crushes? Her character was also interesting to watch, because I was eager to know when her lies fall apart and Naoki sees her real character. Even though she was that half-good-half-bad character, I was only bothered by only little thing... whenever she made that silly "cute" fake voice. I do not understand why Japanese girls think it is cute, when actually it is so damn annoying.   

Naoki - another god in the drama. To put it simple, Naoki was everything that Makiko was not and definitely way too good for any woman on the Earth, but hei! they say that opposites draw. I felt sorry for him, but then.. read from SPOILER-review.. I enjoyed watching Mukai Osamu in this role, because it was my first time seeing him in a calculative, blind, naive and also a bit plain role. It was so sweet to see his lovey-dovey love face of total amazement.
Last character that I should mention are parents.

You can clearly see that Yoko takes after father and Makiko after mother. More than that, mom is the character who impressed me the most. At first she seems like a silly naive woman, but you can see that this woman has more layers than an onion and she has about the same amount secrets. When it comes to Naoki's parents, then gyoza how annoying one mother can be. I'd be as bitch as Makiko was with her if my mother in law would end up being like that. Get to the point, man was already getting 30 - there is no need for mother to go and clean/cook/do laundry for him. Every child grows up and sooner or later you must let go, and I'd say better sooner than later. She was the most annoying and being stuck to traditions like gum under the show will never be good.  

It is made after Hijiri Chiaki's same-named manga. I do not understand why they changed so many things and characters. Basically they had taken the first volume from the manga and changed-mixed things up and made into live-action, only some points were taken from second volume (and that how far I have read it..). I think I will just let it pass, because I am afraid that "Seigi no mikata" manga is rather unpopular and maybe most of the people do not even know that it is made after a manga..
Well, it is another good-to-laugh drama, which might make you think that you are lucky with your siblings or with the fact that you are only child, depends on your situation.

SPOILER-review: I did not like the ending. I hate when everything stays the same or goes even worse for the lead character. Yoko became total maid for Makiko's family and not even Naoki was able to see it -.- Of course I liked how Yoko's and Riku's story ended, especially because that leaves a place for fanfics, but I hate when people sacrifice themselves for someone else.  I was so surprised to find out that the baby was real and Naoki actually dug Makiko's devil side. Made me think that he might be into masochism..  

Risou no musuko (2012)

Country: Japan
Format: drama in 10 episodes
Genre: family, school, comedy
Cast: Suzuki Kyoka, Yamada Ryosuke, Fujigaya Taisuke, Sawamura Ikki, Nakajima Yuto, Takeda Kohei, Irie Jingi, Emoto Tokio, Kaneko Nobuaki, Waki Tomohiro, Miyoshi Ayaka, Kendo Kobayashi, Suzuki Anju, Moromizato Daisuke, Yoshinaga Jun, Hayashi Kento,
Synopsis: Suzuki Umi is single mother whose life's purpose is to get his son to buy a house for her. Despite the fact that they are poor, she wants to grow Suzuki into perfect son by giving him expensive Meifu private school and stuff, but things change dramatically when Dachi leaves Meifu for delinquent boys school, where Umi started her part-time job, in order to protect mom from other guys. What is really "perfect son or mother"? What is the most important in their lives? and all other questions arise in their minds and hearts...  
Rating: 4/5 (Actually it is 3,5, but I do not have this half system)
Before watching it, I thought that Daichi is some Oedipus-complexer guy and wanted to see it because of Fujigaya Taisuke, but it turned all up-side-down as I fell in love with Yamada’s 

 acting and found out that he really does not have Oedipus-complex and „he is not a mama-boy, "he just loves his mother“. Yamada Ryosuke’s acting is seriously one of the high-lights of the drama – you can see him sweet, laughing, crying, beaten up, beating up, angry, bath-scene, cross-dressing. Maybe love-troubles are the only things that are missing, but at the same time there are girl-troubles and Daichi is not that interested in women. You can really say that Daichi is late-bloomer and as a male he is useless, but as a son he might be perfect, may be too perfect, but you seriously must watch it till the end to have a conclusion of their story. But there were some annoying things about him – 

firstly, holding your pointing finger up while running to school is not normal, that only made me realize how weird and short are Yamada’s fingers. Secondly I did not like that he had to repeat the Australia story all the time, but as I understood then this was like a good luck charm to make the punch work – it was with all the other characters and their moves too. On the other hand, (not making fun over Yamada)  Yamada pulled everything off and he even sings a couple of lines in the movie – so if you want his version of “Happy birthday” then try to record it.   

 Mother, Umi-san, was actually a great mother – it seemed that she might be too self-centered 

and stuff, but as the drama goes on, she gets aware of her maternal instincts as she starts to worry about him much more. Umi-san is very good at manipulating with Daichi, so he would do anything to please her. She has some small dreams and secrets of her own, but because of Daichi and poorness, she has lost her feminine side and will to do anything else. She has a big appetite – eating 3-4 people portions at once  (reminds me at the moment, eating 2 people portions as a meal.. woah.. I might end up fat by the end of this year .

Kobayashi Kouji is involved with Daichi’s life more than once and things get once more complicated and then calm down again. He is the one character who I ended up hating and then a bit loving again. He is weak, mama-boy, lying son of a bitch. Gomen, but his mother is worst bitch, who actually made me cry in the last episode. I bet that each child will hate and be afraid of this kind of mother, but because she is mother, the child still loves and respects her. I must say that Nakajima Yuto suits into this geeky weak worm-like role, but I feel like he was pretty much the same in “Sensei wa Erai”.
There are many-many-many different characters in drama – each episode extends the cast 

 and Kaneko Nobuaki even plays 4 different characters.  Also there are Goro-san, Habu, Wanikawa, Hyozuka, Zou-san, Tanba and his sister,  Minoru-san, Ikeda-sensei and etc. With whom all kind of jokes are connect to. From second episode till the end you will laugh. I do not know why they made the first episode depressing and not funny at all, but from second episode it is great comedy.

I know that I have not mention much about other characters, but it is because they mostly have one episode about them, but Mifune Kengo is an exception as his story goes on and on till the end. Fujigawa Taisuke was sooooooooo hot(?)They do not show Mifune that much nor let you 

fully understand him, but he is that kind of character who makes one appearance in episode and you know that you love that character. Compared to Daichi and all other characters, he is mature, manly, strong and wise at the same time. I most enjoyed UmixMifune relationship. They were great buddies – listening each other’s problems and stuff . Mifune saw the ideal mother in Umi and I do not really know what Mifune was to Umi – maybe a second son?    

It did not get higher stars because it is the drama you watch and have a great laugh and then do not watch it again.. at least for me. But I do recommend if you want a break and want to enjoy Yama-chan’s acting (getting too personal with the chan-thing?)

Ghost Friends (2009)

Country: Japan
Genre: life&death, friendship, romance, surreal
Format: drama 10 episodes
Cast: Fukuda Saki, Nishijima Takahiro, Okada Yoshinori, Iriyama Noriko, Misaki Ayame, Ai, Kawakubo Takuji, Shibuya Asuka, Irie Jingi, Katase Nana, Tomochika, Moto Fuyuki, Wanibuchi Haruko
Synopsis: Kamiya Asuka is in her final year of high school. She and her two friends, Miku and Yui, are into the art and have an idea of going to art university together, but on one day, while coming back from fieldtrip, they get into a traffic accident where Miku and Yui die. Soon after the accident Asuka develops an abbility to see ghosts, who have unfinished business in human world. While helping ghosts she falls in love with Kaito, who tries to catch his dead girlfriend Misora.

Rating: 4/5
If you start to watch it, you must accept that those ghost are pretty surreal, but other story lines are very sweet.I actually wanted to see it while it was still airing, but I watched it much later.

Almost every episode has its own story and characters who need Asuka's help, but also every episode includes Misora story-line. I actually find it pretty amazing that those people believe Asuka, when she talks about ghosts.
I understood Misora's reasons and it is really sad, because she had so many regrets  in her former life and was not able to live her life as she wanted. I totally agree that Kaito used to be a bastard - leaving Misora waiting and all. I liked the fact that Kaito fell for Asuka too, because they where so cute together (If anyone starts to think about their age difference, then it should be about 6 years I guess).
As it includes ghosts, then there are many sad things too. I cried when they showed the accident, I think that thanks to seeing ghosts, it was easier to Asuka, but because of that, it was more sadder when Miku and Yui had to leave.
Really great theme song too!! "Aitai" by Yuzu.
This drama also made me realize one big fact about art universities. In 5th episode there was an art teacher story and he told that mostly students do not get into there with the first tryout O.o And it is very true.. I failed on my first try too, but I won't lose faith to get in next time. So no matter how many times you fail, if you truly love something you will make it true someday.

SPOILER review: The end was soooo sad, unfair and tore one point down, when Kaito left with Misora. Did he really liked Asuka or was she just a companion until he will get Misora back?? It really felt like he actually did not have much feelings for Asuka. That was even sadder that Asuka lost the power to see ghosts. It reminded me "Peter Pan", when Wendy had grown up and did not see Peter anymore even though he visited her. Same was for Asuka and Kaito.  Kaito went to visit her exhibition, but she had no powers to see him. This totally drama where you start to wish that Kaito would stay in with Asuka and become a human again. I still wish for it.