Summer Nude

Japanese title: SUMMER NUDE
(Yeah, I know, it's not very Japanese)

Aired on Fuji TV
From 2013 July to September
11 episodes

Main cast:

Yamashita Tomohisa: Mikuriya Asahi

Toda Erika: Taniyama Hanae

Karina: Chiyohara Natsuki

Katsuji Ryo: Yaino Takashi

Kubota Masataka: Kirihata Hikaru

Yamamoto Mizuki: Horikiri Aoi

Takahashi Katsunori: Shimojima Kenji

Itaya Yuka: Shimojima Setsuko

Nagasawa Masami: Ichikura Kasumi

Note: I watched this drama mostly week to week but sometimes with two weeks in between.

Review: +/-

Title: Drama, you have disappointed me greatly. I thought I would finally be able to make fun of a title and then, you went in the 6th something episode using a voiceover reminiscent of Buzzer beat to say stuff about summer and emotions bared nude. But even with a Miley-Cyrus-like explanation, it's still a ridiculous title.

Boy: He's a photographer who lives a quiet life in a seaside little town. He is confident, very nice and always keeps his promises. Problem: He's obsessed with an ex-girlfriend to the point of stupidity.

Girl: She's a successful cook. She's nice (everyone in this drama is), energetic and strong-willed. She and Boy like to tease each other.

Other girl: She's been in love with Boy for ten years but hasn't made any moves. She is sad and hurt to watch Boy being obssessed with his ex girlfriend's unlikely return. She's a bit of a tomboy and very nice (of course). She and Girl become fast friends.

Other girls and boys: They should get their own mini description given their prominence but I'm too lazy and there is nothing special.

Plot/relationships: A new person gets incorporated into a group of friends who live in a small seaside town and have known each other almost forever. She brings change: new relationships, new endeavours.

Romantic relationships are gradual except for one ridiculous case of insta-love (You know, the dreadful "Wow, with this white shirt on/ without a beer in your hand/ riding an elephant, you're so good looking that I want your babies!")

Funny Factor: Throughout the drama, two teenagers live their own love story, quasi completely disconnected from the main characters, hitting all the hallmarks of "epic" love. It's totally WTH, and funny.

Music: I really like one of the insert piece, full of nostalgic feelings. Overall, it was good.

Bottom line: This is a quiet drama, with decent people who are nice to each other. I like that and I wasn't bored watching it but at the same time, I wasn't dying to watch the next episode. It didn't have glaring faults but I think the pacing was off.

I'm sorry, drama, but I have to come to terms with the fact that I love over-the-top too much and that I can't appreciate quiet anymore. +/-

Hotaru the Movie

Japanese title: 映画 ホタルノヒカリ
Other title: It's only a little light in my life

Release date: June 2012
A movie (after 2 TV seasons)

Main cast:

• Ayase Haruka: Takano Hotaru
• Fujiki Naohito: Takano Seiichi
• Matsuyuki Yasuko: Saeki Rio
• Tegoshi Yuya: Saeki Yu
• Itaya Yuka: Futatsugi Sachiko
• Yasuda Ken: Futatsugi Shoji

Notes:
- Information was taken from Asianwiki.
- The movie was shot on location in Italy and now... I want to go to Rome ASAP.
- I watched it some hours ago so I still have feelings.
- I Fav the first TV season.

 

Review: - (but WTH is closer to my feelings right now.)

Girl: I don't know what to do with Hotaru. She's a very excessive, quirky character. It worked in the first season but it just felt too much in the second season and in the movie. I actually disliked her in the movie. Girl doesn't want to do anything except lazing around, not even going to Rome with her husband. And it isn't counterbalanced by her efficient self at work. Secondly, and it's a huge problem for me, it also plagued the second season of the drama, well... I'll talk about it in the "Relationship" part of the review. In fairness, Girl also does her dumb but earnest actions, only it's too late.

Boy: He's perfect. So perfect that I want to scream: "Leave her. At least, tell her off. She's so annoying."

Relationship: Boy and Girl are together, they are married in the movie, and supposedly so have been for two years. Yet, (spoiler for the great 1st season -underline to see:) she still calls him "Boss" (Buchou). I can deal with that, that's like "Darling" for them.

But Girl freaks out when she finds out that they're going to sleep in the same bed in the same hotel room. And this is their honeymoon. And she's 29. For anyone who has seen season one, it's even more stupid (spoiler for 1st season: (since she lived for some time in a tiny apartment with her then-boyfriend and there was only one bed).

Moreover, their relationship looks unbalanced: Girl hasn't changed at all in all these years and doesn't seem to bring anything to the relation whereas Boy has adopted some of her quirks and always puts up with her. She loves him because he's perfect (how could you not?) and he loves her... I'm not sure why... because she's nice to him after she thought he was dead?

Plot: It's a mess. Like in drama specials, the movie introduces new characters whose stories echoes the main characters'. It usually isn't subtle. But the movie goes further trying to discuss the meaning of life. It's clumsily hammered and I'm not convinced. This happens after shenanigans involving mysterious suitcases, suspicious white powder, Mafia kidnappings, dancing to 'I will survive", a roundabout of hell, ruining a dress, hijacking someone's party... You get the picture.

Funny factor: Hits and misses. Some scènes are genuinely funny: in the airplane, each one involving the other Girl and Girl... Others are totally ridiculous. I can find dumb jokes funny (Exhibit A: I Fav Brown Sugar Macchiato. Exhibit B: I watched all episodes of Anna-san no Omame and Mendol Ikemen Idol) but these ones feel out of place. Over-the-top dancing scene which almost ruined the actor in my mind, I'm talking to you. To end on a good note, I loved the credits' banter-over.

Music: Continuity with the drama.

Bottom line: I'm so disappointed. You know how they say it's a good thing we don't know what happens after they get married in a fairytale. I kind of wish I hadn't seen what happens after the first season. It almost makes me question the coupling of these two characters. I still feel they could be great together... but not like that. I didn't talk much about the plot of the movie because it's thin and just a pretext. Minus.

Hotaru no Hikari (season 1)

Japanese title: ホタルノヒカリ

Aired on NTV
From 2007 July 11 to September 12
10 épisodes

Based on a manga by Satoru Hiura (2004-2009)

Main cast:

Ayase Haruka: Amemiya Hotaru

Fujiki Naohito: Takano Seiichi

Kuninaka Ryoko: Saegusa Yuuka

Kato Kazuki: Teshima Makoto

Takeda Shinji: Jinguuji Kaname

Itaya Yuka: Yamada Sachiko

Yasuda Ken: Futatsugi Shouji

Review: Fav!

Title : It means « glow of a firefly », a play on words since the main character is named Hotaru.

Girl : She’s a “himono onna”, meaning that she prefers lazing around at home rather than going out. As a result, she’s totally clueless in her relationships. But while she does absolutely nothing at home, she works hard at her job. Some will find her too much but that’s what is funny and  I can relate to her. (+)

Guy : Not « boy » because he’s older than Girl, he’s her boss and he’s mature. A serious, good-at-house chores man, he’s capable of silliness and can be sarcastic. (+)

Boy : Love interest of Girl. He’s really shy but really sincere. He’s a talented interior designer. For some reason he’s popular amongst girls. He’s cute but of the silent type, and not the charismatic one. So… wash.

Relationships : Interesting, progressive, with emotion. (+)

Other characters and plot : the plot is basically relationships but I want to underline the fact that the workplace is central in this drama. All the characters work together, in the interior design department of a building company, except Guy’s best friend who is in another department. Girl begins as an assistant but she earns responsibilities as a planner thanks to her good work. Though it’s unrealistic that everyone would be so friendly, I really enjoy the workplace dynamics . (+)
Update: Now that I have a job, I'm happy to say that, yes, relationships with co-workers can be really friendly. Without the drinking beer together. That should be cultural.

Funny factor: Yes. Funny characters, starting with Girl. Plus Guy’s sarcasticness. (++)

Music: Okay.

Bottom line: It’s really funny, we get to know the characters, their relations are interesting. Fav. No hesitation.
I was looking forward to the second season (2010) because you don’t want things you like to end. Unfortunately it wasn’t as good (a + maybe or gasp! even a +/-, I don’t remember enough of it), that’s why I distinguish the reviews. I have yet to see the movie (out in 2012) but I will if I can. Update: Ugh! The movie is a big minus.