What am I presently watching – Winter 2016?

by Fiona

It has been a while since I watched any JDoramas, been sucked into the Hallyu wave and was quite difficult to return due to their easy accessible on sites like DramaFever and Hulu when RL is so busy. KDramas have their own uniqueness and there are so many, many smexy stars (*cough* Lee Hong Ki & Jang Hyuk). :-*> However, I made it a 2016 New Year’s resolution to watch at least two each season and found more than I expected.

Kaito YamanekoFirst up is Kaito Yamaneko starring Kamenashi Kazuya and Narimiya Hiroki. Kame portrays Yamaneko who is a thief that steals money using strategic and tactical planning while exposing their evil wrongdoings of large corporations. I was quite drawn by its goofy and comical plot (just what I need now in days) and of course, Kame and Hiroki-kun. XD I did found the first two episodes quite wicked with a dash of good action, humor and action along with a pitch of the neko-theme. Acting is quite good and story-line had kept me interested, I am waiting anxiously for episode 3 now.

696px-Sanada_MaruSanada Maru, which is a NHK taiga series that stars Sakai Masato as Sanada Nobushige. Anything that Sakai-san casts is a must for me and I am a fool for historical pieces and even for the Sengoku period. XD These are always a fun way to learn more about Japanese history with a twist. NHK has started uploading short 5-minute recaps of each episode on the Sanada Maru site, subbed in English if anyone is interested.

FragileFragile stars Nagase Tomoya, which is based from a manga about a handsome and brilliant pathologist who is intensely eccentric and brutally honest. Sort of like Gregory House from the American hit series, House M.D., ne?! Nagase’s acting is top notch here with his quirky, cranky and self-centered portrayal as Keiichiro Kishi. I am looking forward to how his character develops and more interactions with the other characters in the story.

Other mentions are Specialist and Watashi wo Hanasanaide that I have not started watching, but seems to have a solid cast and intriguing plot.

Any recommendations, minna-san?

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SMAP & Johnny’s Jimusho

by Fiona

I am sure by now minna-san has mixed feeling about the news on SMAP not disbanding. I have been recently following Yanie’s LiveJournal, who is a wonderful SMAP fan and very informed about their situation. Using her reliable resources, she provides translations from Japanese news articles along with her own opinions. I highly recommend that you give it a skim which provides in-depth details of fiasco with Johnny’s Jimusho about their “empress,” Mary Kitagawa and her daughter, Julie.

Though, SMAP-san did confirm that they will continue as a group, however, their live TV apology was not reassuring nor comforting. It was more like they were being held at gun point with cue cards, so depressing and disturbing. This verifies that Johnny’s Jimusho are tyrants, especially this senile 89-year Mary. I am not sure if Julie becoming the Jimusho’s president would completing remove her mother nor do we know how capable her managing skills are. Mary is one scary individual and we cannot count on Johnny-san any longer, something has happened to him and hopefully, not for the worse. I also pray that SMAP-san will leave this agency once their contract expires together with specific rights, away from all of this evilness.

SMAP’s TV apology:

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SMAP to be disbanded??

by Fiona

smap

Johnny & Associates Issues Official Statement on SMAP’s Situation

Rumors are running rampant that SMAP has broken up. Four members of the group, Nakai Masahiro, Inagaki Goro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, and Katori Shingo, are reported to have left the company due to the resignation of their manager, Iijima Michi. Kimura Takuya is said to be the only remaining SMAP member in Johnny & Associates.

Johnny & Associates have now issued an official statement on the situation.

The statement reads, “Some news organizations are currently reporting on the independence issue of some of the SMAP members and also the resignation of their head manager. It is true that there are currently discussions and negotiations taking place; however, we can not answer any more inquiries about this issue presently.”

Article from AramaJapan

OMG, so this was real?! An era is about to end and I don’t want it to happen, why, why?? Though, it’s really strange since there were no press conference and even more suspicious that Kimura is staying and Nakai isn’t. Kimura has always wanted to leave, negotiating for years ago for a better share of revenues and more personal life freedom. I wonder if there was an agreement or contract with Johnny’s after his marriage scandal that’s binding him down. Yeah, Johnny’s Entertainment can be evil ne?! I am sure that all of them would be fine on their own two feet or be contracted under a different company, but SMAP would be no longer exist due to copyrights. Just thinking of this is heart-breaking, extremely.

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