SumiTheCat

Kimura, Saitoh and Kohinata in the same drama ? With Amami and Kamikawa as bonuses... Count me in !

Finally took the time to read your article, and once again, thanks a lot for such a well-written article. It was a delight to read it!

As far as I enjoy reading Murakami's novels, I never really looked for movie adaptations. As a result, I've only seen "Drive My Car", and you already know what I think about it. I didn't like it, if I remember well it was way too long for my taste (only watched it because it won the Best Screenplay Palme in Cannes Film Festival).
That being said, I'm curious now to try the movies adapted from the novels "Attack on a Backery". And the new animation movie too. Thanks for mentionning it.

As many, I truly enjoyed "1Q84", and I wish it could be adapted into a movie. An animation movie might be easier for this one, maybe...
"Underground" would also be an interesting material for an adaptation, but either as a documentary, or as a reenactement of the attack (without following the book, then...) turned into a movie (not sure I'm clear).
And as I particularly enjoyed "Killing Commendatore", I would also enjoy an adaptation of this one!

Once again, thanks a lot for this article!

Oh! So happy to see Ji Chen playing Hei Yan Jing once again! I loved him in Tomb of the sea.
Such a charming voice!

And here is another link for a trailer for the ones who can't access the one provided some days ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Ceu5A8ebo

Thanks a lot for a well written and well researched article, and it's so enjoyable to see a japanese centered article on the front page!
Thanks for the recommendations, especially about early dramas, so many to add and, as usual, so few time to watch them (if we can find them).

If my first japanese drama was a Super Sentai series from the 80s, my japanese drama journey really started with the late 2000s dramas. You've quoted many of my favorites, from Nobuta wo produce to Hanzawa Naoki, Kazoku Game or even Code Blue. Quartet, Mother, Liar Game, Tumbling, Byplayers, are also among my top rated dramas.

I enjoy a lot the diversity of genre in the japanese industry. Despite having left school for decades now, I still enjoy school dramas, and mystery/detective ones are among my favorites (shout out for the ones produced by WOWOW). But Japan has a way to tell stories that made me interested in topics and genres I would not have consider before. Workplace dramas and slice of life genre are coming to mind.

I have difficulty with longer dramas though (except for tokusatsus that are easy to digest): taigas are good but require too much energy for me to follow them (my last one was Sanada Maru and I remember the gorgeous opening more than the drama itself) and my first asadora ever is stuck on my on-hold list for probably forever now (Mare).

Once again, thanks for highlighting this history and many interesting dramas.

Can't believe it's been already two months since this article was released and I only read it today.

Well, what to say that other MDLers didn't already say?
Thank you very much and congratulations! It was once again a very detailed, informative and enjoyable article, with such an agreable writing style. I feel like, when reading your articles, and this one in particular, flying through times and witnessing cinema history in the making. I really appreciate your thoughts and insights on the era and the general context. Obviously, WWII in Obayashi's case was a constant "reference", which is of course understandable.
And yes, it is impressive that you managed to watch, gather the source materials and write this article in the span o f a month.

I must admit I have not seen any of his work, and I'm indeed not sure I would enjoy most of his movies. Yet I still added Four Sisters and his latest works on my PTW list... I think I've barely heard of him before you talked about him on the feeds, and indeed, he maybe not that famous in the West. Which, considering what you gave us to read, is a shame.

Thank you so much for such an interesting article and the throwback in past eras!
Looking forward to what you would come up with next time!

I used to not care (and be kinda oblivious) about PPL some years ago, maybe because I'm watching mainly Jdramas and there are fewer PPL there (except the announced sponsors before and after breaks, though it changed quite a lot lately), but they really became obvious to me when I started to watch GMM thai shows a few years ago. The PPL in those shows (let's say 5-4 years ago) was so ridiculous that it became kinda entertaining.
But generally, if it's not part of the plot or totally obvious like with cars, or inserted ads in the middle of the show, I don't see the PPL.
As for ramen, of course there are ramen in Jdramas, be it in cup bought in the combini (but I see it less nowadays) or at the restaurant (izakaya).

Ah (I thought about it when editing your article), a PPL that was really well done for me was the short Thai BL show Ingredients (sustained by a food retail sponsor): it was very obvious at the beginning, but as the story unfolds, the relationship is gaining a lot of place and the PPL is being more subtle (not that subtle but still better) and more diverse. But the whole show is an advertisment!

Thanks for the topic, it was nice to read about another aspect of asian shows!

Thanks a lot for this compilation. I've added to my PTW:
- Motokare ga Igonjo
- Dame na otoko ja, dame desu ka? (for Machida mainly)
- Ase to Sekken (need some unexpected light plot in my life)
- Shoutai (the most appealing and apparently strongest in terms of plot premise)
- Shizuka-chan to Papa (most likely heartwarming and family oriented?)
- Ending cut (the cast, Ashida ahead)
- Shoujiki Fudousan (need some idol in my list - okay there's Kame, but it would lead a heavy one I'm sure - at least with Yamapi I can expect a light show).
- Yukiguni (with Takahashi! ♥)
and probably many more I will never have the time to watch.

That was pretty helpful, thank you!

What a fun article, thank you for the ride (though I didn't read the last shape because I'm still planning to watch that drama!).
I loved how you rationnally analysed what is by essence a non rational thing. I loved the graphics too!
I'm not watching a lot of romance dramas, and, as many, I got mixed feelings about love shapes, and it indeed all depends on the story or on how things are delivered. But sometimes some minor love triangles (as long as they don't drag too much) can be a lot of fun.

Finally taking some time to read your article, and OMG! When is the release date?

Honeslty, I would watch any kind of plot with such a cast!

I'm not really familiar with Ghostbusters, I watched the anime at the end of 80es (or beginning of 90es, don't remember), and I have seen the first movie. Didn't know there were a second one with the original cast... but I'm digressing. I liked what I saw though, so any kind of similar story would be a lot of fun. This concept would definitely work adapted in the Japanese culture.

And yes, I would love to see all those actresses and actors work together on such kind of project. I like your casting choices, but, yeah, as someone already said, it would for sure cost a lot!

Thanks a lot for this article, it was a lot of fun to read it!

Thanks a lot for this compilation, it's really helpful!

I'll be less enthousiastic than for last seasons, not "a lot" of shows have caught my attention, but still way too many for the time I'll ever be able to spend in front of them.
On my PTW:
- Bakumatsu Aibouden
- Dakara Korosenakatta
- DCU
- Itoshii Uso: Yasashii Yami
- KeixYaku: Abunai Aibou
- Koi Senu Futari (can't miss Takahashi's drama!)
- Senshuikan Cappellini go no Boken (Nino!)
- Shijukara
- Tetsu Ota Michiko, 2 Man Kiro
- Tonari no Chikara (MJ!)
- 99.9 special (MJ too!)
- and second season of Kishibe Rohan...

I wouldn't say a 8,1 (at the moment) rating is low. Jdramas in general have fewer watchers than Kdramas (and maybe C-dramas, but not sure about that). And not everybody is rating their dramas episode by episode, lots pf people, me included, are waiting the ending to rate it, so it's hard to say if the rating is really accurate.
That being said, I do agree, it's pretty good, one of my favorite this season with a very interesting plot.

Well, I won't argue about Yamapi, partly because I didn't recall his character, partly because I watched it for him I think but probably stayed for the story.

I do totally agree about Hongo's acting in Nazo no Tenkousei, probably where he's shining the most, even if I'm generally enjoying his characters in almost all the things he has been, even the side characters.

Oh, it's been a while since I've seen someone talking about Long Love Letter. It was though often recommended to newcomers even at the beginning of the 2010. From today's point of view (and already at the time if I remember well) it does have a pretty interesting cast.
Nice to see Himitsu no Hanazono in your list too.

I haven't watched In this corner of the world, but it was always commented in a highly positive way.

Same case for Mare, it was very well received on MDL at the time. Maybe not as much as Amachan, but still it was one of the asadora I heard a lot of (hence why I tried it). I've put it on hold because I don't especially like Tsuchiya but it's all a matter of preferences. As always, the best way to know if it's to your liking is to try it.

Hope you'll find a drama you will enjoy. Starting with a short historical might be a good idea!

no spoiler, just long post

Hello!
Thanks a lot for this article, it was an interesting read, especially for the historical part.

I've seen all of the top ranked dramas except for Tenno no Ryoriban (not a big fan of food dramas), despite it to be on my PTW list since its release. It was highly praised at the time... Kieta Hatsukoi surprised me here, because as nice and entertaining and cute as it is, it is no match to the other ones (that is solely my opinion).

Also glad to see some diversity in dramas (at least in the top ranked, because most popular are only romance except for Imawa no Kuni no Arisu).

I'm not watching a lot of historical dramas, partly because of the number of episodes, and partly because I'm not that fond of historical re-enactments in general (I've studied history, it's difficult to convey past events and most of all unknown daily life in an accurate way). That being said, NHK's taigas are praise worthy at least for the settings and costumes as well as their capability to tell the events (even if they are contradicting themselves from one taiga to the other...).
I still need to really try an asadora, Mare is on my on-hold list for years now... maybe it was not the right story. I did like the energy it conveyed though.

I've a fair amount of top rated dramas so it's hard to choose a top 10, but here is my attempt (not really in order)
1. Mother (also in the top ranked), the only one I ever thought was a real 10 (despite its last scene, unnecessary to me)
2. Nobuta wo produce (my absolute favorite, for the amazing friendship, indeed)
3. Quartet (can't believe he is not in the top 10)
4. .Princess Maison
5. Byplayers
6. Hanzawa Naoki
7. Kazoku Game
8. Tumbling
9. Nankyoku Tairiku (this is the drama that made me cry the most)
10.Choudenshi Bioman (but its solely out of nostalgia and because I can't choose a 10th among my 10 ratings)

Sorry for the long post, and thanks a lot for the energy spent on gathering all those informations.

Oh! I'm relieved to know you didn't know everything about him before starting writing it! ;P

Thanks a lot for this article and the required amount of work.
I already said it to both of you, but I enjoyed a lot reading it, as I honestly knew nothing about this actor ,and had no idea how important he was in the Japanese entertainment industry.
Now I'm forever thankful for his agency doing the tokusatsus stunts! ;P

Thanks a lot for this detailed comment.
Yes, in fact I'm quite aware that Japanese movies at least, especially when they have been selected for the Cannes Film festival, are released in the country.
Actually I have seen True Mothers in theaters.

I should have been more specific, because, even it has a national release in the country, it doesn't mean it will be able everywhere. In countryside theaters, despite having "Arts et essais" labels, they can't bring every indie or foreign movies (I mean, not US and UK movies), as they don't have enough rooms or time schedule. When I watched True Mothers we were 4 in a 200 seats room... so it's not profitable for those theaters.
But thanks for reminding me that Drive my car is currently available for me!

On a side note, there is currently a national release for In the Mood for Love accross the country (even in small theaters).

Thanks a lot for the article.
It also reminded me I really need to watch Wife of a spy, which is probably of he very few that could come to my country's theaters.