Saburo

Latest NGN episode: 4/1/2017. Akabane in Kita-ku. First guest is a regular, Rokkaku Seiji -- one of those all-purpose yakkers. A young model gal joined them later: Hisamatsu Ikumi. Never heard of her before but her good looks are well represented in image searches. Go lookee!

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/burabura/backnumber/712000004-244.html
http://kininarugurume.info/%E8%A1%97%E3%83%96%E3%83%A9%E3%83%AD%E3%82%B1%E3%83%BB%E8%A1%97%E7%89%B9%E9%9B%86/post-149778/
https://kakaku.com/tv/channel=8/programID=32206/episodeID=1049447/

I'd like to add an additional drama title in the "Also Known As" slot above:

We're All Cracked.

Catching up on NGN episodes. This segment featuring Joshima and Kokubun searching for discarded food items was pretty good: https://www.ntv.co.jp/dash/tetsuwan_new/past/2017/0423/02/

I know Ikewaki is supposed to be the young 'un in this ensemble but man, there are moments in this drama where she looks EVERY BIT the wrong side of forty.

Ikewaki Chizuru?!! The middle-aged lady? No way, right? Next thing y'all be telling me is that Kanno Miho is playing ALL the mommys now...

New on NGN: 8/31/2019. Peaches. Guest is from one of them 48 groups, Suda Akari.
https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/08/31/

Just completed the first three (3) episodes on NGN-TV. I can't believe I didn't recognize Mizuki Arisa under all that makeup and kimono layering. She looks ready to tackle the yakuza lady roles now. And kudos to Sano Shiro: back in his element as the crazy/grumpy/creepy old guy capable of annihilation at any given moment in time. Those two make up for any shortcomings in the plot, etc.

Also: Hamabe Minami is beautiful.

Latest NGN: 8/17/2019. Tobetsu, Hokkaido. Ingredient: flaxseed oil. Well... they can't all be winners. The seafood gyoza soup looked good though. And can't go wrong with Jingisukan BBQ. https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/08/17/

Latest NGN episode: 3/18/2017. Nippori, Arakawa-ku. Guests are on the regular rotation: comedians Takeyama and Shibata.

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/burabura/_basic/backnumber/index-242.html
https://kakaku.com/tv/channel=8/programID=32206/episodeID=1045733/

Latest NGN episode: grass-fed beef in Yakumo, Hokkaido. https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/08/10/ Two dudes from DA PUMP get to eat ALL the meats!

New NGN episode: 3/4/2017. Bakuro Yokoyama. Guests are probably my faves: Imori Miyuki and Sawabe Yuu. They just "get" the entire program the mostest.

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/burabura/_basic/backnumber/index-240.html

New on NGN: "ryukyu" in Kochi-ken. https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/08/03/ Some big, stalk veggie grown from a taro-like root. Another comedy duo joins the fun although only one of them dominates the jabber.

OK final episode aired and watched on Wednesday evening. Good show overall. Gotta say: the structure of the last chapter was truly all over the place, like nothing I've ever seen in J-dramas, particularly romcoms. I get the impression that this was one of those shows that was being tinkered with in mid-production. But they managed not to ruin things.

Also grateful there were *zero* references to current pandemic events. Give me fantasy, not everyday reality.

New NGN episode: flying fish in Izumo, Shimane-ken: https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/07/27/

Guest: some comedy duo that's been on before. "Aozora Restaurant" rotates a bunch of 'em.

New on NGN: 2/18/2017, Toranomon and Kamiyacho. Guests: Jinnai Tomonori (formerly Mr. Fujiwara Norika) and Takizawa Karen, some model gal who I don't think takes kindly to Ariyoshi's jabs.

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/burabura/_basic/backnumber/index-239.html
https://kakaku.com/tv/channel=8/programID=32206/episodeID=1037799/

Latest NGN episode: honey made at the airport in Shimane-ken: https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/07/20/ Guest: IKKO. Not really a fan, too giggly at times.

New on NGN: 2/4/2017 Jyuugaoka and Kuhonbutsu. Sakashita Chiriko returns along with a noob, Uchida Rio. More upscale shops and diners, although the shotengai eats look reasonable.

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/burabura/backnumber/712000004-237.html
https://kakaku.com/tv/channel=8/programID=32206/episodeID=1033850/

Latest NGN: mustard in Yamanashi-ken: https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/07/13/

Guest star: Masuda from NEWS. I think of that group as one of the newer Johnnys but man, dude is in his thirties!

I had no idea that COVID was part of the storyline....

Premiere NGN episode: Joshima from TOKIO doing overnight maintenance at Haneda Airport and researching soil samples for a rooftop garden.
https://www.ntv.co.jp/dash/tetsuwan_new/past/2016/1211/01/
https://www.ntv.co.jp/dash/tetsuwan_new/past/2016/1211/02/

New NGN episode: scallion chives in Utsunomiya, Tochigi-ken. Guest star: Hanawa! Haven't seen this dude in years.
https://www.ntv.co.jp/aozora/location/2019/06/29/