jesterstear999

It isn't the ending that we wanted- (Daikichi getting together with that divorcee- she was a widow in the film so that Rin could run off with Kouki), but it isn't actually the train wreck that people say.

Rin being 6 when they met is significant, as Westermarck's hypothesis proposes that the incest taboo is biological and develops in children up until the age of 6. It explains why brothers and sisters separated at birth (often unknowingly) form sexual relationships when they meet as adults.

It isn't uncommon for young girls (you never hear about boys, but I think that may be dual standards) to be attracted to much older men who they see as replacement father figures, Rin has had 10 years to develop those feelings.

No doubt if Daikichi had formed a family with the divorcee and her child, Rin and Kouki would have been attracted to each other and married.

In the manga, his grandfather is said to be the father, but he isn't, he just took her mother in when she was pregnant and adopted Rin. Daikichi stops her opening her birth certificate*, so I assume her real father is named on it.

*He is afraid if she realises she is actually no relation of his she will have a breakdown or identity crisis or something. He already knows because of his Grandfather's will, ("to my adopted daughter Rin, I leave the residue of my estate" or similar)

Rin eventually tells her mother that she is all confusicated because she loves Daikichi and wants his babies but feels it is wrong because it is incestuous, so her mother says not to worry, he isn't related to you anyway....

Not that I recall, in the manga he falls for a girl who works with him in his office, and seems to be thinking of marrying her at the end. The single mom with kid in this drama goes the same way as Usagi Drop, you think they are attracted to each other but they never get close. Making him a photographer spoilt it really.

I was disappointed too, the 2013 drama is way, way better.

Tamashiro Tina is outstandingly miss-cast as Himawari, nothing wrong with her acting, she just didn't look the part- and that hair colour?
Maru and Moro looked about 15 years too old (but I suppose given that most J-Drama High Schoolers are the wrong side of 25, I suppose it is normal)

Yuko is fine, Watanuki and Doumeki are good too.

The plot was all mixed up- I've seen the 2013 drama, the anime and read most of the manga and although I could pick out the threads it didn't make much sense, you'd have no chance of understanding it if this is the first thing you watch.

I wasn't put off by the music like some, but the anime does it better.




I did like Watanuki's room though :)

I loved this, but I have to say that Dragon Zakura takes the same idea- get no-hopers into Todai and is just miles better. The main reason to watch this is Kawaguchi Haruna, although I think she gave a better performance in Houkago wa Mystery Totomo ni tbh.

The whole persuing his dream of becoming a famous photographer thing is just wrong, and the single mother at nursery- they lifted that from Usagi Drop

I liked it, but the manga is so much better, I don't know why they had to change it so much.

I loved it!
Takito Kenichi plays his usual role of unconventional detective, the late Takeuchi Yuko is great as Sherlock, whilst Kanjiya Shihori has little to do as the frumpy Wato (I spent most of her screen time wondering why she kept wearing those tops- unless she was heavily pregnant for the whole series)

I was left puzzled at the end, I could rationalise either interpretation. Such a pity that ther couldn't be a season 2.

Try not to overthink it- like how Sherlock with the most brilliant mind in the world can't see through pretty much the oldest evil villain cliche in the book until episode 7. (nag mara!) You'll guess the villain by episode 4 for sure!

I'll give Strawberry Night a watch soon for more Yuko.

Loved it, especially the catchy soundtrack. Wanko is virtually unrecognisable with her hair down and normal clothes in ep #6.

And amusing though it is to us English speakers, Wanko actually means puppy

Ep10

That was a nasty trick, poor Baba, now he really has nothing. At least he isn't dead though.

That went right over my head when I watched it!

I just thought she's been rejected, her department split up, no more comfy days working with her friends, and she doesn't even feel like building a model today.....

I've got to get out of this mindset of expecting happy endings :)

I might be very dense not to get it, but did he reject her? Was it as Chiemi said? He did look more flattered than overjoyed I suppose.....

The actress playing the assistant Ikuta Chiemi at the model shop is down as Ishikawa Erika on imdb.

Ep7
The truck incident was a clear failure of leadership from Sgt. Oki- which is ultimately Sakurama's responsibility.
He sends the inexperienced newbie to unload the second truck on his own, whilst he and the corporal unload the first together. He should have sent the corporal- either with Kukosho, or kept Kukosho with him if the first truck needed two people.
Neither Baba nor Kukosho were briefed on what to do if something happened- where to send someone with a problem or how to get assistance, it isn't like it is the first evacuation the SDF have been to.

Looks like Sakurama won't make Colonel by 35 now.....


When she is shouting at Kukosho, she says 自分勝手な行動は取るなと which I translate as "I told you not to be selfish"
She is referring back to when she told him they work as a team, and the selfish actions of a single member can get the squad wiped out

But he was hardly selfish was he? she is obviously telling him that initiative is punished (just like at my job).

I'm loving this at the moment (up to episode 6)
Nothing happens except a succession of characters become better people once they discover "the Way of the Model Kit"

Kubota Yuki is from Mystery to Iunakare, is there anybody else?

I'm half way through Mystery to Iunakre, the story is a bit too much for me- I started watching Deka Wanko instead :)

EDIT: I remember! Sakurama is the dead girl from Mystery- his cousin.

On the official website it lists the main cast of Baba, Yame Kokusho & Sakurama, then the other 6 in the team are only down as part 1 cast, with 5 new actors as part 2

The Fuji TV website says that Kokusho & Baba are joining regular infantry, the others are splitting up,
(Muto- Hygiene Department (is that Medical Corps?) Watanabe- Supplies Og- Accounts Kenta (the young one who doesn't do much)- Field Special? )

but it doesn't mention Arai or Maruyama, so chances are one of them will join with Baba and Kokusho for the rest of the series, probably Arai, as he is a bigger star than Maruyama.

This keeps disappearing and I don't know why, but Matsu from Nanba MG5 is in episode 5.

The writers were really laying it on thick, Baba's parents care about him and seem so proud, I can picture the scene where Chu goes to see them to tell them how Baba died. What a contrast with Chu's mother and "why are you here?"

Still, we don't know what things were like between her making him curry and the bag packing scene, He was probably pretty nasty to her husband.