realdeal

Quite possibly the best characterization I've seen for a female lead in a jdrama. The perseverance of the company to produce this car and the women who learn to love it. It maybe a made up connection but believable thanks to sensibilities that are common in jdramas. Wonderfully acted all throughtout with perfect pacing and that soulful ending song this drama is a zen to watch. My quintessential Japanese drama of 2023.

9.5/10

I came for aliens but got something moving/inspiring in the end. Aliens are just huge symbolic for this very familiar theme they have in the movie. Acting is kinda decent for these young actors and I like the cinematography as it's shows the beauty of Japanese country side.

8.5/10

These kids needs some milk or maybe since they are older make them run on the field and let the battle royale begin. The acting is kinda mixed you could really tell those with child acting experience. I get all the complains but that's just the style of this type of drama from Japan, mystery novel vibe, unrealistic, stagey, preachy, in your face and that's the point. There is some build up which hopefully will payoff later.

That trailer looks promising, Nojima Shinji is more hit or miss than Takashi Miike and his recent works are mostly misses. Iitoyo Marie looks very convincing in this role.

I haven't watched any but from the clips that I've seen and based on the description from people who watched it they feel makjang to me or even more exaggerated. Well that era is full of exaggerated dramas like sukeban series etc. their normal series with drama elements are also over the top those are the ones that felt makjang to me. Try searching "daiei drama" on youtube.

It is too old for my taste and the style is a lot different than the 90s I consider 90s - early 2000s jdramas the best. And I guess finding english subtitles for those series is close to impossible.

1980s jdrama basically a makjang try watching some clips on youtube.

Nana mori would be master chef one day another role where she is a good cook. As expected it is very cliche but that kenshi x nimura sawa chemistry surprised me I hope those 2 will get more screentime as this drama progress.

I like how utaha doesn't need to change her look.

So that game they are playing is real lol but I like that there is symbolism in that game in connection with the theme of this drama. Did they just pick any available random game and accidentally everything just match? crazy. Anyway those friends he gained in that game made him not lose his sanity (virtual friends) and in real life the foreigner konbini guy the only person he can talk to. This is a lot deeper than I thought it would be when I read the synopsis, there are other societal issues they tackle but it doesn't come off as preachy, more on the comedic vibe no over the top drama, just the way a great slice of life jdrama should be.

9.5/10

This is very good, unique directing, smart and heartfelt writing with subtle jabs to issues in society. Japanese drama at its best.

aoi morikawa

I love how two common tropes from countries such as Japan and Philippines blended naturally together to create a very philosophical theme in the end. The movie is not that hard to follow especially if you are interested in the subject the pacing is very good.

9/10

Episode 4 is very good what a masterpiece I watch jdramas for something like that. If this continues this would be my best jdrama this year beating brush up life.

This type of Japan drama just value substance over style that's why people who are not used to it usually hated it. Unlike other romantic dramas romance was not meant to make your heart flutter, no piggy back ride or a girl chasing the bus scenes (well there is one similar scene and that's why it almost fooled me) it will always go for the realism and whether your ship will sail or not they will not give af.

They just gave us more michi makoto scenes to make us root for them to fool us but do we really know what the female lead feels? I read there will be an SP and it would be about the 9 months before the ending.

The last time I got bamboozled by the ending is in the drama Love Song. I really thought it would be michi makoto end game but just like in real life it doesn't matter what you want, what is right, there are many couples that should not be together that are together and whether it would work is up for them. I guess that's the open ending here their relationship, will it fix their relatioship or just end up like that coffee shop owner. I still like this drama though for the fact that they really nail the theme perfectly and that's the most important but since most are here for the romance I understand the hate since their ship didn't sail lol.

9/10

I don't think the manga end yet and most of the time jdrama writers have too much freedom. They don't religiously follow the manga.

It's your typical Japanese movie that challenges social norms and gender roles if you've seen one the setting is similar. A very interesting lead character and it seems Toko Miura was tailored for this role, Atsuko Maeda is surprisingly good here too and there's a surprise cameo by Takumi Kitamura at the end and I must say what an important character for the movie. If you love Koisenu Futari I really recommend this one this would feel familar.

9/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ivG6D8fLAU <--- Ending Song

I don't know if its jail time but if it's not he can still work with netflix and seems he got enough connections for smaller indie films.

I would say timeskip then these 2 would accidentally meet . . . open ending.

Though it's very slow it's still nice to see a drama that derails from your typical jdrama formula it is one of those. Last minutes of episode 1 got me hooked after that next episodes are just breeze to watch. A potential hidden gem for this murakami-esque drama.