S. Yue Michaelis

Orange Days is about a group of students in their last year at college dealing with friendships, love, job prospects, and life in general. (asianwiki)


Another oldie, and it was a good one. It may be a bit of a shock when you start watching it (the quality is poor, very VHS-like, although I've seen worst, like "TRICK" and "Love Generation"), but immediately it grabs you. At least that happened to me. I like slice of life stories; they are my favorite kind of manga, and this one has everything I look forward in a shoujo: romance (not the cheesy kind), friendship, life in school, worries about the future, etc. It felt nostalgic: looking for a job, worrying about which path to take for the future, having fun with friends, etc. The OST helped a lot: they are two kind, the sad, serious one, and the happy, youngish one (the same that is at the opening sequence).

Talking about opening sequence, I enjoyed watching both the opening and the ending sequences. They were also nostalgic and so college-ish.

The cast was really good. Not the first time I see Shibasaki Kou (Sae) and I still think she looks fierce. She was so awesome as Sae. She had to learn sing language and she did it so naturally. I love to learn new things when I watch doramas, and with OD I learned a little bit of Japanese Sign Language. After a couple of episodes, it was so natural to see them talking thru signs. Certainly Tsumabaki Satoshi (Kai) and Siraishi Miho (Akane) were incredible with signs. It didn't feel awkward at all, unlike the girl playing Miho, Kai's girlfriend and Sae's mother.

At first I wasn't interested in Akane's and Shouhei's (Narimiya Hiroki) romantic story... How come girls like bad boys instead of nice guys? Specially since I love Eita (Keita). But eventually I came to like them; it was impossible not to since the group was so good. Akane was such a nice friend and funny sometimes, not at all annoying. Keita and Shouhei were different one from the other, but what made them similar was how good friends they were (they even learned a little bit of sign language... not much, but it made the story more realistic every time one of them was "what did she say?" or "how do you say xxx?")

Literally there is a love triangle with each one of them: Kai with his gf + Sae; Shouhei and his lover (Yamada Yuu) + Akane; Akane and Shouhei + Keita; Sae and her sempai + Kai; and at the end (and the one that pissed me off) Sae and the guy + Kai. I just don't understand why a girl has to get engaged just by spite, which is what Sae does... Actually I dislike almost entirely the last 2 episodes. Ok, not "dislike" since I love the whole dorama, but they were my least favorites. It succumbed to the clicheness, while it has been so original at first (having a deaf MC).

I think it is impossible not to like this dorama at least a little bit. It has wonderful characters, a wonderful cast, a sweet story, a nice romance, the main couple is so cute, the hero is the prototype of perfect boyfriend, the OST is sweet, the feelings are nostalgic. Kinda like Nodame Cantabile (funny, it has 3 NC characters: Nodame (Ueno Juri was so young! with a round face... I think she was like 16 at that time... then Mine (my dear Eita, the always nice guy) and Son Rui).

The love story between Kai and Sae was my favorite until the last 2 episodes. Before that, I love their bickering, their chemistry, their friendship. So in spite of seeming a gloomy dorama, it is not (although at first, in Ep. 1 & 2, Sae has some sad speeches, about why is she deaf, and if there is no light, she wouldn't be able to communicate... it was really touching). This dorama is sweet and although some parts were typical of dramas (misunderstandings, being apart from the other for a long time, etc.) they did not drag since it only has 11 episodes (the best thing about J-doramas).

Synopsis

The special took place half a year after the series' end. With Osaka Gakuen getting ready for an upcoming Valentine's Day event, Sano and Nakatsu reflect on the final week of their last summer vacation, which falls into the timeline of the original series between episodes 7 and 8. The special also includes a graduation scene and addresses the relationship between Mizuki and Sano. (wiki.d-addicts)

I think this may be the best school-based Japanese dorama ever. It is really funny! It has a little bit of everything: comedy (a lot), friendship, silliness (a lot), craziness (a lot), romance, gay love... I am reviewing the SP only, but I will comment on the dorama as well. The script, director or whatever, made all the things that were MEH in 11 episodes turn into NICE! in the SP. Like:

- the romance. For 11 episodes it was so MEH. No chemistry between Sano and Mizuki. In fact, it was like he could not stand her (and he was right. She was too meddlesome). And who did not want Mizuki to end with Nakatsu? First time where the third one in the wheel is more appealing than the actual hero.

- less adults, more students. I disliked the nurse, especially because he was such a misogynist. He treated his ex-girlfriend like she was the pest. I hated his "blue" eyes, his hair, his character. Besides all the scenes that were Sano/Mizuki, I fast-forwarded the scenes with the creepy nurse the 2nd time I watched the dorama. But in the SP, his role is tiny! Yokattaaa And the SP was almost 100% about the boys and their silliness.

- Mizuki less focused in Sano. In the SP she realizes she loves her classmates and the school. It is not all about "Sano this, Sano that". It shows pieces of the 7th and 8 episodes, things that happened in between of what we watched it. She spends more time with the boys, creating more memories with them. So it is not untrue when, at the end, she gives her speech.


Now, I will review the boys (+ Mizuki), because each one of them is important to the story. Besides, I don't think this was an "ikemen paradise". Most of them had the worst hairstyle (and I am almost used to Japanese weird hairstyle... ok, not really). In my opinion, there are only 2 pretty boys and 2 cute boys.

Mizuki. I have to say I don't think that Horikita Maki is a good actress. She is too stiff. She can't cry. She does not have many facial expressions. But she is extremely charismatic, and I love to watch her doramas. She is perfect for cross-gender roles: she is not too girly, not too skinny, and she is very cute! Her short hair suits her very much. She looks like a little boy, but a pretty, cute little boy. No wonder why Nakatsu falls for her.

Sano. Hmmmm... I can't understand WHY people says he is good looking. Honestly, he is not. At least in the SP his hair is a little bit better. But, come on! Look at this picture. He seriously needed a cut in the back, where it is close to the neck. Ok, not really. He needed to cut all the ends. And to be honest, he is not really a good actor. He has like, two expressions only: the angry one and the bored one. And I have watched many of his works (the only one where he was good was in Gokusen). Maybe he needs another role where he is not "kakkoi". But he certainly improved in the SP and was more likeable even. What is more important, it was more obvious in the SP that he really liked her.

Nakatsu. His hair is also better in the SP. And he has a solo scene that is hilarious (a monologue, Nakatsu-style). Toma is one of the cute guys. He has a cute smile, too bad for that ugly, orange hair! But he is funny again in the SP, and although Sano's character improved here, I still think Mizuki made the wrong choice.

Nanba-sempai (Dorm Leader 2). Errr.. no need to say he is one of the pretty guys, right? He has delicate features, and I love his hairstyle! In the SP he has a kind of crush on "Julia", a "blond" American girl (haha, I love this in Japanese dramas... the wigs! Excellent). The girl who played Julia has already acted in the dorama, only as a different character. She is gorgeous (half Japanese, half French). And again, Nanba-sempai gets a kiss from his male fan XD

Tennoji (Dorm Leader 1). This guy is fantastic! Basically, his role is the same as it was in the dorama. No changes. Still in love with Kanna (I like how he pronounce it: Kan-na), who is played by a super young Kiritani Mirei. When I saw him in Gokusen I was "Oh! Dorm Head!".

Oscar (Dorm Leader 3). It may be unnecessary to say, but the Dorm Heads are the best! Oscar is like another Tamaki (from OHSH) but more of a drama queen! He makes the whackiest expressions.

Kayashima. Awful hair, nice smile. His role is funny, but too bad he barely talks in the SP. I don't find him handsome at all, he always has weird haircuts that don't suit him at all.

Kagurazaka. Another guy I don't understand why people find him attractive. Just look at that hair in the picture... horrendous! But he cuts it for the SP and his role is tiny but kind of funny. It is related to the kiss Sano gave him in the dorama.

Sekime. 2nd pretty guy. Luckily he does not have this ugly shade of blond, but even so, his hair is a mess, both in the dorama and in the SP. But he has a nice smile, so it is weird no one remembers his name!

Nakao. 2nd cute boy. His hair is longer in the SP, which of course was an incorrect thing to do. In the memories from 7th episode he has short hair, but in the 7th 1/2 episode he has it longer. Not that it was bothersome, but still, it was fun to notice it. As it happened with several boys, actually.

Junpei. He does not even has a name in the dorama, and I thought he was not going to be in the SP, but he was.

Honorary mention: Hibari. A crazy sempai, leader of the girls dorm and head-over-heals for Sano. Even though I've seen her in another doramas, to me, she will always be Hibari, the egocentric chick.

I love the SP, I like the OP song a lot (Ikenai taiyou.. nanananana), I love the actors, I like the OST in general, the setting, the clothes, the competitions and festivals... At the end, 1 hour and 45 minutes felt short. One of the best shoujos doramas I've seen.

My rating: 10/10

Synopsis

15-year-old Ikeuchi Aya was an ordinary girl, the daughter of a family who works at a tofu shop, and a soon-to-be high schooler. However, odd things have been happening to Aya lately. She has been falling down often and walks strange. Her mother, Shioka, takes Aya to see the doctor, and he informs Shioka that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration - a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. A cruel disease, as it does not affect the mind in the least. How will Aya react when told about her disease? And how will Aya live from now on?


I read some reviews; most of them said that "they cried a liter of tears" while watching this dorama. Now, I love to cry when I read/watch inspiring/touching story, but I don't do it necessarily all the time. So I doubted I was going to with this dorama, with all the hype. And it turned out the title is not misleading at all. There was a constant runny nose during the whole 45minutes, especially around episode 5. This dorama is beautiful, touching, sweet, and everything that is positive. Sawajiri Erica is a wonderful actress (I only heard about her after "her scandal"). She has a beautiful smile, and when she cries, you will cry. In spite of her terrible disease, she smiles to encourage herself and her family. I was so mad and sad in the episode where she talks to her classmates... I dare anyone not to cry in this one.

At first I was not impressed with Ryo; he seemed to sullen and with one expression only. Besides, I've read his character was made-up; he did not exist in the real Aya's life. But eventually, I warmed towards him, and the few times he cried, it was impossible not to be moved; by his tears (my, one tear after another; he can really cry) and by this doomed love. Honestly, most of the times, I am never moved by doomed loves, but it was an exception with Aya and Asou-kun. Every time they were together I was thinking "why? why can they be happy?".

My favorites actresses were (besides Sawajiri Erika, of course) Yakushimaru Hiroko as the mother and Narumi Riko as Ako, the sister. Poor mother, she has to face this disease with a encouraging smile for her daughter, and she had to gave in many things. I can't imagine her pain. She was the first to notice that her daughter had a problem, she was the first to know the terrible truth, and she had to stand up in school against selfish parents.

As for Ako, who is a tsundere, was a supportive younger sister, and the episode where she talks to her brother (who was ashamed to have a disabled sister) was beyond moving (I had a big lump in my throat... to be honest, that lump did not go away for the entire 11 episodes).

I love this story. I love the soundtrack (all songs, including the one that the students sing twice). Each episode ended with the words of the real Aya, taken out from her diary, + pictures of her in school, in bed, in her wheelchair; with her family, friends...

Highly recommended. And be prepared to shed multiple tears.

My rating: 10/10

I have no idea why I have never heard/read anything about this story. Seems like it is a very popular manga (which I intend to read eventually). And how come I have never read that Kame made a movie with Ueno Juri!!? Who happens to be one of my favorite actresses. I am happy with all the costars Kame had so far: Horikita Maki, Ayase Haruka, Tabe Mikako, Kuroki Meisa, Anne and Ueno Juri. Not only beautiful girls of the same generation, but they also can act.

The beginning of this movie is excellent for any hyphen: starts with Ueno Juri (Nodame-chan!) in school with Koki, Maru and Kame. That's right, 3 members of KAT-TUN! I was pleasantly surprised about this fact, I had no idea about this.

The movie is a mystery with a touch of scariness. It is actually similar to "And then there were none" but with a bit of paranormal elements. A group of people is spending time in a far-away hotel, Hajime (Kame) and his childhood friend Miyuki (Ueno Juri), among others. Hajime is kind of a womanizer and also the grandson of a famous detective. One night Miyuki is attacked by the vampire, along with another guest, who then is murdered. Eventually, other people get killed and Hajime, in order to help his friend (who is a suspect), uses his skills to catch the murderer.

I liked the movie because I love mysteries. The whole time there was a fog surrounding the hotel, which help to make it more eerie. Kame was great as Hajime; I prefer him in roles that are not the kakkoi type; Hajime was cool but also more relaxed and kind of baka when it came to girls.