Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou

One boring evening, I happened to cross path with this anime that suddenly took my attention because of the cute puppy, but also because of the premise of the series.

"Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou" is a series about Kazuhito, an avid book reader and one of the fans of the famous and mysterious writer known as Akiyama Shinobu. Because of an incident in a cafe, he was shot and killed while protecting a stranger. With his intense will to live (he doesn't want to die before reading the last book of his favorite series by Akiyama) he came back as a cute little Dachshund. He was later taken in by the stranger, Natsuno, who, can not only hear his thoughts, but also the author known as Akiyama. Together they went through strange and hilarious adventures, while Natsuno is recovering from a slight writer's slump.

The animation style is quite average, along with the voice acting, for a series of such production. But what draws me in is the development of the characters and the story as the lives of the two progresses. The first 2 to 6 episodes, although filled with some comedic moments plus a dash of mystery (almost like a detective drama), expresses deep emotions about loss, self-doubt, and search for atonement and salvation. All rooted from the untimely death of Kazuhito.

I do like the love-hate relationship the two have. Its a sense of hating their guts, at the same time feeling they cannot live without the other. There are a lot of times that Natsuno displays jealousy when girl fawn over Kazuhito (being a cute fluffy dog).

A scene which disturbs me, though, is where Kazuhito declares that his book collection are his 'children'. Natsuno, being the author of those very books, also considers herself the mother of those books. She then blushes and thinks of ways how they could have children, with Kazuhito being a dog and all. She then blabbers on about different ways they could conceive given their physical differences. Oh well, a small price to pay for such an enjoyable series.

This would definitely keep you craving to see the next episode. Whether it be the next chapter of an adventure they are having, or a new on they are opening up.

J-Drama: Toshi Densetsu no Onna

This police-detective comedy drama stars Nagasawa Misami as Otonashi Tsukiko. A newly assigned detective who is cooky and has amazing deductive skills but is so obsessed with linking crimes to urban legends or myths. She does her best in connecting the crime on each episode to a major Japanese urban myth, but always ends up solving the crime and proving otherwise.

As a rookie detective who is young and attractive, she never shy in using allure and somewhat seducing suspects, persons of interest and fellow officers to get information and favors. She also admits to it that it is the reason why she wears such skimpy skirts that shows much of her legs.

The series also explains the premise and origins of various urban myths that is made famous around Japan. If you love crime-mystery dramas and a bit of the occult and superstitions, this is a light hearted series for you.

... Although I got into it first because Misami looks like my crush, Otsuka Chihiro during her "Attention Please" days...

Death Note (2015 live drama adaptation)

 

I just got off an all nighter with the recent episodes of this year's adaptation of the popular series 'Death Note' by Nihon TV, which I incidentally saw the ad at a book store in Chiba with the re-release of the manga.

Now, as someone who read the manga, watched the anime, and all live movie adaptaions by Warner Bros., I think nothing can shock me now, since I know the plot and story inside out. But a sudden surge from the net in an uproar because they cast Near as a girl, got me thinking... maybe this is to renew all that yaoi fan art stuff that burst through the seams in its hayday.

Then, upon seeing the trailer ad, I became curious.

And boy, I was wrong.

Its like a 'what if' universe of the original series, with all the twists and turns but still satisfactorily teis in back to the main plot. As soon as you relax and think 'Oh boy, this is gonna happen' (because you know the series already) then, BOOOM you get served a halthy serving of story twist that leaves you wanting more.

As Yagami Light, actor Masataka Kubota has nothing going for him in potraying the series anti-hero. He delivers Light as a traumatized youth with a gloomy outlook , but still kept in check by his college buddies. Unlike the bishonen, ultra intelligent and livin the good life but too stubborn to realize it Light that we know, Kubota brings a certain level of helplessness, gloom and bleak outlook...add that with the past of the character, makes for a more believable roots of the twisted form of justice which is Kira. And as the series progresses, I cant help but notice the transformation of Kubota's face...from a helpless teen, to a paranoid and delusional person absorbed by the power of the Death Note.

Kento Yamazaki gives the familiar 'L' that we all know, but his relationship with Watari (played by Kazuaki Hankai) gets a more comedic turn...at times.

Then there was Near...and her ventreloquist doll Mello (?!?).

Well, at first I said...well, that was a cute potrayal...like a little sister trying to impress her big brother. But it was later apparent that the doll is the personification of her split personality. In episode 4, it shows that Mio Yuki-san was actually providing the voice for the doll, having fights and a scream match between Near and Mello. And as the scene closes, she was laughing manically as screen fades.

I suddenly fell in love with the new Near/Mello character.

It was also refresing to see some of my fave supporting actors in a different light. Like Jiro Sato (Densha Otoko, Jin, Gokusen) and Yutaka Mastushige (Love Call Center, Propose Daisakusen) was quite refreshing.

I can7t wait what twists awaits me on the next episodes.

Asian Home Box Office in "Screen Red"

Asian movie affecionados rejoice!!

There is now a channel dedicated to Asian movies (Japanese, Korean, Chinese) which are professionally subtitled, like one of those feature films with foreign languages, and delivered right to your cable TV. From the guys at HBO Asia and Mei Ah comes 'Screen Red', quality Asian movies and features.

Me and my wife can't get enough of Japanese dramas and movies. We'd buy tons of DVD's, download series from the net, or borrow some top quality original DVD's if we're lucky enough. But now, with the 'Screen Red' channel featuring award winning feature films and distinct movies with their own charater and flair, our appetite for the best Asian movies, whether be it Japanese, Korean or Mandarin, is topped off. Its a dream come true.

The problem now is, we don't get much sleep because of all the good features, especially in the weekends.

Mr. Brain

I recently finished the J-drama 'Mr.Brain' and I must say, it held my intrest in the series so much that I wanted to watch continuously until the end.

Takuya Kimura stars as Ryusuke Tsukumo a genius neuro scientist whose quick wit, gut instinct and scientific deduction helps the police in capturing and solving criminal cases.

But it wasn't always like that. In the start of the series, he is sort like a clueless airhead but with a good heart and a good judge of character. After a freak accident, his brain was partially damaged making both sides of his brain work together to compensate for the damaged areas. The flurry of brain activity made it like a sponge and he was able to study well finishing Neuroscience. He was then assigned to the newly formed Brain Sciences Division of the Institute of Police Science, a braintrust that provides the police with data regarding cases while developing new approaches in Forensic Science.

Aside from an intresting plot, the story and character development, along with gripping developments within the way cases are solved. There's not that much plot twists that I would expect from a J-drama, though. Its like a cross between CSI, House, Team Dragon Iryu and Tantei Gakuen Q with Takuya Kimura adding his own twist into the character.

Shin Nozokiya (by Hideo Yamamoto)

No secret is safe from the guys of Nozokiya. For the right price, they will go to any lengths, employing the latest tools and gadgets for spying, to get the low down on the person you want followed. The team consisting of the highly professional Cho, the impulsive hot head Ken, and the trainee who Ken refers to as Smile, witness some weird facts, practices and perversions of the people involved in the case they are handling.

The main protagonist in the series is Ken, who seems to be a very talented voyeur. His skill, investigative deduction and pure gut instinct helps the team unravel the facts they need to finish the job.

The person who seems to act as the conscience of the group is the 17yr old Reika, who joins the guys on occassions. She develops a special bond with Ken after being rescued, with the help of Smile, from the clutches of her lecherous father.

This series by Yamamoto Hideo was serialized in Shogakukan back in 1994 and didn't seem to garner much popularity, even after having a live action drama series and movie based on it. The manga is filled with perversions of human behavior (mostly sexual) infused in a story with dark overtones and sick humor. I usually get gloomy and feel indifferent after reading a volume or two...but the way secrets are revealed or the case unfolds just gets me intrested enough to reach up and grab the next one.

I think the author exposes to the public what perversions that is taking place in society that a select few knows about and kept hidden from the public light. Hell, Ken spends most of his free time getting blowjobs in booths in his favorite joint. I didn't think there were such places in Japan.

Tantei Gakuen Q

I previously had a "Shida Mirai" festival of my own courtesy of guitarist and friend, Justin. I had seen Shida Mirai before in "Juuyon Sai no Haha" (14 Yr. Old Mother) and had hoped to see her in a more comedic role...or a more lighter character, cause thats what I think fits her projected personality.

First up is the live drama adaptation of the anime "Tantei Gakuen Q". And as the anime goes, its the story of 5 students who strive to be the successor of the famous Detective Dan and the Q Academy. The students that form the team is a mish mash of talents and personalities that augment each other's talents when they go solve a crime together. There is the overly optimistic, intelligent and naive Kyuu. The hyperactive, cosplaying Megu, with her photographic memory. The enigmatic and highly intelligent Ryuu. The group's tech and computer expert, Kazuma. And the eldest in the group (and the strongest when it comes to fights) is the sarcastic Kintaro. Each of them have their own reasons for joining the class, which was divulged later in the series as each character was put on the spotlight. Although I can say that Kyuu, Ryuu and Kintaro's stories are the most relevant to the flow and outcome of the story.

They also face Dan's arch nemesis, the "Meiosei", an organization that acts as a 'planner' for criminal acts, mostly murder. They utilize hypnosis and the weakness of human hearts in a two-fold effect; to make their 'clients' carry out the murder plan (even though they changed their minds of not going through with it) and as a safety plan, that activates when the perpetrator of the crime is caught by the Q Academy (it ends up with either the client's memory being erased when certain keywords or actions are made, instant insanity, or suicide).

In watching the series, I marvel at Kyuu's deductive reasoning as he figures out the 'alibi play' that most of the criminals used. But I do hate the cheesy, chummy chummy parts that usually occurs around Kyuu or Ryuu or Megu. And though Kintaro seems unreliable, he has the deepest human interest story in the series.

Although some of the mysteries seems obvious its still a fun series to watch. And you have to give it up to these young actors for their portrayal of the characters which, I heard, stayed true to the anime character's personalities and attributes.