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J - dorama ~ A

Title: Age 35 Koishikute

Cast: Nakai Kiichi, Tanaka Misako, Seto Asaka, Shiina Kippei

Scriptwriter: Nakazono Miho

Theme: "Iiwake" by Sharan Q

On Air: FujiTV 1996 Apr 18 - Jun 27

Title: Ai nante iraneeyo, Natsu

Cast: Watabe Atsurou, Hirosue Ryouko

Theme: "Life" by Ikeda Ayako

On Air: TBS 2002 Jul 12 - Sep 13

Title: Ai to seishun no takarazuka ~ koi yori mo inochi yori mo 

Cast: Fujiwara Norika, Kimura Yoshino, Yonekura Ryouko, Nakatani Miki, Shiina Kippei, Yusuke Santamaria, Nakamura Tooru

Theme: "Be with you" by LanLan

On Air: FujiTV 2002 Jan 3 - 4

Title: Algernon ni hanataba o 

Cast: Yusuke Santamaria, Kanno Miho, Yoshizawa Yuu, Nakashima Tomoko, Enomoto Kanako

Scriptwriter: Okada Yoshikazu

Theme: "Song of Bernadette" by Jennifer Warnes

On Air: Kansai TV 2002 Oct 8 - Dec 

Based on the book "Flowers for Algernon" written by Daniel Keyes, this drama tells of the story of Fujishima Haru (Santamaria), a mentally disabled man, who undergoes a brain surgery to cure his disability. Santamaria is really good as Haru. You can see the difference in how Haru, the mentally disabled man, behaved and how Haru, the man with an IQ of 150 after the surgery, behaved. See how the way he talks, walks, thinks as his IQ increases from about 70 to 150 after the surgery. It's pretty weepy towards the last few episodes when Haru realised that he will be returning back to his original self and may even have a lower IQ level. Was crying so hard at the last two episodes that I just can't find enough dry part of my T-shirt to wipe my tears =P A really touching drama. Highly recommended. Hontou ni subarashii.

Title: Antique ~ Seiyou kottou yougashi ten ~

Cast: Takizawa Hideaki, Shiina Kippei, Fujiki Naohito, Abe Hiroshi, Koyuki, Enarika zuki

Scriptwriter: Okada Yoshikazu

Theme: "Youthful Days" by Mr Children

On Air: FujiTV 2001 Oct 8 - Dec 17

Tachibana Keiichirou (Shiina), who comes from a rich family and who ironically has a dislike on all sweet things, opens a cake shop calls Antique. Ono Yusuke (Fujiki), a genius dessert chef who is not very comfortable with women around him, is rooted in as the main chef. Kanda Eiji (Takizawa), an ex-boxer and a cake lover, chanced upon Antique and falls in love with the cake, decides to work there as an assistant. Kobayakawa Chige (Abe), Keiichirou's childhood friend who was ordered to follow Keiichirou by his father, was pulled in to help out in the restaurant. And this 4 men made up the staff of Antique. Iizuka Momoko (Koyuki), a sports times reporter frequented Antique in the hope of doing an interview with the ex-boxer (Eiji) but ends up liking the environment, staff, and Yusuke. 

Seriously, this is a close fight with Long Vacation to vie for my top favourite drama. I can't recall the number of times I have rewatched this drama (At least 6 times and probably will still go up in the near future=P). The 4 men, including Enarika as the young boss of a Japanese dessert shop who frequents Antique, is pure hilarious. Shiina and Abe made a perfect combination! Fujiki may not look his best in this drama as compared to Love Revolution and he has a lower profile as compared to the other characters, but I really like him in this drama. Guess it's the silence. Everyone acknowledged his talent in cake making but he did not boast. Women attracted to him even though he tried to keep himself away from them. Ah.. what a man... Oops, sorry, I digressing. Back to the drama itself. Each episode focused on a customer who visited Antique to taste the cake for one reason or another. All the songs in the drama are by Mr. Children and what great songs they are! Love the way the words are flashed across the screen for comedic effect. And the cake looks so delicious. Makes me take a closer look at cakes whenever I'm in a cake shop. Now, if only there's really such a shop with delicious cake and handsome staff.... 

This is a MUST watch! Oh dear, talking about this makes me want to go dig out the disc to watch again =P

Title: Ao no Jidai

Cast: Doumoto Tsuyoshi, Okina Megumi

Scriptwriter: Komatsu Eriko

Theme: "Aoi no Jidai" by KinKi Kids

On Air: TBS 1998 Jul 3 - Sep 11