WWW ~ Autumn 2016: Japanese

All of the WWW posts for the autumn/winter of 2016 are shockingly late - 2016 has been a wild year for us, and we apologize for the lateness.

Our dearest Unni is still extremely busy in Taiwan, but will add her comments when she can.


~ Beppin-san
Empress: 'must achieve the goal no matter what' and she wants to do embroidery and sewing? *reads rest of the summary* Okay, it sounds somewhat interesting...historically speaking...considering it's the Japanese side of WWII...but I'm not currently curious enough to watch it.
Ambassador: It sounds pretty interesting and also like it would be a great drama to watch for research, but I don't have time for it on any other grounds.
Unni: --


~ Hippocratic Oath
Empress: Medical dramas + me don't usually work, but I haven't tried a Japanese one...and if it's only 5 epidsodes, I might go for it. :)
Ambassador: Title + Keiko Kitagawa + plot is a powerful draw for this, and it's supposed to be only 5 episodes... I'll probably make time for it at some point. 
Unni: --


~ Pretty Proofreader
Empress: .............I really hope there's more to it than that...but given what's there, it would have to be something seriously fascinating to make me watch it.
Ambassador: Obviously there is some crucial part of this plot that has been left out of the synopsis, because there's barely anything to arouse interest here.  It has a few interesting actors but no.
Unni: --


~ Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi Shichinin
Empress: ehhhh...being revived to re-save the world sound tremendously depressing, and mixing Buddha with Desutaku doesn't interest me.
Ambassador: I haven't tried any Japanese fantasy dramas yet (aside from anime) but this sounds... odd and... not interesting enough to tempt me.
Unni: --


~ Aibou: Season 15
Empress: More interesting than the previous ones...I think if I was looking for a another drama to watch, I might jump on this one. But...I'm kind of the opposite of looking for another drama to watch right now.
Ambassador: It sounds pretty interesting but not quite the right combination to tempt me to pile yet another drama onto my already overloaded list.  (Wait.  CAN you have an overloaded list?  If you can, mine is.)
Unni: --


~ Career
Empress: I like the idea. And I feel like Japan is pretty good at this genre. But again...my list...so long...
Ambassador: This sounds FUN with humor and some good opinion turnarounds coming up.  I enjoy underdog stories, so I'm adding this one to my list.
Unni: --


~ Chef: Mitsuboshi no Kyushoku
Empress: The kid angle intrigues me - the idea of a restaurant chef making food that children will actually eat sounds kind of fun. Mostly this reminds me that I need to get back to watching Master-God of Noodles... XD
Ambassador: Naaaaaah, not really into cooking dramas.
Unni: --


~ Doctor-X: Season 4
Empress: Okay, this sounds like a total nightmare...either it's completely fake, in which case bo-ring and I don't care, or it's real, in which case HORRORS, that kind of patient-care nightmare makes me sick. No.
Ambassador: I like power play dramas but in a medical melo setting..... no, don't think so. 
Unni: --


~ Medical Team: Lady Da Vinci no Shindan
Empress: ...I commend her quitting neurosurgery when she's hallucinating...and in general it sounds better than the last drama...but not better enough to make me watch it.
Ambassador: This one however is intriguing because there is just enough mystery involved.  I don't have time for it though.
Unni: --



~ Rental Kyuseishu
Empress: I'm intrigued. Rent-a-Hero? I think I will at least stick it somewhere on my list.
Ambassador: This sounds HILARIOUS and I'm adding it to my list.
Unni: --


~ The Last Cop
[Remake of German TV series "Der letzte Bulle" which first aired in 2010.]
Empress: Japanese remake of a German show...this could be intriguing. I don't know how many cop shows I can have on my list at one time...It's a maybe. XD
Ambassador: It looks like it will be comedy and could totally be tons of fun, but it'll go on the 'check out' list.
Unni: --


~ Suna no Tou
Empress: This sounds weird...and possibly treading the horror-line...but also just intriguing enough that it makes me super curious. I want to check it out.
Ambassador: Oooooh a psycho thriller.  Japan does psycho thrillers really well so I'm intrigued enough to try it.
Unni: --


~ Toge
Empress: http://mydramalist.com/20124-toge-shoushimin-kuranaga-haruyuki-no-gyakushu The poster definitely captures the feel of the summary, and there is the possibility it could be hilarious...but I don't think I'm interested enough to check it out right now. If I hear good things about it, I would try it. XD 
Ambassador: I'M DYING and I need to see it.
Unni: --


~ We Married as a Job
Empress: These situations are always so ridiculous...it's really hard to make marriage a thing people have to do...and I'm not really in the mood for another version of this. XD
Ambassador: Yet another 'marriage of convenience' drama.  Nope.
Unni: --



~ Cain to Abel
Empress: The title intrigues me - the drama's poster makes me think they got Cain and Abel and Adam and Eve a little bit mixed up...but the trailer also intrigues me and I am putting it on my list.
Ambassador: The title immediately snagged my attention, and the synopsis makes it sound like it will be brother against brother, which I usually love to watch.  Also, the main actor is a favorite of a friend, who watched him in the movie Grasshopper and she says he's quite good, so I'm definitely watching this.
Unni: --


~ Cold Case
[Remake of U.S. television series "Cold Case".]
Empress: Remake intrigues me because what about the story was good enough to be remade...but again with the number of cop dramas I have on my list. Maybe later...XD
Ambassador: COLOR ME INTRIGUED.
Unni: --


~ IQ 246
Empress: Okay...this is a different enough spin that I am seriously intrigued. Japanese Sherlock Holmes...I'm at least going to try it. XD
Ambassador: O.O  Sounds FASCINATING.  It's going on my list.
Unni: --


~ The Sniffer
[Remake of Ukrainian TV series "The Sniffer".]
Empress: ........Then again some remakes are just strange. Why would you make a show like this in the first place, let alone remake it? Though maybe if I could conceptualize exactly HOW being able to smell really well could possbly help you solve crimes, I'd be more interested. The Girl Who Sees Smells at least had enough of a fantasy spin that I could go along with it...XD
Ambassador: A) Japan seems to have a thing for 'Sherlockian dramas'- where crimes are solved by someone with unusual abilities
b) they also have a thing for remakes
All things considered, I'm interested.
Unni: --


~ Haikei, Minpaku-sama
Empress: *tries not to yawn* My list is too long...XD
Ambassador: Naaaaah, mind numbing family melodrama.  If I want that, all I have to do is look around me IRL.  Meisa Kuroki makes it tempting, but I just don't have time or interest enough.
Unni: --


~ Kuroi 10-nin no Onna
Empress: *howls* There's a solution, I guess....XD Like...they have more than an inkling of each other's existence and all plot together to murder him, or do they all get fed up with him at the same time and individually try to murder him, or...I...am not sure what to think of this. Why can't they leave him? If there was a character who was likable, I would watch it...but if it's about 10 adulterers and a nasty wife, I can't really see enjoying it.
Ambassador: Absolutely watching this.  It's very much my kind of drama.  So much.
Empress: *grins* It really is. Please tell me if there is someone I would like in it who would make me want to watch it. XD
Ambassador: Watch me excitedly email you after the second episode and drag you into watching it with me.
Unni: --


~ Ishikawa Goemon
Empress: I feel like I should watch some of the other similar ones I have on my list before this one, but...it can't hurt to put it the end, right? XD
Ambassador: Oooooh, another Goemon drama!  Count me in.
Unni: --


~ Unmei ni, Nita Koi
Empress: Eh...naw.
Ambassador: Mmmm, no.  Not enough time, not enough interest, not enough etc etc.
Unni: --


~ Chuushingura no Koi
Empress: I am intrigued. It's not too long, and it looks really interesting. XD
Ambassador: YES,  for THE PLOT and DAITO SHUNSUKE.  I wasn't terribly impressed with Emi Takei in the RK movies, but here's hoping she'll be good.
Unni: --


~ Suisho no Kodou
Empress: This is a better synopsis of some of the others...I'm intrigued...but still. Too many dramas about policemen/detectives/etc.
Ambassador: I don't knooow.  It could be interesting but it doesn't sound particularly gripping.  Probably not.
Unni: --


~ Sennyuu Sousa Idol Deka Dance
Empress: And here we see the effect of all those detective dramas... -__- Though okay, this is the kind of twist on it that intrigues me. Detective that wants to be a detective because of entertainment gets stuck in entertainment industry undercover? I think I'm at least going to put it on my list. XD
Ambassador: Probably yes, mainly for DAITO SHUNSUKE.
Unni: --



Which of these Japanese dramas are YOU interested in watching?

WWW ~ July 2016 Part Two: Japan

Welcome back for the very belated Part Two of July's WWW!  Today we give our reactions to Japan's summer drama list.

Empress: graaaaaaavy train Japan is having a drama fit. Do they have enough tv stations to air all these????
Ambassador: To me, Japan is an odd mix of 'HOW BORING, who is going to find that interesting' and 'whooooa YES PLEASE'.


~ Inheritance Lawyer Shinichi Kakizaki
Empress: If there was an actor or actress involved who interested me....yes. As is...*shrugs*
Ambassador: It sounds pretty interesting... but not interesting enough to tempt my ridiculously loaded list.
Unni: Is it bad that I am bored just reading this?


~ Death Cash
Empress: Death Note is higher on my list, and this title feels like a knock off....though it's intriguing in a creepy sort of way.
Ambassador: I've heard this is another drama that's likely to be more horror than suspense- which means NO.  But if reviews prove interesting and un-horror like, then yes, I'll check it out, because it sounds fascinating.
Unni: o.O What a terrible gift.... *runs away and hides under rock*


~ A Girl and Three Sweethearts
Empress: .......and all 3 of them are in love with her? That's a little weird... 
Ambassador: Reverse harem is one of the few plot lines that will entice me to watch rom com so yes, I'm definitely checking this one out.
Unni: *giggles* it does sound interesting...I might...though it would be my first Japanese drama if I did.


~ The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Empress: "Hypnotizes those around him and lives as a high school student."??? Okay, so I'm curious. But honestly, I feel like if you had a drug that enabled time leaps, the /last/ thing you'd want to do would be to loose it. Like c'mon, dude. It's hard to live that down. Going on my list....XD
Ambassador: YES.  I love time travel and even the rom com elements aren't enough to scare me off.
Unni: Oh! This one has my interest on several levels.


~ Hajimemashite, Aishite Imasu
Empress: ....semi-disturbing....
Ambassador: It could be cute but the synopsis isn't enough to hold my interest.
Unni: This sounds like heart break waiting to happen.


~ Juken No Cinderella
Empress: "Recently, he drinks a lot and his life falls apart." Don't drink, kids. Not terribly intrigued...
Ambassador: This could be a really good drama.  *adds it to middle portion of list*
Unni: Hmmm interesting, but I have so many interesting dramas.


~ Kami no Shita wo Motsu Otoko
Empress: ....I could write summaries more interesting than this...
Ambassador: Nah, not my type.
Unni: This sounds disastrous.


~ Keiji 7 Nin
Empress: okay, that sounds kind of intriguing (Future Crime Prediction Centre???) but my drama list is too long...
Ambassador: I saw somewhere that this one might go more to the horror side, in which case I'm out, but otherwise it interest me enough to check it out.
Unni: Not my type of drama I guess.


~ On
Empress: Also kind of intriguing...hmmm...
Ambassador: Hmm, crime drama with a psychological twist AND Kaname Jun.  Sign me up!
Unni: This almost sounds like Castle....


~ Seisei Suruhodo, Aishiteru
Empress: Noooooope. Nope.
Ambassador: .... no.  I like complicated relationship dramas but not like this.
Unni: PLAYING WITH FIRE!!!! Nope.


~ Your Home is My Business
Empress: Okay, that's kind of an interesting angle. Like all the crime shows where people always catch the criminal...only selling real estate. I'm a little intrigued. XD
Ambassador: Keiko Kitagawa will probably kill in this role and the plot sounds intriguing but it'll will go at the bottom of my list because of that bane of drama watching existence: TIME.
Unni: This sounds amusing, if I had the time I’d put this onto a list.


~ Aogeba Toutoshi
Empress: Not in the mood at the moment. Even though I like K-dramas centered on music, and haven't tried a J-drama like that yet...
Ambassador: This sounds cute and poignant and being based on two nonfiction novels certainly raises my interest level as well as the presence of Mikako Tabe.  I'll probably check it out.
Unni: Cute idea, and it’s great just...time...


~ Hope
[Japanese remake of the Korean Misaeng.]
Empress: I was gonna say That sounds like Misaeng. And no...because I kind of loved Misaeng, and if I wanted to watch it again, I'd watch it again. Maybe after that I'd watch the Japanese version. XD (Okay, okay, I'm probably putting it on my list.)
Ambassador: I started the Korean drama version of this but it's on hiatus for me.  I'd like to see this at some point, after I finish the Korean version.
Unni: Aw... poor kid...but idiots annoy me. Depends on how this one all goes down...too much idiot not a good thing.


~ Eigyo Bucho Kira Natsuki
Empress: I like all these dramas about 40-year-olds, because I'll be sure to have something to watch when I'm that old that won't make me feel ancient. But I think I'll save them until then. XD
Ambassador: Nooo.  I wish her the best but this does not interest me one iota.
Unni: Ugh, rubbish.


~ Kibogaoka no Hitobito
Empress: Marriage Contract was enough of a painful story to last me for a while...
Ambassador: This could be really sweet, poignant and deep.  I'd like to check it out but I'll probably wait for reviews and see how the general public liked it.
Unni: Interesting, but....I have so many others I want to watch...


~ Koe Koi
Empress: LOL Super dramatic and quirky. Probably not. It kind of sounds like the ones I 'accidentally' start watching, and end up liking, though.
Ambassador: ...NO.  With mangas turned into dramas, I usually have one of two reactions: 'that's brilliant' or 'that sounds mind numbing' and this synopsis induced the latter reaction in me so it won't be going on my list.
Unni: What???? Just WHAT? No thank you.


~ Lost ID
Empress: That would depend completely on its execution, but I am somewhat intrigued.
Ambassador: MOST DEFINITELY YES.  Tatsuya Fujiwara facing off against Tetsuji Tamayama- I have to watch this.
Unni: This sounds really interesting, and if I get into Japanese dramas I’d probably watch this.


~ Onnatachi no Tokusou Saizensen
Empress: So many police dramas! Wow. This one sounds kind of fun...though police dramas are not my favorite and I'm already watching Police Unit 38. And there's a lot of police in Wanted. So I might be police-d out at the moment.
Ambassador: This is unique and sounds like it would be a ton of fun.  I'll be watching it.
Unni: This sounds cute! Sadly time, unless I start watching dramas as a full time job.


~ Gu Ra Me
Empress: Eh..........
Ambassador: This one sounds pretty interesting, actually.  Especially if they mix any politics with the cooking.  *sneaks it onto the bottom of the list*
Unni: Cooking always interests me, however, I usually EAT my way through food dramas, so I should stay away from this one....maybe?


~ Yassan
Empress: This actually sounds slightly more interesting to me than the last one, but...probably not interesting enough... :)
Ambassador: It would probably have lots of culturally interesting details but I have not the time for it.  My list rises in waves around me.  No.
Unni: Why so many dramas! Nope.


~ Furenaba Ochin
Empress: O.o ......no thanks...that kinda serves the husband right, but...
Ambassador: ....NO.  Though serves the husband right.
Empress: *laughing at both of our reactions to this* XD
Ambassador: *HOWLS*  I hadn't read your reactions yet when I wrote mine... ohmygosh us.
Unni: ....UGH UGH UGH.... *pushes away*


~ Suizokukan Girl
Empress: :| I don't feel like it this month...
Ambassador: So happy for her but nooo.
Unni: THIS SOUNDS SO CUTE!!!!!!! What a fun job change...but I don’t think so...