J-Dorama

[FukuokaGirl]

Hey minna~~!~

I haven't seen too many people around here discuss j-dorama at all and I was wondering if there were any fans out there in CAA world.
I thought maybe this could be a fun thread to discuss what we've already seen, what we've liked, dislikes, what's made us cry, what we're in the middle of watching, and what we plan on watching next. Also, favorite actors and actresses as well!

I'll start! I'm currently watching Absolute Boyfriend! Only one episode left. Let me tell you, this dorama has the most awful love triangle ever. I seriously do NOT know who to root for!! It is so adorable though! Has anyone heard of it?


(mods...if this needs to be moved, help a girl out~~!~ <3 hehe)

[Tsukuyomi]

I thought Absolute Boyfriend is a manga by Yuu Watase?

I've never seen any J-dramas ;_; I used to watch K-dramas all the time ^ ^

[FukuokaGirl]

You're right Tsuku-chan! It is... they just recently turned it into a live action!

OOohh..well K-drama works too! Any Asian dramas!

[yukoxholic]

The majority of Asian dramas I watch are in Korean as they are easier to come by with English subtitles but I have seen the live action for 1 Litre no Namida, Gokusen, Hoop Days though I think that might've just been a movie, and Hana Yori Dango.

They made Absolute Boyfriend into a J-dorama? I had no idea, I must watch that! ^__^

I have seen the Chinese Drama: Romantic Princess which is kind of just the Chinese version of the Korean drama Palace and I have also watched Frog Prince.

As for K-Dramas... what haven't I watched! ^__^

My Lovely Sam Soon
Palace (aka Princess Hours or Goong)
Spring Waltz
My Girl
Over The Rainbow
The Snow Queen
Super Rookie
1st Coffee House Prince
Romance
Stained Glass
Full House
One Fine Day
Save The Last Dance For Me
A Prince's First Love
Glass Slipper
My Love Patzzi

What can I say, I really love my K-Dramas. ^__^

[Tsukuyomi]

Ooooooh, I so have to read that manga after Imadoki ^^

Ooh, in that case.. Have you seen any Thai dramas? I used to watch them when I was younger ^^ My brother in-law was/still big on them ^^ It was nice watching a drama without having to read subtitles ^^

As for K-dramas... I've seen the following

Full House- I missed some episodes of it though, but saw most of it (I havve the Thai version of the inster song "I Think I..")
Juang Gum (sp)
All About Eve
My Lovely Sam Sung

There's more, but I can't think of their names o.o;

Ooh, C-dramas are pretty good too ^^ Most of the dramas I've seen with my brother in-law were C-dramas, but adapted into Thai ^^

I saw King Of Hades. That's a pretty good one ^^ Lots of Chinese Mythology elements in it ^^

/me is a mythology lover <33

[FukuokaGirl]

I just saw my first Korean film a few days ago... My Sassy Girl. I ADORED it~~!~ <333

I've just now getting into other doramas. XD Have you heard of Brown Sugar Macchiato? It's a C-dorama... and extremely popular! I haven't seen it yet, but I think I'll watch it soon.

I highly reccomend Absolute Boyfriend... you can watch it streaming here. www.mysoju.com
That site has amazing amounts of subbed Asian dorama!!

How was 1st Coffee House Prince?? I'm dying to watch it!!!

<333

[yukoxholic]

Ooooooh,

As for K-dramas... I've seen the following

Full House- I missed some episodes of it though, but saw most of it (I havve the Thai version of the inster song "I Think I..")
Juang Gum (sp)
All About Eve
My Lovely Sam Sung

There's more, but I can't think of their names o.o]


I remember sitting through All About Eve. That one was ok but how on earth did you sit through Jewel in the Palace: Dae Jeong Gum? It made Spring Waltz look like a masterpiece (which is wasn't AT ALL aside from the music) I'm still trying to grow my hair back from what I pulled out ^__~ It was that frustrating but I should've known better after viewing Sad Love Story...another pull your hair out and scream at your television series.

There are Thai dramas? I was unaware of this! >__> *goes to look*

How was 1st Coffee House Prince?? I'm dying to watch it!!!

<333

I absolutely loved 1st Coffee House Prince and if you like the main character you need to see her in Palace as well. It is hands down one of my top K-Drama picks that I recommend to people just getting into K-dramas.

My Sassy Girl was cute! ^__^ I liked how it ended! Check out "My Little Bride" if you liked My Sassy Girl.

Also, if you do get addicted to K-dramas (as most people do ) you may want to invest in buying the OSTs as they have some awesome instrumentals and K-pop.

Also, wouldn't Ouran High School Host Club make such an amazing J-dorama or just a live action movie?

[Tsukuyomi]

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED XDD

Lol, I was like,"That's not what it's called o.O?" XDD

I love dramas, I should pick back up on them

[FukuokaGirl]

Yes... Ouran High sooo would! *starts dreaming of a perfect cast*

Here's my list of watched j-doramas....I can give reviews for any you like!!

GTO
Nobuta wo Produce (three times XD)
Densha Otoko
Summer Snow
Stand UP!
Gokusen (twice)
Hana Yori Dango
Hana Yori Dango 2
Kimi wa Petto
Hana Kimi
Lunch Queen
Kurosagi
Honey & Clover
Yamado Taro Monotogari
Fuurin Kazan (9 episodes left..there are 50)
Absolute Boyfriend (1 episode left)
Nodame Cantabile (just started!)

[yukoxholic]

Yes... Ouran High sooo would! *starts dreaming of a perfect cast*

Here's my list of watched j-doramas....I can give reviews for any you like!!

GTO
Nobuta wo Produce (three times XD)
Densha Otoko
Summer Snow
Stand UP!
Gokusen (twice)
Hana Yori Dango
Hana Yori Dango 2
Kimi wa Petto
Hana Kimi
Lunch Queen
Kurosagi
Honey & Clover
Yamado Taro Monotogari
Fuurin Kazan (9 episodes left..there are 50)
Absolute Boyfriend (1 episode left)
Nodame Cantabile (just started!)

Ooo! Hana Kimi, Lunch Queen, Summer Snow, Kimi wa Petto and Nodame Cantabile! I'd love reviews on those shows. XD Do the ones that have mangas stay true to them?

Btw, Densha Otoko had a TV series? I had no idea. I saw the movie VIZ released and loved it! Was it any good?

[sharien chan]

The only asian drama I've seen is Full House. My school has the AZN network XDDD I was addicted to it.

[Tsukuyomi]

I miss AZN Television u_u I actually watched it for more then just the anime u_u

They showed some great dramas, but too bad the j-dramas weren't even subbed at least

Ooh, I remember another K-drama I watched. Emperor Of The Sea was an alright one ^^ I tend to like the Feudal dramas rather then the Modern ones I guess it just depends what it's about \o.o/

[minakichan]

I just finished Honey and Clover today. I liked the events of the ending, but not the execution. My friend keeps egging me to watch Zettai Kareshi, and while the manga **** me off, I think the drama will be better.

Stuff I've watched (* not completely):
Japanese:
Hana Yori Dango
Hana Yori Dango 2
One Litre of Tears
Hanazakari no Kimi-tachi e
Gokusen *
Waterboys
Nobuta wo Produce *
Kurosagi *
LIAR GAME
Honey and Clover *

Taiwanese:
Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu (Hana Kimi)
Peach Girl
Meteor Garden (Hana Yori Dango) *
The X-Family *

Korean:
Winter Sonata *

I'm sure there are more I've forgotten...

Also, wouldn't Ouran High School Host Club make such an amazing J-dorama or just a live action movie?

There was this HUGE Internet rumor of this happening... with Horikita Maki as Haruhi, Yamamoto Yusuke as Tamaki, Mizushima Hiro as Kyouya, the Izaki twins from FLAME as the Hitachiins, and others... all these reliable sources had it... but it wasn't true. This was before the HanaKimi dorama came out, so it was kind of funny that Horikita, Yamamoto, and Mizushima were all major characters!

[FukuokaGirl]

*ears perk up at the mention of Mizushima Hiro*
omg *swoon* He is mah luuuuv~~!~

Anyway...I'll start with some reviews. (I'll do one at a time haha)

Hana Kimi
I have read the manga for this and in my opinion they maintain the spirit of the story very well. They did change some aspects of the story and some personality traits, however I did not find it to be overwhelming or distracting from the heart of the dorama.
This series, in a word.... HYSTERICAL.
It's got an amazing cast:
Oguri Shun
Ikuta Toma
Mizushima Hiro
Horikita Maki... to name a few.

It was laugh out loud funny. The filming itself was done with very vibrant colors! Just watching it was a pleasure. The story progressed well... it had lots of heart! Definitely wa must see. It will certainly be your new addiction (but aren't they ALL addicting really?XD) and will definitely put you in a good mood.

As far as Densha Otoko, I much prefer the TV series to the movie version!!!!! It was wonderfully done. Oguri Shun also has a minor (yet smexy) roll in that as well!

And I HIGHLY reccomed Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend). Also with Mizushima Hiro!!!

<333

[sharien chan]

I miss AZN Television u_u I actually watched it for more then just the anime u_u

They showed some great dramas, but too bad the j-dramas weren't even subbed at least

Ooh, I remember another K-drama I watched. Emperor Of The Sea was an alright one ^^ I tend to like the Feudal dramas rather then the Modern ones I guess it just depends what it's about \o.o/

I also liked watching the news in chinese XDD it was so interesting.

[Tsukuyomi]

So much to do.. so little time O_________O

[FukuokaGirl]

Veoh, Crunchyroll, and Mysoju are the best sites for streaming.

I usually watch one or two episodes every night before I go to sleep. It's become my routine. Hehe

Tsuku-chaaaan... if you like historical doramas, let me HIGHLY reccomend Fuurin Kazan to you! It's a taiga dorama. It's set in the 1500's. Gackt is in it~~!~ <3 It focuses on the life and times of Takeda military strategist Yamamoto Kansuke. It's an excellent samurai dorama. I only have 9 episodes left!

[minakichan]

Hana Kimi

So, I'm probably going to hell for saying this, but I preferred the Taiwanese Hanakimi to the Japanese one. Yes, Horikita Maki is a thousand times prettier than Ella. Yes, the setting and visuals and camerawork were better in the Japanese. Yes, the Taiwanese version is ridiculously silly.

But in terms to faithfulness to the original, the Taiwanese version trumps the Japanese. I don't mind changes, but the ones in the Japanese version were ridiculous. A school that specifically recruits good-looking guys? Are you serious?!

I loved Ella's acting; she passes as a boy in a way that Mizuki herself was never able to. Horikita NEVER looked, acted, or sounded male. Ella and Wu Zun had the most amazing chemistry on and off camera, and Jiro was a riot! As much as I love Mizushima, Tang Yuzhe was AMAZING at capturing Liang Si Nian's personality (and his little pink sweater was so much love XD)! All of the situations were deliciously awkward and adorable!

I do like the Japanese version, but I do have to say that I LOVED the Taiwanese version. I will admit that about every five minutes, I had to pause the video to headdesk.

[Kawaiikneko]

I go through phases of liking Jdorama... Sometimes I just need to take a break though because its so darn cheesy XD;; At least the ones I've watched... let's see.

I've seen all of Gokusen seasons 1 &2, and started 3 but disliked the repetitiveness. I'll get around to it probably. I watched all of GTO but didn't like it. Hana Yori Dango seasons 1 & 2 (well, all but the last two episodes of season two. My harddrive ran out of space and by the time I cleared it out I had lost interest. I will finish it eventually). I loooved Nobuta wo Produce... it was so sweet but I wish there had been a couple at the end!! *pout*

[minakichan]

Sometimes I just need to take a break though because its so darn cheesy XD;; At least the ones I've watched... let's see.

Watch serious dramas, there are a TON. It's definitely inaccurate to say that dorama is all romantic comedy.

Kurosagi, LIAR GAME, and One Litre of Tears are some of my favorite dramas ever, serious or no. One Litre does have romance, but it isn't a comedy, so I'm sticking it in this category.

On this note, any other great serious dramas anyone wants to recommend? I can't wait to watch the Ikigami movie (which isn't dorama, but close enough) with Matsuda Shouta, the premise sounds creepily awesome. Japan implements a governmental program that kills off random unproductive citizens to encourage those left to be better citizens.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I saw some of this K-Drama a few years back called "Summer Scent".

It was so absolutely filled with cliches. XD The whole premises is about this girl that get's flashbacks and memories belonging to a dead girl because of a heart transplant. (The memories belonging to the original owner of the heart) During this, the girl meets a guy who happens to be the donor's previous lover.

Include a whole lot of girls passing out and hospital trips... and yeah. Major cliche-ness. XD

[minakichan]

It was so absolutely filled with cliches.

It couldn't have been THAT bad... no car accidents/mistaken identity/presumed deaths/amnesia/leukemia/imminent blindness/lovers who discover that they may or may not actually be siblings separated at birth?

[FukuokaGirl]

Ohhh everyone... I just finished the last episode of Absolute Boyfriend!!!
You muuuust watch it if you like a good romantic comedy!!
It's wonderful... and I definitely cried at the end!!! <333

Also, the other night I watched a Korean film called "A Moment to Remember." You can find it on mysoju.com
THIS IS A MUST SEE! Everyone was crying so very much. It was beautiful and very down to earth. I've seen a film quite as down to earth.

Next... I'm getting ready to watch Tokyo Tower. ^___^

[Mr. SmartyPants]

It couldn't have been THAT bad... no car accidents/mistaken identity/presumed deaths/amnesia/leukemia/imminent blindness/lovers who discover that they may or may not actually be siblings separated at birth?

Car Accidents? Check

Mistaken Identity? Check

Presumed Deaths? Check

Amnesia? Probably XD

Here's a good read for you all: http://community.livejournal.com/dorama_chat/67413.html

[minakichan]

I just finished the last episode of Absolute Boyfriend!!!

Just started the first episode. I keep arghing at it and headdesking... Night is a terrible character... she should go with Soushi, but we know this will never happen. But it's addicting!

Car Accidents? Check

Mistaken Identity? Check

Presumed Deaths? Check

Amnesia? Probably XD

Hahah, sorry, I based that on your little blurb. For a moment, I was confused. A Korean drama without these elements? Impossible!

[FukuokaGirl]

Just keep with Absolute Boyfriend. I assure you, this show will twist your little heart all around in confusion~~!~ <333

And now... a review for Summer Snow..

OMG...can I just say how much I ADORE this show?? Oguri Shun and Domoto Tsuyoshi (from KinKi Kids a JE's group) are simply FANTASTIC! This is suuuuuch aheart warming show. And this really, in some odd way, gives you a great little peek into candid Japanese family/home life. This is suuuuch an addicting show. Probably one of the most emotional I have ever watched. The awkward and embarrassing humor is sooo dead on! It mirrors those major hazukashii (embarassing) moments we've all experienced with friends and love interests. The show is well paced too.
The emotional development for this show is well done. You really, really begin to love and hate certain characters. This show takes its time to flesh them all out. You WILL feel tied to this show... and just be prepared for an amazing ending!!! It's so beautiful!

[Gabriel 9.0]

Pardon my ignorance...Is a J Dorama those type of anime shows that revolve around the drama genre? Or is it the drama genre as a whole in Japan?
I'm really no expert on Japan, Only things I really know about it is that the nation makes great animation shows and, an very interesting cilture, a good economy and a few other things for now..haha..

[randomuser83]

A short movie that I enjoyed was Taiyou no Uta that stars Yui from Rolling Stars. Its a short low budget movie about a young women who has a difficult life due to medical problems. I enjoyed it but you might cry...

[FukuokaGirl]

Pardon my ignorance...Is a J Dorama those type of anime shows that revolve around the drama genre? Or is it the drama genre as a whole in Japan?
I'm really no expert on Japan, Only things I really know about it is that the nation makes great animation shows and, an very interesting cilture, a good economy and a few other things for now..haha..

J-dorama is not anime.
It is live action. They are shows that air weekly in Japan. Many of them are based off of manga, but some of them are original. The shows run an hour including commericals, but when you stream them, they run about 45 minutes. The series tend to be short.. around 10-15 episodes.
There are some really good shows out there!
Check them out! They're addicting. XD

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Hahah, sorry, I based that on your little blurb. For a moment, I was confused. A Korean drama without these elements? Impossible!

Haha no problem. As cliched as it was, it was a sweet story. =)