#jdrama screenshots

[sunspotmangafan]

I took many screenshots from ep6…

I may be a little obsessed lol

It’s just all SO PRETTY

[kdramalands]

上り坂下り坂まさか

[numbuh424]

Light's wardrobe in the 1st half of the jdrama (ep 1 - 5) vs his wardrobe in the 2nd half (ep 6 - 11).

[valfeathers]

jdrama L hours again

[reuels]

First Love: Hatsukoi Ep. 1 (2022) dir. Yuri Kanchiku

[ayumunoya]

It should be fine as long as we remember. If we do that Higurashi Yuji won't have to die a second time.

[miloucomehome]

VIVANT EPISODE 7 THOUGHTS

(protip: never read the official episode titles from TB/S on T/Ver. Episode 7's could be considered a spoiler)

Wow. And wowowwow...

Pictured: Me finding yet more details I missed during the first two watchthroughs

Pictured 2: My reaction when I notice something brought up in this week's episode actually makes a statement/profile we saw a number of episodes ago look really suspicious.

First: Holy shit what the hell?! WHAT THE HELL NOGI?!

Second:

Kohinata, you're not off the hook! I don't remember which episode Kohinata's Nagano gets interrogated, but if I recall...didn't we learn that he was former JSDF? Isn't that what made him a prime suspect to Nozaki and Public Security? I kind of remember him saying how he left the forces...but wasn't he active in the 80s? We learned this week that Balka fell into civil war in 1983 and that Nogi Suguru (Nogi's dad) is reported dead in 1984 when he ends up dragged into the factional conflict. He did have a reaction when Nogi name-dropped Zayir/Zahir and Nogi F did go right up to his face and sniff him, stating he literally smelled "off"/suspicious.

(Kohinata always plays sus characters. I don't mind if in the end, it turns out he's just an old dude who wanted to hang out with a younger woman because his marriage is on the rocks, but MIU404, MOZU and even S1 of Emergency Interrogation Room set me up for years of doubt XDDD.)

Shinjo (gone from sus to maybe sus idk) brought up good points: why didn't Suguru communicate with Public Security in the 80s to tell them he was alive. I wonder if a flashback episode is around the corner...the late 70s to 80s seem like they might be really important. If Nozaki is in his 50s, then any older character we've seen could potentially be important a future flashback episode. If there's one planned.

Nozaki Mamoru = Canon gay lead? IN PRIMETIME JP SUNDAY NIGHT TV?!

(I'll take it. Even if they forget about it or reverse course)

One of the only pieces of good news in this episode--writers confirming, as much as jdrama will allow them to outside of a BL drama, that Nozaki is gay. Not only that but he had loved another man: Liu Mingxuan. (And that it seems like Liu liked him first before he noticed or wanted to commit but did? Maybe he was closeted back then and worried it could be used against him?)

Nozaki: Well, in your position, it's not like you can have a normal love life, can you? (pause) Nogi: Nozaki-san...? Nozaki: Yeah? Nogi: Could it be that you... Nozaki: (laughs) I'm sorry. I can't help but look [at you]. Nozaki: You look just like him. Nogi: I do? Nozaki: It's like I'm looking at the junior who I lovedーLiu Mingxuen. He was a colleague of mine when I worked as a liaison at the embassy in Beijing. Nogi: And I look like him? Nozaki: Yeah. But he's not in this world anymore...

I did find this part oddly curious? worrying?:

Nozaki: He worked so hard for me. He was serious and tried so hard to get me to like him. But because of that... (smile fades) I ended up going over the line during the interrogation <-- this part Nogi: So then...that's when...? Nozaki: If I had actually paid a little bit more attention to him, he wouldn't be dead. That, for me, is my one failure.

The part I "highlighted", the "I ended up going over the line during the interrogation" (other TLs welcome!) part, has me wondering...what happened. And when. He's jovial and charismatic, but Nozaki still is a state intelligence officer. What could've happened?

I'll also headcanon that Nozaki sharing his story about his last lover and how Nogi resembles him, is a roundabout way of confirming Nogi's question was maybe "Could it be that...you like me?".😇🙏

I don't watch BL dramas (because I simply don't know which ones are?), but I've seen the odd drama or two with vaguely-gay-but-we-won't-say characters (with some exceptions: Nigehaji, for example has three). The fact that so far Nozaki is older, has been in love, exudes life experience, and has a different personality and energy from the usual gay characters I've seen in jdrama, is something. He also cares. He's competent at his job. He comes off as really cool, too.

Also his wink is dangerous. I take 500,000+ pts in damage each time (thank you.).

I'm very inclined to believe that despite the increased frostiness and visible gradual distancing in their friendship (see: the last two episodes T_T)), Nozaki was being honest. I also would like to believe that Nogi's line to him later was somewhat reciprocal?

(I know we love to see Nozaki be all close to Nogi, but I'm actually also really enjoying the frostiness of their relationship and how they're both trying to maintain façades more than ever with each other--Nogi as he tries to deceive Nozaki more and Nozaki as he tries to act as he always has despite the very significant information he's been learning about Nogi's true identity)

But as much as I'm inclined to believe his story, jdramas have the ability to betray and I'm steeling myself ahaha.

Nogi's cryptic message to Nozaki on the plane

I totally misread this scene at first as an "end of relationship" moment...but I later felt it was a compliment...then a potential coded message? Jdrama detectives on twitter think it may have been purposefully cryptic/metaphorical as a message to Nozaki, even planting a kind of signal to him--"if something goes wrong, watch for my signals" or something. (Among so many other possibilities)

But it also felt...affectionate? Nogi gently placing his hand on top of Nozaki's and gently clasping(?) it before talking to him felt genuinely kind. The slow letting go of his hand felt, sad almost?

The first idiom used is apparently quite old (1800s) and together with the second half reads:

あなたは鶏群の一鶴、眼光紙背に徹す

(For the sake of keeping it cryptic and rare-sounding, following the proposed definitions in the dictionary):

"You are a great figure among men; one who is able to read between the lines"

Literally (extra deep?):

You are a singular crane among a flock of ducklings chickens, able to read between the lines

Given how later the tracker Nogi removed and placed in some kind of signal blocking pouch, is reactivated and leads Nozaki, Chenggis and his officers to the site with the unconscious/dead Vostania members...Nozaki notices the "calling card" left by Nogi too before he receives a message that really catches his attention. I wonder if in that moment Nozaki's ability to "read between the lines" and grasp at the deeper meaning behind the evidence he finds kicks in.

I also feel like Nogi F realizes that he can trust Nozaki? Or at least that he believes he's exceptional and intelligent?

(I also believe that Nogi F was the one talking to Nozaki during that scene. Sorry Yuusuke! XD)

Now...my most recent "AFHDSKJHFSD AAAH" and "HMM 🤔🤔🤔🤔" discovery--

6 BEPPAN BODYCAMS BUT ONLY 5 ARE NAMED ON THE SCREEN IN THE CONTROL ROOM!!!

The most recent find--

The members of Beppan chosen for the Vostania-Tent meetup interception mission that were all gunned down by Nogi all had their bodycams named...except for Nogi's. That's such a strange thing to overlook.

Not only that, but weren't they all wearing bulletproof vests? Were the bullets in Nokor's gun for piercing bulletproof vests? I don't think the 6 willingly would go into danger without their vests...

COPIUM: Nogi and the Commander are in on it. This is their operation. Nogi didn't betray Beppan. Commander Sakurai's reaction may have been because of Nogi's methods and/or who was shot. If any of the 4 survived, it'll be interesting to find out what they think... (I think that...maybe each group in this series will have traitors of different kinds in their midst? Or maybe we learn about other members of Public Security, Beppan or Tent that neither of the revealed agents of either group are aware of?)

EDIT: THIS GUY LIVES! (credit to the fans in the VIVANT thoughts tag on Twitter) In the "Next Arc" trailer when ep 3 ended, they show Kumagai's actor, Nishiyama Jun, in hospital robes:

Now I'm extra curious. If the others are dead and only Kumagai and Kurosu live (please live), then maybe the Commander and Nogi suspected someone among them was a mole?

Sam is also in that trailer (earlier video?) maybe that wasn't him in episode 5 hahahahaha (denial)

H*rry P*tter -- Nozaki the geek

I made another post about this, but the HP reference and DVD set drop is actually likely really important, I think. I really do believe it's to find a subtle way to keep Drum by Jamine's side and keep watch over her (whether for Public Security or because his intuition is going wild and he's worried for her safety) The post is here and in summary, my realization is that his words to Drum as they leave Jamine's hospital room has me thinking he's setting Drum up to keep near-continuous watch of her later on!

Nozaki : Alright then Drum, let's go grab a bite to eat. Drum: 😄😄😄!!! Nozaki : See you, Nogi Nogi: (nods, smiling) Nozaki (as he leaves Jamine's hospital room with Drum): Oh yeah, that's right, there's no Mongolian [version]— Make sure you translate it properly for her [while she watches], alright?

Also, for real though, I'd like to believe that during happier times for everyone in that franchise's boom, Nozaki was definitely a fan and did the midnight lineups and dressed up with his buddies (or relatives?) for the movies and books. If he's not using a ruse, my headcanon is that he's been able to enjoy life in some ways and indulge in some hobbies.

(Also: If I were to romanize スネイプ社, it'd be using Mongolian Cyrillic romanization. "Snape Co." is too awkward lol and from what small research into Mongolian I've done, "sna" will not produce the same sound as it does in English. Maybe Snép? Snaype? Snaïp?? Snêip??? Snayipp??)

Is this is a hint that he's going to act as a double spy...?

I'm excited and scared to see how Nokor and Nogi will face off. Nino's delivery of the line "Hey there, brother of mine" was menacing in the episode 8 preview. (I'm only familiar with Matsumoto Jun's acting in 99,0%)

I wonder what Nozaki received on his phone. And poor Kurosu...he's living up to the kanji associated to him in the early promo cast announcement teaser of 信頼 (shinrai - trust, faith), but it's getting thrown back in his face in the worst way by this apparent(??) betrayal by Nogi?? I feel awful for Kurosu--he put a lot of faith in Nogi believing this betrayal, the capture, and the injuries, were all part of his plan...when apparently they're not. I want to go back in time to this moment:

I wonder if each character's kanji words will mean they'll each come face to face with that crashing down on them. Kurosu is sure to trust Nogi less, if at all, if it turns out this was all part of some bigger plan....maybe? A bit of a "One must fall before they can come back stronger" type of theme? (I wonder how Kurosu ended up partnered up with Nogi?) I'm still so sad over his "This is all part of the operation, right?" and "You did this because it's part of the plan, right?"....Kurosu really trusted Nogi.

To end (Because I could go on for a while I think)---

Nozaki and his "Oh wow oh no this sucks. It would've been great if someone had stuck another tracking device on Nogi somehow without him noticing, eh?" pose (Chenggis, meanwhile: $@%#!$#!%):

Chenggis being cute. CHENGGIS BEING CUTE??

Wink = 5,000,000pt damage

Thanks for reading to the end. Sorry if my thoughts were all over the place--I made a draft of this on Monday and meant to post it but was out in the evening and came home and was too tired XD;;.

[sunlightfeeling]

Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame ni

original release: 1997.1.3

(screenshots are from 2016.12.10 re-release)

[satin-carmin]

riku narumi & kentaro taruma, in kashimashi meshi, dir. kana matsumoto & momoko fukuda (2023)

[kxrdramas]

Alice In Borderland (2022).♥️♣️

[sunspotmangafan]

THE FINALE IS HERE AND I AM NOT OKAY!!!!!

It was so genuinely beautiful. One of the few shows I stayed from the very beginning to watch weekly. And I am so glad I did. It’s just such an amazing adaptation and just show all together. While there were so adaptational changes I found a bit confusing it never took away from the story as a whole, I still throughly enjoyed myself and collapsed into a fit of tears.

THE ACTING IS FUCKING PHENOMENAL!!

Seeing them finally getting to say they love each other is just….. it’s so…. They’re so…

Just….

BRAVO!!!

[m00nlightshine]

Eye Love You, Episode 3

[momentsatmydesk]

~ I want to hug Japanese dramas because they enliven my heart like flowers in spring. ~ 🌸

.

Some more beautiful wisdom from ‘Kitchen for Singles’ 🌸

[reuels]

"What about those big mistakes, are they also part of the picture?" — First Love: Hatsukoi Ep. 1 (2022) dir. Yuri Kanchiku

[txxnou]

Yoyo chan & Hydrangeas

so i really wanted to make a long post about the flower imagery in the show but i don't think i'll be able to do a fully detailed one just yet, but here's a short one for yoyo chan & what her love for hydrangeas could mean.

i don't remember which episode it was but i believe there was a scene where yoyo & tsubaki were talking about what's their favorite flower & she replied with hydrangeas. (i think tsubaki kun's response that he doesn't have a favourite bc he likens flowers to people & he doesn't want them to feel bad by choosing favouritism over the other ones is also very telling in of itself as to how he is as a character in the show,but that's another topic for another time).

we started seeing hydrangeas being associated with yoyo in an episode where we get to predominantly see her relationship with her mom & how she feels about it, which i think was done on purpose.

in particular there's this specific scene the morning after yoyo walks away from last night's dinner with her mom after they had a fight together about how her friends were a bad influence on her & stuff. when she comes back in the morning her mother was already out of her apartment & yoyo decides to call her. now i'm getting into what i specifically am trying to address here. yoyo sees the flowers that her mom put in a vase and what do you think it was? yes, they were hydrangeas.

to be more specific they were pink hydrangeas. when yoyo's mom was shopping for flowers she thinks were a perfect gift fit for her daughter in tsubaki san's family's flower shop she specifically stated that she wanted to procure the pink ones specifically since it's her daughter's favourite color. now at some point we already knew that that was not true & we learn from yoyo at some point that her mom likes seeing her in pink specifically & so she decides to get along with it because she felt like she had to among the many expectations that her mom held her up in throughout her life.

now, where does this connect with yoyo & hydrangeas? well, as i mentioned before, yoyo's favorite flowers are hydrangeas and while she specifically stated during her call with her mom that even though her favorite color is purple instead of pink, she doesn't really mind what colors the hydrangeas are & are simply thankful for them. now we're getting to the exciting part, pink hydrangeas usually symbolize love which in this case was symbolizing her love for yoyo. she loved her daughter but was blinded by the fact that she wasn't truly seeing her for who she is. this then correlates to how yoyo says to her mom how her favorite color is purple, let me remind you again that she specifically stated how she doesn't specifically prefer purple ones over the pink hydrengeas but i think there's still a lot of symbolism to be found here since if you connect her love of the color purple + hydrengeas, purple hydrengeas usually represents a deep desire for understanding. which if you watched the show & properly understood what her character was like, then you'd know this is what she seeks first and foremost & more specifically in this case she desired that her mother truly tried to have a better understanding of who she was as a person, her wants & dislikes, flaws & all. not just pushing on to her whatever she deemed right for her daughter to take in in order to be this specific kind of daughter she idealized her to be.

i think it's also worth mentioning again that while yoyo's mom apologized for gifting her pink hydrengeas since she said her favorite color was purple, yoyo replied saying that it's fine & that she doesn't mind it. i think this connects to how she's mentioned before to yukue chan that while she feels stifled by all of the expectations her mom has on her to be the perfect daughter she wanted to be, she knows that that's just her way of showing her she loves her & so it means that while yoyo's mom gave her own version of what "love" (pink hydrengeas) is what she really deeply craved was for her mom to deeply understand her (purple hydrengeas) to her very core & who she is as a person & accept her for it

[ayumunoya]

I wonder what he thinks about what we did? The dead don't think.