#kitamura yukiya

[redsamuraiii]

Gourmet Detective Goro Akechi / Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro (Ep 5)

[crazyasianlove]

Jiken wa, Sono Mawari de Okite iru S2 Ep. 4 (Sub. Esp)

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[stuff-diary]

The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2023

The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (2023, Japan)

Directors: Hirokazu Kore-eda, Hiroshi Okuyama, Takuma Sato & Megumi Tsuno

Writers: Hirokazu Kore-eda, Takuma Sato, Megumi Tsuno & Mami Sunada

Mini-review:

I love Hirokazu Kore-eda's style, and you can feel his hand throughout the nine episodes, even if he worked with more people. This show is such a lovely, soothing and relaxing experience. Nothing much happens (it's a classic slice of life story), but if you enjoy its vibes, it never gets boring. Sure, maybe it could have used a doses or two of drama, but at the same time I feel like that would have shattered the peaceful atmosphere it carefully builds from the first episode. I do wish the show would have delved into the many controversies and problems that surround the maiko/geiko industry, specially considering Kore-eda has strongly supported the #MeToo movement within the Japanese film world, but, once again, I get that something like that would have gone against the whole point of the show.

Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling here. The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House is quite lovely and as well acted and sensitively written/directed as one could expect from Hirokazu Kore-eda. Also, make sure to watch it on a full stomach, cause there's a lot of delicious-looking food here that will certainly make you go hungry.

[gregor-samsung]

すばらしき世界 [Under the Open Sky] (Miwa Nishikawa - 2020)

[hcgdietinfodotcom]

Original HCG 500 Calorie Diet with Sample Menu (VLCD)

The original Hcg Diet includes a 500 calorie menu, or "VLCD" (very low calorie diet) as outlined by Dr. Simeons in his Manuscript, Pounds and Inches.  This menu includes a very specific list of allowed foods, along with eating guidelines that are meant to be followed precisely.   The Original 500 Calorie Diet Menu (VLCD) Breakfast: - Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Saccharin or Stevia may be used. Lunch: - 100 grams of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed. The chicken breast must be removed from the bird. - One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage. - One breadstick (grissino) or one Melba toast. - An apple, orange, or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit. Dinner: - The same four choices as lunch (above.)     What can I eat on the 500 calorie menu?   The list of allowed foods on the Hcg Diet includes: 100 grams of protein from veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab (no imitation crab) or shrimp. Allowed vegetables include spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, and cabbage. Allowed fruits include apples, oranges, strawberries and grapefruit. See the complete and CORRECT, allowed Hcg Diet Food List here and rules about what and how to eat on the diet here. Benefits of the 500 Calorie Program While the diet is largely known as a rapid weight loss option, it also offers a number of other health benefits. According to Dr. Becky Gillaspy, one of the major benefits to this heavily restricted diet is the reduction of inflammation: "There is a growing body of research that shows how fasting and the restriction of calories reduces inflammation, which is the secret killer that nibbles away at your joints, weakens your heart, and flairs up gut problems." In addition to addressing inflammation, the 500 calorie menu has been found to help with chronic pain, arthritis, and high blood pressure. A number of medical journals have also reported the benefits of very low calorie diets (vlcd) and long-term heart conditions (source: Medical Journal of Cardiac Failure, by Miyuki Kobara, MD, PhD, Akiko Furumori-Yukiya, Miho Kitamura, Mihoko Matsumura, Makoto Ohigashi, Hiroe Toba, PhD, Tetsuo Nakata, MD, PhD.) Even better, the diet has been shown to slow aging, promote longevity and combat dementia. 500 Calorie Diet Foods: Sample Menus & Meal Plans If you are wondering what a typical day on the original protocol looks like, here are just a few samples of a typical 500 calorie menu in a day. Hcg Diet Sample menu #1: Breakfast: Tea and handful of strawberries - 45 caloriesLunch: 100g chicken breast with arugula green salad with tomatoes -  165 caloriesDinner: 100g steak (271 calories) large handful of spinach (15) grissini breadstick (14) calories Total calories: 510 Hcg Diet Sample menu #2: Breakfast: unsweetened coffee or iced tea, orange- 62 caloriesSnack: Handful of strawberries - 45 caloriesLunch: 100 grams/4oz shrimp (110 calories) and 1 small cucumber with lemon and salt: 8 caloriesSnack: Grissini stick - 14 caloriesDinner: Chicken "satay" (165 calories) with arugula salad and tomatoes- 16 calories Total Calories: 497 Eating Guidelines According to Dr. Simeons, these eating guidelines should be followed meticulously, in order to achieve your best results.  There are however, alternative protocols which allow more calories and/or offer less restrictive eating. The guidelines on this page will refer to that protocol and its 500 calorie menu. Seasonings permitted on the HCG diet based on Dr Simeons own protocol as written in Pounds and Inches:The juice of one lemon daily is allowed for all purposes. Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, majoram, etc., may be used for seasoning, but no oil, butter or dressing. All seasonings and spices are welcome on the original protocol, which makes it easy to modify and create a variety of delicious recipes. This is also a great way to mix vegetables without going off-protocol; dried vegetables as seasoning and spices such as onion, are permitted. For more information, see our vegetable guide. Drinks on the Hcg Diet Tea, coffee, plain water, or mineral water (2 liters of water per day is recommended) are the only drinks allowed, but they may be taken in any quantity and at all times. There is no limit as to how much tea and coffee that can be drank on the diet, however it is important to avoid all sugars, and limit sweeteners as much as possible. Sweeteners have been shown to have effects on the body's hormone system and while they may not have an effect in small amounts, studies show larger intake of artificial sweeteners can wreak havoc on the metabolism as well as cause stalls during Phase 2 of the Hcg Diet.  One particular sweetener to avoid is aspartame. Take care to read labels on beverages that may have these listed in their ingredients. Can I drink Diet Soda on the Hcg Diet? Diet sodas are not recommended on the protocol for a number of reasons.  The ingredients often include chemicals, sodium and artificial sweeteners that can effect loss rates, or cause stalls. In addition, this is a good time to cleanse the cravings and addictions for these products, and allow those chemicals to be removed from the body. As an added suggestion, you can try sparkling flavored water without aspartame, or sugar free sodas made with xylitol IN MODERATION (in this case, not every day.)  Sugar, aspartame and sweeteners in general, should be avoided.  Xylitol, stevia, and erythritol may be used on occasion if necessary. Snacks on the Hcg Diet The fruit or the bread stick may be eaten between meals instead of with lunch or dinner,Apples are the most highly recommended "snack food" for the Hcg Diet. Remember to keep the size to medium, vs large, as outlined in the original 500 calorie protocol. For variety, these can be sprinkled with cinnamon which also happens to be a metabolism booster. Regarding the allowed breadstick or grissini, please remember to check labels and do NOT consider restaurant breadsticks as an option. Breadsticks purchased in the store can be as little as 10 calories, while those in restaurants can be as high as 400 calories for one serving. Can I substitute 2 small apples for 1 allowed apple serving? 2 small apples are not an acceptable exchange for “1 apple.” This is a commonly asked question, and while Dr. Simeons defined a firm "no" as the answer, HOWEVER, modern protocols have found this to be a reasonable exchange. Mixing Foods from the 500 Calorie list "...but not more than than four items listed for lunch and dinner may be eaten at one meal." Remember to stick to this rule, particularly with proteins, fruits and the allowed breadstick or grissini. For example, do not eat half of a portion of fish and half of a portion of chicken. Mixing vegetables: While Dr. Simeons protocol allows mixing the allowed salad greens, he also says mixing vegetables is not permitted. HOWEVER, many dieters have no problems when combining vegetables from the allowed foods list. If you decide to mix vegetables, proceed with caution and watch for any reduction in loss rates before continuing. Hcg Diet Food Substitutions: Eggs and Cottage Cheese"Very occasionally we allow egg - boiled, poached or raw - to patients who develop an aversion to meat, but in this case they must add the white of three eggs to the one they eat whole. Cottage cheese made from skimmed milk is available 100 grams may occasionally be used instead of the meat" Can I have eggs on the Hcg diet?  Yes, eggs are allowed on the original 500 calorie menu of the Hcg Diet plan. Eggs can be boiled, poached or raw, according to the original protocol, and counts as 1 protein serving. Modern variations of the diet allow eggs cooked in any form, as long as they are not prepared with butter or oils. In addition, it is advised to stick with egg whites, over the whole egg whenever possible. Is Cottage cheese allowed on the Hcg Diet? Cottage cheese is permitted on the list of approved Hcg foods, again as an exchange for 1 protein serving. Full fat cottage cheese is not permitted. Only non fat cottage cheese is allowed. Vegetarian Hcg Diet Substitutions - Both eggs and cottage cheese can be particularly useful protein substitutions for the Vegetarian Hcg Diet Plan. Read more here. Specially Prepared Unsweetened, Low Calorie Foods In many countries specially prepared unsweetened and low calorie foods are freely available, and some of these can be tentatively used... the total daily intake must not exceed 500 Calories if the best possible results are to be obtained, that the daily ration should contain 200 grams of fat-free protein and a very small amount of starch.This is a commonly overlooked option from Dr. Simeons. It can also lead to the crucial mistake of adding the wrong "low calorie foods" to the options for what to eat. As a general rule, remember to avoid processed foods, all sugars that do not come from the allowed fruits on the 500 calorie menu, and any prepackaged foods that may have added ingredients that can effect loss rates.  To play it safe, stick to "whole foods" that are on the original Hcg Diet list of allowed foods. Tips for those 500 Calorie Days - Go ahead and have two meals per day, instead of 3 and skip the snacks if you are not hungry. - Drink A LOT OF WATER. This is absolutely essential to weight loss and nothing will cause a Hcg weight loss stall faster than dehydration. In fact, having enough water can also help avoid false cravings and hunger. More importantly, your body needs adequate water (usually far more than you would think) to function properly and process foods etc. - Plan ahead! Know what you will be eating and when. The more planning you have in place, the easier it will be to reach your goals. - Recognize the diet as an opportunity to cleanse and establish new habits with healthy, whole foods. Frequently Asked Questions Is the 500 calorie always for 3 weeks? Dr. Simeons original protocol lasts for less than 1 month and up to 40 days, depending on the patient. Again, visit our guide on the original protocol to learn more. How much weight can you lose on 500 calories per week? Most people lose the largest amount of weight during the first 2 weeks on the protocol, and then the progress slows after this.  The amount lost in the first week can vary, but it is not uncommon to lose 8 to 15 pounds in the first week, and an additional 5 in the following week. Men on the Hcg Diet tend to lose a significant amount of weight compared to women. Read more about the Hcg Diet's average weight loss rates. Where can I find 500 calorie weight loss success rates? We have a number of success stories and testimonials along with pictures to share with you! More can be found in the success stories category of the Hcg Diet Forums. Where can I get a free PDF of the 500 calorie diet? We have the diet, along with the entire manuscript available in PDF and Audiobook.  You can get this by subscribing to our monthly newsletter on the homepage, or by visiting the pounds and inches page here. Can makeup count as calories? And can makeup cause stalls? No cosmetics other than lipstick, eyebrow pencil and powder may he used without special permission.No, makeup does not count towards calories. It is largely believed that cosmetics used in Dr. Simeons time contained heavy oils, animal fats and other chemicals he regarded as potentially disruptive to the body's hormone cycle, and loss rates. As a general rule in modern days, it is simply advised to avoid cosmetics with fats and unnatural ingredients. This is largely about the body's "cleanse" on the protocol, and giving the body a chance to eliminate harmful toxic chemicals, which have been shown to effect the natural processes of the body. Important Original Food List Highlights for the HCG Dieter: The 500 calorie limit must always be maintained. Based on the experiences shared in the Hcg Diet Forums, it is obvious the best loss rates occur in dieters who follow the exact protocol without modification. For those who do not mind losing less weight, there are 800 calorie food lists as an option. This is basically the same as the original Hcg Diet protocol, but with 300 additional calories allotted.  Some variations of this protocol also include the use of protein shakes (still sugar free) and items like miracle noodles. Choosing to go with a higher calorie Hcg Diet protocol is always an option, however it is not advised to mix the days during the protocol. Largely for psychological strain, it is better to have a plan and stick to that plan for the duration of a round (unless extreme circumstances intervene.) Read the full article

[binging-asian-dramas]

A Family. (movie). 8

Story: 8

Acting: 10

Chemistry: 10

Comparable to: ?

I’m a big fan of the Yakuza video games so I drawn in with this jmovie. The acting is brilliant in this, the story for me was on point. It’s basically about the rise and fall of crime families. Its definitely not going to be a fluffy movie.

[aramajapan]

King & Prince member Hirano Sho stars as a teacher for the first time in "24HR TV" drama SP

It was announced that King & Prince member Hirano Sho will star in a special drama as part of NTV’s annual 24 HOUR TELEVISION / LOVE SAVES THE EARTH telethon on August 21 – 22. King & Prince was previously announced to perform as the main personality of the popular charity program for this year.

Read more on aramajapan.com

[leenaevilin]

[Video] Bunkamura 30 周年記念 シアターコクーン・オンレパートリー2019「唐版 風の又三郎」(bunkamura 30 shuunen kinen theater cocoon on repertoire 2019: karaban kaze no matasaburou)

[marx48]

[ozu-teapot]

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge | Shôhei Imamura | 2001

Yukiya Kitamura, Hijiri Kojima

[dramanomikata]

“Last Hope”

132.

Title: “Last Hope” Genre: Medical Season: Winter 2013 TV Station: Fuji TV Theme Song: “Calling” by Arashi Starring: Masaki Aiba, Mikako Tabe, Seiichi Tanabe, Eiko Koike, Yukiya Kitamura, Fumiyo Kohinata, Masahiro Takashima Date Finished: June 11, 2020 My Personal Reason for Watching: Aiba, of course! Also, I started watching it during my last months living in Japan and never got around to finishing it.

(^^ Dr. Aiba, let’s go!)

“Last Hope” is a medical drama, set at Teito University Hospital. The drama focuses on department of translational medicine at the hospital and the team that has been gathered to cure the “incurable,” using cutting-edge technology. Coming from various backgrounds and all walks of life, these six team members come up with ways to save their patients together.

(^^ We’re trying to save someone here! No time for 3 p.m. snacks, Hatano!)

When I first heard Aiba was going to star in a medical drama, I thought: 1. “Aiba as a doctor? How would that work?” and 2. “Medical dramas are kind of boring. Not sure if I would be interested in this.”  After watching the drama, I can say that it definitely wasn’t boring (although the medical jargon used in each episode is spoken very fast and sometimes, it just goes way over the viewer’s head).  Each week, there would be a new patient and you would end up rooting for the success of the team to save that patient. 

The back-stories of each doctor provided a great twist to the same old medical dramas.  The backstory of Dr. Komaki (Kohinata) losing his son was the most heartbreaking but they were all pretty tragic.  Each of these doctors had a painful past, which is brought up throughout the series.  It definitely keeps you interested, wanting to see how their past concerns and troubles are resolved in the present.  As for Aiba being a convincing doctor...*awkward silence*  Just kidding. He played the part of Dr. Takumi Hatano (or “Machisha” a.k.a. “Private Doctor) well and they definitely tried to bring in some comedy with his character, always having a 3 p.m. snack at the worst possible timing.  I must say, those snacks looked delicious!

(^^ Why isn’t anyone taking Hatano’s snacks?? I want one!!)

Some scenes were definitely made to pull at the heartstrings, especially the story about the last patient where his estranged son agreed to the lung transplant (which definitely made me cry).  Other times, they would go over the top and play for the dramatics.  I know Asian dramas are, at most times, very overacted and over-dramatized, but when your boss just collapses all of a sudden mid-sentence, do you just stand there and watch?? That was one scene that actually made me go “WTF?” out loud.

(^^ He’s falling in slow motion…should we do something? Um…you guys are doctors, right?)

In summary, “Last Hope” defies the “boring medical drama” trope with intriguing storylines and sympathetic characters.  However, my one gripe: do they really have to say the drama’s title in every episode?  It’s like when a movie character says the name of the movie in the movie and you go, ‘Hey! That’s the titleofthemovie OMG!’ *insert Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme here*

Favorites: Favorite Character: I guess, Hatano? Although Komaki comes as a close second.  Favorite Episode: Personally, I liked episode 6 where they had to decide whether to save a patient or obey the patient’s request for him to see again even if that meant sacrificing his life.  My grandma also suffers from macular degeneration like the patient so it really hit close to home for me.  It just goes to show that eyesight is such a precious thing we take for granted and having it taken away is a cruel fate to live with.        Favorite Scene: Obviously, the 3 p.m. snack times XD

(^^ A photo of the doctor who learned that the patient’s wish is most important)

“Last Hope” Rating: Story: ✭✭✭½ (a solid storyline with a clear ending) Acting: ✭✭✭ (Aiba convincing as a doctor, who knew?  But I got to give it up to the supporting cast!) Theme Song: ✭✭✭½ (Not my favorite Arashi song, but a catchy one nonetheless!)

Total: 10/15

Next Up: Maybe “99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi”

(^^ “We’re your last hope.” WE GET IT!)

[redsamuraiii]

Gourmet Detective Goro Akechi / Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro (Ep 3)

😂

[crazyasianlove]

Jiken wa, Sono Mawari de Okite iru S2 Ep. 3 (Sub. Esp)

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[iohourtime]

Semi Otoko (Cicada Man) - Story, Cast, and Comments

From the Official Website of the show  https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/semio/#/?category=drama

Start Date: 2019.07.26 (Friday) 11:15 pm JST on TV Asahi

“What a Wonderful World!” - Semi

STORY

This is a miraculous love story between a beautiful cicada prince and a 30-ish woman

The story was set in an apartment building called “Utsusemi* Sou (Manor)” located just outside the city center. The old, but tasteful and elegant English-style building was home to a number of unique residents.

Semi was a cicada born in the garden behind the apartment complex. After spending a long time underground, he was finally ready to emerge in the summer. "Finally I can go to the world I so longed for!” --- with high expectations and exuberant spirits, he popped out of the ground, but in that moment, he felt a woman about to land on his head…! “I went into the world as determined but I am going to die before I even take flight…” Just as he was ready to accept his unavoidable death, the woman managed to swerve and fell just a little off to his side. Semi cheated death this time.

The woman was Yuka, who lived in “Utsusemi Manor”. She was a 30-ish (arasa) woman who worked in a food company and spent most of her days not doing much.  Semi, seeing Yuka’s lonely and dispirited face, decided to become human to thank her for saving his life, promising to fulfill Yuka’s wish!

Without knowing why, Semi and Yuka spent 7 days living together. Although she was often shocked and bewildered by Semi’s weird and otherworldly behaviour, she started falling in love with this semi prince who was doing everything he can to try to make her happy.

The emerged Semi can only live for 7 days above ground - don’t you all want to see how the miraculous love story between the beautiful, personified Semi and the sullen, 30-ish Yuka?

* I looked up Utsusemi in the dictionary.  Utsusemi apparently means “man of the world”, “”the real world”, or “temporal things”.  It also could refer to a “cicada shell” or “cast-off”. So I guess it is a double entendre.

CAST

Semi (Yamada Ryosuke - Hey! Say! JUMP)*

This summer, Semi emerged from the ground (as a human).

In the moment he emerged from the ground, Yuka was about to fall on him, ending this chapter of the story… as he thought about that, Yuka brilliant "avoidance" saved his life.

He became concerned about Yuka, who is kind, but also a bit sad. “Can I do anything for this person?”, “I want to make her smile.”, he started thinking…

With that, he transformed into human form (very beautiful), and started living with Yuka at “Utsusemi Manor” in his limited, 7-days lifespan. To Semi, everything in the world is glorious, a place he yearned for. That’s why his catchphrase is “What a wonderful world!” His favourite food is maple syrup.

Since he is a cicada, he is not familiar with normal human behaviour, so he frequently act in weird, other-worldly ways.

* Weird. I thought Yamada stopped being credited with the group’s name since a few years ago. I guess we’ll have to see the credits on the episode itself.

Okawa Yuka (Kinami Haruka)

A 30-ish woman who lived in "Utsusemi Manor". She worked in a food factory and was really bad at communicating with people (not a smooth-talker). Anyway, she did not have much of a life.

Both her parents were hardcore gansters (Yankee). Her brother was The Legendary Yankee. One day, she unknowingly reported her brother’s crimes to the police, and everyone around her blamed her for this. As a result, she found it hard to live in her hometown and moved to Tokyo.

Since Semi was furiously expressing his thanks for saving his life, and before she knew it, she started living with him for the next 7 days...

Kumada Minako (Imada Mio)

A resident of “Utsusemi “Manor”. She dreamed of becoming a designer, so she went from Fukuoka to Tokyo. She attended a school of fashion and asked Yuka for help on many of her sewing projects. She made clothes for Kugiko, Nejiko, and Haru, and the residents wore those clothes a lot.

She was the type who would say whatever is on her mind and she’s also very fashionable.

Okawa Kenta (Miyake Ken)

Yuka's older brother. He is famous in his hometown as the "legendary Yankee". He’s a legend is not only because he’s strong, but he may also be a legendary idiot... He was too stupid, so he unknowingly participated in breaking and entering; his younger sister, Yuka, reported him to [the police], leading to his arrest.

Iwamoto Haru (Yamazaki Shizuyo)

A picture book writer who lived in "Utsusemi Manor". She went around wearing a beret and unusual clothes. She was a very strong and kind-hearted woman who was loved by all the residents. She used to be part of a comedy duo with her husband, Masa.

Iwamoto Masa (Yatsui Ichiro)

A resident of “Utsusemi Manor”. He was Haru’s husband and used to be part of a comedy duo with her.  Because he loved Haru so much, he became too sweet as the straight-man in the duo, so he had to give up being a comic. He currently worked in a company [as a regular employee].

Ogawa Kunio (Kitamura Yukiya)

A resident of “Utsusemi Manor”. He worked in an unspecified job and often stayed in his apartment. He kept saying “his body is weak" and "his will die soon", but it had been many years since [he started saying that]. Anyway, he was a man of mysteries.

Shouno Nejiko (Agawa Sawako)

One of the landlords of “Utsusemi Manor”. She was the younger sister of the so-called "Kokubunji Sisters". In contrast to her impatient sister, she was very easygoing and a little slow.

Shono Kugiko (Dan Fumi)

One of the landlords of “Utsusemi Manor”. She was the older sister of the so-called "Kokubunji Sisters". She was very impatient, who always complained about her dumb sister. Although they argue all the time, the sisters actually got along very well.

Comments from the Cast, Writer, and Producer

Semi - Yamada Ryosuke

This is my first appearance in a TV Asahi drama! And I am playing “Semi”! A semi that goes “min, min” (laughs).

When I first heard about it, I thought it was a type of drama that I have never seen before. Since Okada Yoshikazu-san worked on the script, and it is very interesting! It depicted the importance of human connections, and my character has a lot of lines that will move people’s hearts, so it’ll be nice if it resonates with the audience. The story also unfolds in a very interesting way and I hope all of us will have fun making this drama.

Today, we went to take photos and videos for the press release and promotional segment, but it was very surreal! (Laughs) I was filming at a certain park in Tokyo, but the way people looked at me… (Laughs). While I was doing various things like clinging to trees and pretending to fly, a child who was watching said "What is that Onii-chan doing?" I so was embarrassed (laughs). However, I think I want to act well in the drama from the surreal parts to the touching parts.

Actually, this is the second time I played the role of "Semi." Last time, I was a contract killer called “Semi” in the movie "Glasshopper", which is completely different from the “Semi” this time. I think I might be the only one in this industry that had played "Semi" twice (laughs)?

I have never thought I needed to "understand the feeling of a cicada" in my life, but I guess I have to study hard on its ecology this summer! Since nobody had tried to personify a cicada before, so I'll try to prepare for this challenge!

It’s my first appearance in a TV Asahi drama and I am really excited. Since I have only gone on “Music Station” before, I think it is nice and a bit stressful to see myself in other timeslots.

"Semi Otoko" is definitely going to be the drama that will make you laugh and cry this summer! Please look forward to it.

Ozawa Yuka - Kinami Haruka*

* The official site have not updated the other cast’s comments yet. I got this from the article announcing the additional cast.

When I heard that it is a love story with a cicada, I already thought it sounded interesting. I am very excited and look forward to how this story develops. I want to throw myself into the role and show the changes in the relationships, not just with Semi-Otoko, but also with the various characters as written by Okada-san.

(Yamada, who plays Semi, looks forward to meeting Kinami. "Kinami-san really likes bread ... and so do I! I think I can get a lot of detailed information [about bread] from her while we are filming!”)

Ozawa Kenta - Miyake Ken

This time I'm playing the older brother of Yuka, played by Kinami Haruka-san; the character is said to be “the legendary Yankee,” but he's just an idiot (laughs). However, I want to be a lovable idiot, so I want everyone who watch the drama to feel that way about my older brother character.

I worked with Yamada Ryosuke-kun when V6 and Hey! Say! JUMP were the main personalities in the “24 Hour TV” special, and at that time, we worked on “Stomp” together. My impression is that he was serious and stoic about practicing and he is very responsible. This time, I will do my best to spice up this drama starring Yamada-kun.

This story is a wonderful fantasy in which Semi gradually gains a place in Yuka’s heart. Yuka is a woman whose family is very unhelpful, meets Semi, who wants to properly thank her and fulfil her wish; the little blessings in life gradually become important things - I think that I want to see this Yuka appear.

When you see a beautiful, cute, and pale young man like Yamada-kun in a drama on Friday night, I hope you will feel healed from the tiredness of work and study. Immerse yourself in the elixir that is Yamada-kun’s “Semi Otoko", and I think you can have a pleasant weekend and be ready to face Monday again.

Screenplay - Okada Yoshikazu

It’s been 20 years since I last wrote a drama for TV Asahi, and it is for the “Friday Night Drama” slot, which had been the home of many interesting works before, so I am having a great time [working on this project].

This time, I have indulgently used Yamada Ryosuke-san as my muse for this original project. I was very happy when he accepted the offer to act as the titular character. This is an ambitious project, but at the same time, I am very confident about it. It is at once funny and sad, it will move your heart, and while you may cry, it is not tears of sadness. That’s the type of drama. Yamada-san’s Semi Otoko will surely wash away your tiredness every Friday night. It is “very cute”.

It is not only Yamada-san. The heroine of the story is also someone I really love. There are also a lot of other interesting actors in the show. It is quite fun to write.

You will cry your heart out in the last episode; I probably cried the most as I wrote it.

I hope you can look forward to it.

TV Asahi - Producer Hattori Nobuyuki

These days, you cannot go a day without someone being shamed on SNS.

Someone tried to bring someone else down a peg and take a little pleasure, and [somehow] it spread like wildfire .... It is a difficult world to live in. That’s why I want to make a warm drama that can give people a [virtual] hug and gentle encouragement them in these times.

The gentle yet sad story woven by Okada Yoshikaz-san… This is a "fully affirmative drama" that reinforces everyone's way of life.

Who would you want to give you that gentle hug and encouragement?

For the role of the Semi Prince, I cannot think of anyone other than Yamada Ryosuke-san. He is Japan’s number one “affectionate” and “gentle” actor.  How will Yamada-san be like in the slightly surreal world created by Okada-san…, I am happily looking forward to it.

I hope “Yamada-san is Semi!” will not get dragged on SNS...

Photos and First Teaser

There is no photos or teasers from the show yet since they haven’t started shooting as far as we know. The first teaser is actually a homage to the long running docuseries “Jonetsu Dairoku” featuring actor Yamada Ryosuke and has nothing to do with the actual show.

The video is also geo-blocked to Japan only.

[gregor-samsung]

すばらしき世界 [Under the Open Sky] (Miwa Nishikawa - 2020)