random watashi: May 2013

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Densha Otoko Dorama

With the popularization of anime and manga the term otaku became well-known around the world. But are japanese otakus different from western otakus? How do they go in a love relationship? You may find the answers watching the Japanese drama called 電車男 (Densha Otoko), translated as Train Man.

The drama follows the story of a 23 year-old otaku called Yamada Tsuyoshi after he rescued a beautiful woman from a drunken man on a train. They eventually end up exchanging their phone numbers and Yamada finally decides to invite Saori, the rescued woman, to go out on a date. But as Yamada does not know anything about dating, he decides to look for some advice on an internet forum. The forum advices became Yamada’s main guide to be in a relationship with a woman that couldn’t be more different from him. The story also became a movie, novel and a manga.

This comedy/romance tv series has some hilarious moments and, as in most of Japanese dramas, it has some overly dramatic moments too. But the drama will make you laugh so much that you will forgive the embarrassing moments.

Densha Otoko drama has 11 episodes and is supposedly based on a true story.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Recommended Movie: Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers

Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers (亀は意外と速く泳ぐ) follows the story of Suzume Katakura (Juri Ueno) a young housewife that has an absolutely boring life and sometimes she even feels that is invisible and is slowly disappearing. Her name Suzume means sparrow, an ordinary bird. But things change when she finds a hidden advertisement about recruiting spies.

Suzume meets Etsuko and Shizuo (Eri Fuse and Ryo Iwamatsu), a strange couple that hire her and tell her that she needs to wait for her first mission as a spy. But until that day arrives, she can’t act suspicious. So she needs to act as ordinary as possible.

Juri Ueno is great as Suzume. She can be silly, funny and helpless naturally. Actually, all actors are great. An interesting fact is that in most of Satoshi Miki’s movies you will find actors Eri Fuse and Ryo Iwamatsu.

I love Satoshi Miki’s silly sense of humor and how he can skillfully mix drama and comedy. Other movies directed by him that I recommend are: 図鑑に載ってない虫(The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia / Deathfix: Die and Let Live) and 転々(Adrift in Tokyo).

Miki’s latest movie is called “It’s Me, It’s Me” (俺俺). I haven’t seen the movie yet, so I can’t tell if it’s good or not, but it looks interesting.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Recommended Anime: Shiro Kuma Café (しろくまカフェ)

Polar Bear Café (Shiro Kuma Café) is basically about a Café run by a Polar Bear that loves his job and …making puns. His customers are both humans and animals.

Panda-kun, one of the regulars of the Café and one of the funniest characters of the anime, is a kind-hearted Giant Panda who works part-time at a zoo. Actually, he works twice a week at the zoo (his job is just being a panda) and complains that it could be just once a week. Without hesitating, Panda-kun has a tendency to point out his popularity at the zoo and his own cuteness.

This lighthearted, funny and sweet 50 episodes long anime is recommended if you want to relax and have a good laugh. There is a very cool message (that I won’t tell you) in this anime that makes Shiro Kuma Café characters adorable not only on the outside.