Japanese TV

[watervole]

I've been down with an ear infection for a week now. Affects my balance, hurts, and and also causes a sticky liquid to ooze out of my right ear...

So, I've been watching a lot more TV.

I've a bit tired of Korean Romances and reality TV shows, so I was looking for something a bit different.

I came across this one series - 'Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?' - A Japanese actor, first to lead at Globe Theatre, returns home after 2 years away only to find himself mysteriously erased from everyone's memory.

The premise sounded it fun, and the short series handled it very well.  What I particular like was:

The varied cast - Too much Korean TV only has young pretty people in it.  This Japanese series had actors of a much wider age range.

The hard to predict plot (Yes some things were pretty likely to happen, but the ending was hard to anticipate)

The last episode - all the episodes were good, but for me, the last episode was a stand-out.  I suspect I'll probably re-watch the entire series at some point.  and look forward to that last episode (If you're a fan of live theatre, you'll probably appreciate it the most).

Once I'd finished all ten episodes, I started browsing, and promptly came across another short series with the same lead actor - Koji Yakusho - called Rikuoh

This one was about a failing company manufacturing tabi (the traditional Japanese thick socks with a separate big toe). Their market was shrinking by the year and they needed a new product.  They decide to go for running shoes.

You can predict the general drift of the plot, but it's an enjoyable ride, and there's some very good actors in it.   Again, a nice range of parts for different age and some well written female characters as well.

I'm not a sports fan, but I do like some programmes with sport in them - this one focuses on marathon runners.

I also got hooked by the authentic, and really old-looking, sewing machines the were using for making the tabi (this photo is from a real tabi makker, and I suspect they may have done some filming there....

It's clear I need to focus on programmes labelled: quirky, deadpan and understated...

 

Finally, there's a new series of Midnight Diner - a very low key series set in a tiny Japanese eatery on a quite back street in Tokyo.  It's mostly about the lives of the patrons and focuses on a regular, or a stranger, each episode.

Sadly, the new series isn't as good as the earlier ones.  the early ones were low-key and subtle. The newer ones are tying to have fancier plots.

Also, the early ones didn't always have happy outcomes, wheras the later ones always do.  I liked the unpredictability and the occasional, silent, heartbreak.

 

 

Comments

[katherine]

Ear infections are miserable!

Glad you've found things to watch.

[vera_j]

I am sorry to hear about your problem, dear friend. It is interesting to read about the Japanese TV. As for TV, I got fed up with all the commentaries and clever talks and political babbles as well as sad and tragical news here three years ago. Since then, I turn on my TV only here and there (when I find something worth watching). I use my TV set for watching my numerous DVDs. And I listen to the radio station Radiožurnál which is very good with news, interesting programes and good music.
I hope you will be soon better. The combination of pain, cold weather and shortening days is really bad. *HUGS*

[watervole]

I've been listening to a lot more Radio 4 recently, but with the earache and temporary partial hearing loss, TV with subtitles is a better bet. Japanese is as good as anything else!

[msilverstar]

Thanks, I will look them up!

[watervole]

All three are on Netflix. I'd be interested to hear what you think of them.

[vilakins]

'Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?' sounds right up my street. I've seen a lot of K-dramas but I need a quirky plot or something out of the ordinary to be interested now. One had a great premise but the lead female annoyed me so much I had to stop.

We're three episodes into the latest season of Midnight Diner, and so far the endings haven't struck me as very happy. The characters are still wonderful though.