Kuitan Episode 1 – Gluttonous Detective! Eat the evidence at the scene?

The aptly named Holmes Agency is a struggling detective office wanting of clients. Their ‘biggest’ client of the day is a bratty elementary school boy with a missing cat.

Left: Takano Seiya aka Kuitan, on his nth meal on the plane

Their prayer for a bigger case came a few hours later, courtesy of their connections with the Minato Police: a murder of a business man. ‘Balikbayan’ detective Takano Seiya, just fresh out of the plane, finds himself rushing to the scene of the crime with Ryosuke and Kyoko, his colleagues at Holmes Agency.

Left: Yummy sushi from the Usagi Sushi shopThe three managed to sneak into the house to take a peek into the crime scene. While Ryousuke and Kyoko appeared disgusted at seeing the dead body, Kuitan has his eyes on something else: a box of sushi left on the coffee table. Ryousuke and Kyoko can only watch in horror as Kuitan struts into the living room, kneels in front of the table and eat the sushi (but not before saying ‘Itadakimasu’, of course!). The official investigators turned around just in time to see him gobble up their evidence.

Read more on this episode at www.Japinoy.com – Kuitan (Eating Detective) 喰いタン

Starring:
Higashiyama Noriyuki – Takano Seiya (Kuitan)
Morita Go – Noda Ryousuke
Ichikawa Mikako – Idemizu Kyoko
Suga Kenta – Kindaichi/Kaneda Hajime
Kyono Kotomi – Ogata Momo
Sano Shiro – Igarashi

Synopsis:

Kuitan is about Takano Seiya, a brilliant and highly recommended detective with an uncanny way of solving mysteries: through his tastebuds and seemingly bottomless stomach. His unsatiable appetite for food earned him the monicker ‘Kuitan’, short for ‘Kuishinbou Tantei’ or ‘Gluttonous Detective’.

Takano is not just a glutton – he is a connossieur who appreciates and respects food in all its stages: from the farm to the kitchen to the table. This is the reason why he insists on saying ‘Itadakimasu’ and ‘Gochisousama deshita’ properly, and hates to see food go to waste.

Together with Noda, Kyoko and Kindaichi, Takano eats his way through the most puzzling cases that is sure to leave you craving — for more dorama action and food! Mmm…Oishii! – Summary by www.Japinoy.com

Open house 2007- Japinoy members in Kimono

(The Kanji above reads: Huge Success)

Woohoo! This year’s Open House of the Nihongo Center/PIJLC was the best ever! Since the first time I attended the Open House in 2004, this is the first time I encountered such a big crowd at school. Tons of activities for the visitors too like Origami, aikido, sumo (!), film showing, kimono no kitsuke (kimono wearing), free Nihongo class, trivia contest, karaoke contest, cosplay contest and many more.

Above is a pic of moeru-san and hirodayuy-san (both Japinoy.com members) in their yukata (summer kimono). Looking good, guys! Mr. and Mrs. Yakuza? But something is missing in this pic…Oh, right. Falling hearts. Oh-kay, moving on… I wasn’t able to go around much to the different rooms and activities (or even watch ‘Howl’s Moving Castle) because Keli-sensei asked me to assist with the Kimono room, which I gladly did. The last time I wore a yukata was December last year, for the company’s Christmas party, and all I could remember was how to tie an obi (Not Wan Kenobi) in the ‘chou musubi’ style (butterfly obi, which in my opinion, looks more of a ribbon than a butterfly). There are so many other ways of tying an obi, but I never bothered to learn all of them. At the Open House, there were also the ‘instant obi’, those that you just clip on the back. Convenient. ^_^

I did promise to visit the Tea Ceremony room, because my friends Masaki-san and Sasaki-san were there with Yamaura-sensei. I never got the chance to visit though. They never visited my room either, so I guess we’re even XD
(Below) Spitz-san, moeru-san and hirodayuy-san enjoying the experience of ‘Sadou’ or the way of the tea.They were able to experience hands on how tea ceremony is done: from entering the room through the small entrance, to how to make to, and to how to properly drink it. Sugoku omoshirokatta!

Open house 2007- Tea ceremony

One of the crowd-drawing events was the sumo competition, headed by JOCV volunteer, Niimi-sensei (who is about to go home to Japan soon. NCF will miss you, sensei!). Visitors and students participated in the competition; there were hilarious moments like one contestant running away from his opponent. Eventually, it was a trainee from IHI who won the competition. Yokozuna!This Open House is a once-in-a-year event that I vow never to miss, ever. It is not everyday that you get to drink tea the way Japanese people did many years before.Or wear what they wear. Or speak as they speak. It is not everyday that common Filipinos like us experience traditional Japanese culture. It was fun and educational at the same time. Nerdy of me to say that, but it’s true. XD

i saw this article in inquirer (http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=80767) and it states/implies that takuya kimura is here in the philippines, is this confirmed?

I couldn’t be any happier!!! I really pray to God this is true. Wow, Kimura Takuya in the Philippines?! 

Well, OK, the article was really about Josh Hartnett, but wow, I really hope this is true.

With this, Oricon polled 1,000 people (Oricon employees,students, people ages 20s-40s) and asked them which celebrities would look best as beach hut staff.

Male celebrities
1. Hayami Mokomichi – He is fresh, tanned and look really good beside the sea.
2. Yamaguchi Tomomitsu – It is so ‘him’ to wear an Aloha shirt while working.
3. Sakaguchi Kenji – For his surfing skill.
4. Kimura Takuya - Also for his surfing skill.
5. Fukuyama Masaharu - Because he always makes it to the Oricon polls! Wahaha!
Yamaguchi Tatsuya
Koike Teppei

Female celebrities
1. Wakatsu Chinatsu – For her ‘genki’ aura, bright personality and cute face.
2. Hamasaki Ayumi – She said once in a TV show that she wanted to work in a beachside house.
3. Koda Kumi – For her sexiness.
4. Hoshino Aki – Also for her sexiness.
5. Aragaki Yui – Maybe because she’s Okinawan?

Translated for and by Japinoy.com. Please credit/link back to Japinoy.com when posting this elsewhere. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Source: Oricon.co.jp

Ryugasaki Momoko is a stubbornly independent Sweet Lolita with a talent for embroidery. The yards of lace and ribbons she wears hide the spunky personality within.

Shirayuri Ichigo is a bike-riding punk with a penchant for fake ‘Versach’ (sic) shirts. Her scary makeup and punk attire cover up the childhood insecurities and her desperate need for authority figures – or a real friend.

I was a bit intrigued why the two main characters were named after fruits: momo (peach) and ichigo (strawberry); so I did a little “fructology” search on Google to see if the names had bearing on the personality (or writer Takemoto Novala just liked the names).

• Momo – a ‘peach’ person is frank and outspoken. She is highly independent, a real go-getter with an ambitious streak. Ryugasaki Momoko = perfect match.
• Ichigo – a ‘strawberry’ person makes friends quickly, caring and loyal to friends. She is well loved, trusted and has a bubbly personality. Shirayuri Ichigo = perfect match.

This unlikely pair first meet when Ichigo responds to an ad Momoko put out to sell her father’s fake Versach and Universal Studios shirts (of course, with the intention to earn more money to buy Lolita dresses from ‘Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, her favorite Lolita boutique).With only 2 things in common (they are both girls, and they both live in Shimotsuma), this unlikely pair disagreed on almost everything…but eventually became good friends, and developed a strong bond, despite their obvious differences.

The story is unique, as it deals not with the usual high school kids and their problematic lives, but of “social outcasts” (so to speak), of people who stand out in a society of conformity. Certainly, being a Lolita and a Yankee is something out of the ordinary, but being a Lolita and a Yankee in the province takes ‘outcast’ to a whole new level. While it also deals with youth and friendship (as with many other dorama and movies), what I liked about this is the kind of characterization you don’t see regularly.

The story has a lot of funny moments, but still manages to effectively convey the ‘friendship’ part without going too sickly sweet or overly dramatic, as many friendship-themed movies and doramas lean towards.

Likewise, this movie has a fantastic cast, and Fukada Kyoko and Tsuchiya Anna have such great chemistry together. I am not really a Kyoko fan, and I wasn’t really excited to go to the Eiga Sai just to see her, but I’m glad I did. It’s not surprising to see Kyoko in such a role since dorama fans like me are used to seeing her in “sweet, naive girl” roles before, but it is refreshing to see the comedic side of

her. Very good acting from her in this movie. I just wished she practiced more at swinging that bat (the scene where Ichigo is surrounded by the other gangsters). She looked a bit awkward, swinging the bat aimlessly, not even coming close to hitting anyone. Kind of reminded me of Matsu Takako smoking a ciggie in Love Generation. Who would know that she is one of the heaviest smokers in J-entertainment? But anyway, moving on…

Now, Tsuchiya Anna is a big revelation. Who knew she was THAT good an actress? Anna makes for a beautiful punk with an indecent tongue and a deadly flying kick (at the receiving end of which is her good friend Momoko). She easily makes the transition to foul-mouthed punk to this vulnerable girl who just had her first heart break. Why, she’d be the perfect girlfriend for Sakaki Makio (Nagase Tomoya/My Boss, My Hero)!

“Kamikaze Girls” is an exceptional story of youth and frienship, with a talented cast, to boot.  Certainly worth your time to visit the Eiga Sai and see this refreshing movie (or DL it, if you happen to miss the JFM film fest…and nope, I won’t tell you where to get it ^_~). Spit, peroxide and lace never looked this good in a movie. Yep, baby, the Lolita and the Punk shone so bright!

Rating: 7/10

Starring:
Fukada Kyoko – Ryugasaki Momoko
Tsuchiya Anna – Shirayuri Ichigo
Miyasako Hiroyuki – Momoko’s father
Shinohara Ryoko – Momoko’s mother
Ki ki Kirin – Momoko’s grandmother

Related Threads:
Fukada Kyoko
Tsuchiya Anna
Kamikaze Girls / Shimotsuma Monogatari
2007 Eiga Sai – Japan Foundation, Manila

Many Japanese marriages have resulted from mi-ai, and it is for this reason that mi-ai is still widely practiced today. Mi-ai is an interview between a man and a woman, with a view to marriage. It is arranged by a nakoudo or a go-between. It is not compulsory for the two sides to wed; mi-ai simply provides an opportunity for a man and a woman to get to know each other well enough so they can make an informed decision regarding future family life.

If and when the two sides decide to go ahead with the relationship after some time of getting to know each other, the nakoudo arranges for the engagement to take place formally with a ceremony called yui-no. The families of both sides meet to dine and wine together (wine, meaning sake, of course) as a sign that the two families will soon be united.

The highlight of the yui-no ceremony is the exchanging of the gifts, all wrapped beautifully in exquisite rice paper or washi. The main gift for the bride-to-be is an obi (kimono sash) which symbolizes female virtue, and for the groom-to-be, a hakama which represents fidelity. Other gifts are also exchanged like konbu (kelp) and surume (dried cuttlefish) to signify a lasting marriage, a suehiro fan for happiness and shiraga (hemp) to signify long life and strong familial bonds.

Spring and fall are favorite times for Shinto weddings, and during auspicious dates, there are as many as 40 couples getting married in one Shinto shrine alone.

The bride wears an exquisite kimono called shiro-maku, made of snowy white silk. Her hair is swept up in a traditional style and held with beautiful combs and ornaments called kanzashi. Her face is painted a creamy white. Lastly, she wears on her head a white hood called tsuno-kakushi, which literally means “hiding the horns”. This hood symbolizes her faithfulness and obedience to her husband. The groom wears a montsuki kimono with a short haori overcoat with the family crest and hakama pants.

A Shinto wedding ceremony is presided by a Shinto priest in the sanctuary of the shrine. It is witnessed only by family members, close relatives and the nakoudo. The ceremony starts with a purification ritual for all present, using a special branch called narai-gushi. After this, he invokes on the gods to bestow their blessings on the couple.

Read and discuss the full article at Japinoy.com

Japinoy anniv

It was the Japinoy.com 1st year anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 27th. We had a simple karaoke party at Music 21, Jupiter, Makati.

We were a small bunch and a couple of our friends from Philippine NANA Day also came to celebrate.

It’s so great to have met everyone who I made friends with online, like Karaoke Queen Spitz-san and Kendama Queen L’ara~en~ciel.

Kat-san is forever the life of the party. She never seems to run out of battery. Hehe.

We had a little trivia game about Japan, then the Kendama contest and a J-movie raffle (which Kat-san won). Then more singing!!

I hope M21 will update their Japanese song list soon…otherwise, I will probably tag along Spitz-san (and drag Wigent with me) to SM North Edsa to sing Karaoke with Kumyoung!

I look forward to another year of Japinoy…5 years, 10 years…we will be here to stay!

www.japinoy.com – It’s everything Japanese for the Pinoy!

Singer Gackt (photo right) continues to diversify and has filmed his first role in an NHK taiga drama series. In an episode of the ongoing series “Fuurinkazan” to be aired on June 17, he makes his first appearance as the historical figure Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578), one of the many powerful warlords of the Sengoku period. Yesterday at NHK’s studio in Tokyo, he filmed scenes with star Uchino Masaaki (39, center), who plays the samurai Yamamoto Kansuke (1493-1561), and veteran actor Ogata Ken (69, left). In his 9th taiga series, Ogata plays Usami Sadamitsu (1489-1564), military strategist to Uesugi. Yamamoto is best known for his battle plan which led to victory over Uesugi at Kawanakajima. But believing his plan to have failed, he charged headlong into the enemy ranks and died before the battle was won. The title of this year’s taiga is an old expression that means “as fast as the wind, as quiet as the forest, as daring as fire, and immovable as the mountain.”

Source: Japan-Zone.com

Read and discuss at Japinoy.com

By: Maneki Neko

Synopsis: Based on the successful manga series by Ninomiya Tomoko, Nodame Cantabile is a romantic comedy between musical opposites: an arrogant guy who always seeks perfection, and a freespirited girl who abhors hygiene and reading musical scores.

When they met, it was instant attraction for Nodame, and instant repulsion for Chiaki. However, Chiaki slowly began to appreciate Nodame’s talent and character. As they work together on their music, they unwittingly inspire each other to take big risks and further hone their musical talents, and mature as persons, as professionals, and as a couple.

Review: My boyfriend, who saw this in Japan, was actually insisting that we watch it. A couple of online buddies also recommended the series. They were all raves about it, so I thought this should be worth my time. Hehe.My initial reaction is that I didn’t like the numerous anime-ish scenes that the director (or whoever) is so fond of. Gokusen was ok; Nodame was a tad too much. The harisen, the flying Nodame, and the Street Fighter-like punches are a bit out of place, even in a funny series like Nodame, IMHO. Also, the first few episodes dealt mostly with Chiaki’s angst, and his desire to shut himself in his miseries about his ‘career limbo’ sort of drags the story.

I noticed that this was more of Chiaki’s dorama than Nodame’s. Until the very end, he had more character development than Nodame. I suppose that if they had a second season (since the series is only up to volume 9 of the manga), it would probably focus more on Nodame.

Eventually, the series (and the Nodame-Chiaki tandem) grew onto me, and I found myself liking it as I go per episode. I even shed a few tears of happiness during S-Oke’s first public performance. Nyar.

The thing that surprised me most about this series is that none of the actors, save for Ueno Juri and Tamaki Hiroshi, really knew how to play the instruments. They were particularly trained to pretend how to play instruments like the violin, contrabass, oboe and tympani. Ueno Juri (Nodame) studied piano in high school (?) while Tamaki Hiroshi (Chiaki) had to learn piano, violin and conducting all at the same time for the series. How cool is that?

Ueno Juri and Tamaki Hiroshi do make a good pair, though I still don’t believe that they are dating! Ha! Not happening (I hope).

But they aren’t the only great ones in this dorama. Takenaka Naoto is unbelievably funny (and icky) as Maestro Franz Stresemann, the famous European conductor who loves Japanese idols. It is also good to see Eita in a more substantial role than the bit roles he had in previous dramas. Eita the violinist. Eita the concert master. Eita the concert master with a concert master girlfriend. ^_^

However, my most favorite will have to be Koide Keisuke, who plays Okuyama Masumi, the typanist guy who has the hots for Chiaki. The colorful clothes, the big hair, the way he says “Chiaki-sama”: it’s all him and he certainly steals the show from Nodame and Chiaki. Forget Oishii Propose, this is probably the best (and funniest) I have seen him so far.

Rating review: 8/10

Starring:
Tamaki Hiroshi – Chiaki Shinichi
Ueno Juri – Noda Megumi
Takenaka Naoto – Franz Stresemann
Eita – Mine Ryuutaro
Koide Keisuke – Okuyama Masumi

Network: Fuji TV
Season shown: Autumn (Oct-Dec) 2006
Average rating: 18.79%

Related Threads:
Nodame Cantabile のだめカンタービレ
Best 20 ~Most Favorite Doramas of 2006~ by Junon Magazine
Ueno Juri 上野樹里
Tamaki Hiroshi 玉木 宏