I’ve watched more jdramas in 2023 than any other kind (a reflection perhaps of how poor the general fare has been), but I’m happy to report that the jdrama world has served up some amazing gems. Barakamon and Reversal Orchestra are both shows I enjoyed thoroughly. The latest one in this list is Gekokujo Kyuji. A pure play sports drama, which made me fall in love with baseball (a sport that is culturally foreign to me), and based on a true story at that. So much heart in it. It has youngsters, middle agers and older actors, all having important roles to play, of how a motley crew becomes a giant-killer and how a community becomes a family. The exact kind of show jdrama does well. If you are a sports drama fan like me, this is a great show to add to your list.
I second this, the story reminded me of Racket sports because of the small town belittled team that grew together.
What was fascinating was it all started with one boy not giving up on his interest to play even though he was the only person in the ‘team’ and the female coach who loved the sport but never got the chance to play as there were no female teams. Those two brought in a very reluctant (with good reason) third person to support and despite the setbacks they created the team that believed in themselves despite their reputation of losers going ahead of them. Such a great story so glad someone decided that had to be shared with a wider audience and created this drama.
ya you make good points! I didn’t check the original story to verify how accurate the characters and the roles they played were, but I’m guess quite a bit of it is true. In any case, it’s a miracle the team came from zero to reach where they did in the span of three years. It must have taken so much work in real life. Such a fantastic story.
I’ve neither read the manga nor watched the anime, and I had no idea of what to expect while starting the drama.
But the show was charming to boot. The leads seemed perfect for their roles and the cutest bunch of kids (I never thought I’d say that about any show haha). The found family – gosh, jdramas do that so well – was lovely, and it was all just so precious, sorry I can’t stop gushing! Look forward to hearing what you think!
If you’re so inclined, I’d highly recommend Reversal Orchestra too, which evoked similar sentiments (but no cute kids pfft).
As for Kadowaki Muni, I had never watched her before. But after ReveOrche, I ended up also seeing Nagatan to Aoto: Ichika no Ryourijou, which was interesting. I wasn’t blown away, but it was a pleasant show.
ReveOrche has a terrific ensemble cast and everyone has a role to play. I had no idea but it crept up on me as I live watched, and I had major withdrawal symptoms after it ended… I couldn’t watch anything else for more than a month I think. And everyone else who was watching with me said the same. I wonder how you will feel haha.
Oh dear the only Yamaken drama I have watched in full I think is A Girl & Three Sweethearts . I hate that drama with a passion, it is so so so bad. He’s always styled like a character directly out of a manga, it throws me off every time haha.
Weird jdramas are aplenty, which I try to avoid, but they always creep in somehow. The last one I remember is Prism, which had a pretty wacko set up, by my standards at least, I dropped it very quickly.
pickleddragon
January 15, 2024 at 9:50 PM
I’ve watched more jdramas in 2023 than any other kind (a reflection perhaps of how poor the general fare has been), but I’m happy to report that the jdrama world has served up some amazing gems. Barakamon and Reversal Orchestra are both shows I enjoyed thoroughly. The latest one in this list is Gekokujo Kyuji. A pure play sports drama, which made me fall in love with baseball (a sport that is culturally foreign to me), and based on a true story at that. So much heart in it. It has youngsters, middle agers and older actors, all having important roles to play, of how a motley crew becomes a giant-killer and how a community becomes a family. The exact kind of show jdrama does well. If you are a sports drama fan like me, this is a great show to add to your list.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
January 15, 2024 at 10:04 PM
I second this, the story reminded me of Racket sports because of the small town belittled team that grew together.
What was fascinating was it all started with one boy not giving up on his interest to play even though he was the only person in the ‘team’ and the female coach who loved the sport but never got the chance to play as there were no female teams. Those two brought in a very reluctant (with good reason) third person to support and despite the setbacks they created the team that believed in themselves despite their reputation of losers going ahead of them. Such a great story so glad someone decided that had to be shared with a wider audience and created this drama.
pickleddragon
January 16, 2024 at 4:33 AM
ya you make good points! I didn’t check the original story to verify how accurate the characters and the roles they played were, but I’m guess quite a bit of it is true. In any case, it’s a miracle the team came from zero to reach where they did in the span of three years. It must have taken so much work in real life. Such a fantastic story.
Kurama
January 15, 2024 at 11:22 PM
I really need to watch Barakamon >_< I loved the manga (I have it) and the anime.
pickleddragon
January 16, 2024 at 4:38 AM
I’ve neither read the manga nor watched the anime, and I had no idea of what to expect while starting the drama.
But the show was charming to boot. The leads seemed perfect for their roles and the cutest bunch of kids (I never thought I’d say that about any show haha). The found family – gosh, jdramas do that so well – was lovely, and it was all just so precious, sorry I can’t stop gushing! Look forward to hearing what you think!
If you’re so inclined, I’d highly recommend Reversal Orchestra too, which evoked similar sentiments (but no cute kids pfft).
Kurama
January 16, 2024 at 4:44 AM
The manga and anime were great. I loved the idea of this young adult who learnt to grow up with kids 😂
I will try Reversal Orchestra too. There is Kadowaki Mugi! I loved her in Todome no Kiss!
pickleddragon
January 16, 2024 at 4:51 AM
Exactly my thoughts on Barakamon!
As for Kadowaki Muni, I had never watched her before. But after ReveOrche, I ended up also seeing Nagatan to Aoto: Ichika no Ryourijou, which was interesting. I wasn’t blown away, but it was a pleasant show.
ReveOrche has a terrific ensemble cast and everyone has a role to play. I had no idea but it crept up on me as I live watched, and I had major withdrawal symptoms after it ended… I couldn’t watch anything else for more than a month I think. And everyone else who was watching with me said the same. I wonder how you will feel haha.
Kurama
January 16, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Todome no Kiss had one of this super weird story that only Jdrama can pull off. She had a great chemistry with Yamazaki Kento.
pickleddragon
January 16, 2024 at 5:41 AM
Oh dear the only Yamaken drama I have watched in full I think is A Girl & Three Sweethearts . I hate that drama with a passion, it is so so so bad. He’s always styled like a character directly out of a manga, it throws me off every time haha.
Weird jdramas are aplenty, which I try to avoid, but they always creep in somehow. The last one I remember is Prism, which had a pretty wacko set up, by my standards at least, I dropped it very quickly.
Kurama
January 16, 2024 at 6:33 AM
A Girl and Three Sweethearts wasn’t really good… but it was more about the script than the actors for me.
For Yamazaki Kento, I like him. But he was casted for too many shojo adaptations 😅 So he couldn’t really show his acting. He’s good in Alice.