I believe that some series can quietly change the world. Not because of overly melodramatic narratives or visceral and graphic portrayals of good or evil, no. But because of their ability to explore human nature within the commonplace as they subtly analyse the systems, customs, and demands that mark our everyday life. Let’s all be…
Reviews
The Hot Spot Review: Making the Mundane Transcendental
Sometimes, the silliest premises are the ones that make you think the most, don’t you think? After Nippon TV’s award-winning Rebooting (also known as Brush Up Life), it seems that comedian-scriptwriter Bakarhythm found his voice in combining an exploration of human nature, the absurdity of the mundane, and humour. His latest television endeavour, Nippon TV’s…
Stay Tuned! Is a Goofy Introduction to the Workings of Japanese TV
Looking for a Japanese miniseries can prove to be quite a challenge. While you can easily find short-form K-dramas online, we have more limited options for a Japanese counterpart. That may be because Japanese series are naturally shorter in duration (they often have 10-11 episodes) so our pool of options isn’t as varied as we’d…
Usotoki Rhetoric Review: Japanese TV Can’t Get Any More Charming Than This
As much as we appreciate the highs and lows of romantic dramas, the uncontrollable laughter of romantic comedies, and the twisty thrills of mystery tales, sometimes we just need a story that will transport us to a different universe, fill us with optimism, and leave us with a big smile on our faces. Nothing stressful…
Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle?: Slow-Burning Mystery Hits (Almost) All the Right Notes
It’s funny how a story can surprise you. How it can take you through a journey that may seem a bit quiet and dull at first to eventually immerse us in its universe and encourage us to become active participants in its narrative. That’s how we can describe TBS’s latest mystery, Who Saw the Peacock…
K-foodie Meets J-foodie: The Joy of Food & Friendship [+ Restaurant List]
In January 2012, TV Tokyo aired Yakitori and fried rice in Monzen-nakacho, Koto, which is the title of the very first episode of The Solitary Gourmet. Starring Matsushige Yutaka as Inogashira Goro, a merchant who loves eating, The Solitary Gourmet is an adaptation of Kusumi Masayuki and Taniguchi Jiro’s manga of the same name. Goro’s…
After School Doctor Review: A Sincere and Heartwarming Portrayal of Childhood
Nowadays, the world seems to become more and more chaotic by the minute, doesn’t it? That’s why we sometimes need a show that reminds us of our human potential to be kind, improve, and help each other. If you’re looking for that warm place of optimism and comfort, let me introduce you to NTV’s After…
Asura Review: A Bold and Visually Stunning Celebration of Women
“Is it really happiness for women like us to live without making waves?“ That’s the major dramatic question that permeates Asura, Koreeda Hirokazu’s latest endeavour with Netflix. Asura was released without much fanfare last Thursday but has been warmly received by audiences and critics alike since then. This is far from being Koreeda’s first project…
Light of My Lion Review: TBS’s Latest Drama Is A Roaring Success
The autumn season in Japan offered a handful of good shows, such as NHK’s Sora Wataru Kyoshitsu and NTV’s After School Doctor. But the real star of the season and the entire year was TBS’s heartfelt Light of My Lion, which aired its last episode on December 20th, 2024. Written by Tokuo Koji (of Ossan’s…
The Beginning of the Sea Analysis: A Cautionary Tale on Life-Changing Decisions
If you ask me what The Beginning of the Sea is about, I’ll tell you that it’s about the effects of our decisions — how our resolve can influence the lives of others, even of people we have never met before. It’s about allowing ourselves and others the right to make our own decisions and…
