Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
nchristi
Moderator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 03-2004
Location: Hotel California
Posts: 8809
|
|
Quote
|
|
Re: J-Drama: 相棒２ (Partners 2)
I haven't watched the second half of last night's episode yet, so I won't read Hiroshi's summary till then.
I did notice our "Masaki," Uchida Asahi. He certainly is tall! I always thought Kameyama was tall—until Uchida was standing next to him. (Hmm, where does that put Uchyo?! LOL!)
The first time I saw Uchida Asahi was in the Japanese/Korean drama titled Tree of Heaven. It was filmed in Japan but the main female character was half-Korean (raised in Korea) and forced to return to Japan after her father's death. "Masaki" is the main Japanese heartthrob, while Lee Wan (the gangster's son in Swallow the Sun) plays the lead Korean guy.
Well, we're certainly getting a lot of "snow" lately, aren't we? Kameyama is off to Sapporo and Otaru in this one. (Tree of Heaven is also mostly set in the winter countryside in Japan.)
When Kameyama was in the hospital next to those windows, we saw the snow blowing almost horizontally behind him. Yikes. Did that bring back memories. I was briefly hospitalized in snow country way back when and was in a room just like that, with no drapes or coverings on the windows. Even though the windows are supposed to be weatherproof (yeah, right), I can tell you first hand that the poor person in the bed next to the windows freezes! And that would be ME! LOL!
Edit: I was curious about the heights of these actors. class ul class li Kameyama - 5' 9" class li Masaki - a shade over 6' class li Ukyo - his profile skips his height/weight Mizutani Yutaka (Ukyo) also plays piano and is a successful singer. From Dramawiki, "...In addition to acting, his agency also encouraged him to put out music albums starting from 1977, all of which sold very well. His last album was released in 2009 (Time Traveler). [...]Mizutani was once married to an American actress by the name of Miki MacKenzie. They divorced soon afterwards. He is now married to ex pop-idol Ran Ito from the 1970's group Candies. He has one daughter."
Ukyo singing (no visual)
California Connection
Harborlight
Here's a very "un-Ukyo" acting performance...
Lonely Way
At 2008 "Red & White"?
Dec 2008
Here's a pic of Ukyo's wife, Ito Ran. She was in the Jpop girl group named "Candies" back in the late '70s and went into acting after that. We saw her in Kokoro!
Ito Ran
Candies in Mini-skirts (1977)
Guess this must have been pretty racy back then, since they keep mentioning "mini-skirts' in the titles! LOL!
Sorry I've gone off topic, but couldn't resist! 
Last edited by nchristi, 10/30/2009, 9:26 am
|
|
10/30/2009, 8:19 am
|
|
Hiroshi66
Moderator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 02-2004
Location: Northridge, California
Posts: 8795
|
|
Quote
|
|
Re: J-Drama: 相棒２ (Partners 2)
Nchristi, thanks so much for sharing these songs by Mizutani Yutaka (Ukyo) and his wife Ito Ran! I really enjoyed listening to the songs and watching the videos. 
I liked Ukyo's music! What a surprise that he's also a famous singer in addition to being an actor! His songs are pretty good, too. It looks like Ukyo has had a continuing career in the music industry for over 30 years, after releasing his first album in 1977. Ukyo's a really talented entertainer. Not only is he a skilled and believable actor, but he's also quite a good singer. Now we know what Mizutani Yutaka does in his spare time when he's not portraying Ukyo on Partners!
Yes, Ukyo's acting performance in that drama is really different than what we usually see from him on Partners, isn't it? I almost cracked up when I saw him walk after that lady with a big smile on his face. We would never see that on Partners!
What a surprise that Ito Ran is married to Ukyo! Yep, she played the heroine's mother in the morning drama Kokoro. That song she performed back in 1977 with the group Candies actually has a pretty catchy tune! What a coincidence that the year she performed that song is the same year that Ukyo came out with his debut album.
That must be horrible being in a hospital room with the snowy air blowing right in without any drapes to cover the window. Ouch! Ukyo should have brought one of Kameyama's many jackets when he came from Tokyo, LOL!
Yep, Masaki is pretty tall, isn't he? I never realized it on Dondo Hare, but when we saw him standing next to Kameyama, he looks pretty tall!!
|
|
10/30/2009, 10:36 am
|
|
nchristi
Moderator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 03-2004
Location: Hotel California
Posts: 8809
|
|
Quote
|
|
Re: J-Drama: 相棒２ (Partners 2)
... and why did we see that scene of Kameyama flashing back to Asakusa (sp?) being sentenced to death? Is there some connection with that former prosecutor turned criminal? All those guys were in Tokyo prison at the same time, it seems.
I watched this episode again. Having read some about both the Ukyo and Kameyama actors, it makes my enjoyment much deeper for both the acting and the two detectives' characters in the drama itself.
Ukyo is such a stiff character, yet the actor is really an unusually agile, fit sort of man. That's why I posted up the link to him in his youth running after the girl. The way he lightly springs from one side of her to the other clearly shows how light on his feet and coordinated he is. We saw that again in this last Partners II episode. Mizutani Yutaka is currently 57 years old. Yet, how deftly he lept over that fence/wall and ran full bore across the snowfield to the unconscious Kameyama. That was beautiful.
Of course, the 47-year old Terawaki Yasufumi is no couch potato, either. But his Kameyama character allows us to constantly see the beauty of his movements. I didn't know previously that 'Kameyama' is primarily known as a stage actor, musicals included. My presumption is that since stage is his first love, perhaps that's why he has finally left the long running Partners TV series.
Then there is the relationship between Ukyo and Kameyama in the drama. It was heartwarming to see how attached they are to one another. Ukyo may seem cold on the outside, but his loyalty and protective feelings towards Kameyama are almost like a father toward a son, or an older brother taking care of his kid brother.
On the other hand, Ukyo enjoys watching Kameyama squirm in harmless situations—like when K's girlfriend finds the call-girl leaflet in his pants pocket and asks Ukyo to leave the hospital room for a moment. Ukyo gets a wry little smile on his face as he leaves, knowing exactly what K is in for now!
100-Year Memorial Tower
From Sapporo City website...
Hokkaido Centennial Memorial Tower class ul It was constructed in September 1970 to recognize the efforts of those who devoted themselves to developing Hokkaido and to demonstrate the will of Hokkaidoans to forge a bright future. The height is 100 m, one meter for each year of its centennial construction. On the 8th floor, at 23.5 m, there’s an observation deck.
Admission: Free
Closed: Late Oct.- early Apr. The observation deck is accessible only by stairs.
|
|
10/31/2009, 2:31 pm
|
|
Hiroshi66
Moderator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 02-2004
Location: Northridge, California
Posts: 8795
|
|
Quote
|
|
Re: J-Drama: 相棒２ (Partners 2)
Thanks for posting that picture of Sapporo's 100-Year Memorial Tower! It looks like the 40-year anniversary of the tower's completion is coming up soon in 2010. It must be beautiful to look at snow-covered Sapporo from the observation deck at the top of the tower. But it must be quite a climb to get up there, LOL!
I, too, enjoyed the scene where Ukyo sprinted across the snow to save Kameyama. Though these two characters have different personalities, I always enjoy the scenes where Ukyo shows his protective and loyal feelings towards Kameyama, who is his junior partner but also like a little brother. Ukyo sat by Kameyama's hospital bed all night, waiting for him to make up. These two detectives saw a rocky start to their friendship back in Partners I, but by this point in the second season, they have become much closer.
Yep, I loved that scene where Ukyo quietly left the hospital room, too! Ukyo got a kick out of it, didn't he? Although, I think he would have also loved to stay and watch how K's girlfriend was going to interrogate K about what those pamphlets were doing inside his pocket, LOL!
This is such an enjoyable drama with great acting, too. Thanks for posting the background information/videos about the Ukyo and Kameyama actors, Nchristi. I feel the same way, I think the drama has become even more enjoyable after learning more about the actors that are portraying the main characters.
Now the mystery remains... did all these people know each other from their days in Tokyo Prison? Hmm.
|
|
11/1/2009, 6:10 am
|
|
Hiroshi66
Moderator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 02-2004
Location: Northridge, California
Posts: 8795
|
|
Quote
|
|
Re: J-Drama: 相棒２ (Partners 2)
Episode 16
Last night's episode was rather intense, wasn't it? It was the conclusion of the "Sapporo/Otaru 2-parter" mystery. I loved the scenes of Otaru's snowy landscape. It looks like such a beautiful place to visit, especially in the wintertime. The cities and towns of northern Japan has a very snowy climate, and it's very different from the sub-tropical climate in the southern part of the island chain. It must almost feel like being in two completely different worlds!
So our "Masaki" character turned out to be the son of the man that Sayuki's father had murdered 10 years before. His older brother had also been killed during that time. Masaki and his mother were the sole survivors because they had been in a church during the time of the murder, but the mother passed away a few months later, leaving Masaki an orphan. Now, he returned from Tokyo to Otaru to take revenge against Sayuki -- trying to gain her complete trust before he murders her. His plan is spoiled when a classmate sees him and calls him by his father's last name (rather than the last name of his mother that he had been using to conceal his true identity.) He was eventually arrested, and Sayuki's life was saved. Ah, that revenge plot is brought in yet again!
After seeing Masaki's character in the morning drama Dondo Hare, I was a bit shocked to see him holding a gun to Sayuki's head! Masaki's always been so mellow in the morning drama, so it was interesting to see him in such a completely different role so soon after our morning drama finished.
And who was our mystery man? He was a prison guard in Tokyo Prison who knew Sayuri's father. They eventually became friends after finding out that they were both from Otaru. Also, Mystery Man had the same economic problems that Sayuri's father had in his life -- and he almost resorted to murder like Sayuri's father did. The father talked to Mystery Man (MM) about his family, causing for MM to buy those art books for Sayuri. He eventually handled the execution for Sayuri's father, but now came to Hokkaido to pay his respects to his former friend's family. However, he was asked to return to Tokyo by Sayuri's mother -- which he did. However, as he, Ukyo, and Kameyama were returning back home, they saw Sayuri run alongside the train holding the art book MM had given to her.
I cracked up when the annoying rival detective called Kameyama's GF "Special Missions Detective Kameyama's...... girlfriend." LOL!
Onoda is back. Now he is truly a mystery man! One of the other detectives draws up a list of "grievances" against Ukyo and Kameyama. Onoda gets a phone call, answering it formally (as if it's a boss or co-worker.) He mentions to the detective who came to see him that he would take it into "consideration" and watches the man leave the room. As soon as he leaves, Onoda changes his tone to a more casual one -- because the person on the other line is none other than Ukyo! LOL! He wants a "king crab" back from Hokkaido.
Episode 17 airs next Thursday, 11/12.
|
|
11/7/2009, 8:21 am
|
|
nchristi
Moderator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 03-2004
Location: Hotel California
Posts: 8809
|
|
Quote
|
|
Re: J-Drama: 相棒２ (Partners 2)
Either I'm massively confused or 18.2 is changing their schedule. Partners II was on Thursday night at 9p and Friday night at 8p, followed by an episode of Partners at 9p. Besides that, Episode 2 of our morning drama also aired last night at 7:30p! (I wonder if they will be showing the morning drama every weeknight at 7:30p?)
Back to Episode 16 of our drama, I really enjoyed this one. I loved how it ended. The retired guard, with Ukyo and Kameyama, hoping to see if Sayuri will have a change of heart and come to the train station for a farewell. Such disappointment when she doesn't. Then, when their train makes a stop farther down the line, there is Sayuri standing on the platform in the snow, holding up the art book the guard had given her as a gift. That was so touching. But what touched me even more was watching Kameyama. What an actor! He expressed through his facial expression and literal welling up of tears in his eyes what I was feeling in my armchair watching all of this—the old man cries out of appreciation that Sayuri's seemingly impenetrable outer coldness and refusal to allow life and others in is dashed to pieces. She shows her appreciation to the guard by her act—without words—then running alongside the train as far as she can until it outdistances her.
The Guard - I was fooled into believing what I expected to believe. Seeing him leave the prison, I assumed he was a prisoner who had completed his time. I did have a fleeting thought, though, that the Mystery Man might be the guard in death row. We saw his face briefly in Part I, when Sayuri's father and the guard have an unusual moment where the father asks the guard if he has delivered his letters to Sayuri. Obviously, there was a somewhat personal relationship going on between them.
The execution was interesting to me. Horrible, yet I'm curious to know how different nations take care of their business. Sayuri's father knew it was the Guard who was preparing him for the noose, etc., and he found comfort in that because he knew he was dying at the hand of a man who loved him. A bit of human warmth in that.
I took note, too, that three guards in white gloves had their fingers on three buttons/levers. Doubtless, only one button activated the gallows, but having three men pressing buttons simultaneously allowed none of them to know if he was the executioner. Firing squads in the United States usually had five shooters, with one rifle containing a blank bullet. Again, to ease the psychological impact on the shooters. (Side note, the last execution by firing squad in the U.S. was in Utah in 1996. However, it was at the request of the inmate in order to embarrass the State officials. The usual method there is by lethal injection. Death by firing squad has since been banned in Utah.)
As for Masaki, what a surprise. I didn't expect that, either. (I am glad we saw Dondo Hare before his performance in Partners II. LOL!) Back at the original crime scene, Sayuri's father shoots the contractor and then a much younger man comes rushing into the room and we hear another gun shot. We never really saw the second man killed, but now we know he was the very young Masaki's older brother. class blockquote Hiroshi wrote:
I cracked up when the annoying rival detective called Kameyama's GF "Special Missions Detective Kameyama's...... girlfriend." LOL! I did, too! I enjoyed even more how coolly she put them all in their places by stating the obvious about Kameyama. What an insult (in their minds) that a woman reporter was sharper than the professional detectives!
Oh, one last little highlight. I really loved the writer's brief but clever dialog between Ukyo and Kameyama, one that encapsulates their relationship and how/why it works. Ukyo admits about himself that he has the weakness of always being suspicious of everything and everyone. Kameyama replies that he has the weakness of always trusting and believing in everyone. Perfect. And that is exactly who they are. The 'mud' that holds them together is that each has a certain humility and willingness to learn from the other. Not to mention that each of them admires the other's strengths. Great combination of characters. Love it!
|
|
11/7/2009, 10:11 am
|
|
Hiroshi66
Moderator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 02-2004
Location: Northridge, California
Posts: 8795
|
|
Quote
|
|
Re: J-Drama: 相棒２ (Partners 2)
class blockquote nchristi wrote:
Either I'm massively confused or 18.2 is changing their schedule. Partners II was on Thursday night at 9p and Friday night at 8p, followed by an episode of Partners at 9p. Besides that, Episode 2 of our morning drama also aired last night at 7:30p! (I wonder if they will be showing the morning drama every weeknight at 7:30p?)Yep, it looks like 18.2 has changed their schedule starting this month! Partners II is going to have an additional airing Friday nights at 8p, and our morning drama is going to be airing every weeknight at 7:30p. I'm glad we'll have a chance to see our morning drama one more time in the evening! 18.2 has additional time slots for the other dramas, too. I've created a new topic here about the new schedule. I've included a list of the additional time slots for the other dramas, too.
I loved that final scene, too. Just when we thought that the retired guard gave up and was sadly returning home on the train, he saw Sayuri standing there on the platform, holding the final book that he had given her. Though no words were exchanged, it was such a profound scene. I seem to recall that the painting on the cover of Sayuri's art book was the same one that was in her father's cell while on death row. The only thing in his cell was a paper with a copy of this painting on it, and her father showed the painting to the guard while he was talking about how much his daughter loved art. The guard seeing Sayuri holding that book and running alongside the train was really moved... and so were Kameyama and Ukyo. Great scene, and I think the presence of the snow covering the ground made it even more profound. It's scenes like these that make Partners more than just a regular detective show! I love it.
I was reading through a Wikipedia article on Capital punishment in Japan, and it looks like capital punishment has been suspended in Japan following the Democratic Party's victory in this year's elections. class blockquote Capital punishment is legal in Japan, but was effectively suspended on September 17, 2009 with the appointment of Keiko Chiba as Minister of Justice.From the looks of Episode 16, it appears that hanging was the usual method of execution before the recent suspension of capital punishment.
Haha yep, I'm glad we were able to first see Masaki in a different light on Dondo Hare, LOL! Though this role was one of his first performances, I think he did a pretty good job while acting on Partners II. Then again, he's really grown as an actor since then, especially while playing the role of Masaki 4 years later in Dondo Hare.
Kameyama's GF is hilarious! Her facial expression when the detectives walked in made me laugh, too. She's another one of my favorite characters in this drama, along with Ukyo's ex-wife who owns the restaurant that U&K frequent.
I've really enjoyed Partners. Now that we're winding down towards the end of the second season, I hope that UTB will decide to air Partners III in their Thursday night time slot. I'm looking forward to seeing the subsequent seasons. Can't wait to see more of U&K!
|
|
11/7/2009, 11:31 am
|
|
diane18
Member
Global user
Registered: 02-2007
Posts: 326
|
|
Quote
|
|
…
i love those two! u/k masaki is a naughty boy! hee hee!
|
|
11/7/2009, 2:09 pm
|
|
Add a reply
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
|
You are not logged in (login)
11/28/2009, 11:20 pm
|
|
|
Las Vegas Vacations