Romeo and Juliet (ロミオとジュリエット )

Romeo and Juliet (ロミオとジュリエット ) is a Japanese Drama that aired in April 07, 2007 starring Takizawa Hideaki and Nagasawa Masami. The story is based on William Shakespeare's book bearing a similar title.

SYNOPSIS:
This is a story of lovers whose fates are intertwined by a series of events in their lives and their parents lives. What happened in the past seem to have played a role in their destinies.

Morita Hiromichi, played by Takizawa Hideaki, is the son of hospital owner and a doctor who became a scrap-collector and had to stop school because of an incident that happened in the hospital that led his father to hide from the authorities. Kihira Juri, played by Nagasawa Masami, is a college student and is the only daughter of a prosecutor who is in-charge of the capture of Hiromichi's father.

At first site, Hiromichi was oblivious of the girl's feelings towards him or he didn't care at all. She harshly brushes her off when she volunteered to help fix his wound. Disappointed, Juri left him alone and, accidentally, left her copy of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".


CAST:
Takizawa Hideaki as Morita Hiromichi
Nagasawa Masami as Kihira Juri
Tanaka Misako as Morita Tokieda
Yamashita Shinji as Kihira Reizou
Miura Tomokazu as Morita Giichi
Takenaka Naoto as the professor

Writer's POV:

At first glance, I thought that this story will be like most Romeo and Juliet adaptations only to find that it doesn't follow the normal flow. That factor made this movie unique and interesting. Sad to say, I am a sucker for happy endings.

Note: these images are those that I have gathered online. These aren't used for profit but for entertainment purposes only. Thank you to those who posted these photos.... I don't own any of these photos.

Majo no Jouken (魔女の条件 )

Majo no Jouken (魔女の条件 , Witch Requirement ) is Japanese Drama aired in 1999. The movie is starred by Matsushima Nanako and Takizawa Hideaki.

The story is about...

Hirose Michi, a 26 year old math teacher, who is viewed as somebody who is too young to become a homeroom teacher. Due to pressures from the society and his father, she accepted her boyfriend's wedding proposal despite her uncertainties of her feelings towards her boyfriend.

Kurosawa Hikaru is a 17 year old high school student who has transferred from one school to another due to constant skipping of classes. He is the only son of the owner and director of a well-known hospital.  After transferring from one school to the other, he ended inside Hirose Michi's class. At his previous school, it seemed that he was bullied. He had no desire or will for anything until he met Michi.

Both experienced different kinds of pressures and both are seeking for freedom. As they search for the World of Freedom, they find themselves drawn to each other and develop strong feelings for each other. These feelings is, then, looked down by society. Michi became the target of criticism for falling for and corrupting a minor. As their relationship grow, they will struggle for acceptance and learn more about life and about the World of Freedom that they so desired.

Also known as: Witch's requirement / Forbidden love

Matsushima Nanako as Hirose Michi
Takizawa Hideaki as Kurosawa Hikaru
Bessho Tetsuya as Kitai Masaru (Michi's fiancee)
Kuroki Hitomi as Kurosawa Kyoko (Hikaru's mother)
Tsuji Kazunaga as Hirose Kenichi (Michi's father)
Shirakawa Yumi as Hirose Motoko (Michi's mother)
Nishida Naomi as Uda Kiriko (Masaru's colleague & Michi's friend)
Yamada Maiko as Kinoshita Jun (Hikaru's classmate)
Yamaguchi Yuichiro Godai Yu (Doctor at Kurosawa Hospital)
Ozawa Rin as Sugai Miharu (Hikaru's home tutor)
Tayama Ryosei as Okajima Sensei (Ryousei High School Director)
Nukumizu Youichi as Matsuoka Sensei (History teacher)
Yajima Kenichi

POV:

The story is, indeed, heart-wrenching and will keep you at the end of your seat. I really loved how they struggled to fight for their love. The story also shows how different the two characters think in respect to their age. This is something worth watching, but, of course, if you are a person who is kind of legalistic and is unable to accept those that have deviated from the norm, then I suggest that you do not watch this.

This was indeed one of Takizawa Hideaki's best performances. The main characters were outstanding.

Links:
MySoju (watch online) click here
Official Site click here
JDorama page click here
DramaWiki page click here
Wikipedia page click here


IMAGES:

 

Note: these images are those that I have gathered online. These aren't used for profit but for entertainment purposes only. Thank you to those who posted these photos.... I don't own any of these photos.

Message from the Writer

Greetings Mina-san!

So far, I haven't posted an article for March. Gomen Nasai. I just got back from my trip abroad. It was very nice and I have learned a lot. I plan to go to Japan next so hopefully that will happen soon. I'll be posting articles soon. Gambattemasu!