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Japanese Drama - Blog Posts
Asian dramas list (mostly lgbt).
I watch a lot of dramas and made this list for my friends so they knew which ones I like. Just putting it out there for anyone who wants some good recommendations.
🔹- particular faves.
- My engineer (the series). Four main gay couples. Adorable. Can be found on youtube. (Anxiously awaiting season 2) Thai.🔹
- 2moons2. Thai. (not just 2moons. The first series never got completed so they redid it.) three main couples, adorable. on youtube.🔹
- Love by chance. (Thai. Season 2 is currently benign released. On youtube, Viki and dailymotion.) two main couples, with two more iffy couples in the background. I don’t really count those. 🔹
- Sotus the series. One main couple. On Netflix. Season 2 is on dailymotion I think. Thai. 🔹
- Cause you’re my boy. Teen cringeyness, but adorable. One couple. Thai, On youtube.
- Why R you (the series). On YouTube’. Thai. (Two couples. Every couple is adorable in this. Main couple are huge dorks with a shared braincell).
- Until we meet again. (Has disturbing themes but happy ending) Thai. one main couple with a hinted second couple, on youtube.
- Theory of love. (Not my fave but still okay). Thai. On youtube.
- 2gether the series. (Adorable. Two main couples. Season 2 just came out) Thai. On youtube.🔹
- Diary of a tootsie. (A Thai comedy about a group of drag queen friends. Hilarious and crazy). On youtube or Dailymotion. There are two seasons and a movie. The movie is on Netflix. But watch the series first.
- YYY the series. Thai. (If you liked diary of a tootsie then this is also a ridiculous comedy. It’s a bit on crack) on dailymotion or Facebook.
- History3: trapped. (This is in mandarin). On Viki rakuten or Dailymotion. (All the history shows are on Viki).🔹
- History3: Make our days count. (Adorable but you’re WILL cry). On Viki and maybe Dailymotion. 🔹
- I actually recommend all of the history shows. They’re all lovely and cute. 🔹 (Update: Not History4: Close to you. The main couple are cute but I found the second couple triggering and toxic. I don’t recommend).
- The Untamed. (A bromantic Chinese drama but based off a lgbt novel). On Netflix. 🔹
- Advance bravely. (Another chinese ‘bromance’ based off of a bl novel). On dailymotion.
- Guardian. (Yet another ‘bromance’ based off a lgbt book. Fantasy show with a good plot and great characters) on Viki.
- Dark blue and moonlight. (Taiwan. On Viki, pretty good. The humans are flawed and it’s dramatic, but very realistic. On Viki).
- Hello stranger. (A Filipino drama. Ongoing- I’m currently watching this). On youtube.
- Game boys (Filipino drama set in lockdown, just came out. I related to this so much. Will cry!). On youtube. 🔹
- Just like the movies, Filipino drama. Roommates combined with the fake bf trope. (Currently being released. On youtube).
- The shipper, Thai drama. (Angsty with gender bending themes. You will cry!)
- Life: love on the line. (Japanese. On Viki) it’s similar to history. Absolutely adorable. 🔹
- My gear, your gown. (Thai series currently coming out. Cute so far. On youtube).
- Mr heart. Korean. (Just became available on Viki. Adorable. I died a few times). 🔹
- Oh my general. Chinese. (Straight couple in a fantasy setting by explores gender roles a lot and is rather funny). On Viki.
- Arsenal military academy. (Chinese. Set in the twenties. Girl dresses as a boy to attend military academy. Funny and action filled. On Viki).
- My roommate is a detective. (Hilarious Sherlock homes inspired drama set in the 30s. Bromance and great friendship. Ignore the shitty English characters) on Viki.
- Winter Begonia. (Yet another bl book turned into a bromance drama). Chinese. On youtube.
- Thirty years of virginity can make you a wizard (also known as cherry magic). Japanese bl. Absolutely adorable. Can be found on Dailymotion. 🔹
- Until we meet again & Love is more than a word. Chinese bl dramas. Both have the same casts but set in different times. One is a historical setting abs the other is in the 1930s. It’s the idea of reincarnation and lovers connected through lifetimes. Whole cast is amazing. 🔹
- Uncanny counter. Korean fantasy drama. Lovely characters. Absolutely adorable and great plot. Male main character is so wholesome. On Netflix.
- Gen Y the series. Thai drama. Main couple are adorable. Not sure what’s going on with the second couple though. On youtube.
- Ingredients the series. Thai. A very short adorable series obviously filmed in lockdown. Boyfriends cooking. On youtube.
- Colour rush. Korean lgbt mature drama. Short episodes but really good plot. Based off a webcomic and the two male leads are so pretty. On Viki.
- We best love N1: For you. Taiwan drama. Came out 2021. Enemies to lovers. On dailymotion. Adorable. 🔷
Sakuko Kodama Fanart to test out a different art process :)
The characters in solitary confinement are honestly SO underrated 💔
:3
(btw, sorry I haven’t posted in a few days 😞)
Omniposition—An ice dessert café inspired by Silent
Would Tsumugi say this? Bard is a mischievous ball that grows more and more humongous as you spellbindingly roll it along the contours of your mental snowscape. The latest offspring is Omniposition, an expression of the vision that kindred spirits will be able to see beyond all the clouds of differences in our daily lives and sense one another when so desired from anywhere. Spoilers ahead.
Food Menu
Tsumugi's Dreams: This is a milk confection made with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and peach sauce and topped with raspberries and a small music note. Found in numerous desserts, milk is primed for association with dreams as it contains the sleep-promoting molecules tryptophan and melatonin. This particular confection represents Tsumugi Aoba's dreams of a career in the music industry and of a life with Sō Sakura. The music note represents the collective wish for her dreams to come true.
Sō's Chocolate Cherry Sundae: This sundae is made with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and cherries, including a cherry on top. Chocolate is often associated with love and passion and has a rich and complex flavor, which can be seen as a metaphor for the beauty and complexity of music. In the drama, Tsumugi and Sō share a love of music, often listening to music together. The chocolate ice cream represents their love of music, and the whipped cream and chocolate sauce represent the sweetness of their relationship. The cherry on top represents the hope that they will one day be reunited.
Tsumugi's Strawberry Shortcake: This shortcake is made with strawberry ice cream, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries. It is a light and refreshing dessert that represents the beauty of the world around her.
Mint Ice Cream Float: The mint represents their hope for a fresh start.The mint ice cream is topped with club soda and a splash of chocolate syrup that symbolizes their sometimes awkward, sometimes sweet bonding over music after their reunion.
Snowy White Chocolate Mousse: This mousse is made with white chocolate, heavy cream, and egg yolks. It is light and fluffy, and it has a subtle sweetness that is perfect for a winter day. "It's quiet when snow falls." "It's noisy. You're noisy."
Snowy Berry Sorbet: This sorbet is made with fresh berries, sugar, and water. It is refreshing and tart. This is the sweet, hopeful Tsumugi on the first day of snow one winter.
Sun Marshmallows: This bowl of dessert is made with vanilla, milk and oranges. It is topped with a sun-shaped cookie, which is made with yellow sugar and sprinkles, and edible gold dust. Back in his college days, Tsumugi's sign language instructor glumly took on transcription volunteer work for the sake of his CV, only to melt at the sight of Sō's deaf friend's sun-like smile. It's a sad story if our aged selves will not remember that forever changed his life.
Drink Menu
Eternal Morning Smoothie: This smoothie is made with vanilla, yogurt and frozen apricots and bananas. J-rock band Spitz is heavily featured in the series. The colors of the smoothie represent the colors of Spitz's logo, and the whipped cream represents the band's music.
The Silent Gesture: This is a glass of transparent yet berry-flavored beverage served with a straw bent in the shape of a heart.
The Unspoken Agreement: This is a frozen drink made with ice, water, and the ordering customers' favorite fruit. It is served with a straw decorated with a small piece of paper with a message of reminder written on it. This frozen drink represents the unspoken agreement of friendship, the promise that we will be there for each other no matter what.
Design & Services
Blue silk and Japanese primrose welcome sign: Tsumugi is a type of silk fabric, while Sakura Sō (the order of the name in Japanese) means Japanese primrose, which in turn can stand for youth dreams and first love.
Sign language and translation software: Naturally, this is an inclusive café. But more than that, it does not content itself with starkly contrasting double standards for staff treatment and customer treatment. To facilitate smooth interactions with colleagues and customers who are deaf or hard of hearing, all staff members will be signed up for a comprehensive sequence of sign language courses and equipped with a speech-to-text translation app. The values and café reputation circulated as a result of staff turnover probably inevitable in most F&B outlets are likely to last longer than the most pleasant taste memory anywhere in the world.
Spitz music that is soft and instrumental: Yes, it exists. This will echo the couple's bonding over the J-rock band while creating a relaxing atmosphere that will not be too distracting for customers who are trying to talk. Lights in the translucent stems of the baby's breath decorations below will pulsate in natural shades of colors according to the music rhythms.
Shush! room: This would be a great place for customers who want to enjoy their ice cream in peace, as long as kid-reproached adults like Nana and Sō don't burst into complacent laughter over their signed conversations again. It would also be a great place for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing to feel comfortable by naturally blending in, if they need this type of quiet break from stares.
Knitted pastel and white furniture and rugs that are comfortable and inviting: These will make customers feel at home. Tsumugi's brother is into sewing.
Baby's breath decorations: Towards the end of the story, the five main characters gift and re-gift one another baby's breath flowers. Not all of them end up with who they want to end up with, but they can choose to turn their various corners of a romantic polygon into pulsating components of a life-giving, uplifting network.
Moon-shaped lamps which lighting is soft and calming: The lighting in the café should be soft and calming. This will create a relaxing atmosphere. The couple walk and share jokes viewers are not privy to under the Moon in the last scene.
https://href.li/?https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2261850/full/
↑『silent』最終話でかすみ草“花言葉”が話題に ヒゲダン「Subtitle」とセリフがリンク (Article on link between lyrics and baby's breath scenes)
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The Dark Sides of Education
The Dark Sides of Education
Kazuo Ishiguro is no Michael Crichton. Lying at the heart of his dystopian world in the novel Never Let Me Go, where human clones are raised as organ donors, is not futuristic speculation about biotechnology, but a metaphor for how awareness of the finitude of life influences ordinary people’s treatment of love and friendship. What also intrigues him are the stories we manufacture and share among…
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2016 Drama Soup for the Soul
2016 Drama Soup for the Soul
The Asian Drama Philosopher (A-Philosopher)’s Chair thanks everyone for their warm support in the past, especially ladysighs for spreading the love for Six Flying Dragons beyond the drama blogging community. All the same, drama watching is a very time-consuming activity, so it does not really expect readers to watch any of the dramas covered on this site. What it truly aims for is cross-cultural…
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~ I want to hug Japanese dramas because they enliven my heart like flowers in spring. ~ 🌸
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Some more beautiful wisdom from ‘Kitchen for Singles’ 🌸
It’s the middle of a working Tuesday and here I am, sharing a little love note from the beautiful Japanese (YouTube) series ‘Kitchen for Singles (2019)’. 🌸
Hope it makes your heart warm.
In need of some love and light myself today so sharing another favorite quote from ‘Iburigurashi’.
These are screengrabs I’ve taken while or after watching an episode. Returning to post these brings the same warmth and fuzziness in my heart as it did the first time I watched these scenes.
I’m always grateful for positive things in this world, especially on the days that feel a bit too hard. I’m always grateful to be Loved, even though I may not understand the ways in which I’m being taken care of.
Sometimes, a shoulder to cry, a show to return to, or a Friend who’s picture you can look at and talk to are enough to soothe the rough edges of life.
I hope you find those too, in case you may need them today. 🌸
~ Meguru and Yori constantly inspire each other to be better people. Even though Meguru feels like the wiser one, Yori has a quiet strength to her. She may not speak her musings out loud, but her actions display her experience and wisdom consistently. I find her a reliable anchor in the relationship she shares with Meguru--- someone he can share and learn from at the same time.~🌞
~ Iburagurashi ~ Ep.2: Favorite Moments (Part 1)~
~ Watching Meguru and Yori enjoy simple moments of daily living makes me want to have someone special to share them with too ~
* There’s so much I learn from J-dramas. So many beautiful, positive things that help me live life more fully, with fresh perspectives to look at things. That’s my favorite part---most, most favorite. 🌸
* I love this rule Meguru and Yori have--- to say one good thing for each time you share your complaints. How simple but how powerful. Often, I am so absorbed in all that’s ‘not supposed to be this way’ that I forget to count the innumerable blessings I’m surrounded with. :) 🌸
* I think having someone who loves food and eating as much as you do, and to share everyday meals with them is one of the biggest blessings in life. The first picture of Yori and Meguru quietly working in the kitchen warms my heart. 🌸
~ Iburagurashi ~ Ep.1 Favorite Moments, (Part 2) ~
~ Meguru and Yori spend their Sunday afternoon having homemade cocktails and smoked snacks ~
* I’m very attracted to the way J-dramas are appreciative of the little moments of living. It is this quality that I cherish in people too. As I write this, I feel myself smile because I know how much I treasure shows that bring this to my heart, over and over again.✨
* Yori-chan may seem reserved but has a mind that thinks things over. She mulls upon what is shared and is quick to learn new things. She feels a lot but she isn’t very articulate with her thoughts. ✨
* Meguru-chan is the more vibrant of the two. He smiles easily, opens up to new people faster and is way more expressive when he relishes his meals. However, behind all of this is a wonderful depth---he says the wisest of things in the simplest of ways. ✨
* I love how different Yori and Meguru are from each other because it is wonderful to see how their personalities compliment one another. I also like how Yori isn’t forcefully bubbly or talkative like most ‘positive, cute’ women characters in dramas. She’s confident and comfortable in who she is and it is lovely to see that.
* For me, the slow waiting for the cooking pot to smoke the meal of the day instilled peace and calm. It was like a definite pause to my thinking mind. Through that pot, Yori and Meguru explore the adventures of cooking their special yet humble Sunday meals.
* The last picture of the evening sky, with Yori and Meguru having spent their Sunday well in each other’s presence, blessed my the bounty of delicious food, is precious.
~ Iburigurashi (Smoked Couple): Ep 1. Favorite Stills ~
~ A few weeks back, while on the hunt for a soothing J-drama, I decided to explore ‘Iburigurashi’—- the story about a young couple who spends their Sundays cooking smoked food. They learn from each other, not just through words but also through presence.
I think the beauty of daily life is captured so amazingly in such slow Japanese dramas. There’s a lot of room for reflection, for joy, for appreciating the grace of everyday.
This is the biggest reason why I love these shows. They are a hug to the tired mind and remind it to find happiness in the ordinary, once again.~ 🍚🍢
~My Thoughts on ‘Gohoubi Gohan’~
In a line or two: This one will make you want to live better and fall in love with food again.🥟
The Story:
Ikeda Sakiko, a 22-yr-old young-adult, has moved to Tokyo for her first job in a stationery company. Sakiko’s first love? Food. The show is about Sakiko’s journey as she navigates the ups, the downs, and the learnings of her work life. For her hard work, Sakiko rewards herself every week with ‘Gohoubi Gohan’ a.k.a. ‘Rewarding Meals’.
Thoughts:
1. Nobody does food dramas like the Japanese. No offense to the ‘Let’s Eat’ series fans (I am one too). They have this stupendous knack of combining life lessons, positivity, and love for food in a show. It’s almost reverential.
2. I think Sakiko’s character is so amicable. She’s a newbie at work but she’s also sure of who she is. Her colleagues tease her playfully for her incessant thoughts around ‘what should I eat next’, and Sakiko unabashedly acknowledges her passion. She’s kind but not meek. She’s polite but that doesn’t stop her from being assertive or sharing her thoughts.
3. Sakiko has 6 colleagues and I absolutely love how every episode is crafted around her getting to know one of them over a meal. From awkward moments to relishing chilled beer after a long work week, friendship springs from sharing grilled skewers, cheese-oozing burgers and piping hot ramen.
4. I especially loved Sakiko’s solitary food-date. She decides to head to a Taiwanese restaurant by herself in the spirit of exploring new food. Her enthusiasm at the amount of soup in the ‘soup dumpling’ is adorable.
Watching her eat with thorough love, the owner steps in and recommends local suggestions which Sakiko devours. The gusto with which she opens her mind to an entirely different palette is to me, as a foodie, so inspiring.
5. I love female friendships. The one between Kominato-san and Sakiko is endearing, fun and comforting.
The former is a lover of all things bread and on their first meal together, where they randomly meet at a hamburger restaurant after work, we see the two bond over deliciousness. Kominato then offers to take Sakiko to eat her hometown food specialty, and over a grill teaming with hot food, the two have heart-to-hearts.
6. When she’s not exploring food outdoors, Sakiko cooks her Gohoubi Gohan at home. These are equally excellent to watch. From her first French toast experience, to enjoying sushi like her family back home would, Sakiko takes utmost care to prep and enjoy her meals.
When she cooks, there is an overpowering tenderness in the way she treats the ingredients. Her monologues are joyful, intimate and wholesome. They make you smile and make it hard to stop doing so.
7. A favorite moment of mine was to watch Sakiko spend her bonus on getting premium ingredients to cook herself a lavish ‘Hot Pot’ as her Gohoubi Gohan. I love how she even brought an ‘ingredients manual’ to pick her choices from.
8. I’m not against ‘hard shelled’ male characters, but I think Isogai’s was a bit too anal for my liking. He’s Sakiko’s senior and one of the most sought-after employees in the product development team. He may not have the intent to communicate harshly, but his words are often demeaning, sexist, and condemning. He does make up for his behavior, but I can’t say I’m his fan.
9. I watched this drama as my break time between work, and I think it taught me so much about how to approach situations at a workplace, how to choose the right time to say what you feel, and how, there are so many kinds of people out there, all trying to live life in the best way they can.
10. I am the biggest fan of food commentaries and Sakiko provides an ample amount of them. I love how descriptive, detailed and warm her thoughts on food are. She takes her time to savor various flavor combinations, cherishes the classics, deeply respects the ways of cooking and eating that she’s brought up with, is constantly looking for ways to step out of her culinary comfort zone and expand her taste buds.
11. Another favorite episode of mine was the one where Sakiko steps into this fancy bar. The bartender, a cool, helpful man in his late 60′s, introduces her to the charming world of cocktails. From fresh seasonal fruits to drinks with floral notes, Sakiko learns to treat herself without guilt. The two share a comradery where Sakiko confesses her newness to the world of liquor flavors and the bartender careful guides her to unique, enjoyable ones.
The show is filled with heart-warming moments and makes you want to hug every character for having the ability to enjoy food so well. I couldn’t have asked for a better ‘Gohan’ drama to the start of my J-drama explorations for the year.
Favorite Learnings:
1. You have your own place in this world. You don’t have to fit it.
2. Life can get hard sometimes. During such moments, going back to what you love will reconnect you with joy.
3. Never stop trying new things, even when they feel scary and challenging.
Last Words: If you love food and you love watching people enjoy what they eat while learning kind, lovely things about life, you can’t miss this one.🥞🍛🍜
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Image Credits (www.aitado.blogspot.com) : 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24 ,25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39,
~ My Thoughts on ‘Yuru Camp’, Season 1 ~
I was looking for an easy-going drama, and ‘Yuru Camp’ was exactly the one my tired mind needed. I am a sucker for nature & food-centric stories and this is the kind of healing I always want more of.
1. Right off the bat, I fell in love with the little while scooter of Shinma Rin and the breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji. I usually travel with my friends, but I could see the beauty of camping solo through Rin's passion for her hobby.
2. Rin may not be people-friendly but there is something very grounding about her. I think she's true to her heart in her own unique way and follows it. I love how comfortable she is with her herself & how much she relishes her own company. It was so lovely and refreshing to see that. On the other hand, it was also cute to watch her awkwardly open up to people and friendship. Nadeshiko was the primary reason for this happening, but I also loved Rin's efforts in taking the initiative to be a better friend. There's also such a caring side to Rin and this comes forth every time Nadeshiko does something reckless or stupid. Lol, I love that concern and the hilarious camaraderie the two share.
3. Now, a little about Nadeshiko, because even though she's shown to be a bit naïve, I found her very soulful as a person. For one thing, I love anyone who devours a cup of instant Nissan like they're eating the most delish dish in the world. Nadeshiko will always have my heart for it. Amidst getting lost and napping on the pavement, I love how she's always up for new things, new people and ideas. Her first camping experience with Rin, the serene beauty of Mt. Fuji against a pale, full moon instilled in her a love for the outdoors.
4. Even the school's outdoor club was such a cool venture. I loved how they find these perfect hot springs for their first outing and relish in the warmth of nature's water-gift. I even loved how they enjoy a dessert date, tasting each other's picks one after another.
5. My favorite moment was when Nadeshiko and Rin make a hot-pot on one of their camping trips. The mandu look so plump and juicy and the sheer deliciousness of having hot soup with dumplings almost bursting with filling brings goosies to my heart. I love how they relished each bite, especially Rin's face when she had her first one.💕
6. Another favorite moment was when they went camping in a forest, by the lake. Tall trees, an evening sun, and our 'Secret Blanet Society' of Rin and Nadeshiko was superb. There was also this moment when Nadeshiko's sister enjoys a cup of hot coffee sitting by the lake, when she comes to drop off her sibling at the campsite. That is such a peaceful and heart-filling moment too.
7. There is a solo trip that Rin takes, where the route to the camping site is blocked and she decides to persevere and take a longer detour. On the way, she buys buns filled with meat and vegetables. She learns how winging it is also a joy of travelling and finally, on arriving at the campsite, she watches a night sky shimmering with stars, tiny lights lit up in the village houses below, while enjoying a crispy-yet-soft grilled bun for dinner.
8. The show was such a lovely respite from my anxieties around regular life. It really made me feel all warm and happy on the inside. It also made me realize how much I love feel-good Japanese dramas that have no agenda except to cherish the beauty of simple things and everyday moments of living.
~ Kodoku no Gurume ~ Ep. 2, S7 ~ Favorite Moments
101 Guide on the intricacies of enjoying a buffet spread by Goro:
~ Kodoku no Gurume (Solitary Gourmet) Favorite Moments ~ Episode 4, Season 7 ~
Goro finds a Gyoza and Tanmen shop while exploring the lanes of Shimonita.
Always smitten by the sizzle a dumpling-bum makes when placed on a hot pan and the slightly burnt, golden corn flour cage that is the pride of gyoza-lovers.
~ Favorite stills from Ep.4, Izakaya Bottakuri: One evening, Aki-chan shows up feeling demotivated and unsure of her contribution as a colleague. The other guests along with Mine & Kaoru help her to see her true worth. On today’s menu: pickled cucumbers, deep fried tofu with minced meat, a wannabe quiche and a ‘bottakuri’ take on margaritas. ~
Such a precious friendship, Ao-san and Haru-chan. 🌼
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Quote from: Haro to Ao no Obento Bako