Friday, November 11, 2005

1 Litre no Namida


* Title: 1リットルの涙
* Title (romaji): 1 Litre no Namida
* Also known as: Ichi Rittoru no Namida / One Litre of Tears / A Diary with Tears
* Genre: School, romance, health, family, human
* Broadcast network: Fuji TV
* Episodes: 11
* Viewership ratings: 15.31%
* Broadcast period: 2005-Oct-11 to 2005-Dec-20
* Air time: Tuesday 21:00
* Ending theme song: Only Human by K
* Insert songs: Konayuki and 3/9 by Remioromen
* Drama OST: Ichi Rittoru no Namida OST



Synopsis

This beautifully moving drama is based on the real-life struggles of a 15-year-old girl named Aya who suffered from an incurable disease, but lived life to the fullest until her death at 25. The script is based on the diary Aya kept writing until she could no longer hold a pen. The book that later followed entitled “One Litre of Tears" has sold over 1.1 million copies in Japan alone.

Aya's only wish was “to live." By carefully depicting Aya's earnest desire to live, and the love of her family, friends, and lover, the drama, “One Litre of Tears" wishes to deliver her simple but strong message: “Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing." ---Fuji TV

Cast :

* Sawajiri Erika as Ikeuchi Aya (15-20)
* Yakushimaru Hiroko as Ikeuchi Shioka (40-51)
* Nishikido Ryo as Asou Haruto (15-20)
* Jinnai Takanori as Ikeuchi Mizuo (45-56)
* Narumi Riko as Ikeuchi Ako (13-18)
* Fujiki Naohito as Mizuno Hiroshi (33-44)
* Koide Saori as Sugiura Mari (15-18)
* Sanada Yuma as Ikeuchi Hiroki (11-16)
* Miyoshi Ai as Ikeuchi Rika (5-10)
* Matsuyama Kenichi as Kawamoto Yuji (17)
* Matsumoto Kana as Matsumura Saki (15-18)
* Mizutani Momosuke as Onda Kohei (15-18)
* Hashizume Ryo as Nakahara Keita (15-18)
* Katsuno Hiroshi as Asou Yoshifumi (50-55)
* Oonishi Asae as Oikawa Asumi (16-17)
* Hamaoka Maya (浜丘麻矢) as Oikawa Kikue
* Kato Kazuko as Fujimura Madoka
* Tonesaku Toshihide as Takano Kiichi
* Sato Shigeyuki as Nishino (homeroom teacher)
* Aoi
* Kawahara Makoto
* Endo Yuya
* Hoshino Natsuko
* Sato Yuki as Asou Keisuke
* Umoto Yuki (兎本有紀)
* Kawaguchi Shouhei
* Kurita Yoko
* Nakada Yuya
* Okumura Tomofumi

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Saturday, October 22, 2005

Hana Yori Dango


* Title: 花より男子
* Title (romaji): Hana Yori Dango
* Also known as: Boys Before Flowers / Boys Over Flowers
* Format: Renzoku, across two seasons
* Genre: Romance
* Broadcast network: TBS
* Air time: Friday 22:00
* Related dramas: Meteor Garden I 2001 Taiwanese version, Boys Before Flowers

Season 1
* Episodes: 9
* Viewership rating: 19.6 (Kanto)
* Broadcast period: 2005-Oct-21 to 2005-Dec-16
* Theme song: WISH by Arashi
* Insert song: Planetarium by Otsuka Ai

Synopsis

Makino Tsukushi is the only poor student at Eitoku Gakuen, the school of the ridiculously rich and privileged that is ruled by Flower 4 or F4, a group of four boys who come from extremely powerful families: Domyoji Tsukasa, the leader and heir of the Domyoji World Finance Group; Hanazawa Rui, the introverted son of a large company; Nishikado Sojiro, a player who is the heir of a tea ceremony school; and Mimasaka Akira, a madam killer with ties to the underground. If a student gets on the F4’s bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school.

Makino hopes to pass her days quietly-- without drawing any attention to herself-- but one day, she stands up to Domyoji in defense of her friend. The next day, Makino gets the dreaded red notice. Even though she is harassed, Makino decides to keep going to school because she is a “tough weed”. She declares war right back on the F4. Her resolve gets the attention of her crush Hanazawa Rui and oddly enough, rouses romantic feelings in her worst enemy, Domyoji Tsukasa.

The series is based on the Japanese shoujo manga "Hana Yori Dango" (Boys Before Flowers) by Kamio Yoko.

Cast

* Inoue Mao as Makino Tsukushi
* Matsumoto Jun as Doumyouji Tsukasa
* Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rui
* Matsuda Shota as Nishikado Soujiroh
* Abe Tsuyoshi as Mimasaka Akira
* Sato Megumi as Sanjou Sakurako
* Nishihara Aki as Matsuoka Yuki
* Seto Saki as Asai Yuriko
* Fukada Aki as Ayuhara Erika
* Matsuoka Emiko as Yamano Minako
* Sada Mayumi as Toudou Shizuka
* Kato Takako as Sengoku Sachiyo
* Kobayashi Susumu as Makino Haruo (father of Tsukushi)
* Tomiura Satoshi as Makino Susumu (brother of Tsukushi)
* Ishino Mako as Makino Chieko (mother of Tsukushi)
* Kaga Mariko as Domyoji Kaede (mother of Tsukasa)
* Matsushima Nanako as Domyoji Tsubaki (sister of Tsukasa)
* David Ito as Nishida
* Oshinari Shugo as Nakatsuka
* Sakai Ayana as Kurimaki Ayano
* Handa Kento
* Kaku Tomohiro
* Sano Kazuma
* Igarashi Shunji (ep1)
* Takuma Takayuki (ep4-9)
* Suzuki Sotaro (ep10)


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Sunday, October 16, 2005

Nobuta wo Produce


* Title: 野ブタ。をプロデュース
* Title (romaji): Nobuta wo Produce
* English Title : Makeover
* Format: Renzoku
* Genre: School drama
* Episodes: 10
* Viewership rating: 16.89
* Broadcast network: NTV
* Broadcast period: 2005-Oct-15 to 2005-Dec-17
* Air time: Saturday 21:00
* Theme song: Seishun Amigo by Shuuji to Akira (Kamenashi Kazuya and Yamashita Tomohisa)


Synopsis

Kiritani Shuji is the popular guy who gets along with everyone, from the jerks to the nerds to the just plain weird. The one person Shuji cannot stand is Kusano Akira. To Shuji, Akira is just plain annoying. He laughs, talks and acts funny. Things heat up when a new student comes to school. Her name is Kotani Nobuko, a girl who has no self confidence at all and is content at being made fun of and bullied in school. Shuji and Akira come to an accord that in order to make use of their "youth" they will "produce" Nobuko as the next popular girl. One of the conditions, however, is that nobody should find out that they are working together as a team to make this concept possible. Unveiled here is the story of true friendship between three unlikely candidates who would not have been friends if not given the special circumstances.


Cast

* Kamenashi Kazuya as Kiritani Shuji
* Yamashita Tomohisa as Kusano Akira
* Horikita Maki as Kotani Nobuko
* Toda Erika as Uehara Mariko
* Ukaji Takashi as Kiritani Satoru
* Fukaura Kanako as Kiritani Nobuko
* Nakajima Yuto as Kiritani Koji
* Okada Yoshinori as Yokoyama Takeshi
* Kimura Yuichi as Sebastian
* Fuwa Mansaku as Iehara Yasuo
* Takuma Seiko (たくませいこ) as Kuroki Hiroko
* Imawano Kiyoshiro as owner of the Gooyoku diner
* Takahashi Katsumi as Hirayama Ippei
* Natsuki Mari as Catherine
* Yanagita Erika


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Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Densha Otoko


* Title: 電車男 (でんしゃ おとこ)
* Title (romaji): Densha Otoko
* Also known as: Train Man
* Genre: Romance, comedy
* Broadcast network: Fuji TV
* Episodes: 11
* Viewership ratings: 21.04%
* Broadcast period: 2005-July-07 to 2005-Sept-22
* Air time: Thursday 22:00-22:54
* Theme songs:
o Opening theme: Twilight by Electric Light Orchestra
o Ending theme: Sekai wa Sore wo Ai to Yobun da ze by Sambomaster


Synopsis

A true love story turned to bestselling novel, created from the Internet BBS, 2channel to blockbuster hit movie. Ito Misaki plays Aoyama Saori, working as an office lady at a MNC, gets into trouble with a drunkard on a train. She's saved by Yamada Tsuyoshi, played by Ito Atsushi. As a form of appreciation, she sends him Hermes teacups. Having no experience with the opposite sex, Tsuyoshi decides to ask for help on the Aladdin Channel BBS on how to interact with Saori.

Cast

* Ito Misaki as Aoyama Saori (25)
* Ito Atsushi as Yamada Tsuyoshi (23)
* Shiraishi Miho as Jinkama Kisuzu (26)
* Sato Eriko as Sawazaki Kaho (25)
* Sudo Risa as Mizuki Yuuko (30)
* Hayami Mokomichi as Aoyama Keisuke (23)
* Sato Jiro as Kuroki Fumito (40)
* Maekawa Yasuyuki as Oikawa Naoto (28)
* Horikita Maki as Yamada Aoi (17)
* Koide Saori as Takeda Karin (17)
* Gekidan Hitori as Matsunaga Yuusaku (30)
* Toyohara Kosuke as Sakurai Kazuya (38)
* Akiyoshi Kumiko as Aoyama Yuki (48)
* Kishibe Shiroo as Yamada Tsuneo (48)
* Sugawara Eiji as Kawamoto Shinji (27)

Aladdin Channel Users

* Oguri Shun as Minamoto Munetaka
* Rokkaku Seiji as Ushijima Sadao
* Yamazaki Shigenori as Asano Shinpei
* Sakurai Chizu as Hashizume Ryoko
* Nukumizu Youichi as Ichisaka Susumu
* Gashuin Tatsuya as Tominaga
* Nasubi as Couple man
* Tamura Tagame as Couple girl
* Matsuo Satoru as Thespa
* Nomizu Iori as Kagami Moé
* Kikuma Yukino as Housewife
* Yamanaka Takashi as Fuyuhiko
* Yashiba Toshihiro as Freeter
* Namioka Kazuki as Music otaku
* Doi Yoshio as Conductor
* Kakeda Makoto (掛田誠) as Middle-aged man
* Murakami Wataru (村上航) as Military otaku
* Kojima Tenten (小嶌天天) as Prep school student
* Yumita Makoto (弓田真好杜) as Bodybuilder
* Mizuno Tomonori (水野智則) as Moeta
* Nakajima Yoko as Sachiyo
* Toyonaga Toshiyuki (豊永利行) as Sharp-dressed man
* Kase Takao (加瀬尊朗) as Good looking man
* Ebihara Keisuke (海老原敬介) as Tobita Koki

Guests

* Yamada Takayuki (ep1, SP)
* Hanahara Teruko (ep1)
* Kikuma Yukino (ep1)
* Tsukaji Muga as Kinoshita Koichi (ep1-2, 10-11)
* Izumiya Shigeru (ep1, 11)
* Zheng Longjin (鄭龍進) as Tezuka (ep1,3,10)
* Shirosaki Jin (ep2)
* Katsurayama Shingo as Seno (ep3-4)
* Kaitou Aiko as Hayama Kaoru (ep4, 5)
* Ohkura Koji (ep5)
* Horiuchi Ken as Akiba Kanpei (ep7-8, 10, 11)
* Yamashita Shinji (ep8, 9)
* Kajiwara Yuta (梶原雄太) as Japanese soldier (ep10)
* Ito Takahiro as Chubo (ep10)
* Shoji Yusuke (少路勇介) as Evangelion otaku (ep10)
* Toda Keiko (ep11)
* Sonim as Tiffany (SP)
* Iwasa Mayuko as the girl who tricked Guitar Otoko (SP)

Production Credits

* Original writing: Nakano Hitori
* Screenwriters: Muto Shogo, Tokunaga Tomokazu
* Producers: Wakamatsu Hiroki, Kawanishi Taku, Suzuki Yoshihiro
* Directors: Takeuchi Hideki, Nishiura Masaki, Kobayashi Kazuhiro
* Music: Face 2 fAKE

Recognitions

* 46th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Drama
* 46th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Ito Atsushi
* 46th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress, Shiraishi Miho
* 46th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Director, Takeuchi Hideki

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Saturday, July 9, 2005

Dragon Zakura


* Title: ドラゴン桜
* Title (romaji): Dragon Zakura
* Format: Renzoku
* Genre: School, drama and comedy
* Episodes: 11
* Viewership ratings: 16.41
* Broadcast network: TBS
* Broadcast period: 2005-Jul-08 to 2005-Sept-16
* Air time: Friday 22:00
* Theme song: Realize by melody
* Insert song: Colorful by Yamashita Tomohisa

Synopsis

Sakuragi Kenji is a destitute lawyer and one-time member of a motorcyle gang trying to guide failing high school students with an average score of 36 into Japan's most prestigious educational institution, Tokyo University (Toudai).

"If you want to change your life, get into Toudai!"

For no other reason than Sakuragi's personal ambition, he has advertised his intention to produce 5 successful Toudai applicants from the students of a nearly bankrupt failure of a school.

"If you want to change your life, get into Toudai!" He will get them from this lowest of all schools into Japan's number one!!

Our protagonist, Sakuragi Kenji, played by Abe Hiroshi in his first role as a high school teacher, is a must see in this summer's new show. This third rate lawyer soon becomes the homeroom teacher for the special advanced class aiming for Toudai University entrance. Hasegawa Kyouko costars as english teacher and Sakuragi's opponent, and Yamashita Tomohisa from NEWS and Nagasawa Masami also appear in the role of students. This awaited original work and fascinating world view is brought to you from the popular serialized comic in Shuukan Morning (Kodansha) and has even been updated!

In addition to revealing essential test taking techniques for everyone who wants to know how to get into Toudai, Dragon Zakura will also teach the essentials of living one's life.

Cast

* Abe Hiroshi as Sakuragi Kenji

Special Advanced Class

* Yamashita Tomohisa as Yajima Yuusuke
* Nagasawa Masami as Mizuno Naomi
* Koike Teppei as Ogata Hideki
* Aragaki Yui as Kosaka Yoshino
* Nakao Akiyoshi as Okuno Ichiro
* Saeko as Kobayashi Maki

Ryuzan Highschool Faculty

* Hasegawa Kyoko as Ino Mamako
* Nogiwa Yoko as Tatsuno Yuriko (School Director)
* Saitou Yosuke as Vice-Principal Kondo
* David Ito as Ochiai Masanao
* Ando Ryoji as Miyabe Umetaro
* Tsukiyama Mayumi as Asami Kazuko
* Aoyama Masaru as Inaba Tsutomu

Special Advanced Class Teachers

* Terada Minori as Akutayama Ryuzaburo (Literature)
* Kaneda Akio as Kawaguchi Hiroshi (English)
* Kobayashi Susumu as Ain Shutaro (Physics)
* Shinagawa Toru as Yanagi Tetsunosuke (Mathematics)

Family of the Special Advanced Class

* Ishino Mako as Yajima Setsuko
* Miho Jun as Mizuno Yuko
* Mizutani Momosuke as Okuno Jiro
* Kato Kazuko as Okuno Miyako
* Sunaga Kei as Ogata Atsuo
* Aihara Yuko (あいはら友子) as Ogata Mariko
* Kurita Yoko as Kosaka Megumi
* Iketani Nobue (池谷のぶえ) as Kobayashi Mitsue

Supporting Casts / Guests

* Yazawa Shin as Yamamoto Nozomi (Mamako's friend)
* Murakami Hiroki (村上大樹) as Tanaka Yoshio
* Karahashi Mitsuru as Sawamatsu Yasushi
* Onodera Akira as Atty. Okabe (Sakuragi's friend)
* Hirota Masahiro as a Shuumeikan Student
* Ishii Kenichi as Saito (the customer of Naomi's mother)
* Gunji Ayano (郡司 あやの) as Abe Saori
* Hori Akari as Toda Asumi (Maki's friend)
* Hashizume Ryo as Kuriyama Shota
* Katsura Asami (桂亜沙美) as Sakuma Miyu
* Ojima Naoya as the base player of Ogata's band
* Kitamura Eiki as a student of Todai
* Mino Monta (みのもんた)


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Saturday, April 16, 2005

Tiger & Dragon

* Title: タイガー&ドラゴン
* Title (romaji): Tiger & Dragon
* Format: Renzoku
* Genre: Comedy
* Episodes: 1 Special + 11
* Viewership ratings: 15.5%(SP), 12.78%
* Broadcast network: TBS
* Broadcast period:
o Special: 2005-Jan-09
o 2005-Apr-15 to 2005-Jun-24
* Air time: Friday 22:00
* Opening theme song: Tiger & Dragon by Crazy Ken Band
* Ending theme song: UTAO-UTAO by V6

Synopsis

The tale of Tiger & Dragon revolves around Rakugo, a traditional form of Japanese comedy that can look back on an impressive 400 year long history. Nagase portrays the Yakuza follower Toraji who goes to a Rakugo performer to collect debts, while Okada plays Ryuji a talented Rakugo player who wants to leave behind the old fashioned world of Rakugo for good. Shortly afterwards these two very different characters happen to cross paths through a girl named Megumi and that's when all the real trouble starts igniting...


Cast

* Nagase Tomoya as Yamazaki Kotora / Hayashiyatei Kotora / Tora / Toraji / Toravolta
* Okada Junichi as Yanaka Ryuji / Hayashiyatei Kotatsu
* Ito Misaki as Megumi
* Nishida Toshiyuki as Yanaka Shoukichi / Hayashiatei Donbei / Shishou / Don-chan
* Shoufukutei Tsurube as Nakatani Ken / Ken-chan (Shinjuku RyuseIkai Kumicho)
* Tsukamoto Takashi as Nakatani Ginjiro / Gin-gin
* Takuma Takayuki as Hyuuga Jun
* Gin Pun Chou as Yanaka Sayuri
* Abe Sadao as Yanaka Ryuhei / Hayashiyatei Donta
* Nekoze Tsubaki as Yanaka Tsuruko
* Shunputei Shota as Hayashiyatei Donkichi
* Hoshino Gen as Hayashiyatei Dontsuku
* Fukami Motoki as Hayashiyatei Donburi
* Asari Yosuke as Murata Susumu / Hayashiyatei Udon
* Aoi Yu as Risa
* Kiritani Kenta as Chibi T / Takeshi-kun
* Arakawa Yoshiyoshi as Awashima Yukio / "Jumptei Jump"
* Omi Toshinori as Ta-chan (Soba Shop owner / Rakugo Fanatic)
* Hankai Kazuaki as Hanzou (Oden Stand Owner / Rakugo Fanatic)
* Matsumoto Jun as Yoshiko
* Itou Shuuko (伊藤修子) as Nakatani Shizuka
* Emoto Karin (江本花琳) as Yanaka Saya
* Horaguchi Shinya (洞口信也) as Manabu
* Hiroishi Keiichi (廣石恵一) as Kariya
* Koumoto Junichi as Liu-san
* Fukazawa Atsushi

Guests

* Hiroshi (ヒロシ) as Death Kiyoshi (Sp&ep7)
* Sugawara Daikichi (菅原大吉) as Tamotsu (Sp&10)
* Oomori Nao as BOSS Kataoka (ep3)
* Takada Fumio (高田文夫) as Takadatei Babahiko (ep3,7,10&11)
* Morishita Aiko as Mizukoshi Koharu (ep4&11)
* Furuta Arata as Maruo (ep5)
* Shimizu Michiko as Marimo (ep5)
* Yakushimaru Hiroko as Shiraishi Katsuko (ep6)
* Kohinata Fumiyo as Yanagitei Koshin (ep7)
* Takaoka Sousuke as Kaneko (ep8)
* Kitamura Kazuki as Tanabe Yasuo (ep8,9,11)
* Ino Manabu (猪野学) as Tetsuya (ep9)
* Shoji Yusuke (少路勇介) as Yasuji (ep9)
* Hashimoto Jun as Kaji Rikio (ep9-11)

Awards

* 45th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Drama
* 45th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor: Nagase Tomoya
* 45th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor Nishida Toshiyuki
* 45th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Screenwriter: Kudo Kankuro
* 45th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Music Arrangement: Nakanishi Kyo
* 45th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Opening: Katayama Osamu
* 9th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (2005-06): Best Supporting Actor: Okada Junichi

Review

This drama continues off from where the special that aired early this year, 2005, ended. It's about a yakuza member, Toraji (Nagase Tomoya) who has to collect payments from a man whose son used the money to open an eclectic clothing store. However, Toraji discovers rakugo (traditional Japanese comical monologues) through the man who later teaches him the art. The situations between the characters were hilarious and the comedy was very refreshing. I really enjoyed how the director was able to create a seamless transitioning between the rakugo story-telling - the re-enactment of thestory itself - and then the current drama happenings. It was very innovative and impressive to say the least. Each episode focuses on a different rakugo story and it was surprising that because of this factor, the series still didn't seem episodic, but still proceeded at a nice pace.

The main characters, Toraji played by Nagase Tomoya and Ryu played by Okada Junichi are both memorable and funny. They each had a specific character type and firmly stuck to it throughout the drama. The other actors also did a wonderful job. The dialogue in this drama was refreshing and witty. Overall, a great drama!

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Friday, January 14, 2005

Gokusen 2


Season 2
* Episodes: 10 + 1 Special
* Viewership rating: 27.8% (not including SP)
* Broadcast period: 2005-Jan-15 to 2005-Mar-19
o SP: 2005-Oct-08
* Air time: Saturday 21:00
* Theme song: No More Cry by D-51 / Kizuna by Kamenashi Kazuya (insert song)

Synopsis

Half a year has passed and Shirokin Gakuen has closed down. Yamaguchi Kumiko (Nakama Yukie) finds herself a teacher of a few young kids who don't really benefit much from her style of teaching. Through some twist of fate, she is offered a job as a teacher in Kurogin Gakuen.

She becomes the teacher of a delinquent 3D class which make her previous students look like angels. In order to protect her job, she must again hide her true identity — the fact that she is the 4th generation of the Oedo Family, a prominent yakuza group.

Cast

* Nakama Yukie as Yamaguchi Kumiko (Yankumi / Ojou / Kumichou) (Math Teacher)
* Namase Katsuhisa as Sawatari Goro (School Vice Principal)
* Utsui Ken as Kuroda Ryuichiro (Kumiko's grandpa / 3rd Generation Oedo Yakuza Boss)
* Anan Kenji as Wakamatsu Hiro
* Kaneko Ken as Asakura Tetsu
* Uchiyama Shinji as Tatsukawa Minoru
* Ryogoku Hiroshi as Sugawara Makoto
* Kamenashi Kazuya as Odagiri Ryu
* Akanishi Jin as Yabuki Hayato
* Hayami Mokomichi as Tsuchiya Hikaru
* Koike Teppei as Takeda Keita
* Koide Keisuke as Hyuuga Kosuke
* Otoha as Shiratori Hitomi (English Teacher)
* Sakai Toshiya as Inuzaka Taichi (Japanese Language Teacher)
* Moto Fuyuki as Kameyama Takashi (Ethics Teacher)
* Magii as Inomata Shinji (Chemistry Teacher)
* Ikeda Yukiko as Wanibuchi Sayuri (Music Teacher)
* Azuma Mikihisa as Baba Seiga (PE Teacher)
* Inoue Jun as Kurokawa Ginji (Chairman of Kurogin High School)
* Tanihara Shosuke as Kujo Takuma (Teacher in Momo Girls High School)
* Waki Tomohiro as "Kuma" / Kumai Teruo (Former student of Yankumi)

Class 3D

* Kawamura Yosuke as Akiyama Yosuke
* Mizutani Momosuke as Oomori Momosuke
* Sato Yuki as Kojima Yuki
* Sato Yusuke as Sakaguchi Yusuke
* Sato Takeshi (佐藤タケシ) as Sasaki Takeshi
* Tanaka Suzunosuke (田中鈴之助) as Takayama Suzunosuke
* Nakauchi Hiroyuki (中内啓行) as Nagata Hiroyuki
* Watanabe Ryuuhei as Hashimoto Ryuhei
* Takahashi Toshio (高橋疾士) as Fujinami Toshio
* Ishizaka Shinnosuke (石坂慎之介) as Hoshino Shinnosuke
* Mizushima Hiro as Misawa Hiro
* Shibata Masashi as Ookuma Masashi
* Nakamura Yuichi as Kawata Yuichi
* Ojima Naoya as Kohashi Naoya
* Tomikawa Kazuhito as Sakuraba Kazuhito
* Okubayashi Gensui (奥林源水) as Takada Gensui
* Kuranuki Masahiro as Tamura Masahiro
* Okamoto Masaru (岡本勝) as Nakamura Masaru
* Sugiura Takumi (杉浦匠) as Hamaguchi Takumi
* Kora Kengo as Funaki Kengo
* Kei as Maeda Kei
* Miura Ryosuke as Mutou Ryosuke

Guests

* Imai Yuki as Daisuke (ep1)
* Kobayashi Katsuya as Kudo (Former student of Kurogin, ep3&10)
* Takasugi Ko as Onijima (Police Officer, ep3&10)
* Yamazaki Hajime as Ishikawa (Tsuchiya's former Junior High Teacher, ep4)
* Akimoto Miri as Miyazaki Nao (Junior high student, ep4)
* Wakatsuki Chinatsu as Mizushima Maki (Momo Girls High School, ep5)
* Takasugi Mizuho as Okudera (Sokei University, ep5)
* Tezuka Satomi as Hyuuga Haruyo (Hyuuga Kosuke's mother, ep6)
* Ogi Shigemitsu as Tatsumi (Gambling bar owner, ep6)
* Namioka Kazuki as Tanabe (ep7)
* Ogawa Naoya (小川直也) as Tanabe (Tadoroki High School, ep7)
* Naitou Takashi as Yabuki Hirofumi (Hayato's father, ep8)
* Ishiguro Hideo as Yabuki Taku (Hayato's brother, ep8)
* Sunaga Chie (須永千重) as Kumai Masako (Kuma's mother, ep8)
* Uemura Miki (植村美紀) as Kumai Aya (Kuma's younger sister, ep8)
* Ogawa Tomonaga (小川智永) as Kumai Haruo (Kuma's younger brother, ep8)
* Takuma Shin as Odagiri Shinya (Odagiri Ryu's father, ep9)
* Nagano Satomi (長野里美) as Odagiri Yuriko (Odagiri Ryu's mother, ep9)
* Sakata Tadashi as Kashiwagi Yutaka (Police Officer from Gokusen, only his picture in ep9)

Trivia

* Season 2 was aired last January-March 2005, 2 years and 6 months after the first season and 1 year and 9 months after the special. Some of the original cast were retained. Like Yankumi's family(her grandpa, Wakamatsu, Minoru, Tetsu & Shigeru), Vice Principal and of course the only remaining student of Yankumi in season 1, Kumai Teruo aka KUMA.
* If you take a look around the classroom during episode 10, you can see a lot of cartoons of Yankumi. There's some at her podium, board, left side of wall when facing class, and the wall right behind the students as you are facing them.
* The insert song was sung by Kamenashi Kazuya of KAT-TUN

Recognitions

* 44th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Drama
* 44th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actress (Nakama Yukie)
* 44th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Kamenashi Kazuya)

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H2


* Title: H2
* Tagline: 君といた日々 / Kimi to Itahibi
* Tagline (English): The Days with You
* Format: Renzoku
* Genre: Sports, romance, comedy
* Episodes: 11
* Viewership ratings: 11.59
* Broadcast network: TBS
* Broadcast period: 2005-Jan-13 to 2005-Mar-30
* Air time: Thursday 22:00
* Theme song: Over... by K

Synopsis

Kunimi Hiro was an ace pitcher in junior high school,until he was diagnosed by a doctor as having a "glass elbow". He gave up baseball and joined Senkawa Senior High School's soccer team. But then something happens that reignites his passion for baseball and he joins a baseball team managed by Koga Haruka. And he finds himself in a match against his old friend/rival Tachibana Hideo who has advanced to Meiwa No.1 High School. The meeting of the two is observed by Hideo's girlfriend Amamiya Hikari, who is also Hiro's childhood friend. Meanwhile, Haruka finds herself increasingly drawn towards Hiro, despite his being interested only in baseball. It's a story about high school students who dream of appearing at Koushien baseball tournament and young love. --TBS

Cast

* Yamada Takayuki as Kunimi Hiro
* Ishihara Satomi as Koga Haruka
* Tanaka Koutaro as Tachibana Hideo
* Ichikawa Yui as Amamiya Hikari
* Ishigaki Yuma as Kine Ryutaro
* Nakao Akiyoshi as Noda Atsushi
* Hojo Takahiro as Sagawa Shuji
* Mori Ren as Yanagi Mochi
o Nakajou Tomoaya as Young Mochi
* Ryu Raita as Yanagi Michio
* Kanjiya Shihori as Osanai Miho
* Matoba Koji as Koga Fujio
* Tamaru Maki as Komiya Keiko
* Yanagisawa Shingo as Kunimi Taro
* Ishino Mako as Kunimi Nobuko
* Nanase Natsumi as Amamiya Sakura
* Sugimoto Tetta as Amamiya Taichi
* Enjoji Aya as Tachibana Yumiko
* Takeno Isao as Tachibana Goro
* Sato Megumi as Nakata Satomi
* Yanagisawa Nana as Takazawa Asako
* Nakamura Tomoya as Shima Osamu
* Aoki Munetaka as Shima Osamu
* Hayashi Tsuyoshi as Tsukigata
* Saito Yosuke as Hasegawa
* Yuge Tomohisa as Otake Fumio
* Arakawa Yui as Matsuzaka Yui
* Saito Takashi as Kokubo Takashi
* Takahashi Ryosuke as Kuwata Ryosuke
* Hirao Yuki as Uehara Yuki
* Mitamura Shun as Kiyohara Madoka
* Yokouchi Ami as Kinerin
* Onodera Junko as Nodarin
* Sato Jiro as the Doctor
* Adachi Mitsuru as Adachi Sensei
* Wariishi Hideki as Otaku AB
* Kawana Yukio as the Editor
* Kamiyoshihara Yo
* Kubo Akira
* Yin Ling (ep3)

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