[Discussion] Utahime - Upcoming Nagase Drama!

Arantius · Post by **Arantius** » Nov 25th, '07, 12:01

yamatsumi wrote:anyone remember when OST supposed to be out? OSTs for some of other doramas of this season are released already so I guess the one for Utahime can be expected anytime as well ^_^

Yeah wondering the same thing. It's TOKIO song, isn't it? Nice song. Taro sure really can sing lol.

vulgarshudder · Post by **vulgarshudder** » Nov 25th, '07, 12:22

I watched up to ep 4 and the episode really annoyed me.

I don't know if people spoke in such a strong dialect back then but the tosa-ben is really irritating me! Like it just feels like they're over doing it!!

However I do feel that Taro's past will redeme this dorama.

Arantius · Post by **Arantius** » Nov 25th, '07, 13:15

vulgarshudder wrote:I watched up to ep 4 and the episode really annoyed me.

I think I'm the only person that thinks it's totally understandable that Taro sees her as a little sister and that well ones love being unrequited happens, no use trying to guilt the other person or crying for hours over it.
I don't know if people spoke in such a strong dialect back then but the tosa-ben is really irritating me! Like it just feels like they're over doing it!!

However I do feel that Taro's past will redeme this dorama.

Well, yeah..

Tosa-ben is nice. At least nicer than Aomori/Aoyama (which one?) dialect.

nalika · Post by **nalika** » Nov 27th, '07, 20:21

lzydata wrote:Three reasons why I'm hooked on Utahime:

1. Like someone said before here, it feels so magical. I don't even know what I mean by "magical", really. It's just the feeling I get.

2. I absolutely cannot get enough of the "Taro to Suzu to tarotaro rinrinrin" routine

3. Following up from point 2, I had no idea Nagase Tomoya and Aibu Saki would have such good chemistry. Maybe it's the tan.

ditto...
I'm so hooked right now, I don't even want to watch the other dramas...
I just can't get enough of Taro and Suzu...

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Nov 27th, '07, 21:02

regarding taro and suzu

nalika · Post by **nalika** » Nov 27th, '07, 21:37

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Nov 27th, '07, 21:54

nalika wrote:
I feel that Taro doesn't want to fall in love with Suzu more to the fact that he might not remember her once his memory comes back...I guess he doesn't want to hurt her not knowing what the future might hold...but nonetheless I really really want them ending up together

i said i think i am the only one think like this. by the way, from the ep1 here was a hint and in ep 3 they already said who suzu will end up with.

nalika · Post by **nalika** » Nov 28th, '07, 22:44

Issy wrote:
nalika wrote:
I feel that Taro doesn't want to fall in love with Suzu more to the fact that he might not remember her once his memory comes back...I guess he doesn't want to hurt her not knowing what the future might hold...but nonetheless I really really want them ending up together
i said i think i am the only one think like this. by the way, from the ep1 here was a hint and in ep 3 they already said who suzu will end up with.

I noticed it and it's just so sad...so unfair

they're so in love

fleng · Post by **fleng** » Dec 1st, '07, 17:20

im liking it much

kokitty · Post by **kokitty** » Dec 2nd, '07, 01:29

Okay after epi 8 i think Prof Yukawa of Galileo has officially been ousted from the title of "Most Perfect/Desirable man of Autumn 2007 Jdorama season" by Oikawa Yuuichi. Let's see Yuu-san was...

And i'm hating the scriptwriter...

I'm leaning towards Miwako's side. I love Suzu Chan and Aibu Saki's been really great with her protrayal but the flashbacks of young Suzu chan is not helping to win me over to her side.

Have given up trying to figure out whether Tora loves Suzu as a woman or just a sister. Maybe cos if he really loves her as a woman then i'll be forced to reaffirm my fears that my fav actor and guy is just weak in protraying boy/girl love and not for the lack of opportunties in his past dramas. So i'll just not think about it for the time being and see what the scriptwriter has in store.

Besides the "scary" young Suzu chan, i must say James is really testing my patience....

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Dec 2nd, '07, 02:16

kokitty wrote:Okay after epi 8 i think Prof Yukawa of Galileo has officially been ousted from the title of "Most Perfect/Desirable man of Autumn 2007 Jdorama season" by Oikawa Yuuichi. Let's see Yuu-san was...
a very intelligent top student, great at sports and strong fighter, well-mannered and romantic, muscially and literary inclined, came from a prestigious family with money and power. had great aspirations and most obviously very handsome and tall.

LOL. How perfect can a man be? No wonder the wife couldn't forget him after 10 years, no other man can simply measure up the perfect Oikawa Yuuichi.
And i'm hating the scriptwriter...

If you gave us such a perfect man, at least show us some flashbacks of this perfect man in action!!! The very handsome photo of him simply ain't enough!!!!

I'm leaning towards Miwako's side. I love Suzu Chan and Aibu Saki's been really great with her protrayal but the flashbacks of young Suzu chan is not helping to win me over to her side.

Am i the only one who finds young Suzu chan scary? Admiringly she had very great taste in men at such tender age but systematically brainwashing him to marry you in future with very opportunity you have demonstrates a very "scheming" personality lol.
Have given up trying to figure out whether Tora loves Suzu as a woman or just a sister. Maybe cos if he really loves her as a woman then i'll be forced to reaffirm my fears that my fav actor and guy is just weak in protraying boy/girl love and not for the lack of opportunties in his past dramas. So i'll just not think about it for the time being and see what the scriptwriter has in store.

Besides the "scary" young Suzu chan, i must say James is really testing my patience....

It's understandable that Suzu's family and close friends are reluctant to see Miwako claiming back Taro. But as we go along and when they had more time to conside the situtation, you see them softening their stance since they love Taro too and it's only fair for him to try to remember his past even if it means losing Taro. People like Gillman and Merry are taking a "take it as it goes" stance so why the hell is James so adamant about Taro being together with Suzu treating Miwako like an enemy? James isn't even close to Suzu and his only interest in the relationship was his admiration for Taro and wanted Taro to be happy and loved. Gosh, i'm beginning to think the scriptwriter is just writing lines for James just to let him have more screen-time cos so many Kanjani fans were threateninig to cripple the Utahime bbs at one pt with over-spamming of messages.

OH MY GOD! someone on my team.
I can't believe that i am reading all my thoughts in your post.

kokitty · Post by **kokitty** » Dec 2nd, '07, 08:07

@lssy

Oh, i have no problems accepting Suzu's love for Taro.

About Taro's feelings for Suzu, based on the permise of the drama

But my problem got to do with the acting. I don't feel comfortable talking about this in a public forum at this stage since i might be picking up the wrong hints in this drama and would have "accused" my fav actor of "vague delivery" for nothing. Maybe his delivery was what the script required and things would clear up with the last few episodes yet to air.

lightsoul · Post by **lightsoul** » Dec 2nd, '07, 12:17

kokitty wrote:
About Taro's feelings for Suzu, based on the permise of the drama

it's actually easier to conclude Taro does have romantic feelings for Suzu. Technically Suzu was the one who saved Taro cos she was the first one to spot him floating at sea. It is actually a very romantic permise... a young girl saving this handsome stranger. This little girl knew that he was the one for her eversince she laid her eyes on him lol. Since the handsome stranger is no pedo, he treated her like a sister for the next 10 years no matter how often she tried to bait him lol. When she's grown into a fine woman, she expresses her love for him and the handsome stranger also realises that his brotherly feelings for her has somewhat evolved into romantic feelings now. Unfortunately the wife arrives to claim him back, he chooses the wife. But the bond between the 2 is so strong that although they couldn't be together in this life, they died at about the same time and like what Taro said in epi 7, 'When you love someone so deeply and the bond is so strong... even if you can't be together in this life. You'll reunite in the next life perhaps". Things fall into place better this way.

If Taro doesn't have romantic feelings for Suzu, it would throw a lot of eariler hints out of place IMHO.

You go, girl. I cried upon reading your spoilers. Nice one.

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Dec 2nd, '07, 17:01

@kokitty
i might not have expressed how i feel properly in here.

kokitty · Post by **kokitty** » Dec 4th, '07, 12:34

@lightsoul

It’s definitely Yuuichi x Miwako for me! I want to see Oikawa Yuuichi! This means Taro has to regain his memory, transform back into Yuuichi ASAP since the stupid scriptwriter wouldn’t show me flashbacks of this PERFECT man! Taro was adorable while it lasted but I’ve lost my heart to Oikawa Yuuichi LOL.

@lssy

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Dec 6th, '07, 23:39

@kokitty
ok, this is so funny because i do agree with your points regarding taro's love tringle, his wife's point of view, even been puzzled by his reaction at end of ep 8 but somehow it seems like can't make my point clear enough here.

anyway
that is how i felt about lat scene of ep8

lightsoul · Post by **lightsoul** » Dec 7th, '07, 14:00

Utahime episode 9 has just finished a minute ago. This is a massive spoiler!!!!

XrayMind · Post by **XrayMind** » Dec 7th, '07, 19:10

lightsoul wrote:Utahime episode 9 has just finished a minute ago. This is a massive spoiler!!!!
They finally reveal that Taro has a child. 子供かいる！！

lightsoul · Post by **lightsoul** » Dec 7th, '07, 19:42

XrayMind wrote:
I am guessing, it's a girl.

Yea haha...from episode 1 we all already knew that. But I'm just being dramatic I guess.

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Dec 8th, '07, 00:29

lightsoul wrote:Utahime episode 9 has just finished a minute ago. This is a massive spoiler!!!!
They finally reveal that Taro has a child. 子供かいる！！

well, its about time. they already left so late in the story

lightsoul · Post by **lightsoul** » Dec 8th, '07, 08:58

@Issy;
Yeah watching this episode changed my stand completely on who to root for.. TT__TT

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Dec 8th, '07, 18:41

@lightsoul

Annj · Post by **Annj** » Dec 15th, '07, 06:24

Utahime Easter Egg: (Episode 6)
In the jazz room "Utahime" there is a raccoon statue with a hat in the cupboard. It is the same raccoon statue in Kisarazu Cat's Eye in the episode where Asada senseii used it as a bomb. The two shows are connected by that Crossiant is Master in Kisarazu.

chickenruns · Post by **chickenruns** » Dec 16th, '07, 16:28

the movie is going good but James irritates me ! what did he eat ? me personally think James is the worst actor in this movie like he always does in other movies he starred (also my personal thinking) he ruins my good mood

just finished ep 8

Silainne · Post by **Silainne** » Dec 18th, '07, 12:34

Thoughts after watching ep 9:

ryoko11 · Post by **ryoko11** » Dec 18th, '07, 16:52

My thoughts after watching episode 9:

I don't think Suzu is a spiderwoman. I just think she's still very immature about love, and she might just be about to realize that. She's still thinking about her feelings for Taro the way she did when she was 10 years old.

So far Suzu has just been thinking about herself. What if Taro leaves her? What if Taro forgets her? Would he choose some girlfriend over her? While she seems to feel bad for Miwako sometimes, she's never found the courage to face her head on. Rather than realizing that Miwako's bond with him as a wife could logically involve ties such as children, Suzu's been mentally relegating Miwako to the role of an old girlfriend who is just there to take Taro away--never really considering what kind of bonds Taro might already have with someone else. Or what that could mean to Taro's hapiness.

By contrast Miwako isn't just thinking about herself. She loves Yuu and obviously wants him with her, but she's also worried about his happiness and how it would hurt him to pull him from his new life. She's trying to do the best by her daughter, and she doesn't just want Yuu to follow her from a sense of obligation. When she learned of Suzu's feelings, Miwako did make a move to confront the situation head on by trying to talk to Suzu. Now she's willing to back away for Taro to be happy in Tosa Shimizu with his new family, friends, and Suzu. That's amazingly strong, especially when you think of how many times she must have cried for Yuu over the past ten years or wished he was there to share in some special moment as a family.

So, I don't want to see Suzu end up with Taro, despite still loving both characters. I think Suzu's journey is one into adulthood where she's going to need to learn to sacrifice being with Taro for him to be happy. She needs to progress from her selfish and immature form of love before she can really have a relationship with anyone, and this is the event that I think will cause her to finally reach that level.

I also think Taro does have feelings for Miwako that are most definitely not like those towards a stranger. There's just something about they way he's held back from Suzu for so long... the way you see him look at that happy family in the flashback... and it makes me think that Miwako is still very much in his heart. His expression when she said goodbye and walked away from him was very hurt and says that he doesn't really want her to go.

When Miwako tells the story about how Taro and she actually fell in love upon her staying with his family, I believe her. I don't think they were just an arranged marriage. Maybe, that's why she wouldn't settle for having him only out of a feeling of obligation towards their daughter now. She's felt real love with him, and something less just isn't enough for either of them.

James seems like he might have some feeling for Suzu with his insistence on her happiness all the time. But I think he needs to do the most growing up of all. Well, Matsu even more... but it looks like Matsu's about to hit an epiphany, so I'm cutting him some slack.

Silainne · Post by **Silainne** » Dec 18th, '07, 17:48

@ryoko11 Hee, i really like your point of view. Made me consider Suzu's behaviour/feelings once more.

chickenruns · Post by **chickenruns** » Dec 18th, '07, 19:36

i think we here have difference in ideology thats why some root for Miwako and the rest for Suzu.

and James is sooo annoying. i know what is he missing, that's corporal language. his 2 hands are really good for nothing and he reminds me of a stupid penguin who yells at Miwako just because he wants Taro by his side to teach him how to change film. this guy is really an encumbrance

ryoko11 · Post by **ryoko11** » Dec 18th, '07, 19:49

@ Silainne I love your points of view too.

Yes, Suzu thinks of her family's feelings for having Taro around, but it's still about the fear of how losing Taro will affect their lives. Her family is an extension of herself in that sense. She's never shown signs of being genuinely happy for Taro, if he were to finally have his questions about the past answered. She's not showing the signs of being able to be happy for him, if he were to find happiness elsewhere.

She encourages Miwako to talk to Taro, but does she mean it? Miwako waited for night after night to talk to him in Merry's bar. Suzu knew she was there. The whole town knew. How can Miwako talk to Taro if he won't meet with her? Suzu knew it in her heart that Miwako was the real deal from the first time Suzu saw her tears at seeing Taro, and that's why Suzu was living in fear of her return. Suzu even despite ascertaining that Miwako is the real deal with the music information still didn't encourage Taro to face his past that night outside the bar. If he was willing to run away from the past, Suzu had no problem with him doing so because she feared how it would change her life too.

All Suzu really did in that scene when Miwako confronted her was not hinder Miwako on her attempt to talk with Taro at the theater, but the next day Suzu actually made the move to kiss Taro before she could lose him the way she thought the necklace had been lost. When she learned that Taro had finally gone to the bar to talk, Suzu rushed straight to the doctor consumed with her fears that Taro would forget her.

I guess, I consider her childish because I don't see her actions as matching the words she spoke to Miwako yet.

While it had been Yuu's dream to be a politician, Miwako never tries to force him to follow that dream upon meeting him again. She knows he's no longer interested in politics, and that's probably part of her decision to step away from him after Oyabun tells her that he wants to make Taro a politician. Lots of people return from war with new dreams and goals anyhow, so Miwako would probably encourage him in anything that made him happy. She's doing that already.

Fearing learning about the war is definitely one of the reasons why Taro fights so hard against even talking to Miwako for so long. He's afraid to learn he's killed. He's afraid that there will be traumas and horrors. He's afraid he'll become someone else or be expected to be someone else. He's afraid he'll lose the friends and life he's known for 10 years now. But can he really be happy running away from the truth either?

Can he be happy living in Tosa Shimizu and trying to shut out his past? Would his heart really belong to Suzu, and could Suzu live hiding what she knows about his child from him. It's a wall between them already. So to start a relationship now between Taro and Suzu, it would have a giant lie buried right in the foundation.

No choice in life is ever perfect, and living with the consequences will be a part of either path. I think part of what I love in this drama is how I love the people on both sides of the situation. I can understand people rooting for Taro X Suzu too. The people of Tosa Shimizu are wonderful, and it's become this charming place that you look forward to seeing during each episode. Suzu and her family are sweet, kind, and loving. Taro is someone you can sympathize with and cheer for. Miwako is strong, selfless, and full of love. Matsu is determined enough to do anything for Suzu. There's just nobody that I don't want to see happy in this drama.

Episode 10 was fabulous!

strawberrynkiwi · Post by **strawberrynkiwi** » Dec 19th, '07, 17:57

omg i thought episode 9 was a shock.
i can't believed what happened in episode 10.
man i love this drama.
i wonder how it will end....

XrayMind · Post by **XrayMind** » Dec 20th, '07, 02:25

The future for Taro has been set once you realize, from episode 1, his grandson is name Akira.

hadmish · Post by **hadmish** » Dec 21st, '07, 13:54

just saw the last episode...wonder if anyone has seen it?

(not a real spoiler, just a question....

lightsoul · Post by **lightsoul** » Dec 21st, '07, 14:26

:0 Don't tell me it's going to be a sad ending...

I can't wait!

hadmish · Post by **hadmish** » Dec 21st, '07, 14:32

lightsoul · Post by **lightsoul** » Dec 21st, '07, 14:48

siantut · Post by **siantut** » Dec 21st, '07, 15:15

hadmish wrote:just saw the last episode...wonder if anyone has seen it?
so, did you like the ending?
(not a real spoiler, just a question....

Hadmish,

BTW, it is in this Finale that we will know the importance and meaning of "Utahime".

Some people in the OHP's bbs already asked for an SP

hadmish · Post by **hadmish** » Dec 21st, '07, 15:27

Siantut, thanks for the comment...finally I can talk (well, write) to someone with about this!

siantut · Post by **siantut** » Dec 21st, '07, 16:03

hadmish wrote:Siantut, thanks for the comment...finally I can talk (well, write) to someone with about this!

I totally agree about the time. I think it was wrapped way too quickly, and only kinda half told us what went on...Id like to have seen more of what happened after he left. but it was done well, the acting impressed me!

thinking logically, yes, his place might be with Miwako, and she's really a good person. But, although we don't know, Id imagine he missed Suzu his whole life.
Personally, I dont believe in a couple getting back together for the sake of their kids, either...so.....
but all in all, it ended sort of the way I expected, and it wasn't a bad ending. dunno about the last part of Akira and Ruriko...redundant?
still one of my top fav dramas this season, no other made me cry. wonder why it wasn't very successful (rating-wise). loved the song too....

Nice to chat with you, Hadmish! Thank you for your reply too, and your message on the Utahime subtitle thread.

Yes I agree with you, the acting, especially Tomoya's, was superb!

hadmish · Post by **hadmish** » Dec 21st, '07, 16:25

Hey! Im enjoying this chat too...and seriously, Im so grateful for your subs, coz at first when I watched the first ep on TV I was soooo overwhelmed (and perhaps a bit tired) and didnt get most of it, and nearly gave up- so when I saw you put the subs up so quickly I started watching again and understood it all. so...thanks to you I got so involved in this lovely story

thats was long sorry.....I want to talk to someone about this....my friends werent watching it (idiots)....

siantut · Post by **siantut** » Dec 21st, '07, 16:52

hadmish wrote:Hey! Im enjoying this chat too...and seriously, Im so grateful for your subs, coz at first when I watched the first ep on TV I was soooo overwhelmed (and perhaps a bit tired) and didnt get most of it, and nearly gave up- so when I saw you put the subs up so quickly I started watching again and understood it all. so...thanks to you I got so involved in this lovely story

I agree that Miwako is a great woman. she's been amazing from the very beginning and I think I most sympathized with her, coz she does all the right things despite the fact that it could hurt her (or her daughter). I also realised that koike eiko is quite a good actress, Im liking her more and more.
As for Suzu, I think the only bad writing in this series is the back flashes to her childhood. I kinda tried to ignore them coz I didnt think they conveyed what they meant- a strong bond between them, instead like many have felt, it made people dislike Suzu. also it was kinda inconsistent, coz if she had being saying all along to Taro that they'll get married, then how come she was 'surprised' to realise she loved him, and that he 'didnt' know etc...but I guess those are the little things. but given the fact that she was 20, its kinda obvious she'd need to grow up.
generally, I guess I agree. Taro made the right choice. I wish they had shown us a bit more of his love to Miwako...I wouldnt wonder....
PS- loved Nagase's acting, you really felt he was a diff person, with the proper Japanese and stuff. he rocks!!! (tho mind you on MS super live tonight his hairdo wasnt...humm....the best).
you live in Japan right? (Im guessing coz you've seen it)
thats was long sorry.....I want to talk to someone about this....my friends werent watching it (idiots)....

You are most welcome, Hadmish, I am glad you find them useful.

Yes I am in Japan

It is almost 2 AM here, so I might sleep soon.
Oyasuminasai, Hadmish, really so nice talking to you. Arigatou.

hadmish · Post by **hadmish** » Dec 21st, '07, 17:21

just wrote a reply but the spoiler buttons got messed up so deleted it....here we go again (shorter version)

thanks again, I really enjoyed our chat! Its nearly 2:30 so we should go to sleep....too cold to be up!

oh and my name's Mish. I think I shouldve just chosen that when I signed up, but didnt....seeing hadmish is so strange sounds a bit....wrong!haha!

gambate with the subs

siantut · Post by **siantut** » Dec 22nd, '07, 13:42

Nice to meet you, Mish!

BTW, I watched Music Station special too, but I missed it when TOKIO sang the medley! Grrrrr....Around what time did they sing? I left my TV for about 30 min around 8 PM, then when Utahime started, I was forced to juggle back and forth between Music Station and Utahime

Interesting that Tomoya and Ayu were there, and so were Taichi and his ex-girlfriend Aiko...I hope they are all still in good terms with each other.

Are you in Kanto area?

hadmish · Post by **hadmish** » Dec 22nd, '07, 14:55

Hey!
Yeah I was zapping a bit too, but after 10 mins I was too into Utahime and stayed with that.
TOKIO performed around 8:20 or so, coz its just when I got home! Im dling it from Jpopsuki coz Id like to see the parts I didnt get to see....

Haha! I was wondering about Ayu, Aiko and the boys too! but I guess the same was in Best Artist, right? same will be in Kohaku too.....so Im guessing (hoping?) they're still in good terms!

I live in the cold Hokuriku area, Kanazawa to be precise. Im a Phd student. you?

ok this has turned into a private conversation - or a TOKIO one....oops.....sorry guys!
anyways, seems no one else has watched the last episode.....no other comments....

siantut · Post by **siantut** » Dec 22nd, '07, 16:30

Well, I think some people must have seen the Finale already. One person gave a comment in my forum.
Perhaps seeing me commenting on it here, they are enryo shite iru....That's why usually I don't give much comment on the doramas I am subbing

Oh you are at the other side of the island from where I am. I'm not a student anymore but already work, and I live in Tokyo.

Thanks for the info about TOKIO in MS Special! So they sang when I was having dinner! I should have been pushy and zap to channel 10 at dinner!

OK, let's stop our private and/or TOKIO talk..... gomen minna-san. You're welcome to my shoutbox though, so I hope to see you there someday to chat about a dorama which has just been aired but not uploaded in D-A yet

kokitty · Post by **kokitty** » Dec 22nd, '07, 16:50

hadmish wrote: anyways, seems no one else has watched the last episode.....no other comments....

As a whole i'm pretty much neutral about Utahime, it had aspects which i loved (Nagase, nice story, good characterization, good production values) and also hated (very poor planning of pacing, too much of the ending revealed in the first 6 epis, James lol).

Found the last epi satisfactory. The ending didn't offer any major surprises but concluded the story nicely. Found it a very nice touch on the part of the scriptwriter that

Personally i don't think Yuuichi's decision was entirely

Was very impressed with Nagase's acting in the last episode. Taro, Yuuichi, Akira... he gave us 3 men with 3 contrasting aura. I loved how his eyes revealed the difference bet the 3... Taro (during the flashbacks), more wide-eyed and simple. Yuuichi, very thoughtful and and determined eyes. Akira (later stage), earnest and hopeful eyes.

The scene with James

was probably his best piece of acting in this drama. Makes one really sad that few people are watching Utahime and as usual most people would think that he just excels in those exaggerated comedic roles since those are the dramas they happen to watch.

Well, least Nagase's next project has already been decided. Judging from the storyline, he'll get another shot at showing audiences his acting range.

hadmish · Post by **hadmish** » Dec 22nd, '07, 17:23

kokitty,
totally agree about Nagase's acting! he's revealing his skills more and more!

Siantut,
I'll give you a shout soon 'nuff....

siantut · Post by **siantut** » Dec 22nd, '07, 18:31

yappari, lol

My last post in this thread. THANKS for reading and THANKS for downloading my subs!

fleng · Post by **fleng** » Dec 26th, '07, 04:04

The best dorama of this season by far!

strawberrynkiwi · Post by **strawberrynkiwi** » Dec 26th, '07, 19:59

I looooooooooved the ending.
This is definitely the best drama of the season, out of the ones I watched. lol
I think Tomoya Nagase's acting is great. Before most of his roles are comical and exaggerated, but this is definitely believable and lovable.
I cried so much when he cried. I love his crying. RurikoXAkira =)

saki-chan · Post by **saki-chan** » Dec 28th, '07, 03:44

Annj wrote:Utahime Easter Egg: (Episode 6)
In the jazz room "Utahime" there is a raccoon statue with a hat in the cupboard. It is the same raccoon statue in Kisarazu Cat's Eye in the episode where Asada senseii used it as a bomb. The two shows are connected by that Crossiant is Master in Kisarazu.

That's awesome. i laughed so hard after seeing "Master" as the yakuza! i love the way Nagase and Sato Ryuta (The guy who plays Crossiant, Master and also Masa from IWGP) work together!!

by the way, i love your signature. what's it from?

dirujjj · Post by **dirujjj** » Dec 31st, '07, 23:03

http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-2334
Nagase, Aibu dating?

Aww they make a cute couple ^^

donna8157 · Post by **donna8157** » Jan 9th, '08, 08:09

Ending spoiler

fleng · Post by **fleng** » Jan 10th, '08, 02:49

dirujjj wrote:http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-2334
Nagase, Aibu dating?

Aww they make a cute couple ^^

That'd be cool

.

morai_naki · Post by **morai_naki** » Jan 29th, '08, 15:19

ack. i'm a month late..

but still ain't too late for my thoughts on the dorama..?

damn. that was pretty lengthy.. some of it were non-spoiling comments.. but i didn't know how to separate them exactly, so i leave it at that. i apologize if my thoughts weren't as organized as i wish them to be. i tend to jump from one thing to another, i know.

btw, just a sorta noob question. ratings never did affect my choice to watch/ like or dislike a dorama.. but ratings are important to me, in a sense like this..:
if there were/are/will be plans for an SP.. would the production team still consider it? or would they rather not bcoz of below average ratings?

i want an SP.

41nano · Post by **41nano** » Jan 30th, '08, 22:49

Hard to know but with such poor ratings it is very unlikely to see a SP, after all, japanese dorama are all mae to earn money and ratings are the most important thing to producers...

As a big fan of IWGP and My Boss My Hero, i'm wondering whether to watch this drama.

saki-chan · Post by **saki-chan** » Jan 30th, '08, 22:56

41nano wrote:Hard to know but with such poor ratings it is very unlikely to see a SP, after all, japanese dorama are all mae to earn money and ratings are the most important thing to producers...

As a big fan of IWGP and My Boss My Hero, i'm wondering whether to watch this drama.

yes, definitely watch this drama. it's one of the best Nagase dramas i've seen. it's a bit more serious than IWGP or MBMH, but it is still totally hilarious and amazing. once you watch it, you'll understand why we're hoping against hope for an sp.

morai_naki · Post by **morai_naki** » Feb 1st, '08, 18:02

@ 41nano
i couldn't agree more with saki-chan, something in Utahime is just so special.. as long as my rant was about how i felt about Utahime, i couldn't really pinpoint what it really is. Nagase at his best. well, some may think that i'm biased bcoz i'm obviously a big Nagase fan.. but comparing it to his other works.. this is one of those that stick out. add to that the good storyline, and other awesome actors in this dorama. someone previously joked about how Utahime for her will still be a MUST-watch even if Nagase weren't in it. LOLz (am i convincing enough? j/k) srsly, i think the plot was really laid out well.

well, yeah, that's what i thought about hopes for an SP.. even if, personally, ratings aren't much of importance.. producers do care about them, eh? *sigh* but then again, who knows..? (Kurosagi's ratings aren't all that wow.. but it's being turned into a movie.. so maybe.. just maybe..)

41nano · Post by **41nano** » Feb 1st, '08, 18:24

morai_naki wrote:@ 41nano
producers do care about them, eh? *sigh* but then again, who knows..? (Kurosagi's ratings aren't all that wow.. but it's being turned into a movie.. so maybe.. just maybe..)

Well producers do care about money because making drama cost quite a lot of money...
It's a very mercantile market

And well Kurosagi made like 15% viewership ratings which is pretty good (and is based on a hit manga) while utahime made only 8%, you can't really compare these two.

Anyway I donwloaded the first episode, will watch it when i have the time

morai_naki · Post by **morai_naki** » Feb 2nd, '08, 02:15

@ 41nano
i guess so..

well, enjoy watching~

Arantius · Post by **Arantius** » Feb 3rd, '08, 09:39

Anyone can tell me what's the name of that robe that Suzu's wearing?
http://www.tbs.co.jp/uta-hime/gallery/g10_09.html

sahansah · Post by **sahansah** » Feb 3rd, '08, 11:40

I quite enjoyed this dorama. It was cute, sweet and funny at times.

I loved that "Nande Yanen" (Taro and Suzu taro-taro rin-rin-rin) lol it was cute

Also the dialect they were talking in was very endearing as well it sounded perhaps better then formal Japanese

Anywho my thoughts:

morai_naki · Post by **morai_naki** » Feb 3rd, '08, 12:19

@ sahansah

sahansah · Post by **sahansah** » Feb 3rd, '08, 12:45

morai_naki

hey9 · Post by **hey9** » Feb 4th, '08, 23:28

This is my new favorite drama, just amazing. Tomoya Nagase is not just another pretty face, and I love the theme song.

Why were the ratings for this show so bad? It was such an awesome show!

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Feb 5th, '08, 00:31

@morai and sahansah, very intersting conversions about Taro/Yuu love for suzu and miwako

ok, i think i have said before that from very first i was a miwako fan and wanted taro to end up with her. why? because i just could not see enough reasons in why taro must end up with suzu. but then again, some times loving someone does not have to be on reasons base. the heart wants what it wants and this what all matters.

you can say that taro did not love miwako and loved suzu but there is no denying that Yuu-san loved miwako very much and they were soulmates. the person at the end of drama is both taro and yuu so he does/should have feeling for both.
to me he did not made this choices on the basis of his love for those two because he just can't chose one of them. so he decided to only live for love of his daughter that needed him the most that also meant he is going back to miwako

even though when taro could not remember miwako, he still hold on to her present and never let go of her watch during the whole time that he was missing. this meant the unconciously he still loved miwako. even after he made sure of his love to suzu, he still could not let go of that watch. what does this mean to you?

but i was left with some confusion by end of drama as which one was the greatest love? by watching the whole drama i get to know that greatest love is the love of parents to their children no matter how much you love your other half.

but i was still confused in much love to your other half is the greatest? your new love or your old love? lived equal amount of times with both women and was even married to one so i guess one relationship was much more deeper than other. so can it all be gone by a new love from much younger love that it does not give you enough reasons for them to be together excep that they look cute next to eachother?

does all those sacrifices means nothing? so why you bother to love someone and sacrifice everything for sake of his happens when at the end it's even not going to be appreciated and by end she gets her husband back when he really does not love her but he is just there for sake of his daughter and his hear really is with someone else? does that means the same for suzu that she marries someone with no love just because he is the second best thing after taro and she really does not love him?

ending was perfect for me but those confusion are still there. i am trying to ignore that line that says if you love someone so much and keep on loving them one day you get to be with them because basically will start all those questions for me again.

FoGY · Post by **FoGY** » Feb 9th, '08, 17:06

f1uph · Post by **f1uph** » Feb 9th, '08, 18:17

very much enjoyed, but i felt depressed for some reason after it was all said and done

morai_naki · Post by **morai_naki** » Feb 10th, '08, 04:33

f1uph wrote:very much enjoyed, but i felt depressed for some reason after it was all said and done

call me hopeless..but are there others along with me who also wanted to see suzu and taro together in the end!??! i couldn't stop thinking of all those promises he made, then crushed all at once in that scene where suzu is running after the bus...

dramatiqu3 · Post by **dramatiqu3** » Jul 23rd, '08, 06:33

hey9 wrote:Why were the ratings for this show so bad? It was such an awesome show!

I guess it shows that high ratings don't always necessarily make it a great drama (take a look at Gokusen 2/3's ratings

) I guess it depends alot on the popularity of the actors/actresses, whether its based on a novel/manga and probably the way it's been advertised is a factor as well. Or maybe Utahime just isn't everyone's thing. There aren't alot of jdramas set in rural Japan during the 1960's lol.

Anyways, everybody's opinions on the ending was really interesting to read.

Makes me feel like watching this again.

morai_naki · Post by **morai_naki** » Jul 23rd, '08, 15:36

dramatiqu3 wrote:
hey9 wrote:Why were the ratings for this show so bad? It was such an awesome show!
I guess it shows that high ratings don't always necessarily make it a great drama (take a look at Gokusen 2/3's ratings ) I guess it depends alot on the popularity of the actors/actresses, whether its based on a novel/manga and probably the way it's been advertised is a factor as well. Or maybe Utahime just isn't everyone's thing. There aren't alot of jdramas set in rural Japan during the 1960's lol.

Anyways, everybody's opinions on the ending was really interesting to read. Makes me feel like watching this again.

SO TRUE.

And add the Tosa-ben factor to the mix.. viola! low-ratings. LOL

Ahhh.. If ever I decide to watch this again, I should prepare for lots of crying time again.

modhesh · Post by **modhesh** » Nov 15th, '08, 09:04

Great drama indeed..

I'm rooting for Aibu Saki..

It's funny that the croissant guy and the patrol man on GalCircle are one.. xD

igibeekun · Post by **igibeekun** » Jun 21st, '11, 17:24

its a great ending, if you watch it he said there is a tradition that the grandparents will be the one to name the child of their daughter/son. so taro really wants to name it akira according to his favorite movie. at the same time suzu do it too to her granddaughter.

this show is really great, for those aibu saki haters there, im sure if you watch this your hatred will be gone.

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