The story opens after a young female student kills herself by jumping off a balcony. It's soon discovered that she was in fact stabbed, and the room arranged to make it look like a suicide. And so we begin. A few minor details lead Detective Kanzo to suspect that Ryo, an enigmatic chef's assistant, knows more about her death.The two have run into each other by chance a few times, and each time left Kanzo with an uncomfortable feeling. Every clue that is revealed seems to lead to more questions about Ryo, his obsessive girlfriend, his callous and manipulative relations with several women, and about a painful memory from Kanzo's past. Things get more complicated when a powerful love/hate relationship develops between Ryo and Kanza's little sister, the beautiful Yuko. What exactly is their connection? As the evidence (and body count) rises, Kanza tries desperately to save his sister from Ryo's influence. He's no saint, but is he the Devil Kanza thinks he is? And why? The answers will floor you, even when you think you've got them figured out already.

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  Kimura Takuya (Katase Ryo)

  Main Role

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  Fukatsu Eri (Dojima Yuko)

  Main Role

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  Akashiya Sanma (Dojima Kanzo)

  Main Role

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  Morishita Aiko (Sugita Kotoko)

  Supporting Role

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  Shibasaki Kou (Mizashita Yuki)

  Supporting Role

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  Igawa Haruka (Nishihara Miwa)

  Supporting Role

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• Apr 28, 2011 11 of 11 episodes seen

  lilacin
  13 of 13 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  8
  • Story  9
  • Acting/Cast  8
  • Music  10
  • Rewatch Value  6

  First of all, when you are watching this drama prepare for heartbreaks. Now that's out of the way, I have to say this is my favourite Kimura role to date (and I'm the type to pick a good romcom over any melos). Kimura and Eri as Ryo and Yuko have chemistry that absolutely sizzles onscreen and unlike any other romance you will find in most jdramas. But more than their chemistry, the supporting casts also does a great job rounding out each of their characters. You will find that this is not just a drama written in black and white, everyone is more than they seem and no one walks out innocent and unscattered. The drama starts off puzzling and slow but picks up and positively explodes toward the end.
  
  
  
  I rated the re-watch value quite low because this is still a mystery drama so once you know the big revelation, the impact won't be quite the same as the first time but there are plenty of compelling scenes that makes up for it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Overall, I'd definitely recommend it to any Kimura fans who haven't seen this yet, as well as anyone looking for a compelling story about love, betrayal and redemption. read more

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• Jul 28, 2012 11 of 11 episodes seen

  amrita828
  11 of 13 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  8
  • Story  9
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  8
  • Rewatch Value  2

  I've read some people calling this drama "life-altering". Perhaps it is so. A million stars falling from the sky is a journey into the darkest depth of the human heart. What you see there is not at all pretty: it's disquieting, clouded and unsettling.
  
  I consider Eriko Kitagawa one of the best drama scriptwriters. She has the ability to pick up an ordinary event and make it into an unpredictable twist, all with a subtle calm pace which makes you restless. This plot is made of little hints: a word, a glance, a brief scene. There's no abundance of words, each line carries its meaning into the silence that follows.
  And the actors get inside their roles brilliantly, creating around them an aura of mystery which makes you grope in the dark as to who did what and why.
  
  The cinematography is scanty and sober, totally devoid of gloss. With the exception of the very effective close-up shots of the characters and the use of the light, it doesn't rely on beauty. Oh, the actors are beautiful all right. Kimura Takuya and Fukatsu Eri in particular are wonderfully intense, together as well as individually and play their part so well I was left speechless more than once.
  The same scantiness applies to the music. Used with economy and without much variety, it manages to create the right expectations at exactly the right moment.
  
  When all this is said and done, I am left with only one question: did I personally like this drama? The answer is: no. Did I fall in love with any of the characters? No. They intrigued me, fascinated me even, but I didn't like any of them, and felt somehow totally detached, despite the high-voltage chemistry between the leads.
  I marathoned through the drama in 2 days, which is proof of its being a very well built thriller. Once started, you want to know. However, because I felt neither identification, nor true compassion or love for these people, it's as if I had read a very interesting and brilliantly written essay on human nature but was happy to see it end. The ending came to me as the only possible solution: a destination this journey was destined to land to.
  
  Therefore, I recommend this drama to only a few people. Forget brightness, sunny love, suspend judgment and value this for its intrinsic quality and you will appreciate it. If you're not ready for a trip down dark lane, I suggest you stay well away from it.
  I am certainly not going to repeat the experience. read more

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  A Sleeping Forest

  Both drama's have main characters with memory gaps but more importantly both drama's have the same mysterious feel about them. While I think One Million Stars is maybe somewhat darker(and better in my opinion) they both have some romance in it but they certainly aren't just about romance. Don't watch either of them if you expect a sweet romance drama. And last but not least they both star Kimura Takuya in beautiful roles.

  reportRecommended by Pien82
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  Shokuzai

  Both makes you look deeply and without mercy, in the darkest corners of the human soul. Twisting the comfortable idea of what is good or evil. Secrets, cursed fates, sores that bleed ice.

  reportRecommended by YumeNoKaze