HomeScreen Alchemist

Anna Yamada's acting : 9/10
This movie's story, plot, etc. : 1/10

My overall verdict : 3/10

Makita Aju 😍
She's very underrated. Need more recognition.

I'd recommend these 2 movies played by Non (she does the main roles) if you're interested in non-action type movies. Both are excellent IMO.
Hold Me Back (Stop Me)
https://mydramalist.com/64941-stop-me
Three Sisters of Tenmasou
https://mydramalist.com/728661-three-sisters-of-tenmasou

If you like this movie, I'd highly recommend Saotome Kanako no Baai wa. Ai Hashimoto plays the leading role and Non also plays a bit-part/guest role there.

This is a really good movie, to be honest. Probably the best one when it comes to Ai Hashimoto as the main role. Of course, not too many people like Hashimoto due to her being given "negative roles" multiple times in the past (psycho killer, etc.) even when she was still in her early teen, so it's hard for us viewers to empathize with the roles she's taken. But she's a very good actress nonetheless, and this movie proves it. And then, there's Anna Yamada with her usual magnetically attractive aura! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

As For Me (Saotome Kanako no Baai wa) is adapted from the novel written by Asako Yuzuki, the same author as another movie released last year, Watashi ni Fusawashi Hotel, featuring Non/Rena Nounen as the main cast (both Ai Hashimoto & Non were "trading short guest roles" between this and Watashi ni Fusawashi Hotel). But this movie is definitely better than the weird and rather cringey comedy of Watashi ni Fusawashi Hotel, even though I'm a fan of Non.
https://mydramalist.com/771731-watashi-ni-fusawashi-hotel

Personally, I'd rather compare this movie to be more in the same "box" as the 2020's Hold Me Back (played by 3 actresses that also play here: Non, Ai Hashimoto, & Asami Usuda), both exploring complex emotions and insecurity of the female lead role leading to indecisiveness in engaging on romantic relationship, although this movie also display insecurities of the supporting roles as well.
https://mydramalist.com/64941-stop-me

(this is not a review, just a long comment)

Two theories:
1. There was no typical mainstream agency pressures/exploitation after 2014 when she got completely banned from all the TV drama. So by being independent and free, she had a much less stress than her peers. And she also does music as well as other creative works (fashion design, painting, etc.), and being an independent artist there's no one "above" her trying to exploit her talent as money generating tool.
2. She's probably an indigo (I believe she is). A high-vibration "old soul" incarnated as human for a specific mission. Her mission was probably to play a successful role in Amachan in order to boost the morale of the Japanese people after the Tsunami. And she's finished that mission already, and successfully, so the rest is just exploring things while continue inspiring others. Many say that indigo children do not age as much as the "normal" people, and have beautiful bright eyes.
https://www.gaia.com/article/13-signs-you-are-an-indigo-child

I think TBS has already made adjustments to reduce Mei's screen presence since episode 3. I just watched episode 5 so far, and her screen appearances were only about a few seconds here and there. There's no more lengthy conversations involving her character like we saw in the first 2 episodes.
[[UPDATE]] Just watched until episode 7, and on episode 6 & 7 (2 eps with same continuing story) Mei gets the most screen presence (other than Abe Hiroshi) because it's connected to her character's story. Both are very good episodes, though.

But instead it turns out to be funny in the weird way possible, with mentions of Blackpink and Tanaka Kei in the conversations. 😄

Gross.
Nao Honda is a much better actress than the role she plays in this movie (respect to her decision not to strip in here).

It's a drama that we can all learn about Love: loving self, caring for others, companionship without possessing, etc.
It has a deeper meaning than just romance.

About the scandal 😲
Here's the report in English, picked by Daily Mail (originally reported by Shukan Bunshun):
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14641443/japenese-actress-mei-nagano-cheating-scandal-stars.html

Public response to the scandal
Visible on social media comments, both YouTube and X. No matter her agency attempts to cover it. TBS seems to be aware of the uproar and has done some "quiet resolve". Latest posts on TBS' Caster official Instagram no longer shows Mei in the photos. 😱
https://www.instagram.com/caster_tbs/

Caster Episode 3 features Nounen Rena (Non) 😻 as a main guest. That's her first comeback to commercial TV appearance after 11 years, and reunited with Abe Hiroshi on screen after 13 years. She has strong grassroots supporters and loyal fanbase in Japan especially in Iwate Prefecture / Tohoku Region. Non's appearance on ep.3 may override the drop in viewership's rating from all the "boycott Mei" waves.
Production crew also did a homage of Non's reunion with Abe-san by doing the scene in the Ramen shop with red-colored counter-table, and mention about the cat (both are in the 2012 movie By Rule of Crow's Thumb). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu9MdyXW8SA

[UPDATE: Viewership Ratings]
Episode 1: 14.2%
Episode 2: 11.7%
Episode 3: 10.9%
Episode 4: 10.4%
Episode 5: 10.8%
Episode 6: 10.2%
Episode 7: 10.3%
Episode 8: 9.5%
Episode 9: 9.9%
Episode 10: TBA

If you're interested in docu-series, I recommend I AM NON (2019), available on YouTube Originals (free)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQntWbrycbJfJMzCikuL9KkqnQixdzuc4
It's the documentary about her work in Get To The Punchline, the first movie where she does the directing, screenwriting, main-acting, costume design, painting, background music, etc. Pretty wild stuff.

The main lead has always been Hiroshi Abe. Mei is 2nd lead. It's highly unlikely TBS will replace Mei, probably they will just cut her screen presence to be less than Michieda.
But if we viewers want to have our pick: "I wish *this person* in it instead of Mei", I'd say Mayu Hotta is the best fit. Her age is similar. Her acting is way better than Mei, also backed by a big agency, & arguably even more attractive. Check out her role in Wakakusa Monogatari.

Drama Otaku has become way too exclusive, almost like a secret society. We don't need another secret society ruining our lives. LOL.
Here's my tip to watch this drama: If you're familiar with torrent, you can go to nyaa.si and search it there. It has the japanese soft-sub srt file in the download folder along with the video file. Use the online subtitle translator to translate into any language you want. But you need to download both the videos and sub files, and then watch them using media-players that can accept soft-sub (such as VLC).
Here I searched it for you:
https://nyaa.si/?f=0&c=0_0&q=shiawase+wa+tabete+nete

Very underrated drama. One of my fav. dramas that's currently airing (the other one is another food-centric drama Shiawase wa Tabete Nete Mate). And Yoshida Rinne is underrated too (I didn't know about her at all until this drama). She has that authentic aura, and her talent should be more recognized.

If you're familiar with torrent, you can go to nyaa.si and search "spice magicstar". It has the japanese soft sub file in the download folder. Use the online subtitle translator to translate into any language you want. But you need to download both the videos and sub files, and then watch them using media-players that can accept soft-sub (such as VLC).

A "light-drama" about life that's very deep at the same time!

She has become beautiful. Almost like young Hirose Suzu back in 2015.

Everybody loves Non! She's beyond adorable.
For info: Netflix Japan published a special cut on YouTube just showing the scene of Non disabling automatic train control on the shinkansen. Fans can now watch it on repeat. LOL.
It got over 100k views already in 10 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVZAbSW34ZU

If you're into serial TV drama you may be interested with Caster that's currently airing. It's on Netflix as well (but a bit late for outside Japan). In the Episode 3 (just done airing in Japan today) Non is a main guest for that episode. EP3 teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6WfbMAD6qw