jackyyjack

BBC had 2 documentaries on Johnny Kitagawa/J-pop in 2023. That may have made scripts like this drama move forward more. After all the horrible cases from 2010s+ Kpop/showbiz, this is pretty lightweight. In fact "Restaurant with Many Problems" (2015) also touched on the demeaning jobs available to young women trying to be financially independent, though the depiction is a bit crude.

That escalated quickly.

Wonderful voice. Finally a young male singer who can do emotionally expressive ballads.

Neat, compact story that is so different from today's J-indies trying to be epic and rambling at the same time. Ken Mitsuishi is not as expressive as his supporting roles later. He looked a bit like very normie Ken Takakura!

Why does this look like NTV's Vivant:D

Sad to hear this. She had the talent for sure -- impressive in Cleopatra and Gintama Mitsuba Hen. That's some range!

This typecast Takako Matsu forever, let's face it. Before Hallyu swept Asia etc, Kimutaku was holding it down solo -- and this is his most accessible, family fare.

Can you share why it is unmarketable overseas?

He's irreplaceable, like it or not:D

It's really a more humanist, less dreary variation of Ushijima the Loan Shark series.

Has anyone seen him in the Polish plays? Complete opposite of his work in movies/TV: https://moldova1.md/p/50478

Her first name Yo means "Lamb". Can't get over it!

Who knew Eita (of all people) would be so good at BL??

WC Fields' small town comedies (It's a Gift, Bank Dick) had this. Marx Brothers too.

He has the goods to become a Koichi Sato version of Kento Yamazaki. Just needs challenging roles!

Per J-wiki: He couldn't be a full-time actor until 50 (2008). Had his 1st kid at 57.
Theater acting doesn't pay, so they have to take supplementary jobs!

A classic, funny lecher on Reboot (2026)!

The first 10 minutes or so has dialog that people in China will never see;)

Original novel (2010) came out 11 years after Byakuyako (1999). A new twist on "Madame X"? (1908 French play; 1966 movie with Lana Turner is popular)

An event/secret puts someone on the margins of society. Then we get some strange (or difficult) forming of human bonds.

Yuko Tanaka played similar (role functions) in Mother 2010, Amagi Pass 1982.

This is the plot that Compartment No. 6 (2021) reminded me of.