waterbird12

so...for all the other questions :) I spend a lot of time cramming kanji, but I have time to travel and join a circle. Popular things...well, AKB48 as you mentioned, and Johnny's, esp. Arashi and Kisumai. One Piece is hugely popular right now, you see their brand stuff everywhere. The new Monsters drama is being marketed aggressively. I hope I can travel more too! I'd like to go to Kobe before leaving, but I might be busy. I guess the best thing about the trip is experiencing life here as a student. Even if I come back later to work or travel, it will be a very different experience. Also (I think) my Japanese improved a lot, which was my main goal for the trip. Have you traveled outside of Japan? I have not tried Taiwanese drama...I'm not sure why. Smiling Pasta has been on my list for awhile. Now I am twice as long as you....so sorry!

don't worry! I think my message was longer anyway :) Although high school and university entrance exams are difficult, Japanese University is not hard at all. Grades are often given on effort, not test scores. Students are not required to do much critical thinking, it is a lot of memorization. Class sizes are very large so students often sleep and talk in class, come an hour late, or skip altogether. It is practically impossible to fail a class. The teacher is seen as responsible for the student's learning, so if a student fails, it is considered the teacher's fault and they might get fired. College is more for participating in clubs, having baito, dating, networking, and having fun before you enter the company world and no longer have any free time. sorry if that was too many details...it is just so different to me in contrast to the US education system I am familiar with.

hehe, yeah, I'm an exchange student! I got here in March and I go home in December. As much as I am looking forward to Christmas back home with my family, I love Japan and will miss it here so much. This weekend my university has their school festival, and it's pretty much like animes and dramas, except no haunted house :( But I ate so much okonomiyaki, takoyaki, curry, and karaage this weekend! My circle had a cosplay cafe and sold cake. Where did you stay in Japan? What did you do and see? I haven't traveled too much, except for around Chubu (where I live), Kansai, and of course, Tokyo. If you are a student, I def recommend studying here!! Also, if you have any recommendations for me, please share! I've seen many jdrama but am brand new to K stuff.

Yeah, long title! It was directed well, for one thing. The cinematography, soundtrack, acting, etc., all complemented each other nicely to create the theme and mood. And I also liked it because it was very mature in theme and depth. Ie, serious without being overly melodramatic.

My long term goal is to move back home and teach there, but I might come back to Japan (I'm a student there now) for a year or two first, but that would be teaching at an American school here.

Haha! That's a great way to describe random tastes! I am the same way about a lot of things. Well...I have so many good shows I could recommend, I don't know where to start...so maybe I'll give you some lesser-known shows that maybe you have never heard of...or probably you have, idk.

Hotaru no Hikari--comedy/romance, it's really funny!
Second Virgin--kind of dark, romance and suspense. It's really well done, but kind of unusual for a j-drama.
Tatta Hitotsu no Koi--Stay away if you absolutely cannot stand stereotypical plots-this is stereotypical, but so beautiful and sweet I really liked it anyway. Romance.
Love Shuffle--this one is really hard to explain...it involves romance, comedy, but also twisted characters, surprising plot, etc.

Sorry if you don't like these...I have a lot of ones to recommend so I just picked randomly.

Oh, sorry If I came on too strong...kinda fail at that sometimes. I want to teach middle school English. (yeah, but if I make English mistakes after telling you that, please don't judge ;)) I just finished "Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta". Not the kind of thing I usually go for, but surprisingly excellent. Animation? That might be the coolest major I've heard of yet. What kind of drama are you looking for?

Hi! Nice to meet you. Well, I just got home from high school. I'm a university student, but doing student observation since I want to be a teacher. and now I'm going to watch drama! Maybe finish Taisetsu na Koto today. How are you?

The whole time I was reading this article, I kept thinking "Hana Yori Dango". But there are so many other dramas this applies to really well. Nice article :)

I totally agree. Revealing a heartbreaking back-story should not dismiss inexcusable behavior without at least dealing with it.

It might be worth watching once. It's not too long.

hehe! I think I'm well on my way.

so I'm only halfway through the first episode of my first Miura Haruma drama and oh....my god! I've been converted.

Great article! I'd love to see more.

that's ok, I can never choose just one favorite either! I will have to try them all now :) I've seen 1Q84 in the bookstores recently. thanks for the suggestions!

thanks. maybe I will have to check it out then. I do appreciate Murakami Haruki, although I have only read his stories and his translation of the Great Gatsby. I'm getting around to reading Norwegian Wood soon. What's your favorite by him?

aww, thanks! I'm from the U.S. Well, even if you don't know her, she is still cute ;) I see you have seen Departures. Did you like it? I've heard good things about it, but the synopsis didn't sound very good.

Hi! My name is Hope. thanks...Yamapi hehe! Your's is cute too, who is she?

right now I'm using grooveshark, one of the few sites allowed in my current region...a couple good ones are missing right now since things sometimes get deleted from the site.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/playlist/Drama+Love/70418664

I totally agree with 1,2,&3. I haven't seen the other two dramas yet. I would add to the list Hiroto from Tatta Hitotsu no Koi, Tachibana and Masamune from Otomen, and Shuu from Ikemen Desu Ne. Thanks for the fun article!

no problem! and thanks for all the suggestions! I've been eyeing Reply 1997 for awhile, and that may just have to be my next one. I'm working on Full House right now, and I might finish it this weekend. Everyone seems to love this Hyun Bin...I am so curious...

I have a playlist of nothing but my favorite openings and endings. My favorite OST is also from Pride. So good! And I also love Queen.