Archive for March, 2007
Hot debut
My brother recently introduced me to Leah Dizon, a import car model and gravure idol who debuted on the Japanese music scene last month with her first single “Softly”. She had a pretty strong debut and stayed at the Oricon Top 20 charts for several weeks. Obviously (considering her career in the past), her physical beauty is to be expected, but she has a surprisingly sweet singing voice. Even though “Softly” is typical J-pop fare, she has promise and will be one to watch in the future. Unknown to me, she already has a big (likely male) following because of her modeling career. All I know is, I would love to be that bear on her single cover.
My Boss My Hero
Whenever I watch a new TV show, I always abide by the 2 episode rule: if I’m not interested after completing two episodes, I pass. In all honesty, I can’t think of one example where I hated the premiere and had my opinion reversed after the second episode, but that’s beside the point. I believe in second chances, let’s put it that way. Am I not merciful?
Anyway, I started a new Japanese drama called My Boss My Hero, which is a gangster school drama similar to Great Teacher Onizuka or Gokusen. The difference is that while those two series star delinquents/Yakuza members as teachers, My Boss My Hero has a gangster returning to school as a student. The main character is Sakaki Makio (played by Nagase Tomoya), a high school dropout who is next in line to become head boss of the Kantou Sharp Fang. However, when he botches a deal because of his incompetence in math, his father, who is the current boss, decides to send Makio back to school because he doesn’t want an idiot to head up the organization.
The pressure is on Makio because if he doesn’t manage to graduate from high school, the position as head boss will be passed on to his intelligent younger brother. He has to figure out how to pass his tests, keep his shady background hidden from his classmates and the school administration, as well as deal with challenges from rival gangs. Is it too much for one man to handle?
This drama is a comedy so obviously much of the humor comes in seeing such a tough figure in the gang world act so awkwardly in a classroom with kids practically 10 years younger than he is. My problem is that the action is ridiculous, almost groan-inducingly so. There’s a scene where the entire school erupts in a campus-wide dash to buy pudding at lunchtime. If a trailer had been made for this drama, this would be the voiceover:
He grew up in the criminal underground, fights rival gang members for fun and is set to become the next big boss of his gang. But now he faces his toughest challenge yet: high school.
Yeah, that’s how cheesy this series is. Not the good kind either, like with Street Fighter the Movie.
I also absolutely hate the theme song, which has a pesky tendency to erupt full blast at any triumphant moment. However, My Boss My Hero passes my two episode test despite all odds, but just barely. There’s a group of wannabe tough guys in the class that bully Makio, who can’t reveal his true yakuza nature because that would mean attracting suspicion from the school. So he is forced to submit to their will. I’m going to continue watching almost purely just to see if they eventually get their comeuppance.
The good news is that the series is only 10 episodes long. I finished episode three and it looks like they have toned down the absurdity of the action somewhat. Also, it seems a love triangle is brewing between Makio and his two classmate buddies. I personally wouldn’t recommend this drama, but for some reason, a lot of people at D-Addicts are very fond of it. Maybe I’ll change my mind after a few more episodes.
UPDATE: Final thoughts.
Facts
10 episodes
Aired Summer 2006
Genre: School, Comedy
Slip and slide
I really hate walking. Even though I live so close to school, and the campus itself is small compared to a lot of universities, it’s been at least two years since I last walked to class. Biking is fast and thrilling, and I’m especially intoxicated by the sensation of wind rushing past my face. Just like the reason I play basketball is because I’m so addicted to the sound of a perfect swish, sometimes I feel like the bike ride is what motivates me to get up in the morning and go to class. Unfortunately, I can reach any part of the campus within 5 minutes so the thrill ends just as soon as it begins.
But this means, of course, that I bike to school even when snow and ice coat the ground. The city and campus grounds crew do a reasonable job of deicing the paths so it’s not terrible. Still, people think I’m crazy for biking in these conditions. I was locking my bike today when a woman walked by me and told me that I was “a brave man”.
I don’t get it. On the bike, my traction is brilliant, my control sublime. Sure, I can’t go as fast as normal, but I ride fearlessly over patches of ice without a second thought. After locking my bike, I still need to walk to the building, and the difference in grip is astonishing. I have to stiffen my joints and tread awkwardly around the frozen precipitation because the footing is very insecure and I’m scared to death of slipping and landing on my back. I’m even wearing shoes with decent grip. If I had my old shoes on, forget it.
People look at me on my bike and shake their head, but they’re really missing out. Biking on wintry days may be one of the best kept secrets out there.
