Mirotic By DBSK (Japanese Version)

I'm neither Japanese nor Korean but I love both pop cultures. That's why DBSK (also known as Tohoshinki in Japan) is one of my favorites. DBSK has released a Japanese version of their hit single Mirotic, to please their Japanese fans. Honestly, after comparing both versions, I'd have to say that I still prefer the Korean version because the lyrics sound more fluid and natural. Check out the video below...

Edit: Unfortunately, the video was removed from YouTube. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.

Nobuta Wo Produce (Japanese Drama)

Nobuta Wo Produce is a Japanese drama based on a book by Gen Shiraiwa. The following is a synopsis from DramaWiki:

Kiritani Shuji is the popular guy who gets along with everyone, from the jerks to the nerds to the just plain weird. The one person Shuji cannot stand is Kusano Akira. To Shuji, Akira is just plain annoying. He laughs, talks and acts funny. Things heat up when a new student comes to school. Her name is Kotani Nobuko, a girl who has no self confidence at all and is content at being made fun of and bullied in school. Shuji and Akira come to an accord that in order to make use of their "youth" they will "produce" Nobuko as the next popular girl. One of the conditions, however, is that nobody should find out that they are working together as a team to make this concept possible. Unveiled here is the story of true friendship between three unlikely candidates who would not have been friends if not given the special circumstances.

This drama wasn't what I was expecting. I actually expected the cliche story of an unpopular girl being made over and being the most popular girl in school. Something like Rachel Leigh Cook in She's All That. I was surprised to find out that this series is nothing like that. If you want something candy coated then this is not for you. This is a serious drama about friendship and acceptance. I'm giving 4 stars to this series.

Side note: It is interesting to note that Yamapi, the guy that plays Akira in this series, is one of the singers in NEWS, the band I wrote about in my last post.

Summer Time and Weeeek by NEWS

I discovered the group, NEWS, by just browsing and trying to find artists similar to the ones I already like. The search was a success! NEWS is a 6-person Japanese pop group from Johnny and Associates. Their style is light, uplifting and fun. Check out two of their singles, Summer Time and Weeeek to see (and hear) exactly what I mean...

These are two more great songs to add to my music collection! I give these 5 out of 5 stars!

Mirotic by DBSK

DBSK's first single, Mirotic, from their fourth Korean album was finally released this week. Mirotic is a song that in my opinion, doesn't sound like anything they've ever released before. It's kinda dark, unlike the light upbeat tracks from their past albums. I like it... it's catchy, mysterious and addictive! I'm giving it 5 out of 5 stars. Check out the full MV below.

Hana Yori Dango Season 1

Based on the Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango (or Boys Over Flowers), this Japanese high school drama about a working class girl studying in a school for the rich and famous. Makino Tsukushi is the only poor student at Eitoku Gakuen, the school of the ridiculously rich and privileged that is ruled by Flower 4 or F4, a group of four boys who come from extremely powerful families. If a student gets on the F4’s bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school. Makino hopes to pass her days quietly-- without drawing any attention to herself-- but one day, she stands up to Domyoji in defense of her friend. The next day, Makino gets the dreaded red notice. Even though she is harassed, Makino decides to keep going to school because she is a “tough weed”. She declares war right back on the F4. Her resolve gets the attention of her crush Hanazawa Rui and oddly enough, rouses romantic feelings in her worst enemy, Domyoji Tsukasa.

Although the plot is a bit out there (I mean, there is no way something like this would happen in real life right?) that's what makes a good drama. What I like about this drama is there's always something interesting happening. The story is quite unpredictable and definitely not boring. There are some dramas that I've watched and lost interest halfway through. But this one I watched straight from start to finish in just one day (it was one of those lazy weekends).

Even though Hana Yori Dango is just 9 episodes long, I feel like I was able to know and understand the characters well. It wasn't difficult to like all the characters even though they had their imperfections. I mean, Makino's not the typical pretty girl yet I can see how the male characters in the story like her. Domyoji's not exactly the all around good guy yet I still was rooting for him. This is a great drama. I definitely recommend it... 4 and a half out of 5 stars!

DBSK's 4th Korean Album

DBSK is releasing their 4th Korean Album on September 24! After a long hiatus in Korea and conquering Japan for nearly 2 years, they're finally coming back. So far, there's still no clues about what their first single will be like. Here's a little teaser image for the new album.

Full House (Korean Drama)

Full House (2004), a 16-episode South Korean TV drama, was the first ever Korean drama I've watched. I loved it! This drama actually started my semi-obsession with Asian dramas, but I think this is my ultimate favorite among everything I've watched. It's a feel-good romantic comedy with a helping of drama every now and then. This series had me crying buckets in a good way.

Here's the plot of the story: Han Ji-Eun (Song Hye Kyo) lives in a house called Full House, built by her father. She is an aspiring novelist. One day, two of her friends, for money reasons, trick her and sell her house - when she returns from a vacation, she discovers it has been sold to Lee Young-Jae (Rain), an actor who has just shot to stardom. Though they don't get along with each other, they agree to live with each other and Ji-Eun works as his maid in order to buy her house back. Out of a misunderstanding and Young-Jae's ill-fated try to make the love of his life, Kang Hye-Won (Han Eun Jung) jealous, Young-Jae marries Ji-Eun. They set up a contract for the marriage to last six months...

Of course, I don't want to give everything away so I'll stop there. Anyway, what's great about this drama is that you get immersed into the story. Don't get me wrong, the story is fairly simple; there are no complicated twists or huge plot hooks to keep the audience watching. But I was still drawn into the story mainly because I loved the simplicity of it all. Everything is laid out to the audience. And I don't exactly know how they did it but I really felt every emotion the characters felt. The fact that its ending is great doesn't hurt either.

I give this 5 out of 5 stars all the way!