Upcoming Jdramas: The Winter Season
Are you ready for another Stalking Guide?! I hope you are because the crazy, passionate and sometimes creepy fan/stalker that I am will talk to you about the singer-turned-actor Kamenashi Kazuya! (or Kazu-chin as I like to call him)
Actually, it wasn’t love at first sight. When I saw Kazu-chin for the first time in Gokusen 2, the first thing I thought was, "Wait, what’s with his eyebrows?! They’re better sculpted than mine!" Who would even think that, even once?! (Please tell me I'm not alone) Anyways, by the end of episode 1, I had completely forgotten about that little detail and thought, "He’s not a bad actor. Maybe I should check out some of his dramas." In the end, however, I didn’t and to be honest, I kind of forgot about him. It wasn't until I watched Nobuta wo Produce that I really became interested in his other dramas.
When I started, I had no idea what to begin with, so I picked a drama with a familiar title, Kami no Shizuku. I’m a huge fan of the manga and I like wine, so I decided to watch it. Afterward, little by little, I began to “stalk” Kazu-chin. I watched random videos with him and collected pictures of him (something I hadn’t done since I was 10 years old). To this day, he’s the only actor with the honor of having a file named after him on my computer.
While watching his dramas, I realized that he was able to make a drama enjoyable even with a basic storyline. Frankly, I fell not only for his looks but also for his amazing acting skills, his charisma and especially for his piercing eyes. I’m telling you, it’s all about the eyes! His smile too, but really, the eyes first!
Just in case you were wondering, yes, I have watched almost all of his dramas where he is the main lead. I’ve only got one left to watch, but sadly, I can’t find it anywhere!!
Now that the fangirling’s somewhat over, allow me to introduce you to some of his dramas:
When I started, I had no idea what to begin with, so I picked a drama with a familiar title, Kami no Shizuku. I’m a huge fan of the manga and I like wine, so I decided to watch it. Afterward, little by little, I began to “stalk” Kazu-chin. I watched random videos with him and collected pictures of him (something I hadn’t done since I was 10 years old). To this day, he’s the only actor with the honor of having a file named after him on my computer.
While watching his dramas, I realized that he was able to make a drama enjoyable even with a basic storyline. Frankly, I fell not only for his looks but also for his amazing acting skills, his charisma and especially for his piercing eyes. I’m telling you, it’s all about the eyes! His smile too, but really, the eyes first!
Just in case you were wondering, yes, I have watched almost all of his dramas where he is the main lead. I’ve only got one left to watch, but sadly, I can’t find it anywhere!!
Now that the fangirling’s somewhat over, allow me to introduce you to some of his dramas:
Nobuta wo Produce - Kiritani Shūji, the faithful friend
The role of Shūji is one of his most famous roles in Dramaland. Here he plays the role of a high school student that, at first, would probably look superficial. However, this part of his personality is only a façade that he shows at school to avoid getting hurt. In reality, Shūji is a very sensitive person and cares more for the feelings of others than his own. Shūji shows his true self only to the people he considers his true friends: Akira and Nobuta. As the story progresses, he begins to lose that habit of putting on a façade and begins to show more and more of his true self.
Kame really impressed me in Nobuta. I mean, this drama is the one with which my obsession began. Do I need to say anything else?
Kame really impressed me in Nobuta. I mean, this drama is the one with which my obsession began. Do I need to say anything else?
Kami no Shizuku - Kanzaki Shizuku, the tortured son
Kanzaki Hiroto is a young man who's trying to pay back all the debts his father left after his death. He also has to take care of his sick little brother and mom who's also working very hard to pay off their debt. Since his father's death, he never had the occasion to really enjoy life as he wanted and isn't really an open person. Still, he is very protective towards his only 2 friends and little brother. He always thinks about them first. That is, until the day he meets a rich girl and falls in love with her.
As you can see, the story of this drama is not really exceptional, but I did enjoy every bit of it. Why? Kame's acting was really spot on!! I never felt any exaggeration in the acting during the whole drama, and in a subtle way, he really manages to show the evolution of his character. Wonder how he could still look handsome even with all this dirt on him?
I think that those 5 dramas sum up why I love Kamenashi Kazuya so much and why I think he is a great actor.
If you want to check out his other dramas, click on the links below:
Also, you might want to check out his upcoming movies:
I personally cannot wait to see it. It's his first solo movie, can you believe it?! He'll impersonate over 20 different characters. That's something that must be seen!
This song was sung only once and it was live, therefore, you can hear the fangirls screaming too much. Still, every time I see that vid, I cannot help but chuckle and drool.
I'll Be With You
I discovered that song not so long ago and I'm liking it very much. I cannot stop listening to it. Also, you have to know that during that performance he was sick.
Kizuna
To this day, it remains one of my favorite Japanese songs ever. He wrote the lyrics and it was used as the insert song in Gokusen 2.
In this drama he plays the role of Kanzaki Shizuku, the son of a world-famous wine critic. Though, here’s the thing: as the son of a wine critic, you would expect him to have taken the same path as his father, no? Well actually, he didn’t at all. Kanzaki Shizuku has always been on bad terms with his father, whose sudden death leaves him with lots of grudges and unanswered questions. Nonetheless, he’ll eventually see his questions answered in the end, but how?
Luckily, his father left an inheritance, a vast and valuable wine collection, but there's a catch. In order to inherit the collection, he must identify 7 wines correctly and compete against another wine critic. It is through the resolution of the puzzles that, little by little, he begins to understand his father’s feelings towards him.
In this drama, Kame succeeded in portraying a complex character without difficulty. Plus, you’ll learn lots of stuff about wine, and see Kame wearing suits. Sadly, you don’t get to see that too often, but just so you know, he looks gorgeous in a suit!
One Pound no Fukuin - Hatanaka Kousaku, the innocent guy
Kamenashi plays the role of an airhead, whining and gluttonous 19-year-old pro-boxer. He’s a very talented boxer and could reach the top if his voracious appetite were more controllable. Unfortunately, not so much. Most of the time he has to go on drastic diets before a fight to fit the authorized weight. These repeated diets are putting him in bad dispositions for his fights and ultimately he tends to lose them. One day he meets Sister Angela, and of course, falls in love with her. In fact, he’ll try to make her give up on being a nun by all means necessary.
This drama is a typical Japanese sports comedy, but heck who cares?! It’s funny, and so is Kamenashi! Just thinking about him stuffing his mouth with yakisoba and shouting, “She dumped me!” makes me laugh so hard. Moreover, his facial expressions are priceless.
Kanzaki Hiroto is a young man who's trying to pay back all the debts his father left after his death. He also has to take care of his sick little brother and mom who's also working very hard to pay off their debt. Since his father's death, he never had the occasion to really enjoy life as he wanted and isn't really an open person. Still, he is very protective towards his only 2 friends and little brother. He always thinks about them first. That is, until the day he meets a rich girl and falls in love with her.
As you can see, the story of this drama is not really exceptional, but I did enjoy every bit of it. Why? Kame's acting was really spot on!! I never felt any exaggeration in the acting during the whole drama, and in a subtle way, he really manages to show the evolution of his character. Wonder how he could still look handsome even with all this dirt on him?
Yuuki - Sanda Yuuki, the one who lived day by day
I think that those 5 dramas sum up why I love Kamenashi Kazuya so much and why I think he is a great actor.
If you want to check out his other dramas, click on the links below:
Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo - Kyuuketsuki Densetsu Satsujin Jiken
3 Nen N gumi Kinpachi Sensei 5
Also, you might want to check out his upcoming movies:
I personally cannot wait to see it. It's his first solo movie, can you believe it?! He'll impersonate over 20 different characters. That's something that must be seen!
Yokai Ningen Bem: The Movie (December 15, 2012)
From what I've read, in this movie, Bem, Bella, and Belo will encounter a Youkai more powerful than them. That is all I know at the moment. I'm really looking forward to it since I really enjoyed the drama.Well, that's all folks! I hope that this Stalker's Guide will make you appreciate him more, and I wish you good moments while watching his dramas. Bye Bye Bye Cycle ;D
PS: Did I mention that he is also a very talented singer? No? Well then, check this out!
This song was sung only once and it was live, therefore, you can hear the fangirls screaming too much. Still, every time I see that vid, I cannot help but chuckle and drool.
I'll Be With You
I discovered that song not so long ago and I'm liking it very much. I cannot stop listening to it. Also, you have to know that during that performance he was sick.
Kizuna
To this day, it remains one of my favorite Japanese songs ever. He wrote the lyrics and it was used as the insert song in Gokusen 2.
If there is an actor or an actress that is worthy of a Stalker's Guide in your opinion, and you have watched enough of his/her dramas to prove it, then please contact Elisabetta about it.
