Music files

Yiruma

My Sister's March

Another political drama. I was waiting for it since January, and now, finally found it!

Drama info:

Title: 누나의 3월 / Nunaui 3 Wol
Also known as: My Sister's March
Genre: Drama
Episodes: 2
Broadcast network: MBC
Broadcast period: 2010-Mar-26 (Masan MBC), 2010-Apr-18 (Nationwide)
Air time: Sunday 10:45 PM 

I haven't seen it yet (as well as Wagaya..., damn my lack of time!), so after I try to manage somehow to watch it, I will write more, as for now, synopsis taken from dramawiki:

My Sister's March commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Masan protest on March 15, 1960, where numerous citizens and students demonstrated against electoral corruption under the Syngman Rhee regime. The violent clashes that followed resulted in several students being killed, with many others suffering from the aftermath. This drama tells their story. 

Seems interesting enough.

I like this kind of plots. I like about rebellious youth with ideals higher than appearance and a good car. I like slow histories abound how a family/friendship is tested and forged. I don't need much action in some.

But, according to the previous post, in Road Number 1, there will be some action, the budget of this drama is horrendously high.

Hm, not so much left to say. Golden Week ahead, so maybe then I will finally see Wagaya no Rekishi (7-hours marathon, hehe).

Road Number 1

One Kdrama I'm waiting for. It starts on June 23rd, and I hope WITH S2 will sub it.

There are of course others I'm anticipating, but this one the most. I'm waiting for I Am Legend with Kim Sun Ah, she's amazing and very, very talented. I've seen She's On Duty (movie) almost 6 times and each time I laughed. The chemistry between her and Gong Yoo is incredible. Speaking of the devil, Gong Yoo, damn it, it's been 5 months since your release from military, how long are we supposed to be waiting for even a small announce?? Well, movie doesn't count.

The last Kdrama I'm waiting for is Bad Guy with Kim Nam Gil and Kim Jae Wook (supposedly it was moved to... what?? August??). Damn...

Eh...

Something more on Road No 1: 

Title: 로드 넘버원 / Road No. 1 / Road Number One

Genre: Action, drama 

Episodes: 16 

Broadcast Network: MBC 

Broadcast period: 2010-Jun-23 to TBA 

Air time: Wednesday & Thursday 21:55

Plot:

Based on the events occurring around “Route 1”, which lies between Seoul and Pyongyang. The story about Officer Lee Jang Woo who finds himself in a war that he is not prepared for in order to protect Soo Yeon, the woman he has known and loved since youth. However, he is able to put it past him and he displays extraordinary survival skills, friendship, cooperation and ideology under brutal war conditions. Soo Yeon awaits Jang Woo's return, but eventually gets engaged to Tae Ho. When Jang Woo returns alive, however, Tae Ho discovers Jang Woo and Soo Yeon's unbreakable bond and feels betrayed.(dramawiki).

 Cast:

So Ji Sub as Lee Jang Woo

Kim Ha Neul as Kim Soo Yeon

Yoon Kye Sang as Shin Tae Ho

Son Chang Min as Oh Jong Ki

Kim Jin Woo as (Soo Yeon's elder brother)

Choi Min Soo as Commander of the 2nd Company

Julien Kang as U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leader

No Hyung Wook (노형욱) as Young Soo

Shin Hyun Joon as North Korean officer Jo Sang Wi (cameo)YATTA!!! Ureshii^^

Lee Jin Sung (이진성)

I'm waiting, waiting^^

Jeong Jae Young - Harper's Bazaar 2010

The main cast of Iggi is featured in Harper's Bazaar.

I can't wait for the movie. The plot sounds promising, as for the cast, I have no objections (how could I?), so everything should go smoothly. The movie will be screened against Shrek Part I-Don't-Know-Which.

And I'm not in the party that claims every movie should have the conclusion, closed ending. I have nothing against an open ending. Oh, no, wait, maybe it's because I know what my synapses are for? Maybe it's because it's harder to figure out the possible ending by yourself? Maybe it's harder to think a little? People who are complaining about it, are beyond my understanding. I don't blame them. They were just born that way.

For those who rather enjoy guessing, pondering and being infuriated by the gallop of one's thoughts, an open ending is good.

On the other hand, it may also indicate the weakness of the director/screenwriter, but in most cases, I enjoyed it. It was like this in YAB, many people complained (hell, thousands complained!), where Hwang tae Kyung and Go Mi Nyu were just standing on the rooftop. So many people wanted for the last episode to show how their life will be afterwards.

No, no^^

Kamikakushi 神隠し

Ok, this time a longer essay on kamikakushi. 
This is basically a shortened, condensed version of the article I researched for. I don't really mind if someone takes it, but in this case, as in any other "written" case, please quote. Yes, this is my habit.
I don't mind being not credited for video files (even not "thank you-ed", if that matters), audio files and all, but this is part of my work.
Hope you'll enjoy it^^

阿修羅：ビデオと写真

Because I'm obsessed.
Few videos showing how graceful and beautiful this sculpture from Nara period is.

Japan - Silk Road

A collage made by me from different pictures: map of Northern tracks to Japan via Korea, below from left: part of the hilt, Silla period crown, glass bowls from Shosoin.

The period I'm focusing on is called Unified Silla in Korea (668 - 935), and Nara in Japan (710 - 794). Actually I'm more interested in Nara period especially the sculpture from it. Yes, Ashūra, my lovely, beloved Ashūra from 興福寺. So gracious, so beautiful... wait, where was I? Ah, yes. I don't want to write on Silk Road actually, but focus on the relations and influences between those two countries. Japan has just established herself as a country based on law (adopted from China, pity it didn't work out), Silla was in full bloom.

Japan and Asian Studies

I would like to give some links where you can browse and download articles legally. They are all on Japanese (sometimes Asian) religion, society and culture (that's my field of work, that is why I have mostly them). I'll try to update this post in the near future.
Eh, I wrote it few times and still...
No time.
Oh, some are either in Japanese or have texts in Japanese.

Jeong Jae Young - another bunch of links

Because I'm obsessed.
Multimedia links first, you can find there pictures and videos^^

Meiji Jidai 明治時代 (1868 - 1912): update April 18

                                                                        Rokumeikan

   Meiji (明治: Enlightened Ruling) is a particular era in Japanese history. Not a one before and after (with small exception for Showa first half) was so differently perceived and judged. For some, this is just an era when Japan wake up from a 250 year's sleep, for some a bright past when Japan was powerful and almighty. But then for some Meiji means nothing more than 3 Ms: Modernization, Maintenance, Military. These three Ms need some more elaborated explanations. Why did I choose words like these?
   Firstly, I don't think I need to present the whole complicated linen of events and persons woven together. For those of you who want to read more detailed texts on Meiji, take a look not into the Internet, but books. Real books. They don't bite.

William G. Beasley: The Meiji Restoration,  1972
Walter Wallace McLaren: A Political History of Japan During the Meiji Era, 2007
Gerald A. Figal: Civilization and Monsters: Spirits of Modernity in Meiji Japan
Julia Meech-Pekarik: The World of the Meiji Print: Impressions of a New Civilization
Hilary Conroy: The Japanese Seizure of Korea, 1868-1910: A Study of Realism and Idealism in International Relations

Wagaya no Rekishi わが家の歴史: 1 episode

  I missed the first episode, just saw about 20 minutes, and I had to left. Maybe I will be home for tomorrow's and 100% sure I will watch the Sunday's. But my internet connection is so laggy, I don't want to even talk about it. Hope it will be better when I shut down every program possible. Audio was almost 30 seconds, sometimes more, after the video, so, you know... But at least I tried to watch.
But now, I can watch first episode again! Details below.

Shin Ha Kyun in: M To M - 사랑이 죄겠니 (Harvest Villa OST)

   

   As I said, Shin Ha Kyun amazes me in Harvest Villa. Today it not aired, I'm afraid it's because of low ratings. Aired, aired, be relieved^^. Those damn ratings. It can ruin everything. You're Beautiful was planned as 20-episodes drama, but it was cut short because it was aired against IRIS, and of course IRIS got all the viewers. But is this drama really so good? I dare say no. It's overhyped. I felt like last year with all that BOF hype. I watched few episodes, not interested in the rest and I did what I have never done before - I just dropped. Zutto, zuuutto mae ni, even if drama didn't catch my interest that much I tried to watch it till the end, just not let anybody say: "Oh, you know, the last episode was excellent! You didn't watch it? So how dare you to speak about it?!". No, really, after some time I can tell if drama is good or bad just by 3-4 first episodes. I don't count Jdramas, cause 4 episodes are the middle of the series already, so every Jdrama I start to watch, I watch till the very end. Kdramas have usually 16 episodes, so 4 is just a quarter, so sunawachi: a probe.Ah, yes, BOF I skipped. I just couldn't watch it. Even Lee Min Ho didn't save it for me.
   Where was I? Ah, yes, Shin Ha Kyun.
Here you have fresh, brand new as... uhm... nevermind MV with the new song for Harvest Villa.

JJY: trailers

As I promised, all trailers I could find. Since I have nothing better to do.^^
From the newest to the oldest ones.

Wagaya no Rekishi わが家の歴史

Title: わが家の歴史 

Title (romaji): Wagaya no Rekishi 

Format: 3-part Tanpatsu

Broadcast network: Fuji TV

Broadcast period: 2010-Apr-09 to 2010-Apr-11

Air time: Friday-Sunday 21:00

 Official Website

Cast:

Shibasaki Kou as Yame Masako
Sato Koichi as Onizuka Taizo
Matsumoto Jun as Yame Yoshio
Sato Ryuta as Yame Muneo
Horikita Maki as Yame Namiko
Miyatake Mio as young Namiko
Eikura Nana as Yame Fusako
Nagasawa Masami as Ichinose Yukari
Oizumi Yo as Tsuru-chan
Tamayama Tetsuji as Oura Ryugo
Yamamoto Koji as Ano Mitsunari
Suzuki Sawa as Maria
Takada Junji (高田純次) as Koga Miyoji
Amami Yuki as Onizuka Chiaki
Fuji Junko as Yame Maki
Nishida Toshiyuki as Yame Tokijiro

Prominent Figures of the Showa Era

Kinashi Noritake as Enomoto Kenichi
Nakao Akiyoshi as Murata Hideo
Wakui Emi as Hasegawa Machiko
Kadono Takuzo as Yoshida Shigeru
Fujiwara Tatsuya as Tezuka Osamu
Oguri Shun as Takakura Ken
Takashima Masanobu as Itokawa Hideo
Yamaguchi Tomomitsu as Rikidozan
Toda Keiko as Kasagi Shizuko
Takeda Shinji as Shirai Yoshio
Yamada Takayuki as Nakadai Tatsuya
Ito Shiro as Furukawa Roppa
Yashima Norito as Endo Shusaku
Wentz Eiji as Maruyama Akihiro
Aibu Saki as Misora Hibari
Uchino Masaaki as Masuda Kozo
Tsukaji Muga as Yamashita Kiyoshi
Ishizaka Koji as Nagai Kafuu
Kohinata Fumiyo as Kishi Nobusuke
Okada Masaki as Miyazaki Masashi (fictional figure)
Terajima Susumu as Hiiragi Shoji (fictional figure)
Nakai Kiichi as Shishimaru Jyuichi (fictional figure)

The story takes place between 1945 and 1964, chronicling the lives of the seven members of the fictional Yame family.  

Another drama I'm waiting for. Only three episodes, but still...And there is this talk on the net about the kiss, hmm...

Personal Taste - how does it taste like?

Like love.
OK. I will write more tomorrow after the third episode, but as for now, I'm delighted. I had so much laugh, as I predicted. But the preview lied, at first Jin Ho didn't lie about being gay. He was actually framed.
I hope they will keep up the good pace and humor. Son ye Jin is great as just plain, normal girl, maybe not stunningly beautiful, but natural. I like her in this drama.
PS. Links are on DA.

Kamikakushi 神隠し

「神隠し」と言うのは神に隠れていた人だ。昔から人がこれを信じた。面白い話がたくさんある。例えば柳田邦夫に集められた『遠野物語』にいっぱいある。
でも、神隠しについて日本語で書くつもりない。英語でちょっと書こうと思う。＾＾
This is enough.
About Kamikakushi - a short abstract of what I have accomplished, which will be posted later.
Hm, I'd like to write something on Nataku, since when I read X for the first time, he's been haunting me.

Wedding Campain video

Yes, I remember about trailers, and I will do it ASAP, but for now I found the whole movie to watch online. Movie is called Wedding Campain. This movie broadens JJY scope of characters played. He's not tough gangster, he's not petty gangster, he's not a... what the hell! This is different, watch and be delighted^^

Video - Literal Version

Not particularly connected to Japan or Korea. But...
I have no idea who was the first, but when I saw it for the first time, I almost choked with laughter. I was laughing my heads off! But, there is a drawback. Since the first literal version of a song I have ever seen seen was made by DustoMcNeato, the bar was set very, very high for the rest. Up to today, his versions of 5 songs are the best. The other really close is wonderstew.
Whenever I'm down, or I just want to see some wisely performed parody, I watch videos of those two. 

Japanese Culture

So it goes like this. I've seen few videos from NHK on Japanese Culture, and I find them very interesting and well done. The only よくない点? They have Chinese hardsubs in.
But worth to give a try^^