[2009 Spring Japan Drama] Boss

[princessjimyung]

Haha. Thank you for visiting

There isn't much information released on the official site but the Japanese forums have some updates.

Characters

Amami Yuki as Osawa Eriko ... 40 (or could be Ozawa Eriko)

Head of the MPD First Investigative Division’s Special Crimes Unit. She studied abroad in the US and has acquired many investigative techniques.

Takenouchi Yutaka as Nodate Nobujiro ... 40

A career bureaucrat in the MPD. He has a wild appearance despite being an elite official and he also makes comments verging on sexual harassment towards females.

Toda Erika as Kimoto Shinjitsu ... 24

Eriko's subordinate whose background is in forensic science. She's a specialist in information gathering and information

Mizobata Junpei as Hanagata Ippei ... 23

Eriko's subordinate and driver. He's a non-career detective and has a strong sense of justice. He vexes Eriko because he is the type who goes round in circles but gets nowhere.

So maybe there is a chance Junpei and Erika might end up together. Keke.

Luthien, here's the information on the profiles of the scriptwriter and producer. I'm taking heart in the work that the scriptwriter has done so far since I liked most of it and Hagetaka was a brilliant production.

Scriptwriter: Hayashi Koji

- Emergency Room 24 Hrs II

- Big Money

- Rikon Bengoshi

- Rikon Bengoshi II

- Iryu

- Iryu II

- Hagetaka

- Code Blue

Producer: Murase Ken

- Aijou Ippon

- Ai no Uta

- 14-sai no Haha

- Bambino

- Taiyo to Umi no Kyoumini coopersu

I liked Bambino and Code Blue. =]

I am looking more forward to it.

[Guest jade_frost]

Takenouchi Yutaka gets scraggy mustache and beard for his wild look.

Sorry couldn't find a bigger picture...the CM is somewhere out there but not on any streaming sites yet. Filming starts today.

[Guest jade_frost]

Some screen caps from the CM and a close up of the previous capture:

[lilcrash]

Some screen caps from the CM and a close up of the previous capture:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav.../Amami-Yuki.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav...uchi-Yutaka.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav...ama-Tetsuji.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav...sts/Boss-CM.jpg

Thanks for the pictures!!!

Can't wait~

Watch the CM: http://tieba.baidu.com/%C8%D5%BE%E7/shipin...05cd5e6ec0d963/

or download it here

[Guest jade_frost]

Here's a quick update:

Character Names

Amami Yuki as Osawa Eriko

Takenouchi Yutaka as Nodate Nobujiro

Toda Erika as Kimoto Mami

Tamayama Tetsuji as Katagiri Takuma

Mizobata Junpei as Hanagata Ippei

Kichise Michiko as Narahashi Reiko

Nukumizu Yuichi as Yamamura Keisuke

Kobayashi Kendo as Iwai Yoshiharu

[Guest luthien]

I think Yutaka's character would be too much of a handful for Kobayashi's to handle I guess the only thing positive to look forward to is the move away from Yutaka's typical reticent, man of few words demeanour.

I'm mostly looking forward to his character. Wish the drama would focus a lot on him, instead of him staying in the sideline. But with this kind of cast, I suppose they'll all have limited screentime. I suppose you're right about Kobayashi. Still, I'd rather choose him over Tamayama and Mizobata *gasps* anytime, anyday..

Takenouchi Yutaka as Nodate Nobujiro ... 40

A career bureaucrat in the MPD. He has a wild appearance despite being an elite official and he also makes comments verging on sexual harassment towards females.

..................

Character Names

Amami Yuki as Osawa Eriko

Takenouchi Yutaka as Nodate Nobujiro

Toda Erika as Kimoto Mami

Tamayama Tetsuji as Katagiri Takuma

Mizobata Junpei as Hanagata Ippei

Kichise Michiko as Narahashi Reiko

Nukumizu Yuichi as Yamamura Keisuke

Kobayashi Kendo as Iwai Yoshiharu

*hugs* Thanks for providing us with the latest juices to this drama.

OMG, he's 40? hahahah.. Can I please volunteer to be his (only) victim? :blush:

Luthien, here's the information on the profiles of the scriptwriter and producer. I'm taking heart in the work that the scriptwriter has done so far since I liked most of it and Hagetaka was a brilliant production.

Scriptwriter: Hayashi Koji

- Emergency Room 24 Hrs II

- Big Money

- Rikon Bengoshi

- Rikon Bengoshi II

- Iryu

- Iryu II

- Hagetaka

- Code Blue

Producer: Murase Ken

- Aijou Ippon

- Ai no Uta

- 14-sai no Haha

- Bambino

- Taiyo to Umi no Kyoumini coopersu

*hugs tighter* Whoaaaa!!! you digged through... I actually liked Iryu, both seasons. Usually I stay away from medical-themed dramas, but the execution was successful in keeping me captivated throughout the drama. seems like Mr. Screenwriter likes career-oriented dramas, and he did pretty well in the past to keep it interesting (Iryu and Code Blue). I felt intensity in almost every episodes of those two dramas. So this makes me a bit more hopeful it'll be good. But then, kinda disappointed there will probably be zero romance. I've never watched Hagetaka, but I'm gonna list it down if you recommended it.

The only dramas I've seen done by Mr. Producer was 14-sai no haha and Bambino. Enjoyed both and 14-sai is one of my favorites. IMO, Shida Mirai is the most promising actress of her generation. realistic or not, I was totally sucked into the story.

I'm already impressed with the cast, now the production crew is just as impressive. Very promising so far! Afterall, I'm not so hard to please... hehehe..

Some screen caps from the CM and a close up of the previous capture:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav.../Amami-Yuki.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav...uchi-Yutaka.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav...ama-Tetsuji.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav...sts/Boss-CM.jpg

THANK YOU! I'll be using the last pic as a banner for the first post!

Yutaka-san no Ero-jiji! They successfully deglamourized Yutaka to look his part in the drama.

Why does Tamayama's hair reminds me of (Gegege no) Kitaro ? Thought he'd look a bit more polished like Mizobata for him to be Kobayashi's other victim.

Lilcrash: Yay! You're here too! Thanks sweets for the CM goodies. *hugs*

[Guest jade_frost]

*hugs* Thanks for providing us with the latest juices to this drama.

OMG, he's 40? hahahah.. Can I please volunteer to be his (only) victim? :blush:

Haha. I love that unshaven look plus handcuffs.

I don't think there will be significant focus on Yutaka though seeing the way that the actors are positioned in the CM, he and Tamayama should have significant screen time. But given the number of side characters, we shouldn't hope for much. I'm guessing that an episode maybe devoted to each character to tell their backstory? It's traditionally been done this way in Japanese dramas of this kind and I'm already imagining that it's a detective version of Iryu where a bunch of characters with problematic personalities resist and oppose each other but eventually come together to form a formidable team. It'll be nice if I'm proved wrong.

I watched Rikon Bengoshi and Yuki and Yutaka were together in episode 1 as colleagues in a law firm who both agreed to come out to set up a partnership of their own. They looked good together and they seemed to have the right chemistry. It was a pity that they wrote Yutaka out of the script by sending him to Shanghai. Time for the scriptwriter to make up for that!

*hugs tighter* Whoaaaa!!! you digged through... I actually liked Iryu, both seasons. Usually I stay away from medical-themed dramas, but the execution was successful in keeping me captivated throughout the drama. seems like Mr. Screenwriter likes career-oriented dramas, and he did pretty well in the past to keep it interesting (Iryu and Code Blue). I felt intensity in almost every episodes of those two dramas. So this makes me a bit more hopeful it'll be good. But then, kinda disappointed there will probably be zero romance. I've never watched Hagetaka, but I'm gonna list it down if you recommended it.

The only dramas I've seen done by Mr. Producer was 14-sai no haha and Bambino. Enjoyed both and 14-sai is one of my favorites. IMO, Shida Mirai is the most promising actress of her generation. realistic or not, I was totally sucked into the story.

I'm already impressed with the cast, now the production crew is just as impressive. Very promising so far! Afterall, I'm not so hard to please... hehehe..

Nope romance seems unlikely though they should surprise us, break the mould and give the successful career woman a sizzling romantic affair yah? That would help ratings although I don't place anything on that nowadays. Otherwise it would be toooo boring and seem like Satoko from Around 40 was transplanted from a medical setting to an investigative one.

Oh I missed out the director's profile.

Director: Mitsuno Michio

- 101st Propozu

- Koibito yo

- Virgin Road

- Semi Double

- Koori no Sekai

- Bus Stop

- Hikon Kazoku

- Bara no Juujika

- Rikon Bengoshi

This is a Rikon Bengoshi reunion!!! It can't be coincidental when we have Amami Yuki, Takenouchi Yutaka, Tamayama Tetsuji from the cast and Mitsuno Michio and Hayashi Koji from the directing staff working in the same production.

*

THANK YOU! I'll be using the last pic as a banner for the first post!

Yutaka-san no Ero-jiji! They successfully deglamourized Yutaka to look his part in the drama.

Why does Tamayama's hair reminds me of (Gegege no) Kitaro ? Thought he'd look a bit more polished like Mizobata for him to be Kobayashi's other victim.

I like their looks. Haha. I think Yutaka looks utterly devilish And hopefully this role will make me forget Tomorrow. That was one drama I couldn't stand.

Oh have I already mentioned that Nakashima Mika will be doing the theme song?

And here's Yuki and Yutaka in a separate and unrelated calendar picture. Don't they look great and so very proper?!? Haha.

[Guest carmelalalala]

yay junpeiiiii~!

that's all im looking forward to, lol.

Thanks for the info yo, it made my day that my junpei has yet another drama! woooo!

[Guest jade_frost]

I'm lazy to translate but managed to get a glimpse of the relationship chart from some nice soul and it apparently shows that Yutaka's character is the one who in some way appointed Yuki's character to head the team. That leads me to wonder whether he truly understands the motives of the top brass or he wanted to twist it the other way and prove them wrong. He can't possibly be ignorant if he is an elite career official though he sure doesn't dress like one! Maybe this might lead to some interesting character conflicts and confrontations between the two.

The character descriptions and episode 1 synopsis will be up on my blog ... eventually heh.

No updates for the official site yet. They are really slow ...........

[Guest luthien]

The wild and dangerous can be sinfully irresistible Can't blame you at all.. i'm attracted to seeing him with his new "image" in the drama.

I don't think there will be significant focus on Yutaka though seeing the way that the actors are positioned in the CM, he and Tamayama should have significant screen time. But given the number of side characters, we shouldn't hope for much. I'm guessing that an episode maybe devoted to each character to tell their backstory? It's traditionally been done this way in Japanese dramas of this kind and I'm already imagining that it's a detective version of Iryu where a bunch of characters with problematic personalities resist and oppose each other but eventually come together to form a formidable team. It'll be nice if I'm proved wrong.

It's always like that isn't it? Just like the current drama Voice. The team would have to have some past or current situation that complicates their personalities. Something that would create a wall that separates the individual from " the normal" people. They have to have an episode to show how they'd break down that "wall" and become in harmony with the other characters. I would like to say that even with the predictable flow of the story, I hope Mr. Scriptwriter will bring something fresh to this drama. Even if we wish for something different, I'm confident they'll uphold good ol' tradition.

I watched Rikon Bengoshi and Yuki and Yutaka were together in episode 1 as colleagues in a law firm who both agreed to come out to set up a partnership of their own. They looked good together and they seemed to have the right chemistry. It was a pity that they wrote Yutaka out of the script by sending him to Shanghai. Time for the scriptwriter to make up for that!

Are you serious? HOw can anyone write off Yutaka? Did he get himself into trouble or something? I suppose it wasn't a big deal because they got to work all together again. I wonder if I should watch Rikon Bengoshi before this drama airs. Just to get more idea of Mr. Scriptwriter's style.

Nope romance seems unlikely though they should surprise us, break the mould and give the successful career woman a sizzling romantic affair yah? That would help ratings although I don't place anything on that nowadays. Otherwise it would be toooo boring and seem like Satoko from Around 40 was transplanted from a medical setting to an investigative one.

Some romance is more than appropriate when you have these men oozing with sex appeal. What is up with recent jdramas being in serious drought of "romance"? :tongue2: boo! well, except for the manga-adaptations recently.. other than hanadan, romance in that area isn't exactly my cup of tea. I miss the golden years of romantic jdramas.. I was initially hoping for it to be almost like Last Christmas, romance in the workplace. Well, even if there's no romance, I still enjoy watching the characters struggling against all odds.

Director: Mitsuno Michio

This is a Rikon Bengoshi reunion!!! It can't be coincidental when we have Amami Yuki, Takenouchi Yutaka, Tamayama Tetsuji from the cast and Mitsuno Michio and Hayashi Koji from the directing staff working in the same production.

Those are familiar titles.. familiar=successful? dunno... i could look at the ratings, but since watching Yasha, it's not entirely reliable.

Hanakimi team is reuniting in Atashinchi no Danshi, and we have Rikon Bengoshi team for Boss? hmmm.... Fuji TV satisfying the masses by catering to different tastes?

I like their looks. Haha. I think Yutaka looks utterly devilish And hopefully this role will make me forget Tomorrow. That was one drama I couldn't stand.

Oh have I already mentioned that Nakashima Mika will be doing the theme song?

And here's Yuki and Yutaka in a separate and unrelated calendar picture. Don't they look great and so very proper?!? Haha.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m86/rav...kyocalendar.jpg

I never got to finish Tomorrow.. Such a shame to give up, not only because of Yutaka but Kanno Miho was in it as well. But I could not go on. The characters were lacking in uhmm... character. Not intriguing nor interesting enough to last me till the end. IF only they could've focused more on relationship bet the leads.. complicating it with their past.. then just have the whole hospital-in-trouble as a sub-plot instead.. then maybe the drama could've been salvaged. <---- but had to add to the current drought in romantuc dramas.. come on, Miho + Yutaka = potential.

I still sense something mischievous about Yutaka in that photo.. it's the mustache!!! makes him look older too.. much older.. but not any less attractive... he can look whatever he wants and still look hot imo. or maybe i just have weird taste because even with odagiri's unusual sense of fashion and out-of-this world hairstyle, I still think he's one of the hottest men alive (cos he can still pull off such bold looks).

[Guest luthien]

I'm lazy to translate but managed to get a glimpse of the relationship chart from some nice soul and it apparently shows that Yutaka's character is the one who in some way appointed Yuki's character to head the team. That leads me to wonder whether he truly understands the motives of the top brass or he wanted to twist it the other way and prove them wrong. He can't possibly be ignorant if he is an elite career official though he sure doesn't dress like one! Maybe this might lead to some interesting character conflicts and confrontations between the two.

The character descriptions and episode 1 synopsis will be up on my blog ... eventually heh.

No updates for the official site yet. They are really slow ...........

Whoa.. lucky! is that chart some sort of "top secret" or something? hahaha....

I'm kinda behind in recent dramas, so although I'm addicted to your blog, I have to scroll down crazily fast if I don't wanna be spoiled. Unfortunately, I accidentally got tempted and read a sentence or two about the ending for Zeni Geba. Thank goodness I won't be doing that this coming season.

I think Fuji is too busy working so hard on promoting Atashinchi no Danshi. Seems like spring's getsuku is the most neglected one when it comes to updates.The official site is still not up? Isn't that odd? Maybe sad? Glad we're hearing a bit more info on Boss.

[lilcrash]

Lilcrash: Yay! You're here too! Thanks sweets for the CM goodies. *hugs*

Aloha luthien! I think I've only got time to follow 1 Japanese spring drama...which is going to be BOSS! The others will have till my next long break or if I've got spare time~

Looks like the theme song will be sung by Superfly~ I guess 愛をこめて花束を was alright...I didn't really like the other songs...

Thanks jade_frost for the updates!

[Guest jade_frost]

Whoa.. lucky! is that chart some sort of "top secret" or something? hahaha....

I'm kinda behind in recent dramas, so although I'm addicted to your blog, I have to scroll down crazily fast if I don't wanna be spoiled. Unfortunately, I accidentally got tempted and read a sentence or two about the ending for Zeni Geba. Thank goodness I won't be doing that this coming season.

I think Fuji is too busy working so hard on promoting Atashinchi no Danshi. Seems like spring's getsuku is the most neglected one when it comes to updates.The official site is still not up? Isn't that odd? Maybe sad? Glad we're hearing a bit more info on Boss.

Haha. Nah, it's just someone who posted the relationship chart from an entertainment magazine's feature on the upcoming spring dramas. I'm suffering from a drama drought though I watched and aborted watching a handful. I hope spring will make up for it. And in case you were entertaining any hopes of romance, I think not. There were no hearts on any of the arrows in the relationship chart. But I must say, sometimes it's deliberate since it's meant to keep audiences guessing. If you have seen the body of work by the scriptwriter I think it's going to be all business.

They have traditionally done updates for the getsuku late and I'm not complaining since I don't care for Nakai. He's a terrible actor and he seems pretty unabashed about having made little effort to improve his repertoire. I shan't bash him further. All I can say is that I'd probably only watch Boss from Fuji TV.

The website for Konkatsu is up but Abe Hiroshi's Shiroi Haru still isn't

Aloha luthien! I think I've only got time to follow 1 Japanese spring drama...which is going to be BOSS! The others will have till my next long break or if I've got spare time~

Looks like the theme song will be sung by Superfly~ I guess 愛をこめて花束を was alright...I didn't really like the other songs...

Thanks jade_frost for the updates!

Thanks for the info! So the rumour about Nakashima Mika was wrong!

The theme song is Best of My Life by Superfly and it will be released as a single on 13 May.

[Guest jade_frost]

It's always like that isn't it? Just like the current drama Voice. The team would have to have some past or current situation that complicates their personalities. Something that would create a wall that separates the individual from " the normal" people. They have to have an episode to show how they'd break down that "wall" and become in harmony with the other characters. I would like to say that even with the predictable flow of the story, I hope Mr. Scriptwriter will bring something fresh to this drama. Even if we wish for something different, I'm confident they'll uphold good ol' tradition.

Are you serious? HOw can anyone write off Yutaka? Did he get himself into trouble or something? I suppose it wasn't a big deal because they got to work all together again. I wonder if I should watch Rikon Bengoshi before this drama airs. Just to get more idea of Mr. Scriptwriter's style.

Haha. Yes all the cliches we can count off our fingers when the drama airs in 3 weeks.

You only need to watch ep1 of Rikon Bengoshi I to see Yutaka. Yuki's on her own after that. He didn't get into trouble. He was being a knight in shining armour. The platonic sort though. Are you going to watch it? I don't think I should spoil it for you.

Come to think of it, doesn't the scripwriter always write about a group of people coming together and learning how to accept and bring out the best in everyone in the team? I didn't watch Code Blue but I think it's similar.

High ratings never mean dramas are good. I've long given up on that and just gone with stories that appeal to me. Although it's hard to imagine how shabbily Boss can do when there're a range of actors who will appeal to different generations of the audience.

Some romance is more than appropriate when you have these men oozing with sex appeal. What is up with recent jdramas being in serious drought of "romance"? :tongue2: boo! well, except for the manga-adaptations recently.. other than hanadan, romance in that area isn't exactly my cup of tea. I miss the golden years of romantic jdramas.. I was initially hoping for it to be almost like Last Christmas, romance in the workplace. Well, even if there's no romance, I still enjoy watching the characters struggling against all odds.

I never got to finish Tomorrow.. Such a shame to give up, not only because of Yutaka but Kanno Miho was in it as well. But I could not go on. The characters were lacking in uhmm... character. Not intriguing nor interesting enough to last me till the end. IF only they could've focused more on relationship bet the leads.. complicating it with their past.. then just have the whole hospital-in-trouble as a sub-plot instead.. then maybe the drama could've been salvaged. <---- but had to add to the current drought in romantuc dramas.. come on, Miho + Yutaka = potential.

The Japanese haven't been big on dramas with lots of love in recent years. Those that do come out turn out quite half-baked I'd rather not have them. I'd just appreciate something less predictable and well acted without major plotholes or exasperating contrivances i.e. Tomorrow which a friend and I were laughing over the number of coincidences and the overwrought scenes with the intrumental background music to eke every emotion out of viewers.

This lousy relationship chart picture will have to suffice for now until we get a nice one on the official site:

[Guest mookie]

O M G...

Thanks for the thread and all the interesting, informative convos!

Have dropped off the jdrama wagon for a while, but BOSS is a definite must-watch for me. Just the fact that Yutaka maybe playing a sexist pig. He's imo so oozing with some gorgeous animalistic sexiness that he had been downplaying for his acting almost all the time in order to break into 'serious acting' (except in his much earlier roles in Hoshi no Kinka or LV or Withlove...)

Yutaka... is the only one that I will watch anything he's in. I also did try out Tomorrow, maybe my expectation was way too high, just thought it's impossible to be boring with 'pairing' with Kanno + medical drama. I was bored/underwhelmed despite the good acting....and sadly that's almost always the case for many Yutaka dramas.

I did watch and enjoyed Rikon Bengoshi merely because I wanna see his cameo in ep1. He did have great, easy chemistry with Amami. I rem that was my first Tamayama drama.

[elizabeth]

I'm glad Kichise Michiko and Tamayama Tetsuji joined the cast. Plus, the cm looks great. I'm looking forward to this drama and the cast is awesome.

[Guest suzic87]

ooo I'm looking forward to this, I love detectivy type dramas! I see superfly is doing the theme song!

[Guest jade_frost]

It's been a bit quiet lately with no updates on Boss yet besides a staff blog that's a big yawn. I've done the character synopsis and will be posting it on the blog tomorrow Luthien if you want to use it here too.

But I saw something interesting in a magazine photo which has a very tousled looking Eriko who looks like she has just woken up and hmm Nobujiro sitting next to her? :D

[Guest luthien]

^^ yes yes.. Thanks again jade_frost.

I've been meaning to post but completely forgot.. sorry!! i feel bad cos this is one of my most anticipated drama this Spring!

regarding the spoiler.. wahahahahah could it be???? oh please let it be! maybe Mr. Scriptwriter will prove us wrong? Don't wanna raise my hope up so much. But I wanna see this!!!

[Guest jade_frost]

This image is up on the website which has been updated with Amami Yuki's interview.

I'm lazy so I've only translated one of the questions.

Do you have a message for viewers who are looking forward to this drama?

The setting of this production is the police but I feel that the people who unfold within this organisation overlap with society at large. There are the superiors who are a pain in the neck, colleagues who are annoying, subordinates who are insolent. These are actually everyday, ordinary people. I think how Eriko will determine and handle what they are thinking is something that fathers in this world can relate to. I’ll be happy if viewers enjoy this aspect and also the instances where viewers will worry with Eriko while she pursues the criminals. I hope to make a refreshing and interesting drama that will make people say they’ll try to do their best the whole of next week when they watch Boss.