Who needs to be saved?

I honestly didn’t think I’d be covering, much less fully reviewing, another KAT-TUN single in this blog so soon. After all, that last post was a long overdue one on a release from 10 months ago, and while I predicted two KAT-TUN dramas coming down through downloaded data streams into the household computers, I have not fully watched either. (I’m only halfway through the first episode of Kami no Shizuku, and RESCUE was primarily for my sister the Massu fanatic.) Despite not watching the drama though, I’ve got to admit – I fell in love with the eponymous theme song the instant the opening notes were wailed at the end of that excessively large and long first episode. (Am I the only one who thinks Nakamaru and/or his backers are trying to hint at something?)

RESCUE was released on March 11th, hot on the tails of KAT-TUN’s first single of the year (and the tie-in to Kami no Shizuku) ONE DROP. I normally don’t mention release dates, but this seems to be a case of “saving the best for last,” since I have had this song on repeat as much as possible, despite my major Johnny’s fandoms not having a whit of the K, A, T(x2), U, or N in them.

The Pretty, the Ugly, and the all so Shiny in 5…

It’s a new year already! Oh, wow, it’s a new year already.

2008 was filled with lots and lots of Johnny’s loving (even the half of the year I disappeared for), so what better way to kick off 2009? Oh, and Arashi was hosting this year’s Countdown too. I know you probably aren’t here to read this opening blurb (if the comments from my post on last year’s Countdown are any indication), so let’s get straight to it.

Because we know at some point it had to stop.

Raid wanted a mention on this blog, more than just being a participant in an IM conversation, so we’ll give it to him. (He also wanted something he could bounce off for his own posts, but you can’t have your cake and eat too.) Here’s a glass to your “SHOCK GASP HORROR” or perhaps just a “WTF” reaction whenever you see this post. (Hurray for finally being 21 and being able to make alcoholic references!) It’s no secret that he’s none too fond of KAT-TUN, and other than a certain fondness for a currently unfortunately-goatee’d man, that’s one of the few tastes in Japanese Pop we’ve constantly shared. Even now, despite being won over by pretty much every other current Johnny’s, KAT-TUN and I have plenty of kinks to work out.

But I figured I’d steal three pretty boys with one van (kill three birds with one stone, snare three fishes with one net, attack three subjects in one post… whatever floats your boat) What are these topics? A ramble on my odd preferences in releases from artist groups, why I dislike them, and to tie it all in… a review of KAT-TUN’s single DON’T U EVER STOP. Yes, I know it’s been months since the release of this single and their third album has long been released already. Don’t get me started on the name of that one.

JPTV Winter 2009 Season

Amazingly, it has been a year since I last posted one of these. And of course, once again, it comes after the start of the season. That’s not to say I haven’t been keeping up with dramas from the rest of 2008, just that for one reason or another I didn’t post anything about it here. Of course, I’m certain you haven’t missed these either, since unlike most other posts on the subject, this only covers about-to-air dramas that personally interest me.

You may notice that only dramas are mentioned this time around – that’s because I haven’t seen a single anime series that interests me this season. Historical Fantasy, Sports, Harem, the requisite action that doesn’t have enough of a kick to appeal, and bringing back the yuri. Okay, I lie, there is one – Maria†Holic – but that has the enormous potential to go wrong, since I didn’t read the manga it was based on and as a medium, anime likes slapstick far more than drama, and slapstick is beginning to get worn out on me.

Either way, long blurb of text, coming your way! As always, all summaries from DramaWiki.