Photos aren't the best but I was finally able to find the first chapter to the Casshern Sins manga. Published in Jive's Monthly Comic Rush in 2008 with art by Masaki Takei.
Title: “Kizoku Tantei” (The Noble Detective)
Genre: Mystery, Detective, Comedy
Season: Spring 2017
TV Station: Fuji TV
Theme Song: “I’ll be there” by Arashi
Starring: Masaki Aiba, Emi Takei, Katsuhisa Namase, Kenichi Takito, Miho Nakayama, Yutaka Matsushige, Yukie Nakama
Date Finished: April 28, 2021
My Personal Reason for Watching: An Arashi member starring drama is always on my to-watch list;)
(^^ And with Aiba that sharply dressed, of course I had to tune in!)
The Kizoku Tantei (Aiba) is an aristocrat who does detective work as part of his hobby. He is a mystery of his own as no one knows where he came from or what his real name is. Aika (Takei) is an up-and-coming private detective who always seems to bump into the Kizoku Tantei on her cases. Aika competes with the Kizoku Tantei to solve cases. She is also on a continuous search for the killer of her former boss. Officer Hanagata (Namase) is always on the scene with these two detectives as well as the Kizoku Tantei’s loyal servants, Sato (Takito), Tanaka (Nakayama) and Yamamoto (Matsushige).
(^^ Kizoku Tantei and his entourage are at it again!)
While this drama did take me a while to get through (since I started it last September and finished it this April…eep), there were enjoyable moments. I’ve mentioned this before, but with detective dramas, it’s always the same kind of storyline where every episode is one case that gets solved in those 45 minutes. With the same kind of format, you get the same recurring jokes. Kizoku Tantei is another example of that reused format. However, I will say that I liked that Kizoku Tantei’s servants did all the work and the reenactments were the best part of this whole drama.
(^^ His chauffeur, maid and butler are all detectives, too?! And actors? Well, I’m impressed :D)
I don’t think that Aiba and Emi are the strongest actors, but it’s the comedic timing of Namase as Hanagata as well as the Kizoku Tantei entourage that make up for the casting! Hanagata had me laughing out loud with his reactions to Kizoku Tantei and his “magical” ways. Yukie Nakama had a small appearance, mostly as the voice of “Giri.” I just wondered why Aika never just looked up stuff herself and had to use Giri all the time…is she really that lazy which is why she can never one-up the Kizoku Tantei? Hmm…I wonder.
(^^ “What?! You guys were just there! And now you’re here!” Oh Officer Hanagata XD)
If you like mystery/detective dramas, you can try and watch “Kizoku Tantei.” If you’re an Aiba fan, go right ahead and watch it. For me personally as an Arashi fan and a fan of dramas in general, I think there are other mystery/detective dramas that I would recommend over this one (such as ATARU, which I also reviewed!).
Favorites:
Favorite Character: Probably Hanagata for comedic relief!
Favorite Episode: I liked episodes 6 and 7 which was a continuous storyline.
Favorite Scene: Definitely the reenactments and breakdowns of the cases from Kizoku Tantei’s servants!
(^^ What will they think of next?:D)
“Kizoku Tantei” Rating:
Story: ✭✭½ So-so detective drama
Acting: ✭✭½ The supporting cast had great comedic timing!
Theme Song: ✭✭✭ Not my favorite Arashi song but I did love the ending credits which fit it nicely! (also why were the next previews always half in English and half in Japanese? What was the point of that?lol)
Total: 8/15
Himawari House by Harmony Becker. First Second, 2021. 9781250235565. 384pp. with a note on the use of accents in the book + early sketches in the back. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781250235565?partnerid=34778&p_bt
Nao moves from the U.S back to Japan, where she was born, to study Japanese for a year between high school and college. She lives in shared housing with four others: Hyejung, from South Korea, who is studying for university entrance exams in Japan; Tina from Singapore who is doing the same; and two young Japanese dudes, the friendly Shinichi and very quiet Masaki. As Nao reconnects with her childhood self and tries to figure out if she's gaijin or Japanese, the five form the type of fast, deep friendships that can only happen when everyone is in a new place, trying to help each other. (The other characters inner live are explored a bit in the book, too.) The story includes crushes, holiday parties, karaoke, part-time jobs, a charming grandma who lives down the street, and the best use of accented English I've ever seen in a book.
Worth noting: When the characters speak a language other than English, the language is in the word balloons along with English. It makes for a great chance to practice another language if you know a little of it, and it's so much better than putting translated language in English between << brackets like this >>, which is what I saw in a lot of comics when I was a kid.
Becker previously drew George Takei's graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy.