astromantic

毎日grind, 毎日rhymes

Tag: 2017

  • Best of 2017: Japan 🎶

    Best of 2017: Japan 🎶

    This isn’t a sponsored post y’all, I’m just a Spotify stan. I listen to it at work, in my car, at home… (kind of, my iTunes library is deeper lol).

    Last year I set out to listen to more Japanese music outside of my favorites, and I’m pretty happy about that choice! With some effort, I was able to discover a lot of new and great artists. Japanese music is notoriously difficult to find (even with an Amazon JP account there’s a region block, so buying digital music is impossible), but Spotify Japan’s presence has made it just a bit easier. Some playlists I like to follow:

    – Tokyo Super Hits!
    – Tokyo Rising
    – Road Trip To Tokyo
    – Early Noise

    You can find more on their page. It really is just a treasure trove of stuff — just now I found Asano Tadanobu’s band (SODA!)…

    Unfortunately there’s still a lot that’s widely unavailable, but I think it’s getting better. I’m hoping there will be a big shift come Tokyo 2020, but ANYWAY. Here are my favorites for last year: (more…)

  • A year in dramas (2017).

    A year in dramas (2017).

    明けましておめでとう! ✨

    Famous last words from my 2016 roundup, about 2017: “Maybe this’ll be the year I break 40?” Well…

    JAPAN
    Furenaba Ochin*
    Sennyuu Keiji Idol Deka Dance*
    Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi 7-nin*
    Juken no Cinderella*
    Naomi to Kanako*
    Unmei ni, Nita Koi*
    Lunch no Joou*
    Unubore Deka*
    Quartet
    Shinya Shokudo 4*
    Keiji Yugami
    Kurokawa no Techo
    BORDER: Shoudou
    Kahogo no Kahoko

    KOREA
    Tomorrow With You
    Mystery Queen
    The Best Hit
    Forest of Secrets
    Rescue Me

    CURRENTLY
    Totsuzen desu ga, Ashita Kekkon Shimasu
    Okaasan, Musume wo Yamete ii desu ka?
    Samurai Gourmet
    Hito wa Mita Me ga 100%
    Okusama wa, Toriatsukai Chuui
    Prison Playbook
    Ito-kun A to E

    * did not air this year

    TOTAL: 19

    DISMAL. I couldn’t even break 20! I think school being a bit more difficult than usual (and starting a new job) was what lead to a big dip in my viewing habits after the end of January. I can usually make time to watch just about anything (2015-2016 I was working full time), but not this year. I am pretty proud of what I was able to watch though. As far as favorites go, Quartet and Forest of Secrets were my top two, but the latter is the best overall. It was just so dang good! And you know I love a drama when I dedicate separate posts to it on a weekly basis, hehe.

    (more…)
  • Fall ’17, Part 2

    Fall ’17, Part 2

    You can see part 1 here. Like a bum, I accidentally titled the post “fall”, when it should have been “autumn” to match all the other times I’ve done it! 😒 Oh well.

    [white_box] Contains light spoilers (very, very light) for Wise Prison Life, also very text heavy because I am lazy. Pictured image is from Keiji Yugami, episode… something. [/white_box]

    (more…)

  • Fall ’17, Part 1

    Fall ’17, Part 1

    ⬆️⬆️⬆️ AKA me after the first few weeks of school. Not really watching too much this season.

    Hito wa Mitame ga 100 Percent / HitoPa is a ticket to the chuckle bus. The drama has a habit staying on a comedic beat for a liiiiiittle too long, but it’s whatever. What I don’t understand is that they’re telling me NO ONE will even glance at Kiritani Mirei… are you kidding me? She’s cute. Mizukawa Asami is gorgeous. And the only thing tragic about Blouson Chiemi is her eyebrows. Suspension of belief is 100% required, but it’s still lighthearted and fun. — Episode 3

    (more…)

  • Forest of Secrets (Episode 9-10)

    Forest of Secrets (Episode 9-10)

    Before I get into my feelings for the week, I just want to make one thing clear: I am on that DEFEND YOUNG EUN-SOO tip. Now, forever, and always. Not since I Hear Your Voice (or The King 2 Hearts) have I gotten a second lead I enjoyed this much, not only because of performance but also writing. Dong-jae does not receive the same level of criticism (of all people!) as she does, and it’s like her criticism is always in direct comparison to my girl Yeo-jin. Yikes. That’s not to say we can’t compare characters and how they conduct themselves, but it’s something that’s been weighing on my mind these days.

    [white_box] Spoiler and text heavy. Tread carefully! [/white_box]

    (more…)

  • Summer ’17

    Summer ’17

    My thought process right now is a little something like “FML I wish I was a better writer so I could more accurately express all these feelings!!!” and “I NEED TO POST SOMETHING ASAP BEFORE 9-10!!!”. To anyone who actually reads this blog, this is my PSA for the summer: WATCH FOREST OF SECRETS. It might change your life, just saying.

    [white_box] Spoilers up to episode 8, also very text heavy because I was too lazy for images. [/white_box]

    (more…)

  • Spring ’17

    Spring ’17

    (Yes spring, because summer doesn’t actually start until June 20th!)

    Like last year, I’ve been obsessed with a certain game that’s left little room in my heart for dramas. H O W E V E R, Mystery Queen (or Queen of Mystery) is the only drama that managed to hold my interest and actually reaffirmed my belief in big network dramas. I loved coming back after a day of work/school and tucking into this drama. Mystery Queen isn’t necessarily one of those dramas where you turn your brain off, but it has that excellent combination of factors (hilarious, crazy good chemistry between leads, fun supporting characters, good mysteries, cute factor) that make it a comforting watch. (more…)

  • Winter ’17, Part 2

    Winter ’17, Part 2

    Some thoughtssssss: (more…)

  • Winter ’17, Part 1

    Winter ’17, Part 1

    New year, new dramas? Not quite…

    There were a bunch of dramas I wanted to watch last year but didn’t actually get around to watching. So for most of this month, I’ve challenged myself to only watching dramas I missed out on. The “challenge” wasn’t all that difficult considering that there isn’t a lot to watch right now. Subs are trickling in and the recent batch of kdramas seems mostly unimpressive, LOL.

    Completed

    Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi 7-nin / I think when I last wrote about it I was at episode 3, but I caught up and it just kept getting better! I’m not sure it’ll be back for a fourth season (ending was kind of ambiguous), but if this is the end I’m glad it went out on a high note.

    Furenaba Ochin / Not the most disappointing drama I’ve watched, but not one I’d recommend any time soon. While the plot itself is so tired (housewives and affairs), the ending made me WTF. In a bad way. With my entire body and soul. It was just so unnecessary, like the amount of time I spent watching this drama. Shoutout to Hasegawa Kyoko’s new lips tho. (more…)