Hachimitsu to Clover

Honey & Clover

Happy 2008~~

It's again the beginning of the Winter Season's J-Drama. The 1st on my watching list is Honey & Clover. It was a popular manga and anime series, and later on was produced into a movie. And now, the drama series are on the way. I just LOVE the cast. They resemble the manga characters so much.

Takemoto Yu-ta (竹本祐太) is a 3rd year student in Architecture at an Art University. A shy and soft-hearted guy, who is always being bullied by Morita Shinobu (森田忍) & Mayama Takumi (真山巧), his best buddies. Most of the time the story is told from the point view of Takemoto. The story begins when he met Hanamoto Hagumi (花本はぐみ) under the sakura trees. Love at first sight...

Ikuta Toma (生田斗真) as Takemoto Yu-ta (竹本祐太)

First known Toma bcos he's Yamapi's best friend from the Johnny's Junior shows.

Really like him in Hanazakari last year.

Hanamoto Hagumi (花本はぐみ) lives in a small village all her life, with art as her only passion. She is gifted, and her painting is magnificent. Her cousin, Prof. Hanamoto Shuji (花本修司), teaches in the Art University, and introduces her to further her study, majoring in oil painting. She is inspired by Morita Shinobu's (森田忍) craft work on her first day in Uni and she starts to like Morita as well. Poor Takemoto...

Narumi Riko (成海璃子) as Hanamoto Hagumi (花本はぐみ)

Can you believe Riko is only 15??

Morita Shinobu (森田忍) is a 7th year student majoring in crafting. 7 years??? Are u sure Morita's not studying in a medical school? Well, the story will later unfold the reason that keeps him from graduating. A very talented guy, whose craft work has been winning 1st prize in the Art University for many years until Hagumi enters the Uni. Morita is always full of crazy ideas and pranks, and poor Takemoto is always the victim. But he is observant and real sweet to cheer Yamada Ayumi (山田あゆみ) up when she is down.

Narimiya Hiroki (成宮寛貴) as Morita Shinobu (森田忍)

Yamada Ayumi (山田あゆみ) is a 4th year student majoring in pottery. Beware of this sweet looking lady, if you ever mess up with her, get ready to be knocked off by her fly kicks. Poor Takemoto is always the victim, although Morita is the actual target. Yamada's smiles and tears all depend on Mayama, because she is pathetically on one-sided love.

Harada Natsuki (原田夏希) as Yamada Ayumi (山田あゆみ)

Mayama Takumi (真山巧) is a 4th year student in Architecture, the senior of Takemoto. He is the most matured guy among the guy. But most of the time, he still teams up with Morita to play pranks on Takemoto. Knowing Yamada is in love with him, but he cannot return her love, as he himself is on one-sided love with Harada Rika (原田理花), an Architect he works with in part-time.

Mukai Osamu (向井理) as Mayama Takumi (真山巧)

Seto Asaka (瀬戸朝香) as Harada Rika (原田理花)

Harada Rika (原田理花) is the coursemate of Prof. Hanamoto and her late husband. She owns an Architect Firm, where Mayama works part-time at. Realizing Mayama's feeling for her, she wants Mayama to stop working for her, as she does not want to hurt him. She still misses her husband, although he is no longer around.

From the same producer of Proposal Daisakusen, Honey & Clover features the sweet & sour moments of University life. A romance comedy of friendship, love and dreams.

Breath-taking scenery of flying sakura by the lake.

Hagumi painting under the sakura tree.

Hagumi's painting (Scenery of the Sakura) - 1st prize


Matsushige Yutaka (松重豊) is the Art Prof.
Remember in Proposal Daisakusen, he was still studying pottery in Uni.


Takemoto can't take his eyes off Hagumi bcos...

Hagumi is just too cute, eating the very 1st pizza of her life.

Bull Fighting 斗牛。要不要

Do you like basketball + comedy + romance?? If the answer is yes, let's celebrate this year's Christmas with Mike He, Hebe & Lee Wei by watching Bull Fighting 斗牛。要不要 (Dou Niu . Yao Bu Yao)!

Hebe as Yi Sheng Xue (伊胜雪)
Perfect Christmas party look!

Yi Sheng Xue is the 18th heir of the Yi Yakuza Family. She has a lot of "ka kia" or sidekicks following her around everyday. Most of them are very funny, but they can be harmful at times.

Yi Sheng Xue's father
The 17th heir of the Yi Yakuza Family. Oyoooo~~

Lee Wei (李威) as Jin Zi Cong (金子聪)
Love Lee Wei's short hair style!

Jin Zi Cong is the best assistant of Yi Sheng Xue's father, Yi Quan Wu (伊全武). He is also the special body guard of Yi Sheng Xue.

Jin Zi Cong carrying Yi Sheng Xue when she is tired...
Guys out there, aren't you jealous??

Mike He (贺军翔) as Shen Ruo He (沈若赫)
As handsome as usual, glad to see him again since Why2Love ^^

Feel sorry for Jin Zi Cong, but Yi Sheng Xue has to meet Shen Ruo He, this is call a fated encounter. It all happens on the day of the annual 3-on-3 basketball competition of 2 rival colleges:

East Sun (东上学院)

Lan Di (蓝地学院)

And the story begins...

Let's hear some music, the opening theme: 斗牛。要不要 Dou Niu Yao Bu Yao by Tank~~

Ending theme: 你最近还好吗? Ni Zui Jin Hai Hao Ma by S.H.E~~

Seo Dong Yo 薯童谣

Seo Dong Yo 薯童谣 (The Ballad of Seo Dong) is one of the best dramas I've ever watched so far. It was produced by the same Director & Script Writer of Dae Jang Geum (大长今). Many people may be put off, knowing that it is a 55-episode Korean historical drama. But once you have started, you won't regret that you did.

The story took place in the Paekche Kingdom (18 B.C. - A.D 660), which is during the Han Dynasty of Korea, where Paekche (百济), Shilla (新罗) & Koguryo (高句丽) are known as the Three Kingdom of Korea. Seo Dong was the forbidden child of King Wideok (威德王) of Paekche, and was forced to live a poor life with his mother, Yeon Ga Mo (燕嘉谋).

Yeon Ga Mo (燕嘉谋) & King Wideok (威德王)

As the young Seo Dong became notorious in the village, Yeon Ga Mo decided it is time to send him to Prof. Mokrasu (木罗须博士) at Paekche Taehaksa (百济太学士), the royal institution of Science & Technology, to receive proper education. Both Yeon Ga Mo & Prof. Mokrasu were actually lovers, but Yeon Ga Mo left him because of Seo Dong's undisclosed father.

Prof. Mokrasu (木罗须博士)
A wise scientist of Paekche Taehaksa (百济太学士)

Due to the inner war for the Paekche's throne, Prof. Mokrasu was framed of the crime of armed rebellion. He escaped to Shilla (新罗) with a few members of the Taehaksa. During his escape, Yeon Ga Mo was killed by the army of Paekche, and he brought Seo Dong together with him to Shilla. At Shilla, they live with false identities and crafted things to sell to the palace of Shilla. That was where Seo Dong met Princess Seon Hua for the first time.

Young Seo Dong met Princess Seon Hua (善花公主)
- the 3rd daughter of King Jin Pyeong (真平王)

He was nicknamed Seo Dong (薯童) as the "child who sells yam" by Princess Seon Hua. His real name was Jang (璋).
Without knowing who his father was, the pendant (night-glittering gem ) was the only clue to his true identity.

Jo Hyun Jae (赵显宰) as Seo Dong / Jang (璋)
From being a commoner and falling in love with the princess of the rivalry nation, to being the diligent and brilliant apprentice of the wise scientist, and the Commander of his own army, finally the 3oth King of Paekche - King Mu (武王).

Lee Bo Young (李宝英) as Princess Seon Hua (善花公主)
She abandoned the title of a Princess, her family and her country. She became a goods trader in the rivalry nation all because of her love for Seo Dong.

Besides the beautiful love story between Seo Dong & Princess Seon Hua, the intriguing parts of the drama include the mystical prophecy of the incense, the pursuit of Science & Technology, and the Art of War.

And of course, the rivalry for love & the King's throne.

Ryu Jin (柳镇) as Sataek Giro (沙宅己楼)

Giro was the Hwarang (花郎) of Shilla. He made a deal with King Jin Pyeong, to win the hand of Princess Seon Hua, he will steal the Paekche's Book of Skills (百济神技). The book is only available to the Professors in Taehaksa. In order to accomplish his mission, Giro lived as a spy at the Taehaksa of Shilla under Prof. Mokrasu for 10 years and finally obtained the title of a Professor.

After discovering the love between Seo Dong and the princess, he hated Seo Dong very much, and the war between them begins. Giro is the worst enemy of Seo Dong. Both of them are as smart as each other. In whatever plans Seo Dong had in mind, Giro was the one who could guess it and provide counter plans.

29th King of Paekche - Bu Yeo Seon (夫余宣) & his loyal follower Heuk Chi Pyeong (黑齿平)

Bu Yeo Seon was the son of King Wideok's brother. He killed King Wideok (威德王) & Aja Taeja (阿佐太子) for the throne. He is also the one who tries to find and murder King Wideok's 4th son - Seo Dong.

Aja Taeja (阿佐太子)
Seo Dong's eldest brother, whom he very much respected

Princess Wu Yeong (优永公主)
Bu Yeo Seon's sister, who also loved Seo Dong and saved him several times from danger.

Maek Do Su (脉度水技工)
The happy-go-lucky technician in Taehaksa.
He is the funniest character in the drama, just like the role he played in Dae Jang Geum (大长今) as Jang Geum's foster father. Seo Dong was responsible for the death of his eldest son. In contrary, he treated Seo Dong as his own son.

Mo Jin (毛津技师)
The best lady engineer in Taehaksa. She loved Prof. Mokrasu and was jealous that he still could not forget Yeon Ga Mo even though she was dead. She was strict in maintaining disciplines of Taehaksa and was the best in emergency awareness & preparedness, which saved their lives several times.

Beom Ro (范虎) - Maek Do Su's youngest son. He blamed Seo Dong for his brother's death, but became Seo Dong's best pal after he learnt to forgive.
Eun Jin (恩贞) - Mo Jin's daughter, who had a crush on Seo Dong and Seo Dong's loyal supporter. Like her mother, she was skilled in embroidery and jewelery.

A scene of Seo Dong working at the Taehaksa.

Eternal Love

Opening Theme:



Nice song from Seo Dong Yo: Haemil (雨過天晴)



Jo Hyun Jae as Seo Dong: