Ultimate Fan Guide: Minami Hamabe
It's been a while since the last time I wrote an article for MDL. Now I'm back, this time around I will be listing down the sports movies and/or dramas I've seen and loved which you (dear reader) probably have seen (and loved) too.
Sports is not always a favourite theme when it comes to watching something. So when I find one that I enjoy, it's hard not to fall in love with it.
So here are the ones that have taken a spot in my heart.
WARNING: May contain SPOILERS!
PRIDE
This is one of my first Kimura Takuya dramas. I was really not into ice hockey, but this series made me aware of the beauty of the sport (though I'm still not much of a fan). Kimura Takuya as Satonaka Halu is very suave in this series and his chemistry with Takeuchi Yuko as Murase Aki is off the charts. The rest of the cast plays their role very well and was able to show the spirit of the team each time they were on the ice to play or compete. The "Ice Goddess" also adds spice to the story.
The soundtrack was "I Was Born To Love You" by Queen, so it will never do you wrong.
MAYBE!
TORI GIRL
Tori Girl is a fun watch. I saw this at the local cinema as a part of a Japanese Film Festival. And kid you not, from the middle of the movie until the end, everyone watching was laughing really hard.
The "human-powered flight" part of it is very exciting. You cannot help but cheer for them so they can reach their goal.
Tsuchiya Tao as Toriyama Yukina and Mamiya Shotaro as Sakaba Taishi have a very strong on-screen comedy chemistry (if there's such a thing). This one is definitely a must watch. It may not have, ok may have a little, romance in it, but I'm quite sure you will enjoy it.
CHIHAYAFURU Trilogy (Kami no Ku, Shimo no Ku, Musubi)
The trilogy revolves around high school students playing Karuta, a game involving poetry and cards. The trilogy has a little romance as a part of it. If you want to see something intense, then watch the trilogy. The 3rd movie's championship game was especially intense, I love it. All three main characters involved have great chemistry, though you'd only see Hirose Suzu as Ayase Chihaya and Nomura Shuhei as Mashima Taichi,Mackenyu as Wataya Arata is also a part of the main casts.
NOTE: There's also a side story after Shimo No Ku, which is a 5 episode series, but I haven't seen it yet.
Bow, Then Kiss
This movie stars Ikeda Elaiza as Kishimoto An, who loves archery with all her heart, and Nakao Masaki as Minami Youta, who only does archery because of a friend. Both of them are a part of the school archery club.
I cannot believe how they're able to make archery look so sexy.
When you watch this film, please let me know if you felt the sexual tension between the characters too, because I definitely did.
GOLDEN BOWL
This is the first ever Japanese drama I've seen. I guess that was back in 2006 or 2007. It was shown by our local TV Station dubbed in my native language (Filipino). I was so amazed by this drama that, as the title suggests, focuses on bowling. The lead in this drama is Kaneshiro Takeshi, and I found him very charismatic during that time. I would probably re-watch this as I do not remember much from it, but I do remember wanting to go home early from school so I can watch this with my little sister.
Special Mentions:
- Engine - about a race car driver,
- Shoot - story revolving around soccer,
- March Comes in Like a Lion & March Comes in Like a Lion 2 - Shogi is the sports in these movies.
Do you have any Sports dorama or movie that has a special spot in your heart?
We'd like to hear from you! :)
Previous Articles: Five Japanese Actors and Actresses with Filipino Heritage, Currently Watching: BG ~Personal Bodyguard~, A Stalker's Guide to Takuya Kimura (2018), Takuya Kimura's Hair Style Evolution, Why You Cannot Not Love Kimura Takuya
