Yo! Sushi Ouji!

A couple of people have been telling me how silly the film 'Sushi Ouji' is. "Don't tell me you like it because it's Koichi" is one of the most common expression I ever receive whenever I said that I love that movie. Okay, maybe Koichi did add some icing on the cake but this film is definitely not as shallow as you think. Besides the plot and story, every movie has a language behind it. Try watching with a thinking cap on and you'll understand the 'secret' behind the discourse of the movie.

Sushi Ouji (drama) is about Maizu Tsukasa who has been called Sushi Oji since the age of 10 due to his heavenly sushi making skills. However, an unfortunate event happend which caused him to develop the Fish Eye Phobia. Once he had an eye contact with the fish eye, he'll have this flow of super power flowing into him and he'll yell out "Omae nanka nigite yaru!" (I will crush you!) and start throwing punches at people. With such a phobia, how can he continue to make sushi?

A year later(2008), Sushi Ouji is back with a movie sequel. This is the description printed behind the 'Sushi Ouji- New York e Iku' (Sushi Price takes off to New York) DVD box

"After completing his quirky sojourn through Japan as sushi-making, fist-fighting journeyman, Sushi Ouji, Maizu Tsukasa takes his training to the next level in New York where he gets the chance to learn from sushi master Goro. However, a ruthless competitor drives them out of business with backhanded tactics. To save the restaurant, Tsukasa must face his rival in a sushi showdown in the Big Apple"

Ever wonder why the sequel took place in America?

In the end of the series, there was a preview that Maizu Tsukasa will take off to 'the land of rice'. When we talk about rice, most people will think about Asia? It's an Asian value to eat rice!. However, there is a reason why the director chose America as one of the sets of the movie. In Japanese, America is often written as アメリカ. However, the Japanese kanji, 米国(beikoku) which literally means 'rice country' also refers to the USA. Although the paddy field scenes were actually filmed in Japan, the American- Rice setting plays an important role to the movie as it acts as the back story.
Furthermore, Maizu Tsukasa has this catch phrase ,"Omae nanka nigite yaru!" Nigite Yaru... N Y.. the abbreviation for New York is NY. Another reason I can think of is Maizu's partner Kawahara Taro played by Nakamaru Yuichi was 'crushed' in the show. I think the director really enjoys playing with word puns. Maizu Tsukasa, when writing in Kanji is 米寿 司. However, it can be pronounced as Kome sushi (rice sushi)



Anyway, the message that I receive from this movie is how has globalization with a touch of postmodernism has affected the art of sushi making. Back then, from the rice, the soy sauce, the green tea, the flesh of the fish and even the temperature of the sushi maker's palm was taken into account in sushi making. Today, the sushi -go-round conveyor belt has encourage the usage of machines to replace the human touch in preparing the rice.

Furthermore, fusion sushi have been taking over the traditional sushi. Not sure about Japan, but that is what happening in Malaysia right now. Hmm..Maizu had a cultural shock when he saw the 'rainbow roll', thinking that it's a cake. So I guess western sushi is not so popular there?

Globalize sushi = sushi loosing it's identity? Good or not? I don't know. I actually enjoy the Western sushi more than the conventional sushi. Am craving for some Ropongi Beef Maki right now! As much as the show is telling us about traditional sushi making, it has a hint of Western influence in it. In one of the battle scene, Goro, the sushi master said "Sushi Must Go On!" I know it's probably a word pun from Koichi's stage play's catch phrase "Show must go on". But that line originates from western stage plays. And the theme song 'No More' sounds very Backstreet Boys-ish. Don't you think? Hmmmm...


I'm not very sure whether this entry qualifies for this month's Jblog Matsuri's 'Secret Japan' theme or not. Anyway, click here for more info about the Matsuri. Feel free to check out Gakuranman's Secret Japan too.

Music Monday #9

Try guessing who will be featured on this week's Music Monday. Hmm.. I blog about this person a couple of days ago, not under Music Monday though.. *hint hint* so easy to guess

Yup, it's Domoto Tsuyoshi! Did u get it right? Anyway, last time, I blog about Tsuyoshi's solo project. So today's entry will be about his solo song under KinKi Kids. You must be wondering what's the differences between solo project and solo song.

Well well.. Tsuyoshi's solo project(under the name ENDLICHERI ENDLICHERI, 244ENDLIX, Tsuyoshi) have very very different sound compared to his solo songs under KinKi Kids. He may not have any power house vocals but like his same, his songs from his solo projects are tsuyoi!(strong)

His solo songs, conversely, are more toned down which is not a bad thing. I think its more acceptable by the mass audience because it's not as deep and emotional as his solo projects.

One of my all time favorite solo song by Tsuyoshi is Breath which can be found in KinKi Kids' H-album


Some songs, they grow on you as you listen to it more. But this song, it takes only 1 try for me to like it. I hope you guys will like it too.

On another note,so far, my Koichi time lapse video had 485 views! 2 youtube users even rated a 5 stars for it. Haha thank you very much for the support!

Happy Birthday Koichi! and Happy New Year to all

Happy 31st birthday Domoto Koichi!
Last year I wrote quite a long entry.. so I'll make it simple and short this year.





Koichi, happy birthday! Please drink more water.. cause your skin looks really dry when they shoot a close up of u. Use face mask, it's really good. And I'm still not convinced that ur hair is real.

And I made a time lapse video in conjunction of Koichi's birthday


A very last minute video.. so pleaseeeee excuse the lousy work. My timing was really bad and tripod wasn't exactly helpful.

and happy new year to all! May 2010 be a blasting and better year for you. =)

Aye aye aye..

Aye Aye I... I'm your little butterfly.. Green, black and blue make the color in the sky

Aye Aye Aye.. Where's my Samurai?

Lately, I've been watching and reading some Samurai related text and that song *points above* I'm sure guys know that song came to my mind yesterday. So I decided to write about the Samurai for today's entry.

A couple of days ago, I was watching "Takizawa Enbujo" which is Takki's Samurai Musical. When he appeared, I thought "Woah.. Takki as a Samurai is really convincing." It then stuck me that I've never seen a Samurai, how do I know Takki looks/behaves like a Samurai? His sharp fierce eyes? Neatly shaped eyebrows? Squarish jaw? The way he speaks? His gesture?

You see.. these characteristics listed above are my impression of a Samurai which is obviously mediated. In films, Samurai always appear to look very fierce and speaks in a low tone and it made us think that all Samurai are like that. What we see is what the media whats us to see and not necessarily 100% accurate. I'm not saying what they're showing is wrong. .I'm just wondering about it. My apologies if you find entries as such boring. It's just that I usually spend my time wondering about things like that although I look like I don't use my brain a lot.

Anywayyy.. so how does your mediated Samurai looks like? Here's my top 3 favorite samurai actors.

1. Takizawa Hideaki

Although Takki has a little Western feature his nose? eyes?, I think he still can play as a Samurai. I guess it's because he have this what the Chinese call "General(將軍) Face" General as in Military's Generalissimo not the common general.

At 2nd place would of course be Domoto Koichi.

He somehow reminded me of Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin. Besides, his skills in swinging the blades in Sushi Oji and SHOCK is one of the factors too.and the eyes! He was also ranked 2nd in a poll "Which actor would you like to see play the role of a samurai warlord of the Sengoku period (1467/1493-1573)?" Sorry that I couldn't find a better samurai picture of Ko chan.

If you're wondering who was rank first in that poll.. It was MatsuJun. But I prefer to see Jun looking glamor in his bling. Actually I think he looks more like an emperor

At 3rd place, Miura Haruma who is currently starring in the drama "Samurai High School"

Honestly, when I first watch Samurai High School, I was like "YERRR what kind of show is this. So lame one." Thank God I did not stop watching it. It gets better episode by episode and Miura proved that whether a thug, hacker, guy who make his girlfriend pregnant, detective or a student, he can carry his role well. And now he can add Samurai into his archive.

Also , I've never seen him as a Samurai before.. but I think he have the eyebrows of a Samurai. Very oriental eyes, Kamenashi Kazuya. No need picture la ya.. Lazy to Google.

And of course that guy who played as a blind samurai 3 years ago

Who? Figure out yourself!