Linda Linda!

The song that is playing right now is something from The Blue Hearts, a famous rock band from Japan. The title of the song is I think "Endless Song" or "Final Song". In nihonggo, it's stated as "Owaranai-uta". This is song from the movie "Linda, Linda, Linda", directed by Yamashita Nobuhiro.

The story of this movie takes place in a modern-day high school outside of Tokyo. Just a few days before their school festival, a girl band is facing a dilemma. They plan on playing compositions but just a few days before the festival, the guitarist appears to have a broken finger because it has bandage on it but the truth is, she just doesn't want her nails to be broken. An argument breaks out between the vocalist and Kyoko, a protagonist in the movie who is also the drummer of the band. While thinking about who will be their new vocalist, the girl band heard the song "Linda Linda" by the Blue Hearts and then they decided to sing that song instead of compositions.

One day, a korean exchange student named Son, is sitting in the next room and the girls asked her to be their vocalist. Son's japanese is not really that perfect and she's never sung in front of an audience. But, she happened to listen to the Blue Hearts. Together, they practiced and practiced but they were not improving. They spend a lot of time at Kei's(the guitarist of the band) ex-boyfriend's studio and at school, practicing late at night. Son even called their band, the Sleepy band because of that. But, that wasn't their band name. It was Param Maum(or Paran Maum, I'm not that sure). The band was really tired but they kept on practicing.

The night before the festival, they practiced their songs and got exhausted. They realized the next day that they were late for the festival. It rained that day so the band got a little depressed. But, they ran to the school and when they arrived there, they played their hearts out until the end.

I really appreciate this movie because I can relate to it because I am in a band. It is very important in a band to communicate to each other so that they can discuss problems and stuff in the band. Being in band is very fine because you get to enjoy music and make new friends. Even through hard times, the band is always there for each other. They help each other out and in the end, they jam to the music they want and play until their hearts content.

So, grab a guitar, or a bass, or a drumstick and form your own band. Who knows? You might be the next band to be featured on TV.

"Let's sing an endless song to the asshole that is the world." -Endless Song, The Blue Hearts

Japanese Film Festival

I'm truly sorry for not giving out part 2 of First Kiss but I want you all to watch it by yourselves. No need for summaries. It's best if you really watch the series. 11 episodes of 45 minutes each won't hurt you. Just don't do it in one day, unless if you are really bored. :)

July 25 and 26 is the day when japanese movies are shown in Gaisano South Cinema 4. It's from the Japanese Film Festival and it features 3 independent films(for me, I think). Hanging Garden, which talks about a modern-day family in Japan. It's kind of disturbing because there are some scenes which are not for the faint-hearted or something. There was a scene when the mom daydreamed of killing her friend in the restaurant using a fork and stabbed her on her face or something and blood spurted on the window and to her face. You may not get it at first but you soon will with some good thinking skills or analyzing the meaning of events. Another movie is entitled, "We Will Overcome Someday". I'm hoping that this is the right title because I am not that sure. Well, it talks about the fight between japanese and korean people in Kyoto, Japan. The two factions are separated by a river and when a japanese enters a korean territory, they are beaten up. A lot of tragedies happen in this film including a disturbing death of a person, some beatings from thug to thug and other things. The protagonist idolized an independent folk band that sang for the peace and freedom of their country and he sung it again on the radio for everyone to hear. The manager of the radio station was so angry because that song was banned. But, the operator insisted and beat up the manager and let the protagonist continue the song. It all ended in peace when the koreans(i think) won the battle. Good movie!

Last, but not least, is the movie "Linda Linda Linda". I haven't watched this movie yet so I'll watch it tomorrow or something. But, I think it talks about the life of band mates who want to play their music in a festival in their school or something. I really want to watch that movie.

So, I want to personally tell you all to support Japanese movies and series. Although I'm not jap, I want all of you to appreciate the good dramas they share to the world.

Don't worry. Subtitles are invented at your own convenience. ^^v

First Kiss Prt. 1

Recently, I have been watching this series entitled "First Kiss". It's a bittersweet and uplifting comedy drama about a young girl named Fukanaga Mio and her brother Kano Kazuki. You might think that they are not siblings because they have different family names which are Kano and Fukanaga because in Japan, they state their names with their last names to be pronounced first. Fukanaga Mio is played by Inoue Mao and Kano Kazuki is played by Ito Hideaki.


I'll summarize the story for you guys but beware! This summarization is a spoiler so if you really want to watch the series, better not read this blog. To start off, Fukanaga Mio is in United States to treat her heart illness. This illness led to the separation of the two siblings. Mio is a very active girl. She, too, is very sarcastic and a very good liar. One day, Mio and her mother were called by the doctors and they explained that Mio will undergo surgery with 50-50 chance. Because of this, Mio personally asked a doctor named Takagi Renko, a professional cardiac surgeon and doctor, to let her go back to Japan and spend time with her Onii-chan or big brother Kazuki. After some few instructions to Mio, Doctor Takagi gave the green light to Mio to go back to Japan and meet her brother. In Japan, Kazuki dreamt about Mio when they were still young. They were having fun at a japanese festival of some sort. They were 10 years old back then. Kazuki woke up on his bed, with his girlfriend Haruna. I assumed that they made love that night, as suggested by the scene that was shown to me. Mio, who was still in America, phoned Kazuki that she will return in Japan and he must prepare for her arrival. Kazuki could not believe it but he had no choice. The day of Mio's arrival, Kazuki and his friends Ichiryu and Masaru, waited for her arrival. Ichiryu and Masaru even teased Kazuki that it will be a very emotional reunion because it was already 10 years past. Kazuki told them it will not be an emotional reunion. Kazuki turned back as he heard Mio's voice and then he saw Mio out of the crowd. He was about to go to her but she went straight pass through Kazuki. The reason for that is because Mio thought that Kazuki was still fat so Mio went straight to a fat guy. After that, Mio apologized to the fat guy when Kazuki introduced himself and his friends. That's when the story begins.


Part 2 soon. Please support Japanese series and this series is a must-watch series both young and old alike.