Thu, February 12, 2009 (1:53am EST)
Jun Matsumoto and Yui Aragaki will co-star in a new TBS drama series titled "Smile." Takayuki Takuma ("Hana Yori Dango") is handling the script, though he is using his real name rather than his usual pen name of Mikio Satake.
Matsumoto plays a half-Filipino whose father has died and mother has disappeared. Despite his misfortune and the issues he deals with, such as race, he lives his life positively with a constant smile.
Similarly, Aragaki plays a young woman living cheerfully despite losing her ability to speak due to an accident. Her character is said to be modeled after a real actress in the theatrical troupe that Takuma runs.
The supporting cast includes Kiichi Nakai as a lawyer who watches over Matsumoto and Aragaki.
"Smile" will air on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in April.
Matsumoto plays a half-Filipino whose father has died and mother has disappeared. Despite his misfortune and the issues he deals with, such as race, he lives his life positively with a constant smile.
Similarly, Aragaki plays a young woman living cheerfully despite losing her ability to speak due to an accident. Her character is said to be modeled after a real actress in the theatrical troupe that Takuma runs.
The supporting cast includes Kiichi Nakai as a lawyer who watches over Matsumoto and Aragaki.
"Smile" will air on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in April.
Source: Sports Hochi
oh. my. FUCKING. GAWD.
finally.
finally finally finally
FINALLY!
it's not really so much that he plays a half-Filipino Japanese (*this reminds me of my original thesis idea. GOGHDAMMITMISHIE), but more because, HELLO? the Philippines now ACTUALLY exists!
OMG! OMG OMGOMGOMGOMG!
I know it's really tacky for me to be saying "OMG" so much. But anyway, as an Arashi fan, I have been waiting for so long for anyone in the group to give even a tiny tiny tiny sign that they even knew what the Philippines was. I mean, they've had two "Arashi Around Asia" tours. These tours did not include the Philippines. This doesn't mean to say that I don't think the other countries involved in the tour did not deserve to be visited. Of course Arashi-love must be spread althroughout. Asia-wide and world-wide deserve the opportunity to be with them. Which is the point I'm trying to make with them recognizing the Philippines. No one probably counts how many times "I'M RIGHT HERE" has been my status on Y!M, because it seems irrelevant to their lives, but that's normally what I'm trying to call out to... or rather, WHO I'm trying to call out to.
But now the time has come. Of course, just because Jun (for those of you who don't know, he is the lead of Gokusen One and Hana Yori Dango which, for those that watch the local channels, played in GMA a couple of years ago) is in this new drama, doesn't mean he's coming here.
The chances of him doing that are slim, like shooting scenes and such because of the premise of the story (his Filipino father is already dead). Though, it wasn't stated which parent is the Filipino. If the mother is the Filipino (which is more likely actually) then there is a chance, but I don't think that is what the story is about (searching for his mother), so I don't think I would get my hopes up.
Rather, I'd be more happy about the fact that Jun would, through the drama, have a connection with Japanese-Filipino children that are often very discriminated against in Japan. In a way, he will be sympathizing with them and, by extension, us Filipinos who have a lot of relatives that struggle to make a living, no matter what the manner, in Japan. It's okay if he doesn't come here right away, that would take time, but at least he knows we're around somehow. Then perhaps he would be curious as to how Filipino audiences would think of the drama and look towards us even more. That's when we could probably hope that he would eventually turn the other members' attentions to us as well. I'm pretty sure there have already been Filipino fans to their concerts, but it will be something new.
We just have to wait a little longer. That's right. Just wait.
As for me, I'm just hoping that little longer is around summer time here, or June or July here, when they will have another AAA tour and finally realize that Philippines, oh, is part of friggin' Asia.
But, hey, kudos to Jun for FINALLY coming out in a drama again! Nothing since 2007, geezloueez!
And this means, Filipino fans, that Arashi will definitely have another single around April-July, yes? Think of it, the closest single that may ever be dedicated to us. Make what you will of it!
As for me, I'm sleeping with a smile on my face!
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX! THIS IS JUN'S GIFT TO YOU, I SWEAR!
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