Nodame Cantabile - 交響情人夢

An interesting Japanese drama full of classical music.

Originally adopted from manga and then being turned into TV drama and animation (it seems to be the golden rule of any popular Japanese comic for sell).

What is the selling point?

1. Love story
For sure, there are lots of possibilities, directions, dynamics, climax, resonances that were blended into the show which audience are greatly entertained. The 2 main characters (Nodame & Chiaki) with 2 extreme characters but shared a single common point: music. Things started to develop from admirer-idol relationship to an equivalent supporters, inspirers. All romantic elements were presented into dramatic settings. An other pair of lovers (the violinists) later became a supportive friendship which the show has been made to all age group viewers.

2. Classic music
Dramas with themes often bring things popular for a certain period of time. Would classic music be appreciated by more HK people? Here's a link that people would like to make a difference:
http://www.petitiononline.com/nodamehk/petition.html

The HK current drama has a theme about ballroom dance, let's see if that works as well..

Is there some other formulas that you have seen in the show? The disappear actor/actress would be such an coincidence as in classic dramas like "Love Generation" or "Hero". The actor and the actress found each others back in the hometown. The old trick always works...!?

Enjoy the show, esp the music...! ^^

photo fr official site (Fuji tv)
Further reading:
1. wiki
2. TV drama official page

Back in Singapore

After 10 hours of flying and stopping, I finally touched down Singapore..

Sleep, eat and sleep, wait, and eat... that's what I did in the last 24 hours of flight. I would think it is at least a bit better than long direct flight which you got touched down the ground and slept horizontally on the waiting seats in the airport other than the plane..

Another 2-3 days off after the first night, seems very thoughtful from the company.!

Overall, it was a great meet-up with friends in the trip and I did enjoy their company very much.

Thanks R & M, surely H for the whole route planning! ^_^

(photo of my little teddy which I got from Kanazawa shopping centre catching machine..! I called it 金沢小熊 , it is cute but it cannot walk which was designed to with battery at the back.. -_-)

Anyway, check out the real info from San-X

day 9 back to Osaka

Ride the train from Sendai to Ueno as I continued my quest of finding the sport shoes...
Walked to the opposite direction when I got off the station pointed me to the biker stores. I missed my scooter in HKG but I didn't buy anything though..

Finally got back to the right way of this semi-old town. The streets next to the railway are full of people like Causeway Bay in Hong Kong. I finally reached the shop and finished my task.

Wandering around the railway line and that led me to the Ueno Park, where the zoo and the art centre, museum located. However, they were all about to close at time around 4:30pm... The park with some traditional shrines which the locals paid high respect of it. There were some statues also plated with some interesting stories around.

I finally moved my way to the famous Akihabara, the holy place of those 'train-man' otaku where they gathered and chasing stars..

People say I am one of them... maybe because I send longer time online than them and still like to play tv games... -_- But well, I still social around and meet people right?!

Surely I saw some typical otaku around, and some cosplay people, maiden dress ladies are those who giving out flyers for their restaurants or shops... I wasn't really looking for something but just feeling around the places and what people do... Finally got myself a CD...

Time to jump on the Shikansen and I got it on time because Tokyo station is such a big station and crowded with people..

The weather seems to settle a bit, possibly because all the clouds were moving north...

Final day tomorrow and I don't think I can update the blog until I got back to Singapore..
So, see ya all in Singapore then..

おわリ

day 8 back to Sendai

A rainy day in Aomori, apple is not in season ("Aarrrly" as told by the staff of the tourist centre) so no visit to the apple garden.

Rushing around to get the cd and sport shoes for my friend, which I finally found it in Sendai, the place where we stayed on Friday night and have a good dish of ox tongue...! Department stores in here is killing people with lots of cute items (from phone string to platic bags) and cheap buys. The one we have been to called "Loft" as the same one in the Festival Walk in HK...

The ox tongue texture wasn`t like ox tongue at all. They bbq it and became thick but juicy..

Wish the weather becomes better tomorrow so that we can again go along with the toursit spots other than shoppings (which could cost more and increase loading of the luggages).

2 more days in Japan..

(to be continued)

day 6

In Aomori, at night time, nothing to see but treated myself with a bowl of ramen and beer..

The day in Tokyo was a bit chaotic, trying to find a sport shops but in vain. But we were able to find some little toys shops which stired up lots of childhood memories....

The weather still not looking good in the south, right at the north here seems to be a bit cooler and nice breeze. I have not feel that for a while as in Singapore summer all year through..

Will be heading to some scenic sight tomorrow, the luggage suit was very full and I got myself an extra "red-white-blue" bag in case...

I will not be able online tomorrow, hope things will get settled soon..!

続く...

ps. the hotel we are staying is good and free with internet:
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/

day4

Not all the hotel has internet, you must admit, especially for those in places I never heard of...?!

Well, also run out of time, or too tired to get online..

Kanazawa, a place I stayed 2 nites ago was a small little old town with beaurtiful Japanese garden. The next day we took bus and train to somewhere I forgot, with all those little old villages and little river run across, then took bus to a place called Takayama, where I got to dip in the onsen and slept on the tatami..! It has been quite a long time after...

A night in Tokyo got a cd and tried my first goal on a baseball batting machine [so much fun], and will be out soon tomorrow...

Was raining today in Takayama... nearly all soaked but views not too bad

Wish the weather get well...

day 2

Today I have a choice in the morning to go to the Osaka Castle or another place which I consider more important and significant to go for myself: the famous baseball stadium in japan, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (甲子園球場)!

That`s the place most of the japanese baseball comic or animation or drama will end up and ultimate going to. My friend was so supportive (since none of them are interested or have special feeling on that place).

It was a bit of disappointment as no match was on. The place is also under renovation that part of the exterior are covered with wooden board... But we were able to see the famous leaves covered with the other end of the stadium.

I bought some souvenirs but none of them related to the stadium but the home team Hanshin Tiger which I know nothing much about it....

Saw one of the youtube filming watching a baseball match in that stadium, I wish I could do that sometime...

The rest of the day continue with train and visiting place of interest including petting the dear in Nara, will be arranging in order later..

Early leave tomorrow out of Osaka by Shinkansen... feel the speed then!
Weather is good and hot and we sweated a lot, thank God!