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earth_colors) wrote2024-03-15 03:19 pm
earth_colors) wrote2024-03-15 03:19 pm
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FuteHodo Ep1: Drama Notes
EPISODE 1: "Am I Not Allowed to Say Do Your Best?"
I can't explain all the 80s pop cultural names and stuff mentioned in this drama like KyonKyon, Toshinori Omi. There's just too much. I did that already with Amachan, it was a bit exhausting, haha and besides, I'm sure you can google it all up yourself if you're curious. I've been trying to delay doing research on this because once you start doing so, you will inevitably go down into the rabbit hole, so deep that you'll forget stuff you're supposed to do, like subbing this drama lol.
I will only mention ones that are interesting (to me), cannot google elsewhere since there are no English articles on it, inside jokes/lines that are only funny/nostalgic to the Japanese, and those maybe important/relevant to the whole context of the drama.
Bando Eiji. His name was mentioned not only on Ep1 but turns out, several times so far for the rest of the drama. In my TN, I only described him as "baseball player". But apparently, he is more than that. He was a former baseball player for Chunichi Dragons. After his baseball career, he became a TV talent, sports commentator, quiz show MC and answerer, radio show host, and actor. He appeared in famous 80s dramas on TBS, I guess that is why he gets mentioned a lot on FuteHodo which is a TBS Friday night drama. He was also embroiled in some tax evasion scandal in 2013. He is said to have retired and apparently still alive(!?) but as of this writing, people are wondering where he is, because no one has heard from him, and his whereabouts are unknown.
It seems in my observation, KudoKan would have a name or thing casually mentioned at first, but turns out it would be constantly mentioned throughout the rest of the drama. In "Ida10", it was the rakugo story "TomiKyu". This time, it seems to be Bando Eiji.
The "portal toilet" at Studio Panda from KudoKan's 2016 movie "Too Young to Die" 
If you're a KudoKan fan, or have watched his works, you'd usually look out for common elements that are constantly showing up in his dramas/movies. His fans also look forward to this too, and is an expected fan service. But I will mostly point out connections to the ones I subbed like "Amachan" and "Ida10".
The time portal toilet for one, reminds me of the toilet in the 2016 movie "Too Young to Die" that was a gateway or portal connecting Hell/AfterLife to the Living World. It was also renovated from a squat toilet to a modern one in the movie.
"Binibon". "Bini (vinyl or plastic)" while "bon/hon" means books or in this case, adult magazines wrapped in plastic in shops to prevent people from browsing.
"NoPan Kissa" or pantyless cafes where waitresses wear short skirt with no underwear. Had a no-touch policy but some floors of shops were mirrored. Wiki article here.
♬ "That's the organization for you~" ♬
BACK to the FUTEHODO EP GUIDE
I can't explain all the 80s pop cultural names and stuff mentioned in this drama like KyonKyon, Toshinori Omi. There's just too much. I did that already with Amachan, it was a bit exhausting, haha and besides, I'm sure you can google it all up yourself if you're curious. I've been trying to delay doing research on this because once you start doing so, you will inevitably go down into the rabbit hole, so deep that you'll forget stuff you're supposed to do, like subbing this drama lol.
I will only mention ones that are interesting (to me), cannot google elsewhere since there are no English articles on it, inside jokes/lines that are only funny/nostalgic to the Japanese, and those maybe important/relevant to the whole context of the drama.
Bando Eiji. His name was mentioned not only on Ep1 but turns out, several times so far for the rest of the drama. In my TN, I only described him as "baseball player". But apparently, he is more than that. He was a former baseball player for Chunichi Dragons. After his baseball career, he became a TV talent, sports commentator, quiz show MC and answerer, radio show host, and actor. He appeared in famous 80s dramas on TBS, I guess that is why he gets mentioned a lot on FuteHodo which is a TBS Friday night drama. He was also embroiled in some tax evasion scandal in 2013. He is said to have retired and apparently still alive(!?) but as of this writing, people are wondering where he is, because no one has heard from him, and his whereabouts are unknown.
It seems in my observation, KudoKan would have a name or thing casually mentioned at first, but turns out it would be constantly mentioned throughout the rest of the drama. In "Ida10", it was the rakugo story "TomiKyu". This time, it seems to be Bando Eiji.
"Tsumiki Kuzushi". 1983 drama about a delinquent and troubled girl played by Takabe Tomoko, based on a 1982 novel with the same title. Ogawa Ichiro (Abe Sadao) mentioned this drama while chastising Junko about bringing a boy home in order to do "nyan-nyan" (sex). Also mentioned in "Amachan" (ep4). Takabe was involved in the "Nyan-Nyan" Scandal wherein her boyfriend took a pic of her (above) and sent it to gossip tabloid Focus, published with the caption "two people having a good time doing nyan-nyan in bed", implying underage sex (she was 15 at that time) and smoking. The boyfriend, who was an extra on a drama she starred in, committed suicide later on (does this remind you of Ep 3 of Cold Case Season 3?). You can read more here HERE. They still refer to scandalous pictures as "nyan nyan sasshin (photos)".
The "portal toilet" at Studio Panda from KudoKan's 2016 movie "Too Young to Die"
If you're a KudoKan fan, or have watched his works, you'd usually look out for common elements that are constantly showing up in his dramas/movies. His fans also look forward to this too, and is an expected fan service. But I will mostly point out connections to the ones I subbed like "Amachan" and "Ida10".
The time portal toilet for one, reminds me of the toilet in the 2016 movie "Too Young to Die" that was a gateway or portal connecting Hell/AfterLife to the Living World. It was also renovated from a squat toilet to a modern one in the movie.
Also, it seems KudoKan is fond of the word "strip" as shown in "Ida10":
"Binibon". "Bini (vinyl or plastic)" while "bon/hon" means books or in this case, adult magazines wrapped in plastic in shops to prevent people from browsing.
"NoPan Kissa" or pantyless cafes where waitresses wear short skirt with no underwear. Had a no-touch policy but some floors of shops were mirrored. Wiki article here.
Akina's bangs. This one completely flew over my head. Akina and Matchy were an item in the 80s. That is why Junko wanted Mutchy to notice her bangs. And why Mutchy had to point out he's more interested in another idol instead (Imori Miyuki), and not Akina. Here's a YT link showing Akina's bangs while singing "Desire".
KudoKan's Radio Show. Did you know he has a radio show with TBS for like 4 years now? Its title is "宮藤さんに言ってもしょうがないんですけど" (Kudo-san ni Ittemo Shoganaindesukedo/There's No Use Telling This To Kudo-san But..."). In his show, he'd have guests with aliases or pen names from all walks of life, who would air out their complaints and frustrations mainly about their lives, or jobs/field of work. I've always thought that KudoKan is doing this so he could get story ideas from these interviews and interactions. And wondered what drama or movie he could come up with. And so, when I heard about FuteHodo's plot, and watched Ep 1, particularly the musical part (♬ Come, let's talk it over ♬), I thought, "Ah, I see, this is it, the result of his radio show..."
KudoKan's Radio Show. Did you know he has a radio show with TBS for like 4 years now? Its title is "宮藤さんに言ってもしょうがないんですけど" (Kudo-san ni Ittemo Shoganaindesukedo/There's No Use Telling This To Kudo-san But..."). In his show, he'd have guests with aliases or pen names from all walks of life, who would air out their complaints and frustrations mainly about their lives, or jobs/field of work. I've always thought that KudoKan is doing this so he could get story ideas from these interviews and interactions. And wondered what drama or movie he could come up with. And so, when I heard about FuteHodo's plot, and watched Ep 1, particularly the musical part (♬ Come, let's talk it over ♬), I thought, "Ah, I see, this is it, the result of his radio show..."
♬ "That's the organization for you~" ♬
Reason For the Musical. I, for one, just like majority of the viewers were surprised by it, and at first, found it baffling and unsuitable (I also had trouble liking Abe Sadao's "old man yells at clouds" character but that's another thing). But in an interview, KudoKan explained that he wanted to stir up discussions about social issues and societal changes in this drama. Apparently, it wouldn't sound interesting if the characters would just talk about it, so it was made into musical scenes, to make it light and fun, and lessen the heaviness of the dialogue. "By daring to turn a logical conversation into a song," Kudo said, "I hope people will have fun while watching it, and once it's over, they can listen to the melody and have a lively exchange of opinions. We'll we do it every week? I don't know about that. Composing, recording, choreographing, and rehearsing, the cospa (cost-performance or cost-effectiveness) of it all, isn't very good."
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