May. 27th, 2014 02:26 am
Shinigami-kun Ep 5: Drama Notes
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earth_colorsEpisode 5: "An elderly couple's happiness ~Akuma whispers to an 'Ore-Ore' scammer grandson...!!"
Episode Synopsis:
Shinigami has finally been assigned to a human who is delighted to learn that he has only three days to live. He is Sato Tomekichi (Yamamoto Kei), an old, sickly grandpa who says he's already content, and wants to finally rest in peace. His kind and loving wife, Tamie (Yoshiyuki Kazuko) is also happy that her husband will finally be free from his suffering. Shinigami decides to appear to Tomekichi's family in order to help him finish what he needs to do for his last few days. However, the old man at first wishes for nothing but later on says, he wants to see his grandson, Makoto (Nishii Yukito) whom he hasn't seen for many years. Makoto is said to have grown into a fine young man and is working at a real estate agency. Shinigami tracks him down, but is puzzled to learn that Makoto has quit his job and has been hanging out with bad company. Shinigami tries to persuade Makoto to see his grandfather but the young man angrily brushes him off. Tomekichi, learning that his grandson has been going through a hard time, is heartbroken. Tamie, feeling hurt to see her husband suffering in his last days, wonders what she can do. Just then, Akuma appears to her, offering help...
Drama Notes:
Episode Five Story. This episode is based on "Rojin no shiawase no maki" (5th Story, Volume 3). Differences in the manga: There was no grandson. When Akuma introduced himself to the grandma, she thought he was a Dakko-chan doll, because of his cuddly, dark appearance. The grandma in the manga was only able to ask for 2 wishes. She only wanted her husband to not suffer from his illness and so she asked Akuma for help twice. In the manga, Akuma showed sympathy for the grandma (he was watching her go to the supermarket, felt irked that the people were rude to her, and later on, found himself rooting for her). So after Akuma granted her two wishes, he told her never to call for him again: "I've had enough of you! I don't want your soul!" and disappeared.
Manga Character Spotlight: Kaasuke, the Crow. Unlike in the live action adaptation, the crow in the manga is just that, a crow, and does not shift into any other form. The crow is the last recurring character to be introduced, having first appeared late into the manga's run (Volume 10). The crows originally do background checks on Assigned-To-Die humans. But the Chief, frustrated with all of the Shinigamis' performances, had decided to assign a crow to be the Monitoring Officer for each of the Shinigamis. So from then on, each Shinigami goes to his work, accompanied by his Crow Officer. Shinigami-kun decided to christen his crow, "Kaasuke" ("Kaa" for the cry of a crow + "Suke" which means "assistant"). At first, Kaasuke would remind and nag Shinigami not to break the rules. But later on, influenced by Shinigami-kun, the crow learned to sympathize as well with humans, and became good buddies with No. 413. Unlike Shinigami-kun, Kaasuke is not invulnerable, and can get hurt or harmed. Possible Spoiler!! In the manga's final story, Kaasuke gets hurt trying to save a human, but was revived miraculously. In the drama adaptation, the Crow is portrayed by Kiritani Mirei as a female Monitoring Officer with designated no. 45.
(info: ja.wiki)
Nure-senbei. Literally means, "moist rice cracker," these are rice crackers that "have been heavily doused with soy sauce and mirin, leaving a mochi mochi (chewy) consistency."
(info: bento) (pic: pinterest)
Mugicha. It is known as roasted barley tea, a "caffeine-free, roasted-grain-based infusion made from barley, which is popular in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cuisine."
(info/pic: wiki)
Episode filming locations.
Ep. 5 was mostly filmed in Adachi Ward, Tokyo:
Green pedestrian bridge over the Ayase railyard, 4 Chome, Yanaka, Adachi, Tokyo (above left pic). Where Shinigami first found Makoto, doing the Ore-Ore scam.
Mutsugi, Adachi, Tokyo. Commercial area where Heartfull Real Estate Agency is.
Beny Super, Sano branch, Adachi, Tokyo (above right pic). Where Grandma goes shopping. This supermarket for some reason has become a famous, favorite filming site, having been used in many other dramas (Watashi no Kiraina Tantei, Yakou Kanransha, DOCTORS 2, Otto no Kanojo, Beautiful Rain, Osozaki no Himawari, Deka Wanko, Tokyo Dogs, Soup Curry) and the movie, Chonmage Purin.
(info: loca.ash 1, 2) (pix: 1, 2)
Episode Synopsis:
Shinigami has finally been assigned to a human who is delighted to learn that he has only three days to live. He is Sato Tomekichi (Yamamoto Kei), an old, sickly grandpa who says he's already content, and wants to finally rest in peace. His kind and loving wife, Tamie (Yoshiyuki Kazuko) is also happy that her husband will finally be free from his suffering. Shinigami decides to appear to Tomekichi's family in order to help him finish what he needs to do for his last few days. However, the old man at first wishes for nothing but later on says, he wants to see his grandson, Makoto (Nishii Yukito) whom he hasn't seen for many years. Makoto is said to have grown into a fine young man and is working at a real estate agency. Shinigami tracks him down, but is puzzled to learn that Makoto has quit his job and has been hanging out with bad company. Shinigami tries to persuade Makoto to see his grandfather but the young man angrily brushes him off. Tomekichi, learning that his grandson has been going through a hard time, is heartbroken. Tamie, feeling hurt to see her husband suffering in his last days, wonders what she can do. Just then, Akuma appears to her, offering help...
Drama Notes:
Episode Five Story. This episode is based on "Rojin no shiawase no maki" (5th Story, Volume 3). Differences in the manga: There was no grandson. When Akuma introduced himself to the grandma, she thought he was a Dakko-chan doll, because of his cuddly, dark appearance. The grandma in the manga was only able to ask for 2 wishes. She only wanted her husband to not suffer from his illness and so she asked Akuma for help twice. In the manga, Akuma showed sympathy for the grandma (he was watching her go to the supermarket, felt irked that the people were rude to her, and later on, found himself rooting for her). So after Akuma granted her two wishes, he told her never to call for him again: "I've had enough of you! I don't want your soul!" and disappeared.
Manga Character Spotlight: Kaasuke, the Crow. Unlike in the live action adaptation, the crow in the manga is just that, a crow, and does not shift into any other form. The crow is the last recurring character to be introduced, having first appeared late into the manga's run (Volume 10). The crows originally do background checks on Assigned-To-Die humans. But the Chief, frustrated with all of the Shinigamis' performances, had decided to assign a crow to be the Monitoring Officer for each of the Shinigamis. So from then on, each Shinigami goes to his work, accompanied by his Crow Officer. Shinigami-kun decided to christen his crow, "Kaasuke" ("Kaa" for the cry of a crow + "Suke" which means "assistant"). At first, Kaasuke would remind and nag Shinigami not to break the rules. But later on, influenced by Shinigami-kun, the crow learned to sympathize as well with humans, and became good buddies with No. 413. Unlike Shinigami-kun, Kaasuke is not invulnerable, and can get hurt or harmed. Possible Spoiler!! In the manga's final story, Kaasuke gets hurt trying to save a human, but was revived miraculously. In the drama adaptation, the Crow is portrayed by Kiritani Mirei as a female Monitoring Officer with designated no. 45.
(info: ja.wiki)
Nure-senbei. Literally means, "moist rice cracker," these are rice crackers that "have been heavily doused with soy sauce and mirin, leaving a mochi mochi (chewy) consistency."
(info: bento) (pic: pinterest)
Mugicha. It is known as roasted barley tea, a "caffeine-free, roasted-grain-based infusion made from barley, which is popular in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cuisine."
(info/pic: wiki)
Ore-Ore scam. It's called "ore-ore sagi," or "It’s me! It’s me! scam," because the scammer calls an elderly person and claims to be an offspring or grandchild in dire need of cash. According to JapanTimes, in the first four months of 2013, "there were 1,573 incidents involving a total of some ¥5 billion nationwide, a level on pace to surpass last year’s annual total of 3,634 cases and ¥11.1 billion by wide margins".
(info: jt)
Episode filming locations.
Ep. 5 was mostly filmed in Adachi Ward, Tokyo:
Green pedestrian bridge over the Ayase railyard, 4 Chome, Yanaka, Adachi, Tokyo (above left pic). Where Shinigami first found Makoto, doing the Ore-Ore scam.
Mutsugi, Adachi, Tokyo. Commercial area where Heartfull Real Estate Agency is.
Beny Super, Sano branch, Adachi, Tokyo (above right pic). Where Grandma goes shopping. This supermarket for some reason has become a famous, favorite filming site, having been used in many other dramas (Watashi no Kiraina Tantei, Yakou Kanransha, DOCTORS 2, Otto no Kanojo, Beautiful Rain, Osozaki no Himawari, Deka Wanko, Tokyo Dogs, Soup Curry) and the movie, Chonmage Purin.
(info: loca.ash 1, 2) (pix: 1, 2)
