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earth_colors) wrote2014-11-27 12:52 am
earth_colors) wrote2014-11-27 12:52 am
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Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru: Drama Notes
Here are some drama notes from the 2014 WOWOW drama, "Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru":
The mangaka: Oshima Yumiko [大島 弓子]. The mangaka of the manga series was born in Ohtawara, Tochigi Prefecture in 1947. Her first manga was "Paula's Tears" released in 1968. She is considered part of 24-Gumi (Magnificent 49ers), the group of female manga artists that pioneered the shoujo demographic. She has received awards and citations, and is said to be an eccentric person. Regarding her works: "She approaches profound and disturbing issues in eccentric ways, fooling the reader into thinking she's reading a cute, nonsensical farce, then leaving her in tears." She had ovarian cancer in 1997 wherein a tumor was removed through surgery. She recovered in that same year through chemotherapy.
(info/pic: manga-updates, svc-in)
The manga: Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru [グーグーだって猫である]. Published by Kadokawa Bunko, and was turned into a movie in 2008, and drama series in 2014. As was explained at the end of the final episode of the drama series: "Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru was serialized beginning 1996. It sold a total of more than 800,000 copies, making it a sleeper hit, and had been loved for a long time. Mangaka Oshima Yumiko depicted her daily life with an American short-haired cat, Gou Gou (...) and turned it into this essay manga masterpiece. The setting was Kojima's home in Kichijoji, Musashino where she lived with her cats. While writing the series, she also battled with ovarian tumor, and in one story arc, she depicted this experience in a humorous manner. At the end of the series, there was a total of 13 cats in the Oshima home. During the changing seasons, somehow, time flew when depicting her life living with cats. However, during the series, she had learned to discern many of these cats. That, they would stare straight ahead, during times of illnesses and death. (...) In 2008, the manga received the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Award. After that, it continued to be serialized until 2011. The series ended with Gou Gou's passing."
(info/pic: wowow)
The real "Gou Gou" from Oshima Yumiko-san's photos
Gou Gou's name. As told in the manga, the cat's name is derived from "good good". But the author, having named her first cat, "Ça va" (French for "How are you"), also writes the second cat's name in French, "Gou Gou" (which is pronounced as "guu-guu"). The title of the manga essay is "Cher Gou-Gou...mon petit chat, mon petit ami (Dear Gou Gou... my little cat, my little friend)". But the whole manga series is collectively known as "Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru".
Filming locations. With pix above from left to right (info: niennumb):
Kichijoji, Musashino. Since Oshima's home setting for the manga is Kichijoji, the outdoor scenes of the movie and drama were filmed there. I've already talked about Kichijoji in my drama notes for Kodoku no Gurume S1. To add: Because of Kichijoji's young and vibrant atmosphere, it is always voted the No. 1 place in which young people wish to live. (info/pic: wiki, branet)
Inokashira Park. This vast park is located in both Musashino city and Mitaka. It features a pond, a small shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, a petting zoo and a small aquarium. Visitors, vendors, musicians, artists and street performers also gather here. It is also known for its cherry blossom viewings, and park concerts/music festivals. Of course, the park's zoo is the home of Hanako, the oldest elephant in Japan. (info/pic: wiki)
Harmonica Yokocho or Alley [ハーモニカ横丁]. Place near Kichijoji Station where you'll find shops, eateries and bars. Some of the shops date back from the end of WWII, a result of the post-war black market. (info: ocada, ja.wiki) (pic: tamachi-5ch)
Pepa Forest Cafe. A Thai cuisine restaurant located in the park. In the movie, it is where Asako (Koizumi Kyoko) met her late cat, Ca Va, who had appeared to her in the form of a person during a dream-like state. In the drama, it is where Asako (Miyazawa Rie) reunited with her former classmate in Ep 3. (info: japan-stripes) (pic: simokitadesu)
Yatsu-Higata [谷津干潟] (Yatsu Tidal Flats). When the drama's Asako went to Tsudanuma Station in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture, she reached the Yatsu-higata (tidal flats). It is recognized by the Ramsar Convention, an "international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands". The tidal flats accommodate migrating water fowls that come to hunt and fish for food like young fry and crustaceans that live in the wetlands. The town has set up facilities for bird-lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and tourists who come to see the water fowls. (homepage: yatsuhigata) (info: ja.wiki) (pic: yatsuhigata)
The mangaka: Oshima Yumiko [大島 弓子]. The mangaka of the manga series was born in Ohtawara, Tochigi Prefecture in 1947. Her first manga was "Paula's Tears" released in 1968. She is considered part of 24-Gumi (Magnificent 49ers), the group of female manga artists that pioneered the shoujo demographic. She has received awards and citations, and is said to be an eccentric person. Regarding her works: "She approaches profound and disturbing issues in eccentric ways, fooling the reader into thinking she's reading a cute, nonsensical farce, then leaving her in tears." She had ovarian cancer in 1997 wherein a tumor was removed through surgery. She recovered in that same year through chemotherapy.
(info/pic: manga-updates, svc-in)
The manga: Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru [グーグーだって猫である]. Published by Kadokawa Bunko, and was turned into a movie in 2008, and drama series in 2014. As was explained at the end of the final episode of the drama series: "Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru was serialized beginning 1996. It sold a total of more than 800,000 copies, making it a sleeper hit, and had been loved for a long time. Mangaka Oshima Yumiko depicted her daily life with an American short-haired cat, Gou Gou (...) and turned it into this essay manga masterpiece. The setting was Kojima's home in Kichijoji, Musashino where she lived with her cats. While writing the series, she also battled with ovarian tumor, and in one story arc, she depicted this experience in a humorous manner. At the end of the series, there was a total of 13 cats in the Oshima home. During the changing seasons, somehow, time flew when depicting her life living with cats. However, during the series, she had learned to discern many of these cats. That, they would stare straight ahead, during times of illnesses and death. (...) In 2008, the manga received the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Award. After that, it continued to be serialized until 2011. The series ended with Gou Gou's passing."
(info/pic: wowow)
The real "Gou Gou" from Oshima Yumiko-san's photos
Gou Gou's name. As told in the manga, the cat's name is derived from "good good". But the author, having named her first cat, "Ça va" (French for "How are you"), also writes the second cat's name in French, "Gou Gou" (which is pronounced as "guu-guu"). The title of the manga essay is "Cher Gou-Gou...mon petit chat, mon petit ami (Dear Gou Gou... my little cat, my little friend)". But the whole manga series is collectively known as "Gou Gou Datte Neko de Aru".
Filming locations. With pix above from left to right (info: niennumb):
Kichijoji, Musashino. Since Oshima's home setting for the manga is Kichijoji, the outdoor scenes of the movie and drama were filmed there. I've already talked about Kichijoji in my drama notes for Kodoku no Gurume S1. To add: Because of Kichijoji's young and vibrant atmosphere, it is always voted the No. 1 place in which young people wish to live. (info/pic: wiki, branet)
Inokashira Park. This vast park is located in both Musashino city and Mitaka. It features a pond, a small shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, a petting zoo and a small aquarium. Visitors, vendors, musicians, artists and street performers also gather here. It is also known for its cherry blossom viewings, and park concerts/music festivals. Of course, the park's zoo is the home of Hanako, the oldest elephant in Japan. (info/pic: wiki)
Jindaiji Animal Cemetery [深大寺動物霊園]. Located in Jindai-ji (temple) in Chofu/Mitaka area. A place where pet owners lay to rest and visit the cremated remains for their departed pets. For more info: japanvisitor. (pic: pethomeweb)
Harmonica Yokocho or Alley [ハーモニカ横丁]. Place near Kichijoji Station where you'll find shops, eateries and bars. Some of the shops date back from the end of WWII, a result of the post-war black market. (info: ocada, ja.wiki) (pic: tamachi-5ch)
Pepa Forest Cafe. A Thai cuisine restaurant located in the park. In the movie, it is where Asako (Koizumi Kyoko) met her late cat, Ca Va, who had appeared to her in the form of a person during a dream-like state. In the drama, it is where Asako (Miyazawa Rie) reunited with her former classmate in Ep 3. (info: japan-stripes) (pic: simokitadesu)
Yatsu-Higata [谷津干潟] (Yatsu Tidal Flats). When the drama's Asako went to Tsudanuma Station in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture, she reached the Yatsu-higata (tidal flats). It is recognized by the Ramsar Convention, an "international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands". The tidal flats accommodate migrating water fowls that come to hunt and fish for food like young fry and crustaceans that live in the wetlands. The town has set up facilities for bird-lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and tourists who come to see the water fowls. (homepage: yatsuhigata) (info: ja.wiki) (pic: yatsuhigata)