Welcome!

    Welcome to "Itsumo: Keiko Kitagawa", the best English fan site dedicated to the lovely Japanese actress Keiko Kitagawa (北川景子) and what she does best! ^_^ All throughout this site you will find extensive information on her works, beautiful scans and scavenged pictures in the gallery, and an assortment of goodies ranging from translated articles to music and movie clips. Please sign the guestbook, join the forum and enjoy your stay!

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Homeroom on the Beachside Episode 2 Review + July 31, 2008

   
     Episode 2 suffered a SEVERE drop in ratings. From 20.5% to 14.4%! Like, I was expecting it to drop but not THAT much. WOW! After watching episode 2 I think I discovered what dealt the drama such a dirty card in ratings. Below is a summary and my personal comments on episode 2. Don't worry, it's spoiler free and followed by links for you to watch the raws yourself! ^_^

    Attention shifts from Hiroshi and Riku to Akari Yashima (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and Hachiro Habata (Gaku Hamada). A mysterious document containing obscene information on one of Sakurai's students says that one was involved in some...less than flattering activities with various men. Basically the document said that Akari was given expensive gifts by several men for her "services." It also contained her school picture which meant that Akari's school ID book was missing. This puts Akari in a bad situation, but her blasé reaction to the whole issue stuns her classmates and angers the headmaster. Riku, Hiroshi, and especially Hachiro, try to protect her but she dismisses them and even flaunts her conquests via a brightly colored, puri kura infested notebook that contained the names, ages, and numbers of the men she's worked with.

   This would deter most men, but apparently not Hachiro who is nursing a crush on Akari. Sakurai suggests that he writes her a love letter but when he presents it to her, she rips it up without even looking at it! Hiroshi, Riku, and Moichi Higaki (Akira Kagimoto) protest but Hachiro fends them off and insists it's okay. Sakurai calmly gathers the pieces of the letter to give Akari a second chance but she refuses and stalks off. At this point, one has to sincerely wonder what's Akari's problem and why Hiroshi, Riku, Moichi, and especially Hachiro are putting up with her standoffish attitude. Hold your horses, the point makes itself apparent in the end when Akari involves herself with a gentleman who won't take "no!" for an answer.

   I liked this episode a lot better because it gave me more to chew on as far as characters and plot progression goes. It's obvious the drama is following that "feature student per episode" formula but I don't really mind, everyone has problems that good friends and a determined teacher can solve. Sakurai is still very stupid and even though I know Oda is filling the stereotypical "super teacher" role, I'm smitten. Sakurai's absolute absurdity combined with his strong will makes from some silly as well as very serious action. Often times it's enough if he just stands around and lets the students do the thinking for us all. In some perverse way, he's like a modern day Socrates---which would explain he's oddities combined with the extreme dislike people seem to have towards him. I find I'm able to forgive Sakurai. A little... lol. That aside, this episode had all sorts of nonsense that made me laugh or just annoyed the hell out of me ("AKARI! AKARI! AKARI! AKARI!"). Unlike episode 1, however, episode 2 contained the sort of spicy driven plot that episode 1 lacked. I think it's because episode 1 followed the "school drama" stereotypical storyline a little too closely that discouraged people from seeing what episode 2 could bring. Good thing some people believe in second chances. Hopefully ratings will increase, because the preview to episode 3 looks entertaining! Looks like we'll be seeing more of Wakaba (Keiko, for all you slow people ^_~) who was major MIA in this episode. I'm still blah about her character, hopefully episode 3 will show a side of Wakabe in which she isn't some cheerful, former Miss Tokyo, fool. *smiles sweetly* I can see why Keiko thought she was wrong for the role...

Watch Episode 2 RAWS! Part 1, Part 2

Episode 3 Preview
   After seeing episode 2 I've learned not to fully trust these previews. Meanies! Somehow I think I can trust this one though. The "student spotlight" shifts over to silent badass, Eiji (Yusuke Yamamoto). Sakurai's hopes for his class drops considerably when the headmaster informs him that Eiji is doing so poorly in his classes, he may not be able to graduate. Sakurai pleads for Eiji's case and the headmaster concedes. Eiji will be allowed to graduate if his grades get better and enlists a tutor to help him do it. And who do you think that is? Unexpectedly, Wakabe ends up playing a more active role in Eiji's life...and...what's this...a bunch of random kids clinging to Mr. Badass Eiji?! Hmmm...didn't know he had such a tender side. I wonder if those kids are...his...O_O Whoa...stay tuned! The next episode is airing Monday, August 4 at 9:00pm (nihon time)


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BEACHSIDE BONUS!
   Yay for Veoh and direct download!

WATCH:
Nakai Masahiro's Live Super Drama Festival (7/21): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Homeroom on the Beachside Special: here



DOWNLOAD:

Nikkei Entertainment- August issue + July 31, 2008

Weekly the Television - July issue + July 31, 2008

Homeroom on the Beachside Episode 1 Review + July 23, 2008

    Well the verdict is in! I decided that this time around when I review episodes I'll try to keep tabs on the reports of non-Keiko fans so that way mine can be a bit less biased. ^_^ Episode 1 debuted at 20.5% rating, scoring just below Code Blue to achieve a second place season best premiere. Below is a summary and my personal response to the premiere of "Homeroom on the Beachside." Don't worry, it's spoiler free and it's followed by a link to watch the raws yourself. ^_^

     The setting is Shonan Prep High School well known for productive students who graduate and go on to attend really prestigious colleges. Sakutaro Sakurai (Yuji Oda) is assigned to become a teacher at this school but he's so odd and doesn't fit the image of the teachers the students are used to. In the beginning of the episode, seven students gather on the beachside under fireworks to enjoy their own special graduation ceremony. As they part their separate ways, their celebration is stopped short by a gang of unruly students who take great pleasure in harassing Hiroshi Negishi (Masaki Okada) while his classmate, Riku Shirasaki (Kii Kitano) looks on. Obviously, Hiroshi has personal problems that is slowly leaking into his school life.

   The next day while Hiroshi is practicing on the beachside for his swim meet tomorrow, he and Riku are shocked out of their conversation about last night's incident by a screaming old woman. She's screaming about two young children who are lost in the sea and could be drowning. Right when Hiroshi is getting ready to play lifeguard, a figure rises out of the water, holding the two unconscious children. He carefully coaches Riku through some first aid and helps saves the children. Suddenly realizing what time it is, the odd man grabs Riku and makes a break to catch a train. Apparently he needs to be somewhere for something....but to make a long story short, Riku and Hiroshi are shocked to find that the crazy guy in a damp suit is their new homeroom teacher, Sakurai. He isn't the only one late to the school assembly. The slightly clueless new teacher, Wakaba Enokida, manages to slip in largely unnoticed just before Sakurai. But not before bumping into a short tempered Eiji Kawabe (Yusuke Yamamoto) who I'm guessing is the school badass.

   The next series of events is typical and very reminiscent of GTO is the sense that Sakurai's new homeroom can't stand the sight of him and are caught entirely off guard when he asks them what they want to do with their lives (their dreams, aspirations) rather than treat them as indifferently as all their other teachers. It becomes obvious that Sakurai is very disliked but the message that he carries (in spite of his stupidity) is firm and uplifting.

  It's obvious that "Beachside" has zero intentions of straying away from the "school drama" archetypes--but let's be serious, it's why we love those kind of dramas anyway. For me personally, "Beachside" was half and half for me. It was kinda boring, in an understandable sense since I didn't understand more than half of what I was hearing. I had to do on sight alone and base character performance on the emotions and expressions of the actors. The typical gang of losers harassing a students is really overplayed and hard to believe since the boy they chose to harass Hiroshi looks like he could barely stand a chance against him anyway. What I love about the drama is the casting because I think it's done really well.  Each character is believable in a sense (minus the guy with the high pitched voice and a bad attitude) and each actor sticks to their role well. I was annoyed with Sakurai but I think I will start to like him. And Shonan Prep's teaching staff look like they'll be ridiculously interesting with further character development. As for Keiko's character, I like her well enough. I think I'm just basically indifferent to her because she hasn't done a single thing worth noting....yet...hehehe. Keiko's acting was alright, I don't think her character showed any kind of range for me to pass any kind of judgment. But looking at the previews for episode two...heh....I think I'm going to have lots to say next week.

    Non-Keiko fan response to the drama is VERY mixed. Some people love the drama, some are indifferent, and some are blowing the drama off entirely. Most people overlooked Keiko's performance in it (there was a bit more love for Kii Kitano). For those who acknowledged it, they either loved it (obvious Keiko fans), were indifferent to it (she didn't appear much anyway) or absolutely hated it (because her character barely showed any range). There does seem to be unanimous agreement that the true test is the next episode rating. If there is an increase-- great---but more than a three point drop and people are ready to dismiss another school drama entirely. They must be suffering from Gokusen's tired plot/ bad acting overload.

Watch Episode 1 raws! Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Episode 2 Preview
   I watched the preview twice so I could gloat. Finally some real drama! Rumors fly through school about a video containing one of Sakurai's students engaging in less than honorable activity. That student is Akari Yashima (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and the rumors are leaving her slightly disheveled. It is said that she's been receiving gifts from several men for her...services... Angry students take this rumor to the principal and Akari's presence at school is hanging in the balance even though Hiroshi and Hachiro Habata (Gaku Hamada) defend her with everything they have. Some students corner Akari and order her to apologize for her actions but she refuses, claiming she's done nothing wrong! So what's going on?! We see Akari crying and...oh....what's this?...a train station and if I didn't know any better it looks like Eiji is moving in to kiss Wakaba. But isn't Wakaba a...teacher? Whoa....stay tuned! The next episode is airing Monday, July 28th at 9:00pm.

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"I love you baybay..." + July 22, 2008

   Someone kindly uploaded the ending/ theme song to "Homeroom on the Beachside." The song is called "Kimi no Hitomi ni Koishiteiru" and is performed by the band UZ. UZ (you-zee, you-gee, yuji---get it?)  is Yuji Oda's band so, yeah, that's him singing in pretty good engrish! Gulliver's Travels, anyone? Watch it before Fuji snatches it down!

                    


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Beachside Starts STRONG! + July 21, 2008

    The ratings are in and "Beachside" premiered with 20.5%! That makes it the second highest premiere (by 1 point) for a drama this season (the first belonging to "Code Blue" which has had a significant drop in ratings since ^_^). Anyway, now that that is out of my system, feast your eyes on the clips below. For the first, I have no idea which of many shows this is but, seriously, who cares?! IT'S KEIKO! ^_^ I'll be adding more clips here or there as they come along.

              
   To watch this is high quality, double click on the video to go to the youtube page. Below the video click "watch in high quality" and ENJOY!

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HA HA HA HA--FRESH! + July 21, 2008

  Well, I wasn't lying when I said the previous layout wouldn't last very long. But it kinda did, didn't it? Meh, well at least you know that for the past few days I haven't been sitting on my bon bon doing nothing. I've been working and preparing for school (yeah, I know it's still July, but STILL...) and every off day I've been working on this layout little by little. As you can see, I carried over the cuteness of forums (as well as lots of pink and blue) to end this summer with hearts, squiggle lines and OF COURSE images from BREO. You'll also notice that I've made the main image smaller. People kept telling me it was obnoxiously large and stubborn, lazy me finally got around to making it a tad more narrow.

   Also take a look on your left and behold the newest IKK RADIO playlist, BEACHSIDE MIX! It features 25 songs by about 30 different artists with all the pop, reggae, and snazzy guitar chords you can possibly imagine to ring in the new drama. Since "Homeroom on the Beachside" has no major musical tie in I made one up myself! The playlist opens with BENNIE K's "Utopia" (which would make an AWESOME theme song) and ends with Lecca's "After the Rain" (which would make an AWESOME ending song). All the songs in between cover all major music genres (even jazz!) so I hope you guys can appreciate the variety and enjoy it as you browse IKK version 9.0: FRESH!

  And special thanks to LuZinha for e-mailing me the "Heat Island" theme song to add to IKK RADIO. I REALLY appreciate it and when the rotation works it's way back around to main list everyone will be able to jam that ska influenced song! YOU ROCK!

<3 Sade

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Yay for Premiere Day! + July 21, 2008

    PREMIERE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!!!!! On July 16th, Keiko and her co-stars appeared at a press conference for "Homeroom on the Beachside". Keiko in "sensei make-up" is rather snazzy if I do say so myself. For someone who claims to be ridiculously nervous, she handles herself quite well. Well enough to come off politely shy instead of terrified. Anyway, the conference went well and there is a decent amount of anticipation for this drama. The famed Yuji Oda even expressed his desire to see Keiko succeed and complimented her acting skills. To have such a big name backing her must be an honor.

    SO, I haven't seen the drama yet, though from the reviews I've read it's pretty entertaining. As soon as the raws are available I'll post a link here. If anyone knows of a subbing team working on this drama PLEASE LET ME KNOW! In the meantime enjoy this, this, this, and this before Fuji TV takes it down! Special thanks to  Venusayaka for posting these links!


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Commercial Matters + July 21, 2008

    Yes, you may know already. Yes, I'm late. HOWEVER, it's gotta be said, right. OMG--Keiko's new CM, ROCKS! As many of you SHOULD know, Keiko teamed up with Glico again to do BREO a breath mint commercial! And my goodness, she just looks so sexy without even trying! Makes me sincerely want a "making of" because I'd love to see how filming for this went. BREO effortlessly outshines Paliette. Good for her, maybe we'll see her in a Pocky CM next.

    Then there is what looks to be a "save the chimps" environmental ad sponsored by Kanaflex where Keiko tells us as humans it's out job to protect the world we live in. GO GREEN! While it may not nearly look as glamorous as BREO it still features a mature and seriously elegant looking Keiko. Way to campaign, Kanaflex!

Below is a link to view the BREO CM as well as dozens of caps from the official site and from the Kanaflex CM. ENJOY! ENJOY! ENJOY!

                   

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