Karei naru Ichizoku (2007)

I must make a point of commencing this review by saying what a great drama this is; the scale and quality of this production is unparalleled to any other I have seen thus far, so first and foremost please take this into account when addressing my criticisms of it.

The grandiose nature of this drama can initially feel a tad overblown before you are engaged by the plot; every character is introduced on screen in each episode with text denoting their name and association to other characters or establishments, the music is mostly orchestral, with a good choice in The Eagles' "Desperado" thrown in, and sweeping overtures throughout the series give the whole thing a sense of huge importance. This, combined with the enthusiasm and respect of those who support the central character feels slightly false at first. Only very slightly.

This foundation is well laid, however, as the story that unfolds is so engaging, the enemy so cruel and terrible in the face of such unceasing, hopeless optimism, that anything less is scale would fail to support it through to the final climax.
The story is a sad one, but necessarily so. The characters who give the drama its light alleviate the pain of the circumstances forever falling upon them.

The acting is sublime, Kimura Takuya has not crafted such a reputation out of thin air after all, but for me it is Kitaoji Kinya's Manpyo Daisuke that steals the show, the nuances of his expression so readable whilst retaining the stone-faced airs of a powerful executive.

For me, whilst immediately impressed by the quality of the drama it needed an initial investment of time; I didn't feel compelled to watch episode after episode, although by episode 6 this feeling changed and I was very keen to progress with the story. Like all dramas that feel this way, the investment of time into a few well thought-out starting episodes, that do not spoil us with too much all at once and establish characters and circumstance evenly and with skill, is worth the payoff and more.
What's more, the social setting of 1960's Japan is interesting, a time of great transition for the country.

In regards to my average score for rewatch value, I hasten to add that my PTW is getting so long, it would have to be the most incredible drama for me to watch it again before deciding to watch anything else. Others may enjoy watching the same thing many times, but for me I am keen to try new things, so please don't let that put you off.
What's more, some scenes in this drama were so striking I am certain that they will be very clear in my memory for some time to come.
If I could give it a score out of 10 to recommend you watch it I'd give it a 10; it's good to see the serious and highly professional side of the drama world amongst all the dreamy good stuff that we all enjoy!

I urge you all to give this one a go!

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Was stumped w this drama in a positive sense. Japanese tragic dramas can be heavy but this one was punctuated w some positive vibes. A plutocrat family but in a sense a tribe isnt it where you have to follow the elders lead, out of conformity, cultural binds. The song Desperado being played throughout the drama is an apt choice. Hats off to Takuya Kimura who played Tenppei Manpyo , i have always liked him but in here he has shown his ability to deliver subtle emotions. You cant help but empathise with Kitaoji Kinya who played the "evil" father. The narration gave a perspective of the economic challenges in that era and remember dont be tempted to stop the player when you think its the ending. Listen to the last message from Tenppei.

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As I was looking for an unforgettable drama like The Great White Tower, I stumbled across Karei naru ichizoku, another classic recommended by many on the Internet - and boy did it not disappoint. The grandiose nature of this drama and seemingly cheesy plot may put some off from watching this drama at first, but to tell you the truth, I was hooked right into it after watching the first episode.

Story: Without trying to repeat the plot summaries on this website, this story is essentially about the struggles within the Manpyo family and the themes of hope, love, determination and trust. Overall, it is a highly thought-provoking story containing many lessons and things all of us viewers can learn from.

Acting/Cast: This goes without saying, the cast + the acting was excellent. Kimura Takuya and Kitaoji Kinya were definitely the stars of this drama. I was also highly impressed with everyone else, each playing their role perfectly and causing us viewers to form connections with their characters - even at a personal level.

Music: Delicious yet not too cheesy and annoying. Perfect for this type of drama and the grandiose nature of it.

Rewatch Value: Definitely worth rewatching in the future.

I apologize if I haven't really revealed as much as I could have in this review, but the story and impact that this drama can have on you speaks much louder than my words.

I can safely recommend this drama to anyone. You will not regret it.

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I must say, this is one of the best Kimura Takuya series I've seen. All the cast did a great job. Superb acting skills were shows.

I was supposed to give it a 10 as an overall score, but the ending just had me crying my eyes out so I decided to give it an over all score of 9. I can't believe it, this is the third series that it happened.

The music was just superb. Desperado was definitely on point for this series. I was also glad to hear Sukiyaki on Episode 10, even for just a bit.

Again, you should watch this, definitely worth watching. Definitely.

Longer review here: https://elijahmaliksmom.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/karei-naru-ichizoku/

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That Ending!!!

I usually don't watch Family/Business Dramas.Iam easily bored and must be a really good reason to decide start one(if,ever!)
Here i found 2 reasons made me start watching.

1.Kimura Takuya.I committed to myself to watch anything i find online with him starring,(even the cheesy romance dramas i do hate.)
Iam inlove with his acting,his talent,his voice and his smile!
The Grand Family wasn't my priority to watch in the nearest future but..

2.The second reason was the very positive comments and reviews (Thank You!!!)and as always i thought to try the first episode and will see.

High valued production i must say.Setting is in the late 60's.I liked all the details,from costumes to cars,the transportation,everything was subtle.The scenery of the snowy mountains was breathtaking,too!
Nice choices of music(mostly orchestral)

Acting & Cast
Not much to say about KimuTaku.He can play any role,any character,anytime!Silence speaks louder than words.He delivered all the emotions with his eyes.
The one who amazed me the most though, was the Father played by Kitaoji Kinya.I checked after,Yes ofc his acting was so good,he is a veteran with many awards!
But the performance from all the cast was great as well.

The narrative at fisrt(voice over) was a bit awkward but i get used to it.
The Manpyo Family is the center of the story.A powerful but dysfunctional family.Patriarchy rules!
The women of the family are weak,low profiled,set up by arranged marriages,not much of a saying.I guess is because of that Era.Women didn't hold strong positions in society.
The only exception was Aiko(assistant/mistress of the Father)A Devilish woman,manipulates everything,a great influence to the Head of the family she is actually the First Lady of the house instead of the legal wife.A very interesting character.

All are very complex,deep,intriguing and broken characters in their own way.Each plays his/her role to the story as a member of the family.We can see the course of the story through them.We hate them(father and mistress)we pity them(the women of the family)we sympathize them(Ginpei the 2nd son)and of course we root and feel for HIM.our protagonist.

Teppei is smart,capable,innovative.He has dreams.He has visions.He can see the future and works towards it.Steel is his passion and wants his company to be a leader in the industry.But after all,as everyone,he is just human...
But he finds his own father against him.Schemes,traps and obstacles.Antagonism and jealousy.Very strong and negative feelings in the air.We can't understand why this father hates his own son so much!They are not just rivals.They are enemies!
The eldest son is the only one who has the balls to stand against the domineering Father.Deep down all he needs is his father's love and acceptance.One of the most powerful scenes of this drama was in the last episode and the final meeting between father and son.Top notch acting.I can't say more.

From the early episodes we have a feeling where this story goes.And yes indeed goes towards that direction.But..don't forget this is a JDrama.Even if its core is related to business & family,still has few incredible twists and it is twisted as well.The classic good Japanese recipe we trust and love!
So, Karei naru Ichizoku is far from the dull and boring drama you might think it is.Is so much more,you will be engaged to the story and all the characters.Even the technical terms(banking,finance,steel industry etc)are interesting.
It is a drama i can write a whole essay!Don't ignore it!

Side Note to the title i gave.That ending!!.Is not a spoiler.i can't say if i loved or hated it.It was both.I didn't see it coming.Tore me,broke me,made me appreciate the drama all over again,even at the final scene.If you have read other reviews of mine you most likely know what kind of endings i do like.This was different.Made me feel different.

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Shocking, Intense, Glorious Retro. Must Watch

Netflix have some clever folks at the helm these days. Reviving great productions for new audience, is a masterstroke. This one began as a delightful trip down retro lane and halfway became Dynasty with several shock twists. Fantastic viewing, watched it all in a week. Beautiful, moving, perfect dorama. Captain Kimura delivers a well rounded performance; be sure to notice the "three faces" of his character. Take note also, of several co stars who are now big names. 100% Must See viewing. It's also a delight to watch shows that faithfully attempt to reproduce a time that doesn't exist anymore. Costumes, cars, streets and advertising. A sensory experience and delight. Enjoy !

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