The Notebook

This time, I'll review a movie for the first time. ”The Notebook.” Do you know it?

”The Notebook” is an American film produced in 2004. This movie's director is Nick Cassavetes and it was fourth place in the U.S. weekend box office. It is a movie which made a big hit in both the United States and Japan. This film was based on a novel which Nicholas Sparks published in 1996. 

Outline:  Duke is an old man and the chief character. He enters a dormitory in a medical treatment facility where he reads a story to an old woman with Alzheimer symptoms. He reads the same story to her every day. As for the story that he read, the stage was Southern U.S. Seabrook of 1940. It's a summer story of young man, Noah, and a girl, Alley. Noah was in love with Alley who came to the country in summer vacation. They developed a mutual love and they spent a happy summer vacation. But Alley's parents did not accept her love with Noah.

At first, I thought this movie was an intense summer love story. However, it was a mistake. This is a continuous love story! It was Noah and Aller's love story of their life. After watching this movie, my tears did not stop. Why does Duke read a story to the old woman every day? You will understand the reason if you watch the movie!

Black Jack

Today, I will introduce a comic known all over the world, ”Black Jack.” The author is Osamu Tezuka. This comic was published from 1973 to 1983. The publication magazine was Weekly Shonen Champion. The theme is medical treatment and life. This comic's chief character is Black Jack. He is a genius medical surgeon, but he does not have a license.

Black Jack's real name is Kuro Hazama. He had an accident in an explosion with his mother when he was a child. His mother died, and he survived thanks to an operation. After that, he was called Black Jack and he saved many patients. However, he demanded a lot of money from his patients. 

My favorite character is Pinoko. She was a teratoma cyst (kikei-noushu). By an operation done by Black Jack, she got a body. After she got a body, she worked as an assistant to Black Jack. Her small body and baby talk is so cute! But her true age is 18 years old. She is extraordinary, and Black Jack is often bothered by Pinoko.

Black Jack is 242 episodes in total. I'm still reading them.

Tegami

Today, I review a Keigo Higashino novel again.  I have already introduced his novels two times. This novel is the most serious story of the novels which I reviewed. The novel's name is ”Tegami.” In English, it means ”Letter.” The chief characters are an older brother and a younger brother.

Outline: The older brother, Tsuyoshi, and the younger brother, Naoki, do not have parents and they live together. The older brother works, but his salary is low. And Naoki injures his waist, so he gets fired from work. Tsuyoshi wants money so Naoki enters university. Tsuyoshi burglarizes an the old, rich woman's house. However, Tsuyoshi is discovered by an old woman, so he murders her. He was reported to somebody and was arrested. ”My older brother is a murderer.” Because of that, Naoki has a hard life. Still Naoki is able to marry Yumiko. She is a gentle woman. For a little time, Naoki is happy. However, Naoki's daughter is bullied at school. His daughter's classmate says ”Your father is a murderer's brother !” He thinks about the meaning of living fair and square with his family. And Naoki decides to write a letter to Tsuyoshi to disown Tsuyoshi.

This is a very serious story, but I was impressed when I read it. Tsuyoshi and Naoki trusted each other. This is Brotherly love! This is not a novel to make somebody cry. Keigo Higashino's novels are like reality, and indifferent. But this novel is thought-provoking. 

This novel was filmized in 2006. The cast is Takayuki Yamada, Tetsuji Tamayama, and Erika Sawajiri.

Candy Candy

Hello, everyone! This time, I will change the review genre. Today I introduce a famous girl's comic. Do you know ”Candy Candy”? The original is Kyoko Mizuki, The original picture is Yumiko Igarashi. Candy Candy was comic series in the magazine for four years and won the 1st Kodansha Manga Award in 1977.

This comic's stage is the U.K. and United States of the early 20th century. Candy, an abandoned orphan taken in by the orphanage, Pony's Home. Candy became 12 years old, and she is fostered out to a millionaire's house. At that place she got bullied. But she was not discouraged, and she was loved by the people and grew up. 

Candy fell in love with two boys. Anthony and Terry.

Anthony and Terry

They are so handsome, and so gentle. Two people are very popular. But I love Terry very much! 

Candy Candy is very interesting and extremely popular, but the story is so severe. Meeting, parting, death, bullying, war - all of these appear in this story.  Candy is unfortunate but she lives a full and vigorous life. I can't read this comic without crying! This comic was animated over the world. In particular, It was popular in France, Italy and Korea. Candy Candy influenced ”Fuyu no Sonata.” I loved this comic when I was a child, and I still love it now.

Yoake no Machi de

Today, I introduce about Keigo Higashino's novel again. His novel is exciting and easy to read. I like his novels. The title is ”Yoake no Machi de” (Probably there is not an English version title).

Higashino won the Ranpo Edogawa Prize. It is the prize that any influential novelist longs for!  His whodunit was good enough to win a prize. (Whodunit means mystery novel). 

Outline:  Watanabe and Akiha are co-workers at a company. They worked together, but they didn't talk very much. They were not interested in each other. But one night, Watanabe and Akiha met accidentally at a batting center. Thereafter, they had a deep relationship and they had a sexual relationship. One day, Watanabe knew that Akiha was the person involved in a murder case.

I thought that this novel was an immoral novel. But while I read it, the story became more interesting! Was Akiha a victim or a murderer? The point is important. 

And there is another wonderful point in this novel. This novel's stage is Yokohama.  Famous spots that everybody knows appear in the novel, such as Yokohama Station, Minatomirai, Yamashita Park, and more. 

This novel was made into a film in 2011. It was filmed in Minatomirai. The cast is Goro Kishitani and Kyoko Hukada. I have not seen this movie yet, but I'm interested in it very much!

I recommend this novel. If you feel that you want to read this novel, I will lend the book to you!

My Man

Today, I will introduce ”My Man.” In the novel which I introduced, it is the newest novel so far. The author is Kazuki Sakuraba. When I found this novel in a bookstore, I felt that it was a mysterious title. And I bought it impulsively. ”My Man” was awarded the 138th Naoki Prize. This novel writes about the abnormal love of  a daughter and her father. 

In this novel, a girl became an orphan at the age of 10 years old by a tsunami. The girl's name is Hana. She had a distantly related relative, Jungo. The two lonely people lived in a country town of Monbetsu, Hokkaido. Six years later, on drift ice of the winter sea of Okhotsk, a murder case happened. Jungo and Hana escaped from Hokkaido. They had a heavy secret...

”My Man” was filmed recently. I went to watch this movie on its release day. There were few people in the audience, because this movie was not a cheerful story (It is my personal opinion). But I liked it!

This movie's actor is so familiar. Hana is Fumi Nikaido. She is a young actress gathering attention. I like her. And Jungo is Tadanobu Asano. He is such a famous actor. Because it is a heavy story, I cannot recommend it very much, but I like this novel and movie. 

By the way, Kazuki Sakuraba is a very famous novelist. Judging from the name, you will think this person to be a man. It's not true. Kazuki Sakuraba is a women. Did you know?

Norwegian Wood

Today, I will introduce Norwegian Wood. The author is Haruki Murakami. This novel is more famous than ”Secret” (the  novel which I introduced last time). Norwegian Wood was made into a movie recently, so I think many people know it.

The novel is set in Tokyo during the 1960s when the characters were university students. The chief character is a 37-year old man. His name is Watanabe. Watanabe listened to Norwegian Wood by the Beatles in an airplane. He was intensely confused.  He recollected his school days.

I think this novel is so heavy... and so long. There is a first volume and a second volume. The novel takes up many problems, such as life and death, sex, and more. After I finished reading it, my feeling was so heavy. Now when I listen to 'Norwegian Wood' by the Beatles, I feel gloomy. 

Haruki Murakami's sensitivity was very difficult, and I was not able to understand it well. But the novel's metaphors, expressions, and description were very beautiful! I felt drawn to this story. I haven't seen the movie yet,  but I want to watch it.

The actors are attractive, Kenichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi, and Kiko Mizuhara.