Million Yen Women

"Million Yen Women" is a Japanese TV series on Netflix that is based off a manga. The protagonist is Yojiro Noda, lead singer of RADWIMPS, the band that did the very popular soundtrack of animated film "Your Name."

The structure of "Million Yen Women" is the basic set-up of a "harem" manga. "Harem" is a a popular sub-genre in manga where a clueless man lives together with many young, attractive women, many of whom develop crushes or fall in love with him. Although the harem set-up is fine for comics, it rather loses its tenuous credibility in live-action film such as in "Million Yen Women." However this TV series has a twist, an element of mystery, that is almost as fantastical but rather more welcome. Kudos to Yojiro Noda, anyway, for making his protagonist likable anyhow.

Harem is not particularly my cup of tea, but I did enjoy some of the character development in the series and some surprising moments of depth and pathos sprinkled throughout.

Although "Million Yen Women" contains elements of romance and murder, it also is about Yojiro Noda's character, who is an upcoming novelist, and his rivalry with a popular established author. This rivalry is pretty basic, but I did enjoy some of the discussion about novels and expression and "creating a new emotion" and etc. There's an odd peace about Yojiro Noda that makes character as a novelist believable, and makes him unique against the backdrop of criminal intrigue he stands against.

Unfortunately however, the rivalry between the two authors isn't as resolved as I would like, and there are various other plots of the drama that seem rushed or underdeveloped or sort of like afterthoughts. (I haven't read the manga so I make no comparison.) Nevertheless, "Million Yen Women" does have a degree of substance that elevates it beyond a typical boy's fantasy, and it is mostly fun and enjoyable to watch so I recommend it.

This drama also has Japanese audio description and Japanese captions for those wanting to learn the language.

The basic scenario is intriguing : an introverted, unsuccessful author has allowed five pretty young women to live at his house. They were mysteriously invited to do so by someone ( not him ) & must also pay a million yen per month in rent, & there are other rules in place. Parallel to this odd arrangement, we follow a cocky, best-selling young author who is the opposite of our "hero" & is championed by an arrogant critic, while the back-stories of the ladies form a major part of the narrative. As the story unfolded & captured my interest, my thoughts inexorably turned as they always do to the ending. Would it do justice to the rest ? I really HATE it when I fall in love with something & then get stabbed in the back by a rubbish finale, but thankfully I wasn't disappointed. And though I don't usually like a BIG revelation with minimal or zero clues, I'm happy to forgive thanks to an exhilarating, blockbuster final ep bulging with surprises & an unexpected emotional wallop that made me teary. A well-written script ( adapted from a manga, & where would Japanese media be without them ? ) has the lot : nefarious deeds, sex in various forms, humour & a pleasing focus on both the philosophy of writing & the joy of reading. Central to the story, of course, is who sent the invites & why, though some of the most memorable moments are small ones : a kick in the backside after a posh party; a young girl in a wordless scene with her author father; the lead's final meeting with a murderous relative. And the last few eps explore the simple power of a human connection. And the cast ? All are good, with two standout efforts : in a showy role, Rila Fukushima is wonderful as the abrasive "nudist" while Noda Yosiro is deceptively great as the main author. You might think this sort of quiet, self-deprecating character would be easy to play, yet speaking in a monotone & not displaying emotion doesn't mean he lacks it & he does have a moving journey to make by the end. Kudos to the director for keeping things flowing smoothly, some of the photography is gorgeous & the music is another asset. Yes, I'd have liked a calamity for the cocky writer but we get a sadly realistic outcome instead.

I'm happy that this show popped up in my recommended section in Netflix. The story line was intriguing & so captivating that I finish all episodes in 2 nights. It's story telling is much different than Hollywood, yet if you enjoy drama in general, you will enjoy this. Scene by scene changes in an unpredictable way. You feel like you want to know more about its character stories and you are teased with clips of flashbacks, side stories etc. LOVE IT.

It opens to a casual dinner party of 5 friends. It seems harmless enough, though they are quite the food critics. "It's kind of hard to suit all of you, don't you think?" Our host is slightly flustered.

But wait. One of the parties is entirely butt-naked!

The host, Michima Shi - Mich (a novelist) is played by Noda Yojiro Yell from Fune wo Amu: Watashi & Jisho Tsukurimasu. A few months ago, 5 unfamiliar women showed up to live in his old multi-bedroom house. As we meet them, they're having dinner and attempting to agree on the name of their new kitten, an adorable orange & white calico, with scrunched ears, sitting patiently in its box. Mich has a touch of the prototype Japanese-anime-pure-hearted-blushing-maiden-male-protagonist. He's sincere. He's kind. He's sensitive. And he's completely shut off, emotionally. His parents did a number on him. Dad killed mom while she was "en flagrante delicto" with another man. Then dad killed the man. Then dad killed the police officer who first showed on the scene.

These women all received invitations to live with Mich. He doesn't know who sent the invitations, but they came with rules: He may not ask them any questions. He may not enter their rooms. They must eat dinner together. He must look after all of them, including the nudist. Why, O Why would anyone go along with this? They each pay him 1M/mo in rent. That's 💱6752.05 dollars as I write this. The kitten, in the meantime, seems to prefer the name "Cat". It's generic, but no one can claim it's not fitting.

Based on a manga by Shunju Aono, M💴W is a 2017 release that is rated 91 on AWiki. It is 1 season consisting of 12 25-minute English subbed episodes. It's what they call in manga-land a harem piece. After a 5 minute intro, we go back 6 months. Mich walks home to a pigsty and Tsukamoto Hitomi (Matsui Rena from Yawao to Katako) is sitting at his junk-laden table. "Didn't you send me this invitation?" She's genuinely confused. She hands Mich a million yen which helps allay his concerns. The others shortly followed. Mich won't learn what the invitations said until much later. The viewer has to wait until the end of the show.

Back in present day, Mich is meeting with his editor, who totally believes in his abilities. While that's going on, Mich receives a threatening fax. The air is saturated with foreboding. He's got a fax machine... that alone is weird. He claims to be inept with gadgets. He doesn't even own a computer: As he is an author, therefore, we must assume that he's into self torture. He admits to the air that he doesn't have a cell phone because he has no family or friends to contact.

He's a writer, but Mich's characters don't die. He's seen enough death already. Mich's first novel was accepted for publishing 3 days after 'the incident'. His father's actions took all the joy from his life. He's been living a half life. He wonders: Just because one has a reason, does that justify murder? It wouldn't be a competent drama if that musing wasn't put to the test, now, would it?

In ep2 the boldest of the women decides to take Mich to work with her. She's not legal, though. "If you don't want to die, never repeat anything you see tonight." Then she makes some moves on him. He really is a poor, helpless 🐣 in a world of vixen. Mich seems low energy and hopelessly commonplace. One literary critic despises him, feeling the need to compare him to a celebrated author, "Yuzu" Hanaki in an article. That critic has to re-visit his summation when Mich arrives at the literary gala with 5 hot dates! One of them is a celebrity in hiatus! For the record, Minami's a nudist, but when she wears clothes, she's indomitable. The black & white mixed geometric pattern halter she wears to the literary gala is amazing!

Alas, Yuzu got the reader's choice award. Yuzu-1 Mich-0. This stings. At least Yuzu is stung a tad as well. He's a huge fan of Hiraki Nanaka (Araki Yuko from DOPE: Mayaku Torishimari Bu Tokuso Ka) the sweet and fragile film star who is currently taking a break. She's on Mich's arm tonight.

Takeda Rena (Isekai Izakaya "Nobu": Shinobu to Efa no Gokujo Suitsuhen) is Suzumura Midori. She has a menacing thug from her past who has been demanding money from her. She's clearly terrified of him. She's just a HS kid, still! Minami tells her to toughen up, and then gives her a lurid demonstration. By lurid I mean: This show is not suited for kids. Wagatsuma Miwako (Kamen Rider Gavv) plays Kobayashi Yuki. She isn't single! She drops that bomb on the group one day. Her spouse is a bit of a surprise. Yuki is quiet, and you know what they say about the quiet ones....

Three screenwriters adapted this: Yamada Yoshitatsu (Tengu no Daidokoro Season 2), Murooka Yoshimiko (Kurokawa Morio, Arubaito Sagashitemasu!) & Nakazono Yuuya (Uchi no Bengoshi wa Te ga Kakaru). There's 2 directors: Fujii Michihito (The Last 10 Years) & Hara Hiroto (Mahjong Takarayu Ki Ishiwa no Kame Hen / Ito no Kuro Panther Hen).

The show sets up Yuzu as a type of rival for Mich, though Yuzu wouldn't see it that way. Yuzu's more successful and the critics prefer him. Yuzu thinks he's in love with Nanaka. Unbeknownst to him, Mich is wiping the floor with him in that area. As Yuzu is wondering how he can date Nanaka, she's jumping into the bathtub with Mich, much to Mich's shock.

These women have backgrounds that aren't typical. They help with getting Mich's new novel (Drifting Emotions) noticed, like some coachless, unorganized team. Just as Mich is at his happiest (I think he cracked a smile, or something almost like it) everything comes crashing down in a most unexpected tragedy. Yuzu actually tries to appropriate that tragedy and twist it to his benefit. (He's a high-level narcissist, afterall). Finally, the living situation is busted up by a fire. Mich learns the truth of things: There's a bad actor running around making trouble. That will set up ep12.

The theme is ego trips, fanfare, hullabaloos, and greed 🆚 quiet peace, simplicity, sincerity, and self-sacrifice, or: Pride 🆚 Love. Yuzu and (arguably) Mich's dad serve as the representation of team pride, while Mich and the remaining characters are team love. Minami is in a category of her own. She's about strength, but she aligns with one of those sides well.

This is not what I expected. I would have said that I had no expectations, but my surprise at events belies that idea. It's dark and there's an underpinning of unease about the piece. I wasn't so bright-eyed going into episode 12, but boy, does it start with a jolt. It ends tranquil. After being on the fence for most of its run, I quite liked M💴W by the time the credits rolled.

QUOTES🗣

If everything is decided we will be restricted.

The person who is best at telling lies will be the last to survive.

IMHO〰🖍

📣7.5 📝7.7 🎭8 💓5 🦋5 🎨6.8 🎵/🔊6.8 🔚7.9 ▪ 🌞4.5 ⚡5 😅2.7 😭4.3 😱3.5 😯3 🤢3 🤔5.5 💤0 🤗5.5

Age 17+ Language: F💣s, Sex acts depicted, prostitution and sexual banter 5/10. Rated: 18+

Re-📺? Not opposed

From lite&trite to heavy&serious, here's some recs ~

⚡/🚀 - One Punch Man, The Eminence in Shadow 8.8, Mob Psycho 💯-8.5, Akiba Maid War 7.5, Love Chunibyo And Other Delusions 8.4, Parasyte the Maxim 8.9, Solo Leveling-9.5

💘 🇰🇷These hapless men don't stand a chance: A Witch's Love-7.9, My Shy Boss-6.5, Ho-Gu's Love-7.4, Touch your heart-8.2, Love Struck in the city-7.3, Love to Hate You-8.9, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim-6.8, Oh My Ghost-10, Hotel del Luna-8.4, It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9, Love Struck in the City 7.3, Be Melodramatic-8.7, Rookie Historian-7.6, When the Camellia Blooms-8, Itaewon Class-8.9, My Liberation Diary-8.9,

💘 The magic of anime ~ The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies-8.2 Ouran High School Host Club-8,, Ao-chan Can't Study-7.8, Special A Class 💓8.2, Maid Sama-10, Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion-8.6, Mischievous Kiss, Kayuga Sama Love Is War, True Beauty-7.5, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun-7.7, Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With the Lamp-6.5 (tweens), Colourcloud Palace-7.5, Hakkenden, 7th Time Loop-7.9, Honey & Clover, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Princess Principal 8.6, Sugar Apple Fairy Tale-7.5 Real Girl-7.5, Toradora-8.5, My Happy Marriage-8.3, Nina the Starry Bride-8.4, Your Lie In April-9, Violet Evergarden-9.5

My 🇯🇵 live action catalog ~ Blazing Transfer Students-6.5, Fullmetal Alchemist-5.5 (film), Map for The Wedding-7, Mischievous Kiss Love in Tokyo-7.8, My Love from the Stars-6.8, Samurai Gourmet-7.5 School Live-5.6 (film.

This too showed up in my Netflix recommendation, and I thought I'd give it a shot since the format is nicely kept at 25mins each episode. About 5hours straight-on bingeing if that's your thing. Good God, I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised by how riveting this series was. I've seen my fair share of Japanese series, but personally, this is truly a refreshing take, perhaps it's due to the genre change. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I remembered kept saying to myself, "What the hell is going on?" positively in an inquisitive direction several times during the 12 episode series. Initially, it's palpable how bland the main male character was, but the performances of all the main female characters (which I love individually) really brought out very interesting dynamics with him in the household, which brings that much weight to his character. If you want something short and refreshing (even if in a foreign language), give this one a shot like I did!