안녕하삼.
나는 사람이다.
ㅋ.
크앤 할까용? ㅋㅋ

i personally like jdorama's over other dramas because of their deeper analization of characters and really above the usual unique plot lines...also I tend to like actors because of their acting skills over the usual cutesy faces that most dramas pose.

I would love to read more of your reviews and thoughts with other jdoramas such as nobuta wo produce which is personally one of my faves as well as kimi wa petto.

i fall in love with matsumoto jun in this dorama...he could play tsukasa very well. kind a weird for the first time..but hey..he can act..so, i've watched another dorama like gokusen and bambino played by matsumoto jun! surprisingly, he played the characters so well as shin sawada and ban Gosho there....so that, i must wait another dorama from him.
and mao inoue so cuteeeeee i love her more than shan chai..coz she's so adorable but tough also.
i love HYD and the soundtracks too..:D could be the dorama that i wat to watch over and over again. two thumbs up!

i really love HYD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i prefer HYD than meteor garden although i watched both of them.....dont know why, but in my opinion, i prefer the J-style which is not so dragging and i love the casts in HYD than in meteor garden, especially the role of makino, doumoji, and rui......i ve watched HYD many times and also saved them in my laptop ^.^ it makes my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

javabeans, do think you'll be watching hana kimi with oguri shun once the series is over? i think there was main hype because people are expecting it to be as good as hana yori dango. i dunno, i guess we'll see!

guess what javabeans..
given if there was a chance that we could meet somewhere we might end up talking about HYD and kdramas we have watched. I am really thankful for the insight about how fansubbers are usually unappreciated, those people who complain about when the subs are going to come out are totally out of line. How I wish I have your flair for words having to describe what I actually felt about HYD as I have read the manga (translated in english of course, the anime (all of it),the taiwanese version and the jdorama like you has impressed me so much so while waiting for the rest of the coffee prince to finish, I'd probably be watching HYD again.
Just like HYD that started as a manga turned anime to live action,
I'd like to recommend nodame cantabile if you have a chance, tell me what you think..SARS fansubs are subbing it and the dvd's are available. Its also based on a manga by tomoko ninamiya, watch the live action or the anime.. the music is superb as it made me appreciate classical music more and how the main characters develop as the story progress as well. Hopefully, maybe one of these days you might want to blog it here in your website. Its merely a suggestion, as I know you have probably better things to do.. but still I love your website and continue as I absolutely adore reading your insights and up to date in depth summaries and fair comments to the dramas that you have watched.

Personally, I like HYD Season I better than II...

HYD is reallly good. i personally am not a huge fan of japanese dramas compared to korean ones but they have the craziest and cutest stuff. I realllly recommend Hana Kimi. maybe you've already started to watch it. a hilarous drama. and one of the main characters in the drama is from the first episode of HYD2.

You know, they are finishing off the HYD series (finally) with an HYD movie set to release next summer.

Personally, I'm really happy they are ending it cause I felt season 2 was a little unnecessary.. but at the same time, I'm really excited for the movie! ^^

quick question...do you like hana yori dango more than meteor garden? meteor garden is the taiwanese adaptation of it. it became widely popular especially the F4 guys who went out to form a band. they now are doing there solo careers but i still follow all of them.

thanks for the soundtrack ;)

ty!!!!~ ^_____^

I watched MG first.. but HYD is way much better!! ^_^

I've been planning to watch HYD for a long time. I started watching ep 1 and 2 a few months ago and till now i still can't get myself to carry on to the 3rd ep. Something about the dorama seems a bit dull, boring and ridiculous to me. But i only watched 2 ep, maybe something interesting awaits in the following eps? I guess i'll give it a try since javabean seems to enjoy it. ^^
I was wondering, will u be posting any posts on other jdoramas in the future? Or do you specialize more on kdramas? and what other jdoramas hv u watched and enjoyed? just curious;P

I think Meteor Garden and HYD are both great!

i just spent two days watching hyd 1 and 2. no sleep for me and i hve school too. this is my first fav j-drama, i hve hyd 1 and 2 they were the only two jdramas that i actually finished. i only liked tvb and kdrama at first but now im also adding jdrama to my addiction. how do i stop? uhh it's a good addiction and a bad one too. i just finished reading all of these comments (hhaha, they're were long but interesting). i lve ur site and thanks so much for all the fans that sub for addicts like me. im gonna go to bed now. man, this is bad, watching and watching. o ya i like ur new polls! i visit ur site everyday. it's 322 am already. oops. o ya, i lve hui too and i saw him in haha kimi first (i finished that drama too). im starting to like jdramas and music!!

o ya, i think both meteor garden and hyd r so successful b/c mainly of the story/plot. i hven't watch meteor garden yet though but i think i saw a part of it long ago.

i noticed you posted this in your blog. would definitely like to thank you for putting up a VERY GOOD review for it. its one of my personal favorites and i love sars for subbing it. they did a very good job. all the characters were really strong and it did not sway too much from from the manga unlike the taiwan version. i loved both HYD 1 and 2, and will still keep re-watching. :D

i absolutely love hyd.. i saw the first season subbed it just finished airing here in LA local channel18 and after i saw the first eppie i went online and found both seasons and i watched them both .. then i re watched season one as it went on on tv it's truly great.. i'm more into k dramas but this one is definetly a winner ! woot woot ^_^ love it!

Hello, I don't remember if I posted a Thank You for finding the extra songs for Coffee Prince, but "Thank You!" As for HYD. I dearly love this show. I watched first few episodes but the site I got it from got shut down. I'm Korean and I've been watching a fansubbed (English)version of HYD until the sources were lost to me. Do you have any idea as to where I may find them? I'd really

I agree with you regarding the quality of production for HYD... the japanese version did live up to the manga essentials... there were some part of the manga that was not included - like when Doumyouji eloped w/tsukushi makino and got married, then took off in a boat... (i thought that's how it ended). Though i think Jun Matsumoto is funny and effective in his acting I still prefer how Jerry Yan who portrayed the role as Dao Ming Xi in the taiwanese adaptation of the manga - Metero Garden. And to be honest, although the JDo produced quite an effective bunch of actors and had more budget to produce the live action version, I took MG1 to be more endearing rather than fun... well there were exageration on taiwanese adaptation like the focus on o the mother- and daughter -in-law to be relationship between San Cai and Dao Ming Feng, but i like it.... besides, fact is, that series produce four unknown stars into a well received pack of matinee idols which by the way have captured the hearts of many accross the globe (F4 now known as JVKV)... I am witness to a lot of women (young and old) and male kids that admired them to the core ... I myself got hooked to the drama because my 5year old niece were crying her heart out fighting over tv monopoly when the then MG1 was first launched in Manila...my nephew was watching Slamdunk - the anime which i myself enjoy - then was being aired simultaneously with MG1. My niece won of coures. Kids do work a better deal when they cry on you being youngest and all. MG1 was to be the first tagalog dubbed asian (Chinese at that ) series to be aired in the city ( I think?) so my nephew took it to be a little off his taste nevertheless got hook to it as well.

In MG the character of tsukushi makino a.k.a. San Cai were given a a twist when challenged to sample her talent at piano in MG1 - versus the embarassment of tsukushi in the JDo2 - it was feel good moment for me. Talking about the other characters... I like the taiwanese version because I find the four guys to be really captivatingly handsome on tv and in person. Vic Zhou was effective for me in portraying the role of Hua Zhe Lei (Rui in the manga). Ken Zhu was effectively cool in his role ... So did Matsuda in the JDo. Vaness Wu is quite over acting most of the times but he was pretty handsome so still, he live up to his role ... I like the chemistry between him and Pace Wu on MG2... But am not sure if I like the JDo equivalent as his role - Akira, who focused more on his relationship with his sister and weird mother (I guess yes to put life to the manga). Still, having watched MG1 & 2 first, I was hoping for a more bishonen type of actor to play the role. I think because the JDo manga was reenacting each scene as it was given life in the manga - fashion statement and all!

The actressess who played Domyouji's sister were both effective... in different ways they've their own characters to support our protagonist... I like it in both adaptations so did both matriarch. Yet yes to compare how well done it is. I like the ending on HYD1. I thought its pretty sweet unlike in MG1 where the confirmation of San Cai's (makino) affection still felt half hearted. HYD2 is far better than what I expected... I like the way it was edited and although a bit cheesy for me... i like that it ended the way it did... I didn't like MG2 (in the taiwanese version I was already set that San Cai will be better off being Hua Zhe Lei's - Rui's girl than Dao Ming Xi) well it's just wishful of me to think so.

Since we're all talking about JDo maybe you can include NODAME CANTABILE... that is one collectible item for me... the whole live action series were fun ... I consider it even better than the manga... thanks to my friend who lent me the manga.. seriously, I read because I happened to have watched the live action first... and I thought the actors were really effective in the role... the whole series were done in good taste as far as i am concerned... it was as if you were reading on the manga with all the characters personified (? please pardon me if I don't make sense)... I totally love it!

malingkat tuud ini!!!the highest level!!uvier!

thanks for the comment... but to be honest i didn't get what you said - MALINGKAT?- i get - tuud ini - though...

I'm really very much in love with HYD. The manga was AMAZING, and the drama as well. It executed some of my favorite scenes beautifully. ^^ I knew about the pun, but never thought to applying it to the name F4. Interesting.....It makes perfect sense! And I love the characters. Inoue Mao's character is a fave of mine. Such a normal, not pretty girl, and yet rich guys falling in love with her! And her casting was perfect. She has that normal boyishness of Tsukushi but also has the charisma I think Tsukushi must've had.
Also, If you would like to know, Domyouji's mom, Kaede isn't EXACTLY all evil. She does have some very "motherly" tendencies which you see at the end of the manga (but which the dorama ignored to fit with its interpretations a lil better.) Not that I'm mad, just a point.

And, if you wish to watch HYD a third time, a movie is scheduled to be released in about the summer of 2008, starring the original cast. It'll be called HYD the final, and I'm pretty sure they won't milk HYD anymore than that. Plotline will be grand (I hope) considering the fact that the manga-ka, Kamio, worked with producers for the plotline. I'm expecting the same quality.

omygash I lurve the last picture. :D Finally, the second season will be aired here in the Philippines! I can't wait. :D

I ALSO strongly recommend NODAME CANTABILE. It was really a "LOVELY" Jdrama. The last time I was CRAZY with Jdrama was LONG VACATION (yeah, long long long 100x time ago....). PLEASE be kind to give yourself a chance to watch it... (^_^)

By the way, this is also a Wonderful & Lovely Website. CHEERS!!!

hana yori dango is really beautiful..... lalo n c rui ang cute cute nya .....

RHUI is very handsome that cannot compared to others he is so yummy.........

this show gives me problem every time makino and domyouchi had a problem. rhui is very handsome makes me kilig to the bones and he is so yummy.................

thanks for the sharing!

Why, I didn't find the jap version fantastic at all cos i was really disappointed with the casting of Doumyouji. I admit to being rather shallow to judge him so quickly :p but Matsumoto Jun's neither tall nor handsome and I feel that he does not fit the profile of Doumyouji at all. It's just hard to appreciate his performance when he completely ruins my impression of my fave character :/ I found Jerry Yan much much more appealing! Inoue Mao's alright though :D

i want to meet hanazawa rui...hehehe..i like him sooo much!!!

i want to meet hanazawa rui..hehehe..i like him soooo much!!!

u're webpage was so interesting!!!^_^

please keep it up!!!..good job...

i liked the theme songs...

can u please add the part 2 theme song...
in romantic part??....please!!>..i'm hoping 4 that...

I'm so happy that there will be a movie coming this June 28, 2008. But, you were spot on with your analysis. The shots were really gorgeous!

Ok, just got back from a trip to Japan (my first time, loved loved loved the country btw but that's another story) and casually flipping channels one day in the hotel I came across HYD. I couldn't get a single word off what was going on but had an instand "love at first sight" moment with the show. Back in Paris (where I currently live) I spent an entire day at work doing nothing but research on the internet until I found the name of the show and how I could watch it with subtitles.

Ever since, I am a hard-core fan. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. I love the relationship between Makino and Doumyouji (TOTAL instant crush on MatJun -- kicked Brad Pitt off my 1's hotties list). I love the way the city of Tokyo plays such a big part in the drama (kindda like NYC in SATC), I love the music (can play "Flavor of Love" and "Planetarium" over and over again on my ipod and not get tired), I love the characters AND the way the characters were played by the actors, you get it: I - LOVE - THE - ENTIRE - THING.

I've read up on the manga and the anime as well... I'm trying to get a hand on the manga at the local japanese library we got here in Paris and as for the anime, not sure I want to watch it yet. I'm still too happy watching Season's 1 & 2 of the drama over and over. PLUS, I'm waiting for the movie to come out in June (subded off course).

I've also read up on other dramas (meteor garden) based on HYD or dramas in which MatJun is in (I could totally see myself becoming his stalker). Nothing I've read seems to spark in me as much interest as HYD... but any suggestions you may send my way will be highly appreciated.

BTW, I really liked your post on this show.
Fned.

I must say that Hana Yori Dango is amazing xD In the past i never really thought about it that much, I kinda just thought "oh this is a really good drama", and I would say that Coffee Prince was my favorite drama. But, now that I think about it, HYD is the only drama that I never get bored of in the middle of an episode! Even Coffee Prince, which I love, sometimes seems a bit laggy (though it still holds a special place in my heart xD). It's funny in all the right places and though jdoramas have a short amount of episodes compared to korean or taiwanese dramas (I'm not complaining xD I like how I can finish it all in a day!), I still connected with the characters so that the traditional cry-laugh-sigh happened while watching the two seasons.
So anyways, the casting is amazing (I thought Matsumoto Jun was very unattractive in the first epidose of the series! His hair looked funny and didn't he look just a little greasy? But now I think he's cutee! And talented! He can sing and act! Oh, and Oguri Shun was easy on the eyes with his dyed and styled hair that looked super good on him!) and the acting was really good. It really does follow the manga, more so than Meteor Garden did, and surprisingly the 2nd season didn't stink like most 2nd seasons do! I actually ended up liking the 2nd season better than the 1st =D
Can't wait for the HYD movie to be subbed! All of Arashi's songs for the show are so good! And I cannot believe I missed them in Vegas, and Jun was apparently in LA T_T So close yet so far.
Oh and your post on this show was what inspired me to first watch this drama xD So thank you!

My god...I really liked HYD than that awful Meteor Garden (no offense to MG fans, but I really hate it as much as Dragon Ball)...

And I still haven't watched the Movie finale!!!!

first time i read your review about this... and here i thought you only watch korean dramas... ^_^v i love reading your thoughts on certain dramas, sometimes i check your reviews first before diving into a new Kdrama to know if it would be worth my time... usually, your review would save me the time of previewing it and watching it from first episode to last.

back to hanadan, the final installment which is a movie has been out for quite some time now... it saddens me a bit to know that they've actually put an end to the whole story, but im really glad that they have done this into a dorama... it makes the manga more alive. this would be always a classic drama for me.

Hana Yori Dango is too good that i can't say anything to share my feelings. I am excited to watch it. really nice. I like the songs too. its awesome ...

Mimasaka Akira is the best. i wish i could be the madam killer like him. :P
Though.. Jdrama was amazing.... I am stuck man..

Shihab M Shihab
Your Hero Forever :-)

well, i missed watching a few episodes of hana yori dango season 2...
but then, Hana yori Dango are still the BEST!!!!

I started reading the manga Hana Yori Dango and watching the jdrama after all the fuss about the Kdrama adaptation coming out. BOTH ARE SOO GOOD. I'm officially a Domyouji/Tsukushi fan (i think they're definitely the ones that belong together)... and I'll save Hanazawa Rui for myself. lol
I have wasted at least 24 hours of my life with this story but its soo amazing.

what do people think of the hana yori dango final movie? i'm wondering if its worth my time since i've just finished the second season and i feel pretty satisfied. also the plot of the movie looks a little silly/repetitive: domyouji and makino go chasing after a missing tiara (??), which hanazawa rui (the kindest soul on earth) may have stolen in order to prevent the wedding...
still... seeing the grand wedding sounds exciting :)

here's the link:
http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango-final/

thanks for this!!! i'm a really big fan of HYD (never seen Meteor Garden because it's too long and I'm more fond of K-dramas & J-dramas)! you have expressed the same sentiments i have for HYD so thank you! but most importantly, i have never fully understood and appreciated the title ("Boys Before Flowers") in relation to F4. it was perfect and made me like this manga/dorama/series, this "franchise" as a whole, even more!

duomo arigatou!

I watched hanadan based on high recomendations from friends...and really, it is a drama that shows us popular and hyped can also live up to but also lift the roof on our expectations. The whole series was just really well executed. It didn't use the famous faces of MatsuJun or OguShun to carry the story- the plot spoke for itself and that's what made this different to other dramas.
I mean, this story: rich boy-poor girl, is something we've seen so many times, but I don't know, maybe it was the choice of music, the cinematography or the great chemistry between the two leads that made the hanadan story famous...

I love love the silhouette kissing scene soooooooo beautifully done!!!

The best version of HYD

Your reviews are always amazing Javabeans (:

By the way.. Anyone know the name of the piece Makino is trying to play in Season One Episode Eight in preparation of the TOJ Competition? Rui's teaching her and Domyouji eventually shows off his skill.. (: