I expected this to be bad, but it's even worse than I thought it would be.
Maybe this dorama will boost some youtube views and even make a few more people buy A BEST, but I doubt that it will lead to people being interested in Hamasaki Ayumi the artist.

Totally! Kalen doesn’t seem to exude any Ayu vibes. Max seem to be in so much power in the drama. As if he was the lead role.

I don't watch doramas and I know they are supposed to be cheesy... yet I still expected more production value (and a lot less cringe, hot damn!!) when it comes to the origin story of the empress of jpop.

this doesn't seem to be a good idea at all, and not at all helping her reputation... but ignore my opinion please; I am obviously not the target audience for this. I'm curious how the japanese audience will respond to this :3

Am I the only one who's going to be sad for Kalen? I mean she's already being compared to a great deal to Ayu even before, she doesn't have a big hit yet as a singer...

For someone like Ayu, this drama can be all about Max and it can portray her in a negative light, but she's already established and nothing can take away that from her. But someone new like Kalen, like, it's gonna be sad if she's always going to be viewed as "the girl that's like Ayu"

^ That's a good point.

I think they're going into her 'career' atm full on with that. I mean, she's working with BOUNCEBACK, Tetsuya Yukumi, and Kazuhito Kikuchi for her songs too. They're purposefully going for Ayu-esque with visuals and frequent Ayu collaborators. I am sure she knows what they're trying to do and whatever happens is probably fine with her.

I think Kalen songs are great. She has a nice voice and write nice meaningful lyrics. Drama seems cheesy but which one is not in Japan.
I kinda hope she would even record some Ayu covers for the drama.

4/18 start! Can't wait!
https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/m-ayumasa...-img/mv-pc.jpg

The quarantine might give it nice ratings.

I mean, YES, it's cheesy AF, but a lot of dramas ARE soooo. :shrug I'm really looking forward to it! Go in with certain expectations so you're not disappointed and it might just be enjoyable as guilty pleasure entertainment, you know?

You're not the only one to mention this. Looking at her YouTube videos, there's a lot of comments in Japanese saying she should be herself, that Avez is trying to make her into a mini-Ayu, which is never going to happen.

I don't think what Avex is doing with her is bad in some ways--the futuristic videos, the product placement and tie-ins--the "mystery" of whether she was real or not was cool too. But even if she's okay with being "the new Ayu," it's never going to happen. I hope there's room for her to make her own career.

Maybe Kalen career develops in another direction eventually, her music is nice nothing spectacular, PVs are really amazing. But for now lets see how this dorama will be.

I just saw the episode one trailer that was uploaded to the drama's 5Twitter (it's on YouTube as well, just not available in the US)...

I'm genuinely curious who this eyepatch-wearing chick is, she gives off antagonist vibes, lol. It looks halfway decent, I'm excited for its premiere this month!

Ahhhh!!! I can't wait to watch this series!!

<3 <3 <3

Um... the acting is not great....... :D
But i'd still watch this.
And i'm gonna repeat it again, they did a HUGE favour to Max with casting that actor :D

Also i have to say, considering they are building this on a NOVEL not an actual FACTUAL BIOGRAPHY, i wouldn't expect it to be very good. As for that singer chick, mmm, i dunno, i mean you won't ever be able to get what they did with Ayu. The music scene is not the same. IT might play to someone's nostalgia, but i don't think she's gonna get as big as Ayu did. It's just a different time and place, and at best she's just gonna get "oh it's that girl who played Ayu/is very Ayu-like". Honestly i don't even know why they would go for that, cuz being compared to someone in the science is never a good thing. Especially when you're considered somewhat of a copy. Copies aren't as valued as originals *shrug* And i agree with people who say they don't see her channeling Ayu in the role. Usually when people portray REAL, LIVING, LEGENDS, they spend a lot of time getting everything about the manners right, even spending time together before they start filming. I'm not feeling that from her, they totally should have gone for an actual professional actress instead. But i mean she can prove us all wrong, cuz honestly, she doesn't get a lot to show off in the trailer. It's very Max focused.

EDIT:
Not sure if this was posted but here's another trailer, with more looks on Kalen, as Ayu in her career.
https://www.facebook.com/AyuTrollada...8421351771689/

The first episode will air in 3 hours! Can't wait!

Also, don't know if anyone saw this but Abema TV posted a picture of Karen in front of the poster cover of A Song for xx reenacted by herlsef. It was so cute and similar as the original!

Where did you see that? Do you have the source?

Really can't wait to watch it. I'm so curious

Anyone knows how is it possible to stream it out of japan?

Karen reposted on her Instagram Stories earlier this week but I can't find the picture anywhere tho...


If you have a VPN software, you can watch it. It will be streamed here https://abema.tv/video/title/87-304

Oh thanks!!!!! The drama is 45mins Long. The guy who plays max is cool! I didn’t quite like ayu’s Character though