Rich Man, Poor Woman

I came across this Japanese series some time in August 2012 searching for Oguri Shun's latest shows. It was still ongoing production during that time when I started watching it. I was able to watch in a marathon around the first five episodes and waited each week for the remaining six episodes - a total of 11 episodes. At the time of writing, an SP (special episode) has been released in Japan.

I specially liked it because the plot had a touch of my world - the IT industry - plus, it is a romantic comedy - the only genre I really like watching.

Teaser

Oguri Shun stars as Hyuga Toru, a young billionaire who became the CEO of the IT company built from his genius - Next Innovation.  Despite his genius and the undeniably intimidating looks, he is burdened by socializing because of a medical condition called prosopagnosia - the inability to recognize familiar faces. Because of this, the only person he can name on the company is the Vice President and co-founder Asahina - this is despite the fact that he meets with most of them up close and personal everyday.

To everyone's awe, for the first time, a woman seemed to have broken the curse of his condition. Chihiro Sawaki played by Ishihara Satomi - a hardworking newly grad who came to the company's job fair looking for a job - made a history.  Even with seeing her just for the first time, he easily remembered her name. The conflict is - it is not even  love at first sight or anything fancy. In fact, he despised her and they quarrelled almost everytime they meet.

Surrounded by mysteries, these two - the rich man, and the poor woman - goes through a wonderful journey unravelling them one after the other. 

SPOILER ALERT!

The Cast

Hyuga Toru (The Rich Man)

Actor: Oguri Shun

Age: 29

History: He is a genius programmer who founded Next Innovation - an IT company start up which climbed up to the top on his lead as the CEO.

Conflict: Prosopagnosia - a medical condition wherein a person cannot recall familiar faces. He also has been searching for his mother who abandoned him when he was a child.

Special Traits: Genius. He can finish a fully-functional software in 3 days (without taking a bath). Harsh, he can easily fire employees whom he doesn't see much value from.

Chihiro Sawaki/Natsui Makoto

Actor: Ishihara Satomi

Age: unidentified - but she was in 4th year of Tokyo University at the time the plot started

History: She is a typical girl who was raised to believe that the best path to success is getting her education degree and finding a job. When she was still in middle school, she served on a family restaurant where Toru often came. They knew each other since then - but due to Toru's condition - he doesn't recognize her.

Conflict: She used the name "Chihiro Sawaki" - the name of Toru's mother after getting humiliated by Toru on the Job Fair. Later on, she sufferred on many consequences and guilt because of her lie.

Special Traits: Photographic memory - she can memorize a book's content in an hour (or something like that). Very talkative. She can say around 10 words per second.

Kosuke Asahina

Actor: Arata

Age: around late 30s

History: He was the co-founder of Next Innovation. 

Conflict: He got tired of being just the second best man (Toru being the best). That is why he ditched Toru and worked behind his back to make sure he becomes the one on top. 

Special Traits: Among the two, he is the one who can handle employee/social relations.

Yoko Asahina

Actor: Saki Aibu

Age: around the same age as Toru

History: She is the younger sister of Kosuke. She works as a chef on a restaurant at Next Innovation.

Conflict: She likes Toru and claimed to have had a special relationship with him from years back.

Special Traits: Good in cooking.

Atanshinchi no Danshi

Source: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Atashinchi_no_Danshi

This drama is about a girl named Chisato and her adventures on accomplishing the goals of a "mother" to six (6) good looking unrelated brothers in order to pay a 100 million yen debt brought upon by her father. Unfortunately, these brothers are not easy to get along with. Each of them has unique personality made more complicated by a conflicted past.

Will she be able to accomplish her goals as a mother? Or could this be a start of something more wonderful?

Introducing the Ookura Family

Mineta Chisato "Mother"
Actor: Horikita Maki
Age: 20
History: Her mother died when she was still young. She grew up with his father who eventually became addicted to gambling and developed a 100 million yen of debt. He made her a cosigner for this debt, and since then, she started running and hiding from the collectors.
Conflict: 100 million yen debt
Occupation: None. Homeless. Net refugee
Special Traits: Short. Brave. Naive when it comes to love. Cute. Pretty. Has many followers, thus, the Chisato bodyguards existed. Pure hearted.

Ookura Fuu "1st son"
Actor: Kaname Jun
Age: 30
History: He was 15 when adopted.
Occupation: None
Conflict: Was never acknowledged by his adoptive father
Special Traits: An artist. He doesn't have money problems. He is popular to women which is why he had no money problems -- he gets everything from them. On the outside, he doesn't seem to care to the family's welfare but he actually does. Has an elusive personality. Tallest of all at 185cm.

Ookura Takeru "2nd son"
Actor: Okada Yoshinori
Age: 27
Occupation: Part-time courier
Conflict: Was bullied when he was young due to his father being a convict
Special Trait: Always wears fighting clothes. He calls himself the man who can summon miracles. A gang biker (uses solar-energy powered bicycle). Acts tough but really is soft-hearted. He cares for everyone.

Ookura Shou "3rd son"
Actor: Mukai Osamu
Age: 25, 15 when adopted
History: He was abandoned by his real parents and was left in an orphanage called "Yukari no Sono" where he stayed for 15 years. The orphanage experienced money problems that's why he was given to Shinzo for adoption.
Occupation: club host (and really popular with girls)
Conflict: Began hating his adoptive father when he asked him to abort his child
Special Trait: Usually hides what he truly feels. He had been the most helpful to Chisato in accomplishing her mother's goals. At the later part of the series he had "moments" with her, which she would try to ignore but would make her feel awkward towards him.


Ookura Masaru "4th son"
Actor: Yamamoto Yusuke
Age: 22
History: He was eight (8) years old when adopted. A tragic fire burnt down their home and caused his real parent's death.
Occupation: model of an exclusive fashion magazine
Conflict: Has a phobia of women which happened due to his first love experience.
Special Trait: Very fashionable. Really popular with girls but can't come near them due to his phobia. Has a gentle character. Chisato would help her overcome his phobia, and this would lead him falling for her later on.

Ookura Satoru "5th son"
Actor: Seto Kouji
Age: 17
History: He was eight (8) when adopted. He is a talented magician and had been performing on tv shows when he was young. His parents managed his career but they were involved in tax evasion. He couldn't stand the criticism which was caused by his parents that's why he shut himself in his room.
Occupation: Ex-Magician.
Conflict: Shut-in. He never opened his door to anyone and never left his room, thus, he doesn't attend school anymore
Special Trait: Talented magician. Chisato made him come out of his room and became the reason for his change. He develops feelings for her after knowing her.

Ookura Akira "6th son"
Actor: Okayama Tokomi
Age: 12
Occupation: Stock trader
Conflict: Doesn't like to socialize with people
Special Trait: Very smart. He is not interested in the inheritance because he can earn big money in stock trading. He sleeps exactly at 9PM no matter what he is doing