Smile - Episode 11 (finale)

thanks to smile_jdrama@LJ

If you are going to set-up a multicultural restaurant, why wouldn't you include Filipino food, if you're half-Filipino to begin with? Gah. Or maybe the chairs we're blocking the menu. Just let me whine.

No tears shed for this episode!!! Wohoo! Even though there were very sad moments before the ending. I never cried since I knew something good SHOULD happen in the end because if not...I'm gonna bash the writer. Joke!!!! Thanks for making me SMILW in the end!

After 6 years, all they needed was one testimony from Seiji's kin...father perhaps? I think so. What the heck was it? At least it made the reversal. Wooooh!

Now I'm eager for the subbed video! I'll be waiting from Stormy Team!

Aaaaahhhhh!!! Vito with really really SHORT hair!!!! WOOT!

I'll make a better review after I see the subbed version.

But a friend of mine who haven't watched the show yet and to whom I hasd the chance to share this dorama wondered why on earth didn't Vito try to learn more about his roots...as in Filipino roots? I would have wanted that too. But the basic story here wasn't about being Filipino, but about how you live with discrimination. So it should apply not only to us Filipinos but other nationalities as well. So this is not a story about Filipinos, it is a story about everybody in the world. Now I can contest that to my friend.

SMILE - Episode 10

Credits to Konoban

Oh shoot! So many things I need to understand! But there is one thing i can conclude...Vito wanted to plead guilty. The guilt was so heavy on him.

I can't imagine how one episode would be able to conclude everything. It seems there is so much more needed to be shown. Sigh. It's kinda sad to know it's almost the end. I even didn't get to see Vito smile in this ep. Only a smirk. Sigh.

What I'm interested about is how the jury decided the case. I wanted to understand their opinions, especially the cute guy's opinion. LOL. It seems his opinion was important. But what I don't like is how subjective they can get. It's kind of obvious that personal feelings do affect their decision. For example, the sympathy of the pregnant woman to Hayashi's mother and the feeling of the other woman towards Hana-chan father. Sigh.

So the last episode is just around the corner! Let's hope for something better in the end! Hana-chan will finally appear in 2015! Wohoo!!!!! Ja ne!

SMILE - Episode 9

Embed from Konoban.

Oh wow, the end in this episode was the bomb...in a happy and sad way. But most of the scenes were centered on the hearing. Kinda boring because I can't understand what they're were saying. Thank goodness there were some actions that were understandable. Both sides got their share of positive points though. I couldn't understand Kazama-san's turnaround argument (I think it was about the scene when Seiji-san hit a guy, the part when he goody image was changed to bad again. Argh), but for the opposition they were able to show how weak one witness was. i was impressed with that though even though I hate him so much.

I'm amused also with the jury. My first time to see a jury with so much varied personalities. I wish I could understand what they were saying and how the heck they were picked for that position.

I was wondering also about the first meeting between Vito and the police who always accompanies him. I though the police might have thought that Vito looks too good and handsome to be a criminal. LOL.

I cried also when Mrs. Machimura shared her statements about Vito. Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Before I go...I think even Kazama-san got amused with hana-chan's cute expressions, especially the one she always does for GANBARE! Haha!

Hana-chan...fight-oh!!! Vito-san...fight-oh!!!

2 more episodes to go???? Thanks again to smile_jdrama@LJ for the raw vid!!!!!

Smile - Episode 8

Embed from Konoban

Finally I got to see episode 8. This is it! We now know the real reason he gets in jail til 2015...or so I believe. Would there be anything else? This was another upsetting episode...the only positive scene here was the Mt. Fuji scene. Suteki na!!!!

We still get to see Vito smile though...it wouldn't be SMILE without his smile. LOL.

I'm still curious about he lady who visits Kazama-san frequently. Who is she??? I wan wondering she's related to Vito? Or maybe not. Maybe related to Kazama-san about someting. Hmmmmm.

I was just enraged when those policemen in black (or whatever they are...SWAT?) came charging through the windows of the tea house where Vito and Hana-chan were last seen together. What he heck! Kazama-san was gonna let him out quietly and here goes those peky detectives. Errrrrr!!! What is he anyway? Is he a mass murderer to be dragged out like that? What the heck!!!!

Ohhh...so we now see Vito in the cell...in 2009...so up to 2015? Oh bother.

Vito in a suit!!!! LOL. I was kinda curious about the group of people the judge met before the trial. Are they the jury? What a variety pick for jury people. LOL.

Okay...we only have a few eps left...so Hayakawa Vito....FIGHT-OH!!!!!!! Ganbarimasu!!!!!

I also want to express my thanks to the STORMY TEAM for finally approving my request to be part of their community in LJ. At least I'll be able to see subbed videos now!!! Wohoo!!! Arigatou gozaimasu!!!!! I'll be watching a subbed ep. 3 vid later!

Smile - Episode 7

As others have said..this is the main turning point in the series! No wonder...it's mid-part already for the whole season!!! Kyaaaa!!!!

There are 2 main turning points...the one in the middle and the one in the last. Gosh...we get to know the reason why Vito is in the cell in 2015. That's my guess. It seems connected with that.

For one second I found Hayashi Seiji cute...and then...well. Shattered dreams. LOL.

I wish Vito wera something other than the green coat he always wears though.

Credits to: smile_jdorama@LJ

I'm still awaiting for the subs (crossing her fingers that storymysubs will accept her request)!!!!

Smile - Episode 6

Credits: http://konoban.com (raw)

Made me cry again! Sob sob sob!!!!!! We're halfway already...so I'm judging this will go as far as episode 11. Let's see!!!

I forgot to greet Vito...Belated OTANJOUBI OMEDETOU!!!!!!!! He celebrated his b-day on May 19. That's why they celebrated his birthday last episode before the tragedy happened.

I'm glad the issue with Machimura Foods seems okay now...I hope. But someone's life had to be sacrificed in order for that to happen. Huhuhu!!!!

I hope scenes when the three friends are always goofing around will always be prevalent in this drama...just my luck...I know it won't happen.

Pushing to the 2015 scenes...we see Kazama-san trying to find a book for Vito about food...I saw a book with a Philippine flag on it...but it was not the one picked-up by Kazama-san. LOL. Just wanna share. We also get to hear Hana-chan's name in another scene...but I can't understand what it meant. Vito seeemed sad. Huhu!

I'm scared when Hana-chan got cornered by Hayashi Seiji. Nooooooooooooooooo!!!! But the preview for the next ep made me relieved anyway.

Seiji saying "Arigatou" to Vito? I wonder what that meant. He's gonna be cornered by I-don't-know guys!!! Can't wait for the next ep!!!

SMILE - Episode 5

No subs still. I know it is not that easy to sub these doramas. I don't wanna rush the subbers. But I know everyone wants to understand everything about this dorama asap. At least there are still raw files, I can go on with this for now. Thanks again to http://konoban.com But I just screwed up again on clicking the vid two times within the day. That's why I only got to see half of it now. I'll just wait another time to watch the second half. For you guys, remember that Megavideo only allows a total time of 72 minutes a day, after you clicked it twice and reached that limit, you still need to wait 54 mins after that. I have to sleep now!

So from what I've seen the only striking thing was the comeback of Uchiyama!!! Oh sorry, it's Hayashi Seiji!!!! Omo!!! He's so scary! I got used to seeing Shun-kun as a good boy after his role as Uchi in Gokusen. Come on just look...Rui Hanazawa of Hana Yori Dango...Detective Conan...Sano of Hana Kimi...these are plain good guys! Gosh! And now he's back as a bad boy! He can transform anytime. Kakkoi!!!! It's so scary when he says Vito's name...."Viiii-to-chan" LOL.

There was a cute moment though between the three friends. better watch out for it! Haha!

Machimura Foods is still struggling too. I don't know why reporters stay all day and night in front of their house. How severe did their production cost the whole of Japan for such attention? But Vito and the others just live normally inside their house. LOL.

The pacing seems slow right now...or maybe because I don't understand the details. It's about half of a whole season already so maybe something will come up soon.

Still no sign of Hana-chan and the others in 2015.

I'll just watch the second half in a later time. Ja!

---------Update--------------

I just watched the last part. That was so terrifying!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

SMILE - Episode 4

No subs for this too. Credits to smile_jdorama@LJ

I just reached 24 minuetes of this part (since I was watching from megavideo, and it limits watching time of 72 minutes only, and I have watched the previous episode on the same day. Drats.

Well, from the way things are going...Hana-chan is still the bravest girl I've seen. I really need to learn from her.

Vito gets a hitting from his friend's mom. Sigh...poor Vito again!

I like how they coincide scenes from the future and the present. I rarely see dramas like that. Interesting way of developing the story.

I still don't know who the heck the guy is, the one Hana-chan is acquainted with. he already meets Vito, but no signs in the orig language that they say anything about his relation to Hana-chan.

Hayashi Seiji is back!!!!!!

*********Update***************

After watching the subbed version from STORMY TEAM...so many things were revealed! So it seems somebody else was behind the food poisoning...I thought it was those two pesky prosecutor/detective.

Hana-chan is just a friend of the guy from the Welfare ward. How sweet he calls Vito readily as Hana-chan's BF. Hana-chan is really cute being giggly about Vito. So she was backed-up by the others. Haha1

So They had different tasks to do to help ease the company's status. How interesting.

Ito Kazuma keeps relating something about his life to Kimchi. Something about Korea? Hmmmm...

Vito gets a lawsuit from Rina-chan's mother! How awful. At least I know how that will end.

I have to finish ep. 5!!!

SMILE - Episode 3

No subs yet. Thanks to http://konoban.com!

It's been 2 weeks already and no subs yet were released, so I just went and watched the RAW version again. Kinda hard not understanding everything. At least we get to know what happens. I'll still be waiting for subs though, either by http://arashi.vox.com or by STORMY SUBS. Ganbatte ne!

From what I understood, it seems the one who initiated the cruel set-up of food poisoning from Vito's work was the two filthy detectives/police (whatever!). So obvious. So they did it for revenge? They are so low!

We see a development in the relationship between Vito and Kazama-san. Also between Vito and Hana-chan. Sigh. Things get complicated again in the end.

Not so much to say coz I think I am lost for words for not understanding everything. But highlights would be Kazama-san's TV guesting, Vito-Kazama pair-up to save a mini-mart and another great move by Hana to get Vito's heart. Hehe!

Who the heck is the guy who fetches Hana-chan? I can't get he detail yet!

-----------UPDATE----------------

I finally got to see the 3rd ep with Subs! Wohoo!!!! Thanks to the STORMY TEAM. So I finally understood everything.

- So Kazama-san was just nervous when he guested on TV...I thought he hated the other guests. LOL

-Shiori-san seemed to gain fame from the TV guesting. Hehe!

-The okaa-san of Rina-chan didn't just push Vito away because of the food issue...because of his race too. Argh.

-Hana-chan was jealous of Rina-chan. (or Rika?) Haha!

-The resto manager that was supposed to hire Vito (before meeting Kazama-san drunk) was kind to Filipinos. Sigh.

-Kazama-san kinda hated the fact that a Japanese resto was serving other food like Korean kimchi...I wonder why.

-Kazama-san was supposed to reveal someting to Vito about his origin...so something about his race?

-Vito covered-up for Hayashi Seiji!!!

-So who was behind the food poisoning? I thought it was the two pesky inspectors!!! Not? Hmmmm....

SMILE - Episode 2

:) two-1


Thanks to Konoban.com for the video above! Thanks also again to the grandest efforts of http://arashi.vox.com for subbing so fast! Wish I can contribute to the Jdrama community like that!

I just finished watching episode 2 of SMILE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woLzT-f6-qA)...so before I sleep I need to say something.

This is the first among the many heartaches Bito (let's just use this spelling since the subber uses this also anyway) will be facing. He just survived one...and then another comes his way. That's what dramas are about. And to think we know after 5 years...he still has a dilemma. Everyone does. But hey...how long will he stay in that cell???? I just can't wait for the resolution.

Forgive me for slight spoilers. Anyway, I gotta say Hana-chan played by Yui Aragaki is now my idol! She's such a great stalker!!! Haha! i have to learn more from her! LOL! And she's so brave!!! To think what she has gone to to save the guy she loves. Awwwww!!! Bito is still oblivious to the fact that Hana likes him so much! Kawaii!!! And to think Hana liked him since she was a kid! How old Hana is anyway?? Bito was a teenager already when Hana was still a kid. Hmmmm....

Anyway...I am hoping Bito's parents will show up in one of the episodes. I'm assuming they are not dead yet. Just like in Filipino telenovelas, who you presume as dead will suddenly pop up alive somewhere in the series. LOL!

It remains a mystery as to how Ito kazuma fought with Bito till the end...since at first he was reluctant to take him under his wing. Could be somthing interesting to know. Hmmm...

So again...FIGHT-OH Hayakawa Bito!!!!!! Now I know why Bito uses a Japanese surname.

SMILE - Episode 1

:) one-1


Thanks so much to http://konoban.com for sharing this video! It has no subs yet (update, now it does, 05/11/09), but I still took the time to watch it in its full original glory!!!!

Of course, firstly I loved how Matsujun looked! He's still hot as ever! He got a tan too, so maybe they could emphasize he's being half-Filipino. But heck, not all Filipinos are tan now anyway.

The story looks really heavy. We see the first part which is actually a future scene already...in a cell. So would that really be Bito's future? Let's see. So the current timeline is really 2009, but they showed a scene for 2015 already. I HAVE A DREAM.

Sa mga fellow Pinoys diyan...alam kong medyong masakit malaman na ipapakita nila na naghihirap masyado ang isang half-Pinoy sa Japan. Ang aking wish lang ay may positive result ito after mapalabas ang buong dorama. Sa tingin ko, kung sino man may gawa ng story na ito...may concern sa mga may ibang lahi. Di nila gagawin ito...na pinapakita pagmamaltrato ng ibang tao sa katulad ni Bito sa Japan...kung ala silang mensahe na maganda na gusto iparating. Tsaka kung wa paki sila sa story, bakit sila kukuha ng isang top-notch actor na katulad ni Matsujun di ba? Ang guwapo pa! LOL! Kaya sa gumawa ng drama na ito...saludo ako sa kanya!!! Alam ko in the end...kaya SMILE ang title...dahil ipapakita nito ang positive side sa mga half-Pinoys at ibang lahi. SMILE naman diyan!

I'm waiting for the subbed version!!! I don't understand all the details...but at least I can understand the basic plot! I'm so happy I got to watch it already! I'm wishing for some comedic scenes, but I know Matsujun may not make me laugh here this time. But still I know I'm gonna love this dorama since it has a story that a Filipina like me will be able to relate to. Thanks for showing a story like this! I know they will show something positive in it! Fight-oh!

**********UPDATE***************

I was able to watch the subbed version last week thanks to http://arashi.vox.com. Here's the link of the first part. You'll get to know the rest after this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7l2IIdYMaE

It hurts more after understanding evrything, nonetheless I still feel grateful Matsujun took on this role. To take on a role that is so far from his pretty boy roles before just shows that he is really maturing as an actor. And to think he's half-Filipino in this new roel, which makes me happier than ever! Can't we just get married? Hehe!!!! ^_^

SMILE Interview

Credits to: asiangreencake@youtube

It doesn't have subs but according to KaychanCR13:
1st they were talking about what they might call each other, and the older guy said Matsun, the Jun said i havnt been called that since highschool. then at around 1:42 they start talking about when they smile the most. and the girl i the middle says on the ride home from the filming "Smile" (then jun makes a comment about "are you really that happy to get away from us? *he is such a tease* and then she says in the car she likes to do air drums, then the older guy says he likes to play air base, then Jun said we could start a band and i would be air guitar ^_^

It also shows a preview of their shoot...Matsujun is seen working as a delivery boy I presume. Wai!!! He's so cute with his new hair! I love it so much! can't really wait for it!!!! ^_^

SMILE (My first reaction)

Yes, si Matsujun aka Matsumoto Jun ng Gokusen/Kimi wa Petto/Hana Yori Dango/Bambino! and member of Arashi na love ko!!!!! Naiiyak ako...alam kong late ko na nalaman kaso naiiyak pa rin ako sa TUWA!!!!!!!! Kasi kahit papaano diba, may relation naman sa atin yung gagawin niya na bagong Jdorama!!!! Heto details na nakita ko:

Jun Matsumoto and Yui Aragaki will co-star in a new TBS drama series titled "Smile." Takayuki Takuma ("Hana Yori Dango") is handling the script, though he is using his real name rather than his usual pen name of Mikio Satake.

Matsumoto plays a half-Filipino (Hayakawa Bito) whose father has died and mother has disappeared. Despite his misfortune and the issues he deals with, such as race, he lives his life positively with a constant smile.

Similarly, Aragaki plays a young woman living cheerfully despite losing her ability to speak due to an accident. Her character is said to be modeled after a real actress in the theatrical troupe that Takuma runs.

The supporting cast includes Kiichi Nakai as a lawyer who watches over Matsumoto and Aragaki.

"Smile" will air on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in April 17.

credits: http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-4418

Kala ko gagamitin nila ang kanta ng Arashi na SMILE din ang title. Bakit hindi??? Kay Shiina Ringo na song ang gagamitin. Ohhhhkay lang!

Hmmm...ibig sabihin lang nito they think na guwapo talaga ang labas ng combination ng Jap/Fil...hehe!

Excited na ako! Aabangan ko talaga ito (as always...ehem!!!)

One blogger wondered...mag-Tatagalog kaya si Matsujun? Abangan! Di ba sila nag-shoot ng ibang scenes dito man lang???? Waaaahhh! Gusto ko siya makita!!!! LOL!

Hay basta...I'm just happy na they decided to include some Filipino element in a Jdorama. This better be a good portrayal! Si Matsujun kinuha nila eh!!! I just hope that they won't hurt our pride in this. But since the title is SMILE...so it should have a positive side to it, ne? Kyaaaaa!!!

Sabi ng isang blogger, para daw emo. Ngumimgiti sa labas, pinapatay naman sa loob. Sobrang drama ba ito??? Hay naku! Medyo nag-aalala lang ako sa race issue. Hope they do it properly. Bakit kaya half-Pinoy? Dahil ba sa naging kondisyon dati sa war? Let's see!

Naalala ko tuloy motto ni Soujiro Seta ng Rurouni Kenshin: "No matter how much pain, how much hatred, the only thing I can do is SMILE." Whoah!

Official Site (Jap version lang): http://www.tbs.co.jp/smile09

SMILE Teaser and Photoshoot

Here's the cast of SMILE during a photoshoot. Again, it does not show much. But I'm glad I get to see bits of pieces of it. I just can't wait for it!!! Lovin' Matsujun more and more!

credits: chio258@youtube



As I have said...I'll be following the developments of this drama closely since it would be the most significant Jdorama of Matsujun to me so far.

It really is a teaser. Does not show much...just their smiles and sorrow. We get the picture now from that.

Credits: lorelein8@youtube



Here's a news clip regarding the dorama. Doesn't show anything really. They were just reporting about the drama. I just understood "Firipin" which means Filipino and some other Jap words. LOL.

Credits: lorelein8@youtube