CHANGE by Kimura Takuya and Eri Fukatsu

I admit that I am not usually the trend follower. I tend to like things and styles that people normally dislikes. But it all took a different path for me when it comes to Japanese stuff. I often opt to like everything. And this includes their teen idol (well his age should not be treated as teen actually), Takuya Kimura (wiki)(later will be refered as Kimutaku) and the J-Pop queen, Ayumi Hamasaki (wiki). I remember I started to watch Beautiful Life (wiki) back in my boarding school days, which aired in TV3 on evening foreign drama slot. And I never failed to watch every single drama that has Takuya in it since then.


CHANGE (wiki; official website) is the latest Kimutaku drama that I watched, since his last appearance in Karei Naru Ichizoku (also a great piece fo drama). Similar to his previous appearance, CHANGE is basically focusing on Kimutaku's special career man character. While he had acted in almost every drama as the coolest person who had the coolest career everyone in Japan could think of (he has been pro-stylist, public prosecutor, ice hockey team captain, pilot, pro-car racer, Japan's big think-tank legend, and pianist) , there is certainly one more cool character he should try, which is the prime minister of Japan.

And it happens this time in CHANGE.

Kimutaku plays Asakura Keita, an elementary school teacher in Nagano who never had any interest in politics until one day when his father and brother (both MPs and active in politics) died in helicopter crash in Vietnam. The leader of ruling party, Kanbayashi Masaichi and his secretary, Miyama Rika later conceive the idea of appointing Asakura as the next candidate of local election in Fukuoka, replacing his father. Of course, he rejected at first approach but accepted the offer then, with condition that Miyama would give up on her choice if he losses in that election.

But it turned out that he wins. Kanbayashi, who realized the opportunity to use Asakura brand to fulfill his dream to becoming the next prime minister, try to promote the young and clueless Asakura to be the next candidate of prime minister election among other influential MPs. Due to his looks, fashion taste and decentness, he wins poeple's heart and nominated as the next prime minister without knowing that he is been using in dirty politic trap.

Although I strongly believe that life of Japanese prime minister showcased in CHANGE is certainly different in reality, but I like the fact that the drama tries to feature the other side of prime minister life which is after all, a normal human being. And I also like the idea that Kimutaku plays a decent character close enough that he is not influenced by other politic game, but keep the national issue as the first priority.

I personally keep relating the story line with local politic scene here in Malaysia (I watched CHANGE in the midst of Japan's shock of Fukuda resignation (wiki), and further call for Pak Lah stepdown), but I later realize that our local politic landscape is different story altogether.

• Wiki Info Box
  

Title (English): CHANGE

Format: Renzoku

Genre: Human drama, politics

Episodes: 10

Viewership ratings: 21.7 (Kanto)

Broadcast network: Fuji TV

Broadcast period: 2008-May-12 to 2008-Jul-14

Air time: Monday 21:00

Theme song: Miles Away by Madonna

Casts:


Kimura Takuya as Asakura Keita

Fukatsu Eri as Miyama Rika

Terao Akira as Kanbayashi Shoichi

Kato Rosa as Miyamoto Hikaru

Abe Hiroshi as Nirasawa Katsutoshi

•