Hanazakari no kimitachi e ~Ikemen♂Paradise~

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e ~Ikemen♂Paradise~

Based on the manga Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, better known as just Hana Kimi, is the Japanese drama series Hanzakari no kimitachi e ~Ikemen♂Paradise~. Quite a long title, especially considering the fact the series has just twelve episodes (compared to a manga consisting of 23 volumes). Since I’ve finished the manga, I decided to give the drama series a try as well. So don’t be surprised when I compare the series to the manga. This review also contains spoilers, so be aware of those! For those unfamiliar with the characters, I wrote a short description of every character mentioned below.

Story line

Mizuki Ashiya is a Japanese-American girl who takes an interest in Izumi Sano, a high jumper her own age. As he saves her in America from a group of gangsters, he gets injured and quits high jumping. Mizuki feels guilty and decides to go to America, to transfer into Izumi’s school and make him high jump again. The only problem is - Izumi’s school is Ousaka Gakuen, an all-boys school. And thus, Mizuki has to disguise herself as a boy to enter.

Louis Couperus - Metamorfoze

Metamorfoze - Louis Couperus
Translation: Metamorphosis
First published: 1897

Louis Couperus (1863-1923) was a Dutch author, and more information can be found at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Couperus I picked up his books quite recently, when I read the book ‘Langs lijnen van geleidelijkheid’ (Inevitable) by him for Dutch class. I liked it that much, that I promptly made it my number one book on my list and decided I wanted to read more by him. The first book after that I picked up was ‘Metamorfoze’.

The book itself is about a writer who develops himself over time. The book is divided into five parts, each of them being a metamorphosis of said writer Hugo Aylva. How he develops, both in his writing and his character, and how he eventually writes what could be considered his true story.

KOKIA - A Vein of Gold ~hidden treasures~

Contents

 

1. Amazing Grace (live)
2. cocoro ~demo version~
3. Futa Koba Rakuda
4. Chouwa Oto ~a capella~
5. Tsukimi (radio cut)
6. Dandelion (PV version)
7. Kotou (radio cut)
8. Remember the kiss ~extended world version~ (live)
9. Les couleurs de Paris (live)
10. ROMU no Aoi Hibiki
11. EVE
12. Wasurena Gusa’s song ~compilation~
13. Bombom!! Doraibu de kimeyou
14. Sparkling Christmas
15. Mou Aisenai
16. g o e s  o n  f o r e v e r
17. why do I sing

Yes, I can hear you thinking right now: “what is this? KOKIA has never produced an album called ’A Vein of Gold’!” True. It was me. Or at least, I created a playlist and a cover for this imaginary album, which contains rare songs of KOKIA - either live versions or songs she’s only sung in radio shows or lives. It’s my personal choice, please keep that in mind while reading this review.

KOKIA - Aigakikoeru

Contents

1. Itsuka Dareka wo Ai shita toki (anthem version)
2. Uchuu ga…
3. Ahiru no Kokoro
4. Futari no Musume
5. Awakening (Open your eyes)
6. cocoro
7. HUMANITARIAN
8. so sad so bad
9. Yasashiku sareru to yasashiku nareru hana
11. Nukumori (listen for the love)
12. why do I sing
13. Atatakai Basho
14. Remember the kiss ~World version~ *
15. Inori ni mo nita utsukushii sekai
16. Inochi no Hikari **
17. Arigatou… (from KOKIA 2007) **

(*: European bonus track; **: Japanese bonus track.)

Aigakikoeru, or Listen for the Love, is KOKIA’s first album that has two versions: a Japanese and a European one. The titles have official translations, that I’ll mention below. Keep in mind they’re not exact translations of the songs: for example, Futari no musume means ‘two daughters’, not ’story of two daughters’ when you translate it literally.

KOKIA - pearl ~the best collection~

Contents

1. The Power of Smile
2. Ai no Melody (original version)
3. Dandelion
4. Shiawase no Hanataba 
5. Kawaranai Koto ~since 1976~
6. Watashi no Taiyou
7. Remember the kiss ~a wish~
8. DESPERADO
9. Yume ga Chikara / Brave Warrior
10. Utau Hito
11. time to say goodbye
12. Chouwa Oto ~with reflection~
13. So much love for you♡ 
14. I believe ~umi no soko kara~
15. Arigatou… (The Pearl Edition)
16. The Power of Smile ~a gentle breeze~

Pearl ~the best collection~ is KOKIA’s first and only ‘best of’ album, and her last album under Victor Entertainment. It contains her personal favourites and some new versions of older songs. I’ll redirect to earlier reviews whenever I find it useless to discuss the songs again.

KOKIA - Uta ga Chikara

Contents

1. Yume ga Chikara
2. a girl
3. so much love for you
4. Sora ni taiyou, anata ni watashi
5. Pinchi wa chansu
6. KIRARI
7. give & take
8. New Season ~Yume ni Mukatte Fuku Kaze~
9. Utau Hito
10. Yume ga Chikara (acoustic version)

Uta ga Chikara is KOKIA’s fourth single, and rather short with only ten tracks, the tenth track being a bonus track.

KOKIA - Remember me

Contents

1. Prologue “Remember me”
2. Watashi no Taiyou
3. Different Way
4. Kawaranai koto ~since1976~
5. Happy birthday to me
6. With music
7. Anshin no Naka
8. Sora
9. The Power of Smile
10. Clap your hands!
11. I believe ~Umi no Soko Kara~
12. Daiji na Mono wa Mabuta no Ura
13. ?
14. Sigh
15. Remember the kiss (duet “KOKIA & piano”)

Two remarks before I start my review: 1) I really adore the cover of this album, and 2) this album is cramped with great songs I only discovered weeks, if not months after I had first gained them. Dumb thing to do.

KOKIA - trip trip

Contents

1. Chouwa~Oto~
2. Tsugi Au Toki wa
3. Say hi!!
4. The rule of the universe
5. Princess EHIME
6. Tenshi
7. Pinku no Zou
8. Hello passing days
9. Hana
10. Ningen tte sonna mono ne
11. Ashioto
12. Tomoni
13. a gift

 Trip trip is KOKIA’s second album, and considered her best by many (although some argue with The VOICE and Remember me).

KOKIA - songbird

Contents

1. Watashi wa Utau kotori desu
2. Soyokaze ga Sougen wo Naderu you ni
3. I catch a cold
4. Shiroi Yuki
5. River
6. Hirusagari no Toki
7. You
8. Live alone
9. Arigatou…
10. Erika
11. Aishiteiru kara (sincerely version)

I started discussing The VOICE, KOKIA’s latest album. To get back to logic, I’ll now start discussing her other albums in chronological order. So here we are: Songbird, her debute album.

KOKIA - The VOICE

Contents

1. Odayaka na Shizukesa
2. Follow the Nightingale
3. Ave Maria
4. Todokimasu you ni
5. song of pocchong ~Shizuku no uta
6. Gomen ne.
7. Lacrima
8. Nani mo kamo ga hoshi ni natte
9. il mare dei suoni
10. everlasting
11. Chiisa na uta
12. Watashi ni dekiru koto*
13. say goodbye & good day**

(*: Japanese bonus track; **: European bonus track)

 The VOICE is KOKIA’s seventh album. It has both a Japanese and an European release, with different covers and slightly different track lists. I will discuss all songs listed above, but keep in mind that when you buy the album, you’re either missing #12 or #13.