Antique Cake Shop (the JDrama)

Antique

Cast of Antique : Shiina Kippei, Abe Hiroshi, Fujiki Naohito, Takizawa Hideaki

credits for photo goes to soompi.com

This story is about four men who work in a confectionary. Tachibana Keiichiro (Shiina Kippei) is the owner; Ono Yusuke (Fujiki Naohito) is the superb baker that has a mysterious and mesmerizing aura; Kobayakawa Chikage (Abe Hiroshi) is the waiter and close bodyguard of Tachibana; and last but not least is Kanda Eiji (Takizawa Hideaki), the ex-boxer who loves cake so much that he becomes a waiter at ‘Antique’. This is a refreshing, yet heartfelt comedy about the 4 very unique personalities that work until the wee hours of the night at the small confectionary. The series follows the romance, family life, and most importantly friendship that these 4 men from different generations experience.

This is a confectionary with a “flavor” not like most. Located in the middle of an ordinary residential area, “Antique” stays open until 2 a.m. Every single thing in the shop is antique, in fact even the sherry glasses that water comes in look like they would cost 50,000 yen. On top of this, all the sweets that are sold are unbelievably delicious. The thing that is most peculiar about “Antique” though is that all 4 of the men that work here are very handsome, and each has an interesting past. Those that frequent the store also have a story to tell.

Edited Excerpt from JDorama.com

Yup, I know. I’ve done a post on this one before. But Heck! I’m doing a second one. (bite me!?)

This is actually not a new drama. In fact it goes back to 2001. I’m RE-watching this drama – and my love for it has been rekindled! Like I said in my previous post in Antique Bakery / Antique Cake Shop, this happens to be one of my all time favorite Japanese Dorama. I remember watching it sometime back in 2002? Since hearing news that they will be making a Korean version of this (the thumbnail pictures above will show you who’s playing who in the K-drama of this), and the talk about the anime lately, I’ve decided to play the VCD and watch it again. And I’m glad I did. I’m taking my time this time around, to watch it slowly and really menghayati the drama.

What I love about this drama:

1. The line-up of superb actors. All four are just so amazing in bringing their characters to live.
2. The narrator’s notes/ typewriter caption adds the witty humor in this drama (you have to watch it yourself to understand what I mean)
3. The theme song and the insert songs – all are by MR. CHILDREN!!!
4. Fantastic chemistry between actors
5. Hilarious and yet heart warming.
6. Each character is clearly developed. It doesn’t focus heavily on one character in particular, but all four
7. How each of them has an air of mystery (a hidden interesting past) and as the show goes, the mystery just uncovers one by one
8. Each character have their funny and silly bits – and they never fail to make me giggle if not laugh out loud! i.e:

• Keiichiro’s classic look whenever Eiji calls him Oyaji (it actually means boss, but at the same time, it also means OLD MAN)
• Eijis’ love for cakes!! He just gorges it down!
• Eiji’s forthrightness – in other words, his sarcasm. He doesn’t even realise it.
• Ono’s misleading glances to Keiichiro and the odd silence whenever this happens
• Kage – the man with the shades, the weird mysterious guy, but a dedicated fellow-friend to Keiichiro
• The exchange of thoughts between Kage and Keiichiro by just looking at each other, followed by a nod from both, acknowledging understanding / agreement – super classic!!
• The not needing to say anything, just through eye-to-eye communication, and the message gets sent and perceived. This happens a lot!! And ooh, it is followed by the typewriter caption after that. Kakkoiiness!

What else I love about the drama? The chemistry between the four guys! Ooh, I’ve mentioned that huh? Oh well, I’ll mention it again then! Scenes that never fails to make me laugh includes: whenever Eiji and Kage are in the ‘ego-competing-mode’. Started when Kage was taken in by Keiichiro as a waiter to help out in Antique. I guess Eiji felt a bit challenged by that and so he told Kage to call him Senpai (Senior) but Kage did not. So thus the ‘you-must-respect-me-I-am-your-senpai’ attitude from Eiji started and Kage just “duhs” it. These scenes between them are just too funny for me and I love it! And then episode 6 came and made me go all “aaawwhh” cause Kage got impressed by Eiji’s baking skills and that’s when F.R.I.E.N.D.S.H.I.P really began between them…hehehe.

It doesn’t do justice for Antique to have me trying my best to explain the funny scenes here cause it’s so much funnier to watch it yourself. And amidst the funny scenes, there’s heart warming scenes as well. I bet you’d love the typewriter caption as well. It’s a good comedy drama and I love the friendship between these four guys.

The manga is suppose to be shounen-ai, but the drama isn’t (which I’m glad of). I think the screen writing is good because although each episodes is very much a stand alone story (not much continuity from one to another), they manage to unravel the story of each character with a nice flow. Mind you, the screen writer:- Okada Yoshikazu san is also the man behind other successful dramas such as Bambino! (NTV, 2007), Ai no Uta (NTV, 2005), Boku dake no Madonna (2003), Friends (TBS/MBC, 2002), Beach Boys (Fuji TV, 1997) and Wakamono no Subete (Fuji TV, 1994)

Tackey is so amazingly kakkoii in here! Especially when he is wearing the waiter uniform. KYAA!! And I was further impressed with his acting skills here. He was really good in Majo no Jouken. But in Antique, he nailed it! It’s just too bad he doesn’t do much dramas and movies nowadays. Tackey won the best actor award from the 5th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for his role as Kanda Eiji (yeah!). I’m not at all surprise.

And if it weren’t for Antique, I would have never notice Shiina Kippei. Didn’t know that he would be able to bring in funny role convincingly good. Love his classic expressions in Antique! And for his brilliant acting in this drama, he won the 31st Television Drama Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor.

Antique also won the award for best drama, best casting, best music arrangements, and best theme song (YOUTHFUL DAYS by Mr. Children!). Need I say more why this drama is a must watch?