Million Yen Women

I'm happy that this show popped up in my recommended section in Netflix. The story line was intriguing & so captivating that I finish all episodes in 2 nights. It's story telling is much different than Hollywood, yet if you enjoy drama in general, you will enjoy this. Scene by scene changes in an unpredictable way. You feel like you want to know more about its character stories and you are teased with clips of flashbacks, side stories etc. LOVE IT.

"Million Yen Women" is a Japanese TV series on Netflix that is based off a manga. The protagonist is Yojiro Noda, lead singer of RADWIMPS, the band that did the very popular soundtrack of animated film "Your Name."

The structure of "Million Yen Women" is the basic set-up of a "harem" manga. "Harem" is a a popular sub-genre in manga where a clueless man lives together with many young, attractive women, many of whom develop crushes or fall in love with him. Although the harem set-up is fine for comics, it rather loses its tenuous credibility in live-action film such as in "Million Yen Women." However this TV series has a twist, an element of mystery, that is almost as fantastical but rather more welcome. Kudos to Yojiro Noda, anyway, for making his protagonist likable anyhow.

Harem is not particularly my cup of tea, but I did enjoy some of the character development in the series and some surprising moments of depth and pathos sprinkled throughout.

Although "Million Yen Women" contains elements of romance and murder, it also is about Yojiro Noda's character, who is an upcoming novelist, and his rivalry with a popular established author. This rivalry is pretty basic, but I did enjoy some of the discussion about novels and expression and "creating a new emotion" and etc. There's an odd peace about Yojiro Noda that makes character as a novelist believable, and makes him unique against the backdrop of criminal intrigue he stands against.

Unfortunately however, the rivalry between the two authors isn't as resolved as I would like, and there are various other plots of the drama that seem rushed or underdeveloped or sort of like afterthoughts. (I haven't read the manga so I make no comparison.) Nevertheless, "Million Yen Women" does have a degree of substance that elevates it beyond a typical boy's fantasy, and it is mostly fun and enjoyable to watch so I recommend it.

This drama also has Japanese audio description and Japanese captions for those wanting to learn the language.

This is the type of film that could easily be talked about and discussed in universities. If it isn't, then it's a tragedy. This complex, amazing character study rivals some of the best films and shows that I've ever seen in over 40 years of viewing.

This film is truly a work of art. Each character brings something refreshing, new and compelling to the table (almost literally!).

This powerful character study is about a novelist with a tragic past who is unable to become a successful author. For some strange reason, five women are invited to live with him for a million yen per month. When he's not writing, he cooks and looks after them. Each woman is different in age, occupation, personality, and background. Part of the mystery is in trying to figure out why the invitations were sent, what the purpose of the women being there is, and who sent them.

The author learns to accept his new living situation, and finds that there are rules for his interactions with them.

The story weaves like a fine tapestry of tragic, complex pasts in the lives of all of the characters, and basically what drives people to do things and be who they are. It's riveting story-telling that keeps you hooked, and makes you wince when the number of episodes left to watch dwindles. You want more. You crave more, and you find yourself grateful for finding such a unique and exquisite gem such as this series.

This is a series that can easily be watched over and over again. It's touching and heart-breaking that compels the viewer to dig deep within themselves; about the walls we put up to keep from being hurt; about the fear of loss, and the fear to love.

I can't recommend this series strongly enough. It's a story with characters that stays with you long after you've finished, and that's the mark of something so powerfully artistic in how it captivates its viewer.

The basic scenario is intriguing : an introverted, unsuccessful author has allowed five pretty young women to live at his house. They were mysteriously invited to do so by someone ( not him ) & must also pay a million yen per month in rent, & there are other rules in place. Parallel to this odd arrangement, we follow a cocky, best-selling young author who is the opposite of our "hero" & is championed by an arrogant critic, while the back-stories of the ladies form a major part of the narrative. As the story unfolded & captured my interest, my thoughts inexorably turned as they always do to the ending. Would it do justice to the rest ? I really HATE it when I fall in love with something & then get stabbed in the back by a rubbish finale, but thankfully I wasn't disappointed. And though I don't usually like a BIG revelation with minimal or zero clues, I'm happy to forgive thanks to an exhilarating, blockbuster final ep bulging with surprises & an unexpected emotional wallop that made me teary. A well-written script ( adapted from a manga, & where would Japanese media be without them ? ) has the lot : nefarious deeds, sex in various forms, humour & a pleasing focus on both the philosophy of writing & the joy of reading. Central to the story, of course, is who sent the invites & why, though some of the most memorable moments are small ones : a kick in the backside after a posh party; a young girl in a wordless scene with her author father; the lead's final meeting with a murderous relative. And the last few eps explore the simple power of a human connection. And the cast ? All are good, with two standout efforts : in a showy role, Rila Fukushima is wonderful as the abrasive "nudist" while Noda Yosiro is deceptively great as the main author. You might think this sort of quiet, self-deprecating character would be easy to play, yet speaking in a monotone & not displaying emotion doesn't mean he lacks it & he does have a moving journey to make by the end. Kudos to the director for keeping things flowing smoothly, some of the photography is gorgeous & the music is another asset. Yes, I'd have liked a calamity for the cocky writer but we get a sadly realistic outcome instead.

An unsuccessful writer is suddenly visited by five women that claim to have been invited to live in house under strict rules. One of them is that the monthly rent for each of them is 1 million yen per month.

Right off the bat each woman is so distinct that the guy seems bland and boring in comparison. With every episode you learn more about the women and the guy and every interaction uncovers another layer.

This is the kind of series you can binge in one sitting, Every time an aspect of someone is revealed it leaves you wanting to dig deeper and learn more.

The filming style is artistic and beautiful, writing is sharp and the acting is superb. It's proof that you don't have to shout everything to the heavens to make your point. Sometimes just a quiet moment would do... or a kick to the rear!

It's a very Japanese show with people being too polite and subtle which just adds another layer of charm to it. Watch it!