Asami Usuda is a Japanese actress and model who was born on October 17, 1984, in&nbsp;Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. She began modeling at the age of 15 and launched her acting career at the age of 19 with her first TV drama “To Dad For A Summer” (2003), following up with the movie “Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims&nbsp;“ in 2005. She has since gone on to star in numerous hit movies, including “Tokyo Playboy Club&nbsp;“ (2011), “Pumpkin and Mayonnaise” (2017), and “Hold Me Back” in 2020.

Asami Usuda

NTV, YTV

As a child, Minato Nimomiya (Kentaro Sakaguchi) suffered the terrible loss of both his parents. Growing up without the two most influential people of his young life, Minato’s life was certainly a struggle. Even so, he found the strength to achieve his dreams, eventually becoming a detective for the Kanagawa Prefectural Police.

Despite finding success in his career, Minato’s personal life was a mess. Unable to trust anyone, Minato might have spent his entire life alone, had fate not brought Yuka Nanami (Asami Usuda) into his life. Over the five years they were together, Yuka taught Minato how to trust people again. Unfortunately, her lessons were cut short by her sudden and mysterious death.&nbsp;

Determined to find the true cause of Yuka’s death, Minato sets out on a personal quest to uncover the truth. As he searches, he happens upon a mysterious app named CODE, which has the ability to make any wish come true. Could this app hold the answers Minato seeks or will it only lead him further from the truth?

As mysterious as it is thrilling, “CODE: The Prince of Wishes” is a 2023 Japanese sci-fi action drama directed by Junichi Mori and Hisashi Kimura.

CODE Japan: The Price of Wishes

Code name: Make a wish! 📲

Often the tenderest – and sometimes the most awkward – of all moments in a couple’s relationship is the 60 minutes before they make love for the first time. This omnibus drama series follows the exploits of different couples of various ages and from all sorts of walks of life as, with a blend of adventure, anticipation, lust, and trepidation, they navigate the often-tense last minutes before they have sex for the first time. Their motivation in each case is not always the same, but we are often privy to their innermost thoughts, fears, and desires as the clock ticks down to zero – and the start of their intimacy.

From young courting couples to people in their middle ages, in each case, the destination is certain, but just how the couples will end up getting there is not always clear. The omnibus begins with the tale of a young, inexperienced couple named Takayama Satoshi (Asuka Kudo) and Aida Michiko (Asami Usuda). They have resolved to make love for the first time, but have no real idea how to go about it. Who should initiate what? Is this really what they want to do? Will nerves get the better of them? They have confined themselves to a small room with the intention of taking their relationship to this next step, but as the sands of time run down, uncertainty just won’t go away!

This drama was based on a 2016-2018 manga series written by Knots.

“60 Minutes Until the First Love Affair” is a Japanese 2021 omnibus drama series that was directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi, Daisuke Miura, Akiko Ohku, and Kohei Taniguchi.

60 Minutes Until the First Love Affair

Wild Hearts Team

Meeting on the banks of a moonlit river, Satsuki (Nana Komatsu) and Hitoshi (Hio Miyazawa) couldn’t have planned a more romantic meet-cute. As if made for each other, the two quickly fall in love, their relationship so perfect, it seems almost too good to be real. Madly in love with his new girlfriend, Hitoshi can’t wait to introduce Satsuki to his little brother, Hiiragi (Himi Sato) and his brother’s girlfriend, Yumiko (Nana Nakahara), a girl with a slight obsession with the paranormal. Instantly hitting it off, the four enjoy an almost unnatural happiness. Unfortunately that happiness doesn’t last long.

Involved in a lethal traffic accident, Satsuki and Hiiragi are forced to say goodbye to Hitoshi and Yumiko forever. Overwhelmed by both guilt and grief, the two survivors have no choice but to find a way to move on; but letting go of those you love most is easier said than done. Sinking deeper into a depression that drives them both to the brink, only the sudden appearance of a mysterious woman who seems to walk between this world and the next, can bring them back.&nbsp;

Dangling the prospect of reuniting with their lost loves before them, Satsuki and Hiiragi follow where the mysterious Urara (Asami Usuda) leads. But will she make good on her promises to reunite them with their lost loves or lead them down a path from which there is no escape?

Based on the 1988 short story by Banana Yoshimoto, “Moonlight Shadow” is a 2021 drama film directed by Edmund Yeo.

Moonlight Shadow

🌕 Moonlight lovers 💖

Mitsuko Kuroda (Nounen Rena) is 31-years-old and lives alone and is very happily single. She enjoys every moment of her life alone – but she never really feels alone because she has developed an alter-ego named A (Tomoya Nakamura) who dwells with her in her head. She has frequent conversations with A, who provides useful advice and sometimes berates her. Unfortunately, sometimes she has these conversations with A in public, leading to frequent misunderstandings!

But when she meets a younger man, a salesman named Tada (Kento Hayashi), she suddenly starts to question if her single life really is all that great. With A’s advice – or perhaps despite it – she decides to explore her emotions for Tada, albeit in the most awkward manner imaginable!

This film was based on a 2017 novel by the writer Rita Wataya.

“Hold Me Back” is a 2020 Japanese romantic-comedy movie that was directed by Akiko Ohku.

Hold Me Back

🔦✨In the sky🔦✨

WOWOW

In the year 2030, life continues very much like it does now. People still follow the same routines, find the same pleasures, enjoy the same thrills, they even fall in and out of love the same way they always have. But with the advancement of AI technology, the definition of relationships and marriage have taken on a much broader scope. So when businessman Kenichi Tsumiki’s (Yuki Kaji) long-time crush ends in bitter disappointment, no one thinks twice about him bringing home an AI bride.

Convinced his pretty new AI wife, which he names Piple (Ayaka Wilson), will fill the void left by a lifetime of loneliness, Kenichi couldn’t be more happy with his purchase. However, when Piple refuses his wedding night advances, all of Kenichi’s dreams of marital bliss are shattered. Utterly disappointed in Piple, Kenichi brings his new bride straight to her developer, a cold-hearted researcher by the name of Kaede Miyama (Sakurako Ohara), in hopes that she’ll be able to set things right. It doesn’t take long for Kaede to uncover the problem, unfortunately for Kenichi, the mistakes he made in Piple’s initial setup are irreversible.

With a bride who refuses his affection and a researcher who couldn’t care less, Kenichi has no choice but to accept his fate. Bringing Piple home, they soon settle into their new domestic life. But Kenichi wonders, will he ever find a relationship that brings him the satisfaction and fulfillment he longs for?

Adapted from the novel “Pipuru” by Mariru Harada, “PIPLE: My Married Life with an AI” is a 2021 romantic comedy drama directed by Mai Sakai and Yusuke Taki.

PIPLE: My Married Life with an AI

Mechanics of love

Tsuchida (Asami Usuda) lives with her boyfriend Seiichi (Taiga Nakano) in a humble home, enjoying their often mundane but love-filled lives together.

He is a budding musician, but suddenly finds himself at an unexpected crossroads, unable to channel his energy into writing new songs.

Meanwhile, Tsuchida has been left with the unenviable job of finding the money to pay the bills – so has taken to working in a hostess bar to make ends meet while her jobless boyfriend mopes at home.

But when he discovers what she really does for a living – and learns that she has possibly slept with one of her clients – Seiichi resolves to find work.

He lands a soulless cleaning job, which drives him further into sorrow. And to complicate matters further, Tsuchida’s old flame Hagio(Joe Odagiri) returns to the scene – and reveals that he wants her to be his girlfriend again.

Who will win the tug-of-war for Tsuchida’s heart?

This movie was based on a manga series of the same name by artist Kiriko Nananan.

“Pumpkin and Mayonnaise” is a 2017 Japanese film that was adapted for the screen and directed by Tominaga Masanori.

Shows

About

Discussion