I didn’t notice it was him in this photo. He doesn’t look so gwapo here. He looks like a banker.

photo from boys paper

Back when I was watching season 1 of Hana Kimi and drooled over the boys, I was wondering why Ikuta Toma wasn’t included in the publicity photos of the dorama. Then I found out that his agency, Johnny’s Entertainment, didn’t allow the use of their talents’ images. I don’t know why but it’s really a stupid policy. Fuji TV found a great way to circumvent the policy with the publicity of the Honey and Clover dorama.

Ikuta Toma is the one on the far left. Notice the brushed effect on that side of the photo. Fuji TV used the paint effect and was able to elude copyright infringement lawsuits from JE. I lol’d when I saw the dorama’s website. See for yourself!

Source: an lj post

Happiness for the day comes in the form of Hiro Mizushima Photobook 2 and his calendar. Mom came home today bearing the packages I ordered from HMV Japan. I wasn’t expecting the calendar to be huge but it is. *swoon*

I just got an email from hmv.co.jp that my orders have already been dispatched.

Welcome to your new home Hiro Mizushima

Yay! I can’t wait for this dorama. I know nothing about Honey and Clover though. I got this from the Ikuta Toma lj community

Title: ??????????
Title (romaji): Hachimitsu to Kuroba
Also known as: Honey and Clover
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Romance, friendship
Broadcast network: Fuji TV
Broadcast period: 2008-Jan-08 to
Air time: Tuesday 21:00

Synopsis
Honey and Clover follows the lives of five college students and their love triangles — Tokyograph (http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-2019)

Cast
Narumi Riko as Hanamoto Hagumi
Ikuta Toma as Takemoto Yuta

Production Credits
Original writing: Umino Chika, Hachimitsu to Kuroba (manga)
Screenwriter: Kaneko Shigeki
Producer: Takiyama Madoka, Shikanai Tsugi
Director: Tanimura Masaki, Matsuyama Hiroaki

——-

The screenplay is by the same guy who did Proposal Daisakusen, so you can expect it to be well written. The producers have done dramas like ProDai and First Kiss before this one. The first listed director also did Nodame Cantable, and the second, Liar Game.

As for the other girl in the cast, you know her as the younger sister in Ichi Rittoru no Namida, and quite a few other dramas.

But the most important thing is that TOMA IS IN IT! *squee fest* (I literally started jumping up and down and racing all over the house in delight ^-^) Next winter will be a good one!

Y?ta Takemoto (?? ??, Takemoto Y?ta?)

Aged 19 (at the beginning of the series), Y?ta Takemoto is a second-year student at the art college. He is from Annaka city, Gunma-ken. He lives in the same apartment complex as Mayama and Morita in room 202. His floormates are Morita and Hasegawa.

Takemoto is one of the more mellow characters in the series. He falls in love with Hagu immediately after being introduced by his professor but keeps his feelings to himself throughout most of the series. His love for Hagu and his inability to act upon his feelings as freely as Morita causes some internal problems for Takemoto. For example, when Hagu received a bird brooch that was made for her as an anonymous present, Takemoto couldn’t bring himself to say that Morita was the one who had made it for her. Instead of acting on his feelings, Takemoto decides to be more of a brother figure to Hagu, giving her friendly support when needed. For example, Takemoto accepts Hagu’s requests to build her sophisticated dollhouses and the like. Takemoto is very close to her.

Episodes are often narrated from Takemoto’s point of view. At first he questions why he is in art school and feels that he is not good at anything but he gradually matures and becomes comfortable with himself. The greatest change in his character comes after he spends days riding on a bicycle all the way to the Northernmost point in Japan. After this he feels that he can tell Hagu how he really feels and stand up to Shinobu.