Mao Kobayashi

Happy!

After her parents' death, Umino Miyuki was forced to give up a promising future in tennis to take care of her three younger siblings. Her elder brother, in a plan to become rich, disappears, leaving a 250 million debt on his sister's shoulders. Two debt collectors seek her out for payment and inform her that she will be forced to work as a bath hostess at a bath house if she cannot come up with the money. Miyuki makes up her mind to become a professional tennis player in order to win the prize money. She seeks for help from the son of a famous tennis family, Ootori Keiichiro, who was also her senior in middle school and fellow tennis player. Will Miyuki be able to become a pro and pay off the debt?

A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies

The touching and dramatic tale of the relationship between a Japanese family, their dog and her three puppies, set against the backdrop of a devastating earthquake and the ensuing chaos, rescues and heroism.

NEWS ZERO Spinoff: "Ponyo on the Cliff" Close-Up! Five Genius Craftmen

Nippon TV's NEWS ZERO program produced an hour long documentary on the making of Ponyo, known in Japan by it's full title "Ponyo on the Cliff." A rare look behind the scenes of Studio Ghibli.

Tokyo Friends: The Movie

Rei Iwatsuki moved from her hometown Kōchi to Tokyo to pursue her dreams. On arrival, she found a job as a waitress in a restaurant and met guitarist Ryuuji Shintani. Ryuuji liked her voice and invited her to join his band as the vocalist, The Survival Company (also known as Sabakan). The two started a relationship but then broke off when Rei wanted to write her own songs. Rei met other girls also working in the restaurant, Hirono, Ryoko and Maki, all in pursuit of their own dreams, and became good friends with all of them. One day, Rei receives news that Takashi was seen in New York and she decides to go look for him...

Real Kakurenbo Final

Final entry in the 'Real Kakurenbo' series.

Unfair

A no-nonsense detective with a reputation for pushing limits investigates a rash of brutal murders connected by a series of cryptic short stories.

A Song to the Sun

Amane Kaoru lives a night life, not because she wishes so, but because she is infected with the xeroderma pigmentosum virus. This virus defects the ability to repair damage caused by the sun's rays. Although she cannot expose her body to the sunlight, she dreams of becoming a singer, even if remaining positive has been ruined many times due to her illness. One night, playing outside, she meets Fujishiro Kouji, who has lost his job and hope, and becomes someone who reminds him of his long forgotten music passion.

Slow Dance

A man who constantly applies the brake in his life, a woman who could do with a brake in her life. They have their careers but they are both failures in love. Afraid to face each other directly, instead of focusing on feelings, they choose to focus on their positions, meeting each other, falling in love!? They are already adults but still have some way to go when it comes to putting their foot on the ground. This summer, a feel-good love story...

Happy!

After her parents' death, Umino Miyuki was forced to give up a promising future in tennis to take care of her three younger siblings. Her elder brother, in a plan to become rich, disappears, leaving a 250 million debt on his sister's shoulders. Two debt collectors seek her out for payment and inform her that she will be forced to work as a bath hostess at a bath house if she cannot come up with the money. Miyuki makes up her mind to become a professional tennis player in order to win the prize money. She seeks for help from the son of a famous tennis family, Ootori Keiichiro, who was also her senior in middle school and fellow tennis player. Will Miyuki be able to become a pro and pay off the debt?

A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies

The touching and dramatic tale of the relationship between a Japanese family, their dog and her three puppies, set against the backdrop of a devastating earthquake and the ensuing chaos, rescues and heroism.

NEWS ZERO Spinoff: "Ponyo on the Cliff" Close-Up! Five Genius Craftmen

Nippon TV's NEWS ZERO program produced an hour long documentary on the making of Ponyo, known in Japan by it's full title "Ponyo on the Cliff." A rare look behind the scenes of Studio Ghibli.

Tokyo Friends: The Movie

Rei Iwatsuki moved from her hometown Kōchi to Tokyo to pursue her dreams. On arrival, she found a job as a waitress in a restaurant and met guitarist Ryuuji Shintani. Ryuuji liked her voice and invited her to join his band as the vocalist, The Survival Company (also known as Sabakan). The two started a relationship but then broke off when Rei wanted to write her own songs. Rei met other girls also working in the restaurant, Hirono, Ryoko and Maki, all in pursuit of their own dreams, and became good friends with all of them. One day, Rei receives news that Takashi was seen in New York and she decides to go look for him...

Real Kakurenbo Final

Final entry in the 'Real Kakurenbo' series.

Unfair

A no-nonsense detective with a reputation for pushing limits investigates a rash of brutal murders connected by a series of cryptic short stories.

A Song to the Sun

Amane Kaoru lives a night life, not because she wishes so, but because she is infected with the xeroderma pigmentosum virus. This virus defects the ability to repair damage caused by the sun's rays. Although she cannot expose her body to the sunlight, she dreams of becoming a singer, even if remaining positive has been ruined many times due to her illness. One night, playing outside, she meets Fujishiro Kouji, who has lost his job and hope, and becomes someone who reminds him of his long forgotten music passion.

Slow Dance

A man who constantly applies the brake in his life, a woman who could do with a brake in her life. They have their careers but they are both failures in love. Afraid to face each other directly, instead of focusing on feelings, they choose to focus on their positions, meeting each other, falling in love!? They are already adults but still have some way to go when it comes to putting their foot on the ground. This summer, a feel-good love story...

Tokyo Friends

Tokyo Friends is a Japanese television drama released on June 3, 2005. Unlike many other dramas, it was never aired on TV but released as a set of 3 DVDs. Volumes one and two contain the first 4 episodes while volume three contains the last episode. Each episode is approximately 70 minutes. The Tokyo Friends Premium Box was also released which includes all 5 episodes, a bonus DVD, and 12 postcards. Although this is a very typical Tokyo-story and was never aired on TV, it was quite successful probably because it was Ai Otsuka's debut as an actress.

Delicious Proposal

Suzuko Shiraishi, a strong-minded attractive female chef, is known for her foul mouth and masterly cooking skills. With an attitude like hers, she would reject such a proposal without a doubt. Suzuko works at an Italian restaurant and dreams of opening her own restaurant someday. A new manager is hired for the Italian restaurant - Haruki Katsuragi, a naïve and stinking rich young fellow. Suzuko wants the restaurant to be an authentic Italian cuisine with mass appeal, but Haruki demands a high-end place designed especially for celebrities. The two don't click from the start. Will there be a tasty proposal? This drama is an entertaining romantic comedy about an independent woman and a young rich guy.

Happy!