Hana Yori Dango Live Action (2)

Here’s the rest of the crew.

The Manga Domyouji

First Generation Shirtless Domyouji

I have no idea what’s up with the 1995 movie but Domyouji struts around shirtless, for all his wealth. Maybe he thinks that shirts are beneath him. In any case, the first-generation Domyouji is a scream (not in a nice, entertaining way but one that makes you cringe). Tanihara Shosuke (that’s right, the same guy on the right) is the most gentlemanly-looking Domyouji ever, in spite of his height and built (all of 183cm). He looks ordinary in modern clothes but is a real classical beauty of a man. As ‘Imagawa Yoshitomo’ in the latest Fuurin Kazan 2007, he’s the hottest Buddhist monk I’ve ever seen. I can only say that he’s not right for Domyouji.

Second Generation Good-looking Domyouji

Jerry Yan has the height, built, looks and even manages to exude the kind of domineering aura that Domyouji has. His initial hairstyle is a big mess that quietly and sneakily XD morphs into a trendy-looking one in later episodes. The manga Domyouji never managed to change his hairstyle XP. Its not surprising that Yan makes the hottest Domyouji, considering that he used to be a model.

Third Generation Domyouji Domyouji
There were some fans misgivings at the casting of Matsujun as Domyouji, over his height and built (or lack of thereof). But I took one look at his photo and saw Domyouji. Facially, he bears a high degree of resemblence to the manga Domyouji and is probably the one guy who can carry off a curly hairstyle without looking like a complete joke.

The Original Makino
I had no idea how difficult it is to find a picture of Makino in her schoolgirl glory XD. There are not many HDY sites remaining and hardly any featuring screencaps. There’s also quite a bit of difference between manga Makino and anime Makino, so I opted for the the more familiar anime Makino.

1995 version by Uchida Yuki

How should I describe it……this Makino bears little resemblence to the Makino we know, from hairstyle to behaviour. This Makino is more like an exuberant tomboy who likes putting on make-up before going to school and bouncing about in an exaggerated way. Her mushroom-head hairstyle reminds me of Hanazawa Rui, so her overall appearence is more like an underaged boy.

2001 version by Barbie Hsu

Second generation Makino is definitely an improvement. At that time, I thought casting Barbie Hsu was quite a good option because she’s plain, yet pleasant enough and looks quite spunky. She also a variety show host cum actress with more showbiz experience than the whole of F4 put together.

2007 version by Inoue Mao
It wasn’t until I saw the latest adaptation that I realised what was lacking about the previous ones. Hsu is not a high school student nor a student for that matter. Inoue Mao has the right age and looks like she stepped right out of the anime. But it probably wasn’t too difficult for the latest adaptation to outdo the previous ones, by casting a girl of Makino’s age and looks and portray her character accurately this time.

AKIRA to SOUJIROU

F2 jokers of F4. 1995 version is most forgettable pair that no one ever remembers. I can’t even find current information on them as actors besides www.jdorama.com. They never seemed to have been in much besides Hana Yori Dango. They are Saeki Kensuke (Nishikado) and Hachizume Kouichi (Mimasaka), respectively. Vanness Wu imo, makes a younger-looking, sexier Mimasaka than Abe Tsuyoshi with his awful flowery fashion sense. Plus, Wu sports a hairstyle that comes closest to the original.

Both the 2001 and 2007 Soujiro were neither here nor there. Ken Zhu has the built sans the looks (what he is doing with that hair and specs? cosplaying Vanness Wu?). Matsuda Shota is too tall for his weight, decked out in an equally awful fashion sense (hey! green beret boy!). Neither of them looked like a ladies killer to me. Matsuda in particular, looks kind of like an overgrown, NICE quiet adolescent boy.