Kao (Face)

[Wm. Penn, Daily Yomiuri, April 23, 2003]: Yukie Nakama plays a police artist who has been transferred to the public relations department after drawing a sketch of a suspect which helped apprehend the wrong man. Nakama seems attracted to him but is puzzled that she cannot "see" his face in a way she could draw it and admits this is only the second time this has happened to her. He asks when the first time was and she refuses to answer. Meanwhile, a pushy newspaper reporter is lurking around the police station looking for some real news. This one just might have some possibilities. Definitely worth a glance. One and one-half stars to start, could go higher.

[FUJI TV Synopsis]: Your family's face is a "mirror of magic." You can see the past, present, and future within." (Gail Buckley) No matter how hard a person tries to suppress their emotions, their face and attitude cannot hide the subtle indications of joy, anger, sadness, and delight that they are feeling. "A person's life can be seen in their face." That is what the heroine of this drama, Mizuho Hirano thinks of people's faces. Mizuho, who is a police officer that works drawing composite sketches, has the unique ability to perceive what people say and read their faces. This drama is based on the book "Face," written by the popular mystery novelist, Hideo Yokoyama. In the police department, a truly male-dominant workplace, female police officers are considered "good for nothings." Although working in such an environment, Mizuho does her best to comfort crime victims. Unlike the detectives who do the actual work to solve a crime, Mizuho is not a super-heroine who can solve crimes herself. She approaches victims and tries to help them uncover their real feelings, which are usually locked deep inside their hearts. "Face" remains faithful to the realistic detail of the original novel, while blending in the romance between Mizuho and her colleague, Kosuke Nishijima. By also bringing out the puzzling past of Mizuho in a way that only a drama can, viewers are sure to be kept on the edge of their seats. As a child, Mizuho was raised in an orphanage, so she has no recollection of her parents. But over time, she begins to recall some parts of her childhood. What secrets will she uncover about her parents? At times with a gentle look in her eyes, and at other times with eyes blazing with fierce determination, Mizuho tries to uncover the real truth behind each crime, and the criminals involved in them-criminals who had no choice but to commit those crimes.

STARRING: Nakama Yukie, Odagiri Joe, Kyono Kotomi, Kaito Ken, Masuoka Teru, Yo Kimiko, Kondo Yoshimasa, Tanaka Ritsuko, Masu Takeshi, Yajima Kenichi, Kawahara Sabu, Kurosaka Mami, Tanaka Tetsushi, Tachikawa Eri, Shinagawa Hiroshi, Umegaki Yoshiaki, Matsushige Yutaka, Mochitsuki Eran and more.
NETWORK: Fuji TV
THEME SONG: "Kimi ga Anata ga" by Nao
DURATION: April-June 2003
REVIEWS:

Reviews Needed