Released: 2/22/1995 Toshiba Emi
Catalogue Number: TOCT-8811
Price: 2854 yen (with tax), 2718 yen (w/out tax)
Original (Novel) 1: Kinkanshoku (ISBN: 487734019X)
Cover Illustrator: 竹田やよい Takeda Yayoi
Original (Novel) 2: Kinkanshoku Complete Edition (ISBN: 4872572327)
Cover Illustrator: 小林智美 Kobayashi Tomomi/みなみ惠夢 Minami Megumi
Author: 山藍紫姫子 Yamaai Shikiko
Cast:
石井康嗣 Ishii Kouji (クライシス・ロールシャハティ Kuraishisu Rorushahati) x 塩沢兼人 Shiozawa Kaneto (カート・フレグランス Katto Fragrance)
置鮎龍太郎 Okiayu Ryoutarou (メルローズ・ビシャス Merurozu Bishasu) x 塩沢兼人 Shiozawa Kaneto (カート・フレグランス Katto Fragrance)
宇垣秀成 Ugaki Hidenari (エドガー Edgar)
Summary + Review:
This drama is based off of the first chapter of the novel "Kinkanshoku" writen by Yamaai Shikiko. Later on this novel is republished in a second edition "Kinkanshoku Complete Version." The drama is released sometimes after the second publishing, and has the same artist for the CD cover as the second novel.
Kinkanshoku is literally translated as "corona" describing the glowing ring of light that surrounds a full solar eclipse. figuratively, kinkanshoku depicts the "gentlemen" society described in the novel, which although appears brilliant on the outside, is actually very corrupted like the black center of a corona. This drama, as you probably already predicted, is a rather dark drama with all the necessary angst XD. However, it's also one of my favorite dramas to listen to.
The music, first and foremost, is AMAZING. Kinkanshoku follows a rather unique format that weaves pieces of pure instrumental music in-between parts of the drama. The opening track features the main theme, which is a beautiful orchestral composition with a simple, flowing melody. The graceful theme delivers a feeling of melancholy and solitude, which is the exact image of the main character, Katto Fragrance. Come to this point, let me describe a little of who Katto Fragrance is. Katto used to be a famous colonel who was captured by the enemy side after the war ended and was forced to serve under Kuraishisu Rorushahati as a sex toy. Introduce the young officer Merurozu Bishasu, who arrived at Rorushahati's house from an invitation. In the midst of the guests at Rorushahati's house, he identified Katto, whom Merurozu admired greatly from the days when he was still a colonel. The story of Kinkanshoku then spins out as the relationship between Katto, Kuraishisu, and Merurozu develops.
I remember when I was collecting information about this drama, I had a terrible time trying to decipher the ambiguous katakana that spells the names of the characters. The only one I was able to accurately identify was "Fragrance," and the rest I eventually gave up and just used the Romanji. I still kinda want to call Katto Fragrance "Card Fragrance" and Merurozu Bishasu "Mellos Vicious" though *ROFL*. And just don't REMIND me about Kuraishisu Rorushahati *dies* the Romanji just looks so WRONG since it's overly long lol.....*sigh*...
Seiyuu rant! Katto is of course, Shiozawa Kaneto-sama, whom I love and respect and admire to no end....so of course that's one of the reason why this drama is one of my favorites. In Kinkanshoku, Shiozawa used a fluid and elegant, yet weak and tired voice to deliver Katto's melancholic appearance and angst. Well, Shiozawa-sama's voice just sounds so beautiful and perfectly sexy whichever character he plays (I'm SO biasd....I KNOW *dies*) XDDDDDDDD. The part of Merurozu is played by Okiayu Ryoutarou, whose voice, although not as magnetic as Shiozawa-sama's, has a clear quality that rings quite nicely when contrasted with Shiozawa's deeper tone. Merurozu is a honest and earnest character who truly admires Katto and wishes to share his burden. He is also rather open about his emotions. Okiayu expresses a lot of angst with this character and his voice overflows with all the necessary sadness and pain at climatic moments. I was greatly moved by Okiayu's acting, and I personally favored Okiayu's voice in Kinkanshoku above all his other works...but that's because you know, I'm biased...
At this point it seems unfair to not rant about Ishii Kouji when I have ranted about all the other seiyuus >_> (but again, it's because I'm BIASED) but I do like some of Kuraishisu's quotes and I think Ishii-san really did quite a good job ^^. The first quote that perked my ears was when Kuraishisu said to Katto: "Katto, konya wa mou sake no dame da" (Katto, don't drink any more sake today). He said it in a rather gentle, yet forceful manner, which shows the dominance Kuraishisu has over Katto, and also, as later you will see, the intimate bond between the two.
As the story goes, Merurozu is delighted to meet Katto since he greatly respects and admires the former colonel. Katto however, is ashamed of his current standing as just an object used by Kuraishisu for sexual satisfaction. The drama actually progresses quite slowly, partly due to the intertwining music, and partly because there's a lengthy dialogue between Katto and Merurozu in which Katto recollects his tragic past. In the beginning of the recollection, Katto still controlls himself to be composed. However, as he reaches the end, he becomes highly sarcastic and laughs at himself for his current status. Merurozu, on the other hand, is pained to see how Katto degrades himself (Okiayu's "Onegaiidesu! Yamette kudasai!" (Please, stop this!) and his final coarse shout "Taisa!!" (Colonel!!) before track 4 ends is SO heartbreaking T_T).
My first favorite scene arrives in track 6, when Katto finishes his recollection. In this scene, Shiozawa-sama changes from first being slightly melancholic, to eventually breaking down bit by bit. His voice painfully quivers, and he insists that Merurozu calls him "Katto" dropping the "taisa" title since he's no longer a Colonel. I will not mention again about Okiayu's anguished cries to stop Katto from self-condescension, which is shouted with so much agony that his suffering is completely exposed. Now before I drop again into the depths of angst (haven't you had enough angst with Ai no Kusabi already!? >_>), let's move on...
Katto suddenly approaches Merurozu and seduces him, saying that Kuraishisu ordered him to do so, and if Merurozu wouldn't do that, he (Katto) will be forced to have sex with Kuraishisu instead. Katto begs Merurozu and calls his name seductively, but Merurozu is terrified at the idea of taking Katto, and after much struggle both physically and within his consciousness, he runs away. Outside Katto's room, Merurozu calms himself and realizes that Katto is actually begging for his help. He then made up his mind and returned to Katto's room again. Unfortunately, Kuraishisu got ahead of him and already forced himself onto Katto. Seeing that Merurozu has arrived, Kuraishisu mockingly retreats. Katto, on the other hand, binges large amounts of alcohol to paralyze his own feelings of shame. In a fit of worry and confusion about why Katto would be so submissive to Kuraishisu, Merurozu passionatly shouts "Watashi ga Taisa wa mamorimasu!" (I will protect you, Taisa!) and, unable to control his own feelings, he pushes Katto down, and finally calls out "Katto! Aishiteimasu!" (Katto, I love you!).
At this point, I have to describe how absolutely important that Merurozu changes from calling "Taisa" to "Katto." Although Katto forced Merurozu to call him by name a few times previously in the drama, it is because Katto degrades himself and thinks he no longer deserves the title of Colonel. When Merurozu willingly calls out "Katto" though, it signifies that he wants Katto to accept him equally as a lover. This sentence "Katto, aishiteimasu!" although appears simple, is actually mixed with emotions of love, pain, and earnestness. Needless to say, it is excellently delivered by Okiayu. It is also my absolute favorite quote from the entire drama. As the flowing piano piece begins in the background, Merurozu possesses Katto despite Katto's crying pleads. Shiozawa's voice at this point becomes completely defenseless, and suffering from his past and present scars, Katto eventually winds down from struggling with a strained voice to sobbing weakly. After the event, Katto surprisingly begs Merurozu to call Kuraishisu over. Here comes my second favorite quote: "Tanomu, Merurozu..." (I beg you, Merurozu...) in which Shiozawa-sama uses a trembling and faltering voice to portray the fragile state Katto is in. Merurozu is confused why Katto would ask for Kuraishisu, since Kuraishisu is the one who did all the horrible things to him. However, he obediently follows Katto's pleads.
Kuraishisu appears, who approaches Katto with a comforting voice "daijoubu, mou daijoubu" (it's okay now) and ensures Katto that he is there for him. The two embraces. At this point, Merurozu finally understood that although Katto is forced to submit to Kuraishisu and hates himself for being so low, he and Kuraishisu actually share a bond of subtle love and dependence. Having understood that and eventually giving up about rescuing Katto, Merurozu returns to his own estate. The drama then ends with an equally excellent rendition of the theme song in acoustic piano version. Compared to the opening theme which features the complexity of the orchestra behind the simple melody in order to unfold the story, the piano ending is much simpler and gave a sense of clarity and finality. Meanwhile retaining the melancholic air, the piano version also sounded much more transparent than the orchestral version.