Good Luck!!
Encyclopedia
Good Luck!! is a 2003 Japanese television drama
starring Takuya Kimura and Kou Shibasaki
. The story revolves around an up-and-coming pilot, Hajime Shinkai, and portrays his interactions with others as he progresses along the road to becoming a captain. As is common in many Japanese drama series, it blends drama and romance with comedic elements. This drama also emphasizes hardship of being a pilot or a cabin crew, and the serious nature of the industry they're in, which puts thousands of lives in its hands.
. When the captain feels unwell, Shinkai must land for him, but his sloppy landing earns him only criticism. Kouda Kazuki (Shinichi Tsutsumi), another chief pilot, criticizes his decision. Upset, Shinkai calls him cold and insensitive, resulting in a two-day suspension, during which he becomes acquainted with Ayumi Ogawa (Kou Shibasaki), a stubborn, straight-talking mechanic whose parents died in an airplane crash when she was just twelve. Coincidentally, her parents' death is related to Captain Kouda, who was supposed to lead the flight but called in sick at the last moment, to his later regret.
Another conflict was awaiting Shinkai, when Captain Kouda, Captain Jane, and he were on a flight as passengers. Captain Kouda notices that Fukaura Urara (Rina Uchiyama), a junior flight attendant
, discriminates against different customers. On one occasion, she ignores the request of an old lady who asks for a cup of water and flirts with celebrity Kumakawa Tetsuya (who guest stars as himself). Angered, he grabs her hand to the galley and harshly scolds her. Because of this, she files a lawsuit against him, and does not change her mind despite persuasions. Eventually, she agrees to cancel the lawsuit if Shinkai will go out on a date with her, even forcing him to kiss her at one point. This consequently puts a damper on his love life. Aside from his life in the airplane, Shinkai struggles to seek approval from his father, who never understood his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot.
, also starring Takuya Kimura
.
The single episode ratings are as follows:
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
starring Takuya Kimura and Kou Shibasaki
Kou Shibasaki
, born Yukie Yamamura, on August 5, 1981 in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan is a Japanese singer and actress.-Music career:Shibasaki made her debut in the music industry in 2002 with her first single Trust My Feelings, but she became recognized for her second single Tsuki no shizuku which was used for the...
. The story revolves around an up-and-coming pilot, Hajime Shinkai, and portrays his interactions with others as he progresses along the road to becoming a captain. As is common in many Japanese drama series, it blends drama and romance with comedic elements. This drama also emphasizes hardship of being a pilot or a cabin crew, and the serious nature of the industry they're in, which puts thousands of lives in its hands.
Cast
- Takuya Kimura as Hajime Shinkai (新海元)
- Shinichi TsutsumiShinichi Tsutsumiis a Japanese stage and screen actor. He won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2005 for Always Sanchōme no Yūhi.-Profile:*Place of Birth: Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan*Talent Agency: Siscompany-Movies:* Suspect X...
as Kazuki Kōda (香田一樹) - Kō ShibasakiKou Shibasaki, born Yukie Yamamura, on August 5, 1981 in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan is a Japanese singer and actress.-Music career:Shibasaki made her debut in the music industry in 2002 with her first single Trust My Feelings, but she became recognized for her second single Tsuki no shizuku which was used for the...
as Ayumi Ogawa (緒川歩実) - Rina UchiyamaRina Uchiyamais a Japanese actress and idol.-Filmography:* Bus Stop * Strawberry on the Shortcake * Wedding Planner * Musashi * Good Luck!! * Moto Kare...
as Urara Fukaura (深浦うらら) - Naoto Takenaka as Jane Naitō (内藤ジェーン)
- Yasunori Danta as Kenzaburō Ōta (太田健三郎)
- Hitomi KurokiHitomi KurokiHitomi Kuroki is a Japanese actress. Her real name is Shoko Ichiji née Egami ....
as Noriko Togashi (富樫のり子) - Jun KanameJun Kanameis a Japanese actor. He was born in Mitoyo, Kagawa. He made his drama debut as an actor in 2001 in the Tokusatsu Series "Kamen Rider Agito". He appears not only in TV dramas but also in movies, commercial messages, variety TV programs, plays, and music videos.-TV:...
as Takayuki Abe (阿部貴之) - Yoon Son-haYoon Son-haYoon Son-ha is a South Korean actress, singer and television personality . She is signed onto Sony Music Japan's SME Records division...
as Park Mi-suk (朴美淑)
Summary
Hajime Shinkai (Takuya Kimura) is a young, inexperienced pilot who struggles to achieve the dream of becoming a chief pilot some day. From the very beginning, it becomes clear that this is far from easy. The drama starts off with a flight back from Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
. When the captain feels unwell, Shinkai must land for him, but his sloppy landing earns him only criticism. Kouda Kazuki (Shinichi Tsutsumi), another chief pilot, criticizes his decision. Upset, Shinkai calls him cold and insensitive, resulting in a two-day suspension, during which he becomes acquainted with Ayumi Ogawa (Kou Shibasaki), a stubborn, straight-talking mechanic whose parents died in an airplane crash when she was just twelve. Coincidentally, her parents' death is related to Captain Kouda, who was supposed to lead the flight but called in sick at the last moment, to his later regret.
Another conflict was awaiting Shinkai, when Captain Kouda, Captain Jane, and he were on a flight as passengers. Captain Kouda notices that Fukaura Urara (Rina Uchiyama), a junior flight attendant
Flight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
, discriminates against different customers. On one occasion, she ignores the request of an old lady who asks for a cup of water and flirts with celebrity Kumakawa Tetsuya (who guest stars as himself). Angered, he grabs her hand to the galley and harshly scolds her. Because of this, she files a lawsuit against him, and does not change her mind despite persuasions. Eventually, she agrees to cancel the lawsuit if Shinkai will go out on a date with her, even forcing him to kiss her at one point. This consequently puts a damper on his love life. Aside from his life in the airplane, Shinkai struggles to seek approval from his father, who never understood his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot.
Reception
Good Luck!! topped the Japanese drama ratings with a whopping 35% viewership in 2003. The first episode kicked off on January 19, 2003 with ratings of 31.6%, the third highest ratings of an opening episode, behind Beautiful Life and HEROHero (TV series)
Hero is a Japanese drama series that aired in Japan on Fuji TV in 2001. In 2006, a two-hour special miniseries for the television series was broadcast.Hero holds the average drama TV rating record over the last 25 years in Japan...
, also starring Takuya Kimura
Takuya Kimura
, nicknamed , is a Japanese singer and actor. He is also a member of the Japanese idol group SMAP. Most of the TV dramas he starred in produced high ratings in Japan...
.
The single episode ratings are as follows:
| Episode | Nationwide |
|---|---|
| 01 | 31.6% |
| 02 | 27.5% |
| 03 | 28.6% |
| 04 | 27.6% |
| 05 | 30.9% |
| 06 | 28.2% |
| 07 | 28.9% |
| 08 | 29.7% |
| 09 | 33.5% |
| 10 | 37.6% |
| Average | 30.41% |
Trivia and Notes
- World-famous ballet dancer Kumakawa Tetsuya guest stars as himself as a passenger in Episode 5
External links
- Good Luck!! Official Website (Japanese) by Tokyo Broadcasting SystemTokyo Broadcasting System, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
- Good Luck!! English fansite with episode guide, cast listing and more
- Japanese Drama Database: Good Luck