BAMBINO (2007)



Definition: Bambino is an Italian word for baby.

CAST

• Matsumoto Jun as Ban Shogo
• Karina as Hibino Asuka
• Sato Ryuta as Katori Nozomi
• Uchida Yuki as Shishido Miyuki
• Sasaki Kuranosuke as Kuwabara Atsushi
• Kitamura Kazuki as Yonamine Tsukasa
• Ichimura Masachika as Shishido Tekkan
• Hosshan as Oda Toshio
• Mukai Osamu as Senoo Masashi
• Komatsu Ayaka as Minakawa Kozue
• Yamamoto Kei as Endo Susumu
• Fukiishi Kazue as Takahashi Eri
• Sasaki Takao as Nagai Hirokazu
• Sato Yusuke as Takanashi Hiroshi
• Aso Kosuke as Shibata Kenichiro
• Toda Keiko as Nogami Kyoko (eps. 5-7)
• Ikeuchi Hiroyuki as Hayama Yasuhide (ep. 7)

SYNOPSIS

A drama adaptation of a popular comic written by Sekiya Tetsuji. Matsumoto Jun plays the overenthusiastic protagonist from Fukuoka who comes to Tokyo with the desire to become a chef. The drama will display cooking skills and the Italian language.

REVIEW:

              What made me decide to watch this jdrama is probably obvious,. It's because of Matsujun. Actually, ive watched the first three episodes last year in crunchyroll.com and for some reason, I wasn't able to finish watching it online and while looking for some dvds recently, I saw Bambino and though I have a lot of other choices, actually I was having a hard time dciding what to buy (if I could, I'd buy everything I like but then I thought it's a waste since I could watch other dramas online), I was looking at different titles and I thought, 'What the heck, it's Matsujun anyway. That could be enough reason to finish the drama even if it does turn out as a crappy cooking story. Well, from the synopsis I've read, i know Jun plays a chef and I thought it's pretty interesting story. So anyway, I was pretty excited to watch Matsujun again in  a drama, the last time a series of him was HYD 1 and 2 and his movie Boku wa imoto ni koi wo suru. Ok, so I was excited to watch it and  I had some snacks to go along with it, my usual dvd marathon setting and so it started as Ban Shogo (jun matsumoto) working as a chef in a small Italian restaurant in at his hometown in Fukuoka. The head chef was like his second father who taught him of Italian cuisine and also as his mentor. He had a girlfriend, Eri, and they shared an apartment. Eri was a waitress in that restaurant. The head chef gave Ban-kun an opportunity and chance to work in an upscale restaurant in Tokyo, named Baccanale where his colleague and long time friend was the head chef. He went there, all dazed and determined to be a chef and introduce his own pasta. He started as a dishwasher and was exposed to how busy, chaotic but well-organized kitchen the restaurant is. He appeared to be cocky and was despised by the chefs who are working at the kitchen. Alright so fast forward, no need to bore you with details, For a while, Ban went back to Fukuoka to finish his studies but then realized that he wanted to be a chef so he went back to Baccanale. He was assigned first to the dining hall as a waiter. Actually most of the episodes are from the dining hall compared to when he worked in the kitchen as a chef (this was later on with the drama). The chef told him him to work in the dining hall first because seeing how people react to their food is essential before he becomes a chef. He was named Bambino by the way because he seemed to be a baby who's working or learning to his way up. Working as a waiter gave Ban a deep struggle simply because, like what he said in the drama, he went there to be a chef and not smile or cut bread. He was frustrated because he doesn't like what he does. He constantly breaks plates and glasses which makes others a bit uneasy. His co-workers in the dining hall were supportive of him and taught him how to love the job and make the best for what is in front of him. The chefs in the kitchen are a bit different though, they're stricter and made Ban face the hard truth that you have to persevere to get or reach the most important goal in your life.  Even they treat him a bit harshly, they still have a soft spot for Ban because they were once also a bambino. Seeing how his co-workers understand his mistakes and support and encourage him, Ban did his best to learn. From how to set and serve the dishes to being sincere with the customers. Day by day, he learns something new and soon enough, he was happy and contented, seeing that his experiences had made him a good and reliable waiter. Seeing how happy the people are when he serves them their pasta dishes made him feel warm. A year after working in the dining hall, Ban was promoted to be a chef. He was ecstatic to be finally working in the kitchen and doing what he does best – cooking. He was only there there for quite a short time. He applied for a job in countless restaurants in Italy and after a while, he got an offer. He bid his goodbyes and gratitude to everyone in Baccanale and went to Italy where he started all over again.

What I really love with Japanese dramas are that it was shorter (compared to kdramas) and has good dialogues. This drama was a bit dragging on the middle part and well, like most dramas, it was predictable. But the pasta was superb and I became so hungry while watching it. It was like 10 in the evening and I called Jollibee (a local fast food) to order spaghetti for delivery only to find out the branch in my place was already closed. I thought it was a 24-hour delivery. Anyway, the serving and appearance of the pasta and desserts were really appetizing.. Bambino had a strong support cast. Everyone in Baccanale was goodlooking (chefs, waters/waitresses and the daughter of the owner who was also the manager or supervisor I think) except for the dessert maker who was odd and weird. He doesn't really talk much. Everyone's acting was fine, specially Jun, Karina (plays chef Asuka) and Katori. The head waiter was also amusing  and looks like half Japanese/Italian. There was someone though, the kakkoi young guy in the kitchen who could have done better. All in all, it's a good drama to watch specially if you're a Jun Matsumoto fan or if you love cooking. Not much of a love story though. Ban left Fukuoka and his long-time girlfriend Eri to continue his dream of becoming a chef in Tokyo. Actually, Ban asked Eri to go with him to Tokyo but the latter declined, saying she has her own life and that he was being selfish to think of himself. Even though they parted with a heavy heart, they both were still good friends. Eri even went to Baccanale to see the place where Ban will eventually fulfill his dream. The actress who played Eri was familiar. I also saw her in Yamada Tarou Monogatari as Taro's teacher. In Bambino, she seemed to look a bit older for Jun. Wasn't really strange since most of Jun's leading ladies were older than him.

I was supposed to post some screencaps but I had a hard time finding them online. I'll see later if I can capture some screencaps on my dvd. Ja ne. =)