Tiger & Dragon

You know, I've watched anime for years, and yet I somehow still manage to come across new bizarre aspects of Japanese culture. In this case it's rakugo, a kind of ritualized stand-up comedy/storytelling that is the centre of Tiger & Dragon. Basically, the show is about a yakuza tough's attempt to turn straight through pursuing this art, and all of the wacky people he comes across along the way.

Of course, there's the usual things that make J-dramas a tough sell for Western audiences: the rapid switches between goofy comedy and intense drama, the over-the-top acting, and the everpresent "EHHHHHH?!" (There are some great ones in this show). In Tiger & Dragon there's also the somewhat contrived episode structure, where the characters' personal problems always end up being similar to a rakugo story he's learning. But there's also a kind of genuine heart to Tiger & Dragon, that doesn't come across as overly sentimental. The show's generally light-hearted atmosphere helps to make the dorama goofiness part of the fun, not something you have to fight past.

In the end, this isn't the greatest show in the world, but if you're looking for something amusing, occasionally heartwarming, and unswervingly foreign, I would recommend it.