Happy 29th birthday, Masaki! Here's a 'Hakugin Jack' MV for you!

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Today is Okada Masaki's 29th birthday! He was born on 15 August 1989 as a cute baby, かわいい。。。and now he's this gorgeous young gentleman! I'm so excited because this is the first time I could catch up with his birthday and made time to make something for him.

Thank you so much for being you, Masaki-kun! Always be healthy (stop smoking, please, 喫煙はダメですよ！Less drinking too! Gosh, I'm like your mother...). Always shine from within as you are... Always project that purity that is such a signature of you...

That something is an MV from the 2014 'Hakugin Jack'. Song is 'Danger Zone', Kenny Loggins (Tom Cruise's Top Gun, anyone? Does anyone come from that age bracket? I certainly am!). I made it in one evening yesterday after days of wondering what song I should use. I usually pick the song first before making an MV, because the song choice totally dictates scene selections. I love Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone because of its beats - mainly - and also because of the lyrics.


In Masaki's case, to me, the Danger Zone's meaning is threefold: one, it is indeed dangerous to slide down those ski tracks (I have to find an interview to explain if Masaki really did all those scenes; it seems he did the majority of them). Two, in the movie, Masaki and his colleagues (including his supervisor, the charming Watanabe Ken) had to race with time to uncover a terrorism plot. Three, Masaki in person is heading towards more "dangerous" roles these days, roles that are not traditionally kawaii anymore. His Yamada Haruhiko, Aoki Ikkō, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Miyamoto Takayoshi... and then the 2018 Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū as Yakumo... and his role as Terence Avery in the 2019 Bracken Moor - all are not "nice" or "safe" roles anymore. Even Itō Seijiro in Ito-kun the Movie (and the series) is not a "nice" role. His Haiji in Ningen Gowasan 2018 was not a villain, but the world of theatre has its own risks that Masaki is actually 'getting addicted' to, so I think he's definitely redefining himself as an actor.

Well done, Masaki! I love you. We love you. Thanks a lot for being you...

The Danger Zone lyrics is below. My embedded Tweets of the Rakugo and Bracken Moor news are below. Oh yeah, and WOWOW will broadcast Ningen Gowasan 2018 in December! Yay!

Danger Zone
by Kenny Loggins

Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go

Highway to the danger zone
Ride into the danger zone

Headin' into twilight
Spreadin' out her wings tonight
She got you jumpin' off the track
And shovin' into overdrive

Highway to the danger zone
I'll take you
Ridin' into the danger zone

You'll never say hello to you
Until you get it on the red line overload

You'll never know what you can do
Until you get it up as high as you can go

Out along the edges
Always where I burn to be

The further on the edge
The hotter the intensity

Highway to the danger zone
Gonna take you
Right into the danger zone

Highway to the danger zone
Right into the danger zone

Highway to the danger zone
Gonna take you right into the danger zone

Highway to the danger zone
Right into the danger zone

Highway to the danger zone
Gonna take you right into the danger zone

Highway to the danger zone
Right into the danger zone


Songwriters: Giorgio Moroder / Kenny Loggins / Tom Whitlock
Danger Zone lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc




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