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Hokaben [ホカベン]

DVD Box


Soundtrack




Drama Details
Title:Hokaben
ホカベン
Hokaben - Case Files of a Rookie Lawyer
Telecast:2008-04-16 to 2008-06-13
Season:Spring 2008



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TV Station:NTV
Duration:10 Episodes
Viewership:8.1%
Genre(s):Drama
Legal



Synopsis
Akari Domoto is an idealistic lawyer who wants to "rescue the weak". She joins a large law office, but is assigned to a lowly department whose only other member is her boss, who was transferred there after making a mistake during a case.

Clients looking for saviors come to them for help, but the realities in front of them are too harsh to face. Will they give up or will they face the reality and fight?

Related Videos (1)
 ホカベン [Hokaben]
ホカベン [Hokaben]
01:46

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Soundtrack and Theme Songs (1)
1. Namida wo Todokete [Tortoise Matsumoto トータス松本]

Actor/Actress Cast (49)
Ueto Aya
上戸彩
Domoto Akari
Kitamura Kazuki
北村一輝
Sugisaki Tadashi
Kato Shigeaki
加藤シゲアキ
Katase Riichiro
Toda Naho
戸田菜穂
Kuramoto Shiori
Sasai Eisuke
篠井英介
Zaitsu Masato
Nakayama Megumi
中山恵
Yoshikawa Mizuho
Ryo
りょう
Kudo Reiko
Kato Kazuko
かとうかずこ
Domoto Miyoko
Osugi Ren
大杉漣
Morioka Tetsuo
Tomita Yasuko
富田靖子
Ikegami Ryoko (ep. 1-2)
Ishimaru Kenjiro
石丸謙二郎
Hamada Shinji (ep. 1-2)
Ishii Momoka
石井萌々果
Ikegami Maki (ep. 1-2)
Sasaki Katsuhiko
佐々木勝彦
President of company (ep. 2)
Asaka Mayumi
朝加真由美
Kawahara Tomoe (ep. 3)
Suzuki Sawa
鈴木砂羽
Usami Chieko (ep. 3)
Tanaka Tetsushi
田中哲司
Osawa Hirofumi (ep. 3)
Sato Tomohito
佐藤祐基
Kawahara Tohru (ep. 3)
Katsube Nobuyuki
勝部演之
President Urakawa (ep. 3)
Takubo Issei
田窪一世
the prosecutor (ep. 3)
Sunaga Kei
須永慶
the presiding judge (ep. 3)
Hirota Masahiro
広田 雅裕
Komiyama (ep. 3)
Kikawada Masaya
黄川田将也
Sasaki Koji (ep. 4)
Iriyama Noriko
入山法子
Fujino Mika (ep. 4)
Ohkura Koji
大倉孝二
Tomita Daisuke (ep. 4-6)
Isayama Hiroko
伊佐山ひろ子
Suzuki Masae (ep. 4, 7, 9-10)
Yamazaki Hajime
山崎一
Fuda Yasuhiko Fuda (ep. 5-6)
Tonesaku Toshihide
東根作寿英
Otsuka Tetsuya (ep. 5-6)
Sometani Shota
染谷将太
Orimoto Yukihiro (ep. 5-6)
Ochiai Motoki
落合モトキ
Miike Ryohei (ep. 5-6)
Nishida Ken
西田健
Kasahara (ep. 5-6)
Miya Naoko
みやなおこ
Noriko (Takeshi's mother) (ep. 5-6)
Tsukiyama Mayumi
築山万有美
the school nurse (ep. 5-6)
Katase Nana
片瀬那奈
Matsuzawa Akemi (ep. 7)
Endo Yuya
遠藤雄弥
Totsuka Genichi (ep. 7)
Koichi Mantaro
小市慢太郎
Ueda Takashi (ep. 7)
Nakamura Tomoya
中村友也
Tanaka Kohei (ep. 7)
Namiki Shiro
並樹史朗
Totsuka Kenichi (ep. 7)
Nakamura Mami
中村麻美
Suzuki Akiko (ep. 7)
Sato Hitomi
佐藤仁美
Kawai Rina (ep. 8)
Toba Jun
鳥羽潤
Matsuoka Hayato (ep. 8)
Mikami Ichiro
三上市朗
Fujiki Yuji (ep. 8)
Kasai Kenji
河西健司
Kawai Teruo (ep. 8)
Hiwatashi Shinji
樋渡真司
Kosaka (ep. 8)
Otaka Hiro
大高洋夫
Hattori Yoshio (ep. 9-10)
Katsumura Masanobu
勝村政信
Fuwa Kenichi (ep. 9-10)
Nakamaru Shinsho
中丸新将
Kurokawa Shigenori (ep. 9-10)
Takizawa Ryoko
滝沢涼子
a reporter (ep. 9-10)
Otomo Minami
大友みなみ
 
!TODELETE Sato Tomohito
佐藤智仁
(ep 3)
  

Related Links (1)
1. Official Site

Drama Reviews (2)
!!WARNING!!
The review section may contain spoilers! Please understand
that you may find out about this drama's endings and plots!


1. The worst depiction of a Japanese lawyer? [Rating: 10/10]
Domoto Akari "would be fired immediately and not hired by any firm for any reason" because this series is a good depiction of moral corruption of lawyers in general.

In short a good lawyer is a cheating, backstabbing lier who uses any means necessary, including deception and fraud, to achieve its goals. Maybe in real life lawyers not often go to those extremes but many of them really lack a moral compass.

Look around. Big companies with huge legal departments and corruptive influences in the parliaments are almost untouchable. Look at example of copyright and patent wars where citizens and small companies have no chances at all. It is really not hard to imagine lawyers like those from Emuza working in the background.

I think this series analyzes the morals of people behind the law pretty accurately. Not only that, it shows the mechanism which keeps the status quo. Laws are longer and longer, legal costs are going through the roof and normal people are lost in the maze of current legislation.

Pity it went without an echo in Japan and there are no similar production in USA and Europe. I saw a few TED talks about this issue though.

Anyway, I recommend this drama even if it distorts the view of everyday life of a Japanese lawyer.
Reviewed by Veilen on 26 April 2010
2. The worst depiction of a japanese lawyer [Rating: 1/10]
I work at a law firm and am striving to become a lawyer myself.

If you're entertained by some heart-wrenchers, fine. But remember this.

1. Fresh bar-exam passers/lawyers - NEVER touch a case by themselves, they stick with an experience lawyer until he/she says "ok, give him some work".

2. NO ONE becomes a lawyer for justice.

3. If Doumoto Akari (Ueto Aya's character) were truly a lawyer, she would be fired immediately and not hired by any firm for any reason.
Reviewed by darc_blade on 9 May 2009

Comments From Users (22)
!!WARNING!!
This section may contain spoilers! Do not proceed if you
do not want to read about this drama's endings and plots!


1. Comments by MakiharaR [Rating: 8/10]
Very interesting interpretation of the moral corruption aspect of lawyers. Domoto Akari, played by Aya Ueto, is new lawyer and works for a famous law firm. Akari believed that lawyers were righteous and should fight for the weak and powerless, but quickly realized that lawyers were direct opposites of that. Although many believed that the drama was poorly done due to the inaccuracy of lawyers, they failed to understand the point of the drama is to show the corruption within the law field. It is unfortunate that this had low ratings since this is definitely an issue that could create a dramatic change in our society. I still want to know what was the results of the last case, but it was never revealed...
2. Comments by Qinrong1992 [Rating: 8/10]
She is a lawyer in this drama. She is a pretty lawyer that kind and helpful. She will try her very best to help all the person that needs her. But her kindness may makes her suffer more than the others. But she never regret about her every decision. I can tell everybody needs help. But she must be the only one will be giving you helps if you meet her. LOL
3. Comments by Patazilla [Rating: 8/10]
I like the backgroundmusic very much and I love Kitamura Kazuki, he's great in this one (as he is in everything he does). Very interesting story, which often gives to think and although it's a drama focused on seperate episodes, the episodes don't really follow one scheme which is repeated over and over again. Interesting. I really liked it. :3
4. Comments by Sun_Shang_Xiang [Rating: 9/10]
Unrealistic but very enjoyable.One of Aya Ueto's best performances,ably supported by Kitamura Kazuki , Toda Naho and Usagi Ren. The performances I enjoyed the most were those of Ryo as the amoral Kudou Reiko and Katase Nana in her episode.
5. Comments by hitomi #1 [Rating: 7/10]
Enjoyable, Aya is always a treat to watch, hard to believe someone so young can be a lawyer and a top one at that. If you're an Aya fan you'll like it, if not may want to catch Attention Please first.
6. Comments by Hakucho [Rating: 10/10]
I really like this drama.Aya-san is an angel who always wants to help he did not always succeed.
7. Comments by Chimar [Rating: 7/10]
The plot didn't catch me until the end of the drama. But my love for Ueto Aya kept me going =]
8. Comments by aoiharu [Rating: 9/10]
Haven't finish this series.
Good cast and I like every aspect of it so far.
9. Comments by Kuro570 [Rating: 7/10]
Pretty good, I'm probably just biased since Aya Ueto stars in it.
10. Comments by tinyamaki [Rating: ?/10]
haven't finish watching yet... but I think it's interesting....
11. Comments by marspeach [Rating: 7/10]
Ended up being better than I thought in the beginning.
12. Comments by wanderingfish7 [Rating: ?/10]
watched 1 episode, too serious topic, tired...gave up
13. Comments by misaki697 [Rating: ?/10]
watching...hoping it will be good with ueto aya!
14. Comments by norani [Rating: ?/10]
Kazuki Kitamura --- About a lawyer
15. Comments by Milano [Rating: 9/10]
A good ueto aya in an interesting drama.
16. Comments by qinhan [Rating: 10/10]
Cos of aya ueto excellent
17. Comments by illuminati [Rating: ?/10]
still watching
18. Comments by Shachihoko [Rating: ?/10]
plan to watch
19. Comments by TakumaSan [Rating: 8/10]
pretty good..
20. Comments by ffrostte [Rating: ?/10]
watching ...
21. Comments by hibiscus920 [Rating: ?/10]
WATCHING
22. Comments by elletosatoshi [Rating: ?/10]
Watching
23. Comments by Odetted [Rating: ?/10]
24. Comments by riichan [Rating: ?/10]
25. Comments by lonewolf82 [Rating: 7/10]
26. Comments by fbpprelude [Rating: ?/10]
27. Comments by g_hunter1 [Rating: ?/10]
28. Comments by yipsm [Rating: ?/10]
29. Comments by Meiling [Rating: ?/10]
30. Comments by natzumi [Rating: ?/10]

Users who voted for this drama (8)
1. UetoAyaFanboy
Ueto Aya as the rookie lawyer is irresistible. It's also a good satire of society and the judicial system. It's funny that her boss is playing video games at work...
2. irish_robz
Love this Aya drama to bits as always but hoping that subbers will continue to sub her dramas in the future.
3. spldey126
She is very serious in this one...her acting is superb..great one..the storyline was just ok...
4. Veilen
Good depiction of a moral corruption among lawyers.
5. Edson
Watching... It's serious drama but i enjoy it.
6. qinhan
cos of ueto aya rate 10/10
7. Qinrong
Serious and offensive
8. jessica_tiew
7/10