The movie “Hana Yori Dango Final” “花より男子ファイナル” will release in theatres all over Japan on Saturday 6/28/08. Myself as well as many fans eagerly await that day. Cannot wait to see it!

Have you seen the Japanese drama “Hana yori Dango” “花より男子” also known as “Boys Over Flowers”?

Don’t watch the movie until you have seen Hana Yori Dango and Hana Yori Dango 2 (Hana Yori Dango Returns).

If you have not read the manga, seen the anime then you could (should) start with the Jdrama series.

It is based off of a popular girl’s manga, comic which had quite a lasting run during the 1990′s well into 2003 and had a large fan following. Later the anime version was produced as well. The storyline of Hana Yori Dango was adapted first into a Taiwanese Television Drama called “Meteor Garden“.

My friends have stated that the manga version is much, much better than the drama. Also, the drama couldn’t include all the different storylines that branched out.

I first caught Hana Yori Dango unknowingly last year after finishing the drama “Taiyo no Uta” (Song of the Sun) as it was being on a public broadcasting channel 18 in Los Angeles which airs Japanese news and shows both Saturday and Sunday evenings. Then I fell in love with the series and rushed home just to catch each weekly episode or set the timer to have it recorded.

You can pickup the dramas with English Subtitles at the YesAsia.com or eBay USA:

It has helped me in studying Japanese and exposed me to more of what Japan is like. BUT BE CAREFUL not to build stereotypes around these dramas as some things may be exaggerated for an exciting storyline or comic relief.

Here is another trailer for the movie: