Mikie Hara – Itazura na Mousou (January 29, 2010)
E-Net Frontier
Catalog # ENFD-5193 – Region 2 Disc – 16:9 Aspect
Running Time: 96 Minutes

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The Skinny: Though Mikie Hara is one of my favorites, and this is a late January, 2010, release, it has been sitting un-reviewed for some time. In my view, it is nearly impossible for Mikie to make a bad video – the one exception was that disastrous video (Kirare Kirarete) where Mikie was scissor-crazy and spent half the video cutting up her own clothes, while she was in them. We’ll leave the Freudian analysis about that to Freud, who fortunately for us, won’t be commenting on the video anytime soon. In any event it would have been a discussion about the director rather than sweet Mikie.

In this DVD, Mikie performs her usual beautiful and delightful model role. In addition, Mikie assays at least one other role – chatterbox. As the DVD opens we find Mikie out in the middle of nowhere. There’s a corn field to her left but there’s no low-flying crop-dusters in sight in case you had visions of North By Northwest. She’s friendly and happy to see us – and then the montage launches.

The first of the main chapters begins with Mikie finding herself at a traditional Japanese home in the countryside. Shojo screens, tatami mats, and low tables are in evidence. I’m guessing to a degree, but this is set-up for Mikie to act as if she is in the home of her teacher. I did hear her say ‘sensei‘. But soon Mikie is down to wearing just a fluffy/frilly red bikini.

In two Mikie is in white blouse and black skirt sitting in front of a laptop computer which is conspicuously labeled Shrine Valley Co. Ltd. They are one of the leading producers of gravure idol DVDs, usually offering directorial and editorial services plus whatever is needed in the way of post-production services. Usually everything but distribution is what they do. But so what? Mikie has another opportunity to pose for us, in the offices of her producer. What you might call a stay-at-home video. In the office setting Mikie will show off a black and pearl bra and panties set.

Three is set by an outdoor swimming pool. Mikie looks great in a blue and white, zippered, one piece swimsuit.It is kind of an overcast day meaning we won’t get a blue sky background. Mikie doesn’t actually swim in this chapter, but she does get a little wet from the outdoor shower.

Next we are back at the country house. We seem to return there after each scene. Mikie is apron-ed and cutting up some vegetables for a hot lunch. She chats amiably while slicing and dicing. Fadeout.

There’s Mikie out back of the house. She got a homemade broom and she wears a small apron over her gingham checked pink and white bikini. However, sweeping the courtyard is not what she’s about. Posing soon follows.

Mikie takes a bath next. This is not some lush Balinese bath that we see so often. No this is basic and traditional Japanese style, including a small, wood trimmed bathtub that is so small that when you sit in it, you must raise your knees unless you don’t mind sitting on folded legs. Of course you must soap up, scrub, and rinse off BEFORE submerging in the small tub. The space is small and confined, so I wouldn’t call this scene scintillating.

Then we have Mikie chatting again. This time she’s in bed.She’s got a lovely pale pink trimmed with blue slip over her bikini. Eventually the small half slip comes off, and she poses in just the bikini. Again we are limited to a small confined space, this time it being the futon, so Mikie is kind of hemmed in.

Next, Mikie is on the ball field, or maybe it is a playground of a school. She’s doing some mild aerobics wearing a tee-shirt and cut-off jeans shorts. We sneak up on her and start shooting at her with a water pistol. She’s having a good time and is excited and yet she says, “Chotto” (as in stop or hold on) over and over. But the scene is played for fun and Mikie’s laughter is irresistible. And there’s a bikini beneath the tee shirt and shorts.

The next chapter begins with Mikie showing us her old classroom in her old school. After a brief fade out/fade in, there’s Mikie in her school girl costume – the familiar ‘navy’ style that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. While this Mikie doesn’t look particularly school-girlish, it was fun to see her reliving those moments from her youth. Of course being an adult now, Mikie can remove the uni and pose for us in a bikini still in the classroom.

More school time follow. Mikie is in the gym bouncing a basketball. She play at playing basketball briefly. Then she’ll tease us with some peaks down the front of her tee shirt. Naturally the tee-shirt and shorts do come off leaving Mikie in a small and dark bra and panties set. She’ll then do some jump rope for us. The pace is quick. Too quick for Mikie to continue for too long, so we get some extended posing. And then suddenly Mikie is doing more aerobics until she becomes breathless.

The next main chapter begins with Mikie in a gorgeous yukata. She has a dish with two lush peaches, and she’s going to peel and eat one. “Oishi, ” (delicious!) she says. Moments later she is indoors and she’ll begin her posing by slowly removing the yukata.

Beneath the yukata, she wears a lovely yellow floral print bikini which she fills out magnificently. The peach makes it second appearance and the beautiful, pensive, and sensual Mikie looks grand again.

The chapter ends and after a fade out there’s Mikie back on the country road where the DVD began. I guess she’s thanking someone for the opportunity to revisit this part of the country, which may (or may not be) where she grew up.

There’s just five minutes left following the closing credits, we have anout five minutes left for some behind the scenes footage along with some outtakes.

Summary: Once again Mikie will put a smile on your face. The DVD is not near her best works but Mikie is so good looking and so natural in front of a camera, that you’re still in for a good time when you watch this one.

I wouldn’t say that the DVD is flawed, and surely I am hard-pressed to find fault with it. So we’ll just sign off on the review with the score: four point two five and recommended to both new viewers as well as Mikie’s loyal fans.