F4 (Hana Yori Dango) dramas on the roll with various version

花より男子 (Hana Yori Dango) is orginally written by a Japanese cartoonists Yoko Kamio that has exploded to super fame and popularity when it was adapted from the manga to TV series and film. So what is so famous about this drama? Storyline is about 4 super rich kids studying in a big school/college often bullies the poor and weak. Once given a red note in the locker, the victim gets punished and beaten to pulp eventually leaving the school. Poor simpleton girl stands up against the 4 boys especially the F4 leader and attracts his attention. However heroine is in love with the other quiet member of F4 who often helps her when she is in trouble. 

The first ever Hana Yori Dango drama that ever took place in Asia was the Taiwan version starring Jerry Yan, Barbie Xu, Vic Zhou, Ken Chu and Vanness Wu. The drama entitled Meteor Garden was was super popular among Chinese fans and those who started watching Taiwan series. The song- Meteor Rain was a favorite in karaoke sessions! 

The four went to endorse Pepsi CF and many others from the drama.

Taiwan F4: Vanness, Jerry, Ken and Vic

Then came the Japanese version where actors, Jun Matsumoto, Shun Oguri, Inoue Mao

Matsuda Shota and Abe Tsuyoshi were casted to play the original roles of this drama.
The original cast from the manga is the F4 leader- Domyoji Tsukasa is played by JPop group Arashi member, Jun. The Japanese version has 3 parts- Hana Yori Dango, Hana Yori Dango Returns and Hana Yori Dango Final. 

Japan's version of F4

Came later was the Korean version of 꽃보다 남자 casting some of the pretty boy actors such as Lee Min Ho, SS501's Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Bum, T-Max's Kim Joon and Goo Hye Sun. Hyun Joong and Kim Joon are originally from pop boy bands so their groups are contributing songs to the original OST. This drama won various awards with Lee Min Ho and Kim Hyun Joong gaining so much attention and many CFs endorsements after filming this drama.

Kim Joon, Lee Min Ho, Goo Hye Sun, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Bum

If you do take a closer look at the similarities of the main roles- often F4 leader is tall and had curly hair. Lee Min Ho had to get his hair curled ahead for he has straight hair. There's Kim Hyun Joong and Shun Oguri playing the role of Yoon Ji Hoo/Hanazawa Rui with dyed light brown hair and playing the violin as the manga character.

Comes the most shocking part is China introduced their latest F4 drama and roles and they were the most 'weird' and oddball ones compared to the original manga.

The girls might looks alright but the male roles were out of place... No No No! :(

China version of F4

Also there is an Indian version of F4 called Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan aired through MTV India which I won't go explaining further on it...  the images and posters promotion for the drama, which totally does not look anything like the other F4 dramas and original manga at all.

Perhaps their adaption is different and has bits of familarities from the Japanese comic.

Having watched the Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean version of F4 dramas and they seemed all interesting to me. Storylines are the same and characters were great except some fell short. I think Korea's Gu Jun Pyo (F4 leader) is one of the best. And I like Japanese's Rui Hanazawa (the quiet member) for he stands out well. For the other two F4 members- I think the Korean and Taiwanese version were great. 

Take a look at the famous model/attorney Shizuka Todou which Rui Hanazawa is in love with her at the start of the drama. Various versions of her...I personally like the Taiwanese version- Teng Jang Jing the best. 

Han Chae Young (Korea), Mayumi Sada (Japan) and Winnie Qian (Taiwan) played the role of beautiful and independent Shizuka Todou. 

So which Tsukasa Makino /Shan Cai/ Geum Jan Di - main heroine is the most similar to the manga? Both Goo Hye Sun and Inoue Mao have the similarities of manga- big eyes, student look with the shoulder length hair in the high school uniform. The Taiwan version is shot mostly in college so the actors were wearing their own clothes instead of school uniform.

I hope there is a stop of F4 dramas...i think we have seen enough and apparently there is a Mexican version...etc Oh dear! It will never be as great as the original anime....