Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!

Till date one of the best BLs

This is one of the best BLs to watch, have been a fan of BLs sice long and have covered almost all the thai and few Philippine, Taiwan, Korea and japan. but so far this tops my list.

I am even taking the pain to write this long review because the first episode itself had me crying and the pure beautifulness of the relation between the main leads is simply amazing.

the way story unravels and the way their feelings are expressed to each other is just perfect or even better. this is not just confined to BLs the drama has one the best love tracks that any story can have and keeps you hanging on cloud 9.

moreover, unlike other BLs it doesn't have forced circumstantial love. everything feels so real and the love feels so genuine and pure. you can't help but find yourself smiling while watching these episodes. It has that innocences and purity that makes the drama worth while to watch.

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Great original idea, cliché overly shy male lead and creepy side character

I wanted to wait until I finish the whole series but I couldn't take it any longer and stopped in the middle of the 8th episode to write this review.

The idea which the story is based on is interesting and absolutely original as it is the case with most Japanese dramas. It gets slightly boring later on and I can't blame anything else than the poorly written, cliché characters. I'm mainly referring to Adachi here but Kurosawa felt kinda off during some scenes, too. It's very upsetting to see a good idea getting wasted like this, it had so much potential. The creators decided to leave out important information and ignore the fact that some scenes, interactions and feelings will come across as annoyingly random. (For example both Adachi and Kurosawa's sexual awakening, they totally skip this as in most BL, sadly.)

And now I'll tell the main reason I decided to write this review so abruptly: it's the one and only Tsuge. I must say beforehand that I have very little triggers and I'm usually not bothered at all by
"unhealthy" or at least not natural relationships (I'm a huge fan of Killing Stalking and I love Sangwoo and Yoonbum together, I think that says it all), but this guy made me feel so uncomfortable which I haven't felt in a long time. He is the typical middle-aged creepy loser with no friends and no life, so definitely not someone appealing in the eyes of a cool teenager. Since this is a romance BL series, I assume Minato will fall for him regardless (probably because Tsuge is the first one who believes him and encourages him to follow his dreams... strong daddy issues vibes so this is not love, sorry) and it ruins the whole drama for me so much that I would even call it unwatchable. And the fact that nor Adachi nor Kurosawa tells the dude the truth that he is an unfashionable creepy old guy and they even encourage him is even more upsetting. The drama basically implies that it's completely alright to prey on young boys if you are a 30 years old boring virgin. Like please, if you want to write a story about something that's not really right morally and socially, at least make it unrealistically appealing and hot instead of weirding viewers out by showing how a real p*d*phile looks like.

Despite the above mentioned (huge) negative point, the series is nice and it's worth watching once for sure, I wouldn't call it a waste of time. Plus point for featuring Yuutaro, I love him, and it was also a refreshing surprise to recognise Karube from Alice in Borderland (Keita Machida), I would have never thought he would play in a BL series.

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Entertaining, Cute, and Original

This show is currently airing and I have only seen 2 episodes so far but I'm already in love with it. The main character is a virgin at 30 and in this story this grants him the ability to read minds. He then discovers the cool handsome and all-rounder guy at work has a crush on him. This show is well-acted, funny, and has such cute lovely moments. I also find it to be introspective and thoughtful. I can relate to the main character and his struggles and his loneliness. He has lost hope in falling in love and his life isn't miserable but he goes through the motions and does his best settling for the usual. You can't help but root for him since the beginning to find love. The progression of the show so far feels natural and the chemistry between the ML's gives me butterflies. I will come back once the show has fully aired but this drama is refreshing, romantic, funny, and. sweet. Also, I'm addicted and wish all episodes would air at once.

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its so fucking cute

The objective score is 8 but my score would be 10, i adored it.

I hadn't gone into this knowing it was a bl but it was a nice surprise and as I was watching it I realised I had read the manga back in 2018 but I hadn't remembered it well so each episode still had me intrigued. If you especially like a painless watch where the problems aren't angsty as most bl tends to be, then this'll be perfect for you?

This has the rare bl drama premise of the lead (Adachi) having supernatural powers of being able to read people's minds if he touches them and finding out the other lead (Tsuge) - who he finds is this unreachable charming and top standard competent handsome guy - likes him. Adachi has low self esteem but a huge heart and has a general opinion that everyone else is better and is lucky(???? not the best choice) to be better, although not in a cruel way, it's more from a place naivety? ignorance (although I don't think that's the best word for it either). There's a maturity to the chaarcters in that they are adults who have already established a lot of their identity but like everyone, regardless of age, has room to grow further and find new parts of themselves. There's no unreasonable problems, the characters grow and learn from each other and if you watch anime, I think its got wotakoi vibes (which is another office love story featuring characters that are older) a little less funny but same vibes.

It's nice and lighthearted and the characters are damn precious, there is not a single character that I hated. You get to watch Adachi come to terms with himself, his identity and forming new opinions on himself and the people around him, but this is still lighthearted mind you, it's just something the creative staff pulled off really well without coming off pretentious by neither taking the idea too seriously or not seriously enough. It's great progression, I thought and the pacing was just right. The other side romance is also pretty cute and paced well considering the screentime given although slightly hurried but they manage to ease out the edges as the episodes move along.

The acting is seriously good, like Eiji Akaso as Adachi, balanced the awkward, hesitant and unsure adult that's comfortable in his individuality in terms of his values and beliefs really well. Akaso portrays Adachi's earnesty and sincerity believably and charmingly. Keita Machida as Tsuge shows off the composed and competentness of Tsuge in a sort of alluring way and when Tsuge's inner thoughts are revealed, Machida highlights the fucking adorableness of his thoughts but also the fact that you cant take things from first glance, that even someone that seems to be doing well as their own doubts and expectations of themselves that they struggle with. The two leads had amazing chemistry and each scene I couldn't take my eyes off them. The side characters' actors and actresses did a wonderful job showing each character unique aspects. There is only one female character Fujisaki - portrayed by adorable and talented actress Ryo Sato - in the story and she takes on a slightly guiding sort of role but still just manages to be portrayed as someone with her own problems, ideas and values which will be enough for me although I'd love to have seen more of her, she's way too kind and cute to not have been utilised more.

The intro and outro songs slaps hard but you know jindie always be like that, so no surprise there.

Rewatch value for me comes in how fucking cute this shit is.

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Cherry Magic, more like Comfort Magic!!

This drama is my introduction to j-dramas in the good year of 2025, and I just want to say this show has hooked me. Akaso Eiji bewitched me with how he portrays awkward Adachi and I recognized Keita Machida from when I watched Alice in Borderland at the same time, and Keita was such a sweetheart in how he portrayed Kurosawa.

I found both the characters to be fleshed out very well, and Adachi’s insecurities of being alone for most of his life and the imposter syndrome that comes with his magic power resonated with me. I headcanon all of Adachi’s characterizations to be a metaphor for aromanticism and asexuality so just to see him navigate through that and especially in Episode 5 where the show does say that living by yourself is a lifestyle that you can choose and that is okay!

I love how these 2 grown adults act like teenage girls around each other and Kurosawa’s freaky thoughts… my god someone needs to spray him with cold water, he makes me laugh!! It’s such a sweet watch and definitely a comfort show. I could go on and on but I love Cherry Magic so much and I do believe this story will stick with me for a very long time!!

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Drama soo GOATed u don't realise the leads never kissed??

I literally skipped this for soo long cz i was soo disappointed with the Japanese version of "love in the air" i was like i already watched the thai version so i wouldn't like this one cz everyone was telling the thai ver was better. I'm happy i gave this a try. 0 regrets. IT WAS SOO GOOOOOODDDDD!!!!

Although the main plot was the same for both thai and Japanese version. The story was totally different. While the thai version went more on a straight line, warm and cute fluff kinda. There achi was potrayed as this guy who helped people behind the scenes never gaining recognition and karan was someone who fell for him and did the same for him.

In the Japanese version, the plot is not a straight line it has a lot of curves. Here atachi is a kind guy yes but he's more of a pushover kinda guy who can't say no and lacks confidence. Kurosawa is the guy who fell for this guy who didn't care about his looks and helped him out. Here kurosawa unlike karan is not helping atachi or achi everyday instead he tries to find chances where he can.. help but he rarely gets any and when he does he's obviously noisy in his head🤭🤭

I won't say this is better or the thai version is better. I feel both were equally good. The funniest part was i watched the whole series never realized the 2nd couple kiss but leads didn’t 😆😆😅 until i read a comment. If i didnt realise that it means it's a good drama. Definitely not bromance 😆😆 so don't worry watch it!

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"Your heart has nothing to do with magic. In the end, it is up to you to decide what to do."

so...he's a virgin and on his 30th birthday he gains the ability to read the minds of who he touches. obviously...i was intrigued. and after 12 episodes, i finished with my uwus on the floor.
-it's such a feel good bl drama? and so incredibly wholesome? like my heart truly is full. the concept is so fun, the romance is very nicely paced that we got to really see the main couple's development, and the story is honestly pretty inspiring in the way adachi learns to go for it in life and his growth in confidence. especially since i struggle with those kind of issues as well.
-the acting of everyone was amazing. the main leads really embodied their characters. their chemistry as well felt very genuine. their fondness for each other practically oozed from the screen. they really went heart eyes mf and i love it entirely.
-i will say that i wasn't a fan of the side couple. the age difference is just so vivid to me? like there were times where tsuge looked like his dad? asgjkas i just wasn't vibing with that tbh. and i also wasn't a big fan of tsuge's kind of overreactions but that's just my personal preference.
overall! i honestly loved it. it's a feel good romance with comedy, ~mind reading~ AND a super cute cat name udon which is absolutely adorable. so go and watch! you won't regret it!

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Two Handsome Men falling in Bubble Love!

I don’t know how I stumbled upon this show but apparently I needed it, so my heart must have been searching for it. Adachi (the main character and played by the incredibly handsome Eiji Akaso) is basically a shy office worker, inexperienced in relationships, a 30 year old virgin who can read minds, and is pretty much uninterested in anything. He’s just floating through life disinterested as if he’s in a constant existential crisis. I can relate to him a lot. He also has low self worth because he keeps admiring and comparing himself to Kurosawa- the “perfect, handsome, competitive high achieving colleague.” In other words he sees the world’s hierarchy and sees himself at the bottom and Kurosawa at the top. And through his mind reading power he figures out that Kurosawa is secretly in love with Adachi. It feels like the Spirit’s divine love with Adachi despite not knowing his own worth. Another way to look at it is that they are both opposites. Kurosawa was always judged by his looks- people would gravitate towards him because he was so handsome and he would get unfair advantages but it was as if they didn’t see him on the inside, only the outer shell. So he felt he had to live up to their projections and expectations of him, and works hard to do that- and becomes like a mirror of the world’s expectations.. to the point where even though he’s glowing and shining on the outside and getting all the awards, he doesn’t know who he is anymore and feels disconnected to his true self because he keeps trying to live up to others’ expectations. Then while on a company dinner with Adachi joining, a president hits on Kurosawa and he recoils, which bursts the bubble of expectation that person has of him. Then he leaves the dinner and Adachi takes care of him because Kurosawa is half drunk, but he starts to see Adachi’s nature that is kind and caring but doesn’t fit into any of the conditionally loved checkboxes that Kurosawa ticks off. Adachi’s simply floating in the wind and has no clue about the world- he’s almost just existing and only half in it, and meanwhile Kurosawa is deep in the world and all its hierarchical competitive games because he’s good at it and he’s winning and he does so well with it. But Kurosawa falls for Adachi first because he sees a refuge in him, and Adachi looks up to Kurosawa because he is the world’s hero.. and together they’re entering this relationship where basically Adachi has no experience and feels unworthy, and meanwhile Kurosawa has all these plans for the relationship and is basically taking the reigns and is doing things a bit like the “template” and there are all these expectations. I think it feels suffocating for Adachi- knowing that I am like him myself, this idea of doing candlelight dinners and dates and the expectation of sex.. it’s all just too much and half of the time Adachi looks constipated in the relationship. Meanwhile he reads Kurosawa’s thoughts and he’s constantly thinking about Adachi and how to please him and make him happy. But Adachi’s happiness is not really dependent on those things I feel. Then during one candlelight dinner, Kurosawa is talking about their “first Christmas plans to see fireworks etc” and Adachi has already read his mind so he knows all the plans and surprises. Then he feels insecure and says to Kurosawa “teach me”.. and Kurosawa leans in with a kiss but Adachi can hear all of his thoughts so he pushes him away. Then Adachi confesses his mind reading power to Kurosawa and feels really bad that if he loses his power, the relationship m ight not work out. Kurosawa is not bothered by his power but he says Adachi must decide if he wants to continue or not. And they end the relationship.. so the elaborate candlelight dinner- it’s like it ended as fast as it started.. I guess that’s the special ego relationship full of expectations and following the formula. And then the next days at work, it’s like they became strangers again. It doesn’t sit right with me- it’s because the relationship needs a label? Why not just spend time with each other and not call it anything? Why have any expectations at all? Just let the relationship be what it is instead of putting so much pressure on it and labeling it and doing the whole fantasy and the 1st date and 1st Christmas etc. It just killed the relationship as fast as it started. But the last episode is still not over and I have yet to see what happens. I think they will get back together. I wish adachi could just say- I want to spend time with you- I want to be close to you but let’s not call it anything. I also don’t want to have sex because I want to keep my power for a while. Are you ok with that? We don’t have to either be cohabiting spouses or strangers. Why the two extremes? No I want to be close but without any expectations or templates or labels. I feel it has something to do with the conditional love and expectations and the template.

Adachi’s whole arc is the same engine he’s dismantling:

“I am unworthy. I don’t fit the world’s template. I must become lovable.”

He’s a virgin at 30. Awkward. Introverted. Floating through life. Unable to perform desire in the way the world expects.

The moment Kurosawa, the symbol of “ideal man,” “ideal colleague,” “ideal beloved” turns toward him, Adachi immediately feels: pressure, anxiety, responsibility, the weight of someone’s expectations, claustrophobia from the template

Not because Kurosawa is wrong. But because Adachi was never taught unconditional love. He was taught conditional worth:
• be impressive to be loved
• be beautiful to be loved
• be accomplished to be loved
• be desired to be loved
• be “normal” to be loved

It’s not the kiss that frightened Adachi, it’s the script.
The “first date,” the “first Christmas,” the “fireworks,” the “expectations,”
the “labels,” the “now we must become THIS.”

All of that suffocates a soul that has survived by being small, invisible, neutral, low-maintenance, non-demanding. Love died the instant the template entered. The second it became a “proper relationship,” the magic evaporated. Because the template always kills freedom, intimacy, and truth.

The world has certain slots that it assigns for conditional love- these are the ones who will be loved the most. So often times wanting so badly to be seen or loved by those conditions, one fools themselves into believing they’re something they’re not. All because they’re very aware of the conditions for love in the world and want to be that even though they’re not that. So they betray themselves. I think Adachi is supposed to go in a different direction instead of trying to mold himself into something lovable by the world. That is not the direction of unconditional love. Unconditional love would be listening and honoring what your true self wants and needs. I think the deeper message of this show is to accept the reality of who you are as it is, not as you would like it to be, as the world would condition to you want. Because the world taught that only these certain things are lovable and you must be that- in many ways Adachi deviated from that and feels diminished by that because in his mind he thinks “I am less lovable.” So he thinks he needs his mind reading power to survive and compensation for “being behind.” But unconditional love says it doesn’t matter where you stand, you’re still lovable. You are loved no matter what. But only if one listens to and honors themselves, they can love unconditionally and receive it.

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All time favorite BL

I've seen my fair share of BLs, but to me nothing has ever come close to Cherry Magic. Every toxic trope that BLs have, I don't see that in Cherry Magic. Granted, I've only seen two JBLs, I've mainly watched Thai BLs. JBLs appear to be on a different level, at least from what I've seen.

First, there's zero unnecessary drama. I've seen way too many shows that kind of ruined itself by adding unnecessary drama. It's a lighthearted drama all the way through. There is minor conflict in the show, and the next to last episode is a little hard to watch with Adachi and Kurosawa ending things. But like, as I said before, they don't have a lot of the toxic tropes that I've seen so many times in so many different BLs.

Secondly, it's so refreshing to see a female character that isn't a) villainized or b) weirdly ships the main couple. She's a genuine ally and supporter of Kurosawa and Adachi. Also, she seems aro/ace coded and it's nice to see some representation. I have a hard time watching some BLs because I feel like the supporting female characters are intentionally unlikeable, but they don't bring any of that here. Also, she's very intuitive and was the only one to pick up on the fact that Kurosawa likes Adachi. The only reason Adachi knows is because he read Kurosawa's mind.

Thirdly, I feel like there's so much pressure from one of the leads in a BL. There's the pressure to come out before the other's ready, or to do stuff they're not necessarily comfortable with. Kurosawa should be the standard because he is nothing but supportive and understanding of Adachi. I don't get very emotional watching dramas, but the scene where Kurosawa gives Adachi pens because he knows Adachi would be too shy to wear rings gets me every time.

The only thing I did not like about the show, was that this was the first time I didn't really care for the side couple. I don't necessarily dislike them, but I wasn't that into Tsuge and Minato. Also, apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this, Minato looks so much younger than Tsuge and it kind of weirds me out to watch. They do have their moments, and I don't hate them as a couple. I just didn't care for them as much as the lead couple.

There's almost no skinship in this drama, which doesn't bother me but I know it bothers some people. Personally, I think the two main leads did such a good job portraying a couple, skinship wasn't necessary in selling that point. I hear people complain often about the lack of skinship, but I've never heard anyone complain about the lack of it in Cherry Magic.

Overall, it's a really cute drama and I've rewatched it so many times. I've never met anyone who's seen this and didn't like the show. Pretty much, everyone I've met agrees it's their all time favorite BL.

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