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

Started Strong, Ended Too Quickly. Needed More Cherries Lol

This started off as one of the best shows labeled "BL" that I've ever seen. This changed by the end but it was still better than the manga. Which doesn't happen a lot with adaptations. I wanna start off with the goods since I did enjoy this series overall! Just was disappointed with its later half. First off, it's comedic timing is on point thanks to Eiji Akaso's spectacular acting. He's so versatile it's crazy! I remember seeing him in Kamen Rider and crushing on him hard, and then he's in this playing Adachi whose a total mess, but also so freaking sweet and wholesome.. He was also in another series where he played a super confident player too apparently? The man is versatile!

Keita Machida as Kurosawa also does a fantastic job opposite Eiji. He's very charming and the dream partner. But also way more sweetly affectionate, patient and also heartbreaking than in the books. What they did with his character was probably the best decision the screenwriters could've ever made. You fall in love with him along with Adachi and it's so real feeling. Cutos! Super healthy relationship too. One where nothing is forced or pushed, Kurosawa only pushes Adachi to be better and more confident and we love that. Whereas Adachi pushes Kurosawa to be okay with not being perfect all the time. There's a nice balance, even if it gets frustrating at times with how little is actually seen romance-wise.

There are so many moments added into this that make the show so special, because they stick in your head. Some including; Adachi's meltdown on his first day with powers, Kurosawa wrapping him in a scarf, the folder confession, Adachi getting slammed in the elevator door, Kurosawa's side of the love story, them holding hands for the first time, etc. It's all just so well done in the first half. The added side characters are great. Like the office workers, who don't have much of a role in the books but make their presence known here. Tsuge is played perfectly, look and all by Kodai Asaka. Minato is great too, though that wig is a little fake looking lol. The music in the show is beautifully done, I freaking love the theme song in this show and I highly recommend listening to the full version because it is so stellar. It's called "Ubugoe" by the artist Omoinotake. The cinematography is good too. So bright and inviting when it wants to be, or dreary when were meant to feel a characters pain or emotion.

Anddd then we get into the latter off, where it starts to get old. So once Adachi and Kurosawa get together I expected some type of payoff because that's what buildup is for. I'm glad they didn't wait stupidly to have them confirm a relationship until the end. However, it felt like the relationship wasn't even real half the time anyway! I understand Adachi's character is anxious, but my god it got to be overly frustrating! There's various sweet moments, but those only feel like teasing when they don't lead to more development. We make it to the hand-holding stage and then...nothing. Just some missed date opportunities and severely rushed pacing. Eventually Adachi tells Kurosawa about the powers, which I appreciated. But really? They use that for a breakup plot device to create forced conflict? I expected better from you show. Then they get back together in literally the next episode and sleep together too. What!? That was so horribly executed and made zero sense. Even if the scene of them waking up in bed together was super cute. The pacing of this was all wrong, that stuff should've happened before. I get we have under 30 minute episodes, but if that was the problem (which partially it was) lengthen them. Or add on more episodes for plot! The show desperately needed it and it saddens me that I felt let down by the end. There's also the elevator kiss that was of course cut off prematurely. Listen if actors contractually cannot do that on screen fine, but it's still disappointing. It's also confusing to me how they can show those two lying in bed together with Kurosawa's arm around Adachi, but no kiss? Huh? Also, especially since Tsuge and Hinato's characters got 3 on screen kisses. You had a golden opportunity, that turned to bronze by the end.

Also yes I did see the special episodes and they were cute. I liked seeing that Adachi got Kurosawa a thoughtful gift and that they are using their couples pens. However, I actually preferred Tsuge and Minato's added episode. I believed them as a couple more! Which I did not expect and Tsuge got a major courage boost by the end lol that was something. Rokkaku's episode was completely unnecessary and I wish it wouldn't of taken up Adachi and Kurosawa's time in the episode. Especially with its stupid forced joke AGAIN about him "misunderstanding" about their relationship. Ugh.

I hope for a season 2 but don't try to divert completely from being a "BL" and have some fun with it. We need more realistic intimacy between these two, especially if it's significantly years down the line. Everyone goes at their own pace and there's nothing wrong with that. But don't make it completely unbelievable. I felt the love and there is a rapport there, but not enough for it to be 100% convincing me that these 2 would work out forever. I hope to see more though, I really do! Another season has so much promise.

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Oh, this was wonderful. Like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day, it gave me warm fuzzies. Both the pairings were really cute but Kurosawa and Adachi simply stole my heart - so much so that I bought the manga, available via Kindle from Amazon!

I loved that there weren’t any bad guys in this drama, that it was a romantic slice of life story just, well, just with a smidgen of magic. Gosh, the way Kurosawa loved Adachi! Everyone deserves a Kurosawa of their own, honestly. And it was in no small measure thanks to Machida Keita who played Kurosawa, he gave the character so much loveliness and warmth. And Akaso Eiji lent Adachi such a cute awkwardness! His and Machida Keita’s chemistry was so... *chef’s kiss*

Also, I think that the reveal of Adachi’s powers truly demonstrated the difference in the portrayal of the self in Eastern vs. Western culture. You can bet that if this was an American show, Kurosawa would’ve been more concerned with his privacy, his thoughts, his own self, he would’ve felt furious and betrayed and he would’ve stormed out in a huff. Here, though, Kurosawa was more concerned with with Adachi’s well-being, Adachi’s happiness, Adachi’s self. Kurosawa was secondary in this equation to Adachi. And that was very lovely because I can’t help but feel that the Western focus on the “I” first and foremost and always has gotten quite, well, narcissistic lately.

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Overhyped

At first it was good, but gradually over the episodes nothing much was really interesting anymore. The two characters relationship didn't really build up to anything after episode 3, and honestly I wasn't really feeling their dynamic anymore. The two felt more like friends rather than lovers, even up to the end of the series. The production and the weird editing of certain scenes were very awkward and uncomfortable. Sometimes the music would cut off for 20 seconds and either be silent or have this awkward dialogue. Not a fan of the writing, nor the production. For a BL series, it's lacking in the actual boys love. Mostly due to character/relationship building. Anyways ill give it 7.0/10

EDIT: 5/10 March 10/2023 (Re-Watched)

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I rewatched this to prove myself wrong but Cherry Magic is still the gold standard for a reason

It might be late for a review, but I just recently rewatched Cherry Magic while carefully re-ranking my top 15 Japanese BLs. It’s been about 4 years, and I mainly revisited it to sort out my feelings between this and School Trip. For a long time, I thought Cherry Magic only held a special place because it was my first Japanese BL, so I ranked School Trip higher. Turns out, I was wrong lol. Rewatching it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this series in the first place

Story
The premise still feels refreshing even years later. The show moves at a steady, confident pace and knows exactly when to lean into comedy and when to sit quietly with its emotional moments. Nothing feels dragged, nothing feels rushed. It’s restrained in a way other BLs don’t always manage.

Both protagonists are immediately likable without needing justification. Kurosawa is the textbook definition of a green flag, but what really anchors the show is Adachi. His low self-esteem and quiet awkwardness feel painfully real, especially as someone who’s been a corporate worker. Office dramas rarely focus on employees like him. I mean... the introverted, unconfident, overlooked ones who just blend into the background of an office and seeing that reflected made the character hit harder. For once, I could actually see myself on screen

The supporting cast is just as thoughtfully handled. Fujisaki stood out to me even more this time, an aro representation and a woman in a BL who isn’t villainized felt genuinely progressive, especially for its time. It’s also refreshing how the show never pits women against the romance. Rokkaku, meanwhile, is charming and funny without being annoying

I initially thought Tsuge’s storyline would function just as the secondary couple, and while I still feel that his relationship with Minato is underdeveloped, Masato’s role works thematically. He’s odd, a little uncomfortable, and clearly not meant to be easily digestible and I actually appreciate that this time. Cherry Magic isn’t afraid to introduce characters and tropes that feel awkward or offbeat, then gently humanize them instead of sanding off their rough edges. It trusts the audience to sit with that discomfort

Acting
There’s really no debate here. The performances are natural across the board. None of the exaggerated, anime or manga-coded acting that often plagues Japanese drama and everything feels lived-in and grounded

Music
It’s funny revisiting this now because I completely forgot this show was what got me into Omoinotake. It became a gateway for me to dig deeper into their music. The musical score used throughout the show is pretty good, and I honestly didn’t notice it much on my first watch

Rewatch Value
This might be the one area where the show doesn’t fully win for me. It’s not as instantly rewatchable as fluffier BLs, and I did feel myself getting tired during this revisit 3 years ago. That said, time works in its favor. Rewatching it years later made me appreciate it more deeply, almost like discovering it again for the first time

At the end of the day, Cherry Magic holds up not because of nostalgia but it’s just damn good storytelling. In a genre that usually tries way too hard to be loud or extra this show has the balls to be sincere. It’s not trying to sell you a fantasy but it’s showing you the terrifying, messy, and eventually beautiful process of letting someone actually see you. It’s confident, it’s kind, and it’s remarkably human. I came back to it thinking I’d grown out of it but it turns out I just finally grew into the person who could appreciate why it’s a masterpiece

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Cherry Magic will forever hold a special place in my heart!

Cherry Magic is one of the best Japanese drama I have ever seen in my life. Cherry Magic is a must watch!!! The love story is so cute, it makes you blush so much and then choke you with laughter and then makes you cry. I don't even know where to begin, I started this drama on the day it started aired, I fell in love with this drama in the first scene only. Whenever I cannot sleep, or having hard time, I close my eyes and start dreaming about Kurosawa Yuichi and Adachi Kiyoshi. I start thinking about various scenarios and like that my days pass by. The way every scene made me blush so much, I cannot even express it in words. It's such a cute story. I don't think in reality there will be ever a man like Kurosawa Yuichi. The way Kurosawa Yuichi loves Adachi is just infinity levels infinity. Cherry Magic will forever hold a special place in my heart!

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A must watch. Just pure love and happiness

*I have written this review with no spoilers*

I will definitely recommend everyone who loves non toxic rom-coms to watch it. I was totally mesmerized by this show. No unnecessary toxic scenes or characters.
It is so well written and the actors were able to portray all the emotions the characters were feeling very effortlessly. You are sure to fall in love with the characters from the first episode. The way the characters develop through the series and the way their insecurities are shown is beautiful. Kurosawa and Adachi will surely melt your heart. I consider Tsuge and Minato as main characters as well cause I just can't with these 2, even with their limited screentime they stole my heart ♥♥♥...Not kidding my heart belongs to this show...♥♥♥XDXD
The side characters are very well written and have a small storylines of their own which gives you a glimpse into their life. (Rokkaku is so cute)
The music in the series is really good. I loved both the songs and looked them up on YouTube and now listen to them every now and then.
Will I rewatch this show, I'm gonna go do that immediately after writing this review and whenever I'm feeling down......for sure.....
I'm sad that it ended, but extremely happy to have watched it...I'll miss the characters.

Hope the review helped. Thanks for reading.
Lots of love. Byeeeeee

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Cute but the romantic opposite has no personality

Assorted thoughts:

It was very sweet and cute, but when a romance leaves the boyfriend character as shallowly written as "infinitely patient, infinitely in love, and perfect", it's hard to invest much in the story. It's disappointing, too because I feel like the cast proved they could handle communicating complicated and difficult emotions.

We get a glimpse of some interesting side characters in Fujisaki and Minato, and the protagonist (Adachi) has some depth, though it takes time for that to become apparent. However, much of that potential rich character complexity is underutilized. I blame the writing — it wasn't bad! But they wasted a lot of opportunities for fleshing the characters out.

I have other thoughts/ frustrations but those are spoilers, so I won't tell.

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I was more than happy to hit FF in the last three episodes. Nothing of value was missed.

Cherry Magic is boring as absolute hell — it's the cinematic equivalent of being trapped in an elevator with the world's most generic lo-fi playlist on loop for eight straight hours. I was actually okay with it during the early episodes, when there was still some awkward tension and the "will-they-won't-they" tease hadn't completely died. But the second these two idiots finally get together? The entire show flatlines harder than a patient who just coded in the world's quietest hospital.
From that point on, literally nothing happens. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Just two pretty boys exchanging soft glances, blushing like Victorian virgins, and staring into the middle distance while the same melancholy piano tinkles sadly in the background. Meanwhile, the script forces them into endless, soul-crushing inner monologues that make you want to scream "JUST SAY IT OUT LOUD ALREADY!"
And don't get me started on the third-rate philosophical musings. These clowns try to wax poetic about love, destiny, and self-worth like they're the Japanese Socrates, but it all comes off as pretentious, trite garbage that wouldn't pass a freshman philosophy class. "Oh no, what does it mean to truly see someone?" Bro, it means you have magic mind-reading powers — use them or shut up.
This is peak annoying J-drama cliché on steroids: zero plot progression, zero stakes, zero anything after the confession. It's just 12 episodes of beautifully lit emotional constipation. If you enjoy watching attractive people do absolutely nothing while overthinking everything in slow motion, congratulations — this is your masterpiece. For everyone else with a functioning attention span and a pulse, it's pure torture.
Save your time. Watch paint dry instead. At least the paint has the decency to eventually change color.

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30-year-of-virginity has blessed Adachi Kiyoshi (Akaso Eiji) with a magical power to read people's mind when he touches them. One day, he finds out that his colleague Kurosawa Yuichi (Machida Keita) has a crush on him. How will Adachi handle this situation?

"Cherry Magic" is funny, adorable, and light-hearted. The fantasy aspect might sounds superficial and weird but the story touches upon common problems that most of us might face in our everyday social life, like fear of misunderstanding, or hesitation to express ourselves, or to stay in our comfort zone.

The romance was cute and healthy, but not really memorable, maybe because Yuichi is simply your typical perfect boyfriend, so there's nothing really special within their relationship. The second couple, on the other hand, is a nice bonus. They’re endearing, cheesy and their chaotic hijinks were fun!

What gets me invested is Adachi. Even though he felt uneasy with his mind reading ability, it helps him to pursue his dreams and social skills that he ends up relying on it. At some point, he wants to be independent from this magic, and I wanted to know how he handles this challenge. By the end, I appreciate his character development, but I wish it came much earlier so they can flesh out more of his independence. I think it would make a more satisfying redemption for him.

-Jan 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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