Tokyo in April Is...

Handsome couple, interesting story, odd pacing and acting?

The main reason I was interested in this drama was Ren, he is unbelievably attractive and his acting was pretty good as well. I don't really have any remarks on it. Kazuma's acting was a lot more awkward, escpecially because of his facial expressions. The rest of the characters were decent and provided more of a side role. I did like the French guy at the end, his acting was noticably the best and he was really handsome as well. Overall, this is a short BL with sweet moments and a decently interesting story. I recommend to watch.

I do want to add that I found this BL to be a bit more realistic than other BLs, where one's reputation because of their sexuality could change and how people can deal with it in a realistic way.

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"Follow Your Heart."

Despite the ratings, I think this is one of my favorite short dramas from Japan. I can see why it appeals to only a limited audience -- the leading characters are definitely not the conventional ones. While I'm pretty much accustomed to seeing the 'popular smarty pants' and an introverted silent/chaotic mess, its the first time I'm coming across characters who are both calm and composed. And the overall aura of this series is surprisingly dark/unhappy.

Takizawa Kazuma has just returned from overseas and landed a job in the HR department of an advertising firm. To his surprise, he runs into his former best friend and first love Ishihara Ren, whom he had lost connection with when Kazuma had fallen ill in high school. However, the Ren he knows now refuses to indulge about his past and has changed his surname. They fall back into their old habits and Kazuma keeps his feelings for Ren a secret, even resorting to a friend-with-benefit arrangement, to keep it hidden. But, Ren seems to be hiding something much more bigger than he imagined.

The story has a plot, particularly dealing with workplace harassment. But, the entire journey is worth only for the characters alone -- if they grow on you, per se.
Saotome Ren/Ishihara Ren is one character whom I respect. Not because of how loyal he was to everyone he came across, but how pure he was in his intentions. I can practically hear my parents telling me why I should never fall in love at a young age because that's exactly what happens to Ren.
I enjoyed Kazuma's sunshine like personality; but, I do think that he a bit too naïve when he was young.
[It's lucky that Ren's instincts were correct, otherwise this would be a certain tragedy. ]
I have to say, I was satisfied with both the actors' portrayal of their roles, even if Ren's crying scenes did not have actual tears. But, then again, was it intentional?

The supporting characters such as Ryunosoke and Hide weren't just there to exist, but provided insights about the remaining characters. I liked how we were shown how both Ren and Kazuma saw each other through their own lens'.
The pacing was surprisingly good. The flashbacks from childhood that were interspersed with the current timeline managed to capture my attention and pique my curiosity. Both the child actors were excellent and well casted. I hope to see both of them in bigger roles in the future. [Loved the ending song, One Day, which seems to be more suitable for the darker theme rather than the sunny opening.]

I'm writing this review after quite a long break, so it's already a win that I'm able to recall both the characters' names and their stories. It might not be for everyone, but this was just an almost perfect watch for me.

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Manga is better

The beginning of the series was good, not a minute was wasted but in dragged towards the end just to rush the ending.
Liked that they showed their love story from 2 different timelines and the young actors did a decent job but most of the acting was not that great, Ren's friend is a good actor. The chemistry was lacking, the running scenes were really badly done and his mom was confused.
It did have some sweet and heart warming scenes, it was a cute love story, the characters tried to support each other as best they could. Liked that it had some dark themes.
It was ok, enjoyed it for what it was, was rooting for the characters to be together, if it had better actors it would have been a lot better.

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An OK-to-watch, not very excellent, as we may expected but it could be done better.

This drama has an epic source material with very deep story that could shake our souls, but unfortunately it is poorly excuted by the production team. They missed so much and instead of becoming another peak melancholic drama of Tunku Shower, its quality fell in the middle. The acting and chemistry in the first half of the drama is not giving and it could be done better if they cast experienced actors instead of idols or new actors because this drama is so heavy in terms of emotions. Crying scenes are bad and dry. What's more, casting 14-yo children in to sensual scenes makes us feel uncomfortable, let alone their weak acting skills.
In addition, the writing and directing is also not satisfactory as they skipped so much tiny yet important details from the source materials and the story seems rushed in some scenes. Color grading is a crime in this drama, that orangey color compromises the aesthetic values of the film frame and of course, affects cast visuals.
In general, it would be an OK-to-watch, not very excellent, as we may expected but I must say it could be done better.
I recommend you all find the manga because it can't be missed.

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Tokyo in April Is.. Beautiful

Tokyo in April is.. is a Japanese BL series that is about Kazuma and Ren who have been friends for a very long time now but they have been separated when they had sex for the very first time with each other. I am not sure if I was able to relay that information correctly but they had sex but things turned awry so Ren developed fear of hurting Kazuma so much but little did he know is that even though he thought that Kazuma is not in love with him, Kazuma looked at him and wanted to really be with him. This is why when they met again, Kazuma easily agreed to be friends with benefits with Ren even though he just really wanted to be with him forever. This is an intense BL story and I think that they did not get enough credit with this one because it tackled very dark themes that needs to be talked about more often than not. The relationship of Ren and Kazuma is complicated and it is a bit darker than usual because there are themes like suicide, sexual assault, and more involved but what I love about this is that they handled it in a different way. They did not make light of it or disregard it immediately but what they is to show how important it is to have someone that you can rely on in moments that you need them. Their relationship is mostly shown in amazing montage of them staying at home being so sweet to each other. The chemistry of these two is pretty good. I love the scenes where they were just being sweet with each other. These scenes are the best parts of the show because it is giving the characters a good time to breath and be sweet with each other but, at the same time, it is giving the audience a chance to have moments with them and just invest with the relationship that we are seeing. This made us root for them so much more which I love so much. I love Ren and Kazuma and I seriously wanted them to be end game because of this. This is why when the story started to tackle the themes that we have, I was already invested with the relationship and wanted them to be together. I really do. The scene where Kazuma learned what really happened to Ren and the way that he responded to it somehow gave me so much hope that Ren will now have someone who will be there for him and will love him no matter what. It is just a beautiful moment. I am not sure why but it felt so romantic to see Kazuma finally fight for Ren after everything that Ren had to go through, he now has someone who he can rely on and loves him no matter what. This is why I fell in love with what ending. It is such a strong ending to a simply beautiful story.

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Deeply imprinted

There's a lot of TW in this drama. So beware. TW: sexual harassment, sexual assault.

I really deeply imprinted with this drama. There's a lot of issues that this drama brings up. Shitty coworker, shitty boss. But apart from that, the love story.

I am really moved by their love story, that's why it keep playing in my mind, and that's why I give 1 star to rewatch value, you don't need to rewatch it, it's ingrained in my brain actually. I keep thinking about this drama way past it's due. The need to protect the one you love, even the world around you turn against you. The need to protect each other.

And the soundtrack, the ending soundtrack is really one of my favorite of all time now.

I am really a sucker for drama like this. If you like love story with a journey, give this a watch.

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A compelling story marred by pacing issues

This series might take its time unfolding, but beneath its surface lies a compelling narrative that captivates with its central themes. While the acting leaves room for improvement, the series manages to resonate with viewers through its profound messages.

The storyline revolves around the two main characters, Kazuma and Ren, who cross paths during their school years. Ren's silent infatuation with Kazuma simmers beneath the surface, driven by the fear of driving him away. A tragic event separates the two, only to reunite them a decade later in the workplace. The rekindled emotions set the stage for their journey, though Ren keeps an emotional distance.

At a concise eight episodes, the series maintains an unhurried pace. It delves into the history of Kazuma and Ren during their school days and the reasons behind their separation through flashbacks. While the pacing leans towards the slow side, certain plot points, like the workplace sexual harassment case, the impact of Ren's separation from friends, family, and Kazuma, as well as Kazuma's life abroad in the US, feel somewhat rushed. However, the series earns merit for addressing important issues, albeit briefly. It sheds light on Ren's traumatic experiences as a 15-year-old ostracized by his parents and blamed for Kazuma's hospitalization, ultimately abandoned due to his sexuality. Furthermore, it introduces themes of workplace bullying, office politics, and sexual harassment, though their exploration is somewhat limited.

The acting performances by Sakurai Yuki and Takamatsu Aloha may come across as amateurish, but the child actors deliver commendable portrayals. Furukawa Tsuyoshi's role as Ren's friend, despite limited screen time, hinted at the potential for deeper exploration of their friendship.

In conclusion, "April in Tokyo" possessed the potential for greatness if it had addressed pacing issues, focused more on character relationships, and perhaps reconsidered the limited treatment of the workplace harassment subplot due to time constraints. Nevertheless, it deserves a watch, as it distinguishes itself from typical BL series by incorporating substance and depth into its storytelling.

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Extremely realistic & enjoyable BL

After reading some of the reviews that did not give high marks, I was kind of surprised how truly enjoyable & great this drama turned out to be. This series was more than just fantastic, it was so realistic and dealt with real life cause & effect after what happened to these two characters, Kazuma and Ren years earlier. It showed how mental scars from traumatic events sometimes don't heal with time, but rather worsen if not addressed, and cause so many other things to fall out of place.
When we eventually find out what happened after Kazuma goes to the hospital, you can understand why it was such a heart wrenching ten years for both of them.
Yuki Sakurai & Aloha Takamatsu and so perfectly matched up, you can almost feel the chemistry coming off of them onto the screen. Their performances are extraordinary with emotion, giving us extremely powerful scenes, not to mention the pairing of the younger versions of them also doing an exceptional job in showing us their past relationship and how things transpired a decade earlier.
Great acting & great writing!
As they tell each other in the last scene of the series " You're my everything, you're my life, you're my Tokyo in April"
They leave no doubt that they will now both enjoy a happy life together!

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(Relatively) Obscure Gem

From its inception, Tokyo in April Is appears to be a relatively unremarkable J-BL - commencing in traditional Japanese style with a soliloquy from our protagonist before progressing in an anticlimactic reunion between two middle-school friends. But then, slowly, the story picks up - and we find ourselves launched headfirst into a painful flashback of heartbreak, misunderstandings and unresolved childhood trauma.

Learning the context behind the two friends' separation makes Ren's nonchalant response to the reunion more understandable, as we learn of the harrowing events that transpire between them 11 years prior. As a recent watcher, Ren reminds me of Akira from Contrast - although Akira can be likened more to Ren's inner self than the 'dazzling' front of amiable ease the latter assumes around seemingly everyone around him.

Kazuma is, by heart, an incredibly empathetic and kind-natured person - we see it in his actions, in his words and in his attentiveness towards Ren. That is not to say, however, that he inadvertently didn't overlook Ren's struggles as a result of wanting to respect the latter's space. Where he deems it best to remain silent and give Ren time to open up on his own, Ren himself is independently experiencing this seemingly never-ending cycle of emotional turmoil and lingering guilt. He is the only one who remembers exactly what happened following Kazuma's hospitalisation 11 years ago (even Hide found out about everything second-hand rather than actually experiencing the events) - and it is this truth which gnaws at him until the audience themselves are given closure through Yagami's and Kazuma's meeting at the very end of the drama.

Yagami, too, is an intriguing character - (it was very rewarding to see Motojima Junsei onscreen again, also). He is the one who truly beholds Ren's spiralling after being cruelly disowned and flown into a foreign country as though he were damaged goods - not the son who had nobly yet so foolishly taken the fall for a consensual event. Naturally, this initial concern and horror gradually transforms into an undeniable affection - yet Yagami is seen to be irrevocably patient and grounding as he stays by Ren's side and teaches him French from scratch (as per the latter's request). 11 years later, he harbours that same fondness for Ren - though remains unwaveringly attentive and supportive towards the man who has so bravely chosen to wait for his beloved to return to Japan.

Of course, every drama has its flaws - and in TIAI, it is occasionally the acting. Both actors are relatively new to the acting scene, and it shows in the lack of overt variance in facial expressions - specifically during crying scenes (although Takamatsu Aloha's depiction of Ren's panic attack and Yuki Sakurai's enraged outburst in front of Yagami were near-perfect).

However, what makes this drama different is the undeniable chemistry between the two actors - and Yuki Sakurai's efforts towards 'selling' the couple's relationship are especially admirable. He portrays the role of a mindful, ever-affectionate lover incredibly well - and this is similarly mirrored in his younger self of Takeno Sena. Naturally, it is staggering knowing that both actors who portrayed the couple's younger selves were actually 14 at the time of filming (which raises the question of their welfare during the shirtless kiss scene), but I sincerely praise their diligence towards portraying their characters at such a young age (Takeno Sena in particular). Takeno Sena perfectly conveys the progression from a grateful friend to someone who cannot find any other place for Ren than in his heart - and that, I believe, is a truly spectacular feat.

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Overall Disappointing

In the first episode, I was genuinely impressed by how the two actorsportrayed their respective characters, I felt like they really captured the essence of their characters and was instantly interested. But as the episodes went on, that initial magic felt like it was starting to fade. Their performances began to swing between underacting and overacting, and they lost the depth that had drawn me in.

Kazuma (Sakurai Yuki) was just… tough to watch. His portrayal of anger came off as awkward, and I actually found myself pausing the show to cringe before continuing.

Ren (Takamatsu Aloha) was better, but that might be because his character mostly moped around acting pitiful. Still, it felt like a newbie actor was given a lead role, I don't know if he actually is a rookie, but that's certainly how it came across to me.

That said, I really appreciated how the story handled Kazuma's line, "I only see Ren." It wasn't just a casual first meeting, it was a reunion after ten years of longing, worry, and caring from a distance. A whole decade of holding onto a feeling that finally became real.

The development of Ren's character resonated with me. He fearlessly stated his sexual orientation to save his beloved, yet his unresolved trauma prevented him from fully embracing himself. Ren's self-doubt and perpetual quest for redemption left him unable to fully accept love, even when it stood at his doorstep, simple and unconditional.

The plot boldly connects romance with social issues—parental pressure, exploitation of women, perpetrators' impunity, and the stigmatization of homosexuality as mere lust. But its reliance on the “love heals all” trope feels frustratingly clichéd. While the drama doesn’t shy away from ugliness, it fails to explore the real psychological process of overcoming or living with trauma.

Overall, as someone who didn’t read the manga and just dove head first, I was completely disappointed. The plot had potential in the beginning but was ruined by weak acting and clichés. In the end, there's just no point to the whole story. What is it about? There were interesting dynamics set up at the beginning, with hints of Ren's depression and trauma, but it goes nowhere. It feels like the author is trying to generate artificial and pointless drama that ends up not going anywhere and instead deflates like a sad balloon that wandered away during a party and deflated in some dark corner.

AND WHY DID THE CHILD ACTORS HAVE MORE SEXUAL TENSION THAN THE ADULTS??? Like come on?? The child actors had a literal sex scene and the adults had a subliminal sex scene and afterwards didn't even cuddle, they were so far apart it didn't even seem like they wanted to be there!!!

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