Lighthearted coming-of-age drama with a different take of the hearing impaired.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“I Hear the Sunspot” is a lovely and sweet coming-of-age drama. Despite having a male lead with a hearing impairment, this drama focuses more than just his disability. It’s without a doubt that the challenges of having a disability will be part of the plot. But compared to other dramas of a similar topic, this drama has a more down-to-earth and lighthearted approach. It also distinguishes itself from other dramas as Kohei (ML) is not deaf-mute, but can still hear. It’s both a blessing and a curse when you can still hear, and when expectations of you could be somewhat unreasonable.
Additionally, this drama is also about knowing and discovering yourself. The lovely friendship and subtle romance between Kohei and Taichi is sweet. They are both very likable characters, and their interactions feel personable. The little things they do for each other and the quiet understanding of each other are the highlights of this drama. Seeing how Kohei integrates into Taichi’s friends circle so seamlessly, is also lovely to see (that zombie movie is hilarious).
And because the drama is so soothing and slice-of-life that it’s lacking an emotional impact on me. I don’t come out feeling the same angst as when I was watching “Silent” or the more fun and touching moments in “Shizuka-chan to Papa”. The conflicts in this drama could have been easily resolved if Kohei and Taichi would just talk to each other. They had no problems doing that in the first half of the drama, but seemed to forget how to communicate in the second half. Kohei could have been Taichi’s biggest supporter if given the chance, just like how Taichi has been there for Kohei. They just need to talk!
Nevertheless, “I Hear the Sunspot” is a lovely drama. It’s an easy watch with a handsome male lead that flashes a very attractive smile every so often (I’m talking about Nakazawa Motoki/Kohei). I do find Taichi a little loud and over-the-top for my taste.
Completed: 10/7/2024 - Review #496
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Just watch it
The storyline is so unique and refreshing, especially with the main character being almost deaf. I loved seeing how he navigated everyday life and overcame the challenges he faced.The romance was also super sweet and genuine. I wish there were at least one kiss. But The emotional connection between the leads was palpable, and that's what made it so compelling.
I think what really drew me in was how relatable the characters were. I saw bits of myself in both of them, and that made me root for them even more. Plus, their relationship was just so healthy and beautiful to watch.
The leads had amazing chemistry, and they were just so cute together! The pacing was a bit slow, but it wasn't boring or anything. It was just a really nice, feel-good watch.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for a sweet, heartwarming story. Give it a try!
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A story about love, acceptance and overcoming obstacles
This is a series about how through friendship, love, support and acceptance. It is a story about Kohei who suffers from partial hearing loss and distances himself from his classmates until he finds a cheerful and occasionally dense Taichi who treats him like a friend. Slowly Kohei, through Taichi’s support opens himself to new experiences and what starts as a friendship develops into something more.The strength of the show lies in its genuine exploration of disability and the power of human connection. Kohei and Taichi come from two different worlds but thanks to a chance encounter they begin talking and influencing each other lives. Nakazawa Motoki with his expressions and a sweet smile showcases the inner turmoil of a disabled person in a society that fails to understand him. Kobayashi Toranosuke as Taichi is loud and care-free but ultimately a person who is trying to discover himself. As the story progresses their bond influences them, as they realise what they really need.
The series, however suffers from slow pacing. Certain episodes seem long-winded and showcase nothing new or play as character-development. Also, the introduction of Maya is abrupt and plays no role in progressing the plot, other than increasing the time or creating unnecessary angst between the main characters. The rest of the supporting characters like Kohei’s mom and Taichi’s grandad take the role of guides who direct the main characters towards the right path.
In conclusion, the series is a good mix of emotions, drama and romance but suffers from pacing issues. However, it remains a heartwarming and uplifting watch, offering a unique perspective on disability and the power of friendship.
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This review may contain spoilers
Another solid BL from Japan
Sep 11, 2024Another solid BL released from Japan has been made in the year of 2024. It is amazing how, the story line progressed and many have said how accurate it is from the manga. So now, it seems like I will be finding my ways into reading this manga too.
The plot is simple yet the way it was portrayed really kept me interested. Though, I really hated the Maya arc, that girl annoyed me so much that I simply had no choice but to skip some scenes.
I love the chemistry of our leads to say the least. Given how pg and very fluffy, the chemistry is chef's kiss! I need more to be honest but yea.
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I will try to be as objective as possible. Lol.
First of all, I kind of knew this theme from another Japanese movie back in 2017, yet I don't mind repeating the same concept all over again in a series. One thing I like about the story is that the conflict between Kohei and Taichi was honestly heavier than I thought it would be. As a college student, I know exactly how hard it is to save money for college while working part-time elsewhere. I actually had the same thoughts as Taichi; I considered dropping out of college to keep working since I already had a stable job back then.
However, I had some expectations regarding Kohei's condition. But I guess the Japanese are not ready to portray a "bad guy" like the Taiwanese do. Lol.
I don't really mind the lack of (real) kissing scenes throughout the show, since kissing is not really a big deal in Japanese BL. However, I felt Motoki's performance could have been better. In comparison with Kobayashi, he seemed a bit mediocre. Kobayashi really did a good job as Taichi; I fell in love with his character, especially when he was trying to be cute but manly at the same time.
Now, I guess I need to find another series after my upcoming exam. Lol.
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At first i thought it's about platonic love but as the series progressed i found out how strong the relationship between them developed and continued to make me wonder how their bond shaped in slow pace.
Loved it and will definitely watch it again.
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Very cute and comforting
This one was pleasantly surprising! I've seen a lot of short BL dramas where it feels difficult to connect to the characters or plot because of the short screen-time, but somehow this show managed to let the pacing breathe. I loved how clearly the personalities of our leads contrasted and then complemented each other, and although we have a few misunderstandings, there's nothing that ever feels overdramatic or frustrating. I wish we got a little more at the end of the leads being together — it feels weirdly like they shied away from physical intimacy at the last minute — but ultimately the emotional beats land well.Was this review helpful to you?
A space for you and me
The story starts out with a voice – bright and clear in a crowded sea of noise. Kouhei, who has a hearing impairment, has trouble hearing others. But he hears Taichi’s voice loud and clear.Hearing what someone has to say is the first step to being understood, but as Kouhei’s hearing impairment worsens, he quickly realises that true understanding is not always about what is spoken.
Taichi is the first hearing person to take a genuine interest in Kouhei's disability without judgement or pity.
While something more than friendship blossoms between two young men, I Hear The Sunspot is not just a beautiful romance.
It has also been lauded for being an extraordinary social commentary on disability. There are so few BLs that make disability a central theme of the series, let alone present issues in a nuanced way. The beauty of I Hear The Sunspot is in how space is created for others without diminishing the space of others.
Other BL reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/
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a story about being hard of hearing with people who happen to be interested in the same sex.
the romance is more of a subplot so if you approach it with that view i think you will be able to enjoy this a lot more. Hopefully that isn't a deterrance because I genuinely enjoyed the atmosphere and plot points explored throughout the story. Instead I hope the statement would be treated as more of a way to manage your expectations as to not be disappointed for those who come in due to the BL/Gay romance tag.Review:
Taichi is an unbelievably likeable protagonist and Kazuhi is one that you want to root for. The drama overall follows and explores the life of someone that is hard of hearing and the various things that people can overlook when it comes to such a complicated disability. It's satisfying to watch both Kazuhi and Taichi open up and even more so with the introdocution of Maya. I personally really enjoyed Maya. Where Kazuhi had more of a exhausted outlook, I appreciated Maya somewhat spiteful and harsh one. The actors are unbelievably talented and convey a beautiful depth of emotion and the supporting cast play their roles perfectly as the 'support'. I especially loved Shiraishi Yua (as Maya) and I loved the scenes betwene her and the main cast.
The development of Taichi and Kazuhi's relationship tapers somewhat early-middle and focuses more on internal conflicts and the like. I think they have wonderful platonic chemistry and their romantic development is there, just it doesn't get explored much, if not at all. While I don't neccesarily think this is a bad thing because the drama actually handles most, if not all of the other aspects of the story really well but the majority of the show felt more so like a 'drama' or something idk like it's not painfully heavy but I would put something like that as a genre wayyyyy before the romance part. Overall I would recommend this even to someone who isn't neccessarily into BL and i think it was worth the watch
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A sweet gem
STORY:I loved this story and I could shamelessly end my review here, but I’ve missed a chance to yap and so I will continue. Seeing some dissability representation in a drama, especially in a BL, is so indescribably welcomed. I’m not deaf/hard of hearing myself and so I’ll always leave room for thsoe who are to have the final say, but to me, it was incredibly respectfully done. Not once did I feel like Kohei was infantalized or viewed as lesser than (besides during scenes of bullying, and even then those were kept short and without overdoing it).
Half way while watching did I pop by here to read some reviwes, head over heals already and curious for what others thought, and what I read did lower my expectations and thrill towards the series (momentarily). Reading how people were unsatisfied by the pacing, how the story seemingly began to drag on after the first 1/3, running in circles etc, I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be yet another title I ended up dropping. I’m so glad I didn’t.
Yes, it’s truly a slow burn of a stituation due to Taichi being being a bit dense (so one sided slow burn I suppose).
Yes, I also wish there had been at least one proper kiss (Japan, stop with these awkward hovering fake-kisses).
Yes, Kohei and Taichi weren’t on screen together every given scene.
All of this aside, will I challenge with that we as viewers have gotten too comfortable recieving fast paced feelings and explicit scenes. I didn’t find this story slow in a boring way - perhaps if the episodes had been longer, but 25 minutes felt like nothing - at any point, I never felt that they backtracked or ran in circles, and while no kissing did we get SO many exclamations of love (whoever said it was a bromance need to look up the definition of ”Aishite” because that’s some serious confessions) near the end, which is exactly when I (personally) want to see it.
As for Taichi’s slow processing of his own feelings, do I feel like it made perfect sense to the character. Evidently is he very attentive to others feelings and emotional states, something that’s a very impressive detail to rember to add to a character who’s been evidently neglected by both parents. This is one of the few critques I have - I wish this had gotten more room in the story.
Of course Taichi isn’t giving genuine room to think and feel about more than the necessities, when he was made to feel like a problem and chore to have to do with. Too much, if you will, dropped at his grandpa’s in lack of anywhere else to stay. I’m sensing that, while surely a growing boy in need of sustainance, Taichi is using food as a form of emotional regulation (and shield). It’s a need that can be easily met, understood and if criticised - impersonal. I don’t think Taichi was taht far behind Kohei in terms of growing feelings, but while Kohei has a loving and understanding mother who listens to him and give him room to feel as well as the tools to express them (when and if he wants), Taichi tucks his away to not be in the way (or unwanted) AND seemingly don’t know how to properly go about the times he can’t (example: him crying while talking to Kohei right before the kiss).
While not the centre plot, it was something that shook me violently seeing only to then be forgotten about; one of many reasons why a season two would be lovely.
I liked that it took him time, I liked that he got discouraged by Koheis choice of words once he tried to open up at the end, I liked that Kohei found him and I really liked that once it was said, Kohei struggled grasping that it was reality whole Taichi’s character stayed true, too: no embarrassment or issue with it.
I also loved that ”I love you” wasn’t held at gunpoint. Kissing in all honour, but verbal affirmation matters just as much. Kohei signed it and Taichi found out what it meant by own accord. Taichi then said it aloud to Kohei. And at the end, that was so evidently what Kohei mouthed at Taichi. It felt right for this specific series and it was made clear again and again that they /like/ eachother. + Thos elittle napkin ”ghosts” outsie Taichi’s hoem going from one to a pair was such a obvious symbolisim.
Regarding Maya and this hate-train towards her: can’t say I was mad about that, either. Frustrated, sure. But certainly didn’t hate it. I think it was one of the better depictions of this specific plot tool; no strange straight romance side-plot rendering the girl to some tool, she had plenty for personality, valid reasons for how she behaved although definetly a shitty attitude and in the wrong for how she let it show, and didn’t push anything onto Kohei. He was in love with Taichi, and even if she didn’t understand WHY he liked him, she never tried to insert herself. Just my own five cents.
What I would have wished being done differently, or seen more off, would (again) be Taichi’s home situation; there was so much more that could’ve been done there and that would’ve further deepened his character.
They could’ve polished Kohei’s more straight-on approaches - I like that he communicated it, I just wish it had been a little less towards this stereotypical ”I’ll do what I want with you regardless of what you feel” take that East asian dramas are fond of pulling.
The kiss could’ve been a proper one - I’m sure the actors wouldn’t have minded. No need for a makeout, just lip-on-lip.
Dare I say a bit more on the topic of Kohei’s hearing going worse. It just felt like it got left behind a bit. I’d rather take that any day over them rendering him to only a deaf kid, but you know, it’s taxing feeling like your body betrays you.
Probably something more but I gave the story a 9 for a reason.
ACTING/CAST:
Only reason this isn't a 10, is because I’m a tad sensitive to that over-the-top acting that Taichi’s actor did at times, which is purely a personal preference. I’m raised on Scandinavian movie acting, which is all about less-is-more and so it can break the illusion for me and remind me that I’m watching a movie.
Besides that did everyone, and I mean everyone, do an incredible job. The casting for each character was brilliant, and never in my life have I felt and believed that every side character in fact also have an everyday and isn’t just conveniently around when needed the way I did while watching IHTS. The actors gave so much personality to their characters as well as suited them beautifully. Whoever did the casting cared deeply about each character.
Nakasawa (Kohei) and Kobayashi (Taichi) had insane chemistry. I believed every second of their affection towards one another. The way they looked at eachother, the way their bodylanguage changed when interacting - it was beautiful. I want a season 2 for the chance of seeing them work this new relationship out. Didn’t hurt that they also look very good together.
MUSIC:
Giving it a 7 because no song really struck my feelings, it was just really forgettable. BUT, and this is a huge but, even if not a striking soundtrack, did every song suit its scene, wasn’t too loud or weirdly cut.
REWATCH VALUE:
This is a comfort type of show for sure, and I could see myself go back and rewatch scenes. Maybe not the whole thing, but who knows? It’s short, dense episodes and (to me) great pacing with plenty of butterfly-inducing moments, not to forget that it’s visually gorgeous.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I love this type of dramas. I like when not everything happens too fast or too intense, I don’t mind less intimacy (I fear I hate unnecessary sex scenes for the sake of explicity) and I love pining/longing with all of my heart. Also the lack of pushy stereotypes (top/bottom especially) is so refreshing you all don’t understand. Perhaps my first BL having been Love Sick: the series (2014) with 48 episodes, 45 minutes each, with one (unreleased, mind you) kiss and so much back-and-forth you wouldn’t BELIEVE, shaped me, but I like the slow; the tender; the gentle. If I can tell the characters like one another, and look at eachother as if they hung the moon respectively, then it’s a winner in my books. And "I hear the sunspot” had just that. Definetly a new favourite of mine.
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Unique Plot but dragging storyline
What I LIKED about the series is first, the main characters have good chemistry but most importantly the plot tackles the struggles of a a specific disabled community which made the storyline unique. The acting is good as well, production is also good. The particularly liked the ending song at the end of each episode. Which is why, I could not stop watching episode 1 until episode 6.Normally, in a series, I would be very happy if there are a lot of long epsidoes, but What I DIDNT LIKE, is that after episode 7 on wards, it felt really dragging and o found myself falling asleep, there was little to no romantic development, no kissing scenes,confusing storylines, irrelevant characters and so on. I felt like they could’ve just squeezed it all in in a few episodes and highleted important parts. Which is why my Rewatch Value is so low, as o felt like I waited for nothing.
Overall it was a cute and bubbly BL series but the second half was dragging for me.
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Heartwarming
Okay, so I have watched the movie adaptation of this a long time ago and I don't exactly remember the events but I remember the what I felt when I watched it. So when I heard there's gonna be a drama adaptation, I was beyond stoked.The casts: I was pleasantly satisfied with the actors' performance. They all felt real and their interactions as well as how they are in their day-to-day lives all felt natural. Those nuances, little details like their facial expression even when they're just in the background or the camera is not focused on them, felt natural.
The story/plot: I have not read the manga which this was based on but I read somewhere that the drama was not far from the source material. Even Maya's appearance was accurate. Contrary to other violent reactions towards Maya, I did not find her character and her actions annoying. However, they could've removed Maya's parts and replaced it with other situations that would help or progress the relationship of Kohei and Taichi. However, I also do understand that it’s also important to have another perspective when it comes to hearing impairment.
The music: Yuuhinoue by Takaya Kawasaki is probably one of the best song I've ever heard. The first time I heard it, I immediately teared up. So imagine every time it plays in the end of every episode, I just couldn't contain my emotions. It's one of kind.
Rewatch value: Definitely rewatchable.
Overall, I did not rate this a perfect 10 stars because it was too short lol. Or perhaps they could've have made the last episode longer to give a more proper conclusion and ending. It felt a little abrupt.
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