Our Youth

Opposites Indeed Attract

I'm in LOVE with this BL. For me, it's rivalling Doku Koi "Love is Poison" for Best Japanese BL of 2024.
I read the manga "Our Youth" a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I was a bit nervous about the live adaptation. I'm so happy my fears were unfounded. The acting and the cinematography really elevated and brought this story to life for me.

We meet Minase, a well off high school student, who lives alone. His mother and friends direct a lot of his life and he seems content with their direction. That direction being to graduate with high marks, get into a good university, work at a big company and live a quiet life. His path is set for him and he seems to have the direction for his life figured out. His father, a creative, is mostly absent from his life and his mother has directed him not to follow his father's career path as a creative.

Then Hirukawa enters his orbit, the school bad boy who smokes, runs with the wrong crowd, beat up a teacher and occasionally shows up to school with bruises and black eyes. His energy is mysterious and alluring to Minase. Even though Minase implores him on multiple occasions to stay away from him, their paths cross continuously and Minase feels compelled to care for Hirukawa.

Their initial somewhat hostile encounters have an air of familiarity and kindredness. They quickly fall into a routine spending secret time together and begin to rely on each other.

I'm curious how the story will end since the manga ended positively after a time skip. But so far I'm enjoying where the drama is going. I will update when it's complete.

**Update**

10/10 - I've watched this one over and over.

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Must Watch the series "Our Youth" (Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu (2024))

"Our Youth" BL is a wonderful series. The actors do a great job showing their emotions in a real and natural way. I really enjoyed the show and hope it gets the high ratings it deserves!

"Hirukawa's tender love and Minase's unknowing kindness make Our Youth a heartfelt, lovely series!"

"The chemistry between Hirukawa and Minase in Our Youth is simply breathtaking! Hirukawa’s genuine of love makes every scene heartfelt, while Minase’s subtle transformation as he unknowingly falls for Haruki is captivating. Together, they create a story full of warmth and charm."

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From The Biggest Manhwa Fan...

When I first heard that my favorite Korean manhwa of all time was getting a Japanese live adaptation, I was both thrilled and anxious. The manhwa detailing Korea's severe school bullying, that takes place in 2009-2014, is now set in Japan and in 2018. That was a brave choice to make, yet I think—as of the first episode—that it works.

It's too early to tell much, but I really enjoyed the first episode. Many details were slightly altered to fit the Japanese setting more, but I think they were done well. I am excited to see what more this show will offer, and what changes they will make. So far the only main difference I have seen is the choice to make the letter the first thing we are met with instead of the line about perpetrators, victims, and bystanders that they included in the end of the first episode.

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simplesmente arte

Depois de tanto tempo usando esse aplicativo, depois de tantas séries incríveis que me marcaram muito, essa é a primeira vez que sinto vontade de escrever uma resenha.

Eu comecei a assistir essa série depois de um edit que apareceu na minha fy, pensei que seria só mais um aquelas típicas histórias de amor adolescente simples e clichê mas levei um balde de água fria pq essa série aborda assuntos de um jeito incrível e natural.
Eu passava a semana inteira esperando pela segunda-feira só pra ver eles e enquanto assistia nem via o tempo passar!
é simplesmente incrível como eles criam um vínculo de carinho e como eles se preocupam uns com os outros. Com certeza essa série virou a minha favorita!!

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今までで最高のBLドラマ

学生、不良と優等生、ちょうどいいスピード感、オープニングの作り、すべてが最高！
修学旅行のシーンは、班決めで足トンするところとか2人だけの秘密感があってものすごいドキドキするし、その後のラインで「さっきのなんだよ」ってやり取りしてるのも良すぎる。高校生ならではのドキドキが本当に表現されてて、高校生に戻りたくなった…
あとは、水無瀬役の本島純政くんの演技が思ったよりも断然良くて、すごい自然だった。涙も綺麗で、最終話の蛭川が迎えに来た時の涙は本当に美しかった。
水無瀬は途中でも自分たちは同性愛者なのかって考えてるし、最後まで自分たちの関係をまわりには打ち明けられないし、結婚についても悩み続けてることがリアルに感じた。カミングアウトできない人に対してもう1人が怒って喧嘩して、最終的にみんなに打ち明けられてハッピーエンドっていうのが多いけど、未成年はそうじゃなく、カミングアウトできない水無瀬を蛭川が包み込んで愛する終わり方なのが新鮮だった。
でも、2人が付き合ってるのを知った柴ジョージのリアクションとかも見たかったー‼︎だから続きください笑

でも本当にこのドラマは何回でも見れる。今までレビューしたことなかったけど、未成年だけはしたかった。本当にいろんな人におすすめしたいドラマ。今まで見てきたBLドラマの中で最高のドラマ。私はコメディタッチより、こういう雰囲気のほうが好きなんだって改めて感じた。

ドラマ外での2人の関係もそれはそれですごく好き。インスタライブでは、同時視聴してくれるのもすごくいいし、ドラマとは性格がまったく違う2人の関係も見てておもしろい！
ドラマとはあんまり関係ないけど、これで上村謙信くんを知ってワンエンを知ってエビダンを知って、エビダン最近めっちゃ見るようになってしまった笑

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Tem potencial pra virar favorita, dependendo do seu momento da vida

Our Youth me pegou de um jeito que eu não esperava. É aquele tipo de série que não grita pra ser notada, mas que vai te envolvendo aos poucos, no silêncio, nos olhares, naquelas pequenas coisas que só fazem sentido quando a gente sente junto.

O clima da série é todo delicado e meio nostálgico, sabe? Nada de exagero, nem correria. Tudo é calmo, contemplativo. Cada cena parece escolhida a dedo pra te fazer respirar fundo e sentir alguma coisa que nem sempre dá pra nomear.

O mais bonito, pra mim, são os relacionamentos. Eles são reais. Nada de amizade mágica que surge do nada ou amor que explode em cinco minutos. Aqui tudo vai se construindo devagarzinho, com cuidado, com dúvidas, com medo, mas também com carinho. E isso é o que mais toca: parece algo que poderia ter acontecido com a gente. Ou com alguém que a gente já conheceu.

Os personagens são super humanos. Não tem ninguém 100% bonzinho ou 100% errado, só gente tentando viver, sobreviver, entendendo o que sente, errando, tentando de novo. Isso me fez torcer por eles de verdade. Porque não dá pra não se identificar em algum momento.

Agora... se você curte um drama mais acelerado, Our Youth talvez soe meio parado. Ele aposta muito em silêncio, em momentos que ficam no ar, esperando você completar com a sua emoção. E tem quem ache isso cansativo, eu sei. Mas, se você entra no ritmo, é um tipo de recompensa diferente.

Alguns temas que aparecem (violência doméstica, pressão da família, expectativas sociais) são meio só tocados, não chegam a ser super desenvolvidos. Às vezes dá vontade de saber mais, de ver aquilo ser explorado com mais profundidade. Mas também acho que a série escolhe sugerir, deixar no ar, como muita coisa da vida real.

E o final... olha, é um daqueles que não é "final perfeito", mas faz sentido dentro da proposta da história. Pode deixar um gosto meio agridoce, daquele tipo de coisa que fica ecoando depois que você termina. E eu gosto disso.

No fim das contas, Our Youth foi como reler uma lembrança esquecida. Não é uma série que dá pra maratonar loucamente, é pra assistir com calma, com o peito aberto, prestando atenção no que não está sendo dito. E se você for meio sensível como eu pra histórias sobre crescer, se apaixonar devagar e lidar com sentimentos que a gente não sabe nomear... bom, aí pode virar um 10 fácil no seu coração também.

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LA ADAPTACIÓN QUE SE COME AL ORIGINAL

Acabo de terminar de ver el especial y toda la serie y QUE PUTA PASADA. Puedo decir sin equivocarme que es de mis BLs favoritos top 3, el mejor BL del 2024 y te diría que de los mejores de Japón.
Mira que yo suelo esperarme a que salgan todos los episodios para poder verlos del tiron, porque como me enganchen , la hemos liado parda si la veo en emisión. Pero es que no paraban de salirme escenas en Instagram que a los cuatro episodios tuve que empezar a verla para no ir comiendome spoilers. Ha sido duro ir esperando semana tras semana pero es que ha merecido la pena.
En noviembre me lei el webtoon del que esta inspirado y vaya , la historia del webtoon y podría decirte que aquí tampoco es que sea BOM ALGO INESPERADO Y QUE NADIE SE LO PODRÍA IMAGINAR, es mas me acuerdo que yo leyendo el webtoon estaba muy rollo, pues ok, ni padezco ni sufro con la historia. Pero es que esta adaptación ha sido ESPLÉNDIDA. Han conseguido mantener la esencia del historia pero a la vez han metido escenas iconicas. PODEMOS HABLAR DE LA ESCENA DEL HELADO EN EL EPISODIO 4, como no es necesario un desnudo o una relación sexual, como un puñetero helado y un beso pueden caldear el ambiente, erotismo en su forma mas sensual. Pero es que en ese mismo capitulo vive una frase que semana tras semana, cuando volvía a remirar los capitulos iba a esa escena, cuando Minase le esta curando las heridas a Hirukawa, heridas que ha buscado porque no sabia como volver acercarse a Minase y decide buscar pelea con su padre para que esta vez le pegue aposta y asi Minase le compadezca y vuelva a hablar con él, aunque le de asco esa accion que esta haciendo (o sea podemos hablar, de lo que implica todo eso, como se 'ensucia' porque quiere estar cerca de Minase y no sabe como hacerlo). Pero es que cuando le esta curando las heridas Minase dice la frase que para mi hace el click y da la vuelta a todo; 'Yo no soy el tipo de nadie' y puedes ver como Hirukawa le para y se da la vuelta y como a su forma , porque en ese momento tenía miedo de revelar sus sentimientos y que Minase se alejase, que él si era valioso. O la mirada en ese mismo capitulo de Hirukawa cuando esta en el mismo grupo que Minase, AAAAAA , ahi los corazones se pararon, bueno se paró mi corazón. O sea, es que tanto el capitulo 4 como 5 , donde ese principio y ves toda la perspectiva desde Hirukawa , SIMPLEMENTE CINE, o sea es que no puedo decir nada mas. Las escenas en la piscina tambien trasmiten muchisimo , porque al principio estan arriba rollo nuestra relación esta genial, estamos en las nubes , pero cuando pasa todo lo del robo y como se autoinculpa Hirukawa estan abajo en la piscina , demostrando como esta su animo . Es que , hay tantos detalles algunos explicados por los propios actores en sus directos (directos super graciosos , porque verle a ambos panickear en sus propios besos es algo que solo puedo decir si. Es como si ellos fuesen espectadores y no hubieran estado grabando esa escena).
En el capitulo especial, es muy triste pero a la vez no me desentona, que ambos tengan que mantener la relación en secreto por como lo vean sus amigos y familiares, me da mucha pena porque eso hace que no te puedas mostrar ante los demás como eres realmente, pero es que las reacciones de sus dos amigos no me sorprenden nada en esa cultura. Yo les diria que se vinieran a España a casarse que desde 2005 es posible. Por cierto gracias a este pedazo de episodio especial, tengo muchas ganas de ver el directo de Junsei y Kenshin , paniqueando en todas las escenas donde se esten dando besos.

La actuación de Junsei y Kenshin es maravillosa y mas teniendo en cuenta la corta carrera de Junsei, el cual, flipo mas porque en la vida real es completamente opuesto a su personaje, es una persona super energetica que a veces puedes ver como Kenshin el pobre , no puede seguirle el ritmo. Espero que puedan seguir siendo amigos en la vida real, porque me parece que tienen una amistad muy bonita.
Junsei has entrado al club selecto de actores que lloran bonito.

Los escenarios son una maravilla y se nota que no estan puestos al tuntun.
Por último y no menos importante, la música , el OST del intro, esa canción esta en mi playlist de en bucle porque que maravilla, me gusta que hayan cogido la banda ONE N' ONLY donde esta Kenshin, es un si. O sea, es que en esta serie no te podias saltar la intro . Y la musica de fondo en las escenas otra pasada, estoy esperando a que el saquen esa musica de alguna forma porque necesito escucharla por completo.

En fin, esta serie considero que se va a convertir si es que todavía no lo ha hecho es una serie de culto de los BLs japoneses y ojala llegue a tener más repercusión internacional. Super recomendable

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-Tu mar y mi mar, deben estar conectados en alguna parte, aun ahora, yo todavía lo creo.

Es sin duda de las mejores series que he visto, llegué a esta serie sin saber nada y terminé con mucha ansiedad cada martes esperando qué iba a pasar aunque si sabia que era adaptación de un manga la verdad no lo leí y no quería enterarme de nada (aun asi al final me entere de uno que otro spoiler) y para mi cada capitulo me dejaba sorprendido de una manera que hasta me cuesta explicar, simplemente esta serie te cautiva, te hace llorar bastante y te hace querer desear muchas cosas a lo largo de la serie en situaciones que pasan, maybe puedes llegar a pensar que la historia es sencilla y chance lo es pero para mi conforme avanza se va complicando, de mis cosas favoritas fue todo esta narrativa del mar, de las personas, de como te puede arrastrar etc.

Minase Jin es una persona super reservada que como se nos dice prefiere vivir su vida como un transeúnte/espectador ya que para el solo existen 3 tipos de personas en el mundo (perpetradores, victimas y transeúntes/espectadores) el prefiere este ultimo, puesto que prefiere no involucrarse en nada o nadie en profundidad ya que para el "cada uno vive en su propio mar, por separado. Y las aguas nunca se mezclaran" y todo lo que quiere es nomas cumplir con las expectativas de su madre y vivir su vida tranquilo pero oh sorpresa no pasa mucho para que el mismo diga que " fui arrastrado mar adentro" ya cuando se ve mas envuelto con Hirukawa es "mientras te dejas llevar sin ninguna resistencia", siempre me va a dejar de wtf cuando Minase va con su profesor por lo del problema de Hirukawa y el profesor en lugar de escuchar o algo lo primero que hace es cuestionarlo de porque lo esta defendiendo para después decirle que se concentre en lo importante de ahí sacar el tema de sus padres y decirle que su conversación a terminado y de una manera nada sutil decirle todo el mundo tiene grandes esperanzas en ti.

Hirukawa Haruki se nos da a entender que es todo lo contrario a Minase siendo este alguien impulsivo, despreocupado con su tendencia a ser el chico problema y después es cuando se nos da toda esta primer escena del abuso físico y emocional que recibe por parte de su padre y que observa Minase, sin duda Hirukawa es un personaje demasiado interesante porque hasta la misma sociedad ya lo tiene estigmatizado (o al menos para mi si) y no se si se explique en el manga pero tal parece que es desde un 1er momento según todo empieza cuando ahorco al profesor y de ahí surgen rumores además por el hecho de que sus profesores asumen cosas de el que no pasaron, los mismos alumnos también hablan y asumen de que el no tendrá esperanza e incluso que no vale la pena relacionarse con el y yo se que no es algo único o "novedoso" pero si refleje un problema común que existe, algo a destacar es que cuando Minase le dice que porque no contraataca cuando su papa lo golpea el le dice no quiero ser como el, además cuando el de dice a Minase "algunas personas pueden superar su sufrimiento, mientras otros se dejan consumir por ella o ello" nos queda muy claro que el va a tratar de ser de las que superan.

Tenemos también toda esta parte de ellos en su etapa de conocerse mutuamente o pre-pareja si lo quieren ver asi que a decir verdad empieza de una manera un tanto extraña pero yo siento que ambos (un poco mas Hirukawa) buscaban una y siento que lo que marca este punto o mas bien empieza es cuando ven la película "el sonido del agua" del papa de Minase, después tenemos esta platica donde ya se cuentan sobre sus familias y ambos llegan a la conclusión que ambas son horribles, para mi desde mas o menos desde el principio podemos ver un tipo de tensión pero para mi cuando Minase dice "no soy el tipo de nadie" y Hirukawa le dice "eres" yo estoy seguro que la frase completa era "eres mi tipo" y retomando mi punto de la conexión genuina siento que lo que ya lo marca es el final del capitulo 4 cuando ya la primera persona a la que buscan es al otro ya sin duda lo ultimo es con la muerte del papa de Hirukawa que desencadena en varios sucesos además de cuando Hirukawa se hecha la culpa por su amigo al final de esta "primer etapa/su juventud" esta marcada por esa separación donde no se prometen nada y que es una separación que ninguno quería y que lo que la cierra es cuando Minase encuentra la carta de Hirukawa (carta hermosa por cierto) y que en efecto como le había dicho Hirukawa Minase termina llorando.
Ya ellos como pareja después del gran suceso de su reencuentro que uno de los spoilers del manga mas bien es que cuando pasa el reencuentro que Hirukawa ve a Minase y al final pasa de largo es porque Hirukawa cree que es su imaginación pero luego se voltea y se da cuenta que en efecto es Minase y ya pasa toda esta escena de intercambiar contactos y asi, afortunadamente después de vario suceso ps ya se terminan confesando incluso Minase le confiesa a Hirukawa que en secundaria también le gustaba, entonces en serio, son una pareja bien bonita y afortunadamente nos dieron momentos para disfrutarla y hasta donde entendí conforme avanza pasa bastantito tiempo pq su reencuentro es en universidad y cuando es la proyección de la otra película de Hirukawa que es la adaptación de la historia de Minase para este punto ya salieron según yo o por lo menos Minase pq el ya esta trabajando y al final cuando se reunen y Minase le dice a Hirukawa "vamos a casarnos" y aunque Hirukawa le dice que si y que cuando, aquí es cuando nos dan un golpe de realidad y es porque Minase le dice "cuando la ley cambie" dije fuckk, su relación pues es privada y asi fue durante todo momento ya que cuando Hirukawa intenta decirle a los demás pues si a Minase le entra cierta incertidumbre por la sociedad de lo que vayan a pensar incluso cuando es a sus amigos (umm volvemos al mismo punto) entonces Hirukawa decide tipo bromear y asi, después de esto tenemos ya de las ultimas escenas y ese cuando Hirukawa le dice a Minase "incluso si no podemos casarnos siempre estaré a tu lado. Asi que por favor no te preocupes." sin duda el final es algo hermoso pero que te deja con cierta sensación de conflicto no con la serie si no mas bien con uno mismo.

Tenemos algunos personajes secundarios pero que a mi parecer pasan sin pena ni gloria, tenemos a:
Amasawa Yoshito y Minase Saki que son los papas de Minase, y que la verdad como que no tengo nada bueno que decir de ellos al igual que de Hirukawa Masahiko el padre de Harukawa nada bueno que decir de el tampoco, literal es por ellos que ambos dicen que sus familias son horribles, tambien esta Ushioda Haruka que es la mama de Hirukawa que de los 4 ps es la mas salvable pq es la que realmente digamos que hace el intento de ser una buena madre para Hirukawa y pues por lo menos lo apoyo pero sabemos que no esta para el pq ella ya tiene otra familia, en general tengo duda de los 4.
Tenemos a Majima Kyohei como el amigo de Hirukawa que mas de lo mismo que los papas, paso sin pena ni gloria, no creo que fuera tan buen amigo y al final creo que no sabemos que fue de el.
Y por ultimo Shiba Kento y Nemoto George como los amigos de Minase, que si bien ellos son los que mas salen, en realidad para mi no fueron memorables en ningún momento, siento que les agarras coraje porque en un principio ellos son de los que mas le dicen a Minase que no se relacione con Hirukawa porque nada bueno sale de ahí y ya cuando están en la universidad y se enteran que Hirukawa esta en una también ellos empiezan de que no lo creen que no se lo esperaban etc etc al final me daban muchísima hueva, supongo que algún momento bueno debieron de tener.

En conclusión esta serie es hermosa, de principio a fin, estoy triste porque a decir verdad me gustaría seguir viendo mas a Minase y Hirukawa pero incluso no se que podrían hacer en una 2da temporada o película pq incluso la serie cerro muy bien todo lo único seria tipo una película pero ya cuando la ley cambie y pues seria su boda y esto conllevado a decirle a la sociedad sobre su noviazgo, pero eso para mi ya es mucho pedir, es una serie excelente que se va mi top y que lo mas probable es que dentro de poco la vuelva a ver.
La frase del titulo es del cap 9.

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Spell and rainbow

Spell and rainbow
I remember that in Journalism Techniques, one of the Journalism subjects, the teacher told us to write imaginary interviews with personalities from the field of science, culture, art, sports, politics... who, due to various circumstances, could not be interviewed, since whether due to death, distance, etc.
I will try to return to my old classes for this subject.
In the Japanese BL series 'Miseinen Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu', Jin has emerged as a memorable leading character admired by the audience. His identity as a model high school student who has the purpose of living life as a spectator, his melancholic and lonely character, his desire to break molds and get ahead on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, have captured the attention of viewers, who value their authenticity, talent and bravery.
Motojima Junsei, the actor who plays Minase Jin, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to portray this complex character. At only 19 years old, he has forged a solid career in the television and film fields.
In film he has stood out for playing Ichinose Hotaro / Kamen Rider Gotchard in the 'Kamen Rider Gotchard' universe, while on television he appeared in productions such as 'Hayabusa Shobodan', 'Kamen Rider Geats' and 'Shigatsu no Tokyo wa...'. In the latter, a 2023 BL series, he played the young Yagami Ryunosuke. The actor confesses that all his works have forged his ability to tackle challenging roles with depth and authenticity.
We talked about Jin and the Japanese BL series with Motojima Junsei in an exclusive interview for CinemaBL.
AA— How would you define Jin?
MJ— Jin is originality, love, honesty, magic, light... As an actor, I consider him to be the most beautiful character I have had to play on television so far. He is a model student. Studious. Work hard. His priority is to have his own house and his own car in the future. He knows that the only way to achieve his dreams is to go to a top university. He is fine with his repetitive daily routine of school and studying. He is an honor student who is indifferent to others, and has been living his school life avoiding any interaction with class troublemakers, especially Hirukawa Haruki. Jin is a fascinating young man who takes the viewer from hatred to love and becomes one of the pillars of the plot. Although he projects an image of absolute control over his life and his environment, he hides deep emotions and vulnerabilities.
AA—And Haruki is…?
MJ—Haruki, a character played with high marks by Kamimura Kenshin, a talented actor with solid experience in film and television, is my companion on a journey in which we will both discover and accept our true identity. Jin has been raised to hate people like Haruki. But Haruki, unintentionally, enters her life, which in a way, is perfect. This is the trigger for the series. One day, while Jin is taking a shortcut through a troubled neighborhood to return home, he sees Haruki, his classmate. Since he is not the type of person Jin would mix with, considering him, due to the upbringing received by his absent mother, the type of individual who grows up to become a criminal, Jin tries to continue on his way, until he discovers that Haruki is receiving a beating from his father.
"Something in Jin tells him that this is not his problem, that he should have nothing to do with Haruki. But at the same time a voice inside him screams that it is inevitable that their paths will cross... I would say that feeling of boredom that Jin has, it is Haruki who needs to get rid of him. Finally, they begin to relate.
AA— Why do you think the public begins to empathize with Haruki and stop seeing him as the villain of the story?
MJ— Haruki's character grows from the connection with Jin. In truth, they both grow as people. Both Haruki and Jin, who has the best values in the series, let go of the anti-values they carry and incorporate new, very positive values. When Haruki is around Jin he becomes a different person. He is talkative, attentive, talks about his taste in movies, shares secrets never revealed to others about what he likes or doesn't like about movies, about his life... Jin's father is a film director. This connects you even more by having another topic of conversation.
"Haruki is always prepared to give Jin his world. He cannot contain what boils in him, what overflows him, but everything will be step by step until he gets rid of the mists of doubt about the unknown, from fear of family, to school, to society in general that tells you that loving a person of the same gender is not correct, it is prohibited, it is illegal. Step by step, it will be like that, until the paths converge. Deep down, they are very similar. After discovering the secret of Haruki, the two quickly become intimate. This relationship, sad but beautiful, is what the series narrates."
AA— What strikes Jin about Haruki?
MJ— His vulnerability, his true “self,” so different from how he had represented it in his head. After witnessing the domestic violence carried out by his father, Jin manages to understand that the bruises on his face are not from the fights that he considered would cause them. As he tries to walk away, from his mind he cannot get the image of the Haruki he saw, so different from the one at school... Haruki is truly, like him, a tender, lonely and lost boy. They both come from different origins. Both had different types of education or upbringing. On the other hand, Haruki suffers from the marginalization to which he is subjected by his fellow students due to his reputation as a violent boy, his attitude of rebellion and disobedience towards teachers...
AA— In your opinion, what is the message that is transmitted to the viewer through this character?
MJ— Before answering that question, let me tell you that the events narrated in the webtoon "Our Youth", by Hi Nun, the original manhwa and which the series adapts for television, take place in South Korea between 2009 and 2014. In 'Miseinen Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu' is set, of course, in Japan and in 2018. Multiple details were changed slightly to match with Japanese reality, but ultimately the series captures the spirit of the original work, which is the romance of two teenagers set in a country where youth is marked by violence and loneliness, while, figuratively speaking, everyone They float in a rough sea where no one expects them to engage with each other.
"Now, my message with Jin is that a better world is possible, where people are respected and each person's sexual preference is not an important factor. Sexual preference is a personal issue that only concerns the person and not He should belittle or devalue anyone, much less humiliate. His sexual identity does not define his personality; what really define Jin is his values and feelings.
"I would like the public to reflect that sexual preference should not be a reason for humiliation, mistreatment or exclusion. People should be valued for their human quality, which is the most important thing. I think these stories should be represented more on television, although it will not be an easy battle, since Japanese youth have lived for decades in a society guided by homophobia, patriarchy and heteronormativity. However, as these stories are incorporated into the media and our culture, the japanese will leave becoming familiar with them, as long as they are given the right treatment. A change is needed because the world needs to be better and people need to love and respect each other.
The series seeks to demonstrate that while some people can overcome their suffering and move forward in life, others allow themselves to be consumed by it."
AA— How much did the character of Haruki contribute to the realization of your role?
MJ— Working with Kenshin was wonderful. He is an actor who offers all his knowledge. He is attentive and takes care of all the details of his performance and that of others. He is very protective of everyone around him. Sharing a scene with him was very comfortable. There were never any problems or disagreements between us.
"Whenever we could contribute something to the characters we did it, we sat down and tried to explain the reasons for Jin's rejection of Haruki when he tried to kiss him, his love for Jin, his father's abuse... which undoubtedly made our performances much more convincing. We did the casting together, but we already knew each other through mutual friends who introduced us at one of their performances with the vocal dance group "One N' Only", to which Kenshin belongs. And then we met in the premiere of the BL series 'Ossan's Love Returns', in January of this year, in which he plays Hao, one of the secondary characters. We have been friends since then, since before filming began. This has also served to enhance the chemistry, the close bond established between the two."
We left the conversation for a few moments. You cannot not answer the incoming call. I turn off my phone, while I hear, nearby, the voice of Motojima Junsei who, from his phone, agrees with a producer to finalize details to star in another BL series.
This is the moment when I let my thoughts escape: Where, if not from love, do those kisses come from that one tries to steal from the other? At what moments do their words and laughter grant us their elf? Where, if not from love, do doubts emerge, the confusion of one feeling rejected, but not despised, by the other? Where, if not from love, is the hurried heartbeat, as if it wanted to escape from the chest of the one who rejected the kisses? Where do they come from, if not from love, those ideas that vividly express that one cannot live away from the other, no matter how much one tries to keep the walls around him high?
Laughing, he returns to his solid armchair in front of me. We continue:
AA— How has the public reception been? Have you received any feedback that surprised you?
MJ— I remember that, while I was recording the series, I was talking with my friends, and one of them told me: "You know that there will be many people who will love you and many people who will hate you, who will make war on you." I answered yes, that I was prepared for that and that I wanted to play the character. I was aware that this could happen.
"Really, the response from the public has been, for me, surprising, with a capital letter. I never imagined that Jin would receive so many acceptances, and I am very happy about it. The message I wanted to convey has arrived. People have stopped seeing a boy in love with another boy to begin to see a man with an immense inner world and enviable human qualities. This has surprised me and made me very happy and I hope that, throughout the series, this perception will change keep.
"On the other hand, making harassment visible is important. It is necessary to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence and respect for diversity in all its expressions: sexual identity, origin, skin color, social status, physical and intellectual abilities, ideology... "
AA—In terms of the evolution of the character, what can we expect from Jin in the next episodes?
MJ— As for the next chapters and Jin's evolution, I can't tell you much, because otherwise Shibata Keisuke and Makino Masaru, the directors, will gut me. Ha ha ha. I can tell you about both of them that they fight against harassment and bullying, a complex phenomenon that affects emotional and academic well-being at all levels of education and throughout society. About the character, I can only say that he is not going to disappoint the audience. Jin will remain true to himself. That's all I can say.
AA—Finally, how would you describe the current and future state of Japanese BL series?
MJ— “Boys’ Love” is in good health. The genre has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. It quickly jumped from the initial Japanese manga and anime to dozens of annual series and films. Not only in Japan. Other Asian countries, such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, among others, film productions of this content. The proliferation of the genre has given rise to a rich and diverse range of productions that celebrate love. It is a phenomenon that combines romance, drama and culture in a unique and charming way.
"But what is fundamental is their cultural and social impact. BL series not only offer entertainment; they also play a crucial role in the visibility and acceptance of LGBT+ relationships in Japan and throughout Asia. By portraying stories of love and struggle that resonate with For many people, these series foster greater understanding and empathy towards sexual and gender diversity. In addition, BL has created a global community of fans who manage to connect and share their love for these stories, breaking cultural and geographical barriers.
"Or at least that's how I understand it. One more step towards diversity and hopefully, these stories will be standardized in the rest of the markets."
While, already at home, days later, I watch the next episode of the series, I think about the last words of Motojima Junsei: "BL series provoke a kind of enchantment in millions of human beings in the world. It is as if the director, screenwriters, actors and others involved, like magicians, will pronounce a magical spell that encourages the majority to entertain, to fight for the rights of LGBT+ people.

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