Our Youth

Dark But hopeful

Wow! Just Wow! What a brilliant and poetic drama!
Kamimura Kenshin was outstanding as the battered and bruised young man, desperate to not turn out like his aggressive and brutal father. He was persistent in his pursuit of his first love - Minase Jin (Motojima Junsei), who played the quiet, but empathetic character, coming to terms with his sexuality.
I loved the way the theme of the drama - the sea - was woven into the plot and dialogue.
I expected a sad ending, but what I got was an ending full of hope.
There was no explicit sex in this drama (cue Thai BL), nothing beyond kissing and suggestion, but it was not necessary to show the audience how deeply they felt about each other.
I am hopeful that Kenshin can get over his public 'scandal', so we can see him again in future dramas.

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Our Youth, beautiful and steadfast.

It's been a while since I have watched a BL series, but that did not stop this series from being amazingly addictive to watch. The story focuses on two boys in high school and university, Hirukawa the bad boy and Minase the silent and obedient boy.

-Synopsis-
Hirukawa faces domestic violence from his father, and Minase sees Hirukawa being mistreated by classmates, teachers and his father. The first few episodes focus heavily on them becoming entangled with each other and caring for each other. After the established chemistry, Hirukawa feels he has a bad influence on Minase and his goal of entering a good university, and the two unwillingly drift apart. After several years the two meet again in university, and neither of them holds back any more. They do their best to be together and are building a life together.

-Chemistry-
The chemistry between this couple is amazing and electric. Hirukawa is a natural flirt and is very daring in his attempts to become closer to Minase. Minase is hesitant, but curious and never shuts Hirukawa fully away. There are a lot of intimate scenes here, most of which are kissing and hugging. While the first kiss scenes are rather stiff, the chemistry in all of them make them a joy to watch, and make the viewer want to rewatch the scenes.

There are also plenty of scenes showcasing small acts of affection, such as caring for the others' wounds, buying each other souvenirs, waiting for each other and many more. This series has no secondary couple like other BLs, so we can really focus on these two and their relationship. The focus of only one couple made their story stronger and greater.

-General Opinion-
This is another great BL, and I highly recommend it a watch. The characters are deep and surprising, the chemistry is booming, the visuals are gorgeous, and the emotions keep you watching. I wish it didn't end so soon. It kind of feels like the last few episodes were rushed in scenes. I still think all loose end are wrapped up nicely, and am satisfied with the ending. The two have the resolve to be together in their best version of themselves, and care deeply about each other.

The drama also shines light on Japan's current lack of same-sex marriage. It's a beautiful thing to add into the series. It makes the characters feel more real, as they care about their realistic future to be together in the eyes of the law and society.

Overall, this is a beautiful drama and I am very happy I watched it. Great job to the actors and everyone involved. I hope to see more from the two. While a second season is unlikely, I would watch it in a heartbeat.

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Impressive and memorable BL that wrecked my heart and took my breath away in the best way ~~~

This BL drama manages to do so much over the course of its 11 episodes of about 30 minutes. It portrayed the relationship of two highschoolers in a very worthwile and touching way. It made so much sense why they grew closer, despite (or rather because of) their difference in social class and personality. Their family background was instrumental in bringing them together and nurturing their connection. The writing of the series was very solid in getting to the point, without too much fioriture and creating a clear picture of the story for the viewer in very limited time.

The chemistry between the two main leads was very good. The evolution of their relationship felt very credible in their feelings as well as the way the intimacy naturally increased between the characters. There was a brilliant progression over time in the skinship moments and the way the kisses got more an more passionate as the series progressed took my breath away. It felt very real but poetic as well. There are a myriad of gestures, little touches that gave life to the characters and their romance in a meaningful way. Some scenes will definitely stays into my memory for a very long time.

The production was really good with water being a common thread in the making and a key element for the storytelling. I loved the OST with the un-skippable opening song and the emotional and sorrowful music which was inserted purposefully in the background of some of the scenes.

I would strongly recommend this stellar and emotional BL to everyone looking for a poetic romance with gut-wrenching storytelling. I wish they had a bit more time to even further develop some elements but it is also because I loved it so much ! Do yourself a favor and don't miss episode 11 who serves as a beautiful epilogue to the story with a strong and important activist point of view ! Far from being preachy, it opens the door in a mindful way to reflection on the place of gay relationship in Japanese society.

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So Close to Perfection

I remember binge-watching the first 4 episodes and thinking to myself that this drama would be one for the books. Up there with the Japanese BL drama "My Beautiful Man" — which is the only drama (BL or otherwise) that I re-watch once a year. It had all the elements to make it perfect.

a. Opposites attract
b. Two damaged souls unexpectedly coming together to heal each other
c. Incredible chemistry between the main actors (that sick X icecream scene in episode 4 should be a study in chemistry and tension)
d. Incredible cinematography
e. A catchy opening OST

These are all things I loved and appreciated in the drama. I also love how we are shown that Hirukawa liked Minase 1st. While they don't outright tell you when it happened or why, if you pay attention to the ongoing events of episode 1, you can see how Hirukawa looked at Minase at the taps. Additionally, he noticed Minase in the corridors during their first year (2018), when Minase didn't seem to care about his existence. Perhaps he'd always had a crush, and the universe hadn't brought them together b4 their sophomore year in 2019.

Unfortunately, once we get three-quarters of the way through episode 6, things start to get shaky and eventually crumble. I'd rated the 1st 5 and three-quarter episodes a 10/10 and the last 4 episodes a 5/10. I'm not counting the special episode, ep 11, in this.

Lemme explain why

🪞The Noble Idiot
I'm taking this 'moniker' from someone else's review because I agree with them on this. Hirukawa sacrifices himself for his terrible friend. This is where things started going downhill for me. I understand he was dealing with feelings of self-loathing and low self-worth, which led him to believe that his influence was what led his friend down the delinquent, shoplifting path. That he was his father's son, so clearly everything bad is all because of him.

But hadn't we seen him all along trying to work on being a better person? Start to believe in Minase's view of him and get serious with school? It felt like he had taken 5 steps forward, and that incident made him walk 10 steps backwards. They ruined his character development.

🪞His Father's Death
Perhaps some will call me unempathetic for this one. So, when he broke down in Minase's arms that night, I expected that he would have been crying at the immense relief he felt that this monster, this shadow that had been looming over his life and making it hell, was finally gone. That he was conflicted over the fact that he was happy, horrified that he was happy, and sad that his father, who was also his abuser, died.

Now imagine my surprise at finding out that he was this broken up and ridden with guilt over the fact that he thought he was at fault coz he hadn't taken good enough care of his father, and that supposedly led to his death. I..... uuuum... I had a hard time with that line of reasoning. Rather than it impacting me how they'd hoped it would, I just got annoyed.

🪞The Break-up & the Reunion
Personally, had I been the writer, I wouldn't have had them break up. And if they really had to, it at least would not have happened in the way it did. Or maybe not for as long as it lasted. I reason this way because:

In a way, the break-up was good for Hirukawa. He was able to start a new life and get himself together. His reasoning, I believe, was based on the movie that was directed by Minase's father, and that one line they kept quoting. About how one character left to prevent the other from being swallowed up by their problems. He also wanted to become a person worthy of Minase. That worked fine for Hirukawa. He did what he set out to do.

But... what about Minase? His wound was one of neglect. His father was a big name out there, but he only remembered him sometimes. His mother remembered him a lot, but she, too, always left him behind because of her career. Plus everytime they spoke, it was never about him. It was all about his grades and this unseen future, or to complain about the incompetence of his dad.

Minase had never had anyone in his corner. Even his friends never truly knew him. Yet, finally, when he has someone who knows him, sees him, and goes out of their way to spend time with him, they, too, leave. And Minase lets him go coz that's what his life is, and as we see all along, Minase, while a little closed off, is actually a good person.

When they finally reunite, we do not get a conversation that delves into Minase's feelings of abandonment. It's all explained away by a simple 'I lost my phone while in America.' Bruh... IT'S BEEN 5 YEARS!!!! I should've gotten more than that.

I feel like while it started with them finding and healing each other, by the end, it eventually felt like Minase helped heal Hirukawa, while Hirukawa left Minase more broken and empty than he'd been before. Minase had been going through life with an empty hole inside him. Hirukawa came in and filled it, then emptied it after he left for a whole 5 years.

Their happy ending is deserved. I love that they found each other after so many years apart and that they'd never stopped loving each other. However, I cannot rate this higher because
a. I find the breakup period to have been too long and abit unneccessary,
b. the lack of a proper conversation about Minase's feelings regarding his abandonment and,
c. the bad kissing (this is an issue across 99% of JBLs)

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My January 2026 recommendation

Watched this for my Recommendation Challenge from Jojo. Let's discuss drama…

The story follows two high school students, Minase Jin and Hirukawa Haruki, who are polar opposites in both personality and social standing.

Minase is an honors student—polite, quiet, and burdened by the heavy pressure of meeting his parents’ high expectations.

Hirukawa is a so-called “delinquent”—straightforward, emotionally honest, and seemingly carefree.

Minase believes there are three kinds of relationships between people:
The Bystander — like water. Always present but trying to remain invisible. They don’t take sides; they simply “flow” around the situation.
The Perpetrator — like a stone thrown into that water. They cause ripples, create chaos.
The Victim — the one hit by the splash, left to suffer the impact.

To Minase, the safest place is as the water. He believes that by remaining a bystander and avoiding emotional involvement, he can protect himself from harm. To him, being “water” is the most logical way to survive a suffocating society.

That belief, however, is soon disrupted by Hirukawa.

They first meet in their first year—by chance, at the school sinks. Minase is washing his hands when Hirukawa walks in, right after nearly strangling a teacher. Their eyes meet. Nothing is said.

For a long time, they remain strangers who merely attend the same school. Their dynamic begins to change in April of their second year. Minase witnesses something no one else sees: Hirukawa being beaten by his father in their front yard. When Hirukawa notices him, he doesn’t cry or beg—he just glares and says: "Don’t tell anyone."

After that, Minase starts to notice Hirukawa more. Everything truly shifts when Minase encounters Hirukawa outside of school, at a local park. He finds Hirukawa beaten up, and instead of staying away, something about Hirukawa’s presence draws Minase in.

Against all logic, he does something unthinkable. Minase approaches Hirukawa—injured and emotionally guarded—and invites him to come to his house. Hirukawa is shocked and suspicious, since they aren’t even friends. But with nowhere else to go and his body in pain, he accepts. That night at Minase’s house marks the true beginning of their awkward and clumsy progression.

From then on, they begin spending time together in a secluded outdoor spot and at Minase’s house. Minase has only one rule: they cannot be seen together at school.

As days pass, they grow closer. Minase learns about Hirukawa’s broken home, his loneliness, his fight to survive; while Hirukawa begins to understand Minase’s inner emptiness. Yet no matter how close they become, Minase’s rule remains unchanged. To the outside world, they are merely strangers—but quietly, deeper feelings begin to form.

Everything changes again when Hirukawa’s father suddenly dies. With no family left, Hirukawa has to move—far away, to his mother’s district. Contact fades. Life moves on. And before they realize it, university life begins.

Now the question:
? Will they meet again…
? Will they continue their relationship…
? With Hirukawa’s bad reputation now in the past, will Minase finally dare to acknowledge their relationship openly…

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers. Now what I like and don't.

What I like:
+ Portray the almost perfect ambiguity for teenagers. Their identity crisis, their confusion in sexual prefrence…
+ Portray the perfect never judge the book by its cover. You never know what people hide behind their ‘mask’

What I don’t like:
- How Hirukawa kept yielding to Minase…
- Never really tell the story about Hirukawa’s family in detail. Like why his parents divorce in the first place…

Overall this is really one good BL drama to watch. Our Youth masterfully deconstructs the "bystander" philosophy through the quiet, complex bond between Minase and Hirukawa.

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genuinely beautiful beyond words

I’ve been wondering how to write a review for something that has had such an impact on me.. I’ve been a fan of them since almost the beginning of their story and the journey was very long and emotional but worth every single second.

The cinematography was beautiful, it encapsulates the emotions in the scene and creates an atmosphere that feels stripped of the feeling that you’re watching something through a screen. The acting was raw and expresses the characters true feelings rather than someone just “playing” as that character. Even the music used hides an underlying message that relates to the characters’ story. It’s truly amazing how everything in this drama feels so deliberate from the pauses between character dialogues to the timing of internal monologues in scenes.

I don’t think there has been a show/movie thats resonated with me as much as this drama—I fell in love with the characters and their individuals struggles. They both saved each other, despite being just teenagers, they found safety and comfort in each other than by the adults that were supposed to protect them. Their story was beautiful from the beginning to the end.. a balance of lightheartedness and pain that’ll make you feel emotional and sympathize with the characters.

「　Minase, who lived life as a bystander to not accidentally get involved in trouble and mess up his future becomes acquainted with Hirukawa, the schools top troublemaker whom even the teachers gave up on. He discovered a secret about Hirukawa’s private life that left him a target to Hirukawa’s attention. This eventually leads to a psuedo-friendship forming between both characters as they get closer and learn more about one another. 」

Slight spoilers for ep 11:
A story like this ends up having a very happy, yet bittersweet ending as the characters are able to acknowledge their feelings for one another, yet know they won’t be acknlowedged the same way by the people around them. This is what I mean by lightheartedness and pain—the characters are happy being together but the drama still reminds us of the reality for queer couples and how currently they will not be recognized as a relationship by the law. Some people disagree with this disheartening ending and view ep 10 as the true ending, which is understandable and they can do as they like, but that also adds to the ignorance that the characters face where people don’t acknowledge the struggle in queer relationships. Despite the pain, I think this ending was still beautifully written and goes to show that their love can still exist and is very much real with or without others approval.

Anyways I just wanted to say I love this drama sososooo much and I’m so grateful to everyone that worked hard to make it because I genuinely don’t think I’ll watch anything that’ll match how this drama made me feel.

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Resilience

Found the series to be a deeply moving that immerses the viewer in sadness until the very end. The series evokes feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, and I believe different viewers may resonate with various aspects based on their backgrounds.

For some, it might be Hirukawa Haruki's constant abuse by his father. For others, it could be Minase Jin's perpetual loneliness. Perhaps it's the societal constraints that prevent them from expressing their love for each other. These elements contribute to the unique and special nature of the series.

What makes this series even more remarkable is that it has nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, because it is so grounded in reality, viewers feel a deeper connection and love it even more. The direction, writing, and acting are so well-executed that I must confess I feel lucky to have had the chance to watch it.

The series effectively conveys that no matter what you like or who you are, there is something for you in it. It teaches a valuable lesson: that there is a future for you, even if you feel left out or underestimated. As long as you put in the effort, you will find a way out of your struggles and discover your own unique happiness.

This beautiful and perfect series made me genuinely feel the characters' emotions and left a remarkable impact on me. It will stay in my heart and soul.

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I want to forget I ever watched this show…

I wanna forget this SO THAT I CAN WATCH IT AGAIN AND HAVE THE SAME FEELINGS I FELT WATCHING IT THE FIRST TIME. ITS A TEN FROM ME. THANK GODDD I have a short term memory so I can watch this again like it’s the first time in a few months. what a masterpiece. I WILL be going back here often. this is my new comfort show and couple. this is cinema. art. JAPAN BL NEVER EVER EVER DISAPPOINTS. literally had me putting down my phone and running around the house. AND THE WAY you think it’s over with episode 10 and then BOOM there’s the most BEAUTIFUL episode to follow up and end it out. I would love to have a conversation with the person who made this. WATCH THIS YOU WONT BE SORRY. easily one of my fav BLs ever. I will miss these two so much. I can’t wait to come back and binge it again. WHAT incredible actors they picked. these two are FANTASTIC and so so gorgeous. and the whole show just looked absolutely stunning, very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The whole show gets a standing ovation.

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Soft and quiet

Let me just start by saying I was in the middle of this drama when the Kamimura Kenshin news dropped, and unfortunately it really did affect my enjoyment of this show by a lot. I sped run the last half. I'm trying to separate those emotions from my review of the show, but I just have to admit that I didn't like it as much as I think I normally would've.

I think the beginning was kind of rough. While I love the premise of a romance between a misunderstood delinquent and a good student who just tries to keep their head down, the amount of random and unprompted kissing in the first few episodes felt a little abrupt and confusing.

Over time, the characters and story definitely grow on you. I think the cinematography is great and the vibes of the show are really warm. The actors have good chemistry and the dialogue is really insightful and thought-provoking, and it's overall pretty well-written, with some really dramatic plot points that somehow manage to never feel over-the-top. The plot unfortunately does fall victim to the break-up and separation trope, and while I don't think it's completely out of left field here, I still didn't love it and I feel like their reunion should've been slower, even knowing that there's limited screentime.

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A JBL Bingo: School Edition

I have created, for your pleasure and displeasure, a bingo card for Japanese school BLs. I wrote these down before I started watching Miseinen (I promise!), and I’m going to see at which episode I yell “Bingo!”. Feel free to play along, and tell me when you win. (For more on the show itself, and my rating, see below.)

Column B:
(Psychology 101)

1. Overbearing mother
2. Absent or abusive father
3. Inability to communicate (except through inner monologues)
4. Panic attacks at the very thought of intimacy
5. Noble idiot

Column I:
(Tropefest)

1. Time jump, usually for trips abroad
2. Trips to the beach
3. Random and wildly inaccurate equations on blackboard
4. Corridor crossings in slow motion
5. Roof-tops, usually fenced-in, against a hilly background: ideal for unrequited confessions
[Bonus point: Bangs for girls, bowlcut for boys, both to make 25 year old actors look like teenagers.]

Column N:
(Love Languages)

1. A wide-eyed "kiss" that reminds you of the girl from The Ring
2. Kabedon, because... door banging is sexy?
3. Free Space
4. Wound tending... preferably with an orange q-tip.
5. Standing in the rain, kissing in the rain, getting cold & fever from the rain... just a lot of rain.

Column G:
(Lines of dialogue)

1. “But we’re both men…”
2. “Kawaii!” or “Kakkoii!”
3. “Ikemen ne.”
4. “Hendayo!" (usually after the first non-kiss)
5. “Suki da.” “Eh?”

Column O:
(War of the Positions)

1. Seme: Nipple-revealing bleach-white shirt. Uke: Buttoned-up black coat.
2. Seme: No real friends. Uke: Really bad friends.
3. Seme: PTSD survivor. Uke: Florence Shitingayle
4. Seme: Rebel with(out) a cause. Uke: Mathlete.
5. Seme: Six feet, tops. Uke: Five feet under.

Verdict:
I'm afraid I have decided to drop the show. A lot of people whom I respect love it: so doubtless the fault is mine. At another time, or perhaps earlier in my BL journey, I might have gushed about it as a teenager would about his or her first love. But now, I see little in it beyond a story I have seen and heard a thousand times before, cobbled together from the same old tired tropes listed above. Which is not to say that it can't be told again, and told anew: the idea of a stuck-up nerd falling for the school bad boy is an inherently exciting premise. Yet here, it felt neither exciting nor subversive. What's more, the show suffers from an excess of JBL's worst tendencies -- and I say this as someone who loves all things Japanese -- such as a general joylessness of tone, a darkness of mood, an emphasis on suffering, and a disdain for levity or charm. (Charm! How rare it is in JBL and KBL!) Two men falling headlong in love -- even if they come from traumatic circumstances -- should feel exhilarating, not exhausting. But by Ep. 5, exhausted is all I felt.

Notes (written down before I quit):
1. Gang, it happened! At the end of Ep. 5, Bingo!!
2. "Infect me!" has to be the sexiest and most romantic thing anyone has ever said in a BL.
3. If my sampling of JBLs is correct, at least a third of all Japanese fathers must be in jail for child abuse.
4. I really wish they would stop casting idols in JBLs and KBLs. They can't all act, and evidently they have a problem with filming intimate scenes. I don't know about you all, but everytime they "kissed", I cringed. They barely opened their mouths, and it never felt natural.
5. "But we're both men." Really? In a show set in 2019? The writers should watch Smells Like Green Spirit.

This review is dedicated to jpny01, the final word and authority on all things BL.

Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: Sweet Bird of Youth
DON'T SAY: The Young and the Restless

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