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A heartwarming romcom and my all-time favorite for the genre
[EDIT: I have now completed all ten episodes of the show <3)-----
Sometimes, love doesn't need loud, elaborate declarations for it to be felt. Sometimes, it can be felt strongly with just having someone to greet you when you're home, someone to share a meal with, someone to have a casual conversation with over dinner, and someone to sleep beside you. They are all just simple acts that are done in everyday life, but even then the warmth it emits is something you would always treasure. Because no matter how mundane it all is, having someone you love and care for to live such an ordinary life with you is what makes it special. And that is essentially what Nami Urakaka Ni, Meoto Biyori is.
From the very start, Meoto Biyori lived up to its main premise: that it’s a romantic comedy depicting the ordinary life of an arranged marriage couple during pre-war Japan. Nothing more, nothing less. And that made the show so addicting. It was just refreshing to see romantic comedies at its very core, showing a relationship grow from the roots and flourish as time passes with a few awkward moments along the way. In every episode you could see how they grow closer and closer, and there wasn’t any moment of regression. Every heart-fluttering moment, no matter how conventionally tropey some it is, is portrayed so sincerely that it feels giddy yet heartwarming at the same time. To provide a more comprehensive review:
STORY – the show itself doesn’t promise excellent storytelling, which you might expect in acclaimed dramas like First Love. Instead, the story itself leans more to depict ordinary life. And that made it very special. One thing I would like to note is that compared to other arranged marriage dramas, the show never made the arranged marriage the point of the show; only the starting point. Whatever Natsumi and Takimasa did to progress their relationship was due to their actual free will and interest in one another, rather than them thinking that “we’re married now, so we have no choice by to make it work.” They naturally started closing in on the distance without forcing it, and let their affection grow without restricting their feelings from moving to the next level. But then, it's not really all giddiness. Since the story itself is set in pre-war Japan, the story also delves deeper into the couple’s inner anxieties surrounding the tensions that are rising at that time, especially since Takimasa (the husband) is part of the Navy. With this, it brings an extra element of heaviness as we peek through the life of people who lived through that period of uncertainty, of a “peace” that is threatened by an upcoming conflict.
Moreover, I LOVED how they made use of a narrator! Honestly, I dislike doramas with narrators because I think it overemphasizes the fiction behind it all, but for this dorama it worked out very well in adding more depth to the main characters. It adds a lot to the comedy department too!
THE MAIN COUPLE – Individually, I loved that while both Natsumi and Takimasa exhibit characteristics of a conventional dorama FL and ML, they have so much more depth to them than the stereotypical ones so far. Natsumi is naïve and innocent, but also honest, forward, and steadfast. She’s timid, but never passive. Takimasa is stern (though the "coldness" only lasted for one and a half episodes lol), but is also awkward, unintentionally & intentionally expressive, honest, and caring. It is very refreshing to see them provide a new take on personalities we’ve been seeing for years.
As a couple, I personally think that by far, Natsumi and Takimasa is one of the healthiest fictional couples I’ve seen in the world of Asian dramas. Even from when they were still "married strangers", Natsumi and Takimasa have always been concerned and gentle with each other. They exhibit maturity despite their inexperience in relationships in general. They communicate their feelings well, they don’t forcibly cross boundaries, and they choose not to rush things. They even trust each other ENTIRELY, that even in bouts of jealousy they think that “Natsumi/Takimasa is not the type of person to betray me.” They are also very sensitive to each other’s emotional needs and ensures that they are met. Moreover, they even ask for consent when they try to start doing something physical (even if it's just holding hands), which I love. And the moment they became affectionate, they let their feelings flow naturally.
However, what I find most refreshing about Natsumi and Takimasa is that they barely have misunderstandings because they don’t shy away from talking about uncomfortable topics (that other dorama couples would AVOID talking about at all costs, making us all pull our hair out). With the both of them, it was the first time where I didn’t undergo the process of having to convince myself of the love the characters had for one another. Even without words, it was already very obvious.
THE ACTORS – To be honest, I first doubted the chemistry of Yoshine Kyoko and Honda Kyoya when they were first announced as the cast. I’ve watched some of their previous dramas, and I couldn’t imagine how their chemistry would turn out. But Kyoko and Kyoya had an amazing chemistry and they seem to adjust to each other’s frequencies very well. Kyoko would rely on subtle emotional delivery to balance out the (initial) stoicism of Kyoya’s character, and Kyoya would match Kyoko’s level in scenes where Natsumi’s emotions are heightened. As a viewer, I felt SO much emotion even with their glances and hand-holding. They didn’t even need an intense slowed stare-down with a romantic background music for you to feel that “wow, Takimasa and Natsumi are in love.” What I found to be the most heart-fluttering moments were them glancing at each other with no music at all, but it’s obvious from it that all they see is each other. It has so much weight to it.
While both their characters require animated reactions (which JDramas are infamously known for), they never made it feel cringe or awkward. Actually, I found it lovable.
For the actors themselves, even though Yoshine Kyoko is 8 years older than the age of her character, she perfectly encapsulated the innocence and naivety of Natsumi. Her clumsiness wasn’t a bothersome clumsiness, but a cute one. Her portrayal of loneliness over a husband that has to consistently leave their home for work is very convincing and it really sets a serious tone. Honda Kyoya, on the other hand, was a surprise for me. He decided to offer something fresh as Takimasa, showing that he’s capable of more than what he’s normally typecasted as. He did very well in portraying a stern but internally awkward man. And, even from his facial expressions alone, you can see how Takimasa’s walls are crumbling bit by bit as he softens and acknowledges his feelings for Natsumi. Also, since much of Takimasa’s character in the first episodes could only be discerned from his inner thoughts, he did a really good job of “appearing cold,” while his eyes say otherwise. Both of them captured the essence of Natsumi and Takimasa from the manga while also making them their own, and I honestly couldn’t imagine a Natsumi that is not Kyoko, and a Takimasa that is not Kyoya.
THE SIDE CHARACTERS – I’m not even exaggerating. This is the first and only drama where I actually rooted and looked forward to the stories of the side characters. Fumiko and Fukami were very interesting characters, since they were the opposite of Takimasa and Natsumi’s traditional marriage. They were the ones who add discussions over the foundations of marriage. But even then, their chemistry is superb. Hope that Koseki Yuta and Yamamoto Maika would have a separate project in the future!
THE CONS – Of course, there is no perfect JDrama (though this one is nearing it for me). The very prominent con of this dorama is the CGI. It’s literally very meme-able that even Japanese viewers say “this drama is popular, please give it more budget.” Especially in EP 2, wherein there’s a scene where they were under the moonlight; if it wasn’t for Kyoya and Kyoko’s chemistry at “that” scene, I wouldn’t have ignored that ridiculously large moon at the background. Literally laughed so much at one Japanese viewer saying that they could basically see Armstrong with how big that moon was. Also, they occasionally use a “stage play” format for flashbacks. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like it takes away from the weight of that specific flashback and its contribution to the plot, and I wish it could have been presented normally. However, I can see that it was endearing to some. Maybe it’s just personal preference. Lastly, I think it would have worked better if they didn't take up so much time doing flashbacks during the last episode.
Overall, I would honestly very much recommend this drama to anyone who’s interested in watching it, if this is a genre of romance that you’re into. It’s the type of drama that you can come home to after a tiring day, to remind you of how much warmth there is in a gentle love and life. A home you could return to, just as much as Natsumi is to Takimasa, and Takimasa is to Natsumi.
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An uncomfortable student x teacher drama... which is why it's a gem
This was the most uncomfortable dorama that I’ve ever watched with characters that made so many wrong decisions along the way.Which is why it’s my favorite JDrama of all time.
To note, I hate student-teacher dramas with a passion. I hate that it tries to romanticize a very serious issue regarding a relationship between a minor and an adult, and in some cases they try to condone it; saying that the minor is “mature for their age” and the adult “cannot choose who they love.” Chugakusei Nikki absolutely did NOT go that route.
Instead, it presented the relationship as it is in reality: a uncomfortable relationship that shouldn’t happen, and why it shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Here, the characters are portrayed as they would in real life. Hijiri, the teacher, is recognized to be an adult where everyone expects her to have good reason, but she did not. Akira, the student, is presented to be immature, impulsive, and passionate; just like an actual teenager and not that “mature for his age” type of guy. It clearly showed that even though there is an emotional foundation for the development of their feelings, the unequal maturity level between both Hijiri and Akira were the ultimate teller of the downfall of their relationship. The show never once shied away from this fact, and even reinforced it. In the end, [SPOILER ALERT] even both Hijiri and Akira realized this fact, and voluntarily decided to back away. For Hijiri, she realized that she was getting in the way of Akira fully realizing his true potential and dream of the future. For Akira, he realized how much of Hijiri’s life was disrupted and destroyed simply because of their relationship. While they've made a LOT of bad decisions that I would never agree with in real life, finishing the drama left me feeling so empty; I felt pain for the characters, that remained even after hours after watching (like what I felt with the ending of Your Name).
Moreover, the side characters are not one-dimensional, especially Akira’s mother. Despite the occasional use of ominous music as Akira’s mother tries to interfere with the relationship of the leads, the show has made it VERY clear that she only does it out of pure love and concern for her son, rather than just being antagonistic. The poignant moments where she tries to fight for Akira’s future, even at the expense of her own son hating her, was heartbreaking. Because in real life, a mother’s love would always choose their children’s well-being even if it meant that their children would see them as a “bad guy.” I felt particularly empathetic of the mother in one episode, after [SPOILER ALERT] Hijiri has signed a legal document promising to never meet Akira again after her persistence. Instead of bragging this signed document right in front of Akira’s face, she instead chose to calmly relay Hijiri’s choice to Akira. She even explained that Hijiri’s decision to stay out of Akira’s life was made out of love, and encourages Akira to think how he could respond to this act of love. This, for me, made her a very empowered character, and I never thought she was a villain.
Technicalities wise, all the cast exhibited strong performances. In particular, Arimura Kasumi, Yoshida Yoh, and Natsukawa Yui delivered the best performances amongst all the actors. They portrayed the characters with so much sincerity and you can feel their own pains and regrets. Mizukami Koshi, on the other hand, delivered a good performance that it's shocking to know that Chugakusei Nikki is his very first ever acting project. He naturally showed the impulsiveness of being a 15 year old boy (which, tbh required more from him since he was 19 at the time of filming and had the build of a 19 year old too). While there are areas for improvement, he undeniably showed good potential which is why he's named a rising star.
Lastly, the SOUNDTRACK. IT HAS THE BEST SOUNDTRACK AMONGST ALL THE DRAMAS I'VE WATCHED. It contributed SO much to the emotional weight of the story and it matches the tone of each scene well. I still play the soundtrack to this very day, years after the drama ended.
Ultimately, this show was one of the very few gems where you have to be open to watching it, to be able to be comfortable with the discomfort it brings, before you can truly realize how special it really is. At the end of the day, it makes you realize why love is never enough and that sometimes love is in the form of selflessness.
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This is the first time I’ve related strongly to a fictional character
I’m going to preface this review by saying that this movie is probably not for everyone. If you’re starting this out thinking that it’s gonna be a typical romcom, then there may be instances where you’d be weirded out. Or worse, you may even think that it’s boring. You’d probably have to be at a specific point in your life to really feel this movie in your heart.
It just so happened that I was at a specific point in my life when I watched this movie… and it spoke to me so eerily that I felt like the writer just peeked into my life and decided to make a movie out of it.
For the most part, it’s a character driven movie than it is a romcom. At first, they presented Yoshika as an adult that is still heavily caught up on her high school crush. But as the movie progresses, it shows that it’s about Yoshika’s yearning for connection. A connection that she badly desires, but lacks the courage to pursue. Because of it, she just ends up living everyday passing by people she’s dreamed of having a conversation with, and just imagines a world where she was not the way that she is. It presents the loneliness that comes with introversion—not in a straightforward way—but in a creative manner that you might miss it if you’ve never felt that way in your entire life.
Performance-wise, Mayu did not just act to become Yoshika; she BECAME Yoshika. She perfectly encapsulated all her quirks, and seemed to have a firm understanding of her character. The movie itself had a really slow-paced feel to it, which I personally liked. Overall, I give this a solid 10.
(I’ve watched this a long time ago and this is actually my favorite movie of all time, I only became active in MDL recently which is why I only got to review it now.)
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Really good and homey... but might benefit from more episodes
I honestly almost didn't watch it because of the age gap. But after seeing so many good reviews, I caved in and watched it. And honestly? It's such an underrated gem.Personally, I don't think that it's a romance-focused dorama, but shows more the struggles of being a woman in that time period (which is set after WWII in Japan). It shows how a woman, despite her skills, is often doubted and looked down on just because of her gender. Because of this culture being ingrained in the FL (Ichika), even she thought that her dreams must have limits. However, with the encouragement and support (+ a little bit of force) that she got from Amane, she begins to see that she has a place in the culinary world. With this, she begins to inspire other women around her as well.
However, it does have elements of romance. While the age gap did bother me, I can see that both Ichika and Amane went into the marriage fully aware that it is simply out of obligation. Both of them pulled their own weight in the relationship and didn't have power-imbalances that are prominent in age gap relationships. But with time and after seeing each other's strengths and weakness, the romance started to develop. However, I do think that the progression of their relationship wasn't clearly shown well. To an extent I can get how Amane's feelings developed, but with Ichika it was less convincing because she was more dismissive of such feelings (which I get, because she thinks she's hindering Amane from realizing his own future and tries to ignore any developing feelings for Amane's sake). I guess that if it had more eps, they could explore the relationship further.
Production wise, it is SO GOOD.
Would personally recommend!
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