kind of get what you're saying. i liked seeing them happy at the end, and i think it was a bit "different" and…
I do agree the ending is a bit rushed and could have used another 30 minutes or even a full episode. Also, considering this is from the writer who adapted the atrocious Koi wa Tsuzuku yo doko made mo, it's an improvement to see female characters who are not as weak-minded even if they still had to get the traditional happy ending with a partner. I confess I'd have preferred Kouko-san to be happy with her divorced status and not have some pseudo-reconciliation with her ex-husband, or if there was a romance to be had, at least start it with Shachi.
Perhaps Shun and Kurumi's story did get a bit of elaboration? in the spin-off about her two co-workers, but I didn't watch that one.
kind of get what you're saying. i liked seeing them happy at the end, and i think it was a bit "different" and…
A little late, but just to say the official twitter page of the drama uploaded a photo of Shun and Kurumi with their wedding rings, with a caption essentially saying: 5 years later Shun still travels around the country with his kitchen car. Kurumi still lives in Tokyo running her online shop, going around finding beautiful things to share with people. Sometimes she goes to help Shun in his kitchen car. They are being themselves and live as they like. That's the kind of couple they are.
Also, from what we have known of Shun throughout the drama, he would never make Kurumi just stay home and take care of the kids - he's always been a big advocate of her doing what she wants to do, and marriage does not make it any different. Kurumi isn't the sort to just take a backseat either, so I don't think we need to worry on that score :)
I'm just here to thank the dorama gods for FINALLY casting Suzuki Ryohei as a ML in a good rom-com drama. Thank…
This! Omg, I'm really pleased he's finally led a rom-com and he had great chemistry with Yoshioka Riho. I was grinning so hard watching them, love their scenes!
I wished Kurumi ended up with the president and I had my hopes up specially at the final episode. The way she…
Shachi didn't even realise he liked Kurumi until Kouko-san nudged him about it, and to be honest, if that hadn't happened, I don't think Shachi would have even thought about Kurumi that way. For Shachi, I think he prioritises work above everything else, and as he admitted to Shun, he has thrown away a lot to get to where he is. I think it's great that Shachi is a mentor to Kurumi professionally, and she looks up to him and goes to him for advice, but I think Kurumi stopped liking him that way once she was sure about her feelings for Shun - in fact, she was pretty annoyed when Shun encouraged Shachi to stay on in the sharehouse. All of Kurumi's actions in the latter half of the drama showed she thought about Shun in whatever she did.
I dunno about Shachi being there for Kurumi. Not only did he ditch her on the day of the hanami viewing, he basically did not contact her until she bumped into him on the streets. He didn't even message her about sending the packages. He also never told her he was leaving again for Turkey and she had to find out from Iwakiri. In all the times that Shachi wasn't around, Shun was there for Kurumi. Shun tried to improve himself for Kurumi, but I don't think Shachi is ready for that kind of commitment.
I do like Shachi as a character and Mukai Osamu was very charming, but I don't think he's the best fit for Kurumi.
It's so nice to see a Japanese drama being featured! Thanks for writing this, happy to see Renai Mangaka get a bit of the limelight. I am loving Suzuki Ryohei in a rare rom-com lead role, and he's been great. I really enjoy his chemistry with Yoshioka Riho and they look so cute together!
A very beautiful series that was relatable & heartwarming from start to finish. I’m probably in the minority,…
I wasn't a fan of what they did with Shachi but agreed it was fairly well handled on the whole. I would have preferred he just guided Kurumi professionally (more on him teaching her how to be a successful buyer would have been nice), but didn't think it was necessary to make him a rival to Shun. If there was a romance to be had, I would have wanted Shachi to have a go with Kouko-san (that bit where she offered to do up his tie for him was aww), but too bad they made her ex-husband appear.
If you liked Yokohama Ryusei in Watadou, I recommend watching him in Kikazaru Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte. He's pretty lovable there and has good chemistry with Kawaguchi Haruna. The theme song is pretty solid too.
This is my first Taiga Dorama I've been watching right from the start, and I really, really like it. It's fun…
Part of it is budget, or the lack of. People see what an expensive budget can do when they watch Alice in Borderland on Netflix, but that's very rarely how most jdrama productions operate, and then people get disappointed when they realise it, lol. Also, I actually like the less shiny, more realistic aspects - if something is supposed to be run-down and poor, I expect it to look and feel so, and I think jdramas are excellent at recreating that realism, that slice of life feel.
NHK does the taiga and most historicals, so there is some budget. As mentioned, Kirin ga kuru is shot in 4K, and the Seirei no Moribito series is well executed. WOWOW productions are also of high quality. For me, I confess I don't always pay attention to how pretty a drama looks (or should look) unless someone points it out.
This is my first Taiga Dorama I've been watching right from the start, and I really, really like it. It's fun…
I guess I'm just tired of people who haven't seen (enough) jdramas come in and say things look low budget or cheap.
If aesthetics stop you from appreciating story content, my suggestion is to look elsewhere where things are shinier and prettier. J-dramas are never going to look super polished and glossy, but they do offer good content for people willing to look past this aspect.
That said, if you do want to try something, I suggest Seirei no Moribito instead of a taiga. It's a historical fantasy series with three seasons (4, 9, 9 episodes, respectively).
I see they will undertake a different approach on the original material compared to the 2007 version. The thing…
I was not particularly impressed by Kimura in the 2007 version, so I'm interested to see what Mukai can do. That said, I agree Nakai doesn't quite have the imposing presence of Kitaoji, and Uchida doesn't exude the sort of aura that is so natural to Suzuki.
I thought Yamamoto Koji was excellent as Ginpei. Fujigaya should be banned from acting ever - have they run out of competent actors in his age group?! The ladies are not particularly impressive to me either, but maybe they will surprise. I think Kaname Jun will be fine as Mima, but I loved Nakamura Toru in that role.
Perhaps Shun and Kurumi's story did get a bit of elaboration? in the spin-off about her two co-workers, but I didn't watch that one.
5 years later
Shun still travels around the country with his kitchen car.
Kurumi still lives in Tokyo running her online shop, going around finding beautiful things to share with people.
Sometimes she goes to help Shun in his kitchen car.
They are being themselves and live as they like.
That's the kind of couple they are.
Also, from what we have known of Shun throughout the drama, he would never make Kurumi just stay home and take care of the kids - he's always been a big advocate of her doing what she wants to do, and marriage does not make it any different. Kurumi isn't the sort to just take a backseat either, so I don't think we need to worry on that score :)
I dunno about Shachi being there for Kurumi. Not only did he ditch her on the day of the hanami viewing, he basically did not contact her until she bumped into him on the streets. He didn't even message her about sending the packages. He also never told her he was leaving again for Turkey and she had to find out from Iwakiri. In all the times that Shachi wasn't around, Shun was there for Kurumi. Shun tried to improve himself for Kurumi, but I don't think Shachi is ready for that kind of commitment.
I do like Shachi as a character and Mukai Osamu was very charming, but I don't think he's the best fit for Kurumi.
And ended up dropping Seiten wo Tsuke https://twitter.com/ECOTVSubs/status/1363768458295472129
NHK does the taiga and most historicals, so there is some budget. As mentioned, Kirin ga kuru is shot in 4K, and the Seirei no Moribito series is well executed. WOWOW productions are also of high quality. For me, I confess I don't always pay attention to how pretty a drama looks (or should look) unless someone points it out.
If aesthetics stop you from appreciating story content, my suggestion is to look elsewhere where things are shinier and prettier. J-dramas are never going to look super polished and glossy, but they do offer good content for people willing to look past this aspect.
That said, if you do want to try something, I suggest Seirei no Moribito instead of a taiga. It's a historical fantasy series with three seasons (4, 9, 9 episodes, respectively).
I thought Yamamoto Koji was excellent as Ginpei. Fujigaya should be banned from acting ever - have they run out of competent actors in his age group?! The ladies are not particularly impressive to me either, but maybe they will surprise. I think Kaname Jun will be fine as Mima, but I loved Nakamura Toru in that role.
Are you sure you watched Alice in Borderland? It's not that deep.