Wide ocean

Agree with you. Really loving this. But 6 episodes? Aren't there just 4 released yet?

Please change his dp here. He doesn't seem to look anything like that now.

Chugakusei Nikki was easily the best. The Angst level gave me some sleepless nights.

Great Actress - coming after watching Hirugao. You know it when you don't see the actor but the character.

Same, this one has some very big shoes to fill in. The Japanese version was like outstanding drama in every aspect. I personally don't believe korean or chinese dramas can portray such raw emotions that the japanese do. Mostly the korean ones are more dramatic which makes it less realistic. and the japanese are exactly opposite with the portrayal and hence, everything just hits straight home.(of course this applies to the really good japanese dramas out there, and Hirugao is definitely one of the finest.)

The drama has some really big shoes to fill in considering that the original Japanese version was so superlative in every aspect. That one is like one of the best of the best dramas I have ever seen.

This was like one of the best of the best dramas. I watched it in one day and even posted a review. Ahh the raw emotions.....no one can portray them better than the japanese. When I watch such really good japanese dramas, I wonder where Korean and chinese dramas stand. LIke there is no comparison. The korean remake will have very big shoes to fill in. Probably , this has a rating of 8 due to the subject. But for me this is a 10/10 drama.

This drama is turning out to be amazing, more than what I expected it to be. I was first attracted due to interesting pairing and they don't disappoint. The relationships and interactions and the characters are so realistic and rightfully strike a cord with the audience right from the 1st episode. It is already promising with a different take on time travel.

Han Ji Min- very expressive and nice acting. She makes the female lead likable and endearing in spite of no so perfect circumstances and messed up life. Her character is such a stable one, you can see that she still find strength and inspires others.

Nam Joo Hyuk: wow, he finally got to play a good character after Kim Bok Joo. Personally , I have almost watched all his dramas, but here he is absolutely nailing the role. Full marks on emotions and expressions. His character is very empathetic and the attractiveness of his character lies in the simplicity of it. He is a realistic, and no fuss guy, straight forward and responsible. He has a lot of emotional baggage that is barely keeping him falling apart. His is going to be a journey of establishing stability and realizing dreams through Hye Ja and in turn help her regain the confidence and trust in herself to realize and pursue her dream until the end.

So Ho Joon: is very entertaining as Hye Ja's elder brother. Their relationship is extremely fun to watch. His antics will have you rolling with laughter. His chemistry with everyone is rather crackling.

Lastly, Hye Ja's parents are loving and extremely caring towards their kids. I like the fact, they genuinely come around their children's decision and support them wholeheartedly, this is also the main reason why both the siblings are mentally healthy to face the troubles in their lives head on rather than wallowing in sorrow when faced with atrocities.

Chemistry between Han Ji Min and Nam Joo Hyuk : is beautiful. The glint in her eyes, his shy under wrapped smile are spell binding. The simple and even the complicated conservations between these two are very easy to watch and get swayed in the mood. They have a definite attraction right from the time of first laying eyes on each other but their will be a slow , all engulfing romance unfolding between them as we explore the layers of each of their characters.

Really , looking forward to how their story unfolds.

Ahhh....i see your point now. Sorry i misinterpreted it.

Except there is no 日 in 聖, although it might seem otherwise. In 聖 , one of the radicals is 耳 which means 'ear'or 'mimi' in japanese and not the 日 which is day/sun kanji and radical.

Best Japanese Drama of 2018: Chugakusei Nikki

Best Screenwriter (and for which show?)
Kaneko Arisa - Chugakusei Nikki

Best Director(and for which show?)
Tsukahara Ayuko, Toshio Tsuboi - Chugakusei Nikki

Best Romance Drama: Chugakusei Nikki

Best Action/Thriller/Suspense Drama: Signal

Best Manga/Anime Adaptation: Chugakusei Nikki

Best Japanese Actor(and for which role?):
Okada Kenshi (Kuroiwa Akira - Chugakusei Nikki)
Sakaguchi Kentaro (Saegusa Kento - Signal)

Best Japanese Supporting Actress(and for which role?):
Natsukawa Yui (Kuroiwa Aiko - Chugakusei Nikki)
Yoshida You (Haraguchi Ritsu - Chugakusei Nikki)

Best Up and Coming Actor of 2018(and for which role?):
Okada Kenshi (Kuroiwa Akira - Chugakusei Nikki)

Best Couple:
Okada Kenshi (Kuroiwa Akira) X Arimura Kazumi (Suenaga Hijiri)

Best OST:
Prologue - Uru ( Chugakusei Nikki)
Lemon - Kenshi Yonezu ( Unnatural)

Cried a river all through the last episode and even half an hour after completing it. Having finally watched the last episode , and the only episode I didn't see on the day it aired - obviously I read the spoilers and even saw the last scene on instagram. There was no way I would have been able to sustain without knowing the ending. It would have messed me up so badly.

In the end , I just have to say what a beautiful journey this drama made me experience. The height of emotions in the last episode had me crying profusely and it kept reminding me of the article I read about how the director wanted to make a love story that would make you cry. Well, it made me beg desperately for 'their'love to have a fitting conclusion and fight against all odds in life. I really liked how the director stuck with the main aim of the story, it was all about their personal development through their love- A love that makes you grow and want to be a better person in life. I have loved Akira's character throughout and after the concluding episode , his character has become a personal favourite of mine. His persistence and pureness remains imprinted on my heart. If there was any character that I believed could move mountains to make things happen and become "Rippa na Otoko" - Splendid/Worthy Man , it was Akira Kuroiwa and Okada Kenshi (of course) for the real life.

I do think I will keep coming back to this page over the years to feel the nostalgic emotions and be sprinkled upon by the droplets of a wonderful memory that will last you a lifetime. The future for me holds a lot of reviews of this drama and blogs to commemorate it's .....well 'everything' to be honest.

Amazing article rdturbo. You have described all the pieces so beautifully. I felt exactly the same things you talked about. This show has definitely moved mountains inside me and made me fall in love with the language all over again after years. Since I am now pursuing Japanese professionally, it really began with me searching for a decent jdrama back in Oct instead of kdrama to improve my listening skills for the upcoming JLPT exam in December. I had such a bad streak with jdramas that I hadn't managed to finish any up till Chugakusei nikki. One fateful night in Oct, I just discovered some clips from this drama in my recommendations on Youtube. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful looking couple. And I watched the first 2 episodes that night itself in spite of having to leave for work early next morning. My life has never been the same since then.

Watching degraded modulated raws patiently on youtube the day the episode released. Downloading the same in a better quality the next morning and watching the episodes again. (Eventually graduating to live streams for the later episodes- all thanks to the excessive fan following on MDL.) Then going through various emotions the entire week and watching the episodes a number of times to analyse the subtle body language and feelings of the main characters. Sometimes, I had to blog and write extensively to vent out all the intense emotions that I went through. I was suddenly also scoring really well in my listening tests.

I have also never before this commented about a drama on any forum and once I started with this, there was just never going back. This will remain my most favorite romantic drama till date and a very hard contender to beat (a real role model for all the future romantic dramas). This heart wrenching yet beautifully fulfilling journey with Chugakusei Nikki has been the closest to me and realism alike and will forever be cherished by me.

This is one crazy good drama. Absolutely incredible up till now. No wonder the writer is the one who wrote W as well.

Loved the way you put that :) He will surely become extremely successful. This drama taught me that I can also find a 19 year old crazy attractive and uncontrollably fond even if I am well into my 20s :):):)

Or

Akira's mom does go to police while Hijiri and Akira are on Yamae island. And she possibly projects him as a minor then. We all know she goes crazy with worry. But I believe in that case the misunderstanding can be sorted easily now that he is back and already 18. Also, I did think that Aiko-san doesn't hate Hijiri as much after she came out clean with her feelings. So she can take back her claims now. And Akira hasn't given up on university either. That kind of explains why Akira looks so disappointed with his mother in the preview.

True...I echo your thoughts. She is a good actress but then he does outshine everyone else to be honest. He just happens to be that good.

I guarantee their kisses are not ordinary at all in terms of feels. They are just very realistic and beautiful.

I wished for more though...not complaining...but still....:P

wait does Akira's mom forge papers and make it look like Akira is still a minor...but in that case wouldn't Akira's dad be able to defend Hijiri. All the more reason why Hijiri should accompany Akira to his father's place if he is projected as a minor.

Or

Akira's mom does go to police while Hijiri and Akira are on Yamae island. And she possibly projects him as a minor then. We all know she goes crazy with worry. But I believe in that case it can be sorted easily now that he is back and already 18. Also, I did think that Aiko-san doesn't hate Hijiri as much after she came out clean with her feelings.