pup1

Michi's more of a hot mess than the CN sensei.

I agree with your great review. One thing I realised is that Michi was disliked by the school staff, which is why in the first place they put a difficult loner kid, who'd already been expelled from multiple schools, in her home room class, even though she was the most inexperienced teacher. (I guess the staff disliked her both because her high ranking father had been able to use his influence to corruptly get her the job, and because she was young and attractive and maybe appeared a bit careless and spoiled.) And like you, I also noticed the powerful use of symbolism. (I wonder is it even possible for Japanese to escape to "a world of freedom"?) Anyway, what a well-written script.

I know this is two years later, but every time Michi tries to tell the fiance, he runs off or makes an excuse not to listen to her.

Also like you, that attempted rape scene was astonishing to me. But AFAIK in Japanese schools (at least in drama and manga) the teachers themselves are afraid of some of the students and don't do anything about bullying or violence, lest they become victims themselves. I really recommend a fantastic short anime movie called Garden of Words (directed by Makoto Shinkai who made Kimi no Na wa) which is partly about the consequences of this situation.

I read manga and watch anime, as well as Jdorama. Watching this particular drama, I can tell it must have been hugely influential (especially on jousei manga.) I keep thinking "oh that's where the writer (of such and such) got that idea from."

Not the person you were replying to, but thanks! Fixed the aspect ratio.

I'm just watching MnJ now, having watched CN about six months ago. Although I wanted to read your article immediately, I'm going to complete the series first to avoid spoilers. But I was also struck by how comparable these two series are.

Okay I’m currently on episode three of this, and I have to say in particular the flirty library email scene is beautifully done.

Sadly, I’m watching this series in potato quality and in the wrong (too wide) aspect ratio on dramanice, but I’m sticking with it because it’s unusually well written. So far it seems to resemble “Meet Me After School”/"Chugakusei Nikki" in many ways, but I feel this (twenty-years earlier) drama is the superior one.

Also, I’m guessing Majo no Jouken partially inspired one of my favourite manga, “Gokusen”. (Especially, Tackey’s character, Hikaru, who besides being a hottie is aloof, brainy, troubled and a bit violent, looks like he might have been the inspiration for the manga version of Shin Sawada. And the older fiancee, Masaru, physically resembles the manga version of Shinohara.)

Edit: I've just finished the last episode and a couple of plot elements strongly reminded me of that (trainwreck of a) manga Domestic Kanojo.

On a side note, Hikaru’s mother seems a bit too fond of her son, if you get what I mean.

If anyone knows why it’s called “Majo no Jouken”, or the Witch’s Condition, please enlighten me.

He was perfectly cast as Haijin.

Started off good, but then the timeline was all over the place. I never actually understood why the two guys were forced to tour the sticks. Also the movie was a bit boring and saccharine at the end. I always get the feeling that the Japanese entertainment business is owned and controlled by the yakuza or other dark forces, but this lightweight sentimental biopic doesn't reveal any interesting truths. Acting was great. Beat Takeshi's folk song was really nice.

I only know he was fantastic in Drive My Car. Also, allegedly, he is Nino's best friend, which makes me like him even more.

I like your comment. I noticed a lot of same-ey faces in recent j-drama and I also wonder about plastic surgery.

Was there? It was just a hug. It was ambiguous.

At first I assumed they ended up together, because she was still driving his beloved car. But now I agree with the interpretation that he gave her the car (which might represent that he has moved on from the rut he was stuck in and/or that he can no longer drive because of his medical condition.) Apparently, the car has a Korean numberplate in the final part and she is now able to speak Korean, so it looks like she emigrated to Korea. There are multiple signs that she too has been able to move on. Eg. the scar on her cheek has been removed. She's also somewhat more feminine and better groomed. She also doesn't seem to need to smoke. Also, I think, since she appears to have been the same age as his dead daughter, it's neat that he was able to give new life to a different young woman. Also, I think the final scene, with Sonia and Uncle Vanya, kind of represents their emotional situation too. It didn't become a romance, just two people who were able to understand each other and maybe save each other, so the ending is not entirely unhopeful. Edit: the car was left-hand drive, so is a better fit in Korea, where they drive on the right.

dramanice

Why I liked it: 1. the music, including the various soundtracks and the multiple versions of Sayonara Elegy, 2. the gifted acting of, notably, Yamazaki Kento and Suda Masaki, and 3. the last episode has two very funny moments. Why I didn't like it (I don't think this is a spoiler): for a long time I anticipated that grown-up Kouta would turn up somehow. I felt Saiko's childhood backstory was not properly written.

The best part of this drama for me has been the unexpected guest appearance by the cute lead singer of the jpop group Dish (who sings that amazing song Neko).

Ikr. He's like the Portrait of Dorian Grey.

That happened to the German POWs too, didn't it?

But what if the relationship with the teacher is saving the student from committing suicide?

Thanks. Interesting about the smoking censorship in dramas. From memory, in the manga he told her that the age difference between them was "about ten years", but then he received an invitation to his high school reunion and it was the 14th reunion. That's how I figured it out. Also I thought she was about 2 or 3 when her brother abandoned her in the forest. Hopefully the mangaka will confirm Haiba's actual age before the manga ends and we'll know for sure.