(Impression) Hajimete Koi o Shita Hi niYomuHanashi (A Story To Read When You First Fall in Love)

Director: Ryosuke Fukuda

Network: TBS

Writer: Aki Mochida (manga), Tomoko Yoshizawa

Episodes:

Release date: January, 15, 2019-

Genre: romance, drama, school, comedy

Running time: 56 minutes

Konnichiwa, minna-san

So, how was your weekend? Or your Chinese New Year celebration? Did you have fun with your loved ones? If you’re still stuck with work, work and work, it’s better for you to have a break. While enjoying your break time, here is another impression of mine of ongoing dorama I’m currently watching.

Based on a manga series with the same title by Aki Mochida released in November 16, 2016 by Shueisha, the drama started in January 15, 2019. From the trailer, I think everyone knows that this drama has drama genre that includes comedy. And that’s true! If you are looking for fun watching, this is the one. 

As I already wrote here, this drama is about a woman aged 32 who is not married and doesn’t perform well in her work. So, I’d like to discuss some of characters here.

Kyoko Fukada as Junko Harumi

Junko Harumi is a teacher in a cram school. Recently, she doesn’t have stable students. She lost some of students in the middle of her teaching. Some of them moved to another teacher in her institution. It shows that she doesn’t perform well in her work. It is not really clear what’s wrong with her. Is it her way of teaching or other things? Junko is not good at love relationship, either. In her 32 years old, she’s not dating anyone or even has someone prospective to be her spouse. It makes her mother nagging a lot. Her other might be disappointed of her since she failed in Todai university entrance. She believes that Todai graduates can have brighter future. 

I know Kyoko Fukada since I watched her in one of her dramas Dame naWatashi ni Koishite Kudasai (Please Love Me). I think the idea is almost similar, someone who is over 30 yearning for love and doesn’t have proper job. Her comical expression is exactly the same. Similar to her drama entitle Second Love, a teacher who doesn’t have a boyfriend and she’s about 30 years old. What’s wrong with her choice of role actually? Is it because she was born in 1982 and she’s not married and she’s good at portraying this kind of role? Somehow, I still enjoy this drama, though. She’s hilarious as always 😄😄😄

 

Harumi sensei, a hot teacher in a cram school

 

Kento Nagayama as Masashi Yakumo

Masashi might be the most loyal friend who has been in love with Junko for 20 years. WHAAATTT!!!??? As a cousin, he has known Junko for almost all his life. But the feeling might have grown when they were in high school. He is the right model of a son for Junko’s parents, since he succeeded to study in Todai University and has amazing performance in his work. He can be the right candidate for Junko’s husband. The problem is whether Junko and her parents realize his existence or not. 

Frankly speaking, I haven’t watched a lot of movies of Kento Nagayama. When I checked his filmography, I only know one drama of him and he was not the lead character there, Atashinchi no Danshi. So, I can’t comment a lot about him. But, in this love square relationship, not triangle :D, I would go to team Masashi. Yeay….!!!

He has been in love with his cousin for 20 years!

Ryusei Yokohama as Kyohei Yuri

He is a disorderly high school student who wants to go to Todai University just to show off to his father that he can do it. Before he encountered Junko, he is just a rebel who neglects everything his father asks him to. He goes to a high school with bad reputation. But as soon as he comes across Junko, who suddenly stands up for him, his heart melts. Awww, sweet… from then on, he starts to have feeling to Junko. Well, I don’t think that this is going to be another student-teacher love relationship. After Chuugakusei Nikki, I cannot afford another student-teacher drama for this time. 

Frankly speaking, I’ve seen Ryusei Yokohama in a looottt in drama and movies recently that I start to get bored.  Hahaha… When I checked his filmography, I saw Wolf Girl and Black Prince. I watched the movie, but I think I missed his existence there. Lol. My focus at that time might be only for Kento Yamazaki. But, after I watched him in Honey, then I watched a lot of movies/ drama with him in those: Ani Tomo, Rainbow Days, Kareshi wo Ron de Kaimashita (I Bought a Boyfriend with a Loan), and his upcoming movie L-DK and Cheer Boys. Well, even though I start to get bored, I’m looking forward to his new movies. Who can abandon an ikemen like him? Lol. 

The pink head guy is in love with his cram school teacher

Tomoya Nakamura as Kazuma Yamashita

Who would have thought Yamashita could b e a teacher in a high school? When he was in high school, he barely made it to graduate. Thanks to Junko who persistently taught him. He was such a rebel that Junko got a great enthusiasm to make him better. Who knows what happened to them both after they graduate. Did they go on dating or not? The story continues…

I start to notice Tomoya Nakamura after he played in Hotel on The Brink, and after that I saw him in Hanbun, Aoi. I just wonder why it seems he never gets the male lead character for all this time. He’s cute and has good acting, but I think he is best if he plays antagonist. Lol. 

An ex rebel turned to be a sensei.

Yumi Adachi as Miwa Matsuoka

She’s Junko’s best friend since high school. She knows a lot about Junko and tries to match make Junko with  Masashi. Her straight forward character is both loveable and unique that she can gather Yuri’s gang to dine out. She’s the first to know that Junko might be surrounded by ikemens she never thought before. 

To be honest, I think I’ve never seen her movie/ drama so far. I checked her filmography, I only found I’’s Project that I know of, but after watching it around 2 episodes, I gave up watching. Lol. 

Junko and Masashi match maker. Will she succeed?

Ai Yoshikawa as Mika Etou

She might be a representative of a female teenager who has troubles with herself. She has free lifestyle including having sex with her teacher. She looks tough but deep inside she’s just as fragile as ceramics. Mika and Yuri meet each other in a dating group for high school (I wonder with high schoolers in Japan who seem to be left out if they don’t have a lover. Why don’t they just focus on studying and friends?). from the day they meet each other, Mika sets her heart to Yuri. But, she’s the first one to realize Yuri’s feeling to Junko. Awwww… it’s painful, baby…

Ai Yoshikawa used to have Riko Yoshida as her name. But, she changed her name later. As an actress, she played in many dramas and some movies. I watched her in Nijiiro Days (Rainbow Days) playing as a shy. But in this drama, she’s aggressive and very outspoken. I think she has a gift to play in many different roles. 

A passive blamer. Watch out for this one 😄

So, interested to give it a try to watch the drama? Well, the storyline seems to be typical for josei dramas. But, among some ongoing dramas I’m currently watching, this is the lightest and the most fun. 

A Love Square relationship. Who will get the lady? 😅

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