(Jdrama Recommendation) Promise Cinderella

 

Romaji: Puromisu Shinderera

Native title: プロミス・シンデレラ

Director: Shisuke Murakami, Junichi Tsuzuki

Writer: Oreco Tachibana (webcomic), Kazunao Furuya

Episodes: 10

Release Date: July 13 2021 - September

Network: TBS

Runtime: 47 minutes

Casts:

Fumi Nikaido – Hayame Katsuragi

Gordon Maeda – Issei Takaoka

Takanowi Iwata – Seigo Takaoka

Rena Matsui – Kikuno

Kanna Moriya – Nozomi Chiba

Yoshiko Mita – Etsuko Kataoka

Nobuaki Kaneko – Koya Kurose

Kai Inowaki – Masahiro Imai

Who loves Cinderella story? A poor woman meeting a rich man, falling in love, getting married, and happily ever after?

Well, I somewhat dislike that kind of typical story. Is love only about virtue (from Cinderella) who is trying to get away from her step sisters and wealth from the prince. Thanks God. The story of the drama is far from the typical Cinderella story. 

Hayame Katsuragi never thought that her married life would end abruptly as soon as her husband confessed that he loved another woman and wanted to marry her. Then, he wanted to be free from Hayame. Being furious, Hayame packed herself and got out of the house, heading nowhere. Then she realized that she didn’t have any family relative nor friends that she could rely on. On her own, she resided herself somewhere in a park. There, she saw a group of high school students bullying someone. Seeing this, Hayame felt like she wanted to express her anger towards her husband, but this time, those rascals were her targets.

But, fate says different thing. This encounter brought her to another life she never imagined.

One of the rascals, Issei Takaoka, picked her up in the park, bringing her to his elegant big house. Apparently, Issei was the grandson of a popular elegant ryokan named Kataoka. What on earth he would bring Hayame to his house? He seemed to be bored of bullying his school friend, and this time he was eager to make Hayame as his target of his crazy childish games.

Another unexpected encounter happened to Hayame when she started working in the Kataoka ryokan. The vice president there, Seigo Kataoka, Issei’s older brother, was someone she knew from her high school, and happened to be her first love. Or I can say, Hayame and Seigo experienced eath other’s first love, ten years ago.

Well, who would be the prince here? Issei or Seigo Kataoka?

Spoiler alert!!!!

Well, I’d like to discuss a little about the characters and the casts. I told you that there would be some spoilers here. I’m warning you. 😊😃

Fumi Nikaido as Hayame Katsuragi

The non typical Cinderella

Have you been bored of having watched too many awkward clumsy heroines in dramas? This is not a quite typical heroine in a romance drama. Hayame grew up in a discordant family. After her mother passed away, she lived together with her violent father. She had to meet her needs on her own. In her depression, she met Masahiro Imai, her cheating husband. She got married to Masahiro and got cheated. Her bitter past experience shaped her the way she was today. She had to think twice when deciding things.

Her encounter with Issei never crossed her mind that she would never imagine. His crazy weird games towards Hayame only made them grow closer and love sparked between them.

Fumi Nikaido played Hayame’s role absolutely well. I can say that she nailed the character. As cinderella, someone doesn’t have to get long hair, elegant performance like a princess. On the other hand, Hayame was portrayed as someone mature, firm, straight forward and just. When someone didn’t like her, she would gladly take her criticism. I don’t really remember all the characters Fumi Nikaido played in her previous dramas/ movies. I remember watching one old shoujo manga live action entitled Wolf Girl  and Black Prince with Yamazaki Kento as the annoying male lead. Another movie by Nikaido I watched is Somebody (ssssttt... watching that slow paced movie for the sake of the male lead, Satoh Takeru. LOL) I can say that her acting is superb, especially as Hayame, she’s strong at the same time a bit fragile inside. Her feelings towards Issei reminds of Chuugakusei Nikki, a female teacher – student relationship. Many comments said that Issei is under age for Hayame with 10 years different age. For me, I don’t care about the age gap as long as they have the same feeling to each other.

Episode 9 just aired when I’m writing this blog. Just wait and see.

Hug me in front of the guest, and win the prize. 😀

Maeda Gordon as Issei Takaoka

The 17 year-old prince for Cinderella

I’m sure every one would love his adorable character. At first, he looked childish, annoying with his bullying habit and his thought of he himself. Bringing Hayame to his house, at first, was to entertain him. But, he grew more mature as time he spent time together with Hayame. Her bitter past might make him think that there’s another kind of life out there, outside his house. 

As far as I remember, I don’t really pay attention to Gordon Maeda when he played roles in some dramas or movies. Well, maybe it’s because his minor role that I couldn’t really pay attention to him. After checking his drama, I just realized that I just finished watching one of his drama entitled Renai Mangaka. His role there was somewhat invisible for me. Gomenne, Gordon. You’re hot there, too.

Well, if you have objection of seeing minor dating senior, perhaps you wouldn’t ship Hayame-Issei. And you’re not alone. However, looking at how his character development you might have different opinion.

Say that to my face! #jealousy mode on

Takanori Iwata as Seigo Kataoka

Cinderella's first love 10 years ago

He should have been Hayame’s prince, 10 years ago, when Issei was too young to understand about falling in love. Lol. Unfortunately, the fate put his Cinderella away from him. Until one day, they met each other. Seigo seemed to keep his feeling to Hayame for whole 10 years. But, what about Hayame?

Iwata Takanori played Seigo character well. I once considered him as an ikemen, though. Well, he IS AN IKEMEN. But Japan has bunch of ikemens that I can’t put him as my top priority. 😊

At first, audience who opposed minor dating senior would ship Hayame-Seigo. As time went by, you can see that Seigo was different from his brother. Some comments said that rude things about Seigo, but others thought that he might have some burdens with Kataoka ryokan in his hand. Dealing with business, clients, staff, and above all, his feeling to Hayame were too much for him. On the other hand, Issei didn’t have any responsibility as much as his brother. I don’t know how the two of them who kept their dispute for years would end up. 

Rena Matsui as Kikuno

The snake woman, Issei called her

And here she is, the shrew! Cinderella story would not be complete without a villain. Kikuno happened to observe Hayame-Seigo relationship ten years ago. I thought, the reason to hate Hayame that much that she wanted to hurt her deeply was not explained well. Hmmm... I know there are some villains who want to destroy people’s happiness without having any reason. It’s thrillling when they got what they want. 

Rena Matsui played her role definitely well. As far as I remember, I’ve never seen her in any drama or movie. But when I checked her drama and movie list in mydramalist,  I think I watched some of her movies/ dramas she was in. However, none of them cast her as main role. Even when she got the main role, the drama didn't catch my watch radar. Gomenne, Matsui-san. But I can say that she played her villain character really well. With her cunning look, calm sneaky way of talking, she could turn Seigo under her spell. She was really full of herself. Issei was her next target. Oh NO!

Yoshiko Mita as Etsuko Kataoka 

The supporting grandma with her loyal assistant

The first time she saw Hayame, I don't why I got a feeling that Etsuko san fell for her. She put high expectation on Hayame to make any changes in her family. Seigo and Issei never talked to each other after their mother left when Issei was 7 years old. Issei turned to be ignorant to anything that happened in his house, especially to ryokan. Seeing Hayame’s characters that soon changed Issei into someone better, Etsuko must be the happiest grandmother in the world.

Something a bit off was actually when the rumor spread in ryokan said that Hayame was the perfect bride for Seigo. Etsuko san seemed to easily casually approve. She just got to know Hayame for a few days (hours?), and even offered her to work in her legendary ryokan, and now she approved if Hayame married Seigo. Well, Etsuko was created to be an angel for Hayame that would bring happiness for her.

One more thing, Etsuko found out that Issei fell in love with Hayame but seemed that she didn't mind, either. She didn't put any favor to her grandchildren. She might approve if Hayame wanted both Seigo and Issei. Lol.

Kaneko Nobuaki as Kurose Koya 

 

He gladly shipped himself with Cinderella. Lol

He was the cheerleader in Issei-Hayame relationship. He kind of able to read the situation well. He cheered, supported, and gave advice to Issei. That's what a friend is for, right?

Kaneko Nobuaki always gives me negative feeling in every role he had. I watched him in Gakko no Kaidan, Buzzer Beat and Alice in Borderland.  All of them cast him as a villain, if not, as someone in gray area. The first time I saw him in this drama, I thought that I would see him in a different annoying role. Thanks to the writer, he's nice. Such a versatile actor he is.

Kanna Moriya as Chiba Nozomi

The haters with their piercing look

Who likes gossiping in your office? That's the type of person she was. From the beginning of Hayame’s recruitment in the ryokan, she's the one who showed jealousy, disapproval of her hiring, and the unfriendly way of talking to Hayame, it’s clear that she hated Hayame. The reason was really obvious,  though, she wanted to be the Cinderella for Seigo. The gossip stated that Hayame would be Seigo's bride was quite reasonable, Etsuko san, the grand matron of Kataoka ryokan, personally hired Hayame, even without Seigo's consent (well, in this case, I felt something a bit off. The recruitment in Kataoka ryokan can be from the owner without the vice president knowing). Well, Etsuko san’s position was higher than Seigo, however, well..... I still enjoy this, by the way).

I like Nozomi's character here, even though at first she was like an annoying brat that used her seniority to push Hayame to do this and that. But, she's fair at the end. She wasn't that bad after all.

Kai Inowaki as Masahiro Imai

The lame look guy, Issei called him

He's the second reason why Hayame finally met her potential Prince, after Kikuno of course.  Masahiro was Hayame’s husband who found someone else to marry. He's somewhat a good person if Kikuno didn't manipulate him. Masahiro-Hayame could have a happy marriage if only Kikuno didn't exist. If so, we wouldn’t enjoy the Promise Cinderella drama. Lol.

My first encounter with Kai Inowaki was when he was a part of Gibo to Musume No Blues (Stepmother and Daughter's Blues). He played as Kuroda Hiroki, the Daughter’s potential boyfriend. Since then, I could recognize him anywhere he is in drama/ movies. Recently, I watched him in Given drama, a musical live action from anime. He played drum there. He's cool!

The drama is ending soon. I expected that Issei would be together with Hayame,  and they officially dating after Issei is mature enough to date someone 10 years older. But, from the preview, it seems that the drama would end with Hayame confessed her feeling to Issei. And they would be happy together. I cannot figure what would happen to Kikuno. Would she finally give up her match-making for Seigo-Hayame, now that we know about her initial intention.

A friend of mine expected this drama to have more episodes, however for me, I think it’s enough to see a happy ending for the couple, the brother's better relationship, the future of the ryokan, and the acceptance of each character there. If I got all those wrapped up at the end of the drama, I would be relieved.

Well, I can say that Promise Cinderella would be my number one drama I love this year.  I thought it would be Date My Daughter (Uchi no Musume wa, Kareshi ga Dekinai).  But, I can change my favorite, right? 

Looking forward to seeing more non typical heroine, drama this year. 

Jaa, mata ne...

Bonus 😀

The trailer 

Lisa, the queen singing the soundtrack

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