This, is a story of true love
I never knew japanese dramas were this good, until I watched this one. The rawness of the emotions, the storyline, the realistic pacing and events, the acting, THE ACTING, loved how they didn't ruin any character, and the fact that you can understand every character's perspective without blaming them or hating them for their actions, proves just how beautifully written this story is. Let's not even talk about the ost; it clings at your heart in ways you never knew was possible.Loved every second, every minute, every hour of this wonderful experience.
This drama is everything, and more.
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This review may contain spoilers
Woooow, this is the first J-drama I watch after a long time and I have to say it has reached my expectatives. Even though the teacher-student romance thing is kinda edgy, the writers could handle it well and gave the story a realistic ending. I predicted that they would end up together right after he turned 18, but it wasn't the case. I love how she continued to pursue her dream as a teacher and went to work abroad, despite everyone was telling her she ''should just get married''. I also found interesting how Haraguchi being Bi was considered normal to all the characters and there was no issue. Her whole character was actually really cool and I liked her initiative.
Another good thing was that there were no hard feelings between the four main characters, like, between the exes, lovers, and stuff. That's really mature. I like how Hijiri and Akira's moms ended up being supportive of their children by the end of the show. Character development was definitely a 10/10!
Tl;dr. An amusing story with interesting and well developed characters, I recommend everyone to watch it, even if the student-teacher concept looks weird. :)
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about the storyline, I'm actually feel a little bit uncomfortable with teacher X students relationship but thanks god both student and teacher look so young especially the teacher.. i love how this drama try to play the viewer's emotion and feeling.. it's like a roller coaster for me.. but sometimes I'm getting bored in the mid of the drama but its getting better when its come to climax.. i think people should this student X teacher genre one.. it's literally different with others because the teacher is girl maybe (?) so no pedophile vibe at all lmao I'm joking.. please watch it if you are bored hehe
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This review may contain spoilers
Open you heart, and you'll see it has more to offer.
Clarification : First of all, I do like me a good Older FL younger ML love story but of course keep it Legal.Thoughts: Although I do not support it, I can understand it. It was definitely immature of her and him to do such things but the story and writing tackled this situation quite well actually.
This show has much more to it than it says.
The story is surprisingly wholesome and well done, tho I wish some parts were different but it's not my story is it haha.
Overall I'm happy with how it turned out and yes, it was worth my time. Whenever I review something I always think if a show will be worth my time and Chugakusei Nikki certainly was, so do give it a shot!
Story: As mentioned, they tackled it pretty well. I love the wholesomeness of the show and how it can also be very serious when it needs to.
Maybe if they just decided to wait until Akira is 18 and out of high school things would've been different.
I kind of wished to see the main leads relationship more but oh well.
The story of the second leads were developed nicely too, although the second ML was kind of annoying.
Music: I've always liked Japanese songs so I've definitely heard of the singer (Uru) of the main OST.
The music is so good!! Even now I still have it playing in my playlist haha just can't get enough of it!
No complaints on the OST but they did overuse it a little. I wish they had just one other song to fill the gaps instead of repeating it in scenes that were important.
Background music were good, they were subtle but add just enough effect to the scenes.
Casts and Acting:
I LOVE THE CASTS! Arimura Kasumi is just absolutely adorable!
They all did a good job portraying their characters, it didn't forced.
Overview:
Overall it is a wonderful show that will play with your heart. Beautiful shots and beautiful casts too!
Open your heart to it, and give it time.
Don't go in with a decided mind that you're just going to hate.... like why watch it then?
The story definitely has a lot more to offer than what it is so do check it out!
I genuinely enjoyed it and hope this review helps!
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UNEXPECTED LY LOVED IT SM
FORBIDDEN LOVE DONE RIGHTI hesitated after reading the synopsis, i thought i won't be able to complete it because I haven't really liked any age gap sota dramas, shows.. but damn the actors did it so well. They did such an amazing job, at 15 and at 25, at 18 and at 28, at 23 and at 33.. i cried at the last episodes. The chemistry was strong, the love was stronger, the surrounding realistic and the forbidden taboo was crushed. Damnnnnn it was such unexpected love which I have towards this drama. LOVEDD IT
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Forbidden Love, Excruciating Bliss
Story was good. Pain factor was too high for just 3 small parts of good moments. It's almost not worth going through all that trouble. I wish they developed her falling for him more because I don't see at which point it happened but next thing I knew there were confessions. Also wish the story started off in high school rather than middle school as the welling of emotions would make more sense and less creepy that a teacher likes a student. Wish they showed mom's reaction at the end. The ending could have been more heartfelt considering their ordeal. Overall good binge watch, great acting, good chemistry just a few missed points here and there.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I liked it. :) The story dragged a bit since the main plot revolves most of the time around the prevention of the relationship.IMHO they found a good story-balance for this specific topic. It could've been easily the prequel for an R-rated movie, but it wasn't. The topic was clearly the character development of all characters. They did well on that part.
To be more specific: They emphasized on the standpoint of the mother to prevent the relationship over the whole storyline and didn't move an inch apart here. In the end, the mother won and the characters under discussion accepted it.
Yes, in the end, they got each other, but that's okay from the story perspective, since they loved each other. It's better this way, than a suicide ending.
For the other parts:
- the filming was OK and typical for a J-Drama. The image quality and colors are bad. It looks like they used a bigger camcorder to film it. From a visual POV this is a no go, but it's IMHO the charm of J-Dramas as well. Since the focus lies on the story, this is fine.
- At first, I disiked the second female lead, but the character did a 180 ° spin and supported the female lead directly and in a friendly way. I liked that.
- The music was quite good, as expected. In contrary to the visuals, J-Dramas emphasize often on the music to get a mood across to the viewer (or listener). It worked here as well.
Would I rewatch it?
No. I usually don't rewatch many shows and only the best or those I really really _really_ liked. Since the story dragged a bit and most of it revolves around the prohibition of the relationship, I can't say it's "fun" to watch. There are also not many scenes included which make me want to see them again. If it was R-rated - yes, then the rewatch value would increase, but that would be a complete different show. Let's be happy to see normal take on this topic, watch it once and let it be.
8.5/10. Slightly better than good average.
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A love song..
I am not a big fan of JDramas as I usually find the cast quite disappointing in comparison to the beautiful creatures seen in the anime version and the story line very melancholic .But this show and its cast has literally swept me off my feet. It’s not an airy romance - all light and bright. The tone is quite somber but each scene is so precious and is beautifully woven in to the show. Some scenes are reminiscent of the beautiful moments seen in Anime - the rain falling on the grass, on the windscreen, the almost kiss in episode two, etc etc. Simply beautiful.
The heroine is good, doesn’t get on your nerves. The fiancé and his boss are nice. The diamond in the crown would be the hero - he is utterly gorgeous, good specs in comparison to the usual tall lean gangly types, super expressive and so charismatic ... He makes one feel each and every emotions of his. I ALSO fell in love with him :-). Last but not the least, the excellent chemistry between the main leads, the tension... you can almost hear it.
There is nothing in this show that feels untoward or nasty.
Hats off to the director who has captured those tiny moments and emotions between the main leads and made it so special.
I am absolutely looking forward to seeing what happens in the future.
An absolute must watch....
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I like the drama. I really really like it. It's very realistic but also heart breaking and it went in a direction I didn't expect at all.
My sister watched this drama before I did and she was talking about not liking the male lead's acting..but I don't know, I actually like it. :P ? His acting was a wee bit awkward a few times in the first few episodes but I liked it a lot later. Plus I think his awkwardness suited his character.
Hopefully Okada Kenshi will get more drama roles in the future..*-*
I liked how Hijiri's and Akira's characters matured in the span of those 3 years. It made me like them much more. It was wrong of Hijiri to have a thing with a minor while she had a fiance, but I still couldn't help hoping they'd get to be happy together someday. Their love for each other is so pure and honest. *sigh*
Although it's a forbidden love story between an older woman and a younger boy, it wasn't at all creepy or weird. Hijiri didn't get attracted to Akira because he's young. Why she liked him had nothing to do with his age so don't be mistaken and think she's a pedophilie!
And I really like Akira's mother's character. She's exaxtly how a concerned parent would be. Even though Hijiri and Akira were serious about each other, I can understand why she'd want to keep them apart even though it's heartbreaking to watch.
Anyway, overall I loved the drama! Usually I find it a bit awkward to watch older woman/younger man love stories, but this one is really good. Like I said before, it didn't feel weird or creepy at all when watching it. :)
And that theme song suits the drama so well..love it!?
The reason I gave a 5/10 for the watch value is cause I'm not so sure if I can rewatch this again. It's certainly a good drama but not really a cheerful one..
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A resilient love
This series was beautifully shot. From the scenery, locations, photography, acting, to the OST... everything was perfect!Though it is a delicate theme, everything was carefully shown and they respected the fact that one of the main characters was under age. They didn't cross the line.
This J-drama has one of the most beautiful OST's I've ever heard in my entire life. The piano songs played by Akira Kosemura made me emotional and I still listen to them often! I was delighted by the quality of this drama. There's a lot of sadness and pain and beautiful scenes and you see how powerful and resilient love can be. It is perfection!
It surely deserves a higher rating.
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This review may contain spoilers
why they fall in love? story lacks reasons... other that it's great drama
I don't judge it like pedophilia, there are many other teacher/student dramas too.I have problem with reason - why he falls for her or she falls for him. Though this is really good, high quality drama, with amazing edit and cinematography, good acting and every reason to feel for characters, see chemistry, for me it's kind of misses something big/main from the beginning: ML is in love already in first ep, FL has feelings in 3rd ep, so soon we can't understand their reasons:
What he saw soo soon (almost without any interaction/communication), or what she saw while being in love with other and quite happy.
When you are getting married, really like/love your fiance, are happy and always smiling, there should be something really big to change it and start feeling for 15 year old (it's not only about taboo, but common things, understanding, which is more usual with same age people, and if there is big age/social gap there should be some big reasons, strong emotional changes, not only liking same poem, few meetings alone and hear "I love you" from teenager). Plus FL seems quite strong person, not usual naive/childish female from dramas, she knows what she wants, she really likes (I think loves, but I'm used to see in dramas when main lead then "discovers" that "it wasn't real love", because she/he was not main but second lead and real love should only be once in life and for main lead) her BF, so someone like her/in her situation there should be really big things to start changing feelings.
If they didn't rushed with main leads feelings, give them more time and reasons to see each other, feel, understand each other and then start loving, this would be perfect drama.
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I can't stand both protagonist
May be it was me but I really can't watch anymore.Both protagonist are not my type. Really really not my type.
That teacher, what is she doing? Inviting trouble? What kind of teacher? I can't stand her indecisiveness.
Worst is I don't like that guy type, so pushy and annoying. I'm also a guy but I really really like to punch that guy when I see his every action.
And then after 2 episode and I thought ... Oh .... I just need to stop watching this. I'm really annoying every time I saw that guy.
Some may find this drama likeable but not me.
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