First Love: Hatsukoi (2022)

One of the best romance dramas out there

It has been so long since I found a drama that can make me feel things like this one. Everything was so beautiful. The acting was so on point that it didn't even feel like acting at all.
The chemistry was top notch. I loved seeing how life changed the female and male lead, the flashbacks, the sweetness of youth, the hardships of being an adult. Overall there wasn't any super annoying characters that you can find in romance dramas which kept the experience super pleasant (just one character who was super annoying at times).
Don't even get me started with the musicn because it suited so much the drama !
Litterally this drama is a gem... It teaches us so many lessons on how one should lead life and how to get up when everything scrumbles.
A must watch for sure.
But personally I think we can't experience the same feelings when watching it the first time (without knowing what will happen at the end), but I am sure that it a a must rewatch to see the subtle things that we missed when we saw it first.

Read More

Fate can be a powerful thing

First Love is what the kids these days might describe as “a vibe”. The nine episodes Netflix series is based on two songs by Hikaru Utada– “First Love” and “Hatsukoi. First Love delivers those feelings of giddy young love, of painful separation, long absences, and sudden reconciliations in spades. It’s at least a couple of episodes too long, but it’s impressive in its construction, visuals, performances, and emotional power.

This series spans over 20 years and tells the story of Yae Noguchi and Harumichi Namiki, two highschool students who fell in love in the 90s, but are then separated due to unusual circumstances. As a kid who was born in the 90s, it especially hits closer due to the flashbacks of the 90s era and how love used to happen in those times. A very good series under Netflix, First Love will feel like a slideshow presentation of young love, how it blooms and bundles of emotions that becomes a part of it.

My Rating : 8/10

Read More

Follow Your Heart And Fulfill Your Dreams!

Following your heart may sound like a very simple thing. And yet, why do so many people end up letting others tell them what to do and what their dreams should be? Why do so many people end up choosing the “safer” path which only leads to unhappiness and unfulfillment because that path has nothing to do with their dreams?

Kobe Bryant once said, “If you’re not following your passion and doing what you want to do, then why are you doing it? I love waking up excited because I’m doing what I love.” He’s got a valid point, and it’s a question that most people should be asking themselves.

This is a sweet series about two high school students who fall in love. However, the series traces their lives from the past as well as the present to see how their choices ultimately end up affecting both of their lives. It also allows us to see how making choices that are not in line with their passions and dreams leaves them sidetracked and living a life filled with regrets

Yae Noguchi is a young woman who is bright and is always looking to push the boundaries of her life. She has big dreams of outer space and traveling. She also finds that the love of her life, Namiki Harumichi is a big part of her life. However, after being struck by a car, Yae loses all memories of the past few years, which includes Harumichi. Yae also has a drunk and controlling mother who lives vicariously through her daughter. Feeling that Harumichi is no longer good enough, she tells Harumichi to stay away from Yae. Yae ends up marrying a doctor from a wealthy family. It’s ironic that Yae’s in-laws end up treating her mother the same way her mother treated Harumichi. Yae’s life is soon centered around her son, Tsuzuru, and she drives a taxi cab in Sapporo as way of making money and providing her son with as much as she can. What she may not realize is that Yae’s greatest gifts to her son are support and belief that he can do and be anything he chooses. Something her own mother failed to give her. Most people have no idea how invaluable it is for a parent to simply be there for their children and to let them know that you believe in them. A good parent isn’t about telling your children what to do and what to be. It’s instilling confidence in them to follow their own dreams and passions.

Namiki Harumichi life is centered around Yae from the moment he sees her. Everything he does has her at its center. While he has dreams of becoming a pilot, we see that even those dreams are second to Yae. It is always dangerous to put a person at the center of one’s world. That path is wrought with disappointment. And Harumichi finds his world turned upside down when he discovers that Yae doesn’t remember him, and that Yae’s mother has intercepted every letter that he’s written to her. He’s crushed. Years later, Harumichi is part of a security team at a government building. His dreams of being a pilot seem buried in the past.
Yae and Harumichi end up meeting because Harumichi has been unknowingly helping Yae’s son, Tsuzuru enter the building to watch the girl of his dreams dance. Of course, Harumichi immediately recognizes Yae, but Yae has no idea who Harumichi is.

The series does a masterful job of charting the course of both characters, leaving the viewer to wonder—that after over 20 years, can these two star-crossed lovers find a way to be together? We find ourselves rooting for both of them. Of course, life always throws us curveballs, usually to test our resolve. Will we quit and give up? Or will we push forward no matter how many times we’re knocked down? The series is a testament to the latter. Despite being engaged, Harumichi is spending time with Yae, and it’s clear that—despite not remembering who he is—is infatuated with him.

Harumichi is a character who does the most growing up throughout the course of the series. In the end, he realizes that he can’t sacrifice his own dreams—being a pilot—simply for the love of a woman; a woman who doesn’t even remember him. He wants her back whole, and he’s willing to put her aside. In other words, he doesn’t choose the path of force and manipulation. To do so would be to destroy the memory and love of Yae, both past and present.

While the ending may be a bit predictable, the way it happens isn’t as a few clues—a song and remembering a time capsule—help Yae finally get back the memories she’d lost so long ago. We can see her tearfully realize that the man she’s in love with is the same boy she fell in love with in school long ago.

This is a beautiful story that demonstrates that love is timeless and cannot be held under any conditions or constraints. It also dares the viewer to take a hard look at their own lives. Are you living your passion and dreams? Are you living the life you want to live? If someone is dictating how you should live, don’t blame them for unfulfilled dreams. You gave them that power, and therefore, you are still at fault. Life is about risk. Life is about daring and pushing yourself to do what you may believe to be the unattainable and the unthinkable. Do not believe that such dreams can only be attained by the few. They can be attained by anyone who has the will and the drive to make them happen. Both Yae and Harumichi prove this in this timeless classic!

Read More

What it's like to live with a piece of your soul missing

This entire drama felt like you’re riding your bike under falling leaves of cherry blossom trees in the spring, only for someone to come out of nowhere and slam your fingers in their car door

Over and over

You’re eating a tasty dessert and someone comes and snatches the plate and fork from you

You’re enjoying a swim and someone comes up behind you and holds your head under water

You won the lottery and someone runs up on you and snatches your ticket

There’s a lot of pain, heartbreak and missed opportunities but oh, the joyous moments are filled with so much joy, and warmth.

This was a wonderful telling of the excitement and joys of youth-the carefree nature of that time. First love, dreams, hopes, family and everything else that seemed so fresh and novel-deserving of your excitement and reckless abandonment in an attempt to attain it.

It showed what it is to have hope and want for more from life and also how regret and a misstep can kill your spirit and alter the course of your life

Kido Tasei, you’ll always be famous? the eyes and smile that broke my heart

Read More

This drama is a total cliche, but a good one.

So I'm not the biggest fan of Japanese dramas for different reasons, but this one is worth watching.
I'll mention my good and less good thoughts about this drama.
1. As I mentioned I'm not the biggest fan of Japanese dramas so I didn't know Mitsushima Hikari and Satoh harumichi, and boy, they are such brilliant actors. they have made me feel every emotion and thoughts that they had.
2. younger versions of harumichi and yae were so cute!! they definitely delivered the youth's first love, and every time that taisei (aka young Namiki) appeared on a scene, the whole mood brightened up! he's such a gem actor.
3. the story was definitely a cliche, but a good one. I was really afraid that yae's lost memory will ruin everything, but that wasn't the case.
4. Harumichi and his sister's relationship was so pure and wholesome. I loved their beautiful connection and understanding of each other.

Now the less favorite things.
1. younger version of yae did a great job, but I hated the fact the actress is way taller than the mature one. it just didn't make any sense lol, but ok.
2. I HATED the fact that harumichi cheated on Tsunemi. that was very unnecessary and didn't fit his genuine and gentlemanly character. I've felt so bad for her. she was such a sweet one.
3. the sex scene was unnecessary. it could have been easily a 15+ rated drama without this scene but whatever lol.
4. I know that it's probably an unpopular opinion, but I would have been totally ok if harumichi and yae wouldn't end up together. people can grow and move on with their own journey and the return of yae's memory was a little bit forced. also, their chemistry together romantically wasn't so great for me either. actually, the actor had better chemistry with Kaho (akaTsunemi).

overall the series is great. the cast did a great job, and the cinematography was beautiful.
it gave me the 'this is us' series kinda vibe, which I like.
it's a 9/10 for me.

Read More

Sad love story but last it has happy ending

Story revolved around past and present . How two persons fall in love in their school age ,they cherish their relationship and even their parents didn't have any problem with it . But suddenly something happened and female lead's character met an accident and she forget some precious memories of her life . She only remembered her mother . She forget her love and even her friend too . Doctor adviced her mother not to try to recall her old memories . But at this stage her mother took a wrong decision which totally ruin her life .
Two things I had learnt from the story first not always parents decision prove to be right for their children . They take such decisions for their children sake that their children donot live the life which they are living . Their thought may be right but sometime it might ruin their children life .
Second before marrige girl's and boy's parent should talk clearly that what their expectation towards their son in law and daughter in law respectively so rich and poor status never come in their life . This rich and poor thoughts ruin the two people life .
I liked the story .I will give thumbs up to it . But wait, It is very slow and emotional story . Sometime might it feels bore.

Read More

YOU MUST SEE IT ABSOLUTELY!

I watched it all at once until one o'clock in the morning.
I really liked the story, a love destined to exist and external forces are useless, in one way or another they always find each other. The thing that drives me crazy is the idea of ​​being able to fall in love again with someone you don't even remember. If this isn't destiny, then what is destiny?

The cast was exceptional, starting with the young actors of the past and ending with the protagonists of the present.
The soundtrack was gorgeous too! Very sweet and romantic, fits the whole concept.
I don't deny that I also got emotional at the end when I found out that he was in love with her even before she confessed her love to him. The way he changed his life for her, the way he waited for her and sought her in every look and every detail of the world around him.
One of the most emotional sentences was the one in which she says to him (without knowing yet that he was her first love):
"I live with the feeling of having lost something important!"
Here I understood that although she has lost her memory, there is something that goes beyond (I don't know whether to call it destiny or in another way), something great that has meant that she unknowingly hadn't forgotten about him.
Then the scene where she remembers everything was beautiful, the actress was very good and sincere in her acting.

I also wanted to open a parenthesis about main character's girlfriend. I felt sorry for her, loving someone who will never love you, being aware of it, but accepting it anyway. It's very difficult! I would never have the strength to accept all of this. I was sorry when he broke up with her because she was a good girl and she sincerely loved him, but it was the right choice for her. She deserved true love and he knew it so he let her go.

The fault is entirely of the protagonist's mother. She had to give her the opportunity to choose her path, instead she preferred to take her away from her first love to marry her to a doctor full of money. And then in the end? Her daughter got divorced, she had to give her son to her ex-husband because she didn't have the money to raise him and this thing destroyed her and then in the end anyway she came back with her first love because she was meant for that man! Her mother only wasted her precious time and took away her freedom of choice.

I really enjoyed the story, even though I found the past memories a little confusing sometimes. So for this reason, I didn't give 10.
Despite this I have no other faults to attribute to this drama.

However the ending was right! Honestly I was anxious until the end because I thought it would end badly, but luckily everything went well! Love, true love has triumphed!

Read More

You're always gona be my love ....

It was really a great experience watching this.
I will highly recommend this one to those who like Romantic dramas mixed with slice of life elements. This a good blend of this genere.

This sure does have cliche tropes but I really loved it. Everything feels so refreshing that you'll not bother about the cliched elements of the show. The director needs a great appreciation for the stunning visuals and cinematography. It's so mesmerizing and eye pleasing

The OST's makes the drama more beautiful. The performance of the casts is really good too.

Read More

I genuinely thought this drama will end tragically, judging by the title, playlist, and the beginning episodes. The summary didn't help either as we know that the FL was in a serious accident and many, many years passing. And this show indeed had a lot of sad moments; the only happy ones where in the past and in someone's memories, but I still end up watching the show anyway, because I am a sucker for tearjerkers.

I must say I loved two things about this drama: Satoh Takeru's acting and Utada Hikaru's songs. Those were enough to propel this drama into better than mediocre. There's very little chemistry between the adult FL/ML since they were mostly apart, but the younger versions of the couple more than make up for the lack of romance between Yae and Namiki. I'm not sure if I buy into the "fate" that they keep talking about in this show; there's too many coincidences that happened for me to consider them believable. Also the flashbacks were kind of confusing, but watching Satoh's pining away for his first love was worth it.

Read More

Fate and destiny can only do so much for us most of the times... Sometimes we need to take the lead

First and foremost I was really excited the first time I saw the trailer for this series!!!! "First Love" by Utada Hikaru will always be one of my ultimate favorite love songs <3

Casting was superb from the young actors who played the leads to the adult casts. Hands down!!! Super great chemistry!!!! Satoh Takeru is such a fine man omg <3

Aspiring viewers beware this is not your typical fast paced love story but it has its own charm that will keep you hooked until the end. Personally, I have a soft spot for first love stories as this is something I really hold dear to me. So my review will be bias but that's alright.

At first, the story telling was kinda confusing for me as it has flash backs a lot throughout the episodes but once I tried to really focus on the show I got to understand and appreciate the plot more. As a viewer, it became more engaging for me and it made me appreciate more what is happening in the present time. I also loved how realistic the story telling was. I know fate played a big role in making things happen for the two leads but it's okay. It also happens to us every once in a while.

It was really nice to see them grow from high school students to responsible adults. When they were young and in love, they let fate and destiny take the lead for them. The universe gave them one more chance when they became adults (Thanks to Tsuzuru and Uta). Unfortunately, fate and destiny can only do so much. Which is why I think they got separated again. But luckily, this time, Yae took the lead and made things happen for them one last time and that's how they got their happy ending <3

The only reason I did not give this a perfect score was because of the ending. I was actually hoping that after all they've been through, the writer/director would have given them a bit more screen time together. Don't get me wrong I loved that they were able to fulfill their childhood dream together but I would really love to see more of them <3

PS: This show really makes me think of my first love during high school and how lucky I was with him <3 It was He really did love me the same way as the ML here loved the FL. Unconditionally. Like I was his last love. And that's what I became, his last love. "First Love" is the song I dedicate to him the most as I will always have a special place in my heart for him. He was the one who taught me how to love. I really miss him and how I wish he was still here.

Read More

Charming high school days but not so much in the present

I'm not too sure what I was expecting when I started this drama, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the portrayal of what pure young love is like. I kept bracing myself to cry buckets or for some horrible tragedy to strike (I guess I was thinking of 1 Litre of Tears haha), but I'm happy to report that you'll get many bittersweet moments instead and a happy ending.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this drama, I have to say that were a few things that did bug me, which is why I didn't give it a full score.

1. I found myself looking forward to the high school flashbacks versus the present scenes:
This is one of the rare cases where I felt like the high school actors of the two protagonists out-performed their present-day counterparts. The young actor who played Harumichi, especially, was perfectly cast and their love story was so sweet. Granted, there are reasons why their adult character aren't as carefree and have been shaped by past unfortunate events, but the fulfilling past love story made me crave for more of that in the present. Despite this, I still think both adult actors gave really excellent performances and played their roles perfectly despite the weak plot in the present timeline.

2. A lot of unnecessary scenes that didn't contribute to the overall narrative of the story:
- That random sex scene between Harumichi and some girl he picked up at the bar (like, ok, so you're saying he's lived a full life after Yae?)
- The drawn-out scenes on the development between how Harumichi and Tsunemi started dating. Leading up to this, we already sense that Harumichi would inevitably break up with his fiance because of his deeply-seated feelings for Yae, so what's the point of showing us how he ran to her after an earthquake? We know there won't be any conclusion for them anyway and I was honestly quite bored with that arc and had to patiently wait for him to finally break up with her.
- The long karaoke scene between Yae and Uta was weird since they only met once briefly in the taxi.
- The awkward scenes that mentioned COVID-19 - I understand that it's part of the timeline but it wasn't necessary to mention imo since it doesn't affect or change their story in any way. It's like saying, oh yea, so this happened (for me, this took away the time we got to see the leads finally together in the last episode).

3. Inconsistencies:
There were a few but the one big one that left me confused was when Yu (Harumichi's younger sister) looked like she wasn't aware of Yae's memory loss in the hospital scene after Harumichi saved Yae from falling down the stairs.
BUT in episode 8, you see Yu secretly telling Tsunemi that Harumichi's first love has amnesia when she visited his family. That scene was clearly before the hospital scene because Yu's daughter was only 4 years old, versus 10 years old when she was visiting him at the hospital.

Towards the end, I feel like there's just something...missing...
I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to describe this accurately, but there were a few scenes that left me wanting MORE because they were supposed to be really climactic moments but we don't really get these emotional moments that should have come with the events.

For example, when Yae regains her memories - I wish they had a few more scenes to show how heartbroken she was to have forgotten about a person who was such a BIG part of her life. Yes, she cried, but it wasn't the heartbreaking kind that truly displayed all the loss she felt - I just wish it was elongated a little more and made her think about the chances that passed her by had she remembered. The moment when they reunited in Iceland was also quite anti-climactic and felt very rushed - there was not explanation as to WHY he chose to leave the country in the first place and we don't get any confessions from Yae's mom admitting what she did. Those small details were all glossed over and so many strings left untied.

I know it was supposed to be a satisfying ending, but my heart wasn't as filled as it could have been had the script been executed better or at least been fine-tuned a bit. I just feel like there was SO much potential for this drama to have been excellent but it ended up being just good.

Overall, I still really enjoyed this drama despite its flaws and I was completely enamored from episode 1. I really reallyyy loved how the timelines weren't sequential and were revealed slowly, almost like peeling back layers of an onion to form the whole story. I would still highly recommend this, especially if you're in the mood for a romance drama that will pull on your heartstrings. Just don't expect a completely ironed-out story and you'll enjoy this a lot.

Read More