Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu (2021)

A true joy to watch - with a HEALTHY & WHOLESOME relationship! :D

If you think that this is some tearjerking, serious, or sentimental drama just because it deals with disabilities (the poster image on here really makes it look that way), I assure you, it’s the complete opposite. Full of fluffy, goodhearted romance and comedy, and most importantly, one of the rare dramas that has a healthy relationship with open communication and realistic problems between two socially belittled individuals, Koi Desu may just be one of my favourite J-Dramas of this year. FINALLY Sugino has a breakthrough character that perfectly fits him, and the acting between both FL and ML is effortless and it just makes you feel all warm and fluffy while watching them!

Sugino Yosuke has really been meh in other shoujo/josei dramas I’ve seen him in, either being too cringy as an “ikemen” character or not memorable enough. I really think that this is a huge turning point for him, as he plays the character of Kurokawa Morio so effortlessly. Morio is goofy, earnest, and wears his heart on his sleeve, not taking offense and trying to learn and understand Yukiko’s eye condition, which creates an unbelievable gap moe to his threatening “yankee” demeanor (he just looks cute imo). He’s patient with the FL and understanding of the protectiveness of her family, never pressuring the FL to reciprocate his feelings for her.

Sugisaki Hana has also been very “meh” for me, but her character as Yukiko is headstrong, kind, and independent in this drama. Her acting and skepticism towards Morio is realistic and understandable. She is someone who is constantly wanting to prove that she can do things just as well as others can. And the two really do have an affinity with each other!

The other characters are all really delightful to watch, and the drama is kept to a minimum that gets resolved by the end of the episode. It’s an inspiring, uplifting drama that will leave you feeling giddy and envious of the leads’ onscreen relationship. I highly recommend it! :)

Also, the little informative comedy asides by the comedian Hamada Yutaro, who is also blind in real life, are really entertaining! I love that they included him and gave him a platform to speak and further explain the tools, resources and feelings that blind individuals encounter on a daily basis, all in a light-hearted fashion. You definitely don't want to miss this one!

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Love Is Not Always Blind…

‘Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu’ ( alternatively translated as ‘ It’s Love; Yankee-Kun and The White-Cane Girl’) is based upon the manga ‘ Yankee-Kun and The White Cane Girl’. Adapted to the small screen by screenwriter Matsuda Yuko, ‘ Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu’ revolved around the sweet and unusual love story between Akaza Yukiko ( Sugisaki Hana) , a girl diagnosed with amblyopia ( a condition where the individual suffers from impaired or degraded vision) who uses a white stick, and a kindhearted delinquent Kurokawa Morio ( Sugino Yosuke). Despite initially being put off by his persistent attitude and self- proclaimed “ feelings ” for the female lead, Yukiko finds herself gradually warming up to the eccentric delinquent despite many obstacles that face them.

Whilst sometimes a quick aside from comedian Hamada Yutaro ( playing himself) or a voiceover by Yukiko could feel a little arbitrary at times , it was evident to see that throughout more predictable romantic setups, the drama desperately pushed forward positive and didactic messages in order to disperse social stereotypes and stigmas surrounding blind and visually impaired individuals.

However whilst praise and commendation must be given to ‘Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu’’s themes and depictions, the acting could admittedly was a mixed-bag . Of course this isn’t to bring down any of the respected actors as individuals. Sugisaki Hana’s onscreen performance as Yukiko captured the mannerisms of her character’s amblyopia subtly, whilst Sugino Yosuke added a heart-melting charm to Morio onscreen. Nevertheless it is notable that certain line deliverances by the cast could sometimes feel exaggerated.

As a character , Akaza Yukiko undeniably has her screenwriting strengths and weaknesses. She’s not defined as a main female lead by being “ frail” or “ timid” female lead trope due to her visual disability, and instead, was often shown to have a more stubborn side when problems arise due to a hurtful experience in the past. Whilst this incident admittedly did play a major role through brief foreshadowing in early episodes, the “tense” buildup could often feel anticlimactic . Foreshadowing towards Yukiko’s past could’ve easily been brought up early on to deliver greater impact in later episodes. In particular this subject could’ve easily been conveyed more frequently through conservations and interactions with her older sister Izumi ( Nao) as well as her father Seiji ( Kishitani Goro).

However this also brings up the elephant in the room in the series also; Yukiko’s family dynamic. Understandably it is not uncommon for different beliefs and viewpoints to be taken by family members towards a visually impaired relative. In the series this was often reflected by the differences between Yukiko’s sister being overprotective towards Yukiko whereas her father Seiji could often adopted a laissez-faire and easygoing attitude. It felt odd that aside from Izumi being the first to disapprove of Kurosawa being “ unworthy” for Yukiko, there was little reaction or insight into Yukiko’s own feelings towards her sister acting this way. Additionally there was rarely little conflict presented between Yukiko and Seiji’s different viewpoints in order to present greater insight for viewers into this differing family bond also.

Naturally this brings us onto main male lead Kurosawa Morio. Morio embodied the stereotypical stock trope of the “ delinquent with a heart of gold”.His physical appearance ( and especially his scar) have given him a bad reputation over the years. However despite first appearances, Morio is revealed to be a naturally kindhearted soul. Throughout the series Morio tried his best to accommodate to Yukiko by asking and learning more about her everyday life. Yet whilst Morio is undeniably a male lead with a big heart , there were certainly moments regarding his character arc which could often feel disjointed. Of course it was not necessarily quintessential that we had to know everything about Morio’s background or past. Nevertheless there was still a lot of potential to have delved deeper into his reasons for being perceived as a “ failure” and dropping out of school, greater social stigma surrounding his “ delinquent” appearance ( aside from a few key scenes when it was necessary to the plot) , the reasons behind his current adopted mindset as well as his home environment also.

Of course this brings us onto the main topic of discussion; the romantic relationship between our main leads. Sugino Yosuke and Sugisaki Hana had fairly dynamic onscreen chemistry together adding to a charismatic and friendly interactions onscreen. As characters it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there were many obstacles presented throughout the storyline to “ complicate” matters between Akaza Yukiko and Kurosawa Morio’s potential relationship. Naturally whilst a lot of these opportunities saw opportunities to facilitate heartfelt and angst-ridden scenes in order to explore relationships, feelings and strengthen relationships chemistry, there were some still some predictable tropes which lacked the element of surprise also .

Overall ‘Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu’ is a fairly sweet and laidback love story. The acting front is decent enough ( sans from a few awkward scenes and lines) and the main leads have enough chemistry to keep viewers entertained. Admittedly the characters could often feel archetypical at times but the series enjoyed diverging from expectations and allowing characters to grow from their experiences. Perhaps whilst a few areas and topics which could’ve been brushed up more, ‘Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu’ will likely be a fairly heartwarming watch for any romance fan.

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Definitely one of the best Jdramas I’ve ever seen!

I’m so happy that I found this one because the story, characters and the chemistry between them are SO GOOD!

First let me talk about the story. Althought simple, the plot can be very captivating and didactic. I loved Hamada Yutaro’s scenes and how they put a real representation of someone who is blind in real life! I learned a lot of things about visually impaired people in his scenes that I didn't know before, it was really interesting.

The relationship between the main leads is also beautiful. Azaka gave the "vision" for Kurokawa to see the world differently and Kurokawa himself did the same to her. Their relationship is purely based on mutual respect where both characters grow during the drama while their love also grows. I absolute love them and they’re one of my fav couples of the year. They’re too cute :(

Talking now about the characters, everyone here is likable. Maybe some ones in the first episode can be a little annoying but they grow on us later. I loved Azaka’s relationship with her family. And loved how Kurokawa’s friends embraced her easily. I also LOVE Azaka’s friends and it was good to see how different they’re from her. Azaka is omg..so cute I loved her :( She’s bright, strong and SO hardworking. I cried a lot in her scenes. And omg Kurokawa is seriously perfect. He’s sweet, caring, cute, funny, respectable. Definitely one of my fav male characters, ever.

The only few things I didn’t like that much about this drama was Azaka’s old lover in EP9 and I found things a little too rushed in EP10. Also, Shishio’s relationship with Azaka’s sister seemed a little forced because we didn’t see the grow in their relationship. But well, I still liked them together so it’s ok.

So yeah, I TOTALLY recommend this one if you’re looking for a good Jdrama. It may not be perfect for you but I think it’s impossible to not like this one.
And Koi Desu definitely become one of my fav Jdramas!

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Completed - 2/27/2022 - 8.25 rating

First of all, I’d like to thank MDLer @ether aka catoven for subbing episodes 8-10. They are so hard to find! Links to the subs in my comment below.

When I watched “ Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu”, it was hard not to compare it to the C-drama “Crush”. They both have a main lead who is visually impaired. We see their daily challenges and how their loved ones try to understand and support them. However, “Crush” is a more mature drama and has a more serious tone. “ Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu” is a lighter, fluffier romance drama. For both dramas, I enjoy the first half more than the second half.

What I Enjoy:

Education - I am not visually impaired so I am not sure if the depiction of their challenges in dramas are realistic or not, but I have to say I do learn a lot from them. From “Crush”, I realized what the Braille blocks on the ground are for. They are similarly explained in this drama. Furthermore, we have a Japanese visually-impaired comedian’s commentary in this drama. I learn more about the tools and technology that they use, and the different variations of blindness. I never knew there are audio devices for watching movies, or such magnifying screens for reading. For some viewers, they might feel these commentaries as the drama trying too hard to educate, or they disrupt the flow of the drama. However, personally, I really enjoy them.

Strong FL - I also enjoy a Japanese FL who is not the innocent, naïve and overly shy type. In this drama, Yukiko strives for independence and speaks up when needed. She doesn’t shy away from confrontation or any honest and open communication with her family or with Morio. Even though she is visually impaired, she is not afraid of new challenges. It was so inspiring to see how hard she prepared and worked in order to make fries.

Sweet ML - It took me about half an episode to fall in love with Morio. I am not a big fan of love-at-first sight. It is hard for me to understand his initial feelings and they also seem over-the-top and unrealistic. However, he is so adorable that I can’t help but root for him. Sugino Yosuke plays his role as Kurokawa Morio so well. You can see how awkward and shy he is around Yukiko, yet he’s the Black Panther that everyone fears. He tries so hard to learn about the challenges that Yukiko faces each day, and is so supportive and kind. And he’s not just kind to Yukiko but all of his friends as well. He’s not the big scary Black Panther that he seems to be. When his friend confesses to him, his response is so kind and so perfect.

What I Don’t Enjoy: *SPOILERS*

The Trope - Yukiko and Morio have such honest and open communication throughout the drama, that I find it uncharacteristic that we see the trope noble idiocy at the end of Ep. 9. Yes, they already had one conversation about Morio taking the job, but they could have another. Yukiko should be able to express her thoughts to Morio and tell him that she really wants him to take the job for himself. There’s no reason for the breakup and for her to lie to him. I do not mind the one-year time skip when they go their separate ways to find their own dreams. But there has to be a better way to have the same ending without having this noble idiocy trope at the end of such a good drama. This is the main reason why I can’t give this drama a solid 8.5 or 9.0 rating but a 8.25.

Shishio + Izumi - At first, I thought the drama was going to change Shishio into falling in love with Izumi and have them live happily ever after. I would be so mad if it happened. I am happy that the drama didn’t do that. However, why can’t they just remain as close friends? Why does the drama want them to be in a relationship when Shishio probably will never fall in love with Izumi? Or is the drama hinting that maybe in the future he will change and there’s a chance?

Other Observations:
1. No annoying characters in this drama. Yay!
2. BGM helps set the mood and we don’t have any overplayed songs.
3. I wish FL has nicer clothes to wear. Just because she can’t see well, she deserves nice clothes as well.
4. In “Crush” I found the ML doesn’t look straight at someone when he talks. But in this drama, the visually impaired seem to look straight at someone’s face more often. Maybe I am imagining it?
5. The poster have the leads on the bus, but I don’t think I saw that scene in the drama. Mm….

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Sensitive, Authentic Love Story - Sugino Yosuke is Greenest Flag!

The Good Parts: "Koi-Desu" is an incredibly beautiful, wholesome romance drama. The lead characters are well-written, and their chemistry feels authentic and relatable. The show sensitively explores the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals, emphasizing that they seek equality and kindness rather than pity. The romance is genuine and not over-the-top, with the male lead showing great understanding and growth. The supporting characters add depth by realistically portraying the difficulties and support systems around the main couple.

What Could Have Been Better: The final episodes, particularly the twist in Episode 9 and overall Episode 10, felt unnecessary and detracted slightly from the overall experience. This twist brought down the rating from a perfect 10 to 9/10.

Conclusion: A must-watch for fans of romance dramas. It offers a heartfelt, realistic portrayal of love and challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. With great performances and a meaningful message, this drama is highly recommended despite the minor flaw in the final twist.

Watch it For:
- Cute, Healthy Rom-Com where two very different people bonded
- Sugino Yosuke : this man deserves more main lead roles!
- Supportive friends and family
- Great Message, which all of us can takeback in our own lives
- Great acting by all characters

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M.r Insecure and M.s insecure fall in love in a world full of hurdles...

This drama portrays the day to day life of a girl with a pretty bad visual impairment and the people around her as she falls in love...


The female lead is very lovable sweet and is a complex human being with a whole range of emotions, capabilities and hurdles... That have made her a lot more insecure than what she seems to come off as... However she is a so called good disabled person, the type that tries hard, and keeps on pushing herself three hurdles. When I say "good disabled" I mean that it is a person who from the point of view of society is one who does move forward despite all the obstacles... a so called real fighter catering to the Abel Bodied viewers... while still showing the obstacles. This is however done relatively well, she is not a super hero or anything, and they do show both the predjadus she meets as well as what she has to offer to a workplace without making her this super hero type. She comes off as a pretty relatable human being, so that is a +.

I like how they try to educate the viewers about visual impairments as well as the things those with clear vision do (unintentionally or intentionally) that can be really dangerous for people, but also what to to do to make things easier. I also like how they often show how she sees the world from time to time, helping us understand.

I also like that this was made with the involvement of a person with a visual impairment, even though I did not always get the humour, it was still a mostly good addition to the show.

The male lead is adorable, so are the rest of the characters. The romance is mostly sweet, and the chemistry good... the hight difference is adorable.

Some parts are however slightly annoying and feel unnecessary, , some parts are boring. Also the editing was not always perfect..

So Ill say this was good but not amazing...

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it’s cute it’s funny it’s Koi Desu Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu

This Japanese drama is not only cute and funny, but it also sheds light on the experience of visually impaired individuals. Through its heart-warming and educational storyline, "Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu" teaches viewers about the challenges and triumphs of those living with visual impairments. It also promotes empathy and understanding towards this community. Overall, this drama is not just entertaining, but it also has an important message to share. the characters are well-written and lovable, making the audience easily invested in their stories and relationships. The show also does a great job of shedding light on important issues surrounding visually impaired individuals, providing both education and entertainment. Overall, "Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu" is a delightful and heartwarming drama that will leave viewers feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

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Feel good drama about love and navigating differences

This was my first foray into Jdrama and it has such a feel good vibe that makes you want to keep watching for more. The story is pretty straightforward. An delinquent outcast fell in love with a visual impaired girl at first sight. However, the ML chasing after the FL was not without it's challenges as they need to learn how to accomodate to each other's differences. But what I really appreciate from the show is that the FL's poor eyesight was not seen as a weakness and the drama did not fall too much into a web of constant self-pity like many dramas that portrays disabilities do. The two main lead did a pretty good job in their performance but the characters are not the most challenging to portray, so I can't give any higher than 7.5. The music was nice but was quite forgettable. Pacing wise was pretty good.

What I dislike:
- Don't understand how ML could fell in love with the FL so quicky. No explanation on that.
- Not a fan of Shishio and the FL sister's romance. Some things can't be forced but I guess the writer wants to give a happy ending for everyone.
- The twist at the end was kinda unnecessary.

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A sweet, uplifting rom-com that overreach a little

Pairing a visually impaired girl with a delinquent is certainly pushing the envelope of odd couples. It is probably a good thing that the FL can’t see the ML clearly as his dress sense is diabolical! LOL
Seriously, this show is so sweet. There is almost no angst. Yes, there are some catty characters and the odd troublemakers, but they are all set straight by the FL’s friends soon enough. The FL and her cohorts have to overcome some challenges which they did with grit and determination plus a little help from their circle of friends.
The show doesn’t disguise the fact that it is trying to educate the public about different types of blindness and how the general public can support the visually impaired. It makes special effort to demonstrate how people with poor eyesight try to integrate into the “normal” work environment and society as a whole. Kudos to the show for doing that but it can be a little heavy handed at times.
Needless to say, the protagonists are well adjusted and able to live well but I was surprised when the FL decided to become a chef and of course my first question is whether that is safe or feasible. Then I did some research and found out that the winner of Master Chef USA S3 was a female chef/restaurateur who is legally blind and suffered from similar conditions to the FL! I do wonder if the producer of the show drew inspiration from that.
In terms of acting, they did just fine. Most are young and their inexperience do show at times, but the show was not particularly demanding. The FL tries hard to be convincing as a visually impaired person.
The OTP is cute together and has an easy going chemistry. Their romance is sweet and wholesome with a little bit of skinship.
My only gripe is the tropey and unnecessary 11th hour breakup. The reasoning behind it was weak and it was rushed through in about a minute. The show then spend the last episode undoing the damage and reset their relationship. Other than giving us an excuse to do a time skip, it archived very little.

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A MUST-WATCH!!!

I've never watched a drama this lovely and adorable. The male lead is like a total green flag, incredibly cute, and he'd do anything for the female lead. He makes an effort to understand her feelings and adapt to her life with limited vision. The female lead is equally cute and adorable. It's an amazing and heartwarming show that I highly recommend to everyone!

Unfortunately, there weren't any (real) kiss scenes, but that didn't bother me THAT much because they shared other cute and romantic moments that were just as delightful. I'm head over heels for them. Their chemistry is simply off the charts!


I wish this show had been longer and we would've gotten more of them. ?

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So damn good

April 6, 2023

Koi Desu is that JDRAMA. It is so under appreciated, it is actually insane. I would love to thank the tiktok edits that came up on my fyp that recommended this drama.

This drama is so good, not perfect, but so fucking good.

Also I just wanna say that Morio is the biggest green flag and such a sweet wholesome boy. Like I need him in my life, in terms of the JDRAMA WORLD leads, he is up there on the greenest flag ever along with IDA from Kieta Hatsukoi.

I do want to talk about the 2 major turn off that this drama has that made me pull my hair out of my scalp:


MAJOR SPOILERS







First of all, that break up was unnecessary and it was so off guarded. No proper explanation and the last episode did not give proper justice. It was so rushed and clearly not well put together. I was not even fumed by the breakup. I AM MAD cause of how the writers just gave that messy ending. The first 3/4 of the last episode is wack. Like I watched it without skipping and I wish I skipped some scenes. Like wha is with the push and pull and the hiding of Morio....






Aside from that minor issues I have, I love this series.

Definitely rewatching this again when I can.

Until then,
Bah BYEEEEE

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