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

Gimme a Morio in my life!

The first episode got me ROFL, so funny that I just want to watch this cute couple more.

Despite the all the fluff, this show is more educational and inspiring than one might expect

I learnt a lot about what it means to be visually impaired and it also raises social awareness, so people are more mindful about braille blocks, for example. Sometimes, people don't mean it, but can simply be ignorant, which is why a show like this is helpful to raise social awareness, making the world a better place for all.

Yet, it's done in a cute, fluffy, funny, loving and inspiring way. Who says inspiring show has to be heavy all the time right?!

I love how Morio and Yukiko helps each other to see the best in themselves, showing a different perspective of the world to one another. I also love how they encourage and uplift one another. It's honestly really heartwarming until....

The unnecessary twists and turns, which makes this show 9 instead of 10! This is why:

Minus another 0.5 point for making the show more complicated than needed. It started out as really plain and sweet show, and then suddenly lots of rollercoaster. It feels almost like "Did we change genre halfway?" Lol

Minus 0.5 point for the ending between Shishio and Izumi! If he doesn't like woman, why propose to stay with her? and worse..why did she accept?! This is really frustrating. The show could have ended so perfectly, if it's not for this bit

But, I'm glad that the ending is good for the main leads at least! Overall, it's a great show.

I feel very positively uplifted, especially by Morio's spirit of "Following your dreams and make it fun and work for it!"

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Just what I was looking for

It's been sometimes I was searching for this kind of J-drama, light funny, romcom, nothing heavy or dark, and innocent.
I really reaally loved Morio's character and the actor did justice to the role, his innocence is too cute and too sweet, the way he would get nervous so much in front of Yukiko was too much adorable.
Yukiko role was also very nicely portrayed and the actress was really good, at times I had to remind myself that the actress is not actually with the disability, she nailed it.
Side character also had their charms and all of them were good.
Really enjoyed overall drama to the point I started watching it slowly because I didn't wanted it to end too soon because it was only 10 episodes, I really wish I could see more of it.

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At first I thought this would be one of those shows tackling disability as if it was a plot device to keep a relationship going, but while it may have started as how Yukiko and Morio know of each other, it wasn’t a show to gratify the condition.

Whereas other dramas might fail in undertaking the topic of blindness, this one succeeds. This drama does not give you a chance to feel pity for Yukiko, because you see her determination to overcome her inability to see like others. She uses the resources available to her, and where it is lacking, she creates and looks for opportunities to improve.

Instead of feeling sad for Yukiko, I ended up rooting for her like how Morio did in the show. His belief in her strength and tenacity was adorable. And while I appreciate how he supports his girlfriend, it only highlighted the time he has on his hands, that I forget he had a part-time job only after he met Yukiko. Nevertheless, Morio’s redemption arc from delinquent to dependable is to be noted.

Speaking of redemption arcs, I have a beef with the second leads. I cannot fathom how Shishio, who used to fight Morio all the time, ends up being actually in love with him? Logic not computing, but also makes sense. Is this like: boys who bully girls, secretly have a crush on the girl? He gives Morio a job at his grandmother’s store, helps him be his wingman, and later becomes his potential brother-in-law even though he’s gay? What in the fantasy world is this? Meanwhile Izumi, who is Yukiko’s sister, has poor taste in men. She’s also overprotective of her sister, and yet she seems to be the weaker of the two. And because everyone needs a partner, they just lump these two incompatible characters with each other.

Aside from its flaws, this show is a decent watch, especially when they included the educational snippets from Hamada Yutaro, a blind comedian whose jokes flew over my head because I don’t have cued-canned laughter.

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A Cute and Hopeful Drama.

With very unconventional characters as the leading roles and the very comedic title, I expected the drama to be mediocre. Boy... I couldn't have been more wrong.
Koi Desu: Yankee Kun to Hakujo Garu was a true delight in every sense. Yes, there were tropes that are a necessity for every rom-com out there, but it never once made me irritated as both Yukiko-chan and Kurokawa were characters whom I could actually trust.

Moreover, both of them having 'disabilities' was a fresh change for me. I have to give it to Yukiko-chan for coming so far with her amblyopia. Losing eyesight is worse than being born without one. The drama did not kid around with the term 'blind'. It attempted to educate and give an insight on how blind people manage to survive in the madding crowd. I've never heard of amblyopia/lazy eye before. So, this was another new information for me.

Kurokawa is one of the most bunny like male leads I've ever seen. Despite the scar that has him ostracized from the common people, he is positive about his relationship with Yukiko-chan and wants only the best for the ones he love. I adored his little coffee shop gang.
Shishio-san was a surprise from start to the end. I suggest you watch the drama to find out more.

Kurokawa and Yukiko-chan's relationship was so pure and funny. They were ready to accept each other as they are and sat down to talk things out.

The familial support had a strong impact on Yukiko-chan. No one ever tried to hinder her wishes. Her sister Izumi initially did try, but it got better and I loved the relationship between the father and his two daughters.

I completed this after half an year, but I enjoyed every minute. It's an optimistic drama that gives us all the good vibes.

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Quand je vois tes yeux...

Après un long Silence de ma part, voici une petite review qui inaugure des avis beaucoup plus courts, faute de temps. Mais comme ils me servent surtout pour mes propres souvenirs…

Adapté en drama en 2021, en pleine période Covid, cette reprise d'un mignon Shojo manga, nous fait découvrir, avec beaucoup de clichés romantiques et d'humour, la vie de malvoyants au Japon. Cette histoire d'amour entre une étudiante ne distinguant que des silhouettes et un Yankee de drama (comprendre au grand cœur et beau gosse, malgré une cicatrice) aurait dû sentir un peu trop la guimauve. Mais, même si elle est très sucrée par beaucoup côtés, mais c'est plus au Parfait au popcorn qu'elle fait penser par le peps des jeux d'acteurs. Tous excellents dans ce drama, en particulier le trio Sugisaki Hana, Hosoda Kanata et Tanabe Momoko qui interprètent avec beaucoup d'humour, mais aussi d'émotion ses personnages malvoyants ou atteints de cécités. Leurs façons d'être, leurs vies, leurs amours et leurs aspirations sonnent justes. Et comme toujours avec les J-dramas, un soin particulier est apporté aux explications, sans chercher à donner de leçon. Les occidentaux et les Français en particulier ont encore à apprendre quant à l'intégration du handicap dans la société, même si en filigrane, on sent bien que la société japonaise à aussi encore du chemin à parcourir. Sugino Yosuke endosse le rôle du Yankee craint par le bon citoyen, mais il fait surtout écho au rejet du handicap, et plus globalement des gens différents, par la société. Rejet ou mise sous le tapis, il est dur de se faire une place quand on ne rentre pas dans le moule au Japon. Mais la bonne humeur qui se dégage, grâce évidement à Sugisaki Hana qui n'en finit plus d'être solaire dans ses rôles taillés sur mesure. Des performances d'acteurs dignes des oscars, une bonne humeur sans faille, qui donne un contrepoids à l'étouffant Silence, des messages ultra-positifs et un ending de JUJU devenu culte. Foncez le voir, l'écouter, le sentir. Ce n'est que de l'amour.

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