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moonypiglet

Japan

moonypiglet

Japan
Long Vacation japanese drama review
Completed
Long Vacation
1 people found this review helpful
by moonypiglet
May 21, 2024
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 10.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

When nothing seems to go right, that is probably when God gives you a vacation

As a die-hard romance drama fan, this is one in the few drama makes it to my list of all time favorite dramas ever.
There is no big plot twist, no cliche drama, no intricate conflict or tragedy but a very original and engaging romance that is healing and heart-warming between the two main characters when they go through a challenging time in life together.
It started when 30years-old Minami, miserable and broke after being left behind by her groom on her very wedding day, has no choice but to start sharing the same house with Sena, a shy 24 years old piano majored graduate who is at a crossroad pondering over his uncertain future as a pianist. Cheerful, easygoing, earnest and outspoken, Minami often finds herself being belittled at first by Sena, who is sensible, but shy and restrained. A seemingly impossible romance began to brew when they slowly found solace in each other’s companion to overcome their low time and find their own answers and happiness for future. The plot is simple, the story feels very real, nothing too dramatic but still incredibly engaging and enchanting.
I love all the characters here, from supporting to the leads. A boyish, shy but very manly Sena, a cheerful, outspoken but always acting strong and mature Minami, a naive but brave and earnest Ryoko, a seeming playboy but sincere at heart Shinji, a dependent but loving Rumiko; a seemingly slow but unexpectedly sharp when it comes to romance Momoko; and a mature and sensible Sugiyama; all are very well-built and their interaction and conversations attract viewers and add depth to the story.
The drama is quite fast paced and engaging as a whole with beautiful and unforgettable soundtracks to enhance emotional scenes.
The opening theme is definitely one of my fav song. Needless to say, the casts, especially the ML and FL delivered splendid performance. I think I started to watch Kimura Takuya drama because of his impressive acting here.

I first watched the drama in my early 20s and immediately fell in love with it. But it was just a good romance drama for me then. I had chance to watch it again before turning 30, just around the same age as the female character. That was when the drama hit me hard as I can resonate deeper with Minami and came to understand why the characters acted that way.

Though it was released in 1996, the drama withstands the test of time as it continues to prove its position as one of the most favorite drama to viewers in Japan and Asia in general.
If you are looking for a light-hearted romance drama or a healing drama, do give it a try :)
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