1
TimiZero
Bolehland
This review may contain spoilers
Now tell me how many series/dramas/movies/shows out there are about rugby?
No Side Game is a special novel based drama dedicated for the currently happening (at the time of writing this review) World Cup Rugby 2019 in Japan. It's a great event that is organized for the first time by a country that isn't considered as powerhouse in this sport.
Unlike the usual sport's theme drama, No Side Game is local-targeted and try to convey several key messages, or should I say this is a drama with mission? One is to create awareness to the Japanese society who would otherwise prefer other sports like football (soccer) or baseball. The difficulty to attract crowd to the stadium (even with free ticket) is one of the things discussed by the writer, as well as the parents concern towards their children's safety if they were to allow them play rugby.
Secondly, it depicts the harsh reality of Japanese rugby system. You will be surprised to know that the official main rugby league in Japan is semi-professional, where the athletes have to do day-job alongside playing rugby. The teams who participate in this semi-pro league are the companies that need to take care of their profit/loss than to waste money over something unprofitable such as sport. The situations dramatized in this series might be more closer to reality than what you could imagine!
The drama also tells how the conventional way of thinking by certain people at top of rugby association would not benefit Japanese rugby in the long run. The reliance to politician makes the association much more harder to be revolutionized. But somehow the changes need to be done especially in boosting league's income and then could be distributed fairly among participating teams.
Drama-wise, No Side Game is a bit less intriguing than few other Ikeido Jun's business dramas, but the warmness of the protagonist's family especially the portrayal of wife character by Matsu Takako is what makes this an enjoyable show. Other actors also did the job well if not amazing. First few episodes are okay but the drama really picks up after episode 5 when more business politic plots got involved in the story.
If this is not for World Cup Rugby, I would just rate it an 8. But I add 0.5 more for the effort Japan put in giving publicity to this event and so far I see the stadium attendance for all matches are full house! Good job Japan!
No Side Game is a special novel based drama dedicated for the currently happening (at the time of writing this review) World Cup Rugby 2019 in Japan. It's a great event that is organized for the first time by a country that isn't considered as powerhouse in this sport.
Unlike the usual sport's theme drama, No Side Game is local-targeted and try to convey several key messages, or should I say this is a drama with mission? One is to create awareness to the Japanese society who would otherwise prefer other sports like football (soccer) or baseball. The difficulty to attract crowd to the stadium (even with free ticket) is one of the things discussed by the writer, as well as the parents concern towards their children's safety if they were to allow them play rugby.
Secondly, it depicts the harsh reality of Japanese rugby system. You will be surprised to know that the official main rugby league in Japan is semi-professional, where the athletes have to do day-job alongside playing rugby. The teams who participate in this semi-pro league are the companies that need to take care of their profit/loss than to waste money over something unprofitable such as sport. The situations dramatized in this series might be more closer to reality than what you could imagine!
The drama also tells how the conventional way of thinking by certain people at top of rugby association would not benefit Japanese rugby in the long run. The reliance to politician makes the association much more harder to be revolutionized. But somehow the changes need to be done especially in boosting league's income and then could be distributed fairly among participating teams.
Drama-wise, No Side Game is a bit less intriguing than few other Ikeido Jun's business dramas, but the warmness of the protagonist's family especially the portrayal of wife character by Matsu Takako is what makes this an enjoyable show. Other actors also did the job well if not amazing. First few episodes are okay but the drama really picks up after episode 5 when more business politic plots got involved in the story.
If this is not for World Cup Rugby, I would just rate it an 8. But I add 0.5 more for the effort Japan put in giving publicity to this event and so far I see the stadium attendance for all matches are full house! Good job Japan!
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