Bara No Nai Hanaya: go watch it now!

[dangermousie]

Still a little sniffly from the end of The Devil, I popped in Bara No Nai Hanaya, on my flight back. Before I knew it, I was on episode seven, and addicted like no tomorrow.

BNNH is a Japanese drama that came out earlier in the year, and took my flist by storm. It was not a drama I ever planned to check out: I had a lot of other dramas at the time, I have never seen Katori Shingo (the male lead) in anything, so had no predisposition to check it out for his sake, and the story description (single-father florist falls for blind lady) sounded so twee and sweet as to give me cavities. And when I want a 'pure' romance, I usually go for kdramas, anyway.

And yet, it kept popping on my flist, with people as different in their drama tastes as filmi_girl and nihongofrancais, and everybody else, loving it. And I read some fascinating spoilers, too. So...BNNH it was. And now? Unless the quality mysteriously nose-dives in the last eps, this is going on my all-time fave jdramas list, and that plot description? While not incorrect? Really tells you nothing about the drama.

So yeah, BNNH. Katorii Shingo plays Eiji, a florist who is also raising an eight-year-old daughter, Shizuku (the amazing, adorable Yagi Yuki). Eiji is a quiet, unassuming man full of kindness, but his life begins to take a complete U-turn after he meets Mio (Takeuchi Yuko), a blind woman who moves into the neighborhood. As Eiji begins to open his heart to yet another person, he does not know that Mio is part of an elaborate plan conceived to wreck him mentally, emotionally, and financially, a part of elaborate scheme of revenge...

First off, I love Katori Shingo! All I knew of him going in was that he is in the same group as Kimura Takuya, and that I've never seen him in anything. He is simply excellent. I posted in my meta about The Devil that it is hard to portray pure goodness and not seem trite, or cloying, or ridiculous, but Eiji is good. He is incredibly good and gentle, in both the smallest of ways, and in the most giant ones, and yet he comes across as a real person, and likeable, and someone you feel enormously for. Eiji is basically my new drama boyfriend. And not just because I've gotten to the age where to see a scruffy man interact with a little kid automatically makes me fluttery. It doesn't hurt that not only is he age-appropriate, he looks like he eats.



I also love Takeuchi Yuko. I loved her in Pride so much, as the conservative yet strong Aki (does that mean that a SMAPxSMAP member+ Yuko=drama win?), and she is equally excellent here, in an incredibly different role.

Mio is a hard character to get you to like: she is, after all, hired as part of the scheme to wreck Eiji. But I have enormous sympathy for her, caught between a rock and a hard-place: she cannot let her father die, but the only way the doctor (HATE) will perform that operation is if he participates in his scheme. And then, of course, she ends up falling for Eiji for real, because of his such genuine caring and goodness, from small things, as how he steadfastly keeps his back turned when she is changing, even if she is (supposed to be) blind so she won't know if he peeks, to his being beaten up without a protest to protect her. That fairy tale about Beauty and the Beast the drama keeps mentioning? I don't think she is the Beauty that sought out the poor Beast in the castle. I think it's rather the other way around.

You know what kills me? Even after he finds out the truth, even after he finds out she wasn't blind, she played him for the money, he is still not angry. He still loves her and wants her. He is just so grateful she stuck around after she got the money (and puzzled by it), that is breaks my heart. I was talking to filmi_girl, and she pointed out that he simply can't believe anything good could ever happen to him, and that is why his reaction, and I think it perfectly makes sense. I think that is where his being an abused child comes in...I don't think he believes he is worthy of being loved or of having happiness. (Btw, how awesome was that interlude with little Hiroto and Eiji figuring out the boy is abused and getting through to him, and rescuing him!)

But oh, that scene at the beach, it just kills me. Because she wants him to take off the gauze so the first thing she sees will be his face (and you see her wear the gauze even when nobody is around because in a way, she is desperate to make her lie real), and he knows the truth by then, but yet, he removes her bandages, and after a bit, he walks away but then stops and just stands there, and throws his arms wide open, and just stands, waiting for her. And of course she runs into them. Oh my. I think I got a little teary. I love Mio's reaction in ep 7, when she finds out from the teacher, that Eiji knew...

But I love all the relationships in this drama: the one Eiji forms with that old lady he has move in, the one with the bar owner etc etc. But above all, with Shizuku. Shizuku is that rarity: a realistic child who is yet fun to watch. She is mature somewhat beyond her ears, and secure as only those completely loved can be. And yet she is eccentric enough to wear a 'puppeto muppeto' hood on her head etc etc. The relationship between her and Eiji is just so tender and so amazing to watch (interestingly, I am tempted to do a whole compare-and-contrast thing between them and Gwan Pil and Ggot Nim in kdrama Powerful Opponents, yet another 'tough guy, little daughter' scenario).

You know who I do NOT like? That horrible doctor grandfather of Shizuku. WTF? Once again, I started watching this right after The Devil, another story of revenge gone awry and the difference is stark! Hold on, the Doctor wants Eiji's life ruined because Doc's daughter fell for him but he didn't love her back and she died in childbirth (naturally, not through some foul means). What???? WHAT??? How is it Eiji's fault? Even without spoileriness that I know, that is ridiculous. So, he is supposed not to have loved a girl back. Is that a crime? Why? How? I certainly had people who liked me who I didn't like back. UGH. And he never even tries to meet or find out the truth. In The Devil, Lawyer had certainly legitimate grounds for revenge: murder (as he believed) of his brother, his Mother's being killed in front of his eyes, his own near starvation to death. And even there, he would not only giv outs but attempt to verify the veracity of the story and the nitty-gritty. But here? No way. Not to mention he basically wants to make poor Mio into some sort of revenge hooker? 'Here nurse, go seduce this random guy you don't know and who's never done anything to you, or else your Daddy dies.' WTF?

Also, spoil me. Does Naoya (Matusda Shota) ever get a glimmer of conscience? Or a little guilt or niceness? Because as of now, I rather hate him too.

Comments

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

OMG YES YES BARA NO NAI HANAYA. It's one of my favorites too.

Hold on, the Doctor wants Eiji's life ruined because Doc's daughter fell for him but he didn't love her back and she died in childbirth (naturally, not through some foul means). What???? WHAT??? How is it Eiji's fault? Even without spoileriness that I know, that is ridiculous. So, he is supposed not to have loved a girl back. Is that a crime? Why? How?

How spoiled are you? --> The girl's diary talks about her boyfriend abandoning her after she learns she's pregnant, but she is sweet and loving and waits for him, convinced he'll come back and see the error of his ways and they can all be a happy family together. Except he doesn't come back. And she dies believing that. So while the whole revenge thing is out of line, I don't blame the doctor one bit for being angry with the no-good deadbeat who seduces his gentle daughter and then leaves her in the cold. And Eiji certainly doesn't help his case any, being so eager to accept all guilt because he thinks he's a terrible person who deserves it a;fskldfjasklfjasdf

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know the spoilers, but I guess I am a heartless person or what not, because, seriously, being a jerk who isn't interested in continuing on with a girl once she gets pregant, isn't nice but is hardly deserving life-ruination. I mean, it would be one thing if he killed her because he knew she shouldn't get pregnant but made her pregnant on purpose but this? I mean, she died in childbirth, naturally, the end.

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

Except the man who lost his only child doesn't get "the end." I'm willing to bet any father in that situation would want the jerk boyfriend to suffer, it's just that this one had the means to do it.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

At last!!! I told you that Bara No nai Hanaya is not your usual bittersweet jdrama :)

And Shingo is amazing in it. He sure has matured as an actor, but he already has shown amazing acting skills when he played a retarded youngster in Miseinen (subs pending, I will get to them eventually). Usually, you have in a jpop group one or two folks who can REALLY act, but with SMAP you have all five who in their own way are amazing. No wonder I love those guys so much.

So far Takeuchi Yuko has played with all SMAP men but Goro IIRC. She is the SMAPpy girlfriend so to speak :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Shingo is really excellent in this. Any other recs for his dramas?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree that he will be mad, but to me, mad is refusing to speak to him etc etc. Wrecking someone's life (and misusing other people in the process) seems to be a huge overkill though, to me. I mean, childbirth! She could have had the best bf ever and she still would have died the same way. The sort of elaborate revenge plan just sticks in my gut, in general. I haven't seen that many dramas with revenge elements as a strong part of the story, but the three I can think of (all kdramas) had either deaths of a loved one (Mawang, Dog/Wolf, Love to Kill), or horrendous personal suffering inflicted on the future avenger on purpose by the bad guys (Green Rose). And even then it's percieved as at best somewhat ambivalent (Green Rose) or at worst, totally messed-up (Love to Kill, Mawang). And in the latter cases, the 'perps' end up paying for it emotionally. Here...

I just can't really follow him at all. I think people like that exist, true, it just makes me loathe him.

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

I totally agree his revenge plot was reprehensible, especially since he couldn't perform Mio's father's surgery anyway. But I can't bring myself to hate him since I understand where his feelings come from. (My dad wanted my date's head on a pike when he didn't hold the door open for me; I can only imagine his reaction if some asshole knocked me up and then left the country.) And he does get better by the drama's end -- I think a lot of the problem is that he had this horrible thing happen to his daughter, and then she died, and he had to stew in it for years before he could do anything about it. Once things change (and the full story comes out), he isn't a bad guy at all.

[outof-focus.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THIS DRAMA.Last season I downloaded a bunch of first episodes of diff. jdramas and this was the first I watched without hitting fast forward.

It's my first Shingo drama, so I wonder if he's this good in others. The kid playing Shizuku-chan is also adorable

Does Naoya (Matusda Shota) ever get a glimmer of conscience? Or a little guilt or niceness? Because as of now, I rather hate him too. - Yes :) I liked him at first then started hating him. I didn't love him as much when the drama ended but at least he improved in my book.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

before he could do anything about it

Question (as I don't mind spoilers). Why did he wait eight years? I mean, he could have gone after Eiji much earlier.

We'll see if I change my opinion on him or whether, as with Mr. Darcy, 'my good opinion once lost, is lost forever.'

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I liked him at first then started hating him. I didn't love him as much when the drama ended but at least he improved in my book.



I am glad as by this point I don't even want to look at his face! (Matsuda Shota is really picking either cool or entertaining dramas, isn't he? Hanadan was quite a godsend for his career).

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

The drama doesn't say. My guess is either he didn't know who the boyfriend was/it took awhile to track Eiji down, or maybe he had everything planned and was waiting for pawns that fit (Mio and her father) to put it in play.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

AH!! I love BNNH! It was such a mature and entertaining drama. The characters felt so real and at one point you want to hit and hug each of them. Yes, the storyline sounds a bit odd at first, but it's just such a strong drama with a wonderful cast.



I really love Takeuchi Yuko, as she brings a sort of pureness to all her roles. Mio could have been really unlikeable, but Yuko kept her sweet and almost childlike when she was around Eiji and family. Around them, she got to be her true self, which was something she had been longing for. I get the idea that her dad left/wasn't allowed to see her, and that her mom must have been there, but not been there. You know?


At the heart of this show, is, I think, the message that sometimes you can make your own family. Because, Eiji does make his own family: a mother in the Keiko, a younger brother in Naoya (who really needed a family), an older brother in Kengo aka Master, a younger sister in Yuki, etc. His childhood friend (you know who) would rather have Eiji be alone or just depend on him, but Eiji breaks away from that and makes the family he always wanted, but didn't have the courage to find.


And, Naoya does get better. But, truthfully I think Matusda Shota is theh weakest casr member. He's improved a lot since the first Hanadan, but he has a long way to go.



Oh, and I love that Takeuchi Yuko is so the SMAP!girlfriend. Need a girlfriend for a SMAP member, call Yuko.

[kitsune714.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad you're enjoying Bara no nai Hanaya -- it was one of the big surprises of the past drama season for me, and it just gets better with each episode.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

His earlier projects have all been more on the comic side but there are a couple of jdramas where he is fantastic. Unfortunately, they are not subbed. When I find someone who can either speak/understand Japanese better than me or can read Korean, then Miseinen and Yomigaeru Kinro will be subbed till the end of the year. I have finished timing the series so all there is to do is translating it.

There is Love story but I haven't seen it yet so I can't rec it to you though some SMAP fans think he did a very good job on the series. Hito no yasashiku is good but his role is more comedic than tragic.
Just click here and see what takes your fancy. I haven't uzploaded Miseinen yet though.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I love that Takeuchi Yuko is so the SMAP!girlfriend. Need a girlfriend for a SMAP member, call Yuko.
Yep that is soooo true ...I could be really jealous, she has kissed almost all of them in one series or other :)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I actually have this theory that every Johnny generation has a pre-approved list of actresses they are allowed to work with mult. times, and Yuko must be on it. I've noticed that, really, only "respectable" women/girls that don't seem to have huge issues in the magaines get to work with Johnnys many times.


And yes, Yuko just gets to kiss all the SMAP guys. Lucky girl.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I really love Takeuchi Yuko, as she brings a sort of pureness to all her roles. Mio could have been really unlikeable, but Yuko kept her sweet and almost childlike

Exactly. It was so easy to make her brittle, but she made her loveable.

His childhood friend (you know who) would rather have Eiji be alone or just depend on him, but Eiji breaks away from that and makes the family he always wanted, but didn't have the courage to find.



And I love that!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Icon! BNNH is amazing.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I also want to check out Shinsengumi.

I have Love Story (got it for Toyokawa Etsushi) and will move it up my list.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Eiji is just one of the best male leads ever in jdrama.



BTW: did you d/l the episodes or buy them?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Bought, I was lazy. I dled first ep though, for capping.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

May I ask where you bought it? Ebay? I'm always looking for places to find Asian dramas with good english subs.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Nope.

The one for Japanese DVDs listed here:

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/1023245.html