[Review] イタズラなKiss ~Love in TOKYO Ep01

[abeelu]

Originally posted by yanie02 at [Review] イタズラなKiss ~Love in TOKYO Ep01

Wow! This drama surpassed my expectation!*v*   I was all worried for nothing!



Judging from Ep1, this one is totally on par with the Almighty Unbeatable Taiwanese version!^o^    I think it even might have the potential to beat the Taiwanese one. Watching the teaser, I was really worried it's gonna be a cheap drama (esp. because its not an official production of a certain TV station, but an unfamiliar production house instead). The director, the screenwriter and the music composer are all female, I was worried the drama is gonna be too wishy-washy, but it was totally not the case. The music was quite kakkoii~! I love the additional lines (that weren't in the manga) written by the scriptwriter, and as far as Ep1, it stay true to the manga. The directing style IS THE BEST!! It has its own unique/particular style different than other directings.... it's more like "Suzuki-sensei", the romantic drama version. It's like a bit darker "Itazura na KISS", kinda a bit dark comedy style. I had a marathon of sparkling, glamorous, candy-style, colourful kind of "Itazura na Kiss" (1996 Japan, Taiwanese, Japan Anime and Korean).... so I'm glad this version has a different vibe than the other adaptations, it's quite refreshing! I love the BGMs too, again it's refreshing, cause it's more of the kakkoii type of musics, rather than the candycandy type like the Korean version... after I read that the music composer was in charge of the anime, Metal Gear Solid's scores... ohh, that's why, it sounded like that...


Episode 1: Koi wa Nagareboshi to tomo ni (My Romance is Falling Together with the Shooting Star)

The opening scene was Kotoko writing the love letter in her room while listening to a radio program called "Kiss in Tokyo". The next day, Kotoko waited for Irie Naoki at the school gate, then he finally came...

Haha, her smile... it's sooo "Baka-Kotoko" ^v^



Naoki: Dare? (who are you?)
Kotoko: I'm Aihara Kotoko of the F class... Please read this.



Naoki: Iranai (I don't want to)...

Shocked Kotoko....




But I personally love Ariel Lin's Xiang Qin's reaction better... haha, more comical!




I love the opening titleback sequence!!^o^







It's a bit similar to the Taiwanese version's opening titleback nee... Zhishu and Xiangqin were looking for each other in the middle of the crowd. But in this "Love in Tokyo" titleback, Kotoko and Naoki were simply walking among the crowd in Shibuya, they weren't looking for each other. But then, Kotoko saw Naoki and fell in love. They walked away, further apart, walking ahead at different places, but then at the end, they met again, and Kotoko's expression was, as if, she had been looking for him ever since she saw him at the intersection, Naoki smiled at her and then he kissed her. I guess it's about 2 people among something-million people, finding each other ne... after their first met, they were apart, but then they managed to find their ways back to each other. Sweet!^^

Next scene was all the same with the manga, to the tee. The whole school gossiping about Aihara Kotoko confessing her love for Irie Naoki and got rejected. Then, comes Satomi and Jinko, Kotoko's bestfriends, lecturing her about how impossible for her feelings to be returned by Irie Naoki.

Then they show Irie Naoki writing and speaking English in his class. There it is! Furukawa Yuki showing off his fluent English, haha. Awesome! In the manga, it's always described how fluent Naoki's english is, but Kashiwabara Takashi, Joe Cheng, and the anime voice actor's english were all awful! lol. Okay, so Joe Cheng's english was okay, but really not that good either. Kassy's Naoki was suppose to correct Kotoko's pronounciation of "unbelievable", but he didn't sound any better than Kotoko either, haha. IIRC, Kim Hyun-joong's Naoki didn't even have any scenes where he had to speak English. So, FINALLY! An Irie Naoki who can actually speak fluent English!!^o^   Bravo! lol.




I love this shot... haha. IQ: 200. Height: 178cm. Weight: 60kg.



Satomi-Jinko kept talking about how Irie Naoki speaks fluent English, awesome in sport, and he's the son of a President Director. He's really a superboy!

Okay... let me talk a bit about Furukawa Yuki as Irie Naoki. I really can't approve his looks as Irie Naoki, he doesn't has Irie Naoki's looks and he's too skinny >_<   But according to the director, Ms. Nagata Koto, Furukawa Yuki's character in real life resembles the manga-Irie Naoki. He's a Keio University graduate, majoring science engineering (omg! exactly Irie Naoki's major in college, before he transferred to medical faculty, lol! what are the odds?). Then he went to New York as a research student for 2 years. (what the hell is he doing as an actor, if he's so smart? lol.)

Irie Naoki's looks suppose to be something like Kassy's... or Kim Hyun-joong, but gosh, it was a torture to watch KHJ's acting, lol... even Yamapi acts better than him, I think, haha... Anyway, it's really hard to accept Furukawa's Irie Naoki because I feel bothered that he doesn't really has ikemen-quality looks. But oh well, I hated Joe Cheng's looks too, but since he nailed the role so perfectly, he looked attractive to me as the story goes by. (but my ideal Irie Naoki will always be Mukai Osamu T_T   but it's too late already for him to play this role...)

Here comes Kin-chan! I love Yamada Yuki as Kin-chan!! He's not doing too good with the Osaka dialect, but he really suit the role! Love him!



Okay, so may-bee... he's too handsome to be Kin-chan... cause Kin-chan in the manga is suppose to be ugly. But who cares? lol. All of his predecessors were also the handsome and cute type, haha.

Just like the manga and any other adaptations, Kin-chan came and going hysterical about Kotoko confessing her love for Irie Naoki and got rejected. Kin-chan came bringing takoyaki he cooked for Kotoko. Kotoko felt sleepy because she spent all night to write the love letter, and she even had to look up for the kanji characters of her name, to make sure, as not to embarrass herself.



I love Yamaya Kasumi as the mature Satomi and Fujimoto Nanami as the tomboy Jinko. They're as fun as the Jpn96 Satomi-Jinko! The Korean version of Satomi-Jinko were fun too. Only the Taiwanese Satomi-Jinko were boring XD



Kotoko and her father are moving in to a new house. Satomi, Jinko, Kin-chan and Kin-chan's two followers, Gintaro and Douzou. Lol, omoshiroi, I just found out that Kin-chan's followers' names has silver and bronze in it... while Kin means gold^^ Kin, Gin, Dou.... Gintaro and Douzou were so funny everytime Kin-chan ordered them to do something, cause they're so obedient. Like when Kin-chan told them to give Kotoko the takoyaki box. They were saying "Akema-su (opening the box)..." while opening the box and "Kakema-su(pouring the sauce)..." in Osaka dialect^^

The actress who's playing Jinko, Fujimoto Nanami has grown so much!



I've seen her before in Koneko no Namida (Tears of a Kitty) starring Takeda Shinji and Hirosue Ryoko, which review I've written before here: http://yanie02.livejournal.com/81294.html



She was still a child actress in the movie, but she performed really good in this movie! I love her acting so much, I'm surprised she has not been in any dramas/movies as much as Ashida Mana XD  Now she's 18 already, wow! I hope Jinko (and Satomi) get their own focus story in the drama^^


They finished moving in the boxes inside the house, but before they enter the house, Kotoko stopped them and told them she heard a weird sound. Not long after, a meteor (in the afternoon!? lol) fell and went through the house roof, and a few seconds later the house collapsed. LOL!



Let's make a recap.

Original manga (1990): Earthquake.
Japan Drama (1996): House on fire.
Taiwan Drama (2005): Earthquake.
Anime (2008): Earthquake.
Korea Drama (2010): Earthquake.
Japan Drama (2013): Meteor fell through the house.

I believe there was a big Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, I guess that's why the 1996 Japanese drama made it a fire, instead. And there was the Tohoku earthquake in 2011, so it's a falling meteor for this 2013 version. Earthquake is a very painful and sensitive matter in Japan now. But I think I love this falling meteor idea better than the earthquake, it's so much more shoujo manga-ish! haha~ good job, to whoever came up with the idea.



And it was reported on the TV news, haha.

I like Tanaka Yoji as Aihara Shigeo! He was so funny when he was trying to hold back his tears several times! So far, I love the Jpn96 Aihara Shigeo the best, but we'll see^^

This heart-warming father and daughter scene after the disaster only exist in the Japanese 1996 version, and this version. Nande darou...




The next day, Kin-chan was trying to collect donation for Kotoko but Kotoko stopped him from doing it, and comes Irie Naoki.

Naoki: Tooshite kurenai? (Can you make way?)
Kotoko: Irie-kun...!
Kin-chan: Who do you think you are, Irie? Watch the way you talk! Kotoko met such a misfortune, who do you think responsible for that!?
Naoki: It's the Lyrids meteor's fault, right?
Kin-chan: I'm talking about a different matter! Such misfortunes befell her because of the bad things you did to her, in the first place!
Naoki: The possibility of a meteoroid making a direct hit on people is 1/10 billion.
Kotoko: Meteoroid? You mean the shooting star?
Naoki: So you mean that 1/10 billion possibility was my fault?
Kin-chan: That's right!
Kotoko: Kin-chan, that's impossible.
Naoki: heee.... Then, just how great am I?

Naoki hand over 5000 yen to Kotoko and she slapped it away.



Kotoko: Don't look down on me! It's such a waste of time for me to admire you these 2 years! I'd rather die than take your donation!
Naoki: You sure its okay for you to say that?
Kotoko: Of course!! Do you even have friends living like that!? Look around me! I have friends who's always there to help me! Kin-chan, Jinko and Satomi! So I can't find a single reason to accept your donation!
(Naoki left with a cynical smile)

Kotoko: DON'T LOOK DOWN ON US JUST BECAUSE WE'RE STUPID!!!

This scene made me realize for the first time that Furukawa's acting is not all that bad... he's quite passable as Naoki.


Kotoko's father's bestfriend offered them to live temporarily in his house. And so it's their moving day to his friend's house.



Kotoko's father said his friend is a president director of a big company. It's written "IRIE's Family" and Kotoko was shocked, but when she saw a fat old man coming out, she was relieved thinking she was worried for nothing. His wife came out and told them to get in and have some snacks first. I love how Naoki and Kotoko's father talked in Kyushu dialect, just like in the manga^^ (the fathers in the Japanese96 and anime talked in normal Tokyo dialect)

Then, comes their eldest son...

Kotoko: GYAAAAAAAAAA~~~~~
haha, i love how Kotoko screamed in shock here.





Shigeo: Kotoko, greet him, why are you acting like that?
Kotoko: It's just... so shocking that Iri-chan-san (Kotoko's father calls Naoki's father "Iri-chan") and Irie-kun doesn't look alike at all...
(Shigeo hit Kotoko's head)
Naoki's father: Hahaha... yes well, both my sons resembles their mother. How lucky! hahaha!

Yuki, Naoki's younger brother went down bringing his homework and he asked Kotoko how to read certain kanji characters.



It's kanji characters for 'tonikaku' (means 'in any case'), but 'tonikaku' is more often written in 'hiragana' and rarely written in 'kanji', so Kotoko had difficulty to read it. She reads it "usagi ni tsuno" (rabbit's horn).

Yuki: What an idiot! This reads 'tonikaku'!! You're a highschool student and you can't read this?
Naoki's mother: Yuki! What are you saying!! Apologize to oneesan (big sister)!!
Yuki: Hmph... tonikaku (in any case), I hate you!




Haha so cute! I love this kid! He's one of the cast of "Kodomo Keisatsu" right?^^


Then, I realized... how elegant the way Naoki sit and drink his tea *_*




I love Kotoko and Noriko(Naoki's mother)'s conversation and chemistry here! In the manga and other adaptations, Noriko said she had always wanted a daughter, decorate her daughter's room fluttery, going shopping together with her daughter... she couldn't do it, cause she has sons only. But Kotoko never said anything back, just that she likes the room, that's it. But in this adaptation, Kotoko said "I'm so happy. I lost my mother when I was a child, so I never get to touch these kind of girlish stuff. You know my father, right? He said as long as the clothes good enough to wear, it's enough. I envy my friends who wears fluttery dresses. This is just like a dream come true for me..."



Naoki: It was Yuki's room, y'know.



Noriko: We were just in a good mood! Don't say anything weird now, Oniichan!



Noriko: You don't have to worry about anything! Just think of this place as your own home. Okay?



Noriko told his son to help Kotoko unpack, but when Naoki picked up her bags, Kotoko tried to snatch it away and told him, "I can do it myself,"

These two.... Miki Honoka and Furukawa Yuki are 9 years apart... but they're totally passable to look like they're the same age, sugoii... does Furukawa look that young? Or Honoka look mature? Will their chemistry be able to compete with AiKassy / ArJoe / HyunMin?? ArJoe and HyunMin has so many shippers because of their strong chemistry on and off screen, and I personally love Aiko and Kassy's offscreen chemistry too... there must be something when you can laugh and make bloopers during kissing scenes, and they were both only 19 that time. Actually ArJoe and HyunMin tend to make bloopers during kissing scenes too, haha~



Can these two kiss well and make good kissing scenes? She's only 16 and he's 25 XD  Wouldn't a kissing scene between them violate some law? hahaha. She's still underaged, will there be any kissing scene at all?? lol.

After Naoki told her off not to get in his way and trouble him...

(narration) Kotoko: The possibility of people get a direct hit of a shooting star is 1/10 billion. One-how many billionth possibility for a highschool girl living together with a boy who just rejected her? Will it be the start of something special and wonderful? Or...



Family meal scenes! Always love to see this scene in any version! This scene has become one of my fav too!

Kotoko staring at Naoki... feeling disbelief that she's having breakfast together with him.
And he's reading The Japan Times, haha, sasuga!!



Going to school together and he told her the basic rules. Stay 2 metres away from him, he'll tell her how to go to school just once, she can't tell anyone at school that they're living under the same roof, and she can't talk to him at school.



Naoki: I hate stupid girls...



End of Episode 1.

Preview for Episode 2. One my favorite episode!! Kotoko-Naoki studying together... kyaaa~





haha... shirome (white eyes)!! Reminds me of Nodame, LoL!!

My final verdict for Furukawa Yuki as Irie Naoki! I think he did a GOOD JOB, so far! His calmness, composed, coldness, his elegance and looking intellect when sitting and reading the newspaper.... all in perfect degree for Irie Naoki character! I think he might be even better than Kassy... cause as handsome as Kassy was, he seem uncomfortable with the role. But Furukawa acted Naoki effortlessly, pretty much like how Joe Cheng played Zhishu. Maybe because Furukawa's RL character resembles Naoki, quiet and aloof. (Then, it sounds like Joe Cheng is a much better actor than the other Naoki-s cause he's the totally opposite in RL, haha.)

But we'll wait and see... whether or not he can act the affectionate Naoki as well as Joe Cheng or not. Kassy didn't have the chance to show that side of Naoki, cause the drama ended so fast. While Kim Hyung-joon totally failed on that part, cause like an android, he can only show 2 kinds of expressions, lol. (I love KHJ's RL personality, but the boy is really a bad actor, everyone has to admit that, lol)

I really still have to worry about one thing. MikYuki's (pairing name for Miki Honoka and Furukawa Yuki, anyone? lol) chemistry. It's really hard to beat ArJoe, but I hope they'd at least be as good as AiKassy. We can't find that yet, in the first eps of every adaptation... ArJoe's chemistry didn't come out either, until Ep10 or so... then their chemistry exploded in the 2nd season, lol.

I AM DEFINETELY GOING TO WATCH THIS DORAMA... AS SOON AS THERE ARE SUBS!!! (OR WITHOUT SUBS, NEE!???) ^^