After a bit of a drama drought, I started and finished Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo (even though I didn't finish A Gentlemen's Dignity yet. Oops.)
It's a more recent Japanese version of the ever-still popular manga Itazura na Kiss. I'm sure most Asian drama lovers know the story. A highschool girl, Kotoko, falls in love at first sight with the handsome, but cold Naoki on the first day of highschool. After two years of unrequited love, she decides to confess, but is publicly rejected. Her house collapses. Her dad and her Naoki's dad happen to be childhood friends who lost touch and they end up moving in which them. Cue romance, tears, tension, and drama!
Strangely enough I've yet to read the original manga series, but I first watched the Taiwanese version, It Started with a Kiss, and the Korean version, Playful Kiss. And decided to give the Japanese one a try. (Can't remember whether I've watched the original Japanese version. Should remedy that.)
In the end, I prefer the Taiwanese and Korean versions to this one. While Kotoko is endearing in all three versions, I prefer the Taiwanese and Korean versions of Naoki a lot more. The Naoki in this version was bland and drab. Portraying no personality whatsoever. Sure he was cute, but his acting left much to be desired. Also, the plot was less dramatic than the Korean and Taiwanese versions, but then again I find that often the case for Japanese dramas. No one seems to know DRAMA more than Koreans! I found myself skipping a lot, bored, simply wanting to see how it ended. Also, I was annoyed that it took until the very last episode for Naoki to pull his head out of his butt. I believe it happened a little earlier in the other versions and viewers had the chance to see them "dating." I could be wrong though; it's been a while since I've watched either version. The ending was really freaking adorable though! Gotta love Mama Irie.
Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo is worth watching because the core story remains a good one, but only after you've watched the Taiwanese and Korean versions, which I believe to be better.
It's a more recent Japanese version of the ever-still popular manga Itazura na Kiss. I'm sure most Asian drama lovers know the story. A highschool girl, Kotoko, falls in love at first sight with the handsome, but cold Naoki on the first day of highschool. After two years of unrequited love, she decides to confess, but is publicly rejected. Her house collapses. Her dad and her Naoki's dad happen to be childhood friends who lost touch and they end up moving in which them. Cue romance, tears, tension, and drama!
Strangely enough I've yet to read the original manga series, but I first watched the Taiwanese version, It Started with a Kiss, and the Korean version, Playful Kiss. And decided to give the Japanese one a try. (Can't remember whether I've watched the original Japanese version. Should remedy that.)
In the end, I prefer the Taiwanese and Korean versions to this one. While Kotoko is endearing in all three versions, I prefer the Taiwanese and Korean versions of Naoki a lot more. The Naoki in this version was bland and drab. Portraying no personality whatsoever. Sure he was cute, but his acting left much to be desired. Also, the plot was less dramatic than the Korean and Taiwanese versions, but then again I find that often the case for Japanese dramas. No one seems to know DRAMA more than Koreans! I found myself skipping a lot, bored, simply wanting to see how it ended. Also, I was annoyed that it took until the very last episode for Naoki to pull his head out of his butt. I believe it happened a little earlier in the other versions and viewers had the chance to see them "dating." I could be wrong though; it's been a while since I've watched either version. The ending was really freaking adorable though! Gotta love Mama Irie.
Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo is worth watching because the core story remains a good one, but only after you've watched the Taiwanese and Korean versions, which I believe to be better.
