Now for something that never fails to cheer me up when I'm sad - Hana Kimi (full title, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e), my guilty pleasure. Although the show is completely absurd, it hits all the right spots for me from it's comedy to it's heartfelt moments. This is one of the few dramas I love in it's entirety, which means I watch it beginning-to-end all the time.
Maki Horikita stars as Ashiya Mizuki, an American-born Japanese girl who idolised high-jumper Sano Izumi, an inspirational athlete her own age. When Sano suddenly quits the high-jump, Mizuki, convinced that she has to help him, flys to Japan and begins attending his school, Ohsaka Gakuen. But no-one said it would be an easy thing to do. Firstly, Ohsaka Gakuen is an all-boy's school, and Mizuki will have to pretend to be a boy in order to survive. Secondly, Sano has no intention whatsoever of returning to high-jump, not to mention he's a complete pain. And thirdly, Mizuki soon starts to love the school, and everyone within it, too much to leave of her own will.
Now, this story comes from a manga of the same name, which I tried to read, but I found paled in comparison to it's legacy. For starters, in the original story Mizuki was an obsessive fangirl-stalker who only entered the school to be within close range of her idol. I like how the team behind this drama took a fun idea and made it tens of thousands of times better. You don't have to think too hard to watch Hana Kimi, it isn't trying to be complex or mysterious or intense. Rather, it's a silly, bizarre little ode to youth and friendship.
One great thing about it is how much effort is put into the characters. The ensemble cast feature many popular young actors, and so many of them get their own moments to shine. I can't even begin to start describing all the characters and their individual quirks, because so many are given importance and it would make this post a mile long. Hana Kimi certainly proved what capable actors and certifiably-insane characters can do for comedy, because I continue to maintain that this is one of the funniest shows I've ever watched. The actors probably had complete freedom whilst filming this drama to just go with the flow and have fun, and it makes the experience of watching it even better because you can tell the cast are enjoying themselves!
If anything, this show has just one gaping flaw: the second male lead completely outshines the first one. As much as I love Oguri Shun, he couldn't do a whole lot for Sano Izumi, who was painfully bland for the first half of the drama. It was Toma Ikuta as second-lead Nakatsu Shuichi who stole the show. Nakatsu quickly becomes Mizuki's best friend after she enters the school, but begins to doubt his sexuality when he falls in love with her. Toma Ikuta should do comedy all the time, and only with Maki Horikita (who suits upbeat drama like this and Atashinichi no Danshi far more than that of Innocent Love and Higanbana). From his silent monologues, to his crazy antics, to how he unconditionally cares for Mizuki, I left Hana Kimi knowing that Nakatsu was undeniably the highlight of the show.
In conclusion, Hana Kimi is an irresistible comedy-drama with plenty of beautiful boys, bromance, and heart. It's an easy enough watch for someone with time on their hands, and it's a nice alternative to more realistic and weighty stories. Hana Kimi isn't meant to be realistic, it's meant to show just how wonderful being young is if you grab opportunites with both hands. Although this show may not be for everyone, it was a laugh-out-loud hit for me and even inspired a 2011 remake due to it's popularity (which I haven't watched, and don't intend to), so maybe you should take the plunge and try it out? Maybe even just to drool over the eye-candy?
Maki Horikita stars as Ashiya Mizuki, an American-born Japanese girl who idolised high-jumper Sano Izumi, an inspirational athlete her own age. When Sano suddenly quits the high-jump, Mizuki, convinced that she has to help him, flys to Japan and begins attending his school, Ohsaka Gakuen. But no-one said it would be an easy thing to do. Firstly, Ohsaka Gakuen is an all-boy's school, and Mizuki will have to pretend to be a boy in order to survive. Secondly, Sano has no intention whatsoever of returning to high-jump, not to mention he's a complete pain. And thirdly, Mizuki soon starts to love the school, and everyone within it, too much to leave of her own will.Now, this story comes from a manga of the same name, which I tried to read, but I found paled in comparison to it's legacy. For starters, in the original story Mizuki was an obsessive fangirl-stalker who only entered the school to be within close range of her idol. I like how the team behind this drama took a fun idea and made it tens of thousands of times better. You don't have to think too hard to watch Hana Kimi, it isn't trying to be complex or mysterious or intense. Rather, it's a silly, bizarre little ode to youth and friendship.
One great thing about it is how much effort is put into the characters. The ensemble cast feature many popular young actors, and so many of them get their own moments to shine. I can't even begin to start describing all the characters and their individual quirks, because so many are given importance and it would make this post a mile long. Hana Kimi certainly proved what capable actors and certifiably-insane characters can do for comedy, because I continue to maintain that this is one of the funniest shows I've ever watched. The actors probably had complete freedom whilst filming this drama to just go with the flow and have fun, and it makes the experience of watching it even better because you can tell the cast are enjoying themselves!
If anything, this show has just one gaping flaw: the second male lead completely outshines the first one. As much as I love Oguri Shun, he couldn't do a whole lot for Sano Izumi, who was painfully bland for the first half of the drama. It was Toma Ikuta as second-lead Nakatsu Shuichi who stole the show. Nakatsu quickly becomes Mizuki's best friend after she enters the school, but begins to doubt his sexuality when he falls in love with her. Toma Ikuta should do comedy all the time, and only with Maki Horikita (who suits upbeat drama like this and Atashinichi no Danshi far more than that of Innocent Love and Higanbana). From his silent monologues, to his crazy antics, to how he unconditionally cares for Mizuki, I left Hana Kimi knowing that Nakatsu was undeniably the highlight of the show. In conclusion, Hana Kimi is an irresistible comedy-drama with plenty of beautiful boys, bromance, and heart. It's an easy enough watch for someone with time on their hands, and it's a nice alternative to more realistic and weighty stories. Hana Kimi isn't meant to be realistic, it's meant to show just how wonderful being young is if you grab opportunites with both hands. Although this show may not be for everyone, it was a laugh-out-loud hit for me and even inspired a 2011 remake due to it's popularity (which I haven't watched, and don't intend to), so maybe you should take the plunge and try it out? Maybe even just to drool over the eye-candy?
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