Tokyo Love Story

This is a story of 5 men and women engaged in a love relationship. 3 are school buddies, 2 are newcomers.

Kanji (Oda Yuji), a newcomer to Tokyo, is being encouraged by the bubbly Rika (Suzuki Honami). They become an item. But Kanji still cannot forget his female schoolmate whom he always admired. However, the latter is infatuated with Kanji's best friend, an ultimate playboy. Then again, this playboy is attracted by his mysterious female college-mate. Sigh, a love-pentagon.

The usual jealousy and love games persist, until Kanji decides to give Rika up, saying that he cannot bear the "burden" of her affection.

This romantic drama hit the tops in Japan and Singapore, despite the familiar plot. The essence of the drama is Rika, played by the charming Suzuki Honami. The theme songs also lent much character to the drama. An interesting note: Oda Yuji's performance has improved since this hit drama, as shown in Bayside Shakedown of 1998.

Made it one episode and a half in and I couldn't take it anymore. I don't get it. Everybody seems to love this Rika chick but I loathe her. I do. I really do. She annoyed me from the very beginning with her interfering and her stupid jokes and at the point where I decided to drop the drama she was giving Kanji a lot of crap at the office because she was jealous or something. I mean she keeps inserting herself into his life and occasionally throwing herself at him while she knows who he likes and then acts all upset that he's not into her. Good grief, is this what passes for pursuing a person? If a guy did that you'd call it something else. Well, probably not in J-drama and not even nowadays. Because mangas and doramas are pretty toxic. This is somewhat tamer in terms of the manga flavour but the character dynamics are all screwed up.

If I have to watch ten plus hours of this to watch Kanji end up with Rika and Segumi with Mikami then thanks, but not thanks. I am not rooting for that and I don't want to see that. There is nothing redeemable about Mikami, and no woman deserves that man inflicted on her. His only quality is that he is good looking and that's basically all that he has to offer. As for Rika, she is supposed to be bubbly, energetic, fun, well she annoys me an awful lot and I would not want her around, not even as a female friend. I don't get the love, I really don't.

The only thing I liked about this drama, from the little that I have seen, was the fact that the characters acted and looked more natural than nowadays. Almost bare skin, natural skin tone, minimal make-up, natural gestures and reactions, no silly or cringey manga exaggerations. Also such a time capsule for the late eighties. Very nostalgic. Some clothes look cool even now, some not so much. Some of the hairstyles are a little cringey, but I know they were cool back then.

So yeah, another fail for me in the J-drama category. By the way I know how it ends, I read up on it, still not interested in watching these four go back and forth, I just don't care for any of them in particular, maybe Kanji, I sympathize with him a little because I would not wish a Rika on anybody to be honest.

A hidden gem. This show is so underrated, I wish more people would know how awesome it is. It's true that the first two or three episodes aren't particularly impressive or original, but once it picks up it's amazing. The characters are endearing, unique and very stylish. Props to the make-up and costume team. They perfectly encapsulate the spirit of the 90s. The action is shot on location and the Tokyo backdrop is to die for. Every scene is a vibe. Bonus points - the ending got me sobbing so hard. This has never happened with any other TV show. I feel really fortunate to have come across this TV show. I wouldn't have never got to watch it if Netflix hadn't picked it up 35 years later after it release.