Kieta Hatsukoi (2021)

Cute and fluffy

This is my first Japanese drama, as well as my first BL drama, so I had no idea what to expect.

I'll be honest. If it wasn't for the exceptional reviews and a pretty high ranking, I wouldn't have watched this. The plot didn't interest me nor did I watch for an actor/actress that I like. ('Cause of course, my first JP drama.) The story is cute but after the camping trip, there wasn't really anything that I looked forward to watching.

The main characters were fine, but I never truly "loved" any of them. I usually love the supporting and guest characters, but in this drama they all just annoyed me.

I thought the acting was pretty good. Aoki (Michieda Shunsuke) was the stand-out because he has great facial expressions. Meguro Ren, who plays Ida, also did a good job at acting as an aloof, but also a sympathetic person.

There are 2 OSTs in total.
➀ Snow Man - 'Secret Touch'
➁ Naniwa Danshi - 'First Love'

I loved that the two leads also sang the OSTs in their respective bands.

After watching this drama, I think I could be a future fan of BL. I need to watch more BLs to decide if that's the case though.

aight byeee~

Lire davantage

Light & Cute

Wow this drama was really sweet and cute and light.

I really enjoyed this drama and there were all cute moments and the acting was amazing and akoi was so entertaining and funny that made yhe drama even more enjoyable.

I loved everything about this japanese drama it was one of first japanese drama that really interested me and was fun to watch.

Totally worth a rewatch, akoi facial expressions were cute and funny, and hashimoto was not so bad either. I loved the characters in this drama they were well suited and sweet together.

Overall a 100% worth watching, gonna do a rewatch.

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Ofcourse, One of the best BL I've watched, The suprmacy of Japanese BL!

I don't know where to start, I can't explain the excitement I feel on watching this! As you guys know, Japan is one of the powerhouse of BL, and this one really deserve a 10/10 rating! The casting is sooo perfect, The background music they use!!! It was like they're low key promoting their song but honestly it fits perfectly! I can say that they have the healthy relationship that we're looking in every jbl, no affairs or anything. I love how both of them take care of the love between them and let them grow. from the main characters up to the side characters, they all did a great job! This is worth watching a thoussand times, I swear if this series is already available in netflix, I will never hesitate to rewatch it, and also Im a big fan of naniwa danshi and snowman!! you guys should check it out!! I want to say more about this but I dont know how am I going to eplain this, you guys should watch it yourself and you will understand what am I saying, this series is one of the Best series ever! I dont wamt to drop any japanese bl here because all of them are so freakin good and I dont want to compare them all. YOU GUYS SHOULD WATCH IT!

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Arigato! Ida and Aoki

The eraser and the misunderstanding. The supposed to be someone else love story turned into a cute mix-up! Pilot episode did a great job holding me till the end. Since EP01 until EP10, there’s no doubt that this drama make me feel extremely happy. I just keep smiling the whole time. One thing that I always do when I am enjoying what I am watching is to took several screenshots from it. My gallery will prove how fond I am from the show.

IDA IS SUCH A NICE GUY –a rare gem to be exact. The way he handled Aoki and the eraser situation was something only kind-hearted people will do. He was shocked but he didn’t altered any harsh words to Aoki. He responded him with an utmost thinking of whether to accept Aoki’s confession or not. If only all guys acts like the way Ida acted towards Aoki’s love revalation, maybe people like Aoki may avoid a painful rejection from the guy he liked just because he is gay.

Ida-kun in a rolled white-school-long-sleeves with a loose necktie is so sizzling hot! With his kind personality and duality of either being a hottie or a cuttie, I therefore conclude that Ida is such a perfect boyfriend material.

Aoki on the other hand is the character I closely relate to. In the world where hetero relationship is labelled as “normal,” people who likes the same kind of gender tend to be really scared to even avoid speaking this kind of feeling to their friends. Some people can’t bring themselves to speak up and be honest with their sexuality to others, not even themselves. That is why I cried a lot when Aoki finally open up to his best friend, Akkun. It is really a blessing to have a friend that you can freely tell to them everything, even liking a person who have the same sex with you. I love how Aoki and Aida’s friendship was been told, supporting each other no matter who other person likes.

Aoki the cutest and the kindest. After their confession scene at the camping episode, every scenes were definitely a screaming-with-joy moments knowing that the two of them are real boyfriends now. Those beautiful smiles of Ida brought by Aoki’s action is absolutely the sweetest thing ever. His minimal laugh was sexy and appealing. I love him, we all love him, but most importantly, Aoki love him the most. On the episode where the appearance of a temporary new teacher –changing his attitude after knowing that Aoki is gay, make my blood boiled up. But thanks to this, we see that Ida is that gentle boyfriend who will protect you and let you be dependable to him because he doesn’t want you to be sad on something. Also, Aoki who will protect his lovelife and not letting other people say something bad about being in a homosexual relationship is the bravest thing to deal with homophobic person. I am glad that in the end, the teacher has been educate about this kind of relation.

From the special episode, aired before the release of the last two episodes, I am so happy to hear that Ida’s small and soft gesture of caressing Aoki’s hair from time to time has became a big topic in Japan. It trended and called as IDA-PON (Pon means touching or poking something.) Their first date was one of my favorite episode. I can feel how amazingly high their chemistry is with a consistent connection since the pilot episode. The highlight scene for me is when Ida is supposed to change his clothes on Aoki’s side, then Aoki were in panic because he’s too shy to see Ida’s angry abs. That was a funny clip for me, an exquisite one.

There’s only a few scenes where we see Ida being jealous and it was an adorable moments to see. Ida’s facial expression when he found out that Aoki has a little crush on Hashimoto before was the cutest! In spite of that, Hashimoto and Aoki became real besties now. This girl has a pure heart even after mistakenly knowing that Aoki has the same crush with her, she was so cheerful to accept her rival. I am also grateful that a person like Hashimoto exist in Aoki’s life owing to the fact that she’s a trustworthy and comfortable girl for Aoki to talked about his relationship with Ida, the same way Aoki help her with Aida. Hashimoto and Aida doesn’t have the best side couple story but both of them has been a great help to Aoki and Ida’s relationship; they’re truly a wonderful friends to have. Along with Ida’s volleyball friends who are kind too. I hope more and more people will be just like them, who is sincerely open on accepting homosexual relationship.

Ida and Aoki relationship has also some downfalls encountered. The misunderstanding or conflict thoughts were fix immediatle, proving that they have a healthy relationship.

The final episode is a real game over! When Ida say “I LOVE YOU” to Aoki, I hold my face so tight and cry in great silent. That was an insanely lovely scene, Ida finally giving Aoki a reassurance. The last scene is a happy ending indeed. Aoki borrowing Ida’s eraser and saw the text “Aoki (with a heart)” on his eraser bring me too many emotions. It all started with a eraser and ended up with another eraser, no misunderstaning, no mix-up, just being real with their feelings.

OST’s is as great as the drama. The fact that both Michieda Shunsuke and Meguro Ren was the one who sang Kieta Hatsukoi OSTs alongside with their respective groups are so cutely amazing. Snow Man’s Secret Touch and Ubu Love by Naniwa Danshi are the two songs that has been added to my favorite songs in my playlist. No doubt that it were one of the best Japanese song I’ve ever heard.

I never thought that after “Cherry Magic: Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You A Wizard,” there were another Japanese drama that I am been so attached to. Kieta Hatsukoi began its first episode on October 9, 2021, a year after Cherry Magic first episode well released as well. Destiny is really doing its job making this coincidence to happened. Both drama is an all perfect score for me! The OSTs, acting, visuals, chemistry, and everything about these two shows are a masterpiece. I am always so grateful for Japanese BL for having a Kurosawa and Ida as the perfect boyfriends ever existed in fiction and live-action, as well to their ever loving and caring cute boyfriends, Adachi and Aoki.

To those who read this review until my very last paragraphs, thank you so much for making time for me. I am just super happy to be able to wrote feedbacks from the show that made me feel so much happiness. Let us live our life always seeking for our happiness that we deserved. Ida and Aoki thought us that love is purely love regarding what kind of sexuality we have. I wish everyone the best in their life! Arigato!

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DEFINITELY A HIGH SCHOOL LOVE ALARM

There isn't much to say about Japanese BL because it's undoubtedly the best Japanese BL drama that I have watched.

I commend the original plotline which isn't common because this is definitely your most original high school jumbled romance story and realistic exchange of affections if you had hihh expectations then you won't be disappointed.

All characters are loveable and the portrayals are very accurate with the chemistry between the actors unparalleled this is a series that takes you on a roller coaster ride full of so many emotions with some of the cutest Japanese actors that I have seen, you will certainly be impressed and trust me you'll love it.

Lastly the character development is top notch and the series is full of cute abd wonderful moments that make you appreciate the whole story and leave you amazed.

If you are looking for a series to get you through the festive season you'll learn from this one to appreciate all the little moments because they are very valuable.

Lire davantage

Cute, funny, moving

My Love Mix-Up! is high-school setting BL done right. It does not try too hard to be original about teen love, and it does not end up being silly. Instead, it's a cute, light-hearted comedy that manages to be sweet and moving. And it is very well made.

The misunderstanding that starts everything is cleverly used to show something about the main characters. Aoki's kind, lovable nature in admitting to Ida that the eraser with Ida's name is his so as to save Hashimoto from embarrassment is clear from the start. Although he has a crush on Hashimoto and is disappointed, he does not react with toxic jealousy. Ida's serious but open-minded nature is also seen in how he reacts to Aoki's "crush" on him. There could have been a love triangle, but the revelation of another misunderstanding resolves things nicely, enhancing the general light-heartedness of the series.

Apart from the romance, the friendship that develops between Aoki and Hashimoto is a nice touch as they encourage each other and comfort each other. In general, the world of My Love Mix-Up! is simple and innocent. Surprisingly, there is no pretense that homophobia does not exist, and the series does not ignore the issue. But it addresses it without becoming too serious or dismissive of the issue.

Much of the series' funny moments depend on Michieda Shunsuke, who plays Aoki, and he is pretty good with them. At the same time, he is able to restrain himself from exaggerated expressions in the moments that are not meant to be funny. This makes the character a nice contrast to the straight-faced Ida.

My Love Mix-Up! may be a series that makes us wishing for more of its goodness, but the ten episodes are nicely paced and nothing feels rushed. The ending is satisfying, and here is no cliffhanger for a potential second season, though I certainly won't mind one as long as it is equally good and doesn't ruin things.

Lire davantage

one of the best of this year.

ooooh It's so delicate to talk about Kieta, let's start congratulating the productors and the directors because they follow the mangá and this is damn good. Second thing is how the Suzuki Jin acting is SO GOOD!!! He goes to Uenoyama to Aida who are personas completely different and he acts so good that you just realize if you look carefully. Ida and Aoki were made to stay together, POINT. The actors did a Pretty good job I'm in love, because at the first episode I was watching and thinking how far they can go without not touch the mangá, and they go to above the clooooooous, the ost was good too, and the principal point: How Fukumoto Riko (Hashimoto) looks so MUCH similar with Nako from Izone, like man?????????? they are literally the same person HAHAHAHA, kidding,This is for Sure one of the best Bls that i see this year.

Lire davantage

Cuteness Overload

I was immersed in this wonderfully wholehearted and hysterical J-BL that was just a marvel to watch. After finishing My Beautiful Man, I thought -- why not watch the other one on my list? And man, was I impressed. Now, this series is far from a cinematic masterpiece, or anything to ponder deeply about, but I always give credit to the small BLs that lift my spirit and make me wish to be engrossed in their reality. Kieta Hatsukoi is a refreshing BL, full of fun experiences, funny circumstances, surprising plot twists, a leading romance that I can approve of, and a het couple I didn't hate!

Let's Dive In!

Kieta Hatsukoi was an endearing melodramatic BL that tells the story of Aoki and an incident with an eraser that gets him in some "troubles" with the handsome and brooding Ida. Through their story, we meet other characters that help to give our leads a happily ever after. This was very wholesome and just simply cute. In each episode, you are fully into the story, falling in love with each attribute and the way the characters carry the plot along. Everything on-screen looks like it's dowsed in a dream, and yet it still holds to be realistic in such an exaggerated way. This series held up great, with noticeable character development, an easy-going plot that flowed perfectly, and one that I will treasure for a while.

Let's start with what I loved: I genuinely did not dislike a single character. Not even the ones that had the very itty-bitty amount of screen time. There was something to adore about all of them, whether it was their charm, their personality, or their small storyline, I just really enjoyed them all.

I enjoyed that the side het couple had a decent plot, and weren't there to, at any point, take down the leads. There were actually some parts where I was really interested in Aida and Hashimoto's little romance. While I think some parts were lacking, it was overall cute, very bubbly, and a nice side story.

I think I loved Fukumoto more than I think I was supposed to. I absolutely loved her performance as Hashimoto, she's so adorable, her role fit her to the T, and I hope to see her in future series. I enjoyed the leads, some things were a bit iffy, but for the most part, they both did a good job. One thing I love the most about J-dramas, in general, is the exaggerated way they profess themselves. There are plenty of moments in KH where their movements, their motions, their bodies just contrive to create this really unique work of expression. They do such an extraordinary job, each and every one of them.

The love between Ida and Aoki, while not the most intricate, is still very enjoyable to watch. We see the build-up, we watch the execution and all the beautiful moments in-between, to end with the perfectly imperfect pair that still has a lot of learning and growing to do individually. But I enjoyed that we already see that growth at the end. Aoki's problem was that he was insecure about himself, he was frightened if the outside knew who he was or who he liked, and through his own personal journey, he learns to accept his truth and that others eventually will too. Ida's problem was that in the beginning, he was a bit selfish while also being too selfless. He said yes to everything, and because of that, he was hurting the one who cared for him the most. He was comparing feelings as one, when "having fun" and "being in love" are two completing different feelings that he had to understand. It took him time, but eventually, he realized the feeling he felt when around Aoki, and was able to confess it by the end. This is the type of character development I love, the one I strive to see.

Their date out and about town was the absolute thing to die for. I loved everything about it.

Some things that could've used work: Aoki getting upset with Ida after he teases him is very odd. Nothing about the teasing even was bad, or considerably rude. They needed something to cause a bit of turf between them, but it's frivolous and throws you off on how out-of-the-blue it is. It wasn't needed, it was honestly kind of upsetting, and I just know there was a better way to handle it.

The situation between the coach and their rival team helper was kind of weird. While he never acted on her pursuits for him, the entire story was just not needed. it was to show Aoki's jealousy, which I can understand, but there was, again, a better way to handle it.

Some parts of the series were kind of slow, The first few episodes were a bit of a doozy to try to get through. I had to kind of push my way through, but eventually, at about episode 3 or 4, I started piquing my interest.

While the romance is really sweet, I think there should be some form of a kiss at the end. Instead, we get nothing, even though, in the episode before, Aoki stresses about taking the next step which is kissing Ida, and in one circumstance they almost do. I don't think intimacy is needed in a series if the actors are able to put on a great romance, however, I think a kiss is what was needed to really tie up the ending. They were having the perfect moment for it, so I do wish that was something that happened.

Rating:

Story: 8 - I'll take two stars off for the very interesting beginning. I think the setup was nice, but it still didn't take away how boring it was. The rest is really good. I also liked the plot twist of Hashimoto not liking Ida and actually liking Aida.

Acting: 9 - Again, I really appreciated the acting, probably one of the best parts of this series. I'll take one star off for some iffy things throughout.

Music: 8 - To my surprise, I really enjoyed the music, and it was noticeably good. Meguro Ren whole sang one of the songs sounded like an angel. Very good.

Rewatch value: 1 - This was cute, but very less likely to come back and watch. Maybe some parts.

Overall, a very nice and enjoyable watch. The episodes are only about 30 minutes long, so it only took me a few days to get through. I highly recommend, as it has become one of my favorite J-BLs.

Lire davantage

キスシーンはBLドラマに必要なものですか？

私は皆さんに「キスシーンはBLドラマに必要なものですか？」と問いたいです。
男女の恋愛ドラマでキスシーンが無い作品なんて、いくらでもあります。キスシーンが無くても特に何も言われません。

しかし、なぜBLドラマは執拗にキスシーンが求められるのですか？キスシーンが無いことはそんなにおかしいことですか？
キスシーンが無いだけで、なぜ出演者・監督・脚本家の皆さんが「同性愛嫌悪」とまで言われなければならないのですか？
その発言こそが差別だと思いますし、真剣に向き合って、作品を作り上げた皆さんに対して本当に失礼です。
青木役の道枝駿佑さん（なにわ男子）、井田役の目黒蓮さん（Snow Man）、お二人のブログ・雑誌での発言を見ていると、真剣に作品と向き合い、台本だけでなく原作漫画を何度も読みながら演じていました。

日本では漫画の実写化を快く思わない原作ファンも多いので、実写化するとしても原作に忠実であることが求められますが、消えた初恋にはLGBTQ監修スタッフを付け、様々な面に配慮した内容へ少しずつ原作から変更しながらも、放送時間が少ない中で原作の内容を上手に取捨選択していたと思います。

「道枝さんの演技が大袈裟」「目黒さんが表情が乏しい」という海外からの意見を見かけましたが…原作の青木は非常に表情豊かで、変顔が多く、ギャグっぽいシーンも多いです。
そのまま実写化するとわざとらしくなってしまいがちですが、道枝さんは原作に忠実でありながらも可愛らしい青木でした。
瞳の揺れ方、本当に赤くなっている頬、など…井田を好きになっていく過程が伝わる演技でした。
目黒さんが演じる井田は、青木に対する想いが変化していくにつれて、青木と一緒にいる時だけは表情が豊かになり、話し方も優しくなっていき、最終回では青木に対する想いをちゃんと自覚して、瞳に涙を浮かべながら、初めて自分の気持ちをしっかりと伝えるところが良かったです。

道枝さんと目黒さんの所属グループが担当したW主題歌の歌詞もドラマの内容にリンクしており、それぞれの役にイメージカラーがあったので（青木→黄、井田→青）、最終回のイルミネーションもその2色がメインになっていました。
様々な部分でこだわっているドラマだと思います。

SNSを見ているとキスシーンが無いという理由だけで「BLドラマにアイドルを起用するな」等の意見も見かけましたが、私はアイドルを起用することに意味があると思っています。
日本の芸能界に詳しくない方は分からないと思いますが、メインキャストである道枝駿佑さんと目黒蓮さんは、日本で1番有名な男性アイドル事務所（1962年設立）に所属しており、お二人とも非常に人気のある若手アイドルです。
そのようなアイドルがBLドラマに出演することによって、幅広い層の方々がBLドラマを見て、LGBTQについて考えるきっかけにもなると思います。

Lire davantage

Fuck I'm in love

I've watched so many bls that at this point they just don't give me butterflies anymore. But this sure did.
The cast was everything like Michi and Meguro stole my heart. And lets talk about Aida and Hashimoto. They were the cutest too
Such an unproblematic drama. No darkness Everything's just so pretty and peaceful.
I can see how everyone's so head over heels for Aoki.. I mean he's is a walking piece of drama. And his smile so freaking contagious.. Always too expressive. But not gonna lie he's also the epitome of second hand embarrassment. Like bro really made my anxious ass pause watching every now and then to get over the embarrassment he brings to himself lol.
But Ida 😩 please Ida's undoubtedly my favourite boy. He's the best boy and the nicest boyfie. Ughh someone get me one Ida please. The way he slowly fell for Aoki was so mesmerizing. So dense yet so understand. Not expressive yet always there for everyone. My precious little boy ☹️🖤
The second lead was really great too. But this time it was the first lead for me ngl. Everything was perfect.. Visuals, story, music, friendship, growth. Lets wait and hope for season 2

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