This review may contain spoilers
The Best BL of all Time! So Go Watch!
I have never written reviews for anything but this drama forced me to write one. The recent surge of BL had us BL fans swooning however during the process the BL's lost its originality and offered the same plot with school/university/ engineering/love triangle/making all the females either villain or brainless fujoshi but with different actors. I am not bashing other bls but it was getting very repetitive.But then BOOM! came this BL out of nowhere. Surprising us with its wholesome and refreshing original plotline. This is a story about an introverted salaryman who was just going with the flow of life and not much caring about love thus stayed as a virgin. However, when he turned 30 he was bestowed with the mind-reading ability and this is where folks one of the most hilarious yet MOST tender wholesome love story of the BL world's begun. Our protagonist, Adachi, finds out the popular and most perfect guy in the office, Kurosawa, has an intense crush on him.
Adachi is someone we all can relate to especially us introverts. He looks down on himself, lacks confidence, and always gives up fighting for himself and others when needed. But after he gained the power we could see the changes in him. He never once used his power for himself or to harm others rather he used them to help the people around him. He is becoming a better version of himself. Slowly but steadily he is overcoming his weakness for a better life.
Where else Kurosawa is completely opposite of Adachi. He is an extrovert person and the most popular guy in the office. He is a perfectionist in whatever he does. Girls go gaga on him including me. He is smart, handsome, confident, and knows how to carry himself. He is the go-to person, whenever someone faces any kind of problem. He is the perfect example of how a salaryman should be. However, when it comes to Adachi he loses his calms and his confidence wavers. All he wants is to stay beside Adachi and make him smile. Kurosawa will be happy and content as long as Adachi is happy and stay beside him even if as colleagues but that's going to change very soon though.
Cherry Magic has stolen my breath and my heart! Every week I anxiously wait for the new episodes like my life depends on it. The chemistry between the leads is sizzling and you can feel it from the very first interaction and you can feel as each episode progresses the chemistry intensifies. At first, honestly, I thought this will be like Ossan's love with overly comedic with little focus on romance especially when I read that the guy will have mind-reading power and the trailer also really didn't impress me but thank god I gave this gem of drama a shot and I fell in love.
The best thing about this drama is that all the characters no matter how small or big their role is very much like real life. All of us can relate to them in our life personally for me I could very much relate to Adachi and Fujisaki-san. Episode 4 touched my heart so deeply like no other bl could. Also, how could we forget our poor Kurosawa's fantasy?! Trust me it will make you laugh and giggle like a kid. Well, all episodes will make you giggle and scream in the middle of the night like a banshee in loose...or like a kid!
And to all the BL writers out there please learn from Kurosawa how to write perfect gentleman. Kurosawa even though is restless about his feelings for Adachi he never ever tried to force his feelings on Adachi. He is always respectful and he even felt remorse when the co-workers forced him to Kiss Adachi ( episode 3) albeit it was only a forehead kiss Kurosawa still felt bad which shows how considerate Kurosawa is and how much kindness and respect he has for Adachi.
This is a genuine love story between these two men that will warm your heart and soul...make you feel like you are on cloud 9. Make you feel fluffy and soft and gushy and will definitely make you say "EHHH!".
The thing with Japanese bl is that they don't need to show physical intimacy to convey their feelings. They can literally carry the whole show, with the same per as those that hugely depends on physical intimacy to gain popularity, with their eye contact and body language, and what acts they do for their loved one. Again I am not bashing anyone specific.
I think like most of you I am also not a fan of Japanese acting. They often feel cringe to me and made me stopped watching Japanese drama for a while. So for the people who are worried about the acting, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. The acting is actually top-notch. Both actors perfectly understood their characters and have dutifully are able to portray them just as they were written in manga. Machida is literally Kurosawa and no one can deny that!
To be honest I feel the live-action characters have more feel to them than the manga in my humble opinion. Also, the director did an amazing job of executing the story. And I am glad that they are adding their own original scenes to this adaptation and changing the timelines of specific scenes which I think will be more exciting.
The only con is the development of a side couple. Don't get me wrong I love them too. Tusge is a chaotic virgin that cracks me up every time he comes on screen and our cutie Wataya is such a tsundora lol. But I wished their story would have progressed with the same care as the main pairing but it's ok. This series is already a perfect 100 for me.
And Udon-Chan is love, Udon-Chan is life!
Listen guys once you start watching this series you will not be able to stop yourself from re-watching the currently out episodes again and again. I have already lost count of how many times I have re-watched the 5 episodes. Cherry Maho really spells a real cast at its viewers then we can't stop watching the series even if we want to.
So what are you guys waiting for join our Cherry Maho cult!
Sorry for such a long-ass review and I know I am not the best reviewer out there but hope this review at least is helpful to you lots.
Peace Out XOXO!
Edit- I have finally finished the whole series and my man I LOVE LOVE LOVE it so MUCH!! It was perfect!!! For me, the character development was so good. Adachi overcoming his fear of losing his power and mingling with people, understanding people without his power showed huge character development! Finally, Kurosawa can have his sweet life with Adachi. I do hope we get a season 2! I wanna see more of their sweet life. Call me greedy because I am. Fantastic ending to a fantastic series. Guys watch this show or else you will be missing out on the biggest gem of your life!
Was this review helpful to you?
1Cherry Magic Memories
To say that this is a good BL is an understatement. I've been watching jdramas in 2020 and nothing captured my attention and love like this one. A late-night BL drama nobody should've noticed became an international hit.Cherry Magic (CM) summed up:
-All characters are loveable
-Has comedy but can also get emotional
-No toxicity
-Great acting from main leads
-Great opening and ending song
-High rewatch value
STORY -9.5
''Don't you know? If you're a virgin when you turn 30, you'll become a magic user.'' -Urabe
If the synopsis is kinda offputting to you then that's normal but I guarantee you that it works. The subjects are handled with sensibility and while there is a lot of comedy it works out well. The show knows how to handle emotional scenes as well as comedy.
I think with the first episode you'll see that this drama handles its story very well. What started as a weird internet legend/joke about virginity somehow ended up becoming this cute show. This is a unique lovestory and a joy to see. It brought a lot of warmth to the winter of 2020. Teaching us all to reach out to others and to love ourselves.
ACTING/CAST -10
''Do you know what that means?'' -Kurosawa
First of all the main leads. Machida Keita, actor of Kurosawa, has had around 10 years of experience in acting and has been in many Japanese shows. He was a known name in Japan before CM happened. You can see he totally immerses himself in a character and has fun with it. A lot of later scenes in the drama have been influenced by him ad-libbing/freely acting. When his character is sad, genuinely happy or faking his emotions for the sake of others then you can see it in all his body movements. He's an intriguing character to watch on screen and definitely makes rewatching the show worth it.
Akaso Eiji is relatively new to acting in comparison to Machida Keita and was far less known in Japan. He has been in a few shows before CM, noteably as a Kamen Rider in Kamen Rider Build. Even the mangaka from CM wasn't sure he could pull off the shy, introverted character of Adachi. However, Akaso Eiji really plays Adachi perfectly. Completely adapting to the introverted and anxious character and creating some of the most fun panicked scenes. In comparison to Kurosawa, Adachi acts much more like a manga/anime-character by constantly panicking but it makes him very cute. I'm sure anyone can fall in love with such an adorable and shy main character.
Side-couple:
The character called Tsuge is extremely entertaining, even more panicked than his friend Adachi at times. His adventures have been a joy to see, the self-proclaimed romance master never disappoints. His love-interest Minato has little screentime but is very cute as well. Them both being catlovers was also great to see as the cat Udon-chan really was a joy to see on screen.
Extra characters:
Then there's Rokkaku. This guy really makes a name for himself but all characters in this show have a good heart. His overly energetic presence was always immediately visible on screen and he has been a fun addition to the show. Fujisaki is the beloved female character and likely the best female character in all of BL. An example of how to give female characters a positive presence in a BL show. Her knowing smile and caring character really makes scenes a lot better. There's not a lot to say about Urabe but he has some character growth as well, showing that all characters have some good in them.
MUSIC -10
''I scream the voice of my heart'' - Omoinotake
I never skipped the opening or the ending of this show. Both are very nice to listen to. The opening of the show (Ubugoe/Birth) being Adachis view of the situation and the ending of the show (Good Love your Love) being Kurosawas view.
The background music really knows how to make emotional scenes hit hard. Even listening to the emotional piano music brings me back to the scenes all over again. The fun background music does its job in making the scenes seem wholesome or just an enjoyable experience.
REWATCH -10
''My heart can't take it anymore'' -Adachi
I can't even count how many times I've rewatched this show during its airing time. That's not a joke, I've been part of CM watchparties and rewatched the show myself a lot of times. I think even now that the show has ended its definitely worth rewatching to watch the great acting of the main leads or just to enjoy the experience all over again. Because this show is just that, an enjoyable experience. You can also find many hidden details if you pay attention when watching the show.
In conclusion, give the show a chance and even if the first episodes don't work for you I can assure you that you will fall in love with Adachi and Kurosawa eventually. Something widely refered to as the Cherry Magic effect.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Love So Beautiful & Pure!!! Must WATCH!
How can two grown-ass men falling in love makes my heart thump thump so badly! No other bls made me feel things that CM made me. If ITSAY is the best coming of an age love story then CM is the best young adult love story. This is not only a love story. But a story about being kind, gentle, being confident, not giving in to the societal pressures, trusting others, and more importantly trusting ourselves. Overcoming our fear and difficulties no matter how many times we fail. Each and every character feels human and none of the characters feels unrealistic. Trust me when I say this that you will be able to relate with each and every character because that's how human they felt.This is a simple drama where two different men came to touch the heart of each other through their kindness. That's it! No unnecessary drama, no love triangle, no one hates no one, no one is cheating, girl character is being respected and no fujoshi (which is what, unfortunately, many fans love) maybe that's why this will not be as popular as other dramas but this is what I loved about CM. This is such a feel-good drama. This is so so much fun to watch how these two dorks fall in love with each other through that process it is so easy for us watchers to fall in love with them as well. I wish guys like Kurosawa existed in real life than none of us girls had to go through so many heartbreaks and disappointments.
Rewatch Value of this drama is 100/10
Acting is PERFECT!
Chemistry is ON POINT!
So guys give this drama a go and trust me you will not be disappointed!
I think, no , CM is the bestest BL production in Japan's BL history!
Was this review helpful to you?
A Series with Heart and Soul
One of the main aspects that stands out about Japanese drama is their way of including a heartfelt and inspirational message in their stories. I came across Cherry Magic on MDL two months before its official airing date. The plot summary and casting choices intrigued me. I had recognised both of the main leads, Akaso and Machida-san from their previous works, Nee Sensei, Shiranai no? (2020) and Joshi-teki Seikatsu (2018). Since Ossan’s love (2018), Japan has become more open to exploring BL/LGBT genre and well-known actors and actresses featuring in the genre. Considering those points, I had gone ahead and read the first two volumes of the original manga by Toyota-san’s Cherry Magic. The manga’s direction was lighter than other shounen-ai works, and I appreciate Toyota-san writing the characters in a likeable manner.The story could have taken many different directions; however, I appreciate the staff and crew’s mindsets on the drama structure's focus. Having read the manga (Vol 1~4), and watched the drama series, I could sense the amount of thought that went into making the show fitting for a live-action adaptation while bringing heart and soul to these characters.
Most Asian dramas tend to over sexualise and romanticise unhealthy relationships, especially within the BL and LGBT genre. Therefore, the direction of Cherry Magic proves that none of those portrayals is necessary to create an exciting and engaging show. The show features a fair focus on realistic obstacles, including workplace struggles, the risk of striving for your dream goals and self-acceptance.
Acting:
The acting was top-notch; I could feel the character’s emotions, including the scenes without any dialogue. I loved how the main and some of the supporting casts were given a chance to show their range. It helped me become more invested in their characters. Setting the characters in a genre with both slice of life and a supernatural element could be quite challenging. Therefore, I believe the writers did an excellent job writing the main and supporting characters in a relatable and somewhat realistic approach.
Setting:
It was refreshing to see a drama set in a workplace setting with the given genre. It brought more opportunities to explore some realistic obstacles and a sense of relatability towards a mature target audience.
Much analysis has been made on the drama’s setting, placement of props and editing by fans. Although the production value is relatively standard, the staff considers all the mentioned elements, therefore, reflecting the character’s emotions with their given surroundings. I appreciate the setting being viewed more than a stage or an aesthetic; it made me rethink the use of colour palettes (e.g. Blue for gloomy mood by Kurosawa).
Music:
I fell in love with both the opening and ending songs featured in the show. The lyrics had much depth and connection with our two main characters. I found it interesting the opening represents Adachi’s internal feelings while the ending represents Kurosawa’s perspective. Both songs complement each other, and the visuals fit the songs melody. The soundtrack is both amusing and emotionally moving. From my perspective, I did not feel any of the ost or songs were out of place.
Last thoughts:
If you are used to seeing skinship and rapid development featured in romantic relationships, the show may not be your forte; however, I recommend you give the series a watch.. While watching the show; it reminded me that falling in love can be a wonderful thing in life despite the depressing and heartwrenching moments.
Was this review helpful to you?
The real magic is the happiness it will make you feel.
Cherry Magic was definitely one of the best things -- if not the best one -- that happened to me in 2020, but I'm not the only one who has had such a positive experience with this show. In fact, Cherry Magic has become an international phenomenon thanks to its impressive formula: good production quality, excellent comedic timing, humane and relatable characters, a touching storyline and genuine feelings. The pure happiness it was able to spread among its viewers almost felt like a miracle. I've often found myself wondering how a series could connect so many people around the world and make them all feel the same way. Well, the answer is in the title: magic. Yes, because the real magic in this series is not Adachi's power, but the relationships that the series established between the characters, between the characters and the audience and between the viewers, too. The connection you create with those around you and what you get from that -- support, affection, care, inspiration, motivation, joy... -- is one of the things that make life worth living. This is the message given throughout the series. All the characters end up touching each other's hearts and seeing how that affects their growth as human beings is just beautiful.Honestly, I can't put my love for this series into words. You need to feel that happiness building up inside you episode by episode yourself. What I can say is that the humanity and the sincerity of the characters have reached my soul. Every expression, every gesture, every word has shaken me, entered my being and left a permanent mark. Cherry Magic is unique, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that I'll never forget. It will always have its own place in my heart. I highly recommend this series to EVERYONE. I swear it will touch you heart.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
kurosawa is love. kurosawa is life.therefore, multiplying adachi with kurosawa equates to infinite rays of sunshine.
(not to be confused with plants vs. zombies type of sun)
out of all the bl dramas that recently came out, this one was such a delightful surprise. while many found the last 2 episodes lacking, i'm just far too deep in the hole i dug and so i succumb to this addictive fluff.
what is so good about this drama? it's just a chill feel-good drama that deals well with portraying characters who have different personalities but all in all, they have their different point of views. there was no failed attempt at delivering characters with depth and while adachi may be the typical shy character, it was worth it to wait every week to see him try his best at getting out of his comfort zone to try new things. kurosawa is literally the most patient and lovable character i have seen so far. i loved seeing a character who respects boundaries and someone who may seem perfect to others but he really wants to be seen not only with his looks. the episode centered around his point of view was wonderfully done.
fujisaki my girL yooooooo i absolutely love the writers for not making her yet another revenge obsessed type of character. alike kurosawa, she is seen as someone who consistently has her self together. the truth is she does get tired too. she's the sweetest and supportive friend. i'm conflicted whether we deserve her or not.
i can't entirely say anything much about the side couple. they didn't appeal to me that much but it was entertaining to see chaotic tsuge trying to get his shit together. minato trying to achieve his dream is admirable. the combination of these two somehow works and i liked seeing adachi help tsuge and minato get together. it goes to show how pure their friendship is.
why should you watch this?
-story is a bop.
-acting is a bop.
-music is a bop.
-rewatch value is a bop.
overall, this drama was like the light at the end of tunnel in this year. it's great to see noncomplex couples with no unnecessary love triangle and overexaggerated drama. be prepared to swoon tho.
Was this review helpful to you?
The most heartwarming story, not only for BL.
I don't even know where to start. The show just ended yesterday and me, like all the regular users in this page, are still in a mess. Do you know the feeling of having to let go, even when you don't want to? It's exactly like that. I'm feeling empty inside knowing that the drama has ended and we have to bid farewell to the characters. For me, this is definitely one of the best and most precious dramas that I've ever encountered. I'm not exaggerating when I said I highly doubt I will ever find a drama like this ever again, that made me so captivated, engrossed and did all the stuffs I've never done before for a drama and their actors. During each very short episode, depending on the plot, they never fail to make me laugh, smile, feeling all fluffy inside, tear up or heartbroken. But that's the magic of Cherry Magic has done to all of us all over the world. It has become an unexpected international hit, and it's the first Japanese BL drama that ever got this worldwide attention.STORY
The long title might put off some people but the story is actually quite simple. 30 years old virgin salaryman, Adachi Kiyoshi, suddenly finds himself having the power to read the minds of people he touches on his 30th birthday. With this magic, he accidentally finds out that Kurosawa Yuichi, the most handsome and capable sales ace in his company, has a crush on him. What happens after that is their relationship development, which is both hilarious and emotional. What makes this drama special is its careful approach to portray human story, even though it is based on BL manga, it is very gentle and delicate in depicting the feelings and emotions, and eventually it is a story about relationship of two human beings, regardless of their sex. All the fans who have fallen in love with this drama can somehow relate themselves to the story, which what makes it resonate with fans all over the world.
It has the perfect balance of cute and sweet plot, but at the same time also there are also intense emotional plot that literally squeezed the audience's poor hearts.
ACTING
Fans have fallen in love with the two lead actors (Akaso Eiji and Machida Keita) not for nothing. Both of them are not big names in Japan and Akaso can be considered newbie in filming industry. But oh my, their acting and chemistry are top notch. Both are able to portray their characters perfectly, from body movement, subtle facial expressions, their speech, they almost make you believe they didn't act. Their on and off screen chemistry are undeniable, and it literally flowing out of screen. You will smile and laugh at their funny and sweet moments and will cry and hurt when they are sad. Their chemistry is so strong even simple scene like having fun in amusement park can make me smile and grin like an idiot, I sometimes questioned my sanity as an adult female lol.
MUSIC
I fell in love with their music, from the OP, ED and the BGM. I put the OP and ED on Spotify as soon as they came out and been listening to them until now. That's how good they are. In addition to that, the OP and ED are carefully written from the two lead characters' perspective, which adds more meaning to the songs. The BGM also excellent, they fit perfectly with their respective scenes and add more emotions to them.
REWATCH VALUE
If I can give 100 point to this, I would. I lost count already how many times I rewatched all episodes (which is short one, about 24 mins per episode). Everytime I would find a new detail, new subtle facial expressions, new little gesture that I didn't notice before. Everytime I would also still smile, laugh or feel sad when watching it. It is so worth it.
So for all those who is still deciding whether to watch it or not, don't hesitate to do so. I was also not very interested before, since I often find Japanese BL rather cringey (except Ossan's Love), but I tried to watch Ep 1 and the rest was history. So, please don't miss out this rare gem and I'm sure you would fall head over heels with this little drama!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
How I view this drama (This Review Contains Spoilers)
This is such a wholesome drama.Although the overall premise is about 'magic', I found that the initial character development and the details with Kurosawa and Adachi are extremely realistic, especially with the way they approached the romance. Rather than using the excuse of magic to force a relationship, the writer(s) instead chose to slowly develop the relationship of both characters from co-workers to friends, and finally to lovers.
Kurosawa is a humble, humane man who deserves a lot of high praise. The way his character was written was absolutely beautiful. He is a kindhearted man, who deeply cherishes Adachi for his entire being. He observes the little things when it comes to Adachi; how he shows up to work with bed hair, how he is shy but is skillfully accurate when it comes to his work, how he doesn't smile that much but when he does, he is soft, and how he always puts others first and is always willing to lend a helping hand.
Kurosawa never put his own needs and feelings above Adachi's. He never forced a friendship or a relationship on him. He always treated him with respect, supported him, he ensured that he did not overstep boundaries and made Adachi uncomfortable and he gave Adachi space when it was needed. Kurosawa not only fell in love with Adachi but he also highly respected him as a human being.
Adachi is an introverted, yet kind man, who isn't necessarily confident in the things he does, and the choices he makes. Before he received his magical abilities, he had never been in a relationship before with a man or a woman and thus never really understood the emotions of love. It wasn't until he received his magic and accidentally touched Kurosawa, that he heard the man's thoughts about him. Kurosawa was in love with him. Adachi reacted like any person who has never experienced love, let alone been in a relationship before would; he didn't believe what he heard was true and attempted to distance himself from the latter a bit.
As the show progressed, we the audience, and Adachi got to hear more of Kurosawa's thoughts and they were absolutely beautiful. His thoughts were never disrespectful, they were never sexual, instead, they were filled with love and respect. Kurosawa wholeheartedly loved Adachi and valued his entirety as a human being.
The most important factor of this, in my opinion, is that Adachi was in no way homophobic in the slightest. He did not look down on Kurosawa for falling for a man, nor did he throw out the 'We can't date because we're both men' or 'It's wrong because we're both men'. I also respect that the writers did not flat out make Adachi think or state that he does not like Kurosawa from the beginning. Adachi's introverted nature does result in him struggling to speak his mind on many occasions, and because he is new to everything about love, he is extremely unsure of how he feels towards the latter, however, it does not stop him from wanting to learn more about Kurosawa and his thoughts. It also does not stop him from wanting to find out where he stands romantically.
Meanwhile, we have Tsugae and Minato. We never got quite an in-depth development of the two, like we did Kurosawa and Adachi, since they're side characters.
Tsugae is Adachi's best friend and is a book writer. He is a homebody, who mainly prefers to be at home with his cat, writing books. He also likes to online shop (a lot). Like Adachi, he is introverted and cannot always make up his mind on things, let alone speak his mind.
He begins to develop feelings for an attractive delivery man, Minato.
Minato, at first, seemed a little creepy to me (he slowly grew on me). Here you have this delivery man, who is observing everything in the room, along with stating things about Tsugae under his breath. For example; 'How weird he is' etc. I also found it weird that he was the main delivery person to Tsugae's house majority of the time. Probably because, where I live, it's always a different person.
Tsugae and Minato did face an initial 'plot barrier' ie. When Tsugae saw Minato's ex kiss him.
He saw the man he liked getting kissed by another man so he ran away and began to hide away in his flat, not socialising as he began to emotionally and mentally collect his thoughts. In response, Minato felt hurt and ignored, he proceeded to vent to his friend which resulted in his friend accusing of Tsugae of being homophobic.
Overall, that was realistic, but at the same time, I found the friend's accusations of homophobia quite rude.
He could have sat Tsugae down, and calmly talked to him from the beginning and find out the source of the problem, but instead, he jumped headfirst into the situation and assumed the reasoning behind Tsugae running away and not socialising was homophobia. Running away does not mean homophobia. Most people would feel uncomfortable if they walked in on two people kissing, especially if one of the people being kissed was their crush.
The quality of acting in this drama had me impressed. The way the actors spoke their dialogue, interacted and behaved was not awkward at all. In fact, they all seemed comfortable with each other, and yes, this includes the side and background characters. Nothing felt forced, and even the topic of romance seemed natural.
Music-wise, there really isn't much to comment on. I don't necessarily focus on a soundtrack when it comes to these types of dramas. However, I must say, the ending song was quite enjoyable.
Overall, the story, the characters, and the acting all compliment each other really well. The actors really brought this story to life and without them, the live-action would not have been that great. I would certainly be willing to re-watch this.
Was this review helpful to you?
"Perhaps I became a magic user so I can touch his heart"
Cherry Magic has to be the biggest surprise for me this 2020. When I first learned that a manga about a guy who gets magic powers when he turns 30 because he is still a virgin would get a drama adaptation, I felt extremely skeptical and wary about it. The title itself and the summary of the plot instantly raised so many red flags in my head; I couldn't help but think that the story was going to be very sexualized and would have a lot of the problematic and toxic tropes usually seen in BL dramas. Because of this, I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it, however, after taking a look at the preview of the first episode and seeing that it seemed quite funny, I decided to give Cherry Magic a try. Though I was still a little worried about what would happen, as soon as I finished the first episode, I was surprised with how funny, adorable, and light hearted Cherry Magic was. This gave me the hope that maybe this drama was going to be the complete opposite of what I originally thought... and thank god that was the case.Cherry Magic is one of the most relatable, fluffiest, and heartwarming (BL) dramas I've ever watched. Every episode is less than 30 minutes long but despite that it is able to tell the story it wants without wasting any second. Though there is a "supernatural" element added to this drama, the story itself is very realistic because of types of problems that the characters face on their daily lives, such as the fear of following their dreams, the fear of disappointing others, and the struggle of loving themselves. That plus the fact that the characters are so well-written, to the point where you are able to sympathize with them even if you don't agree with all their decisions, makes you feel that they are real people.
Adachi and Kurosawa's relationship is one of the healthiest, most wholesome, and sweetest among all the (BL) couples that exist. Even if their personalities are somewhat different, they have things in common. They also support, respect, and admire each other so much that even when they are in the same place without doing anything in particular, you can notice how much they enjoy each other's company. And thanks to the unconditional love they feel for each other, both Adachi and Kurosawa are able to grow as individuals and slowly overcome their own personal struggles and the fears regarding their relationship.
Besides the main couple, there is also a secondary couple: Tsuge & Minato. The development of this couple is much more faster and chaotic but still endearing. Some fans are not that fond of this couple since they find Tsuge's behavior too over the top and, to some extent, cringey, but in my opinion, the way he act falls within the normal range of craziness that Japanese dramas (especially those adapted from manga and anime) have when it comes to comedy. So for me, this secondary couple is also very sweet and cute and I wish they had a little bit more of screen time.
Besides having great characters and dynamics between the characters, another thing that makes Cherry magic so special is the amount of care and thought was put into this drama. Even the smallest details are very important and can serve as symbolism, as representation of one of the characters (and their feelings), or as foreshadowing. The acting is also phenomenal and I cannot imagine anyone else playing these roles. Machida Keita was born to play Kurosawa, and Akaso Eiji was born to play Adachi. They truly understood their characters and even their micro expressions were on point. I'm very glad that Cherry Magic has become so successful and that because of it, both Akaso's and Machida's talent and skills as actors are getting more recognition.
As a final note, I just want to say that Cherry Magic is, in my opinion, the best BL of 2020 and my personal favorite of all time. I literally have no complaints and I know that I'll be re-watching it countless times because of how good it is.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Cherry Magic Effect — A Comforting Fairy Tale?
IfI told you that no other show than Cherry Magic ever gave me the feeling of comfort and feeling home would you believe me? I randomly came across this Japanese Drama and it changed me in many ways and I’m not exaggerating here. While dealing with my mental health and my depression to be specific during COVID-19 times — I felt the loneliness and unhappiness inside me growing. The impact and feeling this little drama left in my heart exceeded all my expectations. Even though it did not magically make my problems disappear, it did motivate me to keep trying.Suddenly I found myself in the comment section, commenting paragraphs and paragraphs of random thoughts, observations, admiration, analysis, random niche memes, and a good dose of crushing on the very talented actor Machida Keita. The comment section was never empty. Someone was always commenting, replying, always talking. The warmth of the comment section felt like the best, never-ending hug. This special community found its way into my heart. I truly think that this series attracted very special people, the best kind of people. This is the truly magical part of this experience.
I started to host watch parties for CM to share my joy and discovered how healing the experience of watching and re-watching this drama actually is. I never enjoyed rewatching anything. It is simply not something that gives me that much joy. So, I never really got what people meant by their “comfort” show. However, it changed with Cherry Magic. Almost every single episode made me feel like a teen falling in love for the first time again — extremely happy, giddy, and butterflies in my stomach. Every re-watch felt like an entirely different experience.
But the fact that this is my first Boys’ Love (BL) drama made me do a lot of research and late-night reading. I never felt comfortable to watch a BL drama before. I did not know why something would be classified as Boys’ Love instead of LGBTQ+. I found out there are many different readings and academic perspectives on this genre. So I came to the realization that in no way Cherry Magic is a perfect drama. I am someone who can love something but still views things from a more critical perspective.
You can read the whole article/essay here:
https://aylind.medium.com/the-cherry-magic-effect-a-comforting-fairy-tale-316ea781796d
I also included academic sources and more information on the BL genre.
The Concept of Romantic (Boys) Love
Up until the Meiji period, homosexual acts were practiced throughout the Tokugawa and Edo periods in Japan. In the Edo period, the writers wrote about the relationships between older and younger samurai. Edo writers' idea of love differed from the Western concept of “romantic love”. During the Meiji period, however, Japan was influenced by the west.
The concept of romantic love which involves self-sacrifice and was particularly popular in the ’70s shōjo mangas has western roots. Those popular shōjo manga’s narratives were melodramatic and serious.
“Sex, for the heroine, is often the ultimate form of self-sacrifice where she must prove the truthfulness of her love by “overcoming” the fear and pain associated with the act, rather than accepting or even enjoying it.
The shift from shōjo romance to BL signals changes in the conceptualization of love, from the surrender of the female body for the sake of love to the mutual exploration of love, sexuality, and erotic desire between two protagonists.” (Saito, 2011)
Reality or Fantasy?
The Boys’ Love Genre originated in Japan and was originally created and consumed by women essentially in response to the Japanese obscenity laws in the 1970s which caused a restriction of representation of male-female sexuality. Thus it is “a fascinating example of (fear of) government regulation leading to self-censorship, leading in turn to the creation of a whole new field of fantasy and desire/identification for countless readers of this new subgenre” (Orbaugh, 2003).
The distinction between fantasy and real LGBTQ+ people is one I personally cannot make. Despite the fact that I can see why people might regard the BL genre as a form of entertainment or escape from norms and society, it feels not appropriate to make this distinction. Furthermore, BL media seems to be the most mainstream media for the LGBTQ+ community in Japan, therefore it does have an influence on how the community is perceived by others. It has the power to empower the LGBTQ+ community and to push boundaries, instead of alienating and dehumanizing them further. The expression of desires and sexuality without the sexualization and fetishization of homosexual relationships should be normalized in mainstream media. This is why media is such an important tool. Most academic research seems to focus on mangas and animes, but with the Live-Action genre, we are dealing with real human beings. It makes things even more complex.
Another interesting aspect would be that we are literally able to see Kurosawa’s fantasy scenarios with Adachi through the magical abilities Adachi possesses. The distinction between reality and fantasy takes another dimension and creates an inner conflict between Adachi and what he wants.
Playing it safe?
After reading an interview with one of the screenwriters, I came to the conclusion that CM attempted to create a romantic comedy that would attract all kinds of viewers, thus they tried to stay away from being labeled as BL. I read that the production wanted to not hurt anyone with this production, so they tried to be careful. The production played it safe. They tried to stay away from labeling CM as part of the stigmatized BL genre. Therefore, by portraying this “universal” and “gender-free” love, they did attract a lot of different viewers. However, while attempting to hurt not anyone, this “neutral” approach might not be satisfying enough for some viewers. Is it possible to not label your work as BL genre but also avoiding to call it LGBTQ+ media?
An accurate representation of the community does not mean that the story cannot focus on joy and positive themes. By depicting a fictional world where the identity of an LGBTQ+ person is limited or censored, it might make people who are still figuring out their (sexual) identity feel like their identity and desires are not “normal” or “impure”. Therefore we have to be more careful about labeling romantic stories of LGBTQ+ people without physical intimacy as “pure”. Those dichotomies of pure/impure imply that that physical intimacy between LGBTQ+ people is not considered as “pure”.
Hence why it is important to ask ourselves, if this approach makes it more approachable for conservative viewers, viewers with heteronormative ideologies and might offer us a more fantasy image on real same-sex relationships — A fantasy image that might offer escape and entertainment or harm real LGBTQ+ people by being stereotyped?
On one hand, this drama might be much better in comparison to other BL dramas where sexualization and fetishization, and non-consensual intimacy, rape happen quite often, but on the other hand, people who usually don’t watch dramas and movies that are labeled as BL, might not be content with Cherry Magic. Not everyone feels strange about the way kisses, etc. were handled because they wanted to see some steamy scenes and fetishize gay men. Some people just want a more accurate representation of minorities.
We should not have to lower our expectations because this is a Japanese Drama or BL drama in general. Change cannot happen in a blink of an eye, but there’s a difference between writing a kissing scene and teasing a kiss into the script. I live by the approach that valid criticism can only be helpful for future production. The unexpected international popularity of Cherry Magic showcases that there is a need for media that is comforting and romantic, without unnecessary toxicity and death. You cannot deny the impact pop culture has on society. One has to recognize that Cherry Magic is a step in the right direction, where consent plays importance. Adachi is never forced by Kurosawa. Adachi does not have to prove his love by having sex with Kurosawa. They both respect each other's boundaries and feelings.
Restrictions, Imagination, and Queer Interpretations
“I like the way he can easily say that there’s more to life than just love.”
One of the reasons why this drama seems to appeal to a lot of people on the ace spectrum seems to be the romantic approach in the drama. The protagonist Adachi seems to want to be only physically intimate with Kurosawa due to the romantic connection he has with Kurosawa. However, even if Adachi is supposed to be on the ace spectrum, the teasing of physical intimate scenes is what makes this drama marketable and can irritate people. I would have been totally fine with no kissing and teasing but a short sentence by Adachi saying that he is just not interested in it would have been sufficient. On the contrary, the second couple; Tsuge and Minato share several kisses with each other. So I guess it is ok to wonder why Adachi and Kurosawa did not share a kiss? There is a scene where both of them are waking up in a bed together. Unrealistically, they are both wearing white t-shirts. This might reflect Kurosawa’s fantasy we saw in the first episode, but it also further removes this scenario from reality.
In contrast, Wood (2012) argues that “…ambiguity and uncertainty is productively queer and open to a wide range of interpretation and fantasy.” Therefore, the censorship might appeal to a wide range of viewers and leave room for the imagination of the viewers. This also leads to also to more fan creations.
Furthermore, the screenwriter confirmed our assumption that Fujisaki — a character which is a Fuijioshi in the manga — is actually on the aero or ace spectrum. It would have been wonderful if we would have gotten more scenes with her. Aero and ace characters are rarely depicted in media. Fujisaki is a supportive character who does not interfere with Kurosawa and Adachi. She offers her insight and advice like a true friend.
I have been reading that this drama is made for the Japanese society in mind, and some Japanese LGBTQ+ people seem to enjoy this drama and some do not. It is only fair to recognize those valid critical voices. TV Tokyo sold the rights for Cherry Magic to various international streaming services — such as WeTV and CrunchyRoll and the Blu-ray/DVD has English and Chinese subtitles. Globalization will continue to play a role in how this genre is viewed and marketed. This “label-free” story attracts different people from different cultural backgrounds — people with different intentions and opinions will watch this show. It is nearly impossible to come to a conclusion on such a sensitive topic. The BL genre is not black or white. One possibility for future adaptations would be to hire another scriptwriter who has the experience and can offer a more realistic view of the LGBTQ+community.
Magical Music — To Build a Home
Something that makes this drama even more special is the magical OST. Every music piece was so carefully chosen. I am pretty sure that music really makes you feel at home with these characters. The way they make use of silence is just so impactful in capturing and emphasizing certain moments. Just like the way, the magic abilities of Adachi were not used as a simple plot device, the silence helps us to focus on the raw emotions, moments, and conflicts between the characters and most importantly themselves.
How to Escape — Run Adachi Run
In this drama everyone is running, running away from their problems, running to confront their problems. Both Adachi and Kurosawa are running away from the possibility of happiness and pain. Adachi is afraid to face reality without his magical abilities, his low self-esteem and self-doubt are stopping him until he physically pushes away the person he cares about deeply. Love is not a permanent way to heal our own wounds. Accepting love when you have a hard time to see yourself as worthy of giving and receiving love, can be really difficult. Cherry Magic also offered us a way to escape from the real world. From a cultural perspective, we are in need of the warmth and closeness this drama has offered us during these trying times. Not everyone likes a hug, but when it has become the reality that we should distance ourselves to feel safe, it feels comforting to see Adachi and Kurosawa hugging each other in front of everyone. They touch each other's hearts.
The Magic of Communication
One of the things I dislike the most is when my beloved characters in TV shows and movies are not able to communicate or all of a sudden magically solve their problems. When I think about my favorite couples, my weakness for good communication and dialogue-heaviness is a characteristic that connects them all. Love does not mean to overcome misunderstandings and obstacles by simply accepting love. It means to be vulnerable and also to understand that sometimes you are not able to speak the same language. We, humans, are very complex beings. There seems to be an agreement that someone with low-self-esteem is not able to give and receive love when they are not content with themselves, while I agree that it is very difficult, the process of gaining confidence can be a life long struggle for a lot of people. Thus, I think we should be able to let people inside our lives while communicating our problems. People with low-self-confidence deserve love and I am not talking about only romantic love. We can independently grow together. But of course, there is a risk of being codependent on each other.
There is an emotional scene where Kurosawa thinks about how he wants Adachi to realize how special he is and how he should be more confident in himself. What I really love about this scene is that Kurosawa is aware that he cannot be the person who saves Adachi from his misery, it is on him. Only Adachi can save himself. Kurosawa loves Adachi for who he is. But can Adachi love himself? Their relationship reminds me of love Rae and Finn’s relationship in My Mad Fat Diary. Rae has a hard time accepting herself and Finn’s love. She sees Finn as an 11 and herself as a 4. Both Adachi and Rae struggle to see what their partners see in them. Rae pushes Finn away and so does Adachi. In both stories, they both deal with their lack of confidence in a different way.
My other favorite scene has to be the restaurant scene in episode 10. Everything about it, the subtle acting, the banter — it’s just perfection. We can see the growth of Kurosawa and Adachi, together and independently in that scene. Adachi wants Kurosawa to feel comfortable around him, he does not have to be perfect for him to love him. The potential of their relationship and growth is so visible in that scene. However, we can also see that Kurosawa still struggles a lot with the way he is perceived by others and seeks assurance from others. Kurosawa mentions several times that he is happy around Adachi and that Adachi makes him happy and that being with him is enough which shows us that Kurosawa needs to learn that he has control over his own happiness. Kurosawa is far from perfection, he has his own struggles and conflicts. I wish we could have more time to explore Kurosawa’s world and him making mistakes and learning to accept the imperfect parts of himself. To be honest, they would benefit from therapy :D All my faves deserve free therapy.
Given that each episode no longer than 25min long, which definitely does not leave a lot of time to show deep character developments and complex storylines, Cherry Magic is still able to touch on important topics and create dimensional characters the viewers care deeply about. I do not remember the last time when I cheered and cried this much for two fictional characters. However, the conflict in episode 11, seems to be timed poorly. I wish the last episodes would have been longer, so the pacing seemed more natural and less rushed. The pen scene in the last episode seems too sudden and not natural enough for me personally.
Despite that this drama is not by any means perfect, it is one of the few really good things that came into my life in 2020. I would recommend it to everyone who is in need of some happiness and clumsy first love in their lives. This show has it all. I hope you can experience the Cherry Magic effect.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Heartwarming Love Story In Tokyo...
30sai made Dotei dato Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii is one of those dramas which will probably be avoided by most mainstream drama watchers from its surreal , seemingly unrealistic and “ sexual “ concept of a 30 year-old businessman, Adachi Kiyoshi ( Akaso Eiji)who can suddenly hear other people’s thoughts simply because he has never lost his virginity.Yet against all odds of its bizarre premise, 30sai made Dotei dato Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii’s greatest strength was representing the relationship of our two main characters- not simply because they are a part of a “ same-sex pairing ”, but as flawed and independent individuals in their own right (something which only a minority of recent and contemporary romance dramas have been able to portray in the same manner of depth) .
Akaso Eiji was undeniably brilliant within channeling the meek- mannered Adachi, who is naturally perturbed after receiving his new abilities by being able to read the thoughts of anyone he makes contact with . To make the scenario worse for Adachi , he is surprised to discover that his popular male colleague Kurosawa Yuichi ( Machida Keita) has been harbouring complicated romantic feelings towards him for a long time.
Initially Adachi is hesitant to help out Kurosawa at work or grow close to him. Yet as Adachi reads more about Kurosawa’s thoughts and feelings both towards him and as an individual , viewers actually get to see in the process Adachi making sense of his own feelings towards Kurosawa as well. In one particular scene, viewers learn that a lot of Adachi’s problems with wanting to start a relationship with Kurosawa aren’t entirely homophobic, but a consequence of self-esteem and confidence from his past. It is only when Adachi is actually able to start respecting himself ( an important stage in any relationship) that he is able to start falling in love with Kurosawa also.
On the other hand, this also moves us on to one of the biggest flaws of the drama ; its inability to capture actual attitudes and thoughts of Japanese society towards the LGBT community in Japan. Whilst it can be said that not every drama should always be a political and radical message towards society, there’s no lies within saying that Japan has always had a complicated relationship with LGBT rights. Although undeniably a lot more progressive and liberal than some countries in the world and a lot more than the past, there’s no sugarcoating that open- homosexuality or being in a same sex relationship is still sometimes a cause of shame and prejudice amongst some members of Japanese society.
For a drama which specifically tackles these difficulties, it felt a bit out of place not to openly cover some of these pressures and expectations such as in Adachi and Kurosawa’s workplace upon their sexuality and the forced image of “ manliness” often imposed upon men of all cultures as a consequence. This is a flaw which could have easily been shown in the drama and therefore meant that 30sai made Dotei dato Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii was lacking in some genuine and realistic approaches to homosexual relationships in Japan.
On the other hand, my biggest praise must be given to the scriptwriters Yoshida Erika and Okazaki Satoko within the manner in which Adachi’s feelings and attitudes are portrayed. Although he comes to grow accustomed to his own feelings being more than platonic for Kurosawa , it was finally refreshing to see a case where Adachi as a romantic lead is not suddenly head over heels for Kurosawa either. Adachi is finally shown as a protagonist who learns to develop his relationship with Kurosawa over the whole course of the series as a slow and gradual process, rather than a sudden rush for them to suddenly hook up at the ending of the drama.
In a similar manner, Machida Keita was equally brilliant as Akaso’s costar within his role as Kurosawa. Although initially portrayed as overly extroverted and a little too optimistic at times within the drama, there’s no denying that Kurosawa’s reasons for liking Adachi do follow some typical romantic cliches. On the other hand, Adachi’s abilities reveal that Kurosawa is very thoughtful and respectful of some boundaries within their relationship as well as his own feelings towards Adachi not getting too out- of -line. As opposites within their progressive and complicated relationship, Kurosawa and Adachi’s connection isn’t overly presented with beyond salvation cliches nor is it an easy ride; it is more a case that both characters learn to walk through their differences as individuals.
Our side couple, partial- hikikomori ( shut-in ) Tsuge Masato ( portrayed unrecognisably by Asaka Kodai ) and cheerful delivery boy Wataya Minato (played by Goto Yutaro ) was a complicated portrayal for viewers to say the least.
Undeniably both Kodai and Yutaro were just as brilliant as our main actors within their roles, but both their characters respectfully in the beginning of the drama felt a little too much like our main characters within their roles of the “ less confident” and “ socially awkward” guy and the “ popular social butterfly”. Yet perhaps my one note of praise for their relationship comes later in the show , where a sincere revelation by Minato, opens up Masato’s tightly-closed shell and his own feelings as well. On the other hand at this point in the drama, there is sadly also little time to actually focus upon the same depth of their relationship as our main leads, making their progression seem a little too rushed and consequently lacking in the same emotional investment.
Overall there is no denying that although there are several flaws with some characters , cliches and avoiding certain area topics (such as some general attitudes by Japan towards homosexuality), 30sai made Dotei dato Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii is a surprisingly progressive and heartwarming Tokyo romance, portrayed by a brilliant cast, as well as the focus upon the two leading characters as individuals, rather than mere plot devices as well. Definitely a drama watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Adachi does not see much value in himself. He compliments and admires other characters' traits he himself also has. He is smart, nice, polite and hardworking, but if you asked him, he would deny it. With his newly discovered magic powers of reading minds (who knew getting bitten by a radioactive spider is outdated, and staying a virgin is a new way of gaining that superhero title), he slowly, but steadily starts to see how others view him as a worker, friend, or love interest. It’s quite interesting to see how, only by internally being faced with others unfiltered thoughts, Adachi gains the courage and confidence.
Kurosawa, damn boi. The wrinkles killed me. You are reading a review written by a ghost. That smile could stop a war. Not gonna lie though, I did find him creepy at first. But when you accept the fact we also say a lot of over the top and weird shit in our minds, to never be spoken out loud, he is kind of relatable. I truly appreciated how, even though he truly liked Adachi, he didn’t want to force anything on him. He was fine with just being his friend and supporting him. He also struggled with some internal issues that are a focus of one episode. Thanks to that, we can see him in a different light, that makes him that more charming.
I wasn’t crazy about the 2nd couple. Wataya Minato looks 16 at best and Tsuge Masato looks older than any other character (though we know he is 30). The comical and over the top behavior just didn’t click right with me. Not to say Asaka Kodai is a bad actor, he aced that over the top act. It’s just not something that I enjoy in shows.
The acting overall was top notch. Akaso Eiji truly portrayed the confused and low self esteem Adachi well, and love was literally radiating from my screen every time Machida Keita showed up. His facial expressions were so on point, I had to rewatch many scenes, just because I was so amazed by his skill.
The show itself is more than just a rom-com. It touches on issues like self love and self esteem, prejudices, standards forced by society that some might not want to follow and the idea of following and giving up on your dreams.
Why not 10? I have to say, the last episode was quite disappointing. I felt like the events that happened in episode 11 were barely addressed, the explanations given were just easy ways out of the complex situation. Not to mention the last scene, that should just not exist in the first place. It just showed the limits of what actors could have done, set either by themselves or their agencies.
Overall, it was an extremely good watch. I went crazy over Kurosawa because he is the best boi on the planet and I would fight anyone on that. No doubt I will rewatch the series (I’m writing it as if I haven’t rewatch all the eps every week already) and enjoy everyone’s performance.
Was this review helpful to you?
