It's such a simple yet beautiful story that focuses on not only the love stories but all around development of characters. It has it's ups and downs in the plot but none too complicated and unrealistic. Even rough bumps in the story or between characters isn't blown out of proportion or shown for far too long and from ever angle possible on earth to make the audience realise it's impact. The great acting does that itself.
I WILL FIGHT ANYBODY WHO TELLS ME THIS IS THE SAME KIMURA TAKUYA I SAW IN PRIDE AS 'HALU SATONAKA', the highly charming, smart mouthed heartbreaker. Just kidding. What can I say about his acting, I am wowed everytime I watch him. Also I love the actress Yamaguchi Tomoko and she's such a pleasure to watch onscreen. I'll definitely look for more of her works too. I think the rest of the cast did a fantastic job as well.
The music is strangely addicting specially La La La Love song. The opening credits never get old and it's all good fun.
I am going to watch this drama again and recommend it to any one who's looking for a Jdrama to watch or just something nice. It's a really simple and fun drama and the cast and story will not dissapoint.
Oh god I love the fashion in this. Good ol' 90s, it makes me want to go back. Those sandals and pants and big baggy suits. Kimura Takuya could wrap himself in cabbage leaves and he'll still be the handsomest man I've ever seen. I'm going to check out more of his dramas/movies now and I'm glad I watched "long vacation".
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I have never wanted happiness for two characters more than I do for Minami and Sena.
This drama has some of the best acting I have seen out of the lifestyle romance genre. All of the characters felt very realistic and their decisions didn’t feel silly just to further the plot.I loved just how musical the entire show was. Dramatic moments were always supported by emotional 90s-early 2000s music that contributed to the atmosphere wonderfully. While the piano performances didn’t feel as intense as they could have, they way the bonded over their affection for the piano was moving.
The set design also played a part in this, as the character’s homes felt lived in, and not simply a set used for filming.
Multiple times through this show, my mouth was left agape as I was unable to comprehend how a seemingly low-budget 1990s J-Drama could convey more realistic relationships than most people can in their own lives.
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A timeless piece that will make you love film and music
As someone who watched just about anything and everything, this drama is truly one of my favourites. I came across it on Netflix when they started adding more J-dramas and decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did. I rarely give shows such high praise, but this one absolutely deserves it.Starting off, even though it’s nearly 30 years old, it feels completely timeless. From the start, the way the main characters were portrayed drew me in. You could see they weren’t perfect,they had flaws, made mistakes, and carried their own limitations.
Listening to the male lead play the piano will make you cry one way or another. The feeling I had whenever Sena played for Minami was so overwhelming and profound,I genuinely loved these scenes, You could feel and see everything he was unable to express, all the thoughts and words left unspoken. Even though I don’t relate to it personally, it still hit deep, and it’s one of those things many people can relate to even now.
The show bought this sense of nostalgia and genuineness that is really hard to find in modern dramas, and I love it for that.Also all the dynamics within this show were done so well, and genuinely engaging - from minima and her best friend to Sena and the professor.They made the story meaningful .
Some people might say it’s too fast-paced or that the characters needed more development, but for me, I thought the pacing worked perfectly. It lingered and stretched at times throughout the episodes, but never for too long. You still get to see the journey and character development the main characters go through, especially how they come to terms with their own feelings.
The music in this show was a work of its own. There were no unnecessary plots or overstepping by characters, and even when things got a bit messy at times, it never once felt like a problem.
Compared to other dramas, though I haven’t watched any as old as this: Long Vacation truly one of the best serves as a timeless piece that will make you love film, and music
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The storyline itself, not spectacular as such although in the 1990s it might have been considered as such, being it's first of its kind. But the acting and cast of characters largely make for it, their relationship and the ease of their banter, felt so natural. Im astounded how I didn't watch this sooner.
The romance develops itself in a quite realistic manner, and I think it amply depicts why so many couples in more recent dramas just don't sell it. It definitely had to it an undeniable charm, and I can't wait to have a rewatch.
Also I've since watched a tad of Kimura Takuya's works, but you've got to admit that the boyish charm he depicts in long vacation, really is something to appreciate.
And let's not forget Minami's absolute perfection as female lead, sensible at times but nevertheless so fierce and strong. Even the side characters were so perfect, especially Minami's brother- what an absolute scene-stealer!
Anyways, long story short- watch this!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Like it!
In fact, even the first episode was enough to capture my attention. There are only a few things I dislike in this drama, but it's not to the point of deep hatred, I guess? It kind of bothered me when the FL chose to date another guy while being in love with Sena, but I kind of emphasized with her. She was unsure of how their relationship would turn out as she was afraid of ruining their friendship, and also, they didn't talk about their feelings. They were both going back and forth, and hence, took them a long time to finally be together. So, that's okay and understandable. Still, the main issue is that she continues to go out with Mr. Sugisaki, who is making an effort to slowly introduce his life to her, even though at some point, her initial relationship with Sena took a turn and she broke up with him (Mr. Sugisaki). It was unfair for Mr. Sugisaki actually, who seems to be her rebound. In the end, they did it, which technically means she cheated. I am grateful that they broke up after that, but still, I feel heartbroken for Mr. Sugisaki.On the other hand, I was surprised by how fast the ML suddenly fell in love with the FL. It took one kiss HAHAHAAA. Also, it's ironic that her junior seems to know her thoughts really well and was the one pushing them (all of them) to confess their feelings and advising them about it (though she seems insensitive sometimes).
But despite that, there are a lot of things I like, such as their acting and chemistry. The way they express their character and deliver the lines really impressed me. It all seemed natural, you know? The storyline and pacing are also well done! The side characters were given some screen time and equally highlighted their part without being too much. It's hard to explain, but overall, the stories of the main couple and the side couple were portrayed in a natural way. There was no conflict between the two. It's like what it is. Anyway, I really like it. The comedy and drama also do not look forced.
So, it was a good watch! Really enjoyed the drama!
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Jdrama delicinha
Esse é (até agora) o Dorama mais antigo que eu já vi, mas apesar de antigo, é uma história bem moderna em vários aspectos, tanto pelos assuntos trazidos, quanto pelos cenários. A protagonista é uma peça, ri muito com ela e o protagonista é um fofo, impossível não se apaixonar.O desenrolar da amizade entre os protagonistas é lindo e o romance acontece de forma lentinha, como já é bem natural nos jdramas, mas é muito gostosinho de ver. Amei assistir, mas sinto que faltou algo pra que virasse um dos meus favoritos.Was this review helpful to you?
"the wall was blown into the next stratosphere"
The statement said to Sena by his mentor encapsulates this wonderful enchanting drama that took me by surprise. I've long been meaning to watch more Japanese Dramas, and have decided to make a concerted effort this year.Imagine my surprise (pleasant) when I, rather grudgingly pressed play on episode one, you know concerted effort and all that. Granted, episode 1 to 5 were engaging enough for me to continue watching but I wasn't sold on this drama until episode 6 onwards. It's a story that literally takes you by surprise; the impactful moments crept up on me and I found my eyes welling up during seemingly innocuous scenes; for example the two mismatched wine glasses sitting on the makeshift crate coffee table with the bottle of Bordeaux became a symbol of Sena and Minami's budding feelings.
It's a very well crafted, incremental story of two people who appear to be very different falling in love with each other and monumentally changing each other in the process.
The acting is superb by the two leads, I found the lead actress's performance a tad irritating in the earlier episodes, but she improved in latter episodes. Kimura Takura dazzles as Sena, he has a naive, reticent quality yet he is also emotionally strong and mature; the actor managed to encapsulate these different characteristics into one extremely likeable package.
The female lead, I believe is supposed to be more complicated and a little bit unlikeable as she is the one who, although she's older than Sena, has the most growing to do.
The cast overall is so good, I enjoyed Sena's mentor/professor as a constant stabilising force in his life. The other pairings were not very well developed and the relationships seemed undeveloped at the end. However there is an epilogue at the end of the last episode which may shed some light on the final pairings of the supporting cast.
I loved loved loved the soundtrack in this, the songs by Cagnet are beautiful and spot on, they have a 90's feel but can very well stand their ground in 2020. The show is interspersed with lovely piano music, and this juxtaposition of the different music genres is genius. Music is 10 out of 10
In actual fact this is a drama and cast that can stand their ground in 2020, it's not often that you come across such unaffected performances.
Never mind about the 1996 date of production, just watch this drama, its really worth it.
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A hidden masterpiece of the past
It should be a freaking crime for this to have 7.9 this is easily a 10!!! I don't get the ratings at this point cauz really bad dramas get 8 at least and this ahhh. now where do I begin?? I love love love all the characters here they feel very relatable and down to earth yet very strong despite all the struggles I love how gradually and realistacally the leads fall for each, it's not out of the blue but their romance is very long awaited. FL might be my favorite actress in the entire world just phenomenal and ml isn't an immature young boy that's why it worked out so well. This is easily a must watch i would 100% recommend it to everyone I knowWas this review helpful to you?
the kind of show you can finish in one sitting
i adored this show so much. it’s so natural and it feels so good to watch. japan excels in this genre the most. it would have been better to build the characters’ dynamics more but since it’s a mini-series, i kind of expected it to feel a little rushed but i’m satisfied. loved everyone. perfect casting. wardrobe is amazing as expected from 90’s shows.watched this show with no expectations just that i’ve heard it’s nice and since i usually go for sitcom-ish shows, i was hooked!
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This review may contain spoilers
A Classic for a Reason
I recently started watching Jdramas and this drama kept getting recommended to me as a must watch classic. Everyone was right -- this is one of the best dramas I've ever watched in any language. The story itself is pretty basic: an aging model gets ditched on her wedding day and ends up moving into her ex's old apartment with his former roommate, a classical pianist whose career is floundering. It's a slow burn opposites attract romance. But the execution is truly special.A lot of people have already shouted out KimuTaku and the rest of the cast for their stellar performances and also the OST which is wonderful but I want to spend some time talking about the directing because it's incredibly good and makes it feel more like a film instead of a drama.
The drama mostly takes place in the apartment building where Minami and Sena live. It's a real apartment building not a set and the production took full advantage of the location. After a while ago you'll notice that certain emotional beats take place in certain parts of the building and street. For example almost all of their fights take place in the cramped apartment. But they draw closer when they are on the rooftop or on the basketball court adjacent to the building. Whenever Sena is feeling lost, lonely or contemplative he tends to stand alone on the path overlooking the river.
There are some iconic scenes that illustrate how the director used the site. One is when Sena throws Minami's glitter ball three stories down to the street and then catches it when it bounces back to him, symbolizing the ability to bounce back after setbacks. Another is when Minami tells Sena that she's planning on marrying her boyfriend, after she exits the building she can hear Sena playing her favorite song followed by the wedding march (heart wrenching!). Another one is a spectacular shot that starts with Sena standing alone in the apartment after Minami has moved out and then pans out across the river until he's out of sight to illustrate how lonely and isolated he feels now that she's no longer living with him.
Another thing I noticed was the hair styling and costuming. When the drama starts Sena wears a tweed jacket that seems to symbolize how trapped he feels in his life. Even his hair is styled in such a way to look stiff and unmoving. Minami wears trendy clothes in loud colors and a lot of makeup. But things change as they start to fall in love with each other and to emotionally mature. Sena stops wearing the blazer and is usually in tees when he's spending time with Minami and his hair becomes softer and looser. Minami starts wearing jeans and cotton shirts and very little makeup. She also starts to wear white shirts which are associated with Sena since he's often in a white shirt when teaching and performing.
These are just a few examples but honestly you could easily do a shot by shot analysis of this drama. Just how they use the visual space in the apartment in different scenes tells you so much about what's going on with and between the characters at different parts of the story.
This might sound dry and technical but it shows the care and attention that the production team put into all the details of the drama. And as a result you end up falling in love with the characters.
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That's how it's done!
A great drama from beginning to end. Infact it's so great that despite being made in 1996, it's feels so modern and relevant. A heartwarming romcom that actually shows us the leads lives and wide range of emotions and struggles and how a forced Co habitation turn to two people come to depend on each other then naturally fall in love. The first time they kissed, I was like finally yes! They built the momentum for the romance in the most realistic way, at some point I forgot I was watching a drama. Her a model at the end of her career struggling to see where she can find her place in society after being dumped by her fiancee on her wedding day, him a pianist that struggled to convey raw emotions while playing. I don't want to talk about the chemistry, i want everyone to watch a text book on how to have a good chemistry in this drama. As the title that's just how you do it. Anyone intimidated by how old this drama is, just give it a go!Ps The opening song will forever live in head!
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My favorite Jdorama of all time.
Long Vacation remains to this day my favorite Jdorama of all time. The story, the cast, the OST, the pop culture influence it created - it is simply a classic. The story is simply but very moving and certain scenes left a deep impression on me, especially the conversations between Sena and Minami. Long Vacation is an apt title to describe where the main characters are at - it's about the period of time when people come at a crossroad and they're lost about what to do with themselves. The chemistry between Takuya Kimura and Tomoko Yamaguchi is simply spectacular and untoppable. Tomoko makes her character very fascinating with her bursts of energetic intensity and moments of vulnerability. Takuya shows his true depth as an actor here with his touching portrayal of Sena. Two thumbs WAY UP!
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