Kimi wa Petto (2003)

There are a lot of aspects of this drama that I respect. For one, I appreciate that this isn’t just one of those dramas jumping on the “older woman dating a younger man” craze of the past few years. Although it might look that way initially, it’s much smarter than that.

Without sounding too pretentious, this drama is really about human relationships and how societies expectations make us question our wants and needs in our personal lives. This drama addresses those thoughts that we all have to ourselves: “I like this, but what would my friends think about it? What would my co-workers say if they knew I was doing this? What would my parents say!? Am I wrong for feeling this way?”

The lead characters are complex and well acted by Kato and MatsuJun. Particularly with the Momo character, I really liked that there was more to him than meets the eye. He’s not just some shallow, free-loading bum with a pretty face. Just like Sumire, he too has his emotional scars and is being healed by their unconventional relationship.

In addition to being smart and well-acted, the drama is downright sexy! Not overtly so, but in very subtle and playful actions between the main characters. It’s funny how some of those moments are intended to be completely “non-sexual,” but still feel as such because of the undeniable chemistry between the two leads. There’s also a lot of sexual tension throughout the series, which is never a bad thing. :)

The script is also youthful and wonderfully comedic. Sumire’s best friend in particular is candid and absolutely refreshing in her role. I love characters that unabashedly say what the audience is likely thinking!

My only complaint about this drama is the use of the Fukushima character. Why must all melodramas portray their antagonist as a typical b*tchy, jealous and spiteful woman? I get really tired of that character. She’s in, like, EVERY drama. It would be nice if writers could re-think the antagonist role, or at least make it more interesting. The Hasumi character is also a bit too gullible for my taste, but he isn't completely intolerable and serves his purpose well enough.

Overall though, Kimi wa Petto is so well-acted, interesting, sexy and funny that the plusses greatly overshadow the small, b*tchy and gullible minuses. :)

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This is a very endearing and cute drama. It's funny and not too dramatic - there are no massive and overwhelming problems/obstacles, but enough plot twists to keep you interested. The main characters are portrayed very convincingly by Kato Koyuki (Sumire) and Matsumoto Jun (Momo). Supporting characters are good as well. The plot flows nicely and I found the ending was satisfying enough, although not perfect. The instrumental soundtrack suits the drama very well, and the theme song, V6's "Darling", is sure to stick in your head for a long time.



Despite the weirdish pet/owner relationship between the main characters, this drama is somehow very realistic. In the end, it is about people searching for someone with whom they can be themselves and that is a something everyone can relate to. Even if you don't like Matsumoto Jun - who, by the way, does a superb job in this drama, very adorable - you should give this drama a try. It might well be that at the end of this drama you too hope to have an adorable Momo as your pet! ;)



If you have read the manga, I think that this drama adaptation isn't a bad one at all. It's different, of course, and it doesn't follow the manga faithfully: there are quite a few changes and some characters omitted, some added/having bigger roles. However, I do think that the drama has the same spirit as the manga, and the main characters are quite the same. Anyways, I read the manga after watching this, so my opinion might be a bit biased since I was charmed by Matsumoto Jun's Momo first. :)

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So what’s the story? Girl finds injured boy in a box; girl takes boy home and adopts him – as a dog. I’ll give you a second for your eyes to stop rolling. It works! I promise you, the story actually works! – Once you can get your mind wrapped around the premise that a 28 year old woman would actually be ok taking in a 20 year old homeless boy and in every way possible treating him as a master to its pet.

Sumire the career woman and MatsuJun the obedient dog: Together they are one of the cutest onscreen couples I’ve ever seen. And when I say cute, I do mean cute as in ‘puppy dog’ cuteness. So cute it’s downright awkward.

Yet the strength of the show lies in this very strained and awkward relationship. On one hand, the players are perfectly happy to pretend like it makes sense. He needs a home and someone to feed him, she’s lonely and likes the companionship, especially at the end of a hard day. To come home from work to find a happy pet waiting anxiously for its owner? Tail wagging, happy and desperately giving out the mixed signals of ‘I love you - Feed me!’ No questions asked, no stressful conversations, and no obligations.

It’s a borderline perfect friendship, laced with a dangerous hint of sexual tension. Especially once Sumire begins an actual dating relationship with another man, and neglects to tell him about the ‘pet’ she keeps at home. Tanabe Seiichi plays the ideal boyfriend Hasumi Shigehito, tall and even more career bound – perfect for the haughty Sumire whose shorter ex-boyfriend suffered an inferiority complex. Yet the person that begins to melt Sumire’s cold exterior is not the boyfriend she’s crushed on for years, but the warm and huggable stray living away tucked up in her apartment.

In case you’re worried that this isn’t enough conflict already to see this plot through to the end, fear not. Despite the wtf-premise of boy acting like dog, not everything is always fun and games with this couple, nor is the real issue behind their mutual farce completely ignored. Takeshi/Momo may act like the perfect dog, loving and obedient, but behind the antics is a real human being, sadly cognizant of the reality of the situation. How long can they keep this up and how long he can keep his own feelings hidden drives the plotline of the latter half.

Do I recommend this? Absolutely. Just shut off your brain for a tiny bit and roll with it. It’s a unique romance story adapted from a manga – but unlike others of its origin, the drama’s characters are rarely overdone or overly dramatic. Even MatsuJun as the dog exhibits some depths of character as he switches between the happy-go-lucky puppy and the lone artist, dissatisfied with himself and his life. Sumire is the real face-palming mystery of the show, unsure of herself and her feelings. And yet, her strange behavior could not dampen how fun the drama is overall. I’m already in a re-watching mood, and at 10 episodes, this seems eminently doable.


For some select screencaps, see my original blog article at http://shinealightrose.blogspot.com/2013/02/jdrama-review-kimi-wa-petto-2003.html

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This is a very cute and interesting drama. Even if the premise of the drama sounds a bit weird when you hear it, the drama charms your heart as you start watching it.
The plot is very well written. There were hardly any places where anything felt absurd or artificial. The story along with the characters falls into place right from the start.

Matsumoto Jun as Momo is completely lovable and walks right into your heart as the boy who is a pet. Kato Koyuki is just perfect in the role of the girl who becomes the 'master' of the pet.

I think what made this drama work is the well rounded-ness of the characters. We come to understand the workings of every person- why and how they are the way they are. There aren't any purely negative characters, rather we are all people with imperfections of our own.

It's beautiful and endearing to see the relationship between Iwaya and Momo grow as they find comfort in each other. Their journey from 'master and pet' to where they openly accept their love for each other unmindful of anything else between them is great to watch.

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Interesting characters with great chemistry and a unique relationship; poor everything else

If you care about lighting, directing, wardrobe, set design, pacing - this is not the drama for you. No, Kimi wa Petto foregoes basic filmmaking necessities to instead bring you one of the strangest and most genuine relationships I've seen in any drama.

This is a story about an emotionally closed-off, serious-minded female protagonist and a main male love interest brimming with love and excitement as he avoids his own issues, depicting maybe the most physically and emotionally affectionate pre-relationship in drama history.

That is enough to make this my favorite drama.

In a kind of abstract sense, Kimi wa Petto is about the loneliness of modern (city/working) life and (social) isolation; gender roles; the difficulty and necessity of emotional vulnerability; the exhaustion that comes with superficial kindness and politeness that's expected everywhere; how familiar comforts may be taken for granted.

In clearer terms, Kimi wa Petto is about a 29 year-old who desperately needs someone who will break down her walls because god knows she's not letting anyone in herself and a 20 year-old who is happy to do so and falls in love with her as much as he falls in love with who he becomes when he is with her. It's not always healthy, but it's comforting and cathartic.

Its only weakness is the second lead, who is much better portrayed in the prettier, cleaner 2017 adaption - but because Sumire and Momo are the heart of this show, and so perfectly portrayed in the 2003 adaption, I just can't bring myself to recommend anything else.

I scored 'Overall' with my heart. I've watched this show several times and I rewatch the first episode like it's my favorite movie.

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Daw this drama! I loved the concept of the story, it's rather heart-warming with out being too over the top, the fact that it explores the idea of people needing the company of each other for different reasons was better then just straightforward romance. The music, the opening song I really liked and thus I was first introduced to Arashi, when I listen to it as a separate song it does seem cheesy but in a funny way it seems to work ok with the drama. re-watch? oohh yes! I tend not to normally but I think I've re-watched this three times. Reasons being that it's only 10 episodes, it's so easy and a pleasure to watch. It does have an outdated feeling, maybe because of the way it was filmed and the wardrobe choices, but it doesn't matter as this is pure gold!

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The story is unique and original, I mean owning a human as a pet? Definitely odd but sounds like it'd be something interesting and funny to watch right? I loved every minute of this show, beginning to end. It's a cute, funny story that makes you wish MatsuJun was your own personal pet :P



As soon as I started watching it and saw Kato Koyuki as Iwaya-san I recognized her from her role in the movie "The Last Samurai." Considering the story, I wondered how she would do in such a show, but I feel she did a terrific job with her part. MatsuJun as Momo was just too cute. This is the second drama I've watched with him in it, the first being Hana Yori Dango, and he's the main reason why I wanted to watch this show. The two of them together make a great team and do really well together.



The theme song to the show, "Darling" by V6, is really catchy and I liked it.



I probably will watch this show again someday (:



Overall, I think this show is worth watching and a MUST-SEE for all Matsumoto Jun fans!

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Weirdly Fascinating

What's really great about the series is Koyuki and Matsumoto Jun excellent in the roles they played.

As weird as the relationship is between the leads, it was very loving and believable. However, I thought the first 6 episodes were extremely well done but the remaining episodes went down hill for me. Maybe it was at that point I started to wonder what the endgame was going to be. I don't think I actually wanted Sumire-chan and Momo to be together but I didn't want her to be with Hasumi either. I found him lacking something and he was quite obnoxious to me. Sumire's bestfriend was awesome too! I really liked her and the advise she was giving Sumire.

Sumire's boss what too much. His comments were off the chain. I mean I get this was 2003 but his sexism was the most. I mean there was a scene in one episode where Fukishimi told her coworker that it could be sexual harassment b/c he told her her perfume was too strong but their boss was constantly belittling Sumire and women in the workplace and no one batted an eyelash!!! I was just outdone.

Overall it's an enjoyable series to watch once. Will not watch again but I will watch the remake and the Korean movie version.

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