Kekkon Shinai (2012)

Refreshingly mature despite its breezy tone, Kekkon Shinai is a gentle treatise on marriage in modern Japan. This series approaches various issues pertaining to the subject, mostly from the female perspective. Specifically, each installment follows a formula: x concern related to marriage surfaces, the leads face conflict, they change or resolve based on the experience. There are also love lines, and while I found them fun, they didn't hit as hard as they might.

My primary problem with the story is that, while highly informative and enlightening, some portions feel like a PSA. Marriage occasionally felt like it was all anyone cared about. On the other hand, a favorite aspect was the charming use of flower language to sum up the theme of each episode. It gave the drama something beautiful and unique.

Strong veteran actors make up the principle cast. Kanno Miho delights as Chiharu, portraying her with likability to spare. She seemed true to life, making human mistakes, suffering little moments of awkwardness, experiencing joys and hurts reasonably. And Kanno-san's smile! It's contagious. Ex-Takarasienne Amami Yuki can already do no wrong in my eyes, but she shone in Kekkon Shinai. As Haruko, she embodies every bit of strength, resolution, experience, and loneliness the character represents. Her work with Kanno-san basically defines chemistry. Last (but not least) we have wonderful Tamaki Hiroshi, the perfect male lead for a drama like this. His performance as the warm-hearted florist Junpei is understated but memorable.

The chosen music generally suits the drama well. Most themes were light and fun, but there were cloying melancholy pieces too. Scenes were well orchestrated, with marked silences for dramatic effect. One vocal stands out, the fitting and catchy Kami Hikouki by Kobukuro.

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The story is simple and that is why it is particularly nice to watch. it tells about marriage, love and friendship- the three main ingredients of one's life but still the title says it's about the life of a single. it is. it tells about how marriage has become a chiche affair and how it's more important in life to find one's direction and love.
Excellent acting. Tamaki Hiroshi looked really handsome and sweet. and the girls or should i say the ladies were brilliant.
this isn't one of those chirpy high school dramas. so if you're looking for one, it might be the wrong place. this one is more mature and deep. a little slow at times but each episode has a lesson to learn!

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There's an Italian idiom ("senza infamia e senza lode") which would apply perfectly to this dorama. In English it would mean, literally, "without infamy nor praise", and in a less literal and therefore better translation, it would sound as "not particularly worth of praise, nor of criticism". The dorama has its moments and the main actors (Kanno Miho, Amami Yuki, Tamaki Hiroshi, Koichi Mantaro and Miyoshi Ayaka) all deliver solid performances. Unfortunately, the script is a bit plain, so it ends up been watchable and even quite enjoyable, but at the same time not particularly remarkable.

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I was hugely disappointed with this one. What was turning out to be a great drama, didn't turn out that great. Once again there's a dumb love triangle. There's somewhat of a betrayal, not just to herself but to someone else. The acting was really great, so was the music. I most certainly wouldn't watch this one again. I gave it a 7 but a very low 7 just because of the acting and music, and for some of the story line. Just hugely disappointed in this one. There were one actress in this story that I have to hugely commend, and that is Ito Ayumi(Kono Mizuki), she shone in this drama, my hat goes off to her 100%.

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