Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu (2024)

the mutual magnetic pull demands my attention

Overall: this is one of the rare series that I don't watch at a faster speed because all of the pauses and silences carry weight. The series is based on a Korean webtoon "Our Youth" which I read, but will review the series on its own merits. 11 episodes about 23 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4914/our-youth-2024

Content Warnings: child abuse, beaten up, alcoholism, non/dub con kisses

What I Liked
- tension and chemistry
- caring moments
- centers on the leads
- production value

Room For Improvement
- ominous intro scenes/voice overs and then flashbacks to tell the story
- an open window led to something cliche in ep 4
- a character ignores when another character looks uncomfortable

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[Updated] A JBL Bingo: School Edition

I have created, for your pleasure and displeasure, a bingo card for Japanese school BLs. I wrote these down before I started watching Miseinen (I promise!), and I’m going to see at which episode I yell “Bingo!”. Feel free to play along, shuffle the table, make it your own, and then tell me at which point you win. (For ratings, I’ll start with 5.5 throughout, and adjust them at the end depending on how good the show is.)

Column B:
(Psychology 101)

1. Overbearing mother
2. Absent or abusive father
3. Inability to communicate (except through inner monologues)
4. Panic attacks at the very thought of intimacy
5. Noble idiot

Column I:
(Tropefest)

1. Time jump, usually for trips abroad
2. Beach trips
3. Random and wildly inaccurate equations on blackboard
4. Corridor crossings in slow motion
5. Roof-tops, usually fenced-in, against a hilly background: ideal for unrequited confessions
[Bonus point: Bangs for girls. Bowlcut for boys.]

Column N:
(Love Languages)

1. A wide-eyed "kiss" that reminds you of the girl from The Ring
2. Kabedon, because... door banging is sexy?
3. Free Space
4. Wound tending... even sexier.
5. Standing in the rain, kissing in the rain, getting cold & fever from the rain... just a lot of rain.

Column G:
(Lines of dialogue)

1. “But we’re both men…”
2. “Kawaii!” or “Kakkoii!”
3. “Ikemen ne.”
4. “Hendayo!" (usually after the first non-kiss)
5. “Suki da.” “Eh?”

Column O:
(War of the Positions)

1. Seme: Nipple-revealing bleach-white shirt. Uke: Buttoned-up black coat.
2. Seme: No real friends. Uke: Really bad friends.
3. Seme: PTSD survivor. Uke: Florence Shitingayle
4. Seme: Rebel with(out) a cause. Uke: Mathlete.
5. Seme: Six feet, tops. Uke: Five feet under.


Notes:
1. Gang, it happened! At the end of Ep. 5, Bingo!!
2. "Infect me!" has to be the sexiest and most romantic thing anyone has ever said in a BL.
3. If my sampling of JBLs is correct, at least a third of all Japanese fathers must be in jail for child abuse.
4. Can someone explain to me why Minase cannot call the police?


This review is dedicated to jpny01, the final word and authority on all things BL.

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Our Youth was always bleak

I was really surprised with this drama in every aspect. It's hard to figure out what you want to expect from a j-drama, as they are pretty much giving for everything. They are good at being camp, melancholic, just haven't seen it being done at one time. The way this drama is going is to be more mellow, and I find that completely correct based on the story that is being told.

So what is the story? Honestly I had no idea. I came into this hearing it was pretty good and expected to at least not get bored, I came out of it getting a lot more. The story is a lot more depressing and realistic than I expected, it was a punch to the gut when I first understood what this drama is really about.

You go into the drama the same way as the lead Jin, thinking Hirukawa is a delinquent and no good. Multiple people in his life warn him about 'ruining' himself by surrounding himself by the wrong people. It is sort of rich coming from the people that don't care to know him well enough, and as a result you can see just how lonely Jin is. From the outside you see a rich privileged kid that wants to succeed and is obsessed with getting good grades and appealing to the right people, on the other hand you have Hirukawa. Hirukawa is the textbook definition (from the outside) of the type of person that Jin should not be around. The drama gets this across several ways, so seeing the two of them get close admits all the internal dialogue just has the payoff of their scenes together leaving me on the edge of my seat. I understand that is why it feel so intimate, because you can see just how much is at stake for the both of them.

Jin has his whole life ahead of him, but he isn't selfish because he knows that. He recognizes the disingeuine acts of others.. especially when it comes to his parents. Each episode develops his character starting from that, as well as his relationship with Hirukawa. This drama is MUCH more than a romance, it's about a whole lot more than that. It isn't too on the nose with its themes, and the acting coming from the leads pulls the story along really well. Without the chemistry between the leads this drama would suck so bad, but luckily they are offering a lot more than just their visuals.

Hirukawa is abused by his father. He is clearly able to fight back for himself, but clears up why he hasn't and won't do that. Hirukawa isn't a delinquent or a scary person, he is misunderstood by everyone. The real story of this drama starts when Jin witnesses the abuse. Even when Jin knows this, he doesn't treat Hirukawa in any different way. Hirukawa is finding himself drawn to Jin because he doesn't have to put a wall up, he knows Jin has accepted him completely. Jin accepts the abuse is happening and doesn't push any boundaries, in fact the one who is holding himself back is Jin. It is sort of brilliant that Jin is the one still closeting himself so badly, where as he has nothing 'pathetic' happening to him in that way. Jin is just extremely tentative because of his privilege circumstances, where Hirukawa finds solace in his company because of his honesty.

The romance between them adds a whole other dynamic to this drama. It isn't cliche with how it does things, instead it is much more realistic. The attraction between the two is clearly there, and you can tell Hirukawa's lax attitude of it all is because he is trying to feign ignorance of his true feelings. He has been a 'nuisance' his whole life, so he doesn't want to get in Jin's way, but he also doesn't want to leave him alone? Why? Because he knows that Jin is a person in his life that makes him genuinely happy. It is when a story is able to be as simple as that, that the attraction doesn't have to spell it out for you, that it is just two people that make each other happy. The drama comes with the circumstances that are telling them to contradict their feelings. That they won't work for just as simple reasons. That they are both boys, that they have different lives, etc.

The tone of this drama handles the serious topics so well. I was also surprised to see that the abuse in Hirukawa's life is a strong part to the story, it wasn't there for shock value. It is shown how deeply that affects Hirukawa's attitude, but it hasn't made him a bitter person, in fact he wants to protect people.

What I am dreading is the time skip.. that will 100% happen. Hopefully there are no frustrating cliches brought in.. but so far this drama is wonderful.

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One of the best; my favourite BL this year

"I hope the boundary between me and you will fuse and disappear..."

Now, THIS is how you do the bad x good person trope! The storyline is nothing unique or unheard of, yet still manages to captivate you, make you feel, laugh, and cry. 🥰

Minase Jin is a top student from a wealthy family, already facing a prosperous and successful future, lots of career opportunities. All he has to do is to be a "bystander", focus on his studies, and not get into trouble. However, all changes when he accidentally discovers that the deliquent of his class, Hirukawa Haruki is being abused by his father. He smokes, hangs out with shady people, barely attends lessons, and couldn't care less about his grades - not the good type of people to befriend. At least, so does Minase Jin think, yet not matter how hard he tries, he finds himself falling deeper and deeper for Hirukawa. Until the house of cards he carefully built falls apart.

There are many things I love about this drama - the list goes on and on. But two things I'd like to point out are the pacing and the characters. Everythings just clicks so nicely. Altough some find the pace a bit too fast (compared to the webtoon it's based on), but I think it delivers perfectly. Sometimes it's a bit faster, but when needed it slows down, taking its sweet time with meaningful silence, longing gazes. My heart flutters everytime these two look at each other! OMG, what a great couple! Also, the cinematography is beautiful, very Japanese like - minimalist but clean, not too bright, not too dark. Just perfect! 🇯🇵

HIRUKAWA IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS EVER... He is written so well. A complex character! He is not the typical "bad guy", a nonchalant bully. Rather, he is filled with love, yet lost and lonely. Nobody really cared about him until Minase gave him a shelter in his own appartment - damn, I feel why Hirukawa can't hold himself back from kissing him. The fact that this is their first love makes it even more better. Two people who are polar opposites falling for each other, despite all the hardships and prejudices. 👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Minase is such a nice person. At first, he comes off quite bland and awkward, but as the story goes on, you realise that being simple isn't that bad after all, and he has a heart of gold. Everybody tries to tell him not to befriend Hirukawa, and he tries, but clearly can't stop. From the moment their eyes met for the first time at the water fountain, he was done for good haha. The series is still on going, so I'm curious how the conflict between him and her mother will turn out...

Minase gave a safe place, a home to Hirukawa, meanwhile Hirukawa now became the meaning of Minase's live, the motivation to be himself instead of trying to impress others, especially his mum all the time. ❤️

So far, this is all I wanted to yap about. More's upcoming once the series finished airing. If you read this whole pharagraph, thank you very much, ILY <<33

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Romance Between a Model Student & a Delinquent!

“It shows that some people can overcome their suffering while others get consumed by it.”

The sea is an unfathomable and contradictory place—calm one moment, violent the next, uncertain most of the time, and filled with hidden dangers and unexpected beauty, much like the new Japanese BL, Our Youth.

Adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Hi Nun, the story follows model student Minase Jin (Motojima Junsei) and delinquent Hirukawa Haruki (Kamimura Kenshin) as they navigate a turbulent youth marked by violence and loneliness, all while figuratively floating in a choppy sea where no one expects them to become involved with one another.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/13/our-youth-first-impressions-ep-1-2/

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Do not talk to me anymore....

That's a strong statement to close the pilot episode. Minase seems to have a clear sense of who he is, what he wants, and how he views the situations he finds himself in. As the protagonist of the series, he doesn’t play the "hero" card, which is one reason I like him.

Then there's Hirukawa: tall, skinny, and handsome, of course. He's in the shadows, outcast by his peers because of his reputation and his attitude toward his teachers. As a teenager, he's also experiencing domestic violence, with physical signs of abuse on his body.

Sympathy and empathy are the basic foundations that will draw Minase to Hirukawa. Personally, I like this kind of story—it’s both predictable and unpredictable at the same time. The two characters come from different backgrounds, so their endurance and responses to conflict will be shaped by their experiences.

It's still early to say, but I've noticed how Hirukawa intentionally and openly tries to get closer to Minase. Even though Minase attempts to set boundaries by asking Hirukawa not to speak to him, it’s clear that Minase’s walls are coming down. We'll have to wait and see how they navigate this meaningful phase of youth together.

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Opposites Indeed Attract

I'm in LOVE with this BL. For me, it's rivalling Doku Koi "Love is Poison" for Best Japanese BL of 2024.
I read the manga "Our Youth" a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I was a bit nervous about the live adaptation. I'm so happy my fears were unfounded. The acting and the cinematography really elevated and brought this story to life for me.

We meet Minase, a well off high school student, who lives alone. His mother and friends direct a lot of his life and he seems content with their direction. That direction being to graduate with high marks, get into a good university, work at a big company and live a quiet life. His path is set for him and he seems to have the direction for his life figured out. His father, a creative, is mostly absent from his life and his mother has directed him not to follow his father's career path as a creative.

Then Hirukawa enters his orbit, the school bad boy who smokes, runs with the wrong crowd, beat up a teacher and occasionally shows up to school with bruises and black eyes. His energy is mysterious and alluring to Minase. Even though Minase implores him on multiple occasions to stay away from him, their paths cross continuously and Minase feels compelled to care for Hirukawa.

Their initial somewhat hostile encounters have an air of familiarity and kindredness. They quickly fall into a routine spending secret time together and begin to rely on each other.

I'm curious how the story will end since the manga ended positively after a time skip. But so far I'm enjoying where the drama is going. I will update when it's complete.

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Must Watch the series "Our Youth" (Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu (2024))

"Our Youth" BL is a wonderful series. The actors do a great job showing their emotions in a real and natural way. I really enjoyed the show and hope it gets the high ratings it deserves!

"Hirukawa's tender love and Minase's unknowing kindness make Our Youth a heartfelt, lovely series!"

"The chemistry between Hirukawa and Minase in Our Youth is simply breathtaking! Hirukawa’s genuine of love makes every scene heartfelt, while Minase’s subtle transformation as he unknowingly falls for Haruki is captivating. Together, they create a story full of warmth and charm."

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From The Biggest Manhwa Fan...

When I first heard that my favorite Korean manhwa of all time was getting a Japanese live adaptation, I was both thrilled and anxious. The manhwa detailing Korea's severe school bullying, that takes place in 2009-2014, is now set in Japan and in 2018. That was a brave choice to make, yet I think—as of the first episode—that it works.

It's too early to tell much, but I really enjoyed the first episode. Many details were slightly altered to fit the Japanese setting more, but I think they were done well. I am excited to see what more this show will offer, and what changes they will make. So far the only main difference I have seen is the choice to make the letter the first thing we are met with instead of the line about perpetrators, victims, and bystanders that they included in the end of the first episode.

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Spell and rainbow

Spell and rainbow
I remember that in Journalism Techniques, one of the Journalism subjects, the teacher told us to write imaginary interviews with personalities from the field of science, culture, art, sports, politics... who, due to various circumstances, could not be interviewed, since whether due to death, distance, etc.
I will try to return to my old classes for this subject.
In the Japanese BL series 'Miseinen Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu', Jin has emerged as a memorable leading character admired by the audience. His identity as a model high school student who has the purpose of living life as a spectator, his melancholic and lonely character, his desire to break molds and get ahead on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, have captured the attention of viewers, who value their authenticity, talent and bravery.
Motojima Junsei, the actor who plays Minase Jin, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to portray this complex character. At only 19 years old, he has forged a solid career in the television and film fields.
In film he has stood out for playing Ichinose Hotaro / Kamen Rider Gotchard in the 'Kamen Rider Gotchard' universe, while on television he appeared in productions such as 'Hayabusa Shobodan', 'Kamen Rider Geats' and 'Shigatsu no Tokyo wa...'. In the latter, a 2023 BL series, he played the young Yagami Ryunosuke. The actor confesses that all his works have forged his ability to tackle challenging roles with depth and authenticity.
We talked about Jin and the Japanese BL series with Motojima Junsei in an exclusive interview for CinemaBL.
AA— How would you define Jin?
MJ— Jin is originality, love, honesty, magic, light... As an actor, I consider him to be the most beautiful character I have had to play on television so far. He is a model student. Studious. Work hard. His priority is to have his own house and his own car in the future. He knows that the only way to achieve his dreams is to go to a top university. He is fine with his repetitive daily routine of school and studying. He is an honor student who is indifferent to others, and has been living his school life avoiding any interaction with class troublemakers, especially Hirukawa Haruki. Jin is a fascinating young man who takes the viewer from hatred to love and becomes one of the pillars of the plot. Although he projects an image of absolute control over his life and his environment, he hides deep emotions and vulnerabilities.
"As an individual who is indifferent to everything and everyone and sees what surrounds him only as a spectator, Jin, without intending to, does not directly affect the harassment or bullying of those who are violated, of those who suffer from disrespect for other people's space, those who They endure the questioning of the expression of their identity and the exclusion due to their own or family characteristics. The effects of bullying are devastating for the emotional development of the person who carries out or receives the abuse, and even for the bystanders, voluntary or involuntary. because the framework of social and emotional relationships is formed at an early age."
AA—And Haruki is…?
MJ—Haruki, a character played with high marks by Kamimura Kenshin, a talented actor with solid experience in film and television, is my companion on a journey in which we will both discover and accept our true identity. Jin has been raised to hate people like Haruki. But Haruki, unintentionally, enters her life, which in a way, is perfect. This is the trigger for the series. One day, while Jin is taking a shortcut through a troubled neighborhood to return home, he sees Haruki, his classmate. Since he is not the type of person Jin would mix with, considering him, due to the upbringing received by his absent mother, the type of individual who grows up to become a criminal, Jin tries to continue on his way, until he discovers that Haruki is receiving a beating from his father.
"Something in Jin tells him that this is not his problem, that he should have nothing to do with Haruki. But at the same time a voice inside him screams that it is inevitable that their paths will cross... I would say that feeling of boredom that Jin has, it is Haruki who needs to get rid of him. Finally, they begin to relate.
AA— Why do you think the public begins to empathize with Haruki and stop seeing him as the villain of the story?
MJ— Haruki's character grows from the connection with Jin. In truth, they both grow as people. Both Haruki and Jin, who has the best values in the series, let go of the anti-values they carry and incorporate new, very positive values. When Haruki is around Jin he becomes a different person. He is talkative, attentive, talks about his taste in movies, shares secrets never revealed to others about what he likes or doesn't like about movies, about his life... Jin's father is a film director. This connects you even more by having another topic of conversation.
"Haruki is always prepared to give Jin his world. He cannot contain what boils in him, what overflows him, but everything will be step by step until he gets rid of the mists of doubt about the unknown, from fear of family, to school, to society in general that tells you that loving a person of the same gender is not correct, it is prohibited, it is illegal. Step by step, it will be like that, until the paths converge. Deep down, they are very similar. After discovering the secret of Haruki, the two quickly become intimate. This relationship, sad but beautiful, is what the series narrates."
AA— What strikes Jin about Haruki?
MJ— His vulnerability, his true “self,” so different from how he had represented it in his head. After witnessing the domestic violence carried out by his father, Jin manages to understand that the bruises on his face are not from the fights that he considered would cause them. As he tries to walk away, from his mind he cannot get the image of the Haruki he saw, so different from the one at school... Haruki is truly, like him, a tender, lonely and lost boy. They both come from different origins. Both had different types of education or upbringing. On the other hand, Haruki suffers from the marginalization to which he is subjected by his fellow students due to his reputation as a violent boy, his attitude of rebellion and disobedience towards teachers...
AA— In your opinion, what is the message that is transmitted to the viewer through this character?
MJ— Before answering that question, let me tell you that the events narrated in the webtoon "Our Youth", by Hi Nun, the original manhwa and which the series adapts for television, take place in South Korea between 2009 and 2014. In 'Miseinen Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu' is set, of course, in Japan and in 2018. Multiple details were changed slightly to match with Japanese reality, but ultimately the series captures the spirit of the original work, which is the romance of two teenagers set in a country where youth is marked by violence and loneliness, while, figuratively speaking, everyone They float in a rough sea where no one expects them to engage with each other.
"Now, my message with Jin is that a better world is possible, where people are respected and each person's sexual preference is not an important factor. Sexual preference is a personal issue that only concerns the person and not He should belittle or devalue anyone, much less humiliate. His sexual identity does not define his personality; what really define Jin is his values and feelings.
"I would like the public to reflect that sexual preference should not be a reason for humiliation, mistreatment or exclusion. People should be valued for their human quality, which is the most important thing. I think these stories should be represented more on television, although it will not be an easy battle, since Japanese youth have lived for decades in a society guided by homophobia, patriarchy and heteronormativity. However, as these stories are incorporated into the media and our culture, the japanese will leave becoming familiar with them, as long as they are given the right treatment. A change is needed because the world needs to be better and people need to love and respect each other.
The series seeks to demonstrate that while some people can overcome their suffering and move forward in life, others allow themselves to be consumed by it."
AA— How much did the character of Haruki contribute to the realization of your role?
MJ— Working with Kenshin was wonderful. He is an actor who offers all his knowledge. He is attentive and takes care of all the details of his performance and that of others. He is very protective of everyone around him. Sharing a scene with him was very comfortable. There were never any problems or disagreements between us.
"Whenever we could contribute something to the characters we did it, we sat down and tried to explain the reasons for Jin's rejection of Haruki when he tried to kiss him, his love for Jin, his father's abuse... which undoubtedly made our performances much more convincing. We did the casting together, but we already knew each other through mutual friends who introduced us at one of their performances with the vocal dance group "One N' Only", to which Kenshin belongs. And then we met in the premiere of the BL series 'Ossan's Love Returns', in January of this year, in which he plays Hao, one of the secondary characters. We have been friends since then, since before filming began. This has also served to enhance the chemistry, the close bond established between the two."
We left the conversation for a few moments. You cannot not answer the incoming call. I turn off my phone, while I hear, nearby, the voice of Motojima Junsei who, from his phone, agrees with a producer to finalize details to star in another BL series.
This is the moment when I let my thoughts escape: Where, if not from love, do those kisses come from that one tries to steal from the other? At what moments do their words and laughter grant us their elf? Where, if not from love, do doubts emerge, the confusion of one feeling rejected, but not despised, by the other? Where, if not from love, is the hurried heartbeat, as if it wanted to escape from the chest of the one who rejected the kisses? Where do they come from, if not from love, those ideas that vividly express that one cannot live away from the other, no matter how much one tries to keep the walls around him high?
Laughing, he returns to his solid armchair in front of me. We continue:
AA— How has the public reception been? Have you received any feedback that surprised you?
MJ— I remember that, while I was recording the series, I was talking with my friends, and one of them told me: "You know that there will be many people who will love you and many people who will hate you, who will make war on you." I answered yes, that I was prepared for that and that I wanted to play the character. I was aware that this could happen.
"Really, the response from the public has been, for me, surprising, with a capital letter. I never imagined that Jin would receive so many acceptances, and I am very happy about it. The message I wanted to convey has arrived. People have stopped seeing a boy in love with another boy to begin to see a man with an immense inner world and enviable human qualities. This has surprised me and made me very happy and I hope that, throughout the series, this perception will change keep.
"On the other hand, making harassment visible is important. It is necessary to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence and respect for diversity in all its expressions: sexual identity, origin, skin color, social status, physical and intellectual abilities, ideology... "
AA—In terms of the evolution of the character, what can we expect from Jin in the next episodes?
MJ— As for the next chapters and Jin's evolution, I can't tell you much, because otherwise Shibata Keisuke and Makino Masaru, the directors, will gut me. Ha ha ha. I can tell you about both of them that they fight against harassment and bullying, a complex phenomenon that affects emotional and academic well-being at all levels of education and throughout society. About the character, I can only say that he is not going to disappoint the audience. Jin will remain true to himself. That's all I can say.
AA—Finally, how would you describe the current and future state of Japanese BL series?
MJ— “Boys’ Love” is in good health. The genre has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. It quickly jumped from the initial Japanese manga and anime to dozens of annual series and films. Not only in Japan. Other Asian countries, such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, among others, film productions of this content. The proliferation of the genre has given rise to a rich and diverse range of productions that celebrate love. It is a phenomenon that combines romance, drama and culture in a unique and charming way.
"But what is fundamental is their cultural and social impact. BL series not only offer entertainment; they also play a crucial role in the visibility and acceptance of LGBT+ relationships in Japan and throughout Asia. By portraying stories of love and struggle that resonate with For many people, these series foster greater understanding and empathy towards sexual and gender diversity. In addition, BL has created a global community of fans who manage to connect and share their love for these stories, breaking cultural and geographical barriers.
"Or at least that's how I understand it. One more step towards diversity and hopefully, these stories will be standardized in the rest of the markets."
While, already at home, days later, I watch the next episode of the series, I think about the last words of Motojima Junsei: "BL series provoke a kind of enchantment in millions of human beings in the world. It is as if the director, screenwriters, actors and others involved, like magicians, will pronounce a magical spell that encourages the majority to entertain, to fight for the rights of LGBT+ people.

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