Currently Watching: Date

Currently Watching

Date - Koi to wa Donna Mono Kashira

I have already watched 5 episodes of Date, and so far I think this drama is very funny. Behind this rather dull title, is hidden a witty rom-com drama. I would like to share with you my first impressions about it.

The story:

The main characters are Yabushita Yoriko (Higashide Anne) and Taniguchi Takumi (Hasegawa Hiroki; you might have already seen him as the dad in Kaseifu no Mita).

Yabushita Yoriko is approaching her 30s and decides she needs to get married before her next birthday. She is a very rational person (in a quite exaggerated way, actually, she only resonates in terms of statistics … She makes me think of the geeks in The Big Bang Theory). She always takes the most straightforward actions to get what she wants. Therefore, she decides to go to a marriage agency. That’s where she gets the profile of Taniguchi Takumi.

Taniguchi Takumi is a Hikikomori (Hikikomori is a word used in Japan to described people who decide to withdraw from social life). Taniguchi Takumi has been confined to his mother’s home for 15 years, but he prefers referring to himself as an “educated idler”. Two of his childhood friends are trying to get him out of this situation, and manage to convince him to go out for a date with Yabushita Yoriko.

The drama follows their dates and the evolution of their relationship. They have the same social awkwardness and the same way of being quite blunt when they speak their mind, but they also have very different (complementary) ways to see the world. One is down to earth whereas the other is living in his dreams.

I won’t say more so as to not spoil the plot.

My first impressions, and why you should watch it too:

- The storyline is very funny and original. So far, I don’t think it has got boring at all.

- I thought Yabushita Yoriko was quite irritating at first because she behaves a bit like a robot, but her character is turning out to be quite adorable, as she is working so hard towards her goal. I always think it is pretty motivating to see someone doing their best to achieve what they want.

- The character of Taniguchi Takumi is more mysterious. What made him become a Hikikomori? I feel curious about it. It is also nice to see that his entourage is protecting him and trying to help.

- All the cast is very good, and the secondary characters are very funny too, especially the yankee siblings and Yabushita Yoriko’s mother.  Who seems to have a very high esteem of herself and is not always tender towards her daughter (But is it really her thoughts she is expressing?)

- The opening song "Furimukanaide" by The Peanuts (a Japanese song from the 1960s) fits so well with this drama. It just gives the right vibes to this non-typical romantic comedy. Click here to get you into this drama's mood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zUq5z3YBOI