猫世界の中心で: JDrama - Itazura na Kiss ~ Love in Tokyo

Episodes watched so far: 7/16

Title: Itazura na Kiss ~ Love in Tokyo

Genre: Romance, comedy, high school

Year of broadcast: 2013

Status: Ongoing

Synopsis: At a high school entrance ceremony, high school student Aihara Kotoko, who isn’t that smart, notices pretty boy Irie Naoki. She falls in love with him immediately. Kotoko initially doesn’t express her feelings to him, but finally has a chance to tell him how she feels. Unfortunately, Naoki turns Kotoko down, saying “I don’t like dumb women.”

One day, Kotoko’s house is severely damaged by an earthquake. Until the house is rebuilt, Kotoko Aihara and her father decide to live with her father’s friend. When Kotoko moves to her new temporary house, she is surprised to learn that Irie Naoki lives there as well. -- Drama Wiki

I was skeptical to start on this drama after all I have watched the anime, Taiwanese and Korean version of this drama. I didn't have high expectations for this because I remembered someone telling me the ratings were rather low. It was until I read on my Twitter that this drama got extended to 16 episodes That was when I decided to give it a go. How often will Japanese drama be extended, right?

PLOT

They fast forward quite a lot of parts compared to the other 2 versions but in my honest opinion, I prefer it if they cut down on the naggings. I like how the they only show the main points of the drama which i found the Taiwanese version to be too draggy and the girl was whiny. In addition, I like how the high school arc was summarized within 5 episodes and the remaining 11 should most probably be focusing on the University Arc. I am not sure if they are going to continue about the married life since the actress acting as Aihara Kotoko is still rather young. She's only 16 so I doubt she is able to portray a married woman.

CHARACTERS

Irie Naoki -- After watching the different versions of ItaKiss dramas, keeping in mind the "Tsundere" character, I realize the Taiwan version portrays Naoki as a easily irritated yet cold type of guy. Maybe with a tinge of coolness in it. While the Korean version gives me the cold prince vibe, but the Japanese version gave me a totally fresh feel. I don't know how much people feel from all the different versions though. The Jap version reminded me of Houtarou Oreki from Hyouka where he is the "The Energy Conservationist Style" type of person. He just gives me that sleazy feel, super cool and relax not giving a hoot about the world. If you read views about Oreki, you might probably feel the same way.

Aihara Kotoko -- This actress is surprisingly young. I couldn't handle her acting on the first episode it's like trying really hard to portray the character but I am not getting it. But later on as the story progress, she got better, ease up a bit and she's good to go. Of course there is still lots of improvement to go but I think out of all 3 versions, the jap one wins hands down as she is less whiny but really stupid HAHA. She looks like a middle school-er though and it was weird trying to watch her as a University student. I wonder what happens when she gets married. That might be a SP episode or something.

Ikezawa Kinnosuke -- I LOVE HIS KANSAI-BEN!! It made him so cute haha! He is not much of a yankee in the drama, just some annoying brat.

Sudo-senpai -- The tennis devil in the series if you remember him. He's a little too gay in this version to my liking and the different effects for him is just... meh.

Yasu Matsumoto -- The bijin that was supposed to rival against Kotoko. In my opinion, I thought the actress was too old for the character? Naoki and Kotoko both look like high-schoolers but she looks like a working adult. I was expecting someone prettier but she's pretty too.

My rating for this drama so far: 7.5/10. Rather entertaining. (I don't give full)

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