I haven’t seen very many Japanese dramas, but I know there are some very good ones especially made in the 90s. I chanced upon this playing on the WINAMP video streams and instead of studying for exams, of course, I had to watch this and several other Korean dramas. I saw three other ones, Ai no Uta, H2 and the infamous 1000 litres of tears. I didn’t quite manage to finish those three and they didn’t leave any impression on me, but Koi ga Shitai was surprisingly enjoyable to watch. The title is translated as “Where is Love?” or “I Want to be in Love”.

The story focuses on six characters who share some interesting bonds with each other that force themselves to face their problems. I love the way the show brings these characters together, some shows have a bad habit of forcing random unlikely people together under obviously contrived circumstances - overusing coincidences and cliches. This show subtlely goes through the bonds and then brings them all together. The way things are resolved isn’t “happily ever after” either, except for one aspect which I think is somewhat of a flaw - I’ll address that later.

Midorikawa Bunpei is an older man who owns a beef-noodle restaurant. This is where most of the characters end up at, one point or another and where a loose framework for the connections begin at. He’s a kind man, but shy and works very hard. His son is Aoshima Wataru, a high school student who’s lonely and looking for someone out there. Meanwhile, Wataru is having trouble with his step-father and mother, while having a lack of respect for Bunpei. He is therefore, very alone and needs someone to talk to, to ease his angst and familial problems. Wataru starts looking for people to talk to on the internet and on a telephone chat line, he meets Kouda Orie; a desperate housewife in a loveless marriage, who’s husband is having an affair. Orie pretends at first to be younger than she actually is and they both share a love for impressionist art, especially that of Manet. She feels very much like the maid in his painting Bar at Foiles-Bergere; trapped and lonely, kind of like Wataru.

Thus, begins a rather complicated relationship where they both share their hopes and dreams - in which, Wataru believes what may become a pseudo-romantic connection and wants to meet Orie, but of course the truth is that she’s older than he realizes and can’t possibly meet him…or can she? Then ensue somewhat amusing scenes of Orie hiding and not showing up to meet Wataru and eventually forcing Hada Ai to pose as her. Ai, is a seemingly promiscuous woman who lounges around with various men. She seems to have low confidence even though outwardly she is a very attractive woman and the man she loves, Shimura Ichiro seems to be emotionally abusive towards her, even cruel at times. He’s an author who’s girlfriends change by the week but seems to have some sort of secret…

Ai, fed up with Ichiro ends up with Akai Ryosuke, a jilted groom and a high school teacher. At first, their rebound relationship seems to be something good. Both of them are deeply hurt and find company in each other, but it becomes obvious that they’re only using each other. Ai works at a massage parlor which is where she befriends Orie, the tired housewife. Nagashima Mikan, my favourite character is an awkward hotel worker who’s frumpy, shy and unsure of herself. She falls in love with Ryosuke and even stalks him a bit…but she’s a sweet character nonetheless. Bunpei, the noodle owner develops a crush on her when she goes there, but she seems to have a bad stomach. Mikan’s mother too is worried about the chances of her daughter marrying one day and pressures her into making herself better, more attractive.

The one slight flaw I found with the ending is between Mikan and Ryosuke. I won’t spoil it, but it’s the lame, cliche that I often dislike in romantic dramas and comedies. Otherwise, the ending resolves all of the six main character’s tensions and conflicts quite well. The strength of the drama also lies in its ability to make you sympathize with at least one of the characters and his or her plights. The plot is also reasonable (for a drama) and the pacing is watchable - it definitely does not get boring. The actors and actresses are also excellent and portray their characters well, I definitely recommend this if you’re in for something sweet and endearing.

Tags: dorama, japanese drama, kanno miho, koi ga shitai, review

Category: Japan

A. Papillon is not amused.