Cast
- Kamenashi Kazuya as Kiritani Shuji
- Yamashita Tomohisa as Kusano Akira
- Horikita Maki as Kotani Nobuko
- Toda Erika as Uehara Mariko
- Ukaji Takashi as Kiritani Satoru
- Fukaura Kanako as Kiritani Nobuko
- Nakajima Yuto as Kiritani Koji
- Okada Yoshinori as Yokoyama Takeshi
- Kimura Yuichi as Sebastian
- Fuwa Mansaku as Iehara Yasuo
- Takuma Seiko (たくませいこ) as Kuroki Hiroko
- Imawano Kiyoshiro as owner of the Gooyoku diner
- Takahashi Katsumi as Hirayama Ippei
- Natsuki Mari as Catherine
- Yanagita Erika
Synopsis
Kiritani Shuji is the popular guy who gets along with everyone, from the jerks to the nerds to the just plain weird. The one person Shuji cannot stand is Kusano Akira. To Shuji, Akira is just plain annoying. He laughs, talks and acts funny. Things heat up when a new student comes to school. Her name is Kotani Nobuko, a girl who has no self confidence at all and is content at being made fun of and bullied in school. Shuji and Akira come to an accord that in order to make use of their "youth" they will "produce" Nobuko as the next popular girl. One of the conditions, however, is that nobody should find out that they are working together as a team to make this concept possible. Unveiled here is the story of true friendship between three unlikely candidates who would not have been friends if not given the special circumstances.
-credits to dramawikiREVIEW:
As i said last time this was my first yamapi series so i was sooo excited to watch it and see what the fuss is all about. I've laready seen the two of three main characters here in a drama before. i've seen Kame in Gokusen 2 and Maki horikita in Hana Kimi. Though it's my first seeing Yamashita tomohisa (yamapi) in a drama, i was a bit reluctant cuz this is another high school drama which im now tring to excape. Sure enough, as i watch the first episodes, i thought, i would have enjoyed this better if I were in high school. Some people said this drama was boring and for some, it was a funny light-hearted drama. Anyway, let's talk about the characters now. Shuji (played by Kazuya Kamenashi) is popular and well loved in school cuz he can get along with everyone. The only person he cant stand is Akira cuz he finds him weird and just annoying. Then comes a newcomer in school, her name was Nobuka. She has no self-esteem which can be seen by her body language. She hangs her head low (gomen, i dunno 'nakayuko' in English hehe), had her hair covering her face, you can barely see her eyes. and she has poor posture. Some of her female classmates bully her everyday and she doesnt fight back. On some twist of fate, Shuji got closer to Akira (Yamapi) and they decided on doing something that will be memorable for them. And that is producing Nobuta. The three of them meets constantly at the roof top of their school and they will advise Nobuta on how to act and what to say in certain circumstances. I find it funny and weird cuz in reality, there's no Nobuta. It seems like she lived in a box and dont know how to act properly and talk to people. She cant look straight into the eyes and looks on the ground instead while talking. Honestly there's not much funny scenes here. The only time I remembered that I laughed is when Nobuta said 'It was fun today' when she was just about ot start a date with Shittaka-kun. Their classmate who likes Nobuta. It was a double date and Shittaka, together with Mariko and Akira were waiting for Nobuta and when she arrived she said 'it was fun today' when in fact she should say it to Shittaka when they end their date. I hope you got what I meant. Of course when she said that, Shittaka was surprised but Akira tried to explain for her. I guess she was practicing saying it a couple of times that she forgot when to actually say it.Yamapi was supposed to be funny, but he's not really funny...like real funny you know? He was funny in a way because he's supposed to be weird, and when he talks, he speaks like he's drunk. He acts like a little kid. He was adorable, very kakkoii!!! I wished it could have some love story but it was just real friendship with the three of them I guess. I think Nobuta likes Shittaka even though their date didnt turn out well. yuo could watch this drama and throughout the ending, you'll understand why I said so. Shittaka even told Akira he would still want to go out with her. I was rooting for Yamapi and Nobuta though. But then i also like Shuji with Nobuta but maybe it would be better if he'd would continue dating Mariko (Erika Toda). Mariko was a nice girl and she's having her lunch daily with Shuji. One time he asked her if they are really going out or are they a couple cuz it's unclear to her. Shuji told her the truth and she was heartbroken. At first, i thought it was her who kept on sabotaging Nobuta. Apparently somebody knows the whole nobuta producing because Akira and Shuji received pictures of their secret meetings. Anyways, the reason I said i was rooting for Nobuta and Akira because Akira liked nobuta. He told Shuji he wants to quit producing because he wants nobuta to be only his'. Wooww. He was quite serious in that scene. i also liked that scene on the ambulance. Akira slowly grabbed Nobuta's hand and gently placed it on his cheek. He said, 'See? It's not dirty.' then he touched Nobuta's palm. My heart like, totally melted in that scene. The next scene was funny, he was already lying in bed when he realized what he did. He was so embarassed!! Hahah. Oh my...very high schoolish but very sweet... *slaps myself*. Yeah, this drama were a bit dragging when it was nearing the final episode. There are some characters that i didnt really think were important, like the teacher, the vice-principal who laughs like a witch. But I believe these minor characters do help in the concept of nobuta producing. They give insights to these high school kids on what's important and what to believe as they go thru life's challenges.
As I watched this drama, I felt a bit sad. It's just that i wish I spent my high school in Japan. I love their uniforms, miniskirt, long sleeves with ties and long socks! very kawaii! I thought, i could have also been a Nobuta and two cool and pretty guys will make me the most popular girl in school. They could be my best friends and we'll go to school riding a bike and hang out in the park or the rooftop. We'll make those little pig keychains and sell it to school. that was just some of my it-could-have-beens. Maki horikita was excellent in playing the low self-esteemed Nobuta or Nobuko. Kame was very natural and Yamapi was also great being baka (stupid). His role was very adorable and just cute!! looking forward for more series of him--yung seryoso na sya! heheh. The ending made me sad though but I know it shouldnt be. Akira and Shuji transferred to another school and Nobuko was left. When Shuji transferred to another school, Nobuta persuaded Akira to follow him. Thus, Akira and Shuji were together once again. Nobuta, though her bestfriends were gone, knew that anywhere they are, they'll be okay. Just like that willow tree at the start of this series. Overall, this is a drama that you'd love to watch when you're in, and let me say, High school. If you're not in HS anymore like me, this drama will make you sad. Heheh, i was just kidding but it was partly true. Im still young at heart anyway. lolz. If you're not patient enough, well you might find this drama boring and slow-paced. For me, Kame, Maki and Yamapi are enough for me to endure those dragging parts. A lighthearted drama which will make you believe that three different people can build an extraordinary friendship.
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