Does the world need another drama adaptation of Itazura na Kiss? No, definitely not. Is the world about to get another drama adaptation of Itazura na Kiss? Yes, definitely yes. I thought the next country to remake this story would come from China since it hasn’t been done yet, but lo and behold its from the original granddaddy of adaptations having another go at it. Seventeen years after Japan adapted the popular manga to the small screen in 1996, producers are dusting off the stupid-girl-loves-genius-boy story from the shelves and updating it for the modern viewers. It’s called Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo, and stars newbie 16 year old teen actress Miki Honoka in the role of stupider than a sack of potatoes Kotoko, while 25 year old Furukawa Yuki tries his hand at playing the role of robot perfect boy Naoki (if he looks familiar, he played Makoto’s college guy friend in Rich Man, Poor Woman). I have to confess that I’ve loved both the iconic Taiwan adaptation It Started with a Kiss that launched the careers of Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng (which spawned legions of ArJoe shippers as well as a terrible sequel They Kiss Again), as well as the low-rated Korean version Playful Kiss starring the charming Jung So Min and decent-enough Kim Hyun Joong. Honestly the story never ever sounds good on paper since it offends all my female pride nodes – the basic premise centers around a very dim high school girl and her all-consuming crush on the school’s smartest and hottest jerk, winning his heart in the same way a turtle wins the race by perseverance alone. By the stroke of a house accident and their dads being BFFs, they end up living under the same roof and Kotoko gets chance after chance to worm her way into Naoki’s cold cold heart. Yet whenever I’ve watched ISWAK and PK, whether its the undeniable onscreen chemistry of those two pairings or the little touches thrown in that make the OTP seem so made-for-each other, I end up thoroughly won over by the story in the end. This new adaptation will have a larger role for the second male lead of Kinnosuke, here played by 22 year old Yamada Yuki. The dorama premieres on March 29th and airs every Friday on Fuji TV2.
I think lead actress Miki Honoka (above celebrating a birthday on the set) fits the role of Kotoko age- and looks-wise, but that isn’t enough since this is a very difficult role to portray. Kotoko has to come across as endearingly bumbling, sweet in her devotion as opposed to stalkerish and stupid. Both Ariel Lin and Jung So Min put their stamp on their respective versions, so I’m a little skeptical a newbie teenage actress has the chops to pull this off. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised before so here’s to hoping she was chosen for her innate acting talents. I have to give Joe Cheng credit where credit is due – there is no way any male actor will ever make Naoki come alive the way he did, with the aloof disdain mixed with the sliver of acceptance. I’ll probably watch this one as a pleasant diversion when there is nothing else available. Or else I’ll just watch the legions of PK and ISWAK MVs out there.
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The Taiwanese version is the only one the world needs. It was one of my first dramas ever so I have a soft spot for the story even if I should be offended.
I don't care about the 2nd male lead enough to want him to have more focus though. Sounds like they are going to invent a love triangle.
I really love this japanese adaptation! i have seen ISWAK but not PK. Miki-san and yuki-kun are great... They are really close to their roles like yuki-kun also studied Science and Technology. I can also feel that Irie-kun is falling slowly to Kotoko-san...... ahhh!!!! waiting for the 2nd season ... :) <3
A 16-year-old with a 25-year-old? Creeps me out...
Yeah the kiss scenes are gonna be awkward! XD
It's gonna be awkward anyway though - this is a jdrama.
I don't think that's even legal...
PK was the first drama I watched so to me it is near perfection even though I know some ways it is lacking. (I watched ISWAK and loved it obvs but it just isn't the same) I think this story is going to have to be laid to rest though eventually.
And why isn't there a Cdrama version of this story? it makes more sense for that than a Jdrama remake to me
Honestly, Ariel's character in ISWAK annoyed the hell out of me but the drama itself was quite addicting... I love Ariel to pieces so maybe that's what I put up with ISWAK lol. PK wasn't that bad!! At least JSM's version of Kotoko was earnest and didn't upset me in that she seems sincere and not.. stalkery lol. Guess I'll tune in to this version but my expectations are not very high. & she's being 16 IRL while he's 25... mmm. Are kiss scenes even allow? LOL.
It Started With a Kiss, Kiss Again, Playful Kiss, Itazura na Kiss, the Manga version- I've seen it all over and over again since 2006. Still my favorite drama ever, regardless of the quality of the show. Something about the plot is endearing and pretty. Sigh, let me add this new version to my MUST.WATCH.AGAIN.AND.AGAIN. list.
Iswak is the best adaptation. I loved both leads and they were convincing like they popped out of the manga. Didn't finish PK cause I just don't like the leads. I liked the previous jap one too cause kashibawara is so cute there but the girl was annoying and had huge ears but it was good too. This new guy here doesn't look as handsome as naoki, joe or khj. I will see the first ep...
not interested in this one, on the other hand the drama adaptation of xxxHolic that has started airing three weeks ago is quite interesting so far, even though they ruined one of the most graceful and sensual adult female manga characters ever (yuko) by making a HUGE casting mistake. they are adapting what corresponds to the first season of the anime and that part was really good. as usual with jdramas the story is original mixing the supernatural with psychologial themes
but most importantly the drama has hot male leads and more precisely a very very hot second male lead !
Oh, Mrs. Koala, China has done a version of Itazura na Kiss called 爱情是从告白开始的. It's loosely based and not an exact adaptation, I would say inspired by Itazura na Kiss. It stars singer Genie Zhuo as Kotoko, Sun Yi Zhou (of iPartment) as Naoki and Wang Zhuan Yi (also of iPartment) as Kinnosuke. It's wacky and different, just what you'd expect of China.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2C19A1DA612FDA5B
no this was more like boys before flowers
nvm
Heee!!! Um, Imma have to disagree and say that the world could do with just one more adaptation...especially since the first J adaptation did not exactly stick to the manga unlike the Korean and TW versions that I love nor was it that good....ISWAK/TKA is still my go-to rainy day TW drama and in imo the best TV adaptation so far...that's a surprise even for me considering how many times I initially dropped it and then picked it back up because I hated the lead character at first (and Ariel as an extension)ans I suffered so much second hand embarrassment on her behalf but I kept going back to check out how on earth she got Zhi Shu...despite that I somehow ended up rooting for them and especially with TKA I really came to love them....PK also still my favorite Jun So Min drama..can't wait!!
ArJoe shipper here. ♥
Me too!