I love mangas but I’m more particular these days about the new titles from mangakas I’ve never heard of with drawing styles that make me miss the good old golden days of the 80’s and 90’s stuff. That’s not to say a good story can’t be hidden in a less attractive drawing style or that I won’t wade through a dull story if the illustrations are gorgeous. It’s just hard to find the two existing together and the rare birds that pop up nowadays are scooped up like hidden treasures. The already ended 10-volume manga Kinkyori Renai (Close Range Love) by Mikimoto Rin will be getting a splashy big screen live-action adaptation this fall starring Yamashita Tomohisa and newbie actress Komatsu Nana. I tried to read the manga but haven’t been hooked enough to keep going past volume 1, but in light of the movie adaptation starring my Yamapi I went back and read the final volume 10 just to make sure it ended well. It certainly does and actually the ending trajectory was quite nice and makes me want to go back and read the whole thing despite not liking the drawing style very much.
This is one manga where I think Yamapi is wayyyyyyy more good looking than the male lead as drawn in the manga. Normally the live action cast can’t even match up to the ridiculous good looks of manga characters but in this case I’d watch Yamapi for hours doing nothing other than just stand there. The first teaser trailer is out and is too short to be a delicious treat but I swooned nonetheless to see Yamapi in a suit while in a school setting. I swear watching too many J-doramas years ago where Pi was always a delinquent or eccentric high school student (Dragon Zakura, Nobuta wo Produce) makes me squee and do double-takes seeing him as the sensei now. Sigh, Yamapi really is all grown up. Kinkyori Renai is the story of an unexpected romance between a high school English teacher and his no-nonsense whip smart student. Teacher-student romances are a dime-a-dozen in shoujo mangas and are treated as frothy fantasy without any of the power imbalance and age/experience gap subtext that Western audiences associate with such relationships. This particular story is handled deftly from what I’ve read and actually has people behaving sensibly and making right choices.
First teaser for Kinkyori Renai:
Yamapi in suit! Drooooolsss….
Did not think too much till I watched the clip. The last scene when he went down kissing the girl, really clinched the deal.
I kept repeated watching it.
Really swoon me off my feet and heart beat quickened.
Tks for this movie intro.
I’m with you. I was really keeping it together until the end, and I almost fell off my chair! So I watched it again and had nearly the same reaction. I’m now just shaking my head because I can’t figure it out, but I will definitely like to watch this one.
whhaa totally the same reaction
i watched it again and the last part sooo heart throbbing
yamapi in suit wow
I read the manga actually, it’s still vol 5 in my country. I started read it when I heard the news of Yamapi play it in real live action. I din’t buy at first coz I didn’t really like the drawing, but the storyline isn’t that bad, in fact, I kind of like it he he … Cannot wait to see it 🙂
I randomly read this manga (well, as much as has been translated) the first time you posted about the movie. At first I didn’t think it was that great – the part where they got together happened way too quickly – but I actually got more into it later on. It’s pretty unrealistic, but sort of upbeat and makes you feel good. One thing that can be said for the mangaka is that she never lets any conflict drag on for more than one volume. It was definitely weird how the teacher/student relationship was treated like a normal dating relationship (I mean, they had to keep it secret and stuff, but nobody who found out about it ever had a problem with it or thought it was weird or anything).
Anyway, I’m looking forward to the movie and hoping it gets subbed.
I can’t believe Yamapi is old enough to be playing the teacher now, instead of high schooler! How time flies…
Komatsu Nana is a total rookie, she only made her debut this year but I thought she wasn’t bad. She’s really beautiful too.
My god! I have been in a massive drama drought for 2 freaking years now. I can’t believe that I’m finally excited about one haha!
I think I needed some old school frothy romance fluff action.
Can’t WAITTTTTT!
wow, pi is all grown up now i actually do miss the times when he was still a highschooler.
Hi Okoala
Can you recommend any other teacher-student romance Jdramas?
I’ve seen and enjoyed Kyou Kyou Koushi 1993 and Forbidden Love.
i actually want to recommend majou no joken, but it seems like u already watch it xD
maybe u can try watch :
1) tenshi no koi (movie) -> it’s about relationship between older man and young girl, and the older man profession is a teacher.
2) taisetsu na koto wa subete kimi ga oshiete kureta (drama) -> love triangle between teacher, another teacher, and female students. it’s melodrama, so prepare to feel sad.
Thank you Sashihara.^^
While watching the teaser I felt “I really miss yamapi and his crappy acting” and I’m not being sarcastic I really do miss watching him! I don’t usually watch teacher-student romance but this will be an exception 😛
That’s Yamapi?!?! Absolutely loved him in Proposal Daisakusen. Also watched his Buzzer Beat drama. Never have been a fan of teacher-student romance (there’s something about it that irks me). Might at least give this a try.
OMO OMO OMO @-@
My poor heart skipped a beat when he leaned to kiss the girl! *Faints* i will definitely check this drama out!
Never heard of the manga but after that trailer, I must watch this movie. I am dazzled by this man in the suit.
OH MY GOD I’m totally ready for this !!!
although people said pi can’t act or so, but i always love his project. Since nobuta wo produce, stand up, kurosagi, god of study, proposal daisakusen, buzzer beat, even summer nude. He seems always choose the best one.
Now i want to believe this will be the best one too.