What makes Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo so special?
This is probably my twelfth thousand re-watch of this drama, but this is not like all the other rewatches. I have decided to make this one special by using it to analyse the drama in more depth, and attempt to uncover why I love it as much as I do, despite all it’s flaws. I am writing this as I watch the episodes, so it might be considered somewhat of a commentary.
Season 01 Episode 01
Starting off with the first episode, the opening scene is fantastic in my opinion. I love how we are getting introduced to Kotoko in the comfort of her own room, and getting a peek into her hearts deepest wish. I honestly think that this might be what made me like this version of Kotoko from the get go.
However, technically, the actual first scene of the story is the iconic confession scene (if you would even call it that). I am going to go on a tangent here and just say that I am an absolute fan of her letter, but I will get back to that in a later episode.
The way she is nervous and excited before confessing and the way he flat out rejects her before she even has the chance to confess always makes me feel crushed for her, and is the reason why I initially disliked him. But now that I am actually analysing it, it is less harsh than how I’ve always perceived it (or this might just be me trying to explain it away).
Hear me out, consider the implication that he has a whole queue of girls that like him, drool over him and confess to him in school, his reaction/rejection is really not that surprising. Imagine receiving confessions from a bunch of girls, when you just want to live your life in peace … that must get old and tiresome fairly quickly. Additionally, the fact that the whole entire school is talking about the rejection might explain why he didn't accept her letter; had he accepted it (even if he rejected her afterwards), the whole school would probably assume that they were dating. On the other hand it makes me think, why would the whole school be interested in someone confessing? are we back in kindergarten?
We see later on that she still has that card with her. I think that for her, getting rid of it would feel like getting rid of her feelings for him, which is why she holds on to it.
Anyways, I find it quite ironic when Kotoko’s friends tell her “you and Irie are from different worlds” . Their worlds are literally going to forcibly merge under one roof very very soon.
Another random thought I got, like a lot of my thoughts are, was why did Kotoko like Naoki, and not like Kinnouske? I mean he might not be handsome, he might not be smart, he might not be rich, but he is hardworking, talented and most importantly, he liked Kotoko, and was always nice towards her. This version’s Kinnouske has always been my favourite one. I think this version does a good job at portraying him as a three dimensional person, rather than a comic relief kind of personality *cough* Itazura Na Kiss 1996 *cough*.
When I started to pay more attention, I realised that although I do love Kinnouske, I do find him to often do things based on his own feelings, and does not consider what Kotoko wants. For example, I cant help but feel that he is a bit insensitive for being happy when Kotoko is sad after deciding to ‘give up’ on Naoki. This is a small detail, and perhaps I am reading too much into it, but I do feel that Itazura Na Kiss is all about the details. He sort of redeems himself for it by asking his friends to come and help her move, but soon it goes to shit again, which I will come to later on.
I really like — at this point, everything really, but anyways — the reoccurring mentioning of “less possible than getting hit by a shooting star”, which is a kind of teaser to what is to come later on in the show. Although I’ve always thought that the reason for their house being destroyed in this version to be a bit dumb, I admit, I do like the thought and metaphor behind it, so I will turn I blind eye to it. I also find it hilarious how it ended up all over the news.
Kotoko’s extremely optimistic outlook despite everything that happened is perhaps her most charming personality trait. It makes me feel that her optimism is somehow what everything work out for her in the end.
Now, to one of the scenes I dislike most in this story. I am always tempted to skip the first episode altogether to avoid it. And that’s the scene where Kinnouske is collecting donations for Kotoko. Here we see Kin-chan’s good intentions having not so good results. I get the feeling that he does what he thinks is helpful for her, and never once stops to consider her feelings or ask her opinion on it, and the way she gets annoyed with him tells me that she’s not that fond of this either, despite what his intentions were.
Back to Naoki. Looking at the size of that entrance, he could have 100% just walked around Kotoko and Kinnouske and gone in. Heck, following the little pattern we have so far, wouldn’t he purposefully avoid them to maintain a quiet and peaceful life? Now, he did just the contrary and approached them. Considering the fact that by the end of the episode he already knows about the arrangement (of her going to his home to stay there with her father), it would be safe to assume that at this moment in time, he already knows that she would stay in his house. This is supported by his response to her “preferring to die over taking his money”; “are you sure you want to tell me that?”. Therefore I assume that he approaches her out of curiosity.
If you pay close attention to this interaction, you will notice that Naoki did not say one thing that was wrong or out of line. Naoki giving Kotoko the money was not very nice. But more than anything, it was quite confusing. He told her “If I donate this money, you won’t argue with me anymore”. Now, Kinnouske was the one arguing with Naoki, so why would Naoki tell Kotoko that? Is it because he sees her as the most reasonable one, or rather, is it because they’re ‘her’ friends (thus making her responsible for them)?
Kotoko was the one with an explosive reaction in this situation [although she was in the wrong, I like how she stood by her friend eventhough they were fighting a few moments ago (if she realised the previously mentioned point that is).], and was more than a bit mean when saying “do you even have friends?”. Here we see just how much of an opposite to her he is. Instead of having an explosive reaction like Kotoko had, Naoki just finds her reaction amusing and leaves calmly.
Now to when she goes with her father to the Irie household. Naoki’s mother’s (Noriko’s) comment of “you and I seem like we were meant to meet” and the fact that she knows that she’s in the same school as Naoki tells me that he told her about Kotoko; which in turn makes me think that she left a memorable impression on him. Kotoko’s reaction to seeing Naoki is Hilarious, especially te part where she’s too shocked, and is not shy to say “I’m just do surprised … because Iri-chan-san and Irie-kun don’t look alike at all” (I really am starting to realise and understand why Naoki finds her amusing).
Another one of those small details; the way her father scoots away right off the bat when he saw Yuki asking her a question about a kanji character, and pretending to look at a random décor piece kills me (It’s nice to keep in mind; despite how similar Kotoko might sometimes be to her dad, he still has more awareness of his own ‘stupidness’ than her).
I recently watched one of @Machitsuki2 ‘s analysis videos, and like she pointed out, I did in fact notice how Kotoko was going straight to the food and cakes, while Naoki was mainly only sipping coffee (even during breakfast). This will become really important later on.
Lastly, I love the interaction between Noriko and Kotoko when she takes her up to show her her room; Kotoko found a mother she never had, and Noriko found the daughter she never had. They are the first puzzle pieces that fit into each other perfectly.
When Naoki comes in and tells Kotoko that she took Yuki’s room, I get the feeling that rather than an insult it served to make Kotoko understand why Yuki disliked her so much. I might be a bit delulu, but I kind of feel that Naoki did this on purpose? anyone?
When Noriko asks Kotoko “do you like(suki) Sukiyaki?” and Kotoko looks at her (in Naoki’s direction) and confidently answers “I like it! (suki-desu!)” almost feels directed at Naoki. It is in fact the first time he hears her say it. This next part I had to go back and watch once more; Naoki only starts being mean to her when she pulled the bag from him (not wanting his help) and he saw the letter she wrote him drop out of it. I do wonder if he is mean to her because of that letter, or maybe because he thought she was rude towards him?
itazura na kiss is my boys of flowers. i will absolutely devour every single adaptation that is handled my way. i don’t even know why considering i spend the whole time frustrated and annoyed. what did they put in this to make it so addicting and entertaining please someone tell me 🧐
Gotta say, kinda sad at all the negative opinions over Itazura na Kiss 1996, which is perhaps one of my favorite versions of Itakiss. I actually love Kotoko in this version, I think she’s funny as all heck and she’s so passionate about everything she does and she’s so cute and I could go on and on. Also saw some people call this version’s Kotoko childish and I just don’t get it, cause she makes some very mature decisions through out the show that no other Kotoko seems to be able to make. It’s also plenty romantic, just perhaps more subtly so than other adaptions. I’m sad that is misses out on the college arc, which hold most of the obviously romantic scenes in the other adaptions. But they move some of the scenes around to make up for it. This version also contains my favorite Naoki! I get why other people like other versions better, but for me, this version is just so fun and it makes me feel so many emotions, and I just love it!
If you’ve never seen it and are curious, it’s on YouTube with English subtitles and it’s only 9 episodes. It’s mainly just the high school arc, with a time skip at the end, but like I said above they change things around in order to tell a complete story.
what shoujo would you recommend to folks just in general? like your favorites or top 5
my top five and what i'd recommend are probably two different things because i love boys over flowers and i can't tell people to read it without six hundred asterisks because nineties toxic ML
I can do that with itakiss way more easily though i only need one sentence to defend my position on why it's the best romance ever and it's that nobody understands irie the way i do
anyways im more into romance and magical girls (duh), so anything i like will be romance centered lmao...
my faves are itazura na kiss, boys over flowers, lovely complex, and obligatory tokyo mew mew is my childhood and what shaped me as a person. i loved karekano/his and her circumstances but everything i listed i finished the manga too except this, i watched the anime, which apparently stopped being good after anno left and that's where i stopped. and haven't finished the manga.
lovely complex is a riot through and through everyone should actually read it it's funny. and i mean read it. because the anime is fun too and the ops go hard but there's a lot that wasn't adapted that i really loved in the manga. esp after the two start dating.
if you actuallt really the whole beauty and beast terrible bad boy redeemed thing and can put up with just trash guys and drama and shit then yeah, i liek boys over flowers a lot because tsukushi is that bitch and we will never be her, she's the coolest lead ever. he falls for her because she kicked him in the face. she's so cool.
i honestly can't recommend the tokyo mew mew manga over the original anime i think it's just way better paced, but it's worth it if you loved tokyo mew mew or tmmn, or if you like magical girls in general. a classic.
liam is just naoki irie from itakiss in another font moving on.
karekano is like insanely good and i love yukino a lot. the anime is on youtube also. but again i heard the anime stops being good after anno leaves.
Pretear has a manga. i prefer the anime. i love pretear id put it under my faves too but just the anime didn't care for the manga as much. most of my favorite mg stuff i prefer the anime tbh, i love mermaid melody but you gotta have the music. it needs music. u gotta watch the show. oh but i remember liking ultra maniacs manga more than the anime.
peach girl is a good show if you love drama and mess and like being pissed off 24/7. you will feel so violent all the time because of THIS FUCKING BITCH.
also didn't finish it so it's not on the list of my Faves bc like i guess that can change lol. but i still looovfeee it:
Bee and Puppycat (Just be aware that tthe story isn't really up to snuff)
Bishoujo Kamen Poitrine
Corrector Yui (Just be aware that the transformations in the anime are full of fanservice)
Creamy Mami, The Magic Angel (and her fellow 80’s and 90's Studio Pierrot magical girls)
Full Moon
Girls x Heroine franchise
Hime-chan's Ribbon
Himitsu no Akko-chan
Jewelpet franchise
Kaitou Saint Tail
Kiki's Delivery Service
Magic Knight Rayearth
Magical Angel Sweet Mint
Mewkledreamy
Nurse Angel Ririka SOS
Ojamajo Doremi
Phantom Thief Jeanne
Pretty Cure (Just avoid tthe 2 seasons between Splash Star and Fresh plus the 15th anniversary season if you don't want to get jumpscared by p*dophillia showing up in a kids' cartoon)
Pretty Series
Princess Knight
Princess Tutu
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Sailor Moon (Manga and reboot anime series)
Sally the Witch (The capstone of all magical girl media to exist)
Sugar Sugar Rune
Super Pig
Tokyo Mew Mew (Personally rec reading the manga first, then watching New then the first anime)
The last time I made this sort of list was in 2019, and it's hilarious how few of those titles I actually managed to check off.... ^^" All of these are titles I still haven't completed. All completed titles will be included in my 2022 master list after the New Year.
~~~
Recently Started Watching:
(In this case, in the last 2 months, from most recent at the top)
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
Baccano!
The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
The World is Still Beautiful
Jing: King of the Bandits
Otome wa Boku ni Koishteru
Read or Die the TV
Tokyo Mew Mew New
Short-Term Hiatus:
Basically, anime I started in the last year, made some progress, but haven't really touched it in over 2 months, from most recent at the top.
A Place Further Than the Universe
Hamtaro
Chi's Sweet Home
Futari wa Pretty Cure
Crescent Love
Gurren Lagann
Arata the Legend
Arte
Darker Than Black
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
Outlaw Star
The Twelve Kingdoms
Magic User's Club
Long-Term Hiatus:
Barely touched it in the last year or more. Most of them I started in 2017-2019.
I've watched nearly all the Itazura Na Kiss adaptations, and I have a reoccurring theme where I keep on coming back to re-watch it yearly (specifically the 2005 Taiwanese version and the 2013 Japanese version).
The point is, I have no clue why I like it.
A cold, unfriendly, unlikable genius? Not my style. Innocent but dumb female lead? Not my style. A guy showing affection by bullying the girl he likes? Definitely not my thing.
Do you see a pattern here?
I logically understand why there are people that dislike, heck, hate this series, and logically speaking, I should too, but this is not the case. Thus, I am here on a mission to try and uncover why I like this series so much, however long that may take.
drama you thought you’d never watch but did (and liked it?)
20. drama you thought you’d never watch but did (and liked it?)
i thought i would never watch playful kiss. even though itazura na kiss: love in tokyo is a guilty pleasure of mine i was still going to skip out on playful kiss because i heard it was terrible. it was terrible but i still loved it. the ost was catchy (will you kiss me by g.na has no business hitting that hard), jung somin was adorable, and cringe kind of added to the charm. the ML is a walking red flag and the FL has zero brain cells but it’s so entertaining to watch them run around embarrassing themselves hsjwjdjsjd