Aoi Tori ReviewDrama: Aoi ToriNetwork: TBSScreenwriter: Nozawa HisashiActors: Toyokawa Etsushi, Natsukawa Yui, Sano Shiro, Suzuki AnneDuration: 54 min.What I thought would be a peaceful slice of life drama turned out to be a drama rich in story, fantastic characters, superb in romance department, thought provoking metaphorically, thematically and one of the most symbolically rich Japanese dramas I’ve ever seen. Masterful writing from beginning to end. I would even go and suggest that its writing could even compete with the best of Haruki Murakami's works. I just watched it, I have no nostalgia for it but I think it is a masterpiece.Aoi Tori is separated by 2 acts. The first act is like your usual 90s japanese drama vibe, great pacing, realistically grounded characters with top notch romance. The second act though is very controversial but without a doubt enriched this drama thematically by miles. When I say controversial I mean it. I don't think Japanese tv stations would greenlit something like this ever again. I don’t judge things as black and white but what happened in the second act is still uncomfortable for me. My moral compass is still on the idealistic side. But then I paused and gathered my thoughts. It actually makes perfect sense as it tied all the loose threads together in an impossibly twisted tale of love and happiness.This drama had me glued to the screen from start to end and when I thought it started to get dragging already then boom one of the best plot twists ever. Talking about taking risks, writing wise this could be the best example of it and it works. The first few episodes are great suspenseful thriller moments about a wife trying to escape from his husband. The tension is high and every episode ends in a cliffhanger. Characters are grey morally, selfish but self aware even the cheated husband, although caricature at times can genuinely be sympathetic.Another thing I love about Aoi Tori is the travel aspect of the show. They went to the north of Japan then to the south. Most shots are outdoor shots and they did a very good job showcasing all the beautiful sides across Japan from Hokkaido to Kagoshima. It is like another underlying message of a family seeking happiness across Japan.Acting is superb, the main lead Toyokawa Etsushi (Tokyo Swindlers, Midway, Love letter) is enigmatic, charismatic, selfless but also selfish, one of the best characters in Japanese drama ever. Natsukawa Yui (Chugakusei Nikki, Still Walking) who played Kahori is equally charismatic, she was like a bird trapped in a cage looking for love and to be loved. Such palpable chemistry between them, the way they look at each other you really feel it. Such intense emotions portrayed on screen. Suzuki Anne (Returner, Hanna and Alice) is one of the most underrated actresses in Japan today and I didn’t know she was a child actress before and she did a great job here, playing a character playful but mature for her age.In terms of 90s Japanese dramas I would rank Aoi Tori at the top. It would even be in my top 3 Japanese dramas of all time. I would understand the controversial part is not for everyone but if you ignore morality then writing wise this is a masterpiece. Some could even argue that morality is not fixed, morality changes overtime.
a day ago • Subscribe
More like this
Hitorigurashi (90s Japanese Drama Review)
Hitorigurashi ReviewDrama: HitorigurashiScreenwriter: Aoyagi YumikoNetwork: TBSActors: Tokiwa Takako, Nagasaku Hiromi, Takahashi KatsunoriDuration: 45 min.90s Japanese dramas are known for having the best romance genre but I wouldn’t recommend…
Perfect love (90s Japanese Drama Review)
Drama: Perfect loveJapanese: パーフェクトラブ！Screenwriter: Asano TaekoNetwork: Fuji TVActors: Fukuyama Masaharu, Kimura YoshinoThis drama didn't aged well I am not talking about the video quality but some of the…
Over Time (90s Japanese Drama Review)
Drama: Over TimeJapanese: オーバー・タイムScreenwriter: Kitagawa ErikoNetwork: Fuji TVActors: Sorimachi Takashi, Esumi Makiko, Kimura Yoshino, Ishida Yuriko, Shiina Kippei, Nishida NaomiLet me give you a fair warning most people…
Beach Boys (90s Japanese Drama Review)
Beach Boys ReviewDrama: Beach BoysScreenwriter: Okada YoshikazuNetwork: Fuji TVActors: Sorimachi Takashi, Takenouchi Yutaka, Hirosue RyokoIf you are looking for a slice of life Japanese drama with some of…
A Blue Bird of Mystery — Aoi Tori released
This isn't a new announcement, but it's one many are awaiting! It is expected to come out this April.
I"s Japanese Drama Review
I"s/Aizu/アイズ might not be the best Japanese drama but it's very entertaining if you like harem type plot. It also starred cute actresses so it's a huge plus.
A Blue Bird of Mystery — Aoi Tori coming to Steam
This isn't a new announcement, but it's one many are awaiting! It is expected to come out this April.
Natsu Tori
Oh hey y’all Megumi Nakajima is back.
Macross, Macross Frontier, Megumi, Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne, Tamayura OVA
2020’s Favorite Japanese BL – Cherry Magic Drama Review
I like to believe I’m above bandwagoning. That I can resist the urge to watch things just because they have the week’s popularity ranking, but that would be…
Cheat Japanese Drama (2019) - First Impressions
Drama: CheatRomaji: Chito: Sagishi no Minasan, Gochui KudasaiJapanese: チート～詐欺師の皆さん、ご注意ください～Director: Noriko Yuasa, Goro YasumiWriter: Miyako Matsumoto, Subaru YamashitaNetwork: NTV, YTVThings to expect in this drama Tsubasa Honda as an idol Swindle…
The Japanese Animation Studios that Defined 90s Anime
Anime wouldn't be what it is today without the studios that helped set the benchmark for the quality trademark of Japanese animation in the 90s.
Lia - Tori no Uta
WHAAAAAAAAT?!??! THERES GONNA BE A NEW ANNE OF GREEN GABLES ANIME IN SPRING 2025?!?!? HOLY SHIT YAAAAAAAAY LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! And Im still not even finished with the English…
Lia - Tori no Uta
So...Nintendo announced their newest console, the Nintendo Switch 2. Yeah, its $450, but I can get around that by having my parents buy it for my birthday, which…
Yamadai New Touch Yamagata Tori Chuka Bowl Review
This is the third review of a ramen from the Yamadai New Touch Amazing Noodles Summer Fukubako Eastern Japan Ramen Box 2024 . Yamagata is f...
Tomori Kusunoki - Tori no Uta
So...I only just now found out about this. Apparently the manga Lady!! by Youko Hanabusa has finally been translated into English, albeit by fans. I know the anime…
Rewatching Aoi Hana
Ive been meaning to do this for a while. You know what? I think nows a good time to rewatch that one 2009 yuri anime called Aoi Hana.…
Dobugawa: Ikebe Aoi
Since I got back to Canada, I’ve been feeling oddly disconnected in a way that I felt back when I first moved to Japan. I used to feel…
Well that was a drama I guess – Ciguatera (drama review)
I think it would surprise most people that for the majority of my life, I never got the whole ‘be hype due to a single name in a…
The Days (2023) [Drama Review]
The Days; or, Anatomy of a Disaster March 11th, 2011. What happened in those days after that fateful date? Japanese filmmakers are not ...
The Journalist (2022) [Drama Review]
The Journalist; or, Checks and Balances After seeing how Ms Matsuda strives to give a voice to the voiceless no matter how difficult it...
Historical drama film review: Cromwell
I know I started that Hollow Crown watchthrough a while back that I’m only three films into, but I’ll try to justify covering this one in between, because it’s…
[History] FAKE and the Found Family: The ’90s BL cop drama that influenced a genre
FAKE is a BL mystery-drama manga originally published between 1994 and 2000. The dominant emotional line throughout the series is the evolving relationship between detectives Dee and Ryo.…
![Featured image for Saezuru tori wa Habatakanai Don’t stay gold OVA [Animé review]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210401/1617290196.7442.30810.png)
Saezuru tori wa Habatakanai Don’t stay gold OVA [Animé review]
By now I am pretty sure that any frequent readers can tell that I am huge Saezuru fan. When I watched the movie, one of the criticisms that…
Poplar’s 90s Tag
Well, this should be an interesting one! A big thank you to Fred for the tag. You should check out his post about the 90s if you haven’t…
Review: Sweet Blue Flowers (Aoi Hana), Blu-Ray
Reunited as teenagers after spending their middle school years apart, Fumi and Akira don’t recognize each other at first, especially since the latter has far surpassed her friend…
Branch Line: Ikebe Aoi
I have been waiting so long! I was beginning to think that Ikebe Aoi had hung up her manga hat and gone into a more lucrative, less punishing…
Chasing After Aoi Koshiba
This Manga is a Yuri, about a girl named Sahoko whose popular in just about every way! One day a girl name Aoi catches her eye, and she’s…
About Sunday Night… (the drama review!)
As someone who is chronically on Instagram, I am overly up-to-date on what my favorite entertainment groups and actors are up to. Back in March/April, it was announced…
The Silent Sea (2021) [Drama Review]
The Silent Sea; or, 2021: A Lunar Odyssey Not a damn thing works smoothly in this station. I have been looking forward to The Silent Se...
Doctor X 7 (2021) [Drama Review]
Doctor X 7; or, Michiko to the Rescue I can only save a patient who is in front of me. When I heard about the seventh series…
Mama wa Idol (1987) [Drama Review]
Mama wa Idol; or, Woman of the House It’s tough being a mother! Well, I guess we could say that Miho Nakayama went meta way before John...
Oblivion Battery Episode 6 Review – Aoi Has The Yips
This is a baseball anime…
Chasing After Aoi Koshiba Volumes 1 and 2 Review
If you can get past the bumpy beginning and some of the common tropes, Chasing After Aoi Koshiba is a very enjoyable yuri series so far.
Runnin’ in the 90s
Rurouni Kenshin #60 Studio Pierrot may be stuck animating whatever popular manga is running in Shonen Jump for the foreseeable future, but it seems they are not…
Firechick's Anime Reviews: Aoi Hana
Rating : 87/100 Ive mentioned before that romance isnt really a genre I find myself drawn to. Granted, thats not to say every piece of romance media is…
Sweet Blue Flowers, Smart-san, Ride Your Wave, Skip and Loafer
Critic’s Report: Aoi Bunkagaku Series
This anime is awarded: One thing I have learned after finishing this series, that the world and its society is a one cruel place full with violence, madness,…
Retrospectively Reflecting on Aoi Hana
“But two people can love each other and still not belong together, even if neither of them wanted to admit it.” – Shaun David Hutchinson (an author I…
![Featured image for The Confidence Man JP (2018) [Drama Review]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210705/1625516608.16627.41951.jpg)
The Confidence Man JP (2018) [Drama Review]
The Confidence Man JP; or, The Ultimate Sting What you see may not be reality. What is real and what is fake? Did Beethoven really…
Will Love in Spring | A Drama Review
"Will Love in Spring" is a Chinese drama based on a novel, portraying the contrasting lives and relationships of its characters. It explores love, healing, and imperfections through…
Historical drama film review: Henry V (1989)
No, I wasn’t kidding about the Shakespeare last post. But is it wrong to call a film adaptation of a Shakespeare play a historical drama? I don’t think…
![Featured image for The Naked Director (2019-2021) [Drama Review]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210710/1625938997.17017.42352.jpg)
The Naked Director (2019-2021) [Drama Review]
The Naked Director; or, The World is Yours People have seen my asshole, but I’m not embarrassed. To be human is to live as who…
Tadaima, Okaeri Episode 11 Review – Omegaverse Drama
Oh boy, drama between omegas happen and it’s not a happy one.
Pantsu Hunter: Back To The 90s — Visual Novel Review
For a lot of Pantsu Hunter, the silliness is the point. Randomly getting killed is very goofy and the writing is self-aware.
Him, the Smile & Bloom (Hanakare) Wataru Tori Walkthrough
A guide/walkthrough to help you full clear all endings for Wataru Tori's route in the otome Him, the Smile, & Bloom on the Nintendo Switch.
90s Anime At Heart – #The25AniCheer
It’s here, It’s here! It’s here, It’s here!! as I say again. December my favourite month begins and so does 25 days of cheery content. Are you ready…
The Gnarliest 90s Anime OPs
The Anime OPs of the 90s were totally tubular. Just imagine Bill Clinton rocking out on his saxophone to Cowboy Bebop's Tank. Now that'd be dope. #anime #cowboybebop…
The Dopest 90s Anime Eyecatches
There's very little debate that 90s commercials were the peak of television. But even better than those two minutes without watching Cowboy Bebop were the five-second anime eyecatches…