Yasashii Jikan

[karened]

Yasashii Jikan.

How should I put it?

It's...very Nino-ppoi.

 

Somehow, Nino gives me the image of depth. His works tend to go for depth instead of trendy idol-ish stories. Not that I have anything against the latter genre, but I appreciate that the two 'main' actors in Arashi are on different routes.

And Yasashii Jikan is a curious piece. It's not the tearjerking type (e.g. Door to Door, 1LOT, Smile), nor is it a heartwarming family 'preaching' type (e.g. Atashinchi no Danshi, Ryusei no Kizuna). It's mellow, slow, touching. Yet there's no explicit 'themes' or 'learning points' in each episode.

I like how each episode comes together, mainly by the interactions Yukichi (Nino's father in the show) has with the patrons of the cafe. Because most of them are from the neighbourhood, subplots from previous episodes get brought up in the later ones as part of their chat. Also, each subplot serves to draw out a side of the cast that we've never seen before, and to bring us further into the lives of Yukichi and Takuro (Nino) before the incident. So, with each episode, their story unfolds naturally.

Of course, I'd have enjoyed it more if Nino appeared more frequently, but even with Yukichi taking up most of the screentime, the gradually unfolding story was engaging enough to make me continue watching. This drama may be too slow and non-exciting for people with an appetite for funnier, trendier, louder dramas. But for me, I liked it.

The story is strung together by ordinary tales or the patrons of the cafe. Throughout the story I was really anticipating how the father-son dynamics would play out when there is still a wall between them in spite of them really caring about each other deep inside. This is one good example that such conflict (son causing the death of wife, and father not being there for son) does not have to lead to the typical kdrama plot of rebellious children or vengeful father. It can tug at your heart strings in modest ways, like Yasashii Jikan did.
Like how I cried when Takuro picked up that heated pottery piece and... But that act was understandable, not just a tearjerker device...it was...painful to watch. As for the ending, it was simple, without a climatic end typical of most dramas. Most dramas would end with a climatic father and son reunion after Takuro's pottery piecce wins at the competition, but in Yasashii Jikan, there was no mention of the competition results. What we had at the end were scenes of another ordinary day at the cafe, signifying that that was not the end of everything. Time still continues. Like what Yukichi said, it's not like he discovered anything (that taught him some life principles), he was just living his life....an ordinary story. It may feel boring and plain to some, but definitely not to me.

[EDITED]
Here are two youtube vids of the theme song, 明日 by 平原綾香 (Hirahara Ayaka). I enjoyed the ending of each episode because of her voice. And I'm glad that the director filled up that credits part with not just scenes from the episode but also shoots of Yukichi around the cafe and the forest. It feels like the story is still continuing...

The is a live version.

And this a studio version.

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Comments transfered from vox 

marszz wrote:
May 3, 2010

I actually bawled when I watched this.

yuui1010 wrote:
May 3, 2010
Yes.
I forgot to tell you. I love how the director (whoever involved in picking the place for Yashashii Jikan set). Its' gorgeous and so much silent, isnt it?
Like, you can say, gold is white. ><
The way, Yukichi Wakui, walks through the woods, and the scenery, the whole scenery as in tree -like forest and so white. It seems, the time itself is stop.
And, at that moment, I can understand, the meaning of Yashashii Jikan. Time really flies and heals people's heart.

Immediately, I wanted to go there. And walk. Just walk, miles. Accompany with silent and just me.

The second thing is the coffee shop, which has the veranda kind. Lovely, isn't it?

I also want to correct my way of saying, yes, it's not tear-jerker. I'm not being forced to cry or anything. I just felt, of being following the flow of the drama.

And, while Nino's character as a son, does not show up often. Somehow, it is perfect. It also makes me, feels...they cannot meet while their heart still being hurt and pained.

The one I cannot stand is the scene where Takuro shows up and secretly watches his father. Seeing him so sad, and unable to talk or even communicate his being there in the same town as his father. And his decision to run after watching his father. Gosh.... He really acted with his eyes and mouth.
And It is confirmed when Yukichi also does it. I cried in those scene. The moment Yukichi goes to see him and yet though he really wants to talk, hugs him, he cannot. Somehow, those father-son feeling really reaches the audience. It's like those two actors, beckon and show their skill and the utmost for those scene. I mean, in those scene, only one actor gets to shoot close up ne. The other supports him by also giving the best skill to match each other. Like, simbiosis mutualis. XDD. Goodnes, I'm out of words.

Seeing this drama, I really feel Nino's acting really a high one.
And The saying that he acts by his eyes and mouth. So true. And so did that old man. So perfect. Aaaa..'ll find his name next time. I wanna find some files relate to YJ, especially these two encounter.

PS. For Change. That old man play a little wicked man. So much different with YJ.
 

yuui1010 wrote:
May 3, 2010
ps. It's quite long.
pss. I might not be able to reply yours this night. I'll do it in the morn ^ ^
 

yuui1010 wrote:
May 3, 2010
I don't know about the others casts, but these father-son actors are marvelous ><. Borrowing Jun's M XDDDD

zekeshocks wrote:
May 3, 2010
I watched this together with my dad and we ended up crying in the middle of the night finishing this drama. Actually, my dad was trying not to show me he cried but he was truly touched with the theme and the relationship between Nino and his father. This can even be called a masterpiece. At the end of the day, this drama has a calming effect and seeing them tie the strings back together filled our hearts with joy. XD

karened replied to yuui1010’s comment:
May 3, 2010
That was a long comment! I'm rushing to watch Kaibutsu-kun (kyaa with the cuteness that blinds me to the flaws of the drama)...
Yes, the scene where Takuro went to peep at his father, and then run away...bursting with emotions of wanting to meet his father...it was so powerful, and the running away...just wild, adrenaline-filled action. It would be better if they had shown a bit more of Takuro over there instead of just ending the episode like that...

And the one where Yukichi saw Takuro's backview as he ran away? Again that wild running took my breath away. Takuro had went to his father, but now that his father had came, he was running away. So did his father, the next day when he called Takuro's workplace...And note that the reason why Takuro couldn't answer the phone personally was because of his job as a potter, and not because of some drama-coincidence. =P

And the scene where Yukichi placed the charm at Takuro's place...Just seeing Takuro from afar made him happy, as Takuro had been happy just watching his father secretly, being close to him. Perhaps Yukichi was afraid that he can't handle facing Takuro yet, or maybe he was afraid of scaring Takuro as he did with his Santa when Takuro was younger, because he had seen how Takuro ran away that Christmas Eve.

Of course, the scene where Takuro realises that it was his father who placed the charm there....Nino was so good at it!!!
There're countless of scenes I loved!!!

And that Yukichi mentioned that he has mellowed as he worked at the cafe ne...I think it's quite true, because he comes across people of all backgrounds and problems working there, so perhaps that helped him get over his wife's death a little faster....

karened replied to marszz’s comment:
May 3, 2010
I didn't crr too badly, but tears did come. =P

karened replied to zekeshocks’ comment:
May 3, 2010
Eh your dad did??? That's good to hear, about a non-fan...coz we might not admit it, but sometimes fan accounts/ratings are biased. =P It's amazing how their relationship can play out so well even though they don't have much scenes together till the very end ne!

marszz replied to karened’s comment:
May 5, 2010
I dunno.. maybe because I can relate to some scenes.. or Nino is just too good. lol!