karened | JIN-仁- (Reply)

All pictures from the TBS official site. You should check out the site! It even has a section whereby they explain the traditions and customs in the Edo period.

I've just finished watching 「JIN-仁-」. Despite the little expectation I had when I bought the dvd, I was pleasantly surprised by the the end of episode 2.

My close friends would know how much distaste I have for period dramas other than Chinese period dramas, because I cannot stand the costumes. Well, mainly for Korean and Japanese period dramas. The former because of the grape-like hairstyle many women of that time has and the weird tall hats that the men wear. The latter because of the slightly less weird bun/onigiri-like hairstyle the women spot and the strange half-bald hairstyle for the men. Of course, in Chinese period dramas, there're weird hairstyles for men (Manchu hairstyle, or the rest with the bun on top of the head) and also women (Especially those royalty). But I guess I grew up watching them, so it's kind of 'usual fare' already.

Aniwaes, I digressed but the point of bringing that up is to illustrate just how amazing it if for 「JIN-仁-」to have been so enjoyable. I haven't watched a single Japanese period drama before. Even for the popular Ooku series, I've only managed to watch one or two episodes.

But 「JIN-仁-」 had charms that brought me past that superficial phase. This is what Japanese does way better than Korean tv. It's SF + Romance + Human. I enjoyed Code Blue up till 2/3 of the series, but after the lead doctor's arm got amputated, everything just went downslope. My greatest criticism would be that the lead actor failed to carry the show on his shoulders. I know many would disagree, but that's how I felt, especially after comparing it to 「JIN-仁-」. Or maybe it's just the writing, because I felt that comparing Minakata Jin and Yamapi's character, the latter felt too fiction. The conflicts he felt seemed too contrived. I can't remember clearly, but it seems that his character was written to look cool. On the other hand, I empathised more with Jin, who was more human and real. Osawa Takao's acting as Minakata Jin was also more convincing and heartwrenching than Yamapi's.

All in all, 「JIN-仁-」brings heartwarming moments where we see sacrifices and support from various places, some out of love, some out of belief, some out of sympathy, and some out of pride even. There're also suspenseful moments where we're thrown questions regarding the major framework of the story - the time slip and how Jin has changed history. Of course, there were deaths that made my heart sour, and decisions that made me pity the characters.

I really liked all the characters. I like it that they are not perfect heroes.

Tachibana Kyotaro (My dear Koide Keisuke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
A serious samurai who worked hard to be recognised by his 'master', Kyotaro was jealous of the happy-go-lucky Sakamoto Ryoma, who was highly regarded by his master. After meeting a courtesan by chance, he started to be attracted to the care she showed for his sense of inferiority. He even sold off a tea cup his deceased father left behind just to get a pair of glasses for the woman. All that came to naught when he realised that the person she really llikes is another, worthless man. I'm glad that when he begged that man for lend him some money (Jin needed the money to produce some medicine to save her life), it was not directly because of that woman, but because he wanted to do his part in protecting Jin's medicine (In their rush to raise the money, they had fallen into a trap that aimed to buy over the medicine from Jin). It was like he had finally realised what part he should play among his companions, who seemed to him as greater people.

Sakamoto Ryoma
He's like the big brother of them all, helping each of them as they lose confidence and direction. Yet he's often seen in a frivolous state, never taking anything seriously. A hidden hero, I guess, who rises to the occasion when he is needed.

Minakata Jin
His struggle with mind and heart left the greatest impression on me. He chose to follow his heart when he decided not to try cure Nokaze of her tumour. But it was painful for him, and he acknowledges that he is the devil. He knows that what he's doing may not be the right thing, but he dearly wants to protect Miki. Even after being persuaded by Ryoma to operate on Nokaze, he still wavers and had to bury his photograph just so to stop thinking about the results his decision would bring. His lack of confidence over the merits of his decision continued even after the operation. It was painful to watch him ask Saki repeated if he had done the right thing, after he found the photograph missing. And when he sees Nokaze recover and thank him for all he has done, he finally breaks down and shouts that he's glad to have made that decision. With the photograph missing, he has lost his last connection to the modern world. Holding on would be meaningless, and so he moves on, keeping his memories close to heart.

Tachibana Saki
The most vivid thing I remember about her is in the first episode. Needing assistance in the operation, Jin asks if Saki is able to take the sight of blood. Without hesitation, she replies confidently that she's daughter of a samurai family, so she does not fear blood. i think this short scene quite describes the whole of her character. As daughter of a samurai family, there are many rules and customs to follow. Yet, the irony in this line is that having samurais as family, she has developed the same courage and persistence to fight for what she believes in.

Nokaze
I can't really pinpoint a particular event that made me like her, but I do like her boldness and how she makes the best out of what she has and can do.

Point is, I like flawed characters.

I was quite lost as to the ending though. I triple-checked the dvd to make sure that what I saw was indeed the last scene, the last episode. After checking, I understood that the open ending was due to the fact that the manga is still ongoing. A possibility of a part 2? Haha...I totally wouldn't mind, because we still don't know how the time slip happened! We want to know what happened to Miki! And will Jin return to the modern world? What about the other characters? There's still so much to learn about them! Of course, even without a part 2, the drama is good enough to stand on its own, to let viewers imagine their own ending. This totally puts us into the shoes of Jin. He's also hoping to return to his own world (although 'his own world' is becoming the Edo period as he gets used to life there) and to know about his fate with Miki. And of course, to know what that patient was.

Another point to watch this drama for is the beautiful yukatas. I've screencapped them from the official site, but somehow when I pasted them into PS, the colours go off. The original ones are much more vibrant yo!

And my favourites are...

Oh, and I was happy to see the scene below because I've seen those sedans in museums before and had never figured out how someone can fit into something this small!

Btw, throughout the first 5 episodes or so, I kept seeing Osawa Takao (acting as Minakata Jin) as Kitagawa Yujin! O.o I don't know why but they really look alike. Osawa looks like an older version of Kitagawa...If you've watched Innocent Love, you may see how similar the two are when they smile, or when they show particular expressions.

Alike?

Like his hair! haha...The most normal hair inside....