ザラ Notes: ハチミツとクローバー Hachimitsu to Clover

01 April 2008

ハチミツとクローバー Hachimitsu to Clover

Title: ハチミツとクローバー Hachimitsu to Kurōbā (Clover)
English Title: Honey and Clover
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2008
Episode: 11
Cast:

成海璃子 Narumi Riko
生田斗真 Ikuta Tōma
原田夏希 Harada Natsuki
向井理 Mukai Osamu
成宮寛貴 Narimiya Hiroki
滝沢沙織 Takizawa Saori
柏原崇 Kashibawara Takashi
村上淳 Murakami Jun

SYNOPSIS

平井堅 Hirai Ken - キャンバス Kyanbasu (Canvas)

Takemoto Yūta, Morita Shinobu, and Mayama Takumi are all students studying in an art college and living in the same apartment complex. One of their professors, Hanamoto Shūji, introduces them to his cousin's daughter Hanamoto Hagumi who has come to live with him and is a first year student at the art college.

Hanamoto Hagumi is a gifted artist and her works are praised by many art professionals. She is quite shy and has non-existent social skills. Most people find her strange with her extreme shyness and childlike personality.

Takemoto Yūta falls in love with Hagumi, called Hagu by her friends, as soon as he sees her by the pond. Yūta cannot confess his feelings to Hagu but he intends to after he builds his confidence.

Morita Shinobu has a quirky personality and he is also in love with Hagu. He expresses his love in strange ways.

Mayama Takumi is in love with Harada Rika, an older woman who owns Harada Design where he works part-time. Rika was previously married and she lost her husband in a car accident.

Yamada Ayumi is popular at school, both for her beauty and pottery skills. Ayumi is in love with Takumi for the longest time but he does not return her feelings and instead regularly encourages her to find someone else.

REVIEW
The best part of Hachimitsu to Kurōbā is the friendship between Takemoto Yūta, Morita Shinobu, Mayama Takumi, Yamada Ayumi, and Hanamoto Hagumi. I think what makes experiences memorable are the people we share these experiences with, precisely how these individuals find college life fun and poignant despite its ups and downs because they have each other.

I don't really understand Shinobu and Hagumi as characters and it's probably because they are art geniuses. I sometimes wonder how it's like to be a genius and be so extraordinary that people don't understand you and can't relate to you.

I find it especially hard to feel for Hagumi because, well, I don't really know what she feels and why she feels that way. Narumi Riko is a great actress but there's something off about her portrayal with Hagumi that I cannot really explain.