08 April 2015

イタズラなKiss2 ~ Love in Tokyo (Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo)


Title: イタズラなKiss2 ~ Love in Tokyo (Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo)
English Title:
  • It Started With A Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo
  • Mischievous Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo
  • Playful Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2014
Episode: 16
Cast:
  • 未来穂香 Miki Honoka
  • 古川雄輝 Furukawa Yuki
  • 山田裕貴 Yamada Yuki
  • 田中要次 Tanaka Yoji
  • 西村知美 Nishimura Tomomi
  • Imoaraizaka Kakaricho
  • 相澤侑我 Aizawa Yuga
  • 宮城孔明 Miyagi Yoshiaki
  • 竹内寿 Takeuchi Toshi
  • 中井ノエミ Nakai Noemie
  • 伊藤梨沙子 Ito Risako
  • 堀井新太 Horī Arata
  • 鈴木身来 Suzuki Mirai
  • 川上ジュリア Kawakami Juria
  • 森カンナ Mori Kanna
  • 高田里穂 Takada Riho
  • 藤本七海 Fujimoto Nanami
  • 山谷花純 Yamaya Kasumi
  • 柴崎佳佑 Shibasaki Keisuke
  • 古畑星夏 Furuhata Seika
  • 松浦愛弓 Matsūra Aya
  • 小野花梨 Ono Karin
  • 君沢ユウキ Kimisawa Yuki



SYNOPSIS
Cyntia - Kiss Kiss Kiss
Aihara Kotoko has gotten married to her first love Irie Naoki, and she has finally become Irie Kotoko after six years of unrequited love.

Naoki and Kotoko go to Okinawa for a few days for their honeymoon. Although they are already married, the couple haven't yet been intimate with each other, and Kotoko is resolute about getting her wedding night.

Back in Tokyo, Naoki attends medical school while he continues to manage his dad's company. Kotoko dreams of supporting her husband in his job as a doctor, and she resolves to transfer to nursing school and become a nurse.



REVIEW
Cyntia - White Stock
Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo is basically about Irie Naoki and Irie Kotoko's married life, which starts on their honeymoon in Okinawa. The first episode is a re-airing of the drama イタズラなKiss2 ~ Love in Okinawa (Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Okinawa).

I had fun watching the drama, but it's probably because I have dialed down my expectations as a whole. Although I hoped that it would improve on the things I didn't like in イタズラなKiss ~ Love in Tokyo (Itazura na Kiss ~ Love in Tokyo), I had anticipated that these things are here to stay since it worked in the prequel for whatever reason.

The exaggerated portrayal of Kotoko by actress Miki Honoka is back in this drama, and dare I say it, even worse sometimes. I didn't think it was possible for Kotoko to be more caricature-like, but I was already prepared for that to happen so I'm not majorly disappointed.

The limitations of actor Furukawa Yuki are also more painfully obvious in this drama because Naoki demands layered emoting, which is more challenging compared to the perpetual stoic expression required in the prequel. Naoki has to appear cold on the outside but with some warmth showing through at times, and the actor fails to deliver more often than not.

Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo was quite longer than the average Japanese drama with 16 episodes, which is pretty much the same number of episodes as its prequel. Although I found the two dramas entertaining to some extent, I wish both had around 10 episodes instead.

? Hidemi: What does "strangle with a silk rope" mean?
Irie Naoki: Silk is fine and soft, but very strong as well. "Strangle with a silk rope" means to hurt someone slowly and indirectly.
-- E10 直樹, 琴子 を よろしく Naoki, Kotoko wo yoroshiku

? Hidemi: Naoki, what does "a bad wife brings a lifetime of misfortune" mean?
Irie Naoki: A wife that doesn't support her husband will make him suffer forever.
-- E10 直樹, 琴子 を よろしく Naoki, Kotoko wo yoroshiku



Related:
イタズラなKiss ~ Love in Tokyo (Itazura na Kiss ~ Love in Tokyo)
イタズラなKiss2 ~ Love in Okinawa (Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Okinawa)

Alike:
jp - イタズラなKiss (Itazura na Kiss)
kr - 장난스런 키스 Playful Kiss
tw - 惡作劇之吻 It Started With A Kiss
tw - 惡作劇2吻 They Kiss Again


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イタズラなKiss2 ~ Love in Tokyo (Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo)
イタズラなKiss2 ~ Love in Tokyo (Itazura na Kiss 2 ~ Love in Tokyo)