Title: ホタルノヒカリ Hotaru no Hikari
English Title: Glow of Fireflies
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2007
Episode: 10
Cast:
- 綾瀬はるか Ayase Haruka
- 藤木直人 Fujiki Naohito
- 国仲涼子 Kuninaka Ryoko
- 加藤和樹 Kato Kazuki
- 武田真治Takada Shinji
- 板谷由夏 Itaya Yuka
- 安田顕 Yasuda Ken
- 浅見れいな Asami Reina
- 渡部豪太 Watabe Gota
- 渋江譲二 Shibue Joji
- 松本まりか Matsumoto Reika
- 松下さらMatsushita Sara
- 丸山智己 Maruyama Tomomi
- 松永博史 Matsunaga Hiroshi
- 黒谷友香 Kurotani Tomoka
SYNOPSIS
Amemiya Hotaru works at a small but successful interior design company. She seems like the typical office lady who looks professional and who works efficiently.
In private though, Hotaru is totally the opposite of her image at work. She lazes around in her leased house wearing jerseys. She prefers to stay at home rather than go out with her colleagues. She drinks beer even in broad daylight and she doesn't clean up her messes.
Hotaru's landowner is a bar owner who had to go abroad indefinitely. However, her landlord's son has separated from his wife and has come to live in his childhood home. He is surprised to find the place dirty and messy but Hotaru is even more shocked to find that his landlord's son is her manager Takano Seīchi.
REVIEW
Amemiya Hotaru is someone very easy to relate to; most people tend to project a professional image in the outside world but they are also usually completely relaxed at home, wearing comfortable clothes and having no make-up. However, I do think Hotaru is taking things to the extreme by wearing old and dirty clothes as well as having an unruly hairstyle. I understand that she wants to be comfortable but there are comfortable clothes that fit well and there are simple hairstyles that are more appealing.
If Hotaru is such a flawed character, the guys around her are too perfect to be real. Although the two guys around Hotaru have faults, these shortcomings seem insignificant compared to Hotaru's.
Takano Seīchi is successful at work and he also knows his way around household chores. Although he is guarded all the time and he prioritizes work before family; it seems that given the right person, he can openly show his emotions and he recognizes the importance of that person in his life.
Teshima Makoto is young but has a very promising future in terms of professional development. Although he is often ruled by his emotions, his sensitivity allows him to correctly read other people and situations. I like that when he loves a person, he wants that person to be happy even though that person will be happy without him.
Hotaru no Hikari brought about concerns regarding 'being in love with the idea of love' and 'being actually in love'. Is there a way to determine which is which? How do people know if they are really in love with a person or if they are just giddy with the thought of loving someone and being loved by someone?
The drama also brought about questions regarding the different kinds of love; particularly romantic love that makes your heart beat faster and romantic love that makes you feel completely at ease with your special someone. Hotaru's colleague Saegusa Yūka mentioned that the latter is better than the former because she can show her bad side to that person and she doesn't have to worry about being accepted. I wonder though if it is really a case of either one or the other, or if it is possible for both cases to exist in one situation with one person.
I would just like to mention that it must be quite awkward at times in Hotaru's office, given that most people end up forming romantic relationships with their colleagues. No matter how amiable the break-ups are, it will still be awkward to see one's ex regularly in a professional setting and even more so if the ex forms a romantic relationship with another colleague.
Actually even if the relationship goes smoothly, it will be difficult if one has to compete with a special someone in a professional setting. At the very least, it would be tiring to have to see one's special someone daily at work that it would be quite a chore to meet up with said person after-work, even for personal matters.
Related:
ホタルノヒカリ2 Hotaru no Hikari 2
ホタルノヒカリ Hotaru no Hikari (2012)
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ホタルノヒカリ Hotaru no Hikari
