English Title: Wish Upon a Cow: Love & Farm
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2007
Episode: 11
Cast:
- 玉山鉄二 Tamayama Tetsuji
- 小出恵介 Koide Keisuke
- 中田敦彦 Nakata Atsuhiko
- 相武紗季 Aibu Saki
- 能瀬香里奈 Nose Karina (香里奈 Karina)
- 戸田恵梨香 Toda Erika
SYNOPSIS
Six agriculture students travel north to Hokkaido for first-hand training in a farm setting. They experience how difficult farming life could be and they develop better appreciation for the farmers, in particular the farming community where they conducted their training.
Takashimizu Takashi grew up in Hokkaido and his parents are farmers but seeing the hardships his parents endured, he doesn't want to become a farmer. Mano Tohei is a good guy who is always seen by girls as a friend rather than a potential boyfriend. Wakamatsu Ryuta is the goofy and happy-go-lucky guy.
Fuji Ayaka is the cute girl who went to the training just to follow her crush Takashi and to hopefully get close to him. Suenaga Mihoko is the rich and stylish girl who does not know how to work. Chiba Kazumi is a goodhearted girl and the only one in the group who's actually interested in farming.
REVIEW
I found it somewhat difficult to become interested in Ushi ni Negai wo: Love & Farm because I'm not really interested in farming and animal husbandry (breeding and raising livestock). I don't really know much about farming and animal husbandry but I do know that it entails backbreaking work for very little profit so it is not something I considered as a viable career choice especially in these modern times.
Garnering interest in the topic is even more difficult considering that the main characters, save for one or two, are also not interested in farming and animal husbandry. Most of the characters went to the training for various reasons but definitely not because they are interested in the field, and that they intend to be farmers and livestock breeders in the future. I suppose this part of the drama is just being realistic because majority of people would also feel the same.
It's also difficult to get invested in some of the the drama's conflicts because it's all about animals, in particular about cows going through difficult births or cows needing to be put down for not being able to produce milk. These issues are important in its own way but they also seem trivial when looking at these issues in the greater scheme of things.
However, I also appreciate the drama because although the majority of people are not actually interested in doing farming and animal husbandry because it is too difficult, it is certainly an important part of the economy, both a particular country's economy and the world economy as a whole.
I think it would be nice if the drama focused more on the characters. These individuals are initially wary of each other but they eventually managed to overcome their differences and become relatively good friends. In a way, it's true that people tend to make allowances and adjustments when living and working with other people in order to foster a good environment.
Of course, these characters also paired off with one or the other throughout the drama. I'm disappointed that the people I wanted to pair off didn't, and the people I didn't want to get together ended up getting together in the end.
###
牛に願いを Love & Farm (Ushi ni Negai wo: Love & Farm)
