Title: ドン★キホーテ Don Kihōte (Quixote)
English Title: Don Quixote
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2011
Episode: 11
Cast:
- 松田翔太 Matsuda Shota
- 高橋克実 Takahashi Katsumi
- 小林聡美 Kobayashi Satomi
- 三宅弘城 Miyake Hiroki
- 市川実和子 Ichikawa Miwako
- 紺野まひる Konno Mahiru
- 田村愛 Tamura Ai
- 渡辺憲吉 Watanabe Kenkichi
- 成海璃子 Narumi Riko
- 内田有紀 Uchida Yuki
- 松重豊 Matsushige Yutaka
- 山根和馬 Yamane Kazuma
- 青木健 Aoki Ken
SYNOPSIS
Shirota Masataka is a child welfare official working at a child consultation center. Sabashima Hitoshi is a charitable yakuza boss. These two lead completely different lives, but one day, their souls are suddenly switched.
As a result, Masataka begins dispensing odd advice about the 'rules of society' and other things. While his colleagues naturally see this as a problem, the children gradually come to rely on him.
REVIEW
Don Quixote is a drama that I didn't think would be very fun to watch but it certainly exceeded my expectations. I don't really like fantasy-themed productions because I prefer realistic scenarios so that may be a reason for my quite lower than average expectations.
Two very different people have exchanged bodies and that is certainly reason enough for hi-jinks to ensue. But in here, the 'bodies' kept their real capacities so there are even more hilarious moments. For someone who's used to smoking, drinking, eating meat, fighting and winning in fights, it must be torture to be 'trapped' in a body that cannot smoke, passes out after one drink, develops rashes when eating meat, and is lacking in muscles (strength and power).
It's also funny how these two individuals are comfortable with their bodies even if it 'contains' someone else's soul that they take liberties which people wouldn't do in normal circumstances. This leads to some complications as some people assume they are even lovers.
It's strange to imagine how a yakuza boss can deal with working with children but it turns out that he's the best at the job because the little children are taken with his nice persona beneath the tough exterior. I think the children can sense that he may not be educated in child care but he will protect them.
What's really great about this drama is how it tackles the problems of child abuse and child neglect in today's society. It's hard to believe that some parents would leave babies alone in a house for around two days, or would treat an elementary school-age girl as the pseudo-mother of younger siblings and don't let her go to school, but there are cases like these in the real world.
I think this drama informs, if not educates, people how difficult it is to raise children, and how important it is to be committed as a parent and guardian. It also reminds societies of their roles to educate parents on how to be good parents, and to provide assistance to parents who are having a difficult time raising children while working for a living.
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ドン★キホーテ Don Quixote
