[REVIEW] Iki mo Dekinai Natsu

[sukaretto]

Iki mo Dekinai Natsu
Japanese Drama

Episodes: 11

Genre: Drama

Cast:

• Takei Emi as Tanizaki Rei
• Eguchi Yosuke as Kiyama Ryuichiro
• Kimura Yoshino as Tanizaki Yoko
• Nakamura Aoi as Kusano Kota
• Hara Mikie as Igawa Satsuki
• Kirishima Reika as Kataoka Asami
• Koshiba Fuka as Tanizaki Mao
• Hamada Mari as Tadakoro Mitsuko
• Kaname Jun as Ayukawa Hiroki
• Rikiya as Nakatsu Daisuke
• Hashimoto Reika as Abekawa Eri
• Shimizu Kazuki as Nishikawa Jun
• Katsunobu as Tsutsui Sotaru
• Asada Miyoko as Tanizaki Kaori
• Kitaoji Kinya as Natsume Shusaku

Synopsis:
     It may seem like most of us in modern society live the ordinary life: Wishing for the happiness of self, family, and loved ones. Some, however, live an unimaginable life, with a past that could only be understood by few, and carry a fate so vast upon them. The characters that appear in this story each carry such deep scars or secrets, and are burdened to their destiny.

"Breathless Summer" picks up on a rather rare social situation where a girl grows up without a family register. In other words, without citizenship to her own country. As she uncovers the truth about her identity, she comes across an older man, most likely as old as her father, with a scarred heart. Amidst crossing paths and being torn apart from their surroundings, the two become inseparable to each other, what becomes a shocking but bittersweet summer love story.

Tanizaki Rei, the girl without a family registry is played by Takei Emi. Rei is an innocent 19 year old girl, one that you may find anywhere else in the world, excited about what her forthcoming future might bring. Coincidentally, she finds out the truth about her background, that she isn't recorded as being born in the legal books. The truth shocks her, brings her down in thinking that she does not truly exist in the societal world.

The older man that she meets, is a 41 year old former newspaper reporter Kiyama Ryuichiro. When Ryuichiro was still a news reporter for a major newspaper, his inherent composure and sense of justice in saving the weak led him to uncover exclusive scoops. It was not until a twist of fate involved him in an accident that he is forced to leave the firm. Now he lives quietly in the suburbs working night shifts at the ward office.

Japan's civil code 772 states that if a child is born between a couple where the wife had been in a prior marriage less than 300 days ago, the child will be registered under the prior husband's family register even if DNA tests prove that the child is that of the new couple. This questionable law was in effect for over 110 years without ever being amended, thus creating children who grow up to be without a family registry. One may think; "What are the chances?" But the incident portrayed can happen to anyone, and it is a fact that such children exist in this country.

How will Rei face her destiny and overcome it? Will Ryuichiro be able to admit to his sins to find meaning in his life? What will become of their love? Brutal as it may be, the drama will shine light on how wonderful it is to live and love through a complicated family relationship. Expect nothing less than a sensational social entertainment drama this summer! 

info credits: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Iki_mo_Dekinai_Natsu

Sukaretto says:
p.s. contains major spoilers.
     "shocking but bittersweet summer love story" -- this is really misleading. i thought this drama focuses on their love story. the May-December affair. what they're going to go through. turned out, the love story was only a side story. and i so wanted to watch this before. but hey, the problem they tackled here was also good.
     growing up without a family register. Japan got such complicated laws. "a child is born between a couple where the wife had been in a prior marriage less than 300 days ago" -- the reason for shotgun marriages. now i'm wondering, what happens if you were born to a single parent? (your parents aren't married and one of them ran away or kept you secret in case of the mother) does that mean you can't be registered? like with Nakamura Aoi's character, his parents were gay (well, the mother was lesbian. not sure with the father, he didn't mention anything.) and he was left with an acquaintance and he found out that his parents wanted to have him when he was born. why didn't they register him then?
     i like it how Rei hated his biological father, Ayukawa. wait, OMG. that was Kaname Jun! i say, he's TOO YOUNG for the role! but still acted it well. -- back to topic. yea, i can relate with how Rei felt. how the fuck can you forgive and accept someone who used to beat up your mom and even raped her, (i know they were still married that time, but she's already asking for a divorce and she didn't want what he's doing, he just forced himself on her so that's fucking rape.) the reason you were born. that caused her mom's trauma. at first i thought what's the big deal with not registering your child? at least now they know and they can do something about it. then the whole story came up. a little side story about myself, ppl tell me that my father is still my father so unless i like it or not, without him, i won't be in this world right now, so i should be thankful. i always answer them that i don't really care about myself, if my mom never met my father, she would've not suffered from him. but Rei was lucky that she grew up with a perfectly loving father, although he died early. i like what she said to Ayukawa in the end that they may be connected by blood but he was never her father and whether she like it or not, she would not be able to forget him cox she came from him but that was all there is.
     about the supposed love affair between Rei and Kiyama. well yea, you can feel that she definitely fancied him but not love, no. it wasn't strong enough to call love. she admired him, a small crush, cox she knows he got her back. but i can't feel that Kiyama liked her romantically. maybe he admired her too for her attitude and how she faced her problems. there wasn't any chemistry nor awkwardness between them. i like the ending. how she was about to confess to him but he stopped her. he knew better. <3
     about Kiyama's story. should i still discuss it? Asami's the bitch. XD jealousy gets you to do things you never knew you could. but still she came to her senses. i like it that she accepted she's become clingy and needy despite the fact that she knows he's the reason why your hubby committed suicide. i don't like that they blamed Kiyama for the suicide though, even he blamed himself and thought of sacrificing/offering his own life for the happiness of Asami and her son. this may offend others but i think if a person committed suicide, there's no one to blame but that person. he wanted to die himself, why blame it to others?
     not so major characters. Tanizaki grandma! i thought she's a monster in law. she's definitely bitchy at the start. she didn't seem to notice Rei. that's why i already suspected that Rei was Ayukawa's daughter even before they hinted it cox i thought Tanizaki grandma knows about it. the reason why Mao seems like her fave cox she's her only real granddaughter. but then as the story progressed, she became a nice grandmama. i don't know what happened. XD
     i've said a lot. XD i started writing right after i finished the drama while all the feels are still there. XD i can't say that this is an overall flawless drama that you'd want to watch over and over again so my ratings won't be really high. but i like the story and i can somehow relate to it. oh, and the whole drama made me crave for sweets. KEYKI!!!! =Q

My Ratings: i'll give this 3.5/5 :)