Details
Title: 息もできない夏
Title (romaji): Iki mo Dekinai Natsu
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Romance
Episodes: TBA
Viewership rating: TBA
Broadcast network: Fuji TV
Broadcast period: 2012-Jul-10 start
Air time: Tuesday 21:00
Theme song: TBA
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! -- Fuji TV
Cast
Takei Emi
Eguchi Yosuke
Kimura Yoshino
Nakamura Aoi
Hara Mikie
Kirishima Reika
Koshiba Fuka (小芝風花)
Hamada Mari
Kaname Jun
RIKIYA
Hashimoto Reika
Shimizu Kazuki (清水一希)
Katsunobu
Asada Miyoko
Kitaoji Kinya
Characters
Takei Emi as Tanizaki Rei
[spoiler]A cheerful girl who thinks of her mother. Although they are poor, her mother Yoko, sister Mao, and her pull together to live. She did not receive the best education, but she loves studying, or rather likes working hard so that she can take over from her mother who has been cheerfully watching over them even though it has been tough on her. She graduated from high school with excellent results, and knew that there was no money for her to attend university. Her dream is to become a patissier who can make pastries that touch people’s hearts someday. Her fascination with pastries began after her mother made an apple pie during her childhood. When there were things that made her miserable, she would always eat her mother’s odd-shaped apple pie, and feel its curious power to warm a person’s heart. She began working part-time at her current work place since the first year of high school. In the midst of this, she gets the big chance to be selected as an official employee. It is finally the first step towards her goal to put her dear mother at ease and dream to train in Paris, the home of pastries. At that time, it was the moment when the door to the future that she had diligently work towards. At least, at that time, her future was bright. However, during the procedure to become a full-fledged company employee, she learns the shocking truth that she does not exist on the family register or have citizenship. In her despair, she starts to fight to regain herself. Kiyama Ryuichiro becomes her only friend among the people she maintains a distance from. She grows attracted to Ryuichiro and a love for him develops … …
[/spoiler]
Eguchi Yosuke as Kiyama Ryuichiro
[spoiler]A 42-year-old single man who finds no hope in life. A former journalist on the city news team of a leading newspaper. Originally a person who rebelled against authority and desired to be the voice of the weak, he aspired to be a journalist and in 1993, joined a leading newspaper. He moved from being a city news reporter, to a reporter covering the First and Fourth Investigative Divisions in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s press club. Five years ago, became the top reporter of the judicial press club in an extraordinarily quick career advancement. However, his destiny changed after something happened and he left the newspaper out of disappointment. It was a path that everyone envied. However, he grew aware that he had become an ace reporter with a string of scoops rather than a reporter who wrote articles that gave voice to the socially vulnerable. He certainly had not forgotten his original intentions, but the expectations and sense of duty naturally made him look for incidents that would be good material. During that period, something happened that greatly shook up his role as a journalist and he left that newspaper. After that, Kiyama abandoned all his desires, ambitions and sense of justice, deciding to sacrifice his life in atonement for a past incident. He now works as a temp at night at the ward office, and lives in solitude. One day, a young girl who does not exist in her family register arrives at the ward office. He did not think that they would become deeply involved in each others lives. He would later feel that the intensity of her gaze in the moments that she loosens up, is identical to his previous self. Having refused to face up to his past all this while, he knew instinctively that if she did not help him, he would not have helped himself.
[/spoiler]
Kimura Yoshino as Tanizaki Yoko
[spoiler]Tanizaki Rei’s mother. A single mother who works as a nurse. A woman with a bright, sunny personality despite being poor. She has had to raise her two daughters single-handedly after losing her husband in an accident 14 years ago. Young for a mother of an 18- and 14-year-old, she and her daughters are called the beautiful three sisters by neighbours. In contrast to her cheerful exterior, she hides a big secret regarding her beloved daughter, Rei. She did not list Rei’s birth in the family register, and she has never told anyone about this, much less confessed the truth to Rei. Despite the remorse and regret that she constantly lives with, she is determined protect Rei to the end no matter how matters change. However, this time, because Rei has learnt about her situation, the strong bonds between mother and daughter start to fray. And the dreadful past that she was supposed to have put behind her as well as another secret that she never spoke of to anyone else, quietly and brutally attack her again … …[/spoiler]
Nakamura Aoi as Kusano Kota
[spoiler]A mysterious youth who lives alone in a cheaply-built apartment. He meets Tanizaki Rei when she goes to the ward office for advice on the application for social security. For some reason, he lends an ear to the exchanges between Rei and Kiyama Ryuichiro. Picking up on something which gets him strangely interested in Rei’s matter, he begins to check up on her after that … …[/spoiler]
Kaname Jun as Ayukawa Hiroki
[spoiler]A man with a fearless smile and a menacing expression who appears before Natsume Shusaku. He, for some reason, asks Natsume for money, and appears whenever he feels like it to take the cash. The appearance of this horrible man, derails the lives of Kiyama Ryuichiro, Tanizaki Rei and her mother … …[/spoiler]
Asada Miyoko as Tanizaki Kaori
[spoiler]Tanizaki Rei’s grandmother. Mother-in-law of Tanizaki Yoko. She thinks that her son’s marriage to Yoko doomed him, and hates her. She also has doubts about Rei’s birth and treats her harshly. She believes that her beloved son’s life would not have been derailed had Rei not been born.[/spoiler]
Kitaoji Kinya as Natsume Shusaku
[spoiler]A mysterious, regular customer who only comes to buy the apple pie that Tanizaki Rei bakes when Rei is in the store. At times, his gaze when he looks at Rei is more than that of a mere customer. He is an extremely mild and ordinary elderly man. However, his gaze when he looks at Ayukawa Hiroki is that of a person with profound hatred. He recently lost his wife and for the first time in his 63 years, he makes a major decision and sets foot in this town.[/spoiler]
source: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Iki_mo_Dekinai_Natsu
and http://jdramas.wordpress.com/2012/07/19 ... nai-natsu/
For reviews and recaps please check out wolforion20's site:
http://www.asianaddictsanonymous.com/tag/iki-mo-deikinai-natsu/
Anyway, I've seen the first two episodes and I liked them. I felt them to be quite lengthy at parts, but the plot was delivered really well. Here are some further thoughts
[spoiler]
So the main premise is of a young 19 year old girl who was not added to her family's registry. In the first episode we were left with lots of questions, but I am glad the second episode covered some of those questions well.
I for one could not imagine my reaction if I found something like this out. I initially thought it was a bit over dramatic, but after some thinking I can sympathize with Rei. Her life was just getting in order, and the person who could help her (her mom) was unwilling to help. I was pretty angry at the mom until episode 2 revealed that she was abused by her ex-husband.
So far there is no romantic interest between the two mains, so I am really interested to see how this works out. Kiyama has that...family, is it? He is also a guy who follows the rules, which I am sure has something to do with that incident from before. I don't think we quite know what that incident was?
Also we have that younger kid (online ID Whiskey Bourbon) who seems mysterious yet fitting for Rei as they both may be in the same situation. Although he is quite a creepy fellow as he follows Rei around.
And what is with the Grandmother and hating Rei? Jeez.
[/spoiler]
So what are your thoughts?
Takei Emi is brilliant.
