I'm not really a fan of live action drama, but heart-warming, slice-of-life which relates with a manga publisher?
YES!
The story started with Kurosawa Kokoro, who was Olympic Judo candidate but failed to continue her career in sports due to injury, went for an interview in a publisher named Kotoukan.
Hahahaha here is where I started laughing! That's what you called "love at first episode"~
Despite judo-flipping and pumping (a curious interviewer asked how many can she do in a time) during her interview, she got her job as editor for a weekly manga magazine named "Vibes"
Some may think actors Japanese dramas are over-acting.
Well since it makes me laugh I'll take it as a no.
The story let us to glimpse through the manga-publishing industry, from manga artist, editors, sales to booksellers.
This is one of the main reason for me to watch this show since I'm quite curious about that.
Besides, there are also scenes in Japanese bookstores.
Those big bookstores are kind of similar with Taiwan's (誠品 for example), while those small bookshops...well Malaysia seldom got those.
There's even a scene where they walked out from Kinokuniya (whooaa)
One day I'm gonna go to Japanese's bookshops! (but I can't even read Japanese?!?!)
The show even describes the wanting of shopping for books accurately~ *hugs*
Definitely a must-watch for mangas or even books lovers~♥
The protagonist, Kurosawa is a energized, optimistic kind of person.
She kind of remind me about Nodame to be honest. But instead of being talented in her field, she worked very very hard to achieve her goals.
And she love to smell books.
Hahahaha I can strongly related to this!!
Everybody needs encouragement sometimes, whether it's from friends, family or even yourself, and she's those kind of person who will give you a push while you're feeling depress.
Episode 2, Kurosawa learning about sales of their magazine by going out to promote manga with a salesman, Koizumi.
He's kind of good looking tho,but my sis said otherwise hmph.
And omg he has dimples asdfghjkl!!!
Koizumi was bored about his job, his life and basically a zombie-like person who lived his life aimlessly. Thus people nicknamed him 'Ghost' (幽灵）
But with a overactive and cheerful Kurosawa by his side, he's amazed by his partner's passion towards her task and her forwardness.
This changed his perspective and attitude towards his job, which changes his life subsequently.
I'm quite moved by a scene where Kurosawa kept encouraging Koizumi with her cute smile and overly positive attitude,
I feel that sometimes, especially during exams, when everybody wishes seemed like a formality to me.
Going for final exam?
"Good Luck"
"Gambateh~"
"Aiya you sure okay de!"
Despite the speaker's intention, it added up to a stress, when deep inside you believe you yourself just can't do it. Unable to do it and meet other's expectation.
Kurosawa's reply?
"For me...it makes me happy. If someone thinks tells me that, I think 'Alright, let's do our best!' "
……
"Everyone said 'Kokoro, do your best!' 'Do your best, we'll be cheering on you!'
They said it to me so much, I was so happy.
That's why I'll do my best and keep doing my best.
And for everyone who's cheered me up until now, I want them to be glad. "
In the end it's all about your own perspective.
Everyone needs Kurosawa's positiveness in their heart sometimes~♥ (btw did I mentioned her name is Kokoro? Ehehehe)
One of the main characteristics in Japanese dramas is they doesn't include much romance.
This drama just shows Koizumi's subtle interest in Kurosawa, like him disagreeing the rumour between Kurosawa and Yasui (another editor), or when him being shy and asdfghjkl when Kurosawa's being cute in front of him~
ROFL it's so easy to spread rumours in office (same with school tho)
THEY'RE SO CUTE TOGETHER!!!
Next, Iokibe-san.
Iokibe is the deputy editor in chief in Vibes, who's also in charge of teaching Kurosawa to become an editor.
Calm, smart, nice hair, kind-hearted...asdfghjklHE'SSOCOOL!!
Kurosawa saw him as a mentor and role model, and sought for his suggestion whenever she's in doubt.
Kurosawa once met a girl named Agarie who wanted to become a manga artist, but despite Agarie's beautiful drawings, Kurosawa denied Agarie's names (Name: draft sketch of the manga), wanting her to redraw again and again because Agarie's lack of story telling ability.
Agarie's felt gloominess grew, fearing that she won't even had a chance to debut, she quickly accepted an offer of drawing manga for a popular novel, given by another editor Yasui, instead of having Kurosawa as her editor.
……
Hahahahaha!!!
After losing Agarie the newbie manga artist to Yasui, Kurosawa said she wished Iokibe was Agarie's editor instead of her because Iokibe is much more experienced and "able to say the right words to encourage her".
But Iokibe refute her statement, saying that the meeting of editor and manga artist is due to fate.
She's sooo cuteee nonono don't cry!! *hugs*
Iokibe explained his good deeds to Kurosawa with his weird belief where he learnt from their publisher's president.
'Luck can be accumulated'.
If you do good things, your luck increases, in the other hand doing bad things decreases your luck.
If you're feeling unlucky, you may also be piling up your luck, where you're going to use it in future, in a more crucial and bigger event.
Hmm that's why I always can't score well in mock exams, cause instead of mock exam I was using my luck for the final exam. (eh?!)
Even Kurosawa and Koizumi were fangirling over Iokibe hahahaha~~♥
There are many other characters, and they all play some important role to the story even though this is just a ten episode drama.
The realist, Yasui, who only deals with manga artist who have the chances to increase the sales instead of giving opportunity to newbies.
lol his profile picture!!!!
You can often see him scrolling his facebook and updating his twitter during work.
Besides, he doesn't do overtime job and refuse to answer his calls during holidays because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Well...episode 6 revealed that the realist was once a dreamer too, but his focus on work nearly cost him his family (his daughter cried herself to sleep because her dad forgot her birthday, and his wife was disappointed at him), and the magazine he worked so hard ended up discontinuation due to decreasing sales.
"Work isn't something to dream about."
Hot-headed editor in chief Wada, who's really passionate about his baseball team.
Same with his career. Kind of 中二 too.
Wait what??!?!?
Apparently he's not good at Excel...
Cheif of sales Oka Eiji. Sometimes he would had arguments with Wada, but their friendship was actually quite good among the colleagues.
Next, Nakata Haku, a guy who had been abused by his mother during his childhood.
He drew manga without learning from anyone else, which gave him individualistic in his works, but he needed to improve his drawings in order to debut.
He was kinda anti social and lack of confidence, and ill temper in front of elderly women due to his childhood.
However, Kurosawa saw through his talent and refuse to gave up on him even though his temper was hard to deal with. After practicing, his drawing improved and finally made a debut.
In the end he even got a serialization.
These should be monsters that project one's fear but omg these are sooo cute~
♪
One of the best drama I've ever watched. ♥
