Drama Digest
Ueda Hisashi directed the mini-series Toshishita Kareshi. There are 20 lighthearted little romance stories in the collection. Because the romance stories in the drama are between young boys and older ladies, the title is also known as ‘Younger Boyfriend.’ The young males’ ages range from elementary school to high school. While the guys’ love interests are older than they are, The drama’s relationship scenarios are pretty novel to observe, featuring pairs such as a young schooler and a teacher. The first episode features Onishi Ryusei as Takumi with his girlfriend Risa chan. The hilarious misunderstanding between the couple and how it gets solved. Another story is of Yagi Atsushi who falls in love with his teacher. Other main lead characters are Ryo, Shiratori, Hibari Tomoya, Yamamura Akira, Yohei, Kanzaki Koichi etc. Watch ‘Toshishita Kareshi,’ a delightful mini-drama.
The Feel-Good Part
The love situations are well-written and enjoyable. The romance is a lighthearted bit cheesy. After each episode, the main characters bid their goodbyes to the viewers with a casual love note. Every story is simple yet eventually satisfying.
The Disappointing Factor
While the romance is good in the stories, the stories are very short in length, which reduces engagement with the plot. The runtime is remarkably too short for a story. Some romantic occasions appear inappropriate and cringy given the ages of the male leads with older women. The ending and characterization of some accounts do not correspond with the title ‘Younger Boyfriend.’
In-Depth Analysis
The drama’s concept is opposed to the traditional romance between two people of similar ages. The majority of the characters in the episodes are everyday people. The series’ light note is to accept love. Everybody should act on it rather than worry about the outcome. The characters do not appear to hide their feelings and express them casually to their love interests, seemingly unconcerned about their age or society’s mindset. Every character in the story accepts the romance and continues on their fateful path. The ending always leaves the viewers on a happy note.
Star Power
The male cast members are members of the groups ‘Naniwa Boys,’ ‘Ah! Group,’ and ‘Lil Kansai,’ all of which are under the umbrella of ‘Kansai Johnny Jr.’ The cast members are new and young, yet they did a decent job portraying their different characters.
Overall Opinion
While the stories aren’t particularly masterpiece, the concept of ‘Younger Boyfreind’ or ‘Toshishita Kareshi’ is appealing enough to capture public attention. The romantic scenarios are almost unintentionally endearing. Overall, the series does a decent job of entertaining viewers.
