Drama Digest
Dasada is a show that stars the members of the idol group Hinatazaka46. The story follows Yuria Sada and her band of classmates. Not much happens in school, and they are bored for the most part. One day Yuria Sada finds out that her parents are in heavy debt and are about to lose their dressmaking store. The price of their debt? They have to pay ten million yen within six months. With the help of her classmate and friend Saori Shinohara, Yuria decides to battle her problems by creating a fashion brand called “DASADA” to repay all the debt her parents own. What will happen when the girls start the business? What hurdles do they have to cross? What will they endure along the way? Watch the show and find out.
The Feel-Good Part
The show is a fun venture into acting for the members of Hinatazaka46. They manage to pull off an excellent performance with spectacular acting and on-screen chemistry. The show is a pretty wholesome yet exciting story. The show follows a girl who’s about to lose it all, and through the power of fashion and friendship, she can regain it back. There are great lessons taught by the show, such as friendship, hard work, determination, passion, and having a clear idea of how you want to tackle a situation. It teaches young people that no matter how grave the problem, with all these facets in check, you can overcome it. Aside from the great themes, the tension created within the show provides some of the most heartfelt and emotionally intense moments that genuinely add to the show’s greatness. Our main character also goes through a massive change from the show’s start to the end. She starts as an airhead and slowly transforms into a hardworking and loveable person.
The Disappointing Factor
Some of the decisions made by the main character are a bit odd. It does not make sense why you would fix a failing fashion company by starting another fashion company. An easier route would be to draw attention to the failing company and select that one. But then again, this show is catered to a younger audience, so some of the decisions might not mirror daily life decisions. Overall the show seems a bit childish and vanilla, but considering the targeted audience, it makes sense that it does not have a little bit of edge to it. Another letdown of the show is that while it uses the members of Hinatazaka46, a lot of the talent gets wasted as the central focus of the show mainly falls upon the two main characters i.e., Yuria and Saori. But even with the little screen time they have, they manage to shine in their own right.
In-Depth Analysis
It is not uncommon for dramas and movies to cast an entire girl group or band in one movie. The concept seems to be used quite well in the Asian entertainment world, so those who primarily enjoy western cinema may find it a bit odd. The script is simple, the show is uplifting, and it makes for a great show that everyone can enjoy regardless of whether you’re a fan of Hinatazaka46 or not.
Star Power
Yoshida Erika and Akimoto Yasushi screen wrote the show and give the show the light-hearted nature that makes it so good. Yoshida Erika screen wrote several projects such as Black Cinderella: Graduation Edition, Oz Land, Hana Nochi Hare: HanaDan Next Season, Love Lies, and more. Akimoto Yasushi, otherwise known as AKI-P, is the father of the AKB48 projects, which launched the female idol group AKB48. He also screen wrote for several projects such as Anata no Ban Desu, Janai Hou no Kanojo, Kyouen NG, and more. Perhaps the highest star power in this show is the members of Hinatazaka46, who all make a varied range of appearances in the drama, such as Kato Shiho, Ushio Sarina, Saito Kyoko, and others. Our two central girls, however, are Watanabe Miho and Kosaka Nao who play Saori and Yuria, respectively. The two have great chemistry and deliver n excellent acting performance with really emotional beats. Kosaka Nao starred in the Japanese Horror movie called Horror Doll. Watanabe Minho has starred in several dramas such as Re:Mind, Hoshi ni Naritakatta Kimi to, and Koeharu!
Overall Opinion
The show is light-hearted, fun, at times, silly, and a great watch all around. The show has a great ability to tell a fun story and utilize its cast of characters to the fullest. Once you start this show, you will find something to enjoy.
