Drama Digest
“Jitenshaya-san no Takahashi-kun” is a 2022 Japanese drama. It tells the love story between Hano Tomoko, a 30-year-old office worker, and Takahashi Ryohei, who runs a bicycle shop. The show is adapted from a manga series of the same name, written by Matsumushi Arare.
The Feel-Good Part
This story is a soft romance type and is simple and easy to understand. It gives slice-of-life vibes with excellent character development. It is mesmerizing to watch how the two lead characters support each other and help each grow. They change each other’s life unknowingly. There is a perfect balance between sweet and sour moments. The story is similar to old Jdramas in the 90s which are usually warm, slow, and often natural. There are no overdramatic plots, twists, and turns to confuse it. It is pleasant, with a few touching scenes. It focuses on serious topics in an honest way. The production and editing are exciting and contain a few memorable dialogues.
The Disappointing Factor
The disappointing factor about the drama is that it is a bit deceptive. There is no closure on a few serious topics that were introduced, such as Ryohei’s relationship with his old man. There is not enough background information to unravel that part. Besides, the short length of the show made fans craving for more. Since there is only one episode available, the sequence was not enough to tell the whole story. The backgrounds of Tomoko, and Ryohei also did not receive enough focus. The pacing is unbalanced and relatively slow.
In-Depth Analysis
Tomoko Hano is a shy office lady. She is kind and finds it difficult to refuse people. Her working environment is toxic, and that leads to her low confidence. She met Ryohei, who is delinquent looking. Ryohei fixes her bicycle once and as they spend time together, her lack of confidence starts to heal out of his intense caring. Ryohei’s looks portray him as a scary person, but in reality, he has a soft core. Koki works in the same company as Tomoko and wants to court her. So, he asks her out. Koki is of the same age as Tomoko, and has a bright personality; they also belong to the same place, Tokyo. In the same company, there is Sato, Tomoko’s best friend, who is always there for her and they deal with their boss together.
Star Power
Uchida Rio, who acted as Hano Tomoko, served her character well. Her display of emotions was excellent. She portrayed the character of a frail, shy 30-year-old woman and changed her expressions with situations excellently. Suzuki Nobuyuki did an incredible performance as Ryohei. He played the Yankee, young guy role gracefully. The support also did not lack glamour. All the actors did an excellent performance.
Overall Opinion
Overall it is a soft romance show that is short and does not need much investment. It is a relaxing drama that can be watched anytime and finished simultaneously. The appearance might be deceptive, but the content is better. There are many meaningful messages as dialogues throughout the show. There is no unnecessary drama or plot twist that makes it confusing. It is worth watching.
