Fan reviews: Long vacation

janas · 16 Mar 2007

my favorite... I donLt know exactly why but I love it... EVERYTHING in this show is really good.

kenzou_tenma · 24 Feb 2007

I thought it was good, but in the end the story just seems to drag along. The main problem of the series is that sometimes it is too cheesy and the best is that it portrays the relationship between people very well

blossomz · 20 Feb 2007

This is one of the greatest classic japanese series of all time, the music was catchy, the peformances were excellent and never kept you boring for long. Although it was an older series but still very good. Highly recommended to all viewers.

The part at the end was magnificent, it had a happy ending which is what I expected and waited for. Although Matsu and Kimutaku would have made a good couple, this series still turned out great.

Wynter · 1 Feb 2007

I donft know how to start this review, so let me highlight some of my favourite moments:

The very last scene of Episode 8 when Sena watches Minami walk away after saying goodbyec gosh! This one scene alone establishes the love he feels for her, and how lonely life will be like without her. Itfs no longer about their age difference, or their current situations. Itfs about the lack, yet need, of and for each other. Itfs the small things like this that make this drama a cut above the others.

For example, although you never hear Sena play the piano completely (until you get near the end of the drama), you are totally convinced that he loves it. Or the look he gets in Episode 9 when Minami plays a song for him on the piano, and his tears start to fallc you just donft need the words to convince you. The answers are all in the eyes of the characters.

The script in this show was AMAZING! Very good writing. I mean, the conversation Minami and Sena have about their relationship a day or two after they make love seemed so real and unscripted. It was painful to watch because it seemed so raw. I was completely convinced that I was playing the voyeur in a very intimate scene | thatfs how real it was.

There are parts, like in the middle of the series, when the pacing gets a bit too slow and an episode or two passes without anything really happening. But itfs not until the end when you realize just how important these empty episodes are, because although there is very little action, they represent the passing of timec time in which feelings start to blossom.

Ifve always been a fan to Kimurafs, but Ifve now become a hardcore of fan of Yamaguchi Tomoko as well. So much so, that Ifve started downloading another drama just because shefs in it! Ifve also fallen in love with Yutaka. Ifve seen Inamori Izumi in Pretty Girls, and she plays a similar role in this drama, but she was the perfect gwiseh comic relief. Her answering machine messages made me laugh until my stomach hurt.

All-in-all, this was an amazing drama and highly recommended.

8thSin · 7 Jan 2007

This is the most charming, fun, and heartwarming series I've ever seen. Kimura and Yamaguchi's chemistry was perfect.

shari · 21 Dec 2006

Another winner from Kitagawa Eriko who also wrote Orange Days. Kimura does a good job as the desillusioned pianist, but he doesn't quite hold it to co-star Yamagushi Tomoko. He's got trouble expressing emotions with his face and often uses mannerisms that become irritating. The ending doesn't do justice to the quality of this show.

duckboat · 10 Oct 2006

I know everyone loves this Drama and I feel the same way.
The story was very simple and beautifully portrayed by Tomoko and Takuya. Tomoko was and still remains one of the best actresses ever for Jdorama's. Every song in the drama was very well selected and created a great upbeat atmosphere for the show. What made the Drama for me was that it did not seem like they we acting at all, everything seemed to flow so naturally. And I have to give props to the rest of the cast too, they all did an amazing job portraying their characters. My only grip would be to Takako, She seemed a bit to innocent to me, I guess there are girls out there that dont have their first kiss until 23 or 24 but I find it hard to believe a character as beautiful would wait that long. Anybody that likes Jdorama's you have to see this one, it is not a choice, you must watch it.

lov_aya85 · 2 Sep 2006

I wonder why some people rating this drama so high??? Are thet vote bcoz of Takuya?? Vote for quality!! a bored drama.i keep fowarding when i watching.We can predict what happen after that..

aznpride26 · 14 Apr 2006

kimutaku and yamaguchi tomoko at their best! this is my all time favorite drama! its great! its funny and enjoyable. kimutaku's character, sena is very cool and sweet while minami is very spontaneous and enjoyable. what do you get when you put them together? the best drama ever!

Shindou · 5 Apr 2006

One of the few doramas I'd call a masterpiece. Tomoko's acting was definitely outstanding and the rest of the all-star cast played their roles quite convincingly. The music in this jdorama is very well selected and well used throughout all the episodes. While the story was not uncommon, the cast brought the characters to life in a very classy manner. A great ending as well, bravo!!

Catono Minamoto · 20 Mar 2006

this was a very good drama. the perfect japanese drama for takuya kimura.. even this quite old but i still like this.. the best drama.

youhei_mito · 19 Feb 2006

watched this drama quite some time ago, but it really is one of the best dramas around (too bad it's outdated for this age). it has a nice storyline, great cast (ahem, kimura made his name thru this one), great soundtrack.

all in all, it's a great story about an aspiring pianist tolerating a free-loader woman who's a few years older than him. the relationship is tolerable despite their age differences coz they really do look good together :)

fhanggi · 9 Feb 2006

One of the first dorama's i watched and still the best so far. I never get sick of watching this one. It's a great love story that brings accross the emotions and feelings of the two main characters better than any other dorama i've seen. A must see dorama!

InuStar · 5 Feb 2006

Probably my favourite Japanese drama...
and the main reason for that lies in the wonderful ending. A lot of shows that I watch are great, but fumble the ending. This one though I thought nailed it. And then of course there's Kimura. He's just fun to watch...

Kana Bana · 15 Jan 2006

this is a classic!
It should be #1, can't believe stupid Summer Snow is above this.

kiimura+akuya · 8 Jan 2006

bought in malaysia in 2005.. this playback of kimura's youth time had made me even more in love with this cutie.. the short clip after the end credits was pretty humorous.. perfect drama which just suits the eyes..

zhixiong · 2 Dec 2005

Similar to GTO (1998), Long Vacation (1996) is a timeless masterpiece. I personally find dorama produced in the 1990s are much better. In a month's time, Long Vacation will be 10 years old!

nickpoliseno · 19 Oct 2005

This is a fabulous drama with a rich storyline and excellent acting. It creates such an interest in the character you feel like youn want life to work out for them so much that your heart will break if it doesn't end happily. Along with Pride it is my favorite Kimura Takuya drama who is simply a great actor, not just an incredibly handsome man. He play so many different roles with such believability that you feel he has become his character. The music is also quite beautiful and the ending is really nice. Don't miss it, it's great!!!!!

shanghai_honey · 26 Sep 2005

Long Vacation remains to this day my favorite Jdorama of all time. The story, the cast, the OST, the pop culture influence it created - it is simply a classic. The story is simply but very moving and certain scenes left a deep impression on me, especially the conversations between Sena and Minami. Long Vacation is an apt title to describe where the main characters are at - it's about the period of time when people come at a crossroad and they're lost about what to do with themselves. The chemistry between Takuya Kimura and Tomoko Yamaguchi is simply spectacular and untoppable. Tomoko makes her character very fascinating with her bursts of energetic intensity and moments of vulnerability. Takuya shows his true depth as an actor here with his touching portrayal of Sena. Two thumbs WAY UP!

coolbreeze · 8 Aug 2005

Great acting and the characters they played by Takuya Kimura and Tomoko Yamaguchi. Takuya suits very well with his matured character and Tomoko plays her role as if she's having a blast. The supporting actress Izumi Inamori is great as well. But I think Yutaka Takenouchi is kind of lanky in his role.