Fan reviews: Tokyo Love Story

ester_grace · 25 Dec 2010

I like this drama but not the ending.,like the cheerful riika too.

Sajen16 · 16 Sep 2010

well I couldn't the shadows in the beginning song give away who he ends up with and after reading reviews to find out if I'm right I discover that while Yuji Oda's character does date Honami's wonderful character for a while he eventually dumps her for a woman who has the personality of a dead goldfish so I could only watch the first two episodes in order to not break my screen out of frustration and anger

MonsterZero65 · 15 Aug 2010

I think for many people this will always be one of the most important dramas as it really changed the face of jdorama with it's creation. A great story and amazing cast. I will always remember this drama.

Tha Rani · 16 Dec 2008

This is the first dorama i've ever watched..
Actually, i don't like the ending (hiks.. hiks..), but for a whole story is great.. i like it so much..
never forget Rika Akana and Kanji Nagao.. ^_^

8thSin · 21 Aug 2008

I tend to like dorama series in late 90s to early 00s the most, but Tokyo Love Story was very enjoyable for me.
Suzuki Honami was incredible, it's impossible to not like her cheerful and energetic character. She's criminally cute!
Even Oda Yuuji's acting was decent.

There were just so many great memorable scenes in this series and I really connected with Rika that it made me cry watching the final episode with all those flashbacks.

I would've liked to see Rika and Kanchi get together in the end, but I guess it's all about lost opportunities and it shows that timing is everything in romance. Or maybe I'm just too spoiled with happy endings in all the recent dorama series.
Still, the ending was deep and satisfying in its own way. This series is truly a masterpiece, and I'll never forget it.

Serious renai dorama seemed to just disappear after 2003 or 2004. I hope they'll make them again one day .

makkumatr · 3 Aug 2008

I finally managed to watch this drama having wanted to see it for years. The plot was more original than I expected. Suzuki Honami's character is a bit irritating/fake at times, but her acting is brilliant. On the other hand, Oda Yuji's acting was downright pathetic with a perennial frown on his face.
But the last few episodes were wonderful to watch and the ending is just superb and touching.
And what can I say about the theme song by Oda Kazumasa, I could watch a drama just to hear his song play!

shanghai_honey · 26 Jun 2008

After hearing so much about this supposedly 'classic drama', I watched it with high expectations. Boy, was I let down. What a tepid love story with unlikeable characters that made me feel like killing them all. Oda Yuji's character is such a wishy washy man who doesn't deserve a spirited woman like Rika. He and Satomi should just get together already from day one and spare others the pain.

Wynter · 25 Mar 2008

Ugh.

I usually pride myself in the fact that I have an open mind and I can usually understand why directors/writers make the choices they do when dealing with characters, plot, and storyline.

I must have been really close-minded when watching this drama. It started off great. I normally enjoy Oda Yuji, and after I got over the initial shock of watching a drama older than Ifm used to, I started to enjoy the performances by the other artistes – especially that of Suzuki Honami. Shefs managed to portray one of the most memorable characters Ifve come across in my drama-watching career. She instantly drew me in and her characterfs relationship with Odafs really sparked my interest. This drama had a great balance between romance, comedy, and angst. I like how it dealt with mature feelings and circumstances. Up until perhaps the eighth episode everything was going smoothly, until I slowly began to realize that Oda was slowly turning into a jerk and that the emotional rise given by the story was false and cruel. The way the drama ended completely shattered my perfect ending.

To be fair, it wasnft necessarily a horrendous ending. But it wasnft the ending that I wanted and for some reason I canft get over this. Tokyo Love Story is a great drama until the end, which completely ruins it for all Akana-fans. Bah.

O, and Arimori Narimi was a great peeve of mine. As was Eguchifs hair. But Arimori moreso. There.

jdluvr · 18 Feb 2008

Last night I would've given this a 3-5 but I slept on it (badly) after ep. 7 and after watching ep. 8, 9 etc I'm looking at it with a more mature eye. I watch a lot of these JDrama's because they give me what I want from life and so rarely get - perfection. Regardless I won't give any spoiler.... but I do love Rika. Her sweetness can't be tarnished. And ironically I even think Mikami is an OK guy at this point. Boy did my opinions change about him (and Kanji, though I don't hate him). I think I'll read the spoilers (lightly) for my next few JDrama to make sure I pick the kind I have to have. Because while beautiful in many ways, this one wasn't it for me. I can't take that kind of plot. It's too much like my own life. Which isn't the worst; I'd just like it to be a little more like a happy dream...

Ja ne

A_rika · 14 Feb 2008

This is actually my first drama I watched when i was just a little girl and it got me into watching j dramas up until now.

A real classic - real life - love story. I thought the ending was great eventhough for some it's unsatisfying.

So, if you haven't watch it...it is highly recommended.

Rika Akana · 5 Mar 2007

This is one of the best dorama that i've ever watched. I like Rika Akana character. I really love...love..love this dorama

anna_tran · 20 May 2006

We can now look back to the 90's as the golden age for Japanese doramas: Tokyo Love Story, Long Vacation, 101st Marriage Proposal, etc...

The story is about a 5-way relationship involving multiple break-ups and making ups between 5 different people. I would not classify the conversation nor the plot as especially deep or meaningful; however, the actress made the difference. Honami Suzuki became a house-hold name from her portrayal of a cheerful but sad, strong but weak, selfless and selfish girl. I can't but stop crying watching the multiple love stories involved.

The story is almost perfect, but also has some major plot holes (e.g. for example, surely, Kanchi would have a chance to see Rita again before her real move to LA even though he missed the train)... Watch this drama with your heart, not with your brain.

There are a few other things I don't quite understand. I certainly would have not reacted like the people in the drama did, but then my life would not be interesting enough to be made a story :-)

True love eventually will find each other; true love conquers all.

k4g0me · 9 Apr 2006

What is up with these unfair horrible endings...first i had to put up with the crappy ending to moto kare...then...the crappy ending to Heaven's Coins....and now this?!?!?!

What is up with these indecisive / spineless men? Total waste of time. Ended up fast forwarding because I could stand to watch Kanji with that ugly ass Sekiguchi or whatever her name was. Good Grief...and this was one of the best dramas in Japan??

wanderingfish7 · 7 Apr 2006

This is a legendary drama. I love it and have watched it at least 5 times. This is the drama for the collections.

andosatoshi · 21 Oct 2005

i love J-Dorama just fr this plays~~

jo · 19 May 2005

I watched this because people who wrote in the LOVE GENERATION section said this was the original one, the classic drama where the writers copied the story from, well, I don't think so, It was a completely different story, can't predict what would happen next, I was even assuming the story was like Love Generation, and started guessing what's gonna happen next but I was always wrong no similarities not even close, nothing similar between the two, except maybe that Rika Akana and Riko Usuegi(LG) are both cheerful persons. Good in some parts, boring in some, bad and repetetive on some. It's like going over and over again over mindless shallow things. Still, I kinda love the character of Suzuki Honami. Don't like the male character , ending sucks, not something that can keep you watching or remember forever. Good acting and good theme song though. So I give it a B-

CAPTAINKOUDA · 1 Nov 2004

i have watch more 1000 of j-dramas
it is the best one.

DragonSpirit164 · 12 Apr 2004

This is seriously good. I was a bit unsure at first because of the age of the drama, but now I see why it is revered by all. IMO, this is the storyline inspiration for the spectacularly successful Love Generation, as a lot of similarities can be seen. SUPERB acting by Suzuki Honami as Rika in this drama, converting me into an instant fan. She is SOOO cute and vibrant in the show, always keeping her head up and never upset for more than a while. I really felt for her throughout the show, because to matter how hard she tried, Kanchi (Oda Yuji) never really warmed to her. Moreover, he was a complete jerk to her at times.. The theme song for the show was really brilliant as well as it suited the drama down to the T.

All in all, an excellent drama and a must for all to enjoy.

kook05 · 7 Apr 2004

The ending was too sad! Felt so heartbroken for Rika. =(
Was really irritated with Kanchi for being so wishy-washy sometimes.
Love the theme song by Oda Kazumasa and Tenderly (Theme for Rika) by Hinata Toshifumi.

flaunder · 23 Jun 2003

a timeless classic but the ending is really very sad not disappointing i guess cos i think s'times it does bring out the reality in this world that life is not always a bed of roses....