Fan reviews: Tokyo Wankei

iluvasiandrama · 29 Mar 2011

Certain scenes with the lead actress really irritated me. I won't give spoiler but those parts drove me nuts. Otherwise, this was a very good drama about love standing the test of time :)

Replicant · 1 May 2009

Great drama!!! It has made me a new fan of Nakama Yukie. I love her here. And I think that everyone who cares about Japan-Korea relationships must see this drama by all means. It's really awesome!

Tukata · 16 Mar 2008

I love this drama. The best part of it is a strong chemistry between Wada & Nakama which leads to a beautiful and touching love story....

Wynter · 7 Jan 2007

Okay, I realize there are a lot of stupid issues with this drama. To begin with, it really annoyed me how Mikafs motherfs story began in the EXACT same way as hers. I mean, the boyfriends even had the same lines, with the EXACT words. I know they were trying to show how Mikafs chance meeting with Ryosuke was similar to her motherfs tragic love (who happens to be Ryosukefs own father), but to make it that exact just ruined the reality of the coincidence (or fate) of the situation. Also, the fact that Mika and Ryosuke fell in love at the end of the second episode, far too quickly after they met, was also unrealistic. It felt really rushed and there wasnft enough ground for their relationship. It felt like Mika was forcing herself to fall in love simply because she wanted to feel what her mother had felt, and Ryosuke was conveniently available.

It was also annoying how the Diary entries revealed throughout the duration of the show served only to shadow the incidents in the main love story. For example, Ryosuke is asked to go to Korea, and asks Mika to go with him. She pulls out her motherfs diary and TA DAA! Therefs an entry where her mother and boyfriend went to Korea. This happens a lot and itfs dumb. It takes away from the actual power of the Diary itself.

And lets not forget the melodrama. I mean, they go off to Korea, and the same day Ryosukefs mother randomly goes mental, and Inoue is randomly stabbed in the back. After episode 7, things just went downhill at an abrupt pacec from being siblings, to introducing a third lover, to getting amnesia, Kamiyafs book being published out of thin air, Ryosuke learning Korean over night, even Mikafs seeming indifference to the fact that she has an estranged father and a brother shefs never metc

Soc I KNOW and can see the many issues this drama hasc and yet I still canft dislike it. I mean, I donft necessarily love it, but I donft dislike it. And I canft dislike it because I find Mikafs situation so much like my own. Her problem about not really knowing who she is, because of her culture clashing with her birthplacec clashing with everything she knowsc when all she wants is to marry a man who will love her for who she is, just as she as, and not because of where shefs from or where she lives. This is me exactly. Because of this, no matter its faults, I find that I liked Tokyo Wankeifs story. I could relate to the plot, and to Mika. Regardless.

shari · 21 Dec 2006

Nakama Yukie shines again, this time in a dramatic role. Her co-star What's-His-Name-Again is just as good, and the chemistry between these two unlikely characters works really well. The end is disappointing, especially if you've watched Winter Sonata. The parallels will make you shake your head and cluck your tongue.

AppleTree · 21 Aug 2006

Love this drama. A different take on JDramas, and leaving a good feeling after watching it.

Susan · 12 Aug 2006

It truly was my destiny to watch this series, and I'm glad that it came into my life! At times I was lifted up to great heights of joy, and at others I was plunged into trepidation and sorrow. But the ending made the series well worth my patience. Sometimes it was obvious and cheesy, but when you look at the whole picture, it was brilliant. Nakama Yukie was simply beautiful, although I'm used to seeing her in comedic roles. For her fans, and fans of J-Drama in general, this is a series to watch!

shinshin · 19 Jul 2006

I was always torn between korean and japanese dramas. Both have different styles: kdramas are more romantic and jdramas are all about action and complexity. Tokyo Wankei gave me a combination of both, the best of both worlds. I was just surprised how much kdrama elements they've adapted in this drama, making me wish that jdramas should be a bit more like this.

On a side note, I feel sorry for Nakamura Shunsuke. I'd take him any day!

noodlefreak · 17 Mar 2006

I probably will never forget that quote from this drama...
It seems like a lot of people didn't like this drama very much. It was actually pretty good in my opinion. First, I really like Nakama Yukie and this was the first time I saw her playing a serious, romantic person type role. (Previously, I watched her as quirky yamada and yankumi XD) Anyway, the story was okay. I got teary eyed in a few of the episodes. Some parts were a bit boring though...sorry. But I liked how they tied in her story with the mothers, and how the couple didn't care about cultural differences that many in Japan were concerned with. Some parts were slow, but overall it wasn't bad.

Davered · 26 Dec 2005

My first drama...and also the worst...Poor acting and script.I didnLt even wanted to know whatLs gonna happen in next eps.And finally-the story twists are too predictable...

aoi_hana · 26 Sep 2005

I'm not really sure why this drama has so many bad reviews. I guess no one will like everything.

Anyway, I think this is a really great drama - Yukie Nakama and Wada Toshihiro look really great together and you really root for them. It did remind me of a few other Korean dramas I've seen, but that is neither a negative or positive thing.

Overall, most of the characters are likeable and the ones who are not, are excellent actors. Might be a little bit slow to some, but I couldn't wait to finish it. ^_^

chin5 · 18 Jun 2005

this drama for me combines "wishes" and "realities", fate and love transcending all bounderies. can this real happen? is fate something that we cannot evade, despite and inspite of all odds?--- i loved this drama, if only for the chemistry of wada and yukie. i am from a different culture and is not familiar if this kind of romance between korean and japanese is indeed possible-but if only for the love story, i find it unique and very heartwarming.

UWFShooter · 19 Mar 2005

I have seen reverse-Cinderella type dramas before (Only You Aisarete, Bus Stop, Yamato Nadeshiko...), but Tokyo Wankei is all the more enjoyable because of the cultural-difference factor. For the first time I can truly say that Yukie Nakama deserves to be a leading lady. Wada, despite his unassuming demeanor throughout (think Mitsuhiro Oikawa without the posing), comes through as a good, but not great, lead. (Is he another Takeshi Kaneshiro who only does movies?) Anyway, the supporting cast is good, particularly Ryuta Sato as Mika's good Japanese friend and Toru Nakamura, a behind-the scenes supporter. Not the greatest drama of the season, but you won't be much disappointed.

momo_chan · 24 Jan 2005

i was suprised! i watched this because nakama yuki was in it, but it was suprisingly boreing. sure it was touching at frist but come on, they repeated the same thing over and over again. in the midle i was like "k, i get the point, so sad,"
~momo~

Hibiki-san · 28 Aug 2004

Since the plot dealt with Zainichi Nihonjin, I thought it would be really interesting and contreversial. Sadly, it's neither. It's just another cookie cutter romance drama, and it doesn't even succeed at that since the new leads have NO chemistry whatsoever. The only reason to sit through is Yukie Nakama, who's at the top of her game as usual.

totuta · 26 Aug 2004

might look just sloppy to non-korean or non-japanese people. but this drama talks about the korean-japanese thing in real detail. it's not just about making quick bucks, but about the theme which has been constantly said & written by many korean-japanese writers like, Yu Miri. I can feel that the staff is making this one very seriously. I heard that the writer is writing the script without getting any money from the TV station.( 'cause she herself had experienced a love with Korean-japanese)

Yes, the storyline is a bit sloppy in Korean style, but many koreans things(hardly noticeable to non-koreans) are nicely woven into the plot of this drama.

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added after eps 10
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turned out to be disappointing.

icpmat · 24 Aug 2004

this resembles the Korean melodramas way way way too much!!! Even down to the tinist detail - eg those frame that Nakamura Shunsuke wears - doesn't that remind you of Bae Yong Jun (in winter sonata)?!! and those twists in the plot! (not much of a surprise if you've seen a few korean dramas). Overall it feels like a cheap production of the TV station trying to make a quick buck out of the Korean boom there is in Japan now.

Having said that, it's not entirely bad package though. The male lead is visually pleasing, and the theme songs are not bad.