Fan reviews: Virgin Road

Isabelle · 14 Aug 2012

Not long ago I was asked why I love Japanese dramas so much. I answered that it's because they're different from what I'm used to. The American dramas always have complex stories and a lot of sex, everyone ending up in bed together. Latin-American soaps have confusion over parenthood, a lot of shouting and passion. All are predictable and after a while boring. What I failed to say was that I always learned something from Japanese dramas. So, the question is, what did I learn from "Virgin Road"?

I have learned many things from this drama. First of all, I learned what it means to be a father. I always knew from experience that being a father not only meant donating a sperm, but careing. Kissing bruised knees. A father is someone who loves his daughter unconditionally. Someone who stands beside her no matter what. The same goes for a family. A family is a group of people who love each other unconditionally, blood not being an issue.

I also learned that mothers are the strongest people in the world. I have a great love for mine and I always knew that she was strong, but this drama pointed out for me that if I am to become one myself, I have to be strong. Becoming a mother is a solitary journey in a way. You become one in yourself, apart from others. They can help you, but eventually, it is your own path.
Furthermore, I learned about the true meaning of two Japanese phrases. When they come home, they say "tadaima" and the other, who are already there, say "okaerinasai" in return. When translating, they mean "I'm back/home" and "welcome back/home". However, the most basic rule of any translation is that when we just look at the words, the true meaning behind them may disappear. So the difficult part is giving their true meaning back. "Tadaima" "I'm home", "okaerinasai" "welcome home". This drama points out the home aspect of these phrases and that someone actually says it. Having a home where there are people waiting for you to come back, that is what these phrases are truly about. Having people; your family to go back to.
People who want you to come back is a wonderful thing that you really only appreciate if no one can say "okaerinasai" to you anymore, or if no one ever said it to you. If you are not one of these people, then this drama makes you realise just how lucky you really are. For those people, who have no one to hear "Okaerinasai" from, you learn that some day you may unexpectedly find people who will want you to come home. That you will find a home with people who love you. Once I heard a sappy English song in a cartoon that still rings true in my heart and this drama made me think of. It went like "A house full of love is a home". Home is in the heart. It's not and address.

This all being said, what is this drama really about? There is a woman, Kazumi, who becomes pregnant. She's determined to have her child, but is afraid that once her father learns that the father is not around, he will make her abort it. That is not something she wants, so she enlists the help of Kaoru, a man she meets on the plane home, to play the role of the father. It is quite obvious that they will fall for each other. Is it obvious that they can be together? No, it is not. Will they end up together? Only the last episode will tell. In the process they teach us and each other many lessons, grow up a lot and learn some secrets. Through it all, the clock is ticking, the baby is growing in Kazumi. The drama itself keeps you on the edge about who will lead Kazumi down the 'virgin road' in the end.

This may be an old drama, made in 1997, and in somewhat a poor condition. The hairs look funny and the clothes baggy, but what it says is timeless and after a while, you no longer notice the not perfect quality of the picture, but you just want to know how it ends. So ignore that if you may be put off in the beginning, because the drama is well-worth watching.

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MonsterZero65 · 15 Aug 2010

I loved this odd little romantic drama. I will sound like an old man saying this but it really has a classic feel to it that most recent dramas lack. They really take time and effort to make you care about the characters and it works in this drama.

MonsterZero-65 · 13 Nov 2009

Let's face it the plot os pretty odd and it sounds like it would not be very good but the great cast and it turns into a wodnerful romantic drama that is a pleasure to watch.

Wynter · 9 Aug 2009

Okay, I'm a sucker for these types of romances. The girl is pregnant and alone after going through a bad relationship (the end result, anyway) and has to face her family. In comes a dashing young man willing to play the part of her fiance. Of course, her father is absolutely against everything, and the young man must help the girl seek her father's approval. Throughout this process, they fall in love but are constantly bombarded with obstacles.

>>contented sigh<<

The storyline was great and I enjoyed the plot (although it was quite fast-paced and JAM PACKED with drama). What I liked best was the touching scenes between father and daughter, and how the writers portrayed the situation. Everything was so... endearing.

In terms of the cast, I think Wakui Emi has finally won me over. This is the third drama I'm seeing her in and, what's that saying? The third time's the charm. Of course I LUFF Sorimachi Takashi, so I won't waste time drooling over him. The surprise for me was Takeda Tetsuya. For some reason I'd made up my mind that I wasn't going to like him as an actor, although I haven't seen him in much of anything. I thought he was great in this drama. His performance was very touching.

And then of course, the icing on the cake for me was Yo Kimiko, whom I adore and love.

I definitely recommend this drama to all romantics. It's a great one.

Mint · 11 Jun 2008

This is a grounded family drama that may hit an emotional chord. The characters that drive this drama are ordinary and flawed, yet, the imperfections of these well-rounded characters humanize this drama, adding a touch of realism especially when society is thrust with issues such as morality and the stigma of unwedded pregnancy.

Takeda Tetsuya gives one of the most excellent performances I've seen yet, immersing himself into the role of an old-fashioned and obstinate father with such ease and sincerity. Takashi Sorimachi also excels, he is so much better here than he will be in Over Time a couple of years later, which I saw him last. Wakui Emi initially seemed passive but as the story progresses, she shows that she can emote really well especially in dramatic scenes.

The plot is not only daring, but is filled with new plot twists in almost every episode that keep it refreshing. Even so, there is something lacking in this drama that doesn't make me want to watch an episode after another. There are parts that are too preachy and the characters tend to go off on an endless, emotional monologues which I don't really appreciate...only when Takeda does it, that it actually works. The drama also has some cheesy scenes that make me roll my eyes, and the ending is a bit too picture perfect.

However, this drama is very touching and satisfying. It makes me respect some of the actors in this drama a whole lot more for sure.

kusaisaru · 16 Jan 2007

Not one of the best dramas, but certainly more than watchable. You will be bored at times, but Sorimachi and Takeda give good performances. In fact, Takeda makes this drama as Wakui's father. Cool guy. One bad point, almost to the point of ruining this show for me, was Hosho Mai's character. Very, very annoying. Other than that, give it a try.

8thSin · 30 Sep 2006

It's so refreshing to watch old dorama once every while. This is a GREAT dorama. Fantastic plots with excellent acting. A little too dramatic in the end, but one of the best and most touching romance dorama I've ever seen.

Shindou · 24 Mar 2006

One of the few gems among the jdoramas I've watched. Incredibly powerful acting performances by Tetsuya and Sorimachi with a very well-written and well-paced script. The theme song was very appropriate for the jdorama and despite the pretty common romantic theme, this jdorama truly stands out among the best!

shoujo22 · 26 Jul 2005

Very good drama! This is one of the best that I've ever seen. I mean, quite a few people wouldn't agree with me, but I think very highly of this drama. Considering the fact that its pretty old (and the gradual yet constantly rising standard of j-dramas) I can't help acknowledging the well thought out plot and the forever entertaining cast. Some of the more recent dramas that I've seen actually pale in comparison to this one. Why? Because the storyline wasn't overun with complications. It wasn't too sappy and too romantic/dramatic either which is a plus for me; mainly because I hate that kind of stuff ^__^'. Although it wasn't very eventful (fights, people running away from home, etc.) it was still very good. I truley enjoyed the moderate pace of this drama as well as the simple yet complex position in which the main character stood. This drama gave me a break from all of the saddness, jealousy, cheating, etc. that runs rampid in so many other dramas. I could truley relax and watch it. The actors did an extremely good job too. There wasn't a dry patch in the bunch at all ^__^. So, in summary the simplicity of this drama was what made it truely enjoyable. In my opinion it is definately worth watching; especially if you just want something relatively light-hearted to get into.

sprobox · 15 Jul 2005

Very well acted, lots of emotional moving moments. I love Takashi, he is so cute. I want to fly to Japan to meet him. Takeda Tetsuya is a great actor, he plays the father. Of course Wakui acted very well.

madsky · 29 Apr 2005

I loved this drama. Wakui and Sorimachi are both great actors, and I loved Takeda as Kazumi's Oto-san.

The scene in the hospital room with Kazumi and her father, with Kaoru in the background (after he brings her back from her mother's grave) was so touching! As were many other parts.

Also, the ending was just perfect. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes love stories, this was really an excellent drama.

great5678 · 2 Mar 2005

good cast, story line , and theme song... very touching... well done Sorimachi Takashi, Wakui Emi and Takeda Tetsuya!!!

Kanin · 19 Jul 2004

Virgin Road! Man they could make these good dramas as early as 1997.

I never seen the beautiful actor Wakui Emi in any drama before. But from seeing this I can tell she's a great actor. Describing how great, is futile and pointless since it will only run short from any true experience of viewing her, live a drama, cause that's how it feels like when you see her, performing would be a weak word.

Needless to say she alone made this drama so delightful to watch. The storyline was strong and despite the start-to-finish was already revealed you were never bothered by it, the story held up almost through every episode. And the theme with Amuro Namie was great too, I grew to like it more and more. I also liked the idea of featuring her in the intro video as well, apperantly not always a fact.

It's not the general lovey-dovey JDrama since it's also a family drama I would guess. As always in these dramas there were a great number of intense scenes of emotions enough to heat up a whole block, but always without feeling dorky in any way cause you believed it and felt for it. This was another beautiful drama and it's highly recommended.

Grading 10 of 10 is the least I can do.


Finally I've come to terms why I generally like JDramas more than anything else, apart from exellent acting with very subtle (but fully working) facial expressions and soft way-winning on the edge of cool dialogs, captivating scripts full of surprise twists and as a rule kickass theme songs along with world-class and always well chosen soundtracks, I like the fact that they always presents decent explanations which works damn well while twirling the story forward. Well that's of course IMO labeled.

Baka Senpai · 12 Mar 2004

this drama was one of my first jdramas...it goes pretty slow, but contains a lot of well-meaning family lessons...the lead actress, forgot her name, was excellent...she portrayed as the pregnant unmarried mom very well...as goes the father....sorimachi did a decent job as well...nice opening song...nice ending...buuuuuuut it moved too slow at times...so its only okay la

Ryo_San · 12 Feb 2004

This drama didnt get to my attention so much at first. But it turned out to be really good. The storyline is very interesting. Everything is so ironic in this drama. I freaked out when i found out that Jo-san is not even the real father or Kazumi. But that is very relevant to when Kazumi asked Kaoru to be the father of her baby. Yea. this is a must see =)

psychomann · 3 Feb 2004

Tr&egrave;s proches des valeurs de la famille comme on ce les imagines.

bakafool · 1 Feb 2004

Oh my gosh! This drama just keeps getting better and better. There are just so many surprises that it's t's killing me!!!!!

gohmifune · 25 Jan 2004

This is a very good show, it moves very fast, and it is very much worth it for the time invested. The story and the acting are really well done, and all the characters likable. I enjoyed this very much.

Slackey · 30 Sep 2003

I found it boring.....it was okay in the beginning but it got boring as the series moved on. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main stars and I felt thsi series just dragged and dragged

windrider · 29 Jun 2003

This show has a good plot, but i think takashi and takeda(the girl's father) were the key elements in making this show good. The music is also good in this show (gotta love the theme song and the instrumental versions of it)