Fan reviews: Yamato Nadeshiko

zooone · 17 Apr 2004

*contains spoiler, i think*
i'm not one to rate dramas based on my preference for certain good-looking actresses/actors, although the actor should be for his/her role believable. nanako plays someone who knows how to manipulate men with her feminine wiles, which she does so amazingly well. the actress might be good looking, but not dropdeadgorgeous, which is why it's important for her to always present herself as good-charactered and tender, ie acting cute, (which other idol-actresses do for every role.) which in this case befits her role.
i think this drama, on the surface, can be your usual idol-soap/feel-good romantic comedy, but there are many points abt the show that warrants more scrutiny. (i sometimes think one could even write a short analysis for it, like one does for literature or film, but maybe it's just me and my wonderful imagination.)
for example, i think that it's not that simple that nanako just wants to marry a rich man. in doing so, she's actually reaching for her dreams, or searching for her ideals. she just kinda mis-identified it to needing to find a rich man. this can be seen in the way she kept looking for someone richer even though she has already found the heir to a hospital-empire.
and nanako's character could always keep her emotions in control and well-hidden, so well that sometimes she even believes in her own lies.
the good friend of shinichi, masahiko, has a happy marriage that seems to be a lie. there were scenes where he cheats on his wife, yet then later he declares his love for his wife convincingly. it could be a representation for some modern asian marriages, where marriage is seen as a separate entity from love (the way it was long long time ago, when matchmaking was popular) where affairs are tolerated as long as a certain code is respected.

all these (there are more, but i wont waste it here) point to depth in the drama. this might be just standard for your art film, but for an asian drama, tis speaks volumes for the effort put in. but sadly, from other reviews i've read, all of it seems to be lost on most viewers.

well-paced to the end (perhaps the end came too sudden, but the story must end somehow), well directed, well acted, well scripted. what more could one ask for?

Baka Senpai · 6 Apr 2004

yada akiko didn't get teh guy in teh end...talk about retarded...
i had high hopes for this drama....but onlee 7.5 from me...some funny/sentimental parts...but i find it overall too unrealistic...

UWFShooter · 16 Mar 2004

Risa Sudo rules! It's too bad she had gone on to dowdy roles.

Falling · 8 Mar 2004

This is the best drama I've ever watched. Very funny plot, and Matsushima acts so well and so graceful.

Doramafan113 · 22 Jan 2004

I love this Drama. I wish I could give it an 11. It is easy to care for the characthers played by Matsushima Nanako, Yada Akiko,
and Tsutsumi Shinichi. Of course everone else was great too. The story is so well written and each episode leaves you wanting more. This is my favorite Drama. I am not sure why it's not number one in the voting.

dys199 · 20 Jan 2004

This is a very cite drama, Matsushima Nanako is very pretty in it. A great comedy, but also with alot of great dramtic scenes. This dorama should be put on your must watch list.

tsuki77 · 10 Jan 2004

I really liked this one. It's very honest and real. There are many people out there like Matsushima Nanako's character and it's refreshing to see a not perfect character as the lead once in a whlie. I liked the acting and the story as well. Highly recommended.

DragonSpirit164 · 7 Jan 2004

First of all I'd like to say kudos to Matsushima Nanako in Yamato Nadeshiko. She acted brilliantly as the poor girl determined to find riches through any means necessary. Also, the subtle feelings her character had for poor Osuke were expressed brilliantly as well. The main themes of the show is that money can't buy everything, especially the one and only most important thing in one's life, true love and happiness. You can see throughout that out of all the beautiful items and clothes her fiance gave her, her most treasured item was the cheap and burnt chameleon Osuke gave her. Very nice ending to an excellent drama. Highly recommended.

kook05 · 6 Jan 2004

Good storyline. Really enjoyed this show.
Nanako looked so darn bloody good in the show!
The theme song by Misia is great too.

Kaze · 7 Dec 2003

I'm probably the only one in the world who doesn't like this show.
It's just too fake for my taste. I forced myself through the whole thing just to see if they were going to use that typically corny Japan dorama ending, and what do ya know I was right. I mean give me a break the man gets hit in the head with a wooden drawer and gets knocked out and has to go to the hospital right on her wedding day. Who in the world get hospitalized by wooden drawers, couldn't they have come up with something a little more believable than that. I just don't buy it, its all too fake, that whole ten years later and everyone's all happy and living in New York bull, it's like oh you know what we've reached the 11th episode better make up some happy ending so we can all get paid and go home. It's probably another reason why i'm starting to really dislike Japan dramas. They're all so artificial, they feel so packaged. Everything J-Dorama always has to come to nice clean ending by the 11th or 12th episode. With the exception of a few that I really like such as "Million Stars Falling from the Sky " or " Love Complex" but most J-doramas just feel so fake. I prefer Korean or Chinese dramas more, they end when they wanna end. There are no limits to lengths of their story, which is the way i think all dramas should be. Anyways I know most people will not agree with my review but thats how I feel. Theres nothing real in this show, its all a standard packaged love story.

Hiro Toyo · 4 Dec 2003

Nanako really fit the role to a T on this one. I can think of no better person to portray the character other than her. The drama needed a strong character to keep it interesting, because the story is at best average, and she did such a great job of bringing out all the traits a gold digger would possess. There are also plenty of touching scenes, but I really think it's the acting that really made this drama shine. Plus the soundtrack really suits the drama as well. It's just a great drama, watch it!

Former member · 23 Sep 2003

Some hate this one. Some praise this one. Personally I really enjoyed this dorama even though It did not turn out the way I wanted it to. A driving factor for me was the character of Osuke. I could really relate to his character. It teaches me that humble and decent men still have a fighting chance! ^_^. I believe the beautiful Nanako did an extraordinary performance in this one.

Ghil04 · 10 Sep 2003

UNbelievably predictable, but a heartwarming story nonetheless. Nanako san is so beautiful!!

Solid Snake · 29 Aug 2003

I spent the first 8 episodes hating Matsushima Nanako's guts because I thought that she was the most shallow person in the world. Then somewhere between episode 8 and 9 I realized that I had fallen madly in love with her without even realising it.

When you care that deeply for a fictional character, it's already passed the stage of an ordinary romantic comedy and becomes something more.

This is a very good dorama to watch. I finished it in 1 day!

gizm092 · 23 Aug 2003

I've never watched a jdrama so many times in a 24 hour period.

206 · 16 Aug 2003

I really like this series. Sakurako is so focused and her actions are just unbelievable. Osuke should just take Wakabe cause she is sooo kawaii. I need episodes 8 & 10 to continue. I watched 9 because I could not wait. Once you start this one you can't stop.

Beautiful_cloud_77 · 28 Jul 2003

One of my fav. J. drama! Matsushima Nanako look stunning in shorter hair and those branded suits that she wore in the show. Esp. adore the role play by Tsutsumi Shinichi. His undying love towards Nanako's role make my heart melt. I would married such a man if there were in reality! Part of it success for this drama is the theme song by Misia - 'Everything'.

juliana_phang · 21 Jun 2003

i like the theme song n the plot
i planned to watch this drama again if i have the time to..

wznpbg · 28 May 2003

Nanako preformed really well in the drama with lots of great clothes and it is one of her best drama. The leading actor acts not as well as Nanako. The stortline is good ans does help the rating.

Golfguy45 · 20 Apr 2003

This drama was so funny and touching. It teaches us a lot about the regrets that we have in life, but when we have the chance to love someone, never squander that chance otherwise it might become a regret in our own life. The would haves, could haves, and the should haves. This drama teaches us not to have that and to go after the things we want whether we succeed or not, but the fact of the matter is, that we live a life without regret. That is so poignant in this story and I loved it for that.