Summer Snow

"It's Summer Snow, in the deep blue sea."

Shinoda Natsuo (Domoto Tsuyoshi) is a young man who is raising his younger brother and sister, Jun (Oguri Shun) and Chika (Ikewaki Chizuru) since the death of their parents. He works and manages "Shinoda Cycle" their family business, while trying to be both an older brother and parent.

Katase Yuki (Hirosue Ryoko), a young woman with a certain ailment that restricts her from doing certain activities has just gotten her first job at a local bank.

Their given names mean Summer and Snow respectively.

As an avid scuba diver, Natuso explains Summer snow to Yuki. Plankton that appears as snow deep in the ocean during the summer months.Natsuo, Without knowing of her ailment, encourages her to learn to dive.


The story also follows the lives of Natsuo's younger brother and sister, Jun and Chika. Jun is deaf, but can hear with the help of a hearing aid.He is a bright student, however does not have the full support of his teacher when it comes to his choice of future career. It also shows the teenaged relationship between Chika, and her boyfriend Suetsugu Hiroto (Imai Tsubasa)


I first saw this drama a couple of years ago, actually it may be more than just a couple of years now. I think the year was 2003, and by then this drama was already close to 3 years old. Having aired from July 7th 2000 to September 15th 2000. Technically it was the second j-drama I had ever seen, however the first one I did not watch all the way through, so I like to say "Summer Snow" is my first,

Domoto Tsuyoshi who is in the Johnny's Enterainment pop group "KinKi Kids" and has been in movies such as Fantastipo, and Shanghai Puppet Story works well with Hirosue Ryoko (Collage of our life) I think they definetly have great chemistry. It is probably why they were both chosen to be in the drama "Moto Kare".

We also see a young Oguri Shun (HanaKimi, Stand Up!, Gokusen) and another Johnny's Entertainment group member Imai Tsubasa, who is in the group "Tackey and Tsubasa."

A lot of people said that when they first started to watch, they were afraid it was going to be a depressing drama where one has an disease, and how they deal with it. They comment that they were very surprised at how this drama turned out. When I started to watch I had no prior knowledge of J-dramas, and it was so long ago that I can't say what my original feelings were. I CAN say that I watch this drama very often, mostly in the Summertime of course, and I never grow tired of the story or it's characters.

The theme song, which is by KinKi Kids is catchy too. "Natsuno Osama"

イノセント・ラヴ Innocent Love

Everyone deserves to find their own happiness. That seems to be the theme of this drama. It deals with perseverance and the stuggles of life.

Akiyama Kanon's (Horikita Maki) world fell apart when she lost her parents seven years ago in a fire that destroyed her home. It was only she and her brother Yoji (Fukushi Seiji) who survived, however he was soon arrested in suspision of murder.

Always believing in her brother, Kanon did everything in her power to prove him innocent. However, life isn't so fair. The community had a hard time accepting the sister of a murderer. Kanon was forced to change her name and move several times just to be accepted, however in the end someone would find out she was related to the Akiyama parricide case.

Kanon manages to find a job cleaning homes, and comes to know a man by the name of Nagasaki Junya (Kitagawa Yujin). He is a musician, but has put his carrer on hold to take care of his fiance,Kiyoka, who had become mentally ill after an accident. Junya has the most beautiful smile, and Kanon realises over time that she never wants him to lose that smile. She will do anything to make him happy. However there are dark clouds looming in the background. They are not the only ones trying to attain their own happiness...

This 10 episode J-drama ran from October 20th to December 22nd on Fuji tv. and was directed by Kato Hiromasa and Matsuyama Hiroaki.


Horikita Maki (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e), though young, has been in many j-dramas and movies, including the popular Kurosagi drama and movie, based off the manga of the same name. I think that she does an incredible job at playing Akiyama Kanon. Someone mentioned to me that she seemed stiff, and her smile didn't seem believeable in this drama. I have to agree, however it somehow works for the character. A girl who hurts a lot more than she lets on, and whose past was so bad that she had forgotten most of her childhood.

Maki works well with Kitagawa Yujin, who is part of a "j-folk' group Yuzu. He does not appear to have much acting experience, only appearing in the third episode of Meitantei Hokenshitsu no Obasan (1997) but I was very impressed with his ability to make make me smile and cry with him, and yes, he has such a lovely smile. He is married to popular tv show host Takashima Aya.

Another notible actor is Narimiya Hiroki (Bloody Monday) , he plays one of Junya's closest friends Segawa Subaru. He is a talented actor, and I look forward to seeing more of his work.

Overall, I really enjoyed this drama. I enjoy shows that bring out my emotions, and make me feel connected to the characters. :D THUMBS UP YEAH!