It's my favorite japanese TV series. Beautiful plot, good actors, perfect in their roles, especially Ryu Sanada (great casting); the direction is more than good, and the musical accompaniment is centered and delightful; even the places where the events took place are attractive and perfect. Too bad it's only twelve episodes long, but perhaps this allowed the authors to keep the quality high without having to resort to unnecessary fillers. It doesn't seem to want to adhere to the most common reality of things, it seems rather the romantic vision of a female point of view, yet it's so beautiful as a whole that once you get to the end, you're sorry it ends. I want to recommend it to romantic souls looking for an optimistic vision of life, a clean and sincere story and that like to have characters that are easy to get attached to.
14 Reviews
An endearing live-action adaptation of a manga series
magnoliacream13 July 2023
This is the live-action version of Kimi ni Todoke and just as heartwarming. This is the first time I watched manga series adaptations back-to-back with each other and was bemused at how the live cast members match their animated versions, embodying their characters so well that it was easy to tell who they were before they opened their mouths. Shota Kazehaya's (Daisuke Namikawa) smile is just as refreshing. Mamiko Noto captured Sawako Kuronuma's shyness, quiet grace and inner strength.
With 12 30-minute episodes compared to the 38 25-minute episodes of two seasons of the animation, it's a compressed version with less of the angsty musings of Sawako. But it delves deeper into Yano Ayane's (Miyuki Sawashiro) and Yoshida Chizuru's (Yûko Sanpei) love lives. It also deals more with the young people's struggles in deciding what to do after high school. My favorite part is knowing what happens when Sawako and Shota finish college. The closure is truly sweet after their angsty romance.
With 12 30-minute episodes compared to the 38 25-minute episodes of two seasons of the animation, it's a compressed version with less of the angsty musings of Sawako. But it delves deeper into Yano Ayane's (Miyuki Sawashiro) and Yoshida Chizuru's (Yûko Sanpei) love lives. It also deals more with the young people's struggles in deciding what to do after high school. My favorite part is knowing what happens when Sawako and Shota finish college. The closure is truly sweet after their angsty romance.
So far a good show
dieseldog3337 April 2023
I'm in episode four. I like it. It's a cute show. I like the cast. The only problem I have is the dialog. Young kids these days don't talk like they do. Or resolve differences so quickly. Maybe they do in Japan. Maybe it's the translation for dubbing into English? I'm not sure which. It's a nice mellow show. I would still recommend watching this show at least so far. If things change I will update.
So now for the space I have to waste because reviews have to be a certain length. The length you want is entirely too long. Nobody will have that much to say about a movie or show. No wonder this only had 3 reviews. No one wants to write that much. Please change it.
So now for the space I have to waste because reviews have to be a certain length. The length you want is entirely too long. Nobody will have that much to say about a movie or show. No wonder this only had 3 reviews. No one wants to write that much. Please change it.
Good series; Felt like watching Cliff's Notes
Operator7G18 April 2023
As the summary says, watching this live action series was like watching a Cliff's Notes version of the story. It's very high level with little detail, so it's hard to fully buy into any of the characters' emotions or motivations. Fortunately, I had just finished the 38 ep, 2 season anime series, so I knew a lot of what was going on in the background, at least for episodes 1 through 7. Once the series got to where the anime series ended, everything seemed rushed and a bit confusing, which stands to reason when you consider they were averaging 5 anime episodes per live action episode. This series definitely would have benefitted from being either a full 25 episode season or two 13 episode half seasons. I don't want to spoil anything, so suffice it to say that there are some character relationships that seem to come out of nowhere, and are really tough to accept, because there wasn't enough time to develop them, which is a shame. Still, it's a nice slice of life/coming of age story.
Cute Enough
oishiyoshimi-237659 April 2023
I'm a fan of both the OG manga and anime so I have some specific and biased opinions based off of those comparisons.
It's cute and fluffy enough to keep most romance-lovers entertained, especially those who are not familiar with the source material. For those who are, there are absolutely some things that may be lacking (as they were for me).
The lead actress plays Sawako well, but is absolutely gorgeous, at no fault of her own. However, Sawako is supposed to be a rather plain and ghostly-looking girl, with much of the plot pulling from that. Kazehaya is supposed to be extremely charismatic and I think they could have portrayed that better.
Larger than these smaller nit-picks though, is the humour that I feel was completely lost from the manga and anime. There were many truly adorable and funny moments that were lacking from this live-action adaptation. The attempted light humour that does exist in this version doesn't hit the mark for me at all.
If you're looking for a light and easy endearing high school romance, it still works. But if you haven't seen the anime, watch that first!!! Or even read the manga if you're feeling up to it. The anime is on Netflix though, so easy-peasy.
It's cute and fluffy enough to keep most romance-lovers entertained, especially those who are not familiar with the source material. For those who are, there are absolutely some things that may be lacking (as they were for me).
The lead actress plays Sawako well, but is absolutely gorgeous, at no fault of her own. However, Sawako is supposed to be a rather plain and ghostly-looking girl, with much of the plot pulling from that. Kazehaya is supposed to be extremely charismatic and I think they could have portrayed that better.
Larger than these smaller nit-picks though, is the humour that I feel was completely lost from the manga and anime. There were many truly adorable and funny moments that were lacking from this live-action adaptation. The attempted light humour that does exist in this version doesn't hit the mark for me at all.
If you're looking for a light and easy endearing high school romance, it still works. But if you haven't seen the anime, watch that first!!! Or even read the manga if you're feeling up to it. The anime is on Netflix though, so easy-peasy.
Very Grateful!
rohowsxxx2 April 2023
At first as I was very hesitant to watch it because I am not sure if this live-action's Kazehaya can top Haruma Miura on the movie's Kazehaya, but this live-action was so on point with the manga and the anime that I was so happy.
I loved the manga and the anime first so I am very grateful that they made a live action series out of it. All the casts gave justice to the characters and did a very good job expressing themselves. My feelings and reactions were very much the same back in 2006 when I started reading the manga and it's as if I was watching Kimi ni Todoke the first time. Thank you Netflix!
I loved the manga and the anime first so I am very grateful that they made a live action series out of it. All the casts gave justice to the characters and did a very good job expressing themselves. My feelings and reactions were very much the same back in 2006 when I started reading the manga and it's as if I was watching Kimi ni Todoke the first time. Thank you Netflix!
So Slow Going and Frustrating
PalmBeachG3 April 2023
I just found this series so slow going and so frustrating as these high school kids navigate their way through their love relationships, some more mature than others. The male lead Oji Suzuka did a great job in his role and enjoyed his acting. The FL role just was too frustrating - mostly because of the script. How many times do I have to hear the words "Thank you"? She says it so much that the ML, who has a crush on her and tries so hard to show her that, thinks that she doesn't like him - only likes the fact that he is nice to people in general. It is one misunderstanding after another from Christmas, to New Years Eve, to Valentines Day, to Christmas again - misunderstanding to another misunderstanding, thank you over and over again until the ending which was OK but could have been better. Acting by ML good, didn't care for the slow going script.
A Light and Wonderful Coming of Age Series!
spasek6 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very delightful and light coming-of-age series about a young girl, Kuronuma Sawako, who is given the nickname "Sadako" because her appearance resembles the creepy ghost girl from "The Ring." Her hair is long and straight, and rather unflattering to go with a pale and unassuming complexion. She's a very shy girl who speaks in a soft voice and doesn't speak ill of anyone, even those who are put off by her.
While Sawako lacks confidence in herself, she's actually not afraid to pursue and do things, which is one of the things that I found very appealing as well as refreshing about her character. Too often, the shy girl is also a doormat who has to be poked and prodded into doing literally everything. Sawako isn't that way. She volunteers for jobs, and she actually has no problem interacting with people who interact with her.
It is clear from the start that Sawako only has eyes for Kazehaya Shota, the most popular boy in the school. Kazehaya isn't put off by Sawako's shy demeanor, and it's clear that he endeavors to treat everyone-whether they are popular or not-the same. He's not conceited or uptight. He has a charming smile and disposition that makes it easy to understand why he's so popular, especially with the girls.
Sawako quickly makes friends with Yano Ayane and Yoshida Chizuru. What I like about these two girls is that they are quick to stand up for Sawako, even at risk of being ridiculed. I've seen many stories with bullying, and it was refreshing to see the proper way for friends to interact and be there for each other. Kazehaya is also someone who is intolerant of bullying.
While the story centers on Sawako and Kazehaya, it's actually the ensemble group of characters that makes this series appealing. I found myself just as invested and interested in Yano and Yoshida, which was pleasantly surprising to me. Yano is a girl who's a bit shy herself, and also lacks the resolve to push herself to be the best she can be. She's had a number of relationships, but they always turn out bad, which leaves her to wonder if she will ever find true love. Chizuru is the fiery, and somewhat temperamental member of the group. But, she is also fiercely loyal and will always have her friends' backs no matter what. Chizuru finds herself having to grow up in terms of how she sees love. At first, she's strongly infatuated with Ryu's-her longtime friend and classmate-much older brother. It takes her some time to realize that the love of her life has always been right there beside her.
The series is a well-done coming-of-age series about the pains and struggles of high school as we see these characters trying to cope and deal with uncertain futures, new and lost loves, and trying to figure out how-and even if-they can maintain a future together while each of them sets off to pursue college and the next phase of their lives.
I also really enjoyed the character of Arai Kazuichi, the homeroom teacher for this group. He's humorous, light, and encouraging. A true teacher is always looking to instill confidence in his/her students. To encourage them to push the boundaries and not be afraid to pursue their dreams. As an ESL teacher, this is a mindset I've always had with my students. And I really loved his interactions with Yano. Sometimes, it only takes one person to believe in you to provide you with the confidence to move forward; to never settle, and to do whatever it takes to fulfill your dream. There aren't many things in this world quite so tragic as dreams left unrealized because of the lack of courage to take the chance.
The series is light and full of hope that each of these characters at least has a strong chance to fulfill their dreams and live the lives they desire. And while the series may be a bit short on realism, so what! We can all use an uplifting boost to remind us that none of us should ever settle for anything. Always reach for the stars!
While Sawako lacks confidence in herself, she's actually not afraid to pursue and do things, which is one of the things that I found very appealing as well as refreshing about her character. Too often, the shy girl is also a doormat who has to be poked and prodded into doing literally everything. Sawako isn't that way. She volunteers for jobs, and she actually has no problem interacting with people who interact with her.
It is clear from the start that Sawako only has eyes for Kazehaya Shota, the most popular boy in the school. Kazehaya isn't put off by Sawako's shy demeanor, and it's clear that he endeavors to treat everyone-whether they are popular or not-the same. He's not conceited or uptight. He has a charming smile and disposition that makes it easy to understand why he's so popular, especially with the girls.
Sawako quickly makes friends with Yano Ayane and Yoshida Chizuru. What I like about these two girls is that they are quick to stand up for Sawako, even at risk of being ridiculed. I've seen many stories with bullying, and it was refreshing to see the proper way for friends to interact and be there for each other. Kazehaya is also someone who is intolerant of bullying.
While the story centers on Sawako and Kazehaya, it's actually the ensemble group of characters that makes this series appealing. I found myself just as invested and interested in Yano and Yoshida, which was pleasantly surprising to me. Yano is a girl who's a bit shy herself, and also lacks the resolve to push herself to be the best she can be. She's had a number of relationships, but they always turn out bad, which leaves her to wonder if she will ever find true love. Chizuru is the fiery, and somewhat temperamental member of the group. But, she is also fiercely loyal and will always have her friends' backs no matter what. Chizuru finds herself having to grow up in terms of how she sees love. At first, she's strongly infatuated with Ryu's-her longtime friend and classmate-much older brother. It takes her some time to realize that the love of her life has always been right there beside her.
The series is a well-done coming-of-age series about the pains and struggles of high school as we see these characters trying to cope and deal with uncertain futures, new and lost loves, and trying to figure out how-and even if-they can maintain a future together while each of them sets off to pursue college and the next phase of their lives.
I also really enjoyed the character of Arai Kazuichi, the homeroom teacher for this group. He's humorous, light, and encouraging. A true teacher is always looking to instill confidence in his/her students. To encourage them to push the boundaries and not be afraid to pursue their dreams. As an ESL teacher, this is a mindset I've always had with my students. And I really loved his interactions with Yano. Sometimes, it only takes one person to believe in you to provide you with the confidence to move forward; to never settle, and to do whatever it takes to fulfill your dream. There aren't many things in this world quite so tragic as dreams left unrealized because of the lack of courage to take the chance.
The series is light and full of hope that each of these characters at least has a strong chance to fulfill their dreams and live the lives they desire. And while the series may be a bit short on realism, so what! We can all use an uplifting boost to remind us that none of us should ever settle for anything. Always reach for the stars!
i do like it but just hear me out.
alyssatheskittle14 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So don't get me wrong i did really like this movie but here are my pros and cons
pros : very pretty scenery cute friendships very good starter drama nice message of going for your dreams
cons: why was the ending like that?? Abrupt? Rushed?
Why do they act so ai, they don't act like normal teens at all.
The only natural acting character was probably Chizu.
They threw away what could've been really cute with Chizu and Ryu. I get they had their goodbye but why did it end like that.
I'm not sure if i'm used to cdramas where we see marriage, kids , everything but it just felt unfinished.
They always say stuff like "i'm gonna marry you" but when they do anything more than holding hands you can sense so much awkwardness.
The characters are so dense.
Why does sawako have like nothing outside of school and relationship life? She's cute but she's very bland.
For me it was good just because i've got patience 😭
please i promise you i did like this but it was just a little frustrating.
pros : very pretty scenery cute friendships very good starter drama nice message of going for your dreams
cons: why was the ending like that?? Abrupt? Rushed?
Why do they act so ai, they don't act like normal teens at all.
The only natural acting character was probably Chizu.
They threw away what could've been really cute with Chizu and Ryu. I get they had their goodbye but why did it end like that.
I'm not sure if i'm used to cdramas where we see marriage, kids , everything but it just felt unfinished.
They always say stuff like "i'm gonna marry you" but when they do anything more than holding hands you can sense so much awkwardness.
The characters are so dense.
Why does sawako have like nothing outside of school and relationship life? She's cute but she's very bland.
For me it was good just because i've got patience 😭
please i promise you i did like this but it was just a little frustrating.
Disappointing live-action adaptation
keikoyoshikawa25 April 2023
One of the worst things about today's media is the adaptation of anime or animation into live-action. Often times it's done very badly. Sadly, this is exactly the case with "Kimi ni Todoke".
One of the advantages of anime is that you can have settings, actions, and character expressions that can't really be replicated - or replicated well - in a live-action medium.
"From Me to You" suffers from this transition. The Kuronuma Sawako in the anime is a much more funny and creepy nuanced character than she is in the live-action version.
Kazehaya Shota was also better in the anime version. A lot of credit needs to go to the animators and the voice actors; their live-action counterparts could not replicate that level of excellence.
And that's ultimately the disappointment of "From Me to You". Teenage angst, awkwardness, and love was better done in the anime version. Works of art should be left alone.
One of the advantages of anime is that you can have settings, actions, and character expressions that can't really be replicated - or replicated well - in a live-action medium.
"From Me to You" suffers from this transition. The Kuronuma Sawako in the anime is a much more funny and creepy nuanced character than she is in the live-action version.
Kazehaya Shota was also better in the anime version. A lot of credit needs to go to the animators and the voice actors; their live-action counterparts could not replicate that level of excellence.
And that's ultimately the disappointment of "From Me to You". Teenage angst, awkwardness, and love was better done in the anime version. Works of art should be left alone.
fast paced but very good
rnsales-275305 October 2023
If you havent read the manga or watched the anime it might seem kinda fast and the characters might be kinda confusing at times. The manga ran for 30 Volumes and 123 chapters and even the anime had 36 episodes but only went to chapter 47 so 12 episodes at 30 minutes a piece doesnt really do the story justice. If they would have made the episodes longer and added more from the manga I think it would have been perfect.
At the end of the day it is a live adaptation of an anime so it can be pretty hard to nail certain characters and how they act in certain scenes. I feel like its a double edged sword. Either you follow the character to a T and the acting is a little awkward at times or you have to change the character a bit and potentially more to fit how real world people act which I feel like can be tough. I do feel like they had a good mix of both in this and were able to portray the characters how they were portrayed in the manga/anime pretty good.
All in all, I feel like they did a really good job with this show and the actors fit the character pretty well. Wish certain scenes that were pretty big in the manga/anime were also included in this but oh well.
Loved the show!
At the end of the day it is a live adaptation of an anime so it can be pretty hard to nail certain characters and how they act in certain scenes. I feel like its a double edged sword. Either you follow the character to a T and the acting is a little awkward at times or you have to change the character a bit and potentially more to fit how real world people act which I feel like can be tough. I do feel like they had a good mix of both in this and were able to portray the characters how they were portrayed in the manga/anime pretty good.
All in all, I feel like they did a really good job with this show and the actors fit the character pretty well. Wish certain scenes that were pretty big in the manga/anime were also included in this but oh well.
Loved the show!
It's not a westerner type series, but it may be for you a picturesque, shockingly loving experience, as it was for me!
soneagu11 May 2023
Oh well, k-dramas are something that westerners may become accustomed to, however Japanese movies/series may be a little too much. If you are educated in this spirit, you may very well end loving this series, because it's genuine, sentimental, powerful, visually stunning (a characteristic of Japanese movies/series). If you liked it, I strongly recommend 5 cm per second (oh well, it's an anime, but a very powerful one). Don't expect for one second a westerner type of show. Oh, no! It's a completely different artistic approach, with lots of introspection, genuine feelings exposed in a shocking way, and a completely new culture. I loved the show!!!!
A Koren Heartstopper Almost
jasminjones-7462818 June 2023
A little surprised this show doesn't have more buzz because it's a cute and effortless weekend binge watch. And while some subplots were a little frustrating as a viewer it was overall enjoyable and just sweet. The characters all had depth and arc, I enjoyed the shots and music. Again it kind of feels like the straight Korean version of Heartstopper. From the opening with the different seasons to the gorgeous misunderstandings of youth navigating friendships and love (in a non Euphoria filter type way). But again there will be some moments you watch it and be like...ugh, okay, no, wait, just TALK MORE!! But other than that, it's a good watch for anyone looking for something cute and simple.
Oji Suzuka is a Doll
overseer-39 April 2024
Ever since seeing young actor Oji Suzuka in the Japanese drama Silent I've been searching out everything else I can find that he has done, dramas and movies, because I think he is wonderful! I found From Me To You with excellent English subtitles and began watching it, and was so touched by the sweet wholesome story of two very different teens falling in love with one another against all odds. I actually watched it twice in a row because I missed all the characters so much when it ended. I sincerely hope they make a season two. I would love to see the characters working at their first jobs, being successful, getting married, and experiencing the joys of youth and growing maturity. This drama reminded me of what Korean dramas used to be like two decades ago when I first started watching them. True wholesome love stories that are unforgettable. Today too many of them are dark themed and I can't watch those. If I want to see dark themes I can put on the nightly news! When I go for entertainment I want to see sweetness and light.
See also
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