Hanazakari no Kimitachi e

Synopsis
Ashiya Mizuki, residing in California, U.S, who had seen a high jumping competition on t.v with the young athlete Sano Izumi. This growing love for him, with hearing about Sano's decline of continuing his career, led Ashiya Mizuki to cut her hair, and diguise herself as a boy in order to go to the all boys school in Japan. With one thing in mind that she must help him.

Roughly, Taiwan's storyline is exaggerated. To a point of where there's no hardships and no tears. Which leads me to comment on the storyline of Hanazakari no Kimitachi e. It made sense, why Ashiya Mizuki does the things that she does. Why Sano Izumi is the way that he is. One thing that bothers me is the 24-7 attention of Ashiya to Sano. It's no different than Taiwan's Hana Kimi. The female lead is almost ignorant towards the other boys in the school. Every second there is something up with Sano, and Ashiya is there to his aid. Are there actual scenes between anyone else? It's hard to say why Nakatsu Shuichi became so involved when he never really seemed all there or a part in anything.

Castwise, this had included almost everybody. The first, second, and third dormitory students with the dorm leaders being a constant contribute to the story. St.Blossom's Academy was also stringed along with the story. The full cast was successful at creating a reality out of fiction. The cast weren't just simple extras, but were actually supplementary to the overall feel. The school itself was always about the students, nurturing the students to its full potential, to blossom.

Cast

The three in the center (from left to right) is Ikuta Toma as Nakatsu Shuichi, Horikita Maki as Ashiya Mizuki, and Oguri Shun as Sano Izumi.

Horikita Maki as Ashiya Mizuki. She takes up the role of Ashiya responsibly. She gave Ashiya an edge, though still retained a girlly feel to her character even though her character had to be guylike. 7.5/10

Oguri Shun as Sano Izumi. His subtle approach is acknowledged. I've always seen Oguri as passive. He doesn't bring the energy that explodes on screen. But Sano to me, seemed human. Oguri had a soft personality, but determined. 7.5/10

Ikuta Toma as Nakatsu Shuichi. His over a billion (okay, point taken this is obviously not true) monologues. It's funny seeing his body movements. A point I have to make about him is he can still be funny, yet have you give your heart out to him. 7.5/10

Kamikawa Takaya as Umeda Hokuto. The supposedly homosexual school doctor. I question it though. Is he? The script for him was smart about it. Every thing Umeda did had an underlying message. 7/10

Ishigaki Yuma as Tennoji Megumi (1st Dorm Leader). Head of the martial arts dorm. One of the comedic factors. 7/10

Mizushima Hiro as Nanba Minami (Dorm Leader). The goodlooking and a flirt. The mini story he had with his first love, was a little average. I didn't feel for him at all. But generally as Minami, nicely done. He was "one of the guys" towards the other boys. 7/10

Kyo Nobuo as Himejima Masao (Oscar M. Himejima, Dorm Leader). Head of the performing arts dorm. Another comedic factor. He's too funny, I found myself loving whenever he made an entrance. 7/10

Daito Shunsuke as Sano Shin, Sano Izumi's brother. Not much to say. 6/10

Shirota Yu as Kagurazaka Makoto, Sano Izumi's rival in high jumping. Who knew the guy is actually nice. 6.5/10

Kimura Ryo as Senri Nakao, who's love interest is Nanba Minami. The homosexual, though was clingy, loved purely. I felt touched when he said that little part that he did to Ashiya when they were on the beach. 7/10

Okada Masaki as Sekime Kyogo, is the first friend Ashiya makes. 6.5/10

Yamamoto Yusuke as Kayashima Taiki, our friendly aura reading friend. His part is actually small, but all the same he acted as the good friend to Nakatsu. 7/10

Iwasa Mayuko as Hanayashiki Hibari, within Hibari Four, she's the leader in St.Blossom's Academy. Very weird character I think. 6.5/10

The ending is 100000000x more satisfying than that to Taiwan's. It wrapped up goodbyes, and time was put in for a nice closing, instead of that of Taiwan's cliff-hanging ending. Overall this gets a performance rating of 4/5, but I give this a satifactory rating of 5/5.