TV Asahi’s new drama My Girl started airing today. Its protagonist, Masamune Kazama (Masaki Aiba), does not have much going for him. At 25, he is still considered a part-timer at a magazine publication company where, although having worked there for years, he does menial work such as getting lunches and covering shifts of other employees. His landlord, obviously, has a poor opinion of him as a person and does not mind telling him every day as he leaves for work. He and his mother have a semi-estranged relationship, which means that when she calls, he would rather not talk to her. Lastly, the love of his life Yoko Tsukamoto (Yuka) left no trace after she left him six years ago to go to America. In spite of all the letters he sent her, he never received any response. Masamune’s only solace is his daily bike rides to work. Even though his lifestyle is monotonously following routine, he is satisfied with it. Could a man like this be able to raise a child?
One day at work, while Masamune was busy dodging his mother’s calls, his boss answered the phone out of annoyance. It was not his mother. The phone call was from Yoko’s mother, who decided to alert Masamune about her daughter’s recent passing. In his disbelief, Masamune rushed to Yoko’s former residence, where he found mourners and her portrait in display. Overcome with shock and unable to reconcile himself with the news, he escaped to a nearby park. Memories of the day he and Yoko met returned to him, until his reverie was broken by a voice of a little girl, who was up in a tree attempting to salvage her string telephone from the branches. Aware of the dangers that would happen to the child, who introduced herself as Koharu, Masamune volunteered himself to get her precious item from the tree.
Forgetting his current state of misery, Masamune, using the string telephone, played with Koharu. After a short interlude regarding ladybugs, without introducing himself to the child, Koharu figured out his name, and said that Masamune is her papa. Flabbergasted, he denied the little girl’s claims immediately. Still, he asked the child about her mother, who apparently is the recently deceased Yoko. Upon the arrival of Koharu’s grandmother, who was worried at her disappearance, this claim was verified. It seemed that five years ago, Yoko gave birth to Koharu, while he assumed she was abroad, and Masamune might be the father. Already burdened with two of the most momentous news he has ever received in his life, save for Yoko announcement of leaving him, he returned to work but not after promising that he will make time to get to know Koharu by taking her out.
On the day of the supposed “father-daughter” date, Masamune and Koharu tried to find activities to do together. Realizing that he did not know how to associate with a child, the date was filled with an awkward atmosphere, where both parties could not communicate properly. As the two start opening up to each other, their activities were halted by Masamune’s co-worker, who alerted him of the trouble he caused for an on-going photo shoot. Persuaded, Masamune told Koharu to wait for him at the park, next to a hippo-shaped stone seat, because he would only be away for a short time. Unfortunately, while he was away at work, it began to rain outside.
Still waiting for him by the stone hippo, Koharu resolutely told passers-by that she would wait until her father returned. By the time Masamune arrived, the five-year old was soaked and was feverish. She was taken to the hospital immediately and her grandmother was sent for. At the hospital, Masamune asked Yoko’s mother if her daughter truly went abroad and if she had received any of his letters. The old woman said that she didn't leave but she received his letters. Resentful, Masamune watched as Koharu, after hospital discharge, leaves with her grandmother for Shizuoka.
After returning home, Masamune saw the box that contained all of his letters to Yoko. Angry with her for not telling him anything regarding Koharu and for her lack of communication to him over the years, Masamune slapped the box off the table. It was at that moment that he saw several unsent letters addressed to him penned by Yoko herself. In one letter, she explains the situation with her pregnancy and her concern for Masamune. She chose not to tell him about Koharu because she did not want to burden a high school student with fatherhood. Initially in the letter, she assures him that she will be fine and Masamune should forget about her, only to retract her statement. Yoko expresses her insecurities and longings in the very same letter. Masamune’s bitterness is abated.
While Masamune was coming to terms with Yoko and their past, Koharu ran away from her grandmother. Informed by the elder woman, he sought Koharu everywhere only to find her where they first met. Realizing the effects of his initial denial of Koharu and his relations with Yoko, Masamune reassures the child that he has not forgotten her mother despite all of these years. (taken from: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-19424-Japanese-Entertainment-Examiner~y2009m10d9-TV-Asahis-My-Girl-first-episode-recap)
ps. this is a clearer summary of the show. ENJOY! (:
夢なら愛したままで
realised@ 9:56 AM
