I only just finished Chugakusei Nikki last weekend, all 11 episodes in one sitting from 8:00 pm to 7:00 am without a wink of sleep (please don’t judge me huhu). I have been doing nothing but rewatching since I finished it last Sunday morning- good thing I’m still on holiday! I don’t regret picking this drama up despite the sensitive topic which was so deftly handled by the whole production team. I have some reservations about a few scenes (like that slapping scene which was rather unnecessary), but the whole series is near flawless.

This is now my all-time favorite Japanese drama, and my favorite last 2018 in dead heat with the Korean drama Hundred Million Stars from the Sky (which is an adaptation of a JDorama). This drama hits all the right notes- the acting is stellar, the cinematography gorgeous, the soundtrack piercing, the writing sharp and contemplative. This is now my favorite love story (at least in dramaland). Some people may doubt Suenaga Hijiri and Kuroiwa Akira’s love for each other- but for me it was too real, too intense, too sure. There was absolutely no doubt that they loved each other- because does love really need an explanation all the time? ? And despite the questions raised on morality especially in the first half of the series, the characters (especially Hijiri) did their very best to do the right thing. Sure the characters were flawed, they're human after all, but they struggled to stay on the right path and emerged as better persons by the end of the series.

I’ve always loved Arimura Kasumi, but damn the rookie Okada Kenshi! He truly is the star of the show. He deserves the monicker “the last Super Rookie of the Heisei Period” through and through. Not only is he super handsome, but he’s super talented as well. Okada was spellbinding from the first second he showed up onscreen. It’s hard to believe that he’s only 19 and that this is his very first acting job! He will surely go a long way (Yamazaki Kento, Sakaguchi Kentaro, Arata Mackenyu, Fukushi Sota must all be shaking from worry now hahaha) and will be a big star in no time! He reached 500k followers on IG after only 2 days and 1 post a few weeks ago! Props, too, to the supporting characters especially the formidable Yoshida You- I couldn’t imagine Haraguchi Ritsu being played by a different actress. It's nice to see her and Arimura in another heartwarming project after Flying Colors.

So to my fellow Asian drama fangirls (and boys, too), don’t be put off by the synopsis, Chugakusei Nikki is so much more than just a story about forbidden love. I forgot how many times I cried while (re-)watching the drama, but it’s all worth it. Trust me, you’ll thank me after! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I regret coming way too late to the thread party. I wish I were able to join the discussions more actively when it was airing, but at least it spared me the agony of waiting for subbed episodes as I’ve read in the comments. I've always been just a silent lurker and I'm not even a member here. I was compelled to join and post a review by this gem of a drama!

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