Ok so it has been a while since my last review but I had to write about this. This drama is a remake of an old JDrama that I did not like so much the first time, and there are also a Tawainese version that was pretty popular and a Korean version that personally I adored. So I started watching because I love the story line of Itazura Na Kiss and after the Korean version I am always waiting for some kind of "encore". Well I am pretty happy with this new Jap version, and here is why: Storyline: the story is pretty faithful to the manga, maybe more than the Korean version which means that some details are a little different and therefore keep your interest going even if you have seen the Korean one before (if you're like me, you could not manage to go on with the Taiwanese version after the first 2 episodes so no comparison possible). Actors and main characters: Kotoko (Honoka Miki): Well here I was quite happily surprised. I expected some kind of "Baka" like in the Taiwanese version where she was soooo dumb that I just could not find her innocent or pure, just plain stupid and exceedingly annoying to the point where I was siding whit Irie and just wanted her to be bullied for being that idiotic. Well in this version she IS dumb but much more in a pure/innocent way that I feel is the main attractiveness of Kotoko and Oh Ah Ni (Korean version) so it is more bearable. She is cute is her way (although less strong than Oh Ah Ni) but also surprisingly perceptive sometimes and infinitely prettier than the Taiwanese version although it was hard for me to get adjusted the the very large ears of the actress, Honoka Miki, and the obvious will of the drama producers to show those as much as possible (I am living in Tokyo at the moment and for some reason I just can't understand, many Japanese girls with uncommonly large ears like to show them off with tail, braids or headbands...). So as far as the first 4 episodes go, I am quite satisfied with this Kotoko who in my opinion might just be even better than the Korean counterpart, Oh Ah Ni who tended to be quite childish sometimes. Irie Naoki (Furukawa Yuki): Getting to what is, in my humble opinion, the whole point of this story wether it is the manga, the anime of the severals dramas, the lead male character, Irie Naoki (Baek Seung Joo in the Korean version). For starters I must admit it took me some time to find the lead actor, Furukawa Yuki, attractive. His features were somehow too girly and there are so many better looking actors here that I was a little disappointed at first. Until I saw his interpretation of Irie. Ok I have to say that I was in love with the Korean version, Baek Seung Joo (Kim Hyun-joong) for a very looooong time: he was such a cold hearted bastard sometimes, such a sadist and so distant that at some point I could totally understand Oh Ah Ni's feelings of rejection for I could not believe he had any feelings towards her. Well this Irie is also a coldhearted bastard (I mean that is why this story is sooo good) but he is much softer than the Korean version and you can actually see/feel him get more and more attracted to Kotoko although evidently fighting it. Furukawa Yuki's face is so inexpressive and cold sometimes and at others, very good as to show Irie-kun's feeling quite successfully, Im currently very found of him. From the first 4 episodes, I think this drama is going to focus more on the romance story between the 2 characters, showing how both grow closer together, rather than just the one sided love that was displayed in the Korean version where it was so difficult to guess what Baek Seung Joo was actually feeling. And I like this new perspective although it may be a little less thrilling, it is also much less frustrating and more satisfying. Second roles: So in the Korean version, I could not stand the stupid second characters getting on my nerves so much, especially Bon Joon Gu (Kinnosuke) who was at first so irritating and quite useless to the story. In this version, Kinnosuke is actually bringing something to the storyline, as he is forcing events, bringing the 2 leads together in spite of him and is not so annoying as the Korean version so far (although there are only 4 episodes yet). I really like Kotoko's father in this version too, very manly but a little awkward towards his daughter. And as for the rest of the Irie family I found all of them quite good though I must admit I like the korean version of Naoki's mum better for she was insane ^^. Location: well the story is in Tokyo which is very pleasing to me as I am currently leaving in this city so I get to walk the same streets and it feels quite good ^^. OST: I kinda of like the opening although very girly and childish but so far nothing too noticeable in my opinion, although some funny sounds are quite close to the Korean Version. Overall, I have to say I am quite taken by this new version and although I thought it would be hard to come after the Korean version, Playful Kiss, I must admit that so far this drama is doing pretty good and it is definitely worth waiting for every week. One more thing before I end this very long review: what's up with the school's uniforms? I mean did you see those pants? Seriously? There wasn't any fabric more odious for the costumes?