continuing on the topic of jdramas: this show broke my heart... then mended it all over again. 

(if you're intending to watch First Love, there are spoilers here!) 

The story is partly inspired by Utada Hikaru's First Love -- and now I'm binging her music as well.

I feel a little too old to fangirl, but, goodness, I can't hold back, this drama was a gorgeous masterpiece.  I can't believe I slept on this for so long. I feel like it's been eons since I enjoyed a Japanese romance. This was so good, I cried so many times through this story, and at the end, I wanted to keep this ship in my pocket.

Takeru Satoh and our leading lady, Mitsushima Hikari (I hadn't known her before), were just phenomenal. This is the best romance Takeru Satoh has ever done (despite my being biased for Inoue Mao in Why didn't I tell you a million times?). The flashbacks, and the slow revelation of the details in their relationship, were exquisitely done -- like at first, I was just utterly confused why they weren't still together if they adored each other this much, and why she seems more oblivious of the two. Until we find out the cruel circumstances of life.

Oh my gosh I want to alternately cry and gush over this. And kudos to this lady director -- the cinematography! The snow, blue, and green scenes of Hokkaido, and then the final set-up in Iceland. So, so beautiful. The story, the views, the couples.

where do dreams go to die?

 at the risk of sounding melodramatic.

Once again, I've let my writing lapse. It's been longer than it should. And I've finally circled back, I think because I've been binge-watching anything Takeru-Satoh-related (post a Rurouni Kenshin rewatch) and inadvertently worked through a series of tear-jerking jdramas, that's made me get into a mood; a reflective, quiet mood. Jdramas really do this well. Even the cheesy manga-esque rom-coms have moments where you're made to pause or still and look inwards.

I've been bawling over some stories recently, and it's finally made me feel the impulse to come back here. Then I read a couple of my past entries, and started tearing up... Just. 

The loss of idealism as time went on.