Well, it got off to a rough start, but I finally find that I’m really enjoying Sumika Sumire, the drama starrring Mirei Kiritani as a 20 year old woman named Sumi who’s actually a 56 year old woman ( Keiko Matsuzaka) who has been magically transformed back into her younger self by a mystical persona named Rei (Mitsuhiro Oikawa)
The elder Sumi has always wanted to go back to college and get her degree, and now her wishes have seemingly come true. Only problem is that her old-fashioned ways are a stark contrast to the fast-paced world of today, and she has a hard time fitting in.
But within this wide-eyed and innocent looking girl is a wizened 56 year old senior brimming with life lessons and standards, and sure enough, one by one her mature and sensible ways helps her fellow students out of their jams and turns them into valuable friends, and she finds she even manages to capture the eye (and perhaps heart?) of the school's most eligible young lad Mashiro (Keita Machida) who becomes interested in her and her eccentric ways !
Sumi makes an enemy of the school’s mean “popular” girl Arisa (played with sultry snobbiness by Elena Mizusawa) who doesn’t like having this odd plain jane girl step in and upset the stars quo, and she makes it her mission to bring down Sumika every chance she gets!
Adding to the problems are the fact that a savvy priest (Fumiyo Kohinata) senses
supernatural shenanigans going on and has both Sumika and Rei under his observation...
As well as the fact that Sumika turns back into her older self each night at the stroke of 11, with all these obastcles, one wonders if she’ll EVER be able to get through college and experience her first love like she wishes.
When I first began watching it, the “problematic and troubled Students” cliche really bored me- GADS, I HATE these school student dramas, but the show is so innovative in the way they use Sumika’s senior knowledge to save the day and it’s quite fun watching her struggle to “hang” with the kids when she’s so out-of-touch. Plus, Mirei is always a joy to watch and I must say she channels the elder Sumire very well!
Really glad I didn't give up watching this show as it's really become quite a joy to check in with each week! Such is the power of Mirei Kiritani!
