Tsubame wa Modottekonai~ The Swallows Won't Return

 An extremely riveting human drama about a couple Yuko and Motoki Kusaoke (Yuki Uchida and Goro Inagaki) who, due to medical reasons, cannot successfully bring a child to term, and a healthy but down-on-her luck woman named Riki Oishi (Shizuka Ishibashi) with limited work prospects and a crippling debt. Between them is Plante, a Reproductive Medical Clinic dealing with infertility problems and act as go-between to match up those who can fulfill each other's wants.

Yuko and Motoki have been trying to have a child for some time now, but after a third tragic failure, feel things may be hopeless. With the pressure from Motoki's stern mother (Hitomi Kuroki) for Yuko to produce an heir to the affluent family's legacy, they are willing to try even an idea as outside surrogacy.

Meanwhile, Riki is eking out a struggling life through a series of short-term jobs. Through the advice of a co-worker Kawabe (Marika Ito) Riki applies to Plante (which she considers a dubious institution) solely for the money offered for donation of her eggs, though  the reason she puts on the application is "wants to help people". 

Upon arrival at the mysterious clinic, Riki is well to be cautious. But the woman who greets her, Aonuma ((Romi Park) seems considerate and friendly enough as she interviews her and explains what they might expect from her.

Giving up her eggs  is one thing but she is then told she is a prime candidate for child surrogacy. Riki is nervous  about the entire procedure, and only considers at the amount they will pay for her efforts. Part of her still doesn't want to do it. But little does she know she may be the PERFECT candidate to carry the child of a desperate couple, the one who can make their dreams come true...

Must say I was completely taken in by this show from the very  beginning... I know they've recently tackled a similar subject in the Haruka Fukuhara /Kyoko Fukada drama 18/40, but Tsubame wa Modottekonai seems like such a breath of fresh air, with all the predictable and cliched stories out nowadays, this is one where I'm not sure where it's going and am simply clamoring to learn more and more! So much so that I feel it may go on to become another BIG favorite!

PS: Oh My GOSH, Marika Ito is really KILLIN' IT with CUTENESS in this drama as the spunky Teruyo Kawabe!!!! As she's a co-worker of Riki's, I hope she won't be written out of the show and continues to appear, perhaps as Riki's confidante and friend?

In any case, I have HIGH HOPES for this drama!!!!

Crush Of The Day: Riho Yoshioka (Again!)

I had predicted at the very beginning of the wacky futuristic comedy "Toki wo Kakeruna Koibitotachi" that I was gonna once again fall helplessly in love with Riho Yoshioka- And SURE ENOUGH, the role of Megu Tokiwa has to be one of the most endearing and adorable characters Riho's done yet!

So wide eyed, sweetly naive, and clumsily dorky, she was charming me left and right in each and every episode, but BOY, the last couple of episodes really went over the TOP as Megu and her eccentric love interest Kakeru (Eita) journeyed into the past (looks like the early 90's?) and we got to see entire episodes of Riho duked out in the CUTEST outfit, a smart striped summer dress complete with stylishly oversized shades- OH MY GOSH, I couldn't stop taking screencaps, she was SO DARLING!

The comical nature of this series permits both Riho and Eita into giving the most wacky, exaggerated expressions to every scenario, each one a PERFECT PICTURE which could tell a story in itself! Before I knew it I had a folder full of screen-caps and Riho had once again become "Crush of the Day"!!!

Below: Kakeru: "I wrote you a love letter!"

?

Well! Looks like she likes it!

"But you wrote by name wrong."

LOLOL

In ways, Riho here reminds me of Keiko Kitagawa's early comedy stuff- stuff like Mop Girl, where each situation got the cutest reactions out of her and made for some wonderful screengrabs... Riho's charm just oozes out of the screen!

We are at episode 7 of Toki wo Kakeruna Koibitotachi (out of a total 10) and, without so much as a waver, has remained my #1 must watch of the season since it began! 

True, it's no epic, earthshaking drama, instead simple and light in substance and should only be taken as a fun comedy to while away the time, but it's been such a sweet and, at times, really touching ride, one which I don't want to get off of!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com