While re-watching the amazing Ikuta Toma comedy drama Ore no Hanashi wa Nagai for the umpteenth time, I noticed something that I had missed the first few times watching it: Throughout the series, Mitsuru’s introspective niece Harumi (wonderful played by a young Kaya Kiyohara, one of the very first dramas I’d seen her in) has had an obsession with a radio program hosted by a duo called Machine Guns' Talking Bazooka.
She listens to the radio program for entertainment and for advice in her turbulent teenage love-life, and, loving it SO much, at some point decides to pursue becoming a radio disc jockey herself!!
Completely infatuated with getting into the business, she not only listens to the radio programs, but also begins reading a manga series about the adventures of an outspoken female DJ. That’s what I remembered from watching Ore no Hanashi wa Nagai back in 2019... but when I rewatched it in 2024, I was happily surprised to find I now RECOGNIZED the manga series she was reading!
The manga Harumi was reading was “Namiyo Kiite Kure (Wave, Listen to Me!), and I immediately recognized it because actress Fuka Koshiba had starred in a sensational LIVE-ACTION adaptation of it this past year on TV Asahi!!!As some of you may recall, I REALLY loved the Fuka Koshiba version and in particular LOVED Fuka’s portrayal of the outspoken main character Minare Koda!! So colorful, spazzy, and energetic, this was a perfect part for the equally genki Koshiba who really went "all out" for the role!
I had forgotten that Namiyo was based on a manga, had no idea the source material was that popular! Then again, the original manga MUST have been super popular- at least enough to have a TV series adaptation as well as an animated series before it!
Wonder how the original fans of the manga and/or anime series took to Fuka’s portrayal. As for me (and others as well, at least going by the positive reactions in forums), I thought she was really great!!!!
