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| Satomi Kobayashi and Kyoko Koizumi in 1997's Renai Kekkon no Rule |
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| ...and Satomi and Kyoko reunited in 2024's Danchi no Futari! |
As some of you well know, one of my favorite J-dramas of ALL TIME is the 1997 romcom "Renai Kekkon No Rule", the story of a thirty-something woman named Asako Nakajima looking for love while dealing with a demanding job, a nagging sister-in-law, and TWO suitors who may or may not be the right one for her!
While the headlining stars of the show were Kyoko Koizumi and Toshiro Yanagiba as the bickering would-be couple, it was the moments with Kyoko Koizumi and Satomi Kobayashi (as the aforementioned nagging sister-in-law Chiaki) that STOLE every SCENE and made this one of the most FUN and ENJOYABLE shows ever!
The set-up is that Asako's no good brother has left his wife Chiaki and child to go off gallivanting somewhere, and without a clue where he went, Chiaki has arrived with daughter in tow and has decided to stay with Asako til he returns!
At first I remember thinking, "Why is it Asako's responsibility to take care of what her brother does!" but the fast paced banter between the two became so entertaining to sit through that I didn't care, and I soon realized that despite the reasons, this zany pairing was the best part of the show!!
with Hikaru Nishida
I had mentioned before in my post about Kyoko Koizumi and her song "For My Life" (which was the theme song for the drama) about the undeniable chemistry between the two, Koizumi and Kobayashi were like a manzai duo in this drama, playing off each other in madcap style, and there was no better proof of their real friendship than in the NG blooper clips, which clearly showed how much FUN they were having shooting the show:
Watch as Kobayashi Satomi bangs into tables, forgets her lines and Kyonkyon and Toshiro crack up, Nishida Hikaru forget her lines when she is distracted by crispy nori being eaten, and the hilarity the ensues when the guy who plays Toshiro's Pop keeps forgetting it's his turn to talk! TOO FUNNY!!!!
Though the drama was mostly about Koizumi's character being wooed by Yanagiba's character, I always felt like the show could have been just as good watching Koizumi and Kobayashi going about their everyday lives!!!
While a Renai Kekkon no Rule Spin-off drama with the two actresses never materialized, I was STOKED to read about the 2024 drama "Danchi no Futari" starring BOTH Kyoko Koizumi and Satomi Kobayashi in the lead roles! WELL, it seems like after all these years, we've finally got our wish to see them reunited!
Danchi no Futari tells the tale of two old childhood friends who grew up in a shabby apartment complex as kids, grew up, moved out and married, got divorced..and then, as older women, moved right back to those humble apartments where they hangout, eat food, talk story, and do all the "regular" things friends do day by day!
Whether it be helping older neighbors change their sliding door screens…
...or helping a young neighbor exterminate a trespassing cockroach…
It’s all in a day’s work for these two and the only reward they need is a hot meal and cool drink at dinnertime!
For those of you who have kept up with Satomi, you know that these slow-paced slice of life shows are her real forte, with dramas like "Pan to Soup to Neko" and "Pension Metsa" all following this same formula where nothing much is going on and we’re just watching them live life, cooking, baking and eating!
Though the show doesn't have any real connection with Renai Kekkon No Rule, it nonetheless feels to me like a "sequel" to the show, and I can easily convince myself that Koizumi and Kobayashi are playing the SAME characters they did on that show, and know that this is exactly what they would be doing today!
Awwww, there are just some actors who give off a real vibe of friendship, and Kyoko and Satomi have it for sure!
SO GLAD to see both of them again! Going to enjoy this drama!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com
