Sayonara Bokutachi no Youchien is about 5 kindergarten kids who take on a long journey to visit their dying classmate in his hospital.
WHAT I LIKED
- Social commentary on Japanese attitudes to children. Monster parents. Over protectiveness. Teaching kids very ojisan or homeless person is a pervert/dangerous. Not telling kids the truth.
- I enjoyed the adventure that the kids went on because it was from a kid's perspective. I liked the whole working out which train to take and simple challenge like buying tickets because it fills me with nostalgia.
- Mitsushima Hikari as the kids' teacher.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- The ending with the graduation rehearsal song and dance routine to be is unintentionally hypocritical. It can't be helped since the song is the title of the dorama. I just think Japanese graduation ceremonies are a farce and the poor teachers have to sit through it with a pretend smile and nod along with the speeches.
To me, graduation ceremonies are about appeasing the parents and this goes against what I perceive to be the social commentary of parents being overzealous in regards to their children. Not telling the kids the truth and overprotectives are more about making it easier on the parents, not the children, same as the song and dance graduation ceremonies.
SUMMARY
- Watchable dorama for me. If you like cute kids singing and dancing, this dorama is for you.
3 comments:
I did enjoy this one, some impressive child actors here.
By the way, if you haven't watched "Mahoro Ekimae Bangaichi" yet, I strongly urge you to do so. It's brilliant, and gets much better after the (strange) first episode!
Thanks, will watch Mahoro Ekimae Bangaichi soon.
Japan has a lovely supply of child actors; Mana was the only familiar face to me, but the others were great in their roles. And what an array of cameos from familiar adult faces (even if disguised by homeless length hair!). Thanks for reviewing this & moving it to the top of my list.
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