This drama deals with the taboo of not only age gap and forbidden love but also with having a relationship with a minor. I won't review this drama based on my own views on the matter, as it didn't glorify it, but just presented the story and the tragedy of their love. So, emotion wise, this one was strong at that area. Especially at the begining, however, it got boring towards the end and the pace slowed down as well. I also enjoyed the presentation of the how everyone else viewed their choices as well as the emotional struggles the two leads had to deal with. In addition, the performances were really good and the cinematography on point for this drama.
14 Reviews
The ending pretty much destroyed the potential rating of a 10 for this series.
kmhlbeavis10 March 2024
Some of the reviewers here seem to have a problem with the situaton here. Hello this is the 21st century. Japan frowns on this but they have pretty lewd sex shops in the city ( Tokyo ) which don't even exist in some of the major U. S. cities here. The teacher and the student fall in love. Their feelings grow for each other as the years pass. This isn't an infatuation but really love. After 3 years if it really was an infatuation they would have moved on . The mother was really more worried about what people would think not so much for the sons sake as he didn't care, but for her own reputation. The mother wasn't really a good mother to begin with. First of all she deprived her son of contact with his father and then she says that she made a mistake falling for a married man with a family. You can't compare the 2 situations as the teacher wasn't married nor had any children. Then she continues to torture the boy. Then the boys so called friends . With friends like that you don't need any enemies. Runa was jealous but what was she expecting for him to love her. It would have been a disaster. Also Shotaro, he expected her to be in love with him when you can tell from the beginning that she wasn't. Then that character Joffe he shouldn't have gotten involved in famly matters as he was not the boys father, he even helped the mother to keep the father from contacting the boy. He was just as criminal as the mother is. People need to understand that age is just a number. The acceptable age gap to me is 10 years and no more than that. The only 2 people that were for the relationship were the boys father and the ex's boss she was in favor of that also. Everyone else was just too behind the times. The ending was terrible as the scene should have shown the mother giving Hijiri her blessing for all of the pain that she put the girl through. People think that she was a predator but if you noticed in the entire series she remained faithful to the boy and didn't entertain the thought of anyone else. The ending should have been longer. Most of the stars were for the actress she is dropped dead gorgeous in a sweet way.
Watched twice already
mariaturmine30 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Enjoyed this drama, the acting and scenery both magnificent.
A teacher would be foolish and wrong to allow a relationship to develop with a 15 year old boy.
Yes some 15 yr old boys are like young men to look at (he was so handsome) but they are at a very difficult and confusing stage. The teacher was the adult and should control the situation.
The slap shocked me, when is it ever ok to slap someone, especially because of attraction.
I was ok with the relationship when he was 18 and swooned when his large strong hand would engulf her petite hand.
The ex boyfriends boss was very manipulative, She was obviously older and in a position of power and demonstrated predatory behaviour.
This made the teacher and student relationship so much sweeter and innocent for me.
I was really disappointed with the rushed ending and would have preferred it to show more emotion.
A teacher would be foolish and wrong to allow a relationship to develop with a 15 year old boy.
Yes some 15 yr old boys are like young men to look at (he was so handsome) but they are at a very difficult and confusing stage. The teacher was the adult and should control the situation.
The slap shocked me, when is it ever ok to slap someone, especially because of attraction.
I was ok with the relationship when he was 18 and swooned when his large strong hand would engulf her petite hand.
The ex boyfriends boss was very manipulative, She was obviously older and in a position of power and demonstrated predatory behaviour.
This made the teacher and student relationship so much sweeter and innocent for me.
I was really disappointed with the rushed ending and would have preferred it to show more emotion.
ALL THE DAMN FEELS
cile-chan28 July 2021
In my 24 years of existence, I've never experienced romantic love... but somehow I feel like I just did after watching Meet Me After School.
Watching this has been an absolute emotional roller coaster for me. Despite the fact that I have different views regarding the topic that it tackled, the story managed to make me sympathize for Hijiri and Akira. The way the story unfolded was very realistic. The theme wasn't glamorized at all and both of the main characters dealt with the repercussions of being in such predicament, and the supporting characters' reactions were all logical and fairly reasonable.
There were 3 things I truly loved the most about this series. First would be the stellar performances of the cast members (Kasumi I'm a new fan!). They all brought something to the table and I really loved their chemistry with each other, especially Kasamu with Kenshi. There were scenes between their characters that were so arresting (no pun intended lol) and melancholic that I kept replaying. I also loved Haraguchi and her empowering speeches to Hijiri. Second would be the gorgeous cinematography that showcased the picturesqueness of rural Japan that made me wish I resided there. And last but definitely not the least, would be the catchy OST and melodious background scores that captured the scenes- the series overall- perfectly.
10/10 for all the distress and butterflies. Will definitely be rewatching.
Watching this has been an absolute emotional roller coaster for me. Despite the fact that I have different views regarding the topic that it tackled, the story managed to make me sympathize for Hijiri and Akira. The way the story unfolded was very realistic. The theme wasn't glamorized at all and both of the main characters dealt with the repercussions of being in such predicament, and the supporting characters' reactions were all logical and fairly reasonable.
There were 3 things I truly loved the most about this series. First would be the stellar performances of the cast members (Kasumi I'm a new fan!). They all brought something to the table and I really loved their chemistry with each other, especially Kasamu with Kenshi. There were scenes between their characters that were so arresting (no pun intended lol) and melancholic that I kept replaying. I also loved Haraguchi and her empowering speeches to Hijiri. Second would be the gorgeous cinematography that showcased the picturesqueness of rural Japan that made me wish I resided there. And last but definitely not the least, would be the catchy OST and melodious background scores that captured the scenes- the series overall- perfectly.
10/10 for all the distress and butterflies. Will definitely be rewatching.
The Common Pattern in Dramas About a Student-Teacher Love Relationship
Reginay_4042 September 2021
In the drama about a student-teacher love relationship, female teachers are generally very weak, pitiful, and very feminine. They are the incarnation of truth, goodness, and beauty, but they are often misunderstood. As a result, in some ways, they are not happy. At the same time, they are kidnapped by society's expectations of women. Although they often choose to tolerate, in fact, deep in their hearts, they are still very rebellious. Breaking free from all shackles and falling in love with students is a very "rebellious" choice.
The audience would like to think Hijiri is so good, why should people bully her? Why is the love process of these two lovers so complicated and difficult? If you like each other, why can't you be together? Finally: what did they do wrong? Nothing wrong. But if we set aside these settings, will the audience really support them? Not necessarily. I think that it is okay to have this kind of relationship in artworks, but it is a bit difficult to do so in reality.
I don't personally like the ending. In reality, the possibility of always liking someone without contact is very low. However, this is a fairy tale anyway. The village flowers are beautiful, and Kuroiwa-Kun is handsome. The breath of youth, the perfect fairy tale accompanied with Uru's beautiful BGM, and Du Fu's Delighting in Rain on a Spring Night are a perfect match. Who has heard of fairy tales that are hurtful? Well, it's called a fable......
At least all the teacher-student relationships I know are fairy tales. But fairy tales are also good and average. At least it's worse than "High School Teacher" and "Majo no jouken". But it's definitely better than all kinds of movies adapted from other comic books.
The audience would like to think Hijiri is so good, why should people bully her? Why is the love process of these two lovers so complicated and difficult? If you like each other, why can't you be together? Finally: what did they do wrong? Nothing wrong. But if we set aside these settings, will the audience really support them? Not necessarily. I think that it is okay to have this kind of relationship in artworks, but it is a bit difficult to do so in reality.
I don't personally like the ending. In reality, the possibility of always liking someone without contact is very low. However, this is a fairy tale anyway. The village flowers are beautiful, and Kuroiwa-Kun is handsome. The breath of youth, the perfect fairy tale accompanied with Uru's beautiful BGM, and Du Fu's Delighting in Rain on a Spring Night are a perfect match. Who has heard of fairy tales that are hurtful? Well, it's called a fable......
At least all the teacher-student relationships I know are fairy tales. But fairy tales are also good and average. At least it's worse than "High School Teacher" and "Majo no jouken". But it's definitely better than all kinds of movies adapted from other comic books.
So good
joanne-780492 April 2019
Very good the lead actor is so handsome could look at him all day. The story was heartbreak in parts really felt empathy for the lead actors . considering it was his first lead acting he was excellent cant wait to see him in other movies or dramas .
Good but controversial drama
fffflora19 September 2021
I'm not sure how to feel about this drama. For one it really is an excellent drama with some of the best chemistry I've seen and great performances. The obvious issue though is the ML is a 15 year old falling for his 25 year old teacher. For the life of me I'll never understand why they didn't make the ML 18 instead of 15 and avoid controversy altogether, I mean why even go there? But they went there. The drama does not glorify or condone this behavior, but it definitely romanticizes it and that's what a lot of people understandably have a problem with.
I suggest you watch for yourself and see what you think, there is a lot to be felt in this drama.
I suggest you watch for yourself and see what you think, there is a lot to be felt in this drama.
School for Scandal
geewhiz465 March 2024
So - if pupils set fire to something and get burnt and taken to hospital - who do the authorities call? Parents - of course - the police - maybe - but teachers?
I have never heard of anything similar in any other country.
The school's senior female teacher (wearing a grotesque grey wig) told the young teacher not to wear light clothing - not to use scented shampoo or body lotions - I suppose perfume would have resulted in immediate dismissal. Not to mention being driven to the hospital by her "lover".
The young teacher was just too sweet and innocent for words - there was no way she should have been put in charge of a bunch of hormonal teenagers - mostly male.
In my view - the young man who fell in love with her looked far older than fifteen - if you want to make a point about age gap love at least make the actors look the age they are supposed to be.
I didn't find their story convincing - he should have been expelled immediately after slapping her. When she took no action it damaged her credibility as a teacher in my view. She was far too accepting of every display of disrespect by her pupils. She had no control over them at all. She wasn't fit for the job.
Was this scenario meant to convey her emotional weakness?
As usual we had to have the compulsory same sex kiss by her boyfriends female colleague and his descent from hero to zero when he was unfaithful to her with said colleague who informed him that she was conveniently "Bi".
It was as if this was put forward as an excuse for our heroine's subsequent behaviour.
The acting was OK - but the story was not gripping because the outcome was too obvious.
I have never heard of anything similar in any other country.
The school's senior female teacher (wearing a grotesque grey wig) told the young teacher not to wear light clothing - not to use scented shampoo or body lotions - I suppose perfume would have resulted in immediate dismissal. Not to mention being driven to the hospital by her "lover".
The young teacher was just too sweet and innocent for words - there was no way she should have been put in charge of a bunch of hormonal teenagers - mostly male.
In my view - the young man who fell in love with her looked far older than fifteen - if you want to make a point about age gap love at least make the actors look the age they are supposed to be.
I didn't find their story convincing - he should have been expelled immediately after slapping her. When she took no action it damaged her credibility as a teacher in my view. She was far too accepting of every display of disrespect by her pupils. She had no control over them at all. She wasn't fit for the job.
Was this scenario meant to convey her emotional weakness?
As usual we had to have the compulsory same sex kiss by her boyfriends female colleague and his descent from hero to zero when he was unfaithful to her with said colleague who informed him that she was conveniently "Bi".
It was as if this was put forward as an excuse for our heroine's subsequent behaviour.
The acting was OK - but the story was not gripping because the outcome was too obvious.
concept is bad but drama is good
Rose007lily8 March 2024
When I started it, I didn't know what to expect from the story ( I thought boy would be 18 and even if he had feelings for the teacher, he would confess after few years or something) but boom, not at all like it, everything happens so quickly.
The teacher is very sweet, friendly and cheerful ( trying her best ) and the student ( 15 years old) is complicated ( haha not bad personality, little tired of family drama I guess ). I was in shock how their relationship gradually built ( it is definitely shocking).
I believe if the teacher was more strict, such situation would not arise ( she literally fell for him instantly which seems disappointing, like one should atleast have discipline and professionalism).
The storyline takes many unpredictable turns so it's interesting. It was definitely not at all boring ( a good binge watch) but I believe the concept is very controversial.
The teacher is very sweet, friendly and cheerful ( trying her best ) and the student ( 15 years old) is complicated ( haha not bad personality, little tired of family drama I guess ). I was in shock how their relationship gradually built ( it is definitely shocking).
I believe if the teacher was more strict, such situation would not arise ( she literally fell for him instantly which seems disappointing, like one should atleast have discipline and professionalism).
The storyline takes many unpredictable turns so it's interesting. It was definitely not at all boring ( a good binge watch) but I believe the concept is very controversial.
Irrational
shashben9 March 2024
Basically she is a teacher with " passion" for teaching. At the age of "15" she shd have guided her student to complete his education at any cost first and then think about other things. When she realizes infatuation of one of her students aged 15, she was ,"25" quite old enough to understand the implications. In due course too she just gives her love as "excuse" as her co worker rightly points out. Age gap might not be deterrent but in that case both shd be ADULTS with their heads firmly on their shoulders. Here the boy is still high schooler? Fanning his feelings is CRIMINAL. She shd have refrained and guided him properly as TEACHER. Rather than doing the correct thing she keeps on justifying her misendevour. Plus she had her ex by her side who has been shown to be a dependable rational person. Rather than going with him this selfish in late 20s teacher keeps on seducing her student!
Irrational and criminal!
It seems that rather director WANTS it this way just for (?) cheap sensationalism.
Irrational and criminal!
It seems that rather director WANTS it this way just for (?) cheap sensationalism.
Absorbing & thought-provoking
fleachoo22 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This drama first gets you because of the on-screen chemistry between the male and female leads. As the story unfolds, I kept wondering just how possible is it for love to develop between two people with a 10-year age gap, made even more unusual by the fact that it's the female teacher who's older. You can't help but wonder if what the teenage student felt is just a big crush that he'll outgrow. But the drama unfolds slowly for you to realize that this young chap is smart and thinks deeply. His affection for his teacher may have started when he was 15, but the intensity of those feelings did not diminish even after she disappeared from his life for 3 years. In fact, his love grew stronger, and more protective - not in a bad way, but becoming warm, loving and gentle. It took those 3 years for her - Hijiri - to finally admit to Akira that she loves him. One character that deserves mention is Akira's mother. If she had not stepped in and take those legal steps to ensure her son did not have any contact with Hijiri, their lives and their love may not have turned out that well. Another key character that is a turning point in Akira's maturity development is his dad. He's the one who makes Akira see what he has to do to convince his mum of his love for Hijiri. The depth and intensity of their feelings is so palpable that you want them to just end up together already. But the reality of things is - there's no chance practically that an 18 year old male student can have a long-lasting and happy relationship with a 28 year old woman who's obviously got more earning power than him. He's after all, still a teenager, with all the gawkiness of that age, who can't express his feelings and thoughts clearly. So, fast-forward 5 years - he's now a working adult, having graduated from university and she's happily teaching in a foreign land. His mum hands Akira the legal agreement Hijiri signed 5 years ago. Akira gives the document to Hijiri and they both know nothing can now come between them. It's a sweet, tender love that has you wishing at the end to have glimpses into their future. A word about the male lead - Koshi Mizukami - for a first role, he was very convincing. Definitely not just good-looking, he has great talent too. I felt though, that some earlier episodes with his classmates and the teachers in Hijiri's first school were too draggy and not really relevant to the story. They could have done away with those and given more time to develop the Akira-Hijiri relationship. Very good story - if it had been a 15 year old female student and her 25 year old male teacher, the story would be viewed completely differently - people are less able to accept it.
Dysfunctional parent-children relationship that will inform children's further relationship
gmc-linetta3 March 2024
Another May-December or Noona romance story, but I would like to comment on parent-children relationship depicted in this film that stood out for me. What kind of a frustrated parent it takes to deliberately inflict pain on their child? One parent deliberates on depriving their unborn baby of the father, another parent torments their child prioritising the parent's own emotional needs, the third parent torments their child by hiding father's letters and prohibiting the budding feelings of love, and the fourth parent at some point alienates their own adult child. Are we dealing with some massive phenomenon of emotional abuse of children in the family or is it a cultural "thing" or perhaps generational? "You aren't wrong about this. You only did what any parent would do. [...] It's OK. People always grow stronger through hardships. They are all precious experiences. It's sure to help in his life ahead." What kind of philosophy is this, furthermore, coming from the lips of a teacher? What is OK or precious about it?
So the story develops against this backdrop with the hope for the future that somehow children who go through this will acquire cognitive sophistication to navigate interpersonal relationship.
So the story develops against this backdrop with the hope for the future that somehow children who go through this will acquire cognitive sophistication to navigate interpersonal relationship.
Romeo and Juliet without murder
annacat-785866 April 2024
It's really annoying that if you watch one k- or j- drama Netfix start to suggest them in an intrusive way and won't stop forever it feels. So I detected this show and was intrigued by the idea of it. A bit. I hesitated watching it because I feared they ruined the story.
The first episodes were promising and I liked the characters except of this girl with the mask on her chin, I did not understand the purpose. Well maybe I don't have to because I'm far beyond teenage age ;) Can someone explain? Also I'm with the boy- I didn't see Hijiri as a teacher for middle schoolers. When she said to him she loved her class I literally winced. Maybe because I´m too old for this.
But the drama, oh the drama! Full of wonderful, stereotypical "coincidences" and poetic sundowns. Those are the four stars. They ruined the plot after the three years gap. Everyone was so possessed by the past, I mean, hello? Why should a teacher explain her past to unrelated parents and excuses herself, as if she actually did something to harm their children? And is gossiping the new way of living? The only reasonable person was Mrs. Haraguchi. Hijiri should have chosen her.
The first episodes were promising and I liked the characters except of this girl with the mask on her chin, I did not understand the purpose. Well maybe I don't have to because I'm far beyond teenage age ;) Can someone explain? Also I'm with the boy- I didn't see Hijiri as a teacher for middle schoolers. When she said to him she loved her class I literally winced. Maybe because I´m too old for this.
But the drama, oh the drama! Full of wonderful, stereotypical "coincidences" and poetic sundowns. Those are the four stars. They ruined the plot after the three years gap. Everyone was so possessed by the past, I mean, hello? Why should a teacher explain her past to unrelated parents and excuses herself, as if she actually did something to harm their children? And is gossiping the new way of living? The only reasonable person was Mrs. Haraguchi. Hijiri should have chosen her.
Only 5 episodes in and doubt I'll be able to stand any more
barrytookas3 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This started of promising, but started to decline fairly quickly. By episode 5 it was getting ridiculous and totally unbelievable.
Firstly I could understand a Teacher falling for a student in some circumstances, but their first encounter is when he slaps her in the face, then drags her into a sports storage area, then forcefully embraces her in another incident, then drags her onto a train at the station when she was supposed to be dropping him off and returning to her duties! Yeah, who could resist those kind of advances? ANY NORMAL PERSON!!! While all this is going on her fiance is being seduced by his sexual predator female boss, who apparently is some kind of guru who can see the future and already knows how their live are going to play out at first meeting, yet she herself, although being bi-sexual, cannot hold any kind long term relationship.
The young female teacher, has absolutely no sense of responsibility to her teaching duties and has allowed a fifteen year old student, (who looks 20), to physically manhandle and inappropriately touch her with no consequence at all. If this was written by a skilled writer who was conscious of the story being credible and believable, it may have worked, but every scene so far has me asking, "in what universe would something like this ever happen?"
Firstly I could understand a Teacher falling for a student in some circumstances, but their first encounter is when he slaps her in the face, then drags her into a sports storage area, then forcefully embraces her in another incident, then drags her onto a train at the station when she was supposed to be dropping him off and returning to her duties! Yeah, who could resist those kind of advances? ANY NORMAL PERSON!!! While all this is going on her fiance is being seduced by his sexual predator female boss, who apparently is some kind of guru who can see the future and already knows how their live are going to play out at first meeting, yet she herself, although being bi-sexual, cannot hold any kind long term relationship.
The young female teacher, has absolutely no sense of responsibility to her teaching duties and has allowed a fifteen year old student, (who looks 20), to physically manhandle and inappropriately touch her with no consequence at all. If this was written by a skilled writer who was conscious of the story being credible and believable, it may have worked, but every scene so far has me asking, "in what universe would something like this ever happen?"
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