Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge

This is the live action Japanese adaptation of the manga and anime Wallflower (You honestly thought I would type that name out again XD)

Now this is a relatively short drama, only 10 episodes, but it is highly entertaining. If you have read the manga or seen the anime you know that the plot line is very simple, four drop dead gorgeous males live at a boarding house run by a rich woman who flies around the world looking for a rich man to marry. In order to stay in the boarding house rent free the boys need to change the landladies niece into a lady. Sunako Nakahara however loves horror movies, can't stand beautiful people, and only wants to hang out with her medical doll Hiroshi-kun. Of course the plot had to be a bit condensed for the drama so everything moves faster, and I am kind of happy it does. Sometimes the other two got a bit repetitive.

Sunako is usually hidden behind her bangs and cape, Oomasa Aya, is extremely pretty. She isn't drop dead gorgeous, but the fact that she isn't fake looking or too beautiful makes her all the more appealing. However the character of Sunako herself was much, much more annoying then she had been in the other adaptions of this story. In the manga and anime she is a hermit yes, but she is also a complete badass without Kyohei calling her ugly, but I think it sent a wonderful message. Now this was of course overly fantastical, but it was meant to show that no matter looks everyone has something that they are uncomfortable with and need to overcome and Sunako was a good example of this. 

I love Yuya Tegoshi, but oddly enough he was not my favorite character in this drama. I liked him don't get me wrong, but I will never be the loli type. Although in the Valentine's episode he totally came close to stealing my heart as yet again for his love for his girlfriend as well as how protective he was to Sunako. I also loved that he was the driving force near the end to get Sunako and Kyohei together. I found myself wishing the drama was longer so I had more time to get to know the characters. 

I have always had a thing for the bad boy type and I do enjoy Kyohei, not to mention that Kamenashi Kazuya is extremely good looking, but he is not my favorite boarder either. Which is extremely surprising since he was always in plaid and I totally have a thing for guys in plaid. Then in episode seven he is wearing glasses which is another thing I love on guys, but even that didn't win me over completely. You get to see a lot more of what being beautiful has done to Kyohei then with the other boys as well as how he is a lot like Sunako. When he finally broke down and cried it broke my heart and I realized just how much I was attached to these characters. 

However Oda Takenaga was my favorite house mate, played by Uchi Hiroki. It might be because he was my favorite in the manga and anime as well, but I also have a thing for the quite smart type. Takenaga always seems to know what is going on as well as being the first one that was nice to Sunako. I can't exactly place why I like him so much, well besides the obvious good looks, but he is my favorite character. In the last episode when he is fighting to save Noi and Sunako, that was just extremely hot. The fact that he had problems confessing also struck close to home since I have issues conveying my feelings as well. I loved his character so much. 

The only character that I don't think was cast well was Morii Ranmaru, played by Miyao Shuntaro. It is nothing against him as an actor I was just expecting the hot red-head that was in the anime and manga and he was neither. He didn't really play as big of a role in the drama as the other characters so I feel like his character was forgotten a bit, but he wasn't a major character in the manga either. Near the end however they expanded his character enough to make him as lovable as the other.


So some final notes... Episode six where they are all fighting shirtless and wet, let me just say UNF. I mean the whole episode was good, but I was memorized with that scene, though I was sad Kyohei cut his hair (I like guys with longer hair for some odd reason) Also the real kiss between Sunako and Kyohei was adorable and I loved it to pieces. It was prefect. Overall it was a fun and kind of light hearted drama with a wonderful message and a lot of fun along the way. I give it a 4.5 out of 5