~Reminiscing an all-time favorite drama series continued…. an emotionally charged episode ahead which begs the question: “And the truth will set you free?”
「ロングバケーション episode 7」
(English subtitled)
So I’ll be posting each episode singly one episode per week every Friday …all 11 episodes here ^^.
And as aforementioned I think “Long Vacation” is the best drama ever written! Stars Kimura Takuya, Yamaguchi Tomoko, Takenouchi Yutaka, Matsu Takako, Ryo, and Inamori Izumi…. not to mention it also has one of the most iconic theme songs of all-time in Kubota Toshinobu’s “La La La Love Song” and if by chance you don’t know it, trust me you’re gonna fall in love w/ it head over heels I promise and even the opening credits remains as one of the very best cast montages!!
So I got the idea to watch and comment along with this episode before actually publishing this post publicly, as my thoughts/ reactions came to me in “real time”, so hopefully this acts like a conversation starter if you reply to any of the comments below and add new ones of your own thoughts if you’d like, as this great episode rolls along =).
![[Featured post] The Okamo♡ Part II](https://morningberryz48.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/the-godfather2_thumb.jpg?resize=40%2C40){kind=small}
モーニングBerryz48...the morning after..... "Always wear protection before reading…(^q^)." 
It’s the morning after and my very first thoughts when Minami first appeared in a daydream of sorts, is that when you have a strong and genuinely groomed friendship with the opposite sex…. it’s a major risk to take things further in any sort of physical realm. I mean it’s that fear that you could ultimately lose that friendship and then have to ponder if it was all worth it in the end? Just my premonition as episode seven opens…
LikeLike
mwaaahhh…. this one was tough for me. Like, I wouldn’t say it’s my least favorite episode so far, because at this point, I’m so emotionally attached to Sena and Minami that every episode is awesome for me to watch now. I want to live in their world, and I don’t want it to be a dorama on TV anymore. I am rooting hard for both of them. I guess for me, though, was the realization that this dorama finally took a huge misstep, in my opinion, and it was in doing what a lot of doramas I’ve seen do when a friend situation turns romantic, and that’s play it off like it never happened. Or not continue it in the very next episode. I thought for a moment that this would be the first real filler episode of the series, the kind of pause and catch your breath episode, but nope…the ending pulled my heart out and made me tear up, both from Minami chan’s tearful confession, and from the fact that she kissed somebody and his name wasn’t Sena. So in the space of what… two days…..she has kissed two different men, and now it seems this dorama is going to fall into a place where I’ve seen many, many other doramas go.
Or is it?
I have much to say about your comments, because your perspective was very different than mine in some regards and very much the same in some as well, but I am not even kidding when I tell you I wish this next week was over already. I HAVE to see the next episode! It’s going to be a long wait. I hope the show will give me the Sena/Minami relationship but not drag it out over the final episodes and instead, give me something I didn’t quite see coming. I mean, it’s okay if they don’t too, only because I just want Sena and Minami together at this point, but I’m hoping the path the show takes to put those two together is not what I can already see coming. But then again, if the show ends differently, I would be open to that as well being that the show is endlessly creative in the plot directions it takes, or has been up to this point at least, so maybe it will give me something else to consider as a better ending than the obvious one?
My heart is so torn right now lol. I mean, happy for Minami that she is finally not getting stepped on in life, but now what? aaaahhhh…this show! Lol. MB, you are the best for sharing this with me. I thought about it a lot last week and now that I finally got a chance to watch this episode tonight…I’m just head over heels for these characters.
LikeLike
Thoughts such as… was it a mistake kissing Sena? Surely those are running wild inside of her mind. On the other hand Sena’s first appearance (the morning after situation) is quite hilarious as his students are pondering whether he was dumped or got a girlfriend LOL =P. Seriously though heavy thoughts are a weighing….
LikeLike
Heavy thoughts indeed. I did think the part where Sena was with his students was kind of good comic relief to sort of de-escalate the high dorama of that friend or not friend kiss that ended last week’s episode. I laughed for sure. It would make for an interesting moment in one’s life to be kissed by a friend and then wonder what it all means.
LikeLike
The big one, the big competition with honors of joining the Boston Symphony! His mentor always has these warm and fuzzy conversations with Sena, always well timed and genuine. That actor just looks like the uncle you always wished~* you had! =)
LikeLike
joining the Symphony would be excellent for Sena, but I feel if he went to America, he would be even more alone than he is now? It’s an interesting dilemma if it were to really happen…you get this huge reward for your creativity, but you also have to sacrifice, potentially, your chance at finding happiness with somebody. But then again, I’m probably reading into that way too much lol. I’m just happy he has the support of the Uncle Actor dude!
LikeLike
Minami’s mind in a daze and an important package to deliver, you just knew it was going south…. and it was all set off by Minami being a good heart~ed person she is =/.
UH~OH…… =O.
LikeLike
This is the worst thing that could have happened =(. Minami’s mad search has all of the ill feelings of going nowhere fast unfortunately.
LikeLike
I was SO hoping the obaachan would come back with the film, since it was obvious right from the start that’s what had happened. So glad she did later on, phew! But that must be an awful feeling for Minami! Kawaii so!
LikeLike
Shinji’s all nervous and it’s so not like him and in that it’s quite an endearing sight I must say! His “It’s Me” in a variety of expressions is priceless, and Rumiko I must say finally!!!!!!!!!!! Yup hang up that phone!~! She’s always been so in the background for the most part so this is refreshing to see.
LikeLike
Seeing Rumiko stand up for herself was definitely great. Kind of powerful in a way too, given that she has, up to this point, been somewhat disregarded by everyone. Very refreshing indeed.
LikeLike
And you just knew it that the Sena kiss complex would rear its ugly head sooner than later. Momochan always the voice of reason or at least the voice not afraid to tell it like it is or how she perceives it to be. Once again the do it* thought goes a “bit” too far from reality LOL. What I love about this scene in addition to the obvious Momochan wisdom is how she defers to the eateries’ owner on whether Minami has still got it* as in sex appeal …so funny! And of course he agrees, Minami’s cute!~!
LikeLike
I was hoping this was going to go somewhere, since it would’ve at least dealt with the fact that the kiss had happened. Momochan wisdom kicked in and made the scene funny though, so I can’t complain.
LikeLike
A kiss is just a kiss is a kiss or it isn’t?? Huh…. to want to sleep over at Momochan’s place and all and yet we do get that awkward the day after scene after all. Friends going to far? Was it the right thing to do? Was it on a whim? Is there really any future here? So many questions and yes a few more episodes to answer it all in good time! =D
LikeLike
Oh, how I really hope in good time these important questions will all be answered!
LikeLike
Shinji’s appearance at Sena’s place was a shocker! And even more so when he’s reveled to have been “beat up” a bit by Rumiko after all, and I can’t blame her one bit albeit I could never hit anyone no matter what and they probably wouldn’t feel it anyway xD. Shinji here being truthful about his situation and how he’s handled things till now including his life academically is pretty amazing to hear. I mean his character, you’d just never expect such vulnerability. Nice =). He’s human after all LOL =P. And now you can really see the wound on his face and then he gets the boot from Minami’s bed…. too funny how siblings handle one another. =P I also really liked seeing that Sena was eavesdropping just then…… it’s good that he knows these things and the situation. And oh so sweet of Sena to leave bandages for Shinji and Minami’s brief realization of his eavesdropping and then kind gesture is super sweet~♥. ^^*
LikeLike
A good scene, and the more I think about it, focusing on Shinji’s dilemma right now was a welcome distraction from the real elephant in the room, i.e., the Minami and Sena situation. This was good stuff here. And yes, Sena being sweet once again was nice to watch.
LikeLike
Minami and Momochan’s search for the lost film has that giddy dialogue we’ve become accustomed to… =D. Still you really have this sense that they won’t find a thing. =(
LikeLike
Rumiko’s visit to Sena’s work place comes with a lot of painful truths…. I touched on this a bit earlier about Sena’s kindness being double edged and here Rumiko finally calls him on it and in a most candid of ways. Unexpected once again from her and I’m happy that she’s being this honest no matter Sena’s feelings at this point as what she says is the truth here. I do see Shinji and Ryokochan as a potential better match and yet along the way feelings were hurt and the reality of the situation blurred a bit too.
LikeLike
Rumiko reminded me of Momochan here, in that she speaks the honest truth about Sena, or at least a different kind of perspective on Sena being the good guy, ne? And wasn’t it just an episode or so ago that Momochan had come to visit Sena at his workplace? So this was a nice parallel to that.
LikeLike
And now seeing Sena’s expressions I’m feeling badly for him as he was just called out honestly, funny how emotions can turn on a dime even when logic says it perhaps shouldn’t. It’s like Sena was just trying to do what he deemed best and to be a friend to Ryokochan and yet he didn’t consider Rumiko at all while doing it, rock tough place….Sena. =/
LikeLike
Ohhhhhh I liked that Shinji and Rumiko came face to face as no doubt Shinji was dodging her and wouldn’t have made any contact with her. And I soooooooo loved seeing Shinji jump up all panicky and such when Sena and Minami realizing the tenderness of their situation decided to get out of the way and let them talk in private~!~! He was like please pleeeease stay!!!!
LikeLike
Another truth hits here with Rumiko openly calling out Shinji on his “affair” with Ryokochan and it’s just refreshing to see/hear… I mean so many dramas drag this out to infinity. When she asks if she may hit him….. just wow. And for a second there I was afraid that she really would as it was so serious and warranted?? And yet Sena saves the situation, well for Shinji at least as he has his drink go down the wrong pipe ahhhhhhh what timing xD.
LikeLike
Now this end to this scene was painfully sad =( and there’s such a realism with the emotions between Rumiko and Shinji here, I mean it’s acting but it’s superb as you really get the whole sense of his guilt ridden mind being so conflicted while her heart is being crushed by her very own realization and honesty here towards Shinji….. to say she’s happy being able to part after all they’ve shared, just a heartbreaking scene. And even more so when Shinji chases after her downstairs …with every good-bye spoken it teared me up. =(
LikeLike
Okay, so the whole scene from beginning to end here with Rumiko and Shinji and co. was very painful and heartfelt. Sena did a great, great thing with his timing of choking, but Rumiko I thought for sure was going to knock Shinji out. I kept picturing it happening in my mind because it would be so incredibly funny but also appropriate, given what Shinji did to her.
But then I started to think about what Shinji actually did…he kissed Ryoko chan and that was it. He didn’t sleep with her…so…I mean, people fall in and out of love all the time. Rumiko is cool and beautiful, but they were only together for a few months, according to Rumiko here…so how bad can you get tore up after just a few months? She said she knew it was going to happen…so then, why the disappointment and the anger? I kind of sided with Shinji for a moment in my thinking here because Rumiko knew what she was getting into and decided to play with fire anyway. I mean, I get it, Shinji is hot (at least you tell me he is..I have no frame of reference for this since I’m a guy lol) and she wanted a taste of that hotness, even if it meant she would get hurt in the end. If I had a chance to be with a super hot female, I wonder if I would, even if that female was known to not be the relationship type? I think there’s an old saying about the quickest way to give a man a heart attack is to marry a beautiful woman. I am sure the same applies for woman who get with ikemen types that all gears would want just based on their looks alone.
Still sad though, still heartfelt. I was a bit sad here too, but is this really goodbye to Rumiko in the series? Or does she pop up later? I wonder….
LikeLike
The connection between Sena and Minami only gets more evident here as she calls him on his purposeful cough with his drink earlier that it was on purpose and not accidental =). Sena, the ultimate sweety~♥. And yet Rumiko’s words are to heart here and still Minami encourages the guilt away…. knowing that it wasn’t meant to be and that her brother’s been that way for so long now. (sigh….) what a true friend is for ~♥~.
LikeLike
Ryokochan’s going to Sena’s and once again honesty is on a high in this episode and it made me feel truly all warm and fuzzy inside (also note that very familiar piano piece playing just then….) just hearing Sena’s advice to Ryokochan and then what really hits hard is his saying that “not everyone can be happy” (in love). The shy guy we know all too well giving the very best and open love advice here is quite awesome I thought, you really see Sena’s character blooming episode by episode and this conversation with Ryokochan was a huge leap into wonderful. =)
LikeLike
Ohhh I get goosebumps when Sena says that with Ryokochan’s smile, God will be on her side!~! =D He really lights up just then! And likewise Ryokochan, and then to further give her his key to his apartment is going beyond the call….. love it when Sena later thinks back to himself how he actually said that smile comment to Ryokochan. It’s a nice realistic touch I thought.
LikeLike
I thought Sena’s words were a bit cheezy, and when Sena actually reflected on this, I was supremely happy. I love shows that are self-aware! Also, Ryoko Chan looked fantastic in this segment. Shinji is a lucky man to have her waiting for him at Sena’s apartment. That was a nice segment. I kept hoping they would do more than what they did and we would be somewhat privvy to that, but, eh, um…yeah, er…this isn’t that kind of show, right? Lol. Just…those two have real chemistry together, ne?
LikeLike
And then note our incredible main theme song coming in a bit “early” here….? I mean it’s like this tiny good feeling moment between Sena and Ryokochan and the song enhances this mood to the next level.
LikeLike
agreed. I love the music. The show has plenty of great music. Didn’t care for the rapping at the end of this episode though..kind of took me out of the painful moment that was beginning to play out with Sena and soon to arrive Minami. But the piano version of the theme song, any time it kicks in, steals my soul. And yeah, the music coming in here was interesting and welcomed.
LikeLike
Ah honesty, Ryokochan being there to see Shinji and being straight about it. =) Now if only that missing film can be found!!!!
Mmm……. La La La Love Song still playing in the background and it’s a funny little touch how the Grandmother says her name in reference to not wanting to be called “grandmother” LOL cute!
LikeLike
Lol, you talked about that missing film….yes….please tell me that exists somewhere between these two lol.
And the Obaachan correcting photo guy about her name…OMOSHIROI!!! hahahaha.
LikeLike
It might sound silly but I cried too when Sena says to Minami that (Tetsuya) …”can take more photos as long as he’s alive.” How he’s being there for her emotionally as she expect to resign for her losing his important film.
Makes you sigh all happy Awwwwuh~♥ too when Minami reveals having read Sena’s letter from Ryokochan and Shinji and how he’s always the good person. =)
LikeLike
I loved how Minami very expertly discussed the note with Sena, who was trying to hide it for some reason. Too kawaii. Also, I wasn’t that affected by Sena’s discussion with Minami here, but it was super awesome to see him jump to her protection in their discussion. My question I kept asking to myself was…did he jump to her protection because he was acting more like a friend here, or was it because he harbors more than friend feelings and wanted to just defend the person who he might be hoping would be his girlfriend soon? Either way, it was touching.
LikeLike
Minami’s proposal for a lost love celebration~*~~* you gotta love that!
LikeLike
Perfect Minamism. I loved it.
LikeLike
Minani’s long walk to Tetsuya’s was painful to watch, she’s always gotten such a raw deal in life and this is just another brick in that wall of sorrow. =(
And then the mention of a package and urgency pop up! And yet I totally thought that Tetsuya was gong to be sooooooo mean to her just then…… how sly of a scene he created here! Kind of cruel too but only for a moment and then YES the lady did bring the film to him! Of course she visited earlier and we saw her vividly and yet with no word of the film reappearing it made me wonder ….ehhhhh? But then we have this wondrous scene born of misery to elation and then Minami drops this episode’s epic emotional reveal.
LikeLike
It tugged at my heartstrings seeing Sena waiting eagerly for Minami’s return and their promised “lost love” celebration. =( You see her working late and slowly realize that it’s not going to happen and not to be lost in the middle of it all is Sena at long last filling out his competition enrollment!~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES! =D
LikeLike
A great moment overshadowed by the immediate connection he had hoped to have with Minami. I mean, you know, some lamenting over a bottle of wine and you never know where that night would’ve ended between the two. I just wished it would’ve ended with both of them on top of each other in Sena’s bedroom lol. But that was not to be, which bummed me out to no end, as I can see where this was going as he waited for Minami to come home to him.
LikeLike
He’s still waiting, still waiting… even saving the bottle of wine Minami’s return which won’t happen…. =(.
LikeLike
In no way do I blame Minami for forgetting about their promised lost love celebration, and yet I felt so sad for Sena….. =(.
LikeLike
OMG did you see the time on the clock?? And now Minami’s fast asleep…. stress! Stress! And all of that searching for the lost film. She so needed that rest.
LikeLike
And just before Minami’s aforementioned epic emotional reveal of this entire episode it’s now Tetsuya’s honesty calling out Minami and how she’s always seemingly on edge in life, really a sum of all of the hardships she’s gone through in life, this scene is so powerful.
LikeLike
Oh Tetsuya said the L word! =O Love….. And Minami’s “tired” reply hits gently again and again if one isn’t now tearing up they may be Vulcan =P!~! The remark about the “chan” suffix and how it’s not the norm to be addressed that way and then Minami’s ultimate reveal of (how her life’s) had her responding in this tough demeanor always and how she’s like an “old man” was dialogue which just remains with you, as one of the more memorable drama dialogues. Like she’s reached the end of her rope just then and it’s perfect that Tetsuya is there for her….. hahah okay I know you’re thinking better if it were Sena, and yet this scene is amazing.
LikeLike
Minami’s repetition of saying she was “tired” is exactly how I feel sometimes. It would be nice to hear somebody say they loved me, just like she said, instead of me having to be the one to say it all the time. I think as you get older, that’s kind of what happens. But to see her break down, tears in those beautiful eyes of hers, and her always smiling face devolve into something less than a smile…it was perfect acting that made me emotional. It hurt to watch her so vulnerable.
Personally, I thought Tetsuya’s I love you was premature here and for some reason, not something he should’ve said in this moment. I dunno how you can “Love” somebody you just met who you employed to be like a secretary of sorts and who nearly cost you a huge job. It’s weird, because with Ryoko chan liking Shinji, that somehow makes more sense because it’s born from Ryoko chan’s age and her youthful naivete. I get that kind of quick spirited Love. But Tetsuya looks way older and more experienced in life, and real love takes time to develop, and he knows that, so…it felt like this was really something he said to her because he wanted to kiss her and get close to her physically? Or maybe he really DOES love her? Like love at first sight? I could accept that if this was really the case, since I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, but I would think just based on the character he’s been so far in the show, the writers of the show might have let this “love” of his develop a little more before he confessed to it.
But then again, Minami responded great to it, and she allowed the situation to happen as it did. I don’t blame her for kissing Tetsuya, though I was bummed out about her choice to leave Sena hanging like that. The real problem though is…if she had said to Tetsuya nevermind, then she would’ve gone back to Sena, who is a great guy, but not exactly the type to just come out and say he loves a girl. He even used the same line on Minami that he had to work up to with Ryoko chan to get a kiss, so in a way, Minami now is faced with the decision of either going for the younger guy who needs trained in the art of love, or the guy her age (I think they are around the same age, yeah?) who has no problem saying what he wants and isn’t afraid to show it. And employs her lol.
Such a tough place to be in for Minami, but a much better place than the start of this show, which was her left at the altar and soon to be jobless!
Where is this all going to go?????? Ahhhahahahahahahaa. My brain is melting!
LikeLike
A girl whom doesn’t hear “I love you” from a man, being the only one to say it…. incredible scene.
LikeLike
And then my heart skipped a beat with the sight of Sena up with the sun rising…. still waiting for Minami to return as promised =(.
LikeLike
The basketball court choice is so perfect here….. memorable moments between Sena and Minami have been right here and then this!!!!!! The looks between them speaks so much and yet you have to wonder what will be said…..ah! and then it ends with yet another incredibly OMG cliffhanger!~! ^^*
Until next Friday, o~tanoshimi ne~ =)!
LikeLike
So, so sad about this last scene. Did Minami Do it with Tetsuya, or was it just a kiss? It looked pretty light out when she got home….I’m hoping she just passed out and went to sleep on Tetsuya’s couch lol. But even if she didn’t, she still kissed Tetsuya, which means she wasn’t entirely sold on Sena, which means maybe my hope for Team Minami/Sena is not going to pan out? I can’t wait to see where this is going.
Seriously MB, you’re the best. Thank you!
LikeLike
Another huge cliffhanger! Enjoyed the post-kiss episode a lot. I really felt for her when she lost the packages. I think most of us have messed up at some stage, after being entrusted with an important task, so it’s not difficult to know how she felt.
Shows like this are incredibly rare on UK TV. I don’t know about US TV, but we have virtually none that features people talking about relationships and feelings. They’re almost always police dramas, or yet another show featuring a detective with personal problems. Glancing regularly at the new DVD releases for the US market, you can see that Japanese TV does all those sameish cop shows, but loads of other things as well. And anime, of course, which covers every genre under the sun. I wonder how US viewers, and programme schedulers, would make of Muse no kagami, that unusual little dorama Sasshi and Hirano Aya were in…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Much of Japan’s television programming would be a bit of culture~shock for the Western world and beyond. Un totally agree about that and to your point this particular drama really captures both the human and relationship sides so well, almost uniquely well.
Will miss you while you’re away.
. =( please hurry back as you’d just returned and I will miss you once again my music~soulmate♡ you are ^^*.
LikeLike