5→9 From Five to Nine
Junko Sakuraba dreams of working in New York, but she currently works as an English conversation teacher. She's about to have her 29th birthday. Junko Sakuraba works hard to achieve her dream, but New York seem far away. She has also not dated in a long time. Junko Sakuraba attends a funeral held at a temple. During the funeral, she makes a mistake and throws ashes onto a monk chanting a sutra. She feels apologetic and embarrassment. Later, Junko Sakuraba's family deceives her into going on a blind date. The man she meets on the blind date is Takane Hoshikawa. Her date is the monk whom she accidentally threw ashes on.
Insights
Plot Summary
Sakuraba Junko, a 27-year-old aspiring English teacher, dreams of working in New York and marrying a wealthy American. Her life takes an unexpected turn when, during a temple visit, she accidentally swaps ashes with a handsome, wealthy, and highly traditional Buddhist monk named Hoshikawa Takane. Despite their vastly different worlds and expectations, Takane becomes infatuated with Junko, leading to a series of comedic and romantic encounters as they navigate their contrasting aspirations and cultural differences.
Critical Reception
The drama was a popular romantic comedy in Japan, praised for its charming lead actors and lighthearted, entertaining plot. It successfully blended traditional Japanese cultural elements with modern romantic comedy tropes, making it a fan favorite.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for the chemistry between the lead actors.
- Appreciated for its humorous and often exaggerated portrayal of cultural clashes.
- Enjoyed for its escapist fantasy and sweet romantic storyline.
Google audience: Audience reception on platforms where ratings are available generally highlights the enjoyable romantic plot and the performances of the main cast. Viewers often found the drama to be a light and entertaining watch, particularly appreciating the comedic elements stemming from the cultural differences.
Fun Fact
The drama is based on the manga series '5 Ji Kara 9 Ji Made' by Miki Watarai, which was published in Shogakukan's 'Cheese!' magazine.
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