This series is a nostalgic memory for Chinese people from the 1980s, a time when Sino-Japanese relations were relatively good. During that period, Chinese television stations imported some Japanese TV dramas, and this particular series was one of the few Japanese fashion dramas broadcasted in China. Adapted from the manga by Ms. Fumi Saimon, I watched this series when I was still a primary school student. At that time, I didn't understand the story, but I was curious about the relationships between the characters, especially the promise between Kanji and Rika to visit Kanji's hometown "Ehime." That memory has always stayed with me.
It wasn't until I revisited the series as an adult that I understood the overall story with its somewhat regretful ending. Rika is undoubtedly the most adorable character in the series. The scriptwriters designed her too perfectly, removing her flaws from the original manga and turning her into the ideal woman from a male perspective in the early 1990s. However, her excessive kindness, especially when pushing Kanji towards Rimi to console her, ultimately led to her romantic failure.
Kanji, coming from a small town to make a living in Tokyo, also hoped for a controllable love life. Rimi was someone he could control and feel close to (they share the same hometown and were classmates, and Kanji had a long-time secret crush on Rimi). So, about three years later, his superior suggested that Kanji would be more suitable for Rika at this point - considering Kanji's maturity and adaptation to Tokyo life, matching someone like Rika. The final scenes of their separation echoed the ending of the first episode, with both going their separate ways, leaving the past behind, showing a kind of liberation.
Finally, I'd like to mention that the series was remade in 2020 with significant changes in the story, but the character relationships in the ending remained largely unchanged. The 2020 version aligns more with the original manga, with improvements in Rika's character and a better portrayal of Kanji. Despite mixed reviews, I recommend giving it a try. If you can temporarily forget the 1991 version, you might find yourself enjoying the 2020 version.
The 1991 version left a lasting impression on many Chinese people as their initial exposure to Japanese TV dramas. In an era with limited access to foreign TV programs, this series became a cherished memory of the youth of a generation in China. Even now, it is occasionally brought up and reminisced about.
