โThereโs nobody who canโt fall in love, right?โ
Butโฆ what is love exactly?
Look around you. You’ll find references to “romantic love” everywhere. Couples, dates, marriage, divorce. Most of it will surely be the standard romantic relationship between two people of opposite sexes. Once you start paying attention to it, you realise it’s everywhere.
This conception of “normal” behaviour shouts at us from every corner. But I, for one, am so used to it that I never stopped to think about how overwhelming it all is. It was NHK’s Koisenu Futari (ๆใใฌใตใใ, lit. “A Couple Who Don’t Fall In Love”) that opened my eyes to the (not-so) subtle pressure from this constant, perpetual presence.
Apparently, if we’re not engaged in the life game of graduate-marry-children-house, we’re not normal. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. Fall in love! Build a family! Butโฆ can most people define what love really is? What is family? Why is it so important to be in love, to engage in a romantic relationship? What is romance, anyway?
This review contains very, very mild spoilers. Read at your own risk! Otherwise, you can pin our spoiler-free summary at the bottom!
First, What Is Koisenu Futari About?
Short, straightforward, but making a remarkable impression, Koisenu Futari is an 8-episode series (with episodes of a mere 30 minutes) that aired in 2022 on NHK. Written by Yoshida Erica (who also wrote NHK’s latest asadora, The Tiger and Her Wings), this is the story of Kodama Sakuko (Kishii Yukino), a young woman who has always struggled with the concept of “falling in love”. She never understood it and never experienced “romance,” despite her friends and family telling her that she would get it one day.
As she’s pressured into marriage by her parents and fails to notice her fellow colleagues’ crushes, she does what most of us would do when we don’t understand something.
She googles it, of course.
She then finds a blog that introduces her to what it is like to be aromantic and asexual (or aroace, for short). The writer of the blog is closer to her than expected: Takahashi Satoru (Takahashi Issei) is a vegetable seller at a nearby supermarket and uses the blog to share his ideas and experiences as an aroace (in a world that surrounds him with unreal ideas of normalcy). For one reason or another, Satoru and Sakuko start living together, and they help each other understand what happiness really means.
Yukino and Takahashi’s Masterful Performances
Takahashi Issei is an extraordinary actor. Full stop. As Satoru, he floods the screen with a nuanced, delicate portrayal of someone very confident in his own skin, very sure of his own beliefs and his own identity. And yet, Satoru still has much to understand when it comes to relationships and personal happiness. Takahashi (the actor) delivers a moving, complex, and absolutely engaging performance of a character that has much to give. His microexpressions are truly incredible โ Satoru may show his emotions subtly, but Takahashi conveys them with clarity and dramatic weight.
Kishii Yukino has the brightest smile you’ll ever see, and she uses it wisely to show the contrasts of her character. Sakuko is someone who feels everything strongly. From joy to sorrow, Sakuko allows herself to feel it in its entirety. Thanks to Kishii’s vivid portrayal, you can’t help but respond to her feelings and the motivation behind each of them. Kishii gives life to this extremely generous, authentic, and courageous young woman. The script builds Sakuko as a three-dimensional character, but it’s Kishii’s heartfelt performance that completes her with colour and refinement.
Since We’re Talking About The Characters…
Character arcs are very well developed all across the board. While Sakuko’s arc is mainly focused on her understanding of and settling with her newfound sexuality, Satoru’s arc is focused on his understanding of what personal fulfilment means to him. Sakuko and Satoru grow in front of our eyes as they help each other discover who they really are. Sakuko’s strengths are Satoru’s weaknesses and vice versa. Together, they not only bolster each other’s development but also make for a much deeper script. By creating these two solid character arcs, the themes of the show are conveyed more clearly and effectively.
It’s also refreshing to see how Sakuko is keen to express her ideas, thoughts and experiences to others. If there is one thing that Koisenu Futari doesn’t do, it is rely on the miscommunication trope. How could they when their protagonist has top-notch communication skills?
Sakuko’s communication skills reverberate throughout the show, reaching and affecting the supporting cast. For instance, her being constantly open and honest allows her childhood friend to open up to her in episode 5. But, most importantly, it gives space for the development of a fantastic side character.
From Annoyance to Appreciation: Kazu Is a Key Supporting Character
Matsuoka Kazu (Hama Shogo) is Sakuko’s colleague and ex-boyfriend. At first, he doesn’t understand why she’s living with another man if there’s no romantic attachment between them. He stalks her, looks at her stuff without permission, and struggles to accept that they are no longer in a relationship. On top of that, he can’t comprehend the whole idea of being aroace. To be honest, he’s extremely annoying (and toxic, really) in the first few episodes. Hama’s performance can be a bit flamboyant at times, so that also contributes to the discomfort that the character initially causes.
However, “Kazu-kun-san” (as Satoru calls him) is a character that, despite his flaws, is willing to learn. He wants to understand Sakuko and Satoru. Above all, he’s open to being told what his mistakes are because he wants to change for the better. Soon enough, Kazu sheds the skin of that irritating, harmful person and flourishes alongside our protagonists. His character arc is, in fact, as solid as the main characters’. He takes wrong turns on his journey towards awareness, but he marches on confidently and becomes a lot more mature and wise by the end of the show. He is what we should all be: willing to accept our shortcomings and widen our narrow perspectives on realities that are foreign to our own.
You can say that Kazu leads a community that Sakuko and Satoru create around them, a group of people who appreciate them for who they are. Slowly, the show weaves a support system inside and outside the aroace community, creating an almost utopic reality in which we can all be who we want to be without judgment.
The Themes Behind Koisenu Futari: Normalcy and Sexual Identity
First and foremost, Koisenu Futari is here to remind us that society still imposes a mistaken idea of normalcy onto 8 billion unique beings. There’s no such thing as “normal.” Our sexual identity, the way we experience relationships, love, gender, and sex, is part of a wide, varied spectrum. With that idea in mind, the show’s social critique is subtle but powerful. Through a kind and understanding script, Sakuko and Satoru’s journey shows us that the smallest and most casual of comments can reinforce an old-fashioned, binary perspective that shouldn’t exist anymore.
Sakuko and Satoru’s identities are delivered with conviction and respect. Satoru, already fully confident in his sexuality, helps Sakuko understand herself as she’s now discovering her own. Her arc is never melodramatic but is developed organically and filled with special moments of pure joy. Being able to name who she is gives her a sense of acceptance โ and it’s beautiful to witness the delight Sakuko experiences in every moment that makes her feel more and more comfortable in her own skin.
Being an aroace is fundamental to the narrative and plays a heavy part in Sakuko’s character arc, but it’s never the one and only thing in the lives of our characters. Regardless of what point of the sexuality spectrum you identify with, you are much more than your sexual identity. Every character in Koisenu Futari has their own goals, fears, memories, and interests outside that realm. They are workers, dreamers, siblings, friends, fans, and grandchildren. That’s why the show’s message becomes even more resonant: all of these characters feel real. They are just like us, with a million different things going on in our heads and lives every day.
Beyond Sexual Identity: Destroying Antiquated Notions of Love and Family
Starting with sexual identity, the show expands its discussion to encompass questions such as the different facets of love and the different shapes of families. Slowly, the script breaks down the generalised concepts of love and family, exposing them as the antiquated ideals that they often are, to rebuild them in more comprehensive, diverse definitions. Love is a bond much stronger, much more colourful, and much more generous than romantic love may ever be. Family has nothing to do with blood or sex, but it exists in the connections we create of respect, acceptance and support with others.
Through not only Sakuko and Satoru’s relationship but also their relationship with their friends, colleagues, and biological family, the show illustrates visually what the characters discuss and discover as they grow. Cinematography portrays everyday life without much fanfare, but it makes use of lots of long and medium shots that highlight the bonds that absolutely and fiercely exist, despite society’s conception of “normal.”
All of these finally lead us to the show’s main theme: self-discovery and personal happiness. Through Sakuko’s arc with her sexuality and Satoru’s arc with his ideas of sacrifice and personal fulfilment, Koisenu Futari tells us that it’s vital for each of us to embrace who we are and what (or who) we love. Because, despite what society dictates to be “normal,” we are the only ones who can decide our own happiness. With a tight, well-structured script, the show ties all its ends in a neat bow of people who stand up for who they are and what makes them happy. As the story develops, we’re presented with parallels and analogies that naturally guide us towards a pitch-perfect finale, with mature characters and an ending that does the story justice.
No time to read the full review? Then, pin our summary below!
Should You Watch Koisenu Futari?
Koisenu Futari should be seen as a shining example of what more diversity in media should look like. Entertaining, endearing, moving, and eye-opening, this is a show that should be watched and re-watched.
Koisenu Futari is available in Japan on NHK On Demand and DVD. Yoshida also wrote a novel, Koisenu Futari, as a literary adaptation of the drama. Unfortunately, we don’t know when the book will be translated into English. If you can, make sure to watch it (or read it)!
I decided to post this review today because this week (Oct. 20th to Oct. 26th) is Ace Week (formerly known as Asexual Awareness Week). If you want to learn more, click here! Happy Ace Week, and may Koisenu Futari help spread awareness of the aroace community!
Of course, let me know in the comments if you’ve managed to catch it and what you thought of it! And today, I’ll leave you with a line from the show:
I’m the only one who can decide my own happiness.
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