Long Love Letter

Long Love Letter (ロング・ラブレター) is a 2002 Japanese drama of the science fiction/romance/drama genres. It basically follows the idea of how humans are just harming the earth with our exploitation of natural resources. It stars Tokiwa Takako, Kubozuka Yosuke, Yamada Takayuki, Yamashita Tomohisa, Tsumabuki Satoshi, and Mizukawa Asami. The summary is as follows:

Yuka Misaki, whose parents run a flower shop, casually begins dating college student Akio Asami, and later falls for him. But due to some type of accident, the two lose contact with one another.

One year after the accident, the two suddenly meet again. Yuka is still working at her father Shigeo's flower shop, and Akio is a teacher at a nearby high school.

It's January 7, just right after the New Year begins. Make up classes are being held for students that aren't keeping up with their daily studies. Taking the classes are the popular Tadashi Otomo, and the leader of the delinquent students, Sho Takamatsu. And giving the lecturers is Noriko Sekiya, a teacher that has taken out all kinds of loans to pay for the popular brand items that she buys.

Yuka comes to the school to collect money from Noriko. While at the school, with thoughts of the past in the back of her mind, Yuka and Akio meet, and get into a fight. Then all of a sudden, there is a small tremor, and after it subsides..

I am a fan of science fiction - I love Star Wars and though I don't follow Star Trek, I loved the 2009 movie and I recommend it! - as well as Yamapi. Considering how this drama has both of these aspects, not to mention the main male lead is pretty cute and I know a good amount of the actresses and actors in it, I was drawn to it, even with the mixed reviews on it; I still had to see how I felt about it and the best way to figure that out was to actually watch it. After I watched it, it sort of reminded me of Miyazaki's film, Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime), in the message (well, half of it) it gives out.

[Slight Spoilers Ahead]

The story centers upon a group of students and staff members who get transported into the not-so-far future where they have to revert back to primitive ways to survive in a waterless and foodless land, basically a desert. We go through what happens and how, because of the humans' greediness and because they exploit and waste the natural resources of the earth while they learn how to survive, being thrust from a materialistic and rather convenient society to one that requires one to fight for survival. I found this idea rather intriguing because some people went back to the fundamental rules of survival (Darwin!) and it went to a point where some people did whatever it took to survive, even kill. It also touches upon certain subjects like evolution. Along the way, they also learn to live the moment and cherish their life because everything might change in the blink of an eye.

It's pretty enlightening and I loved the cast. It has a sort of "what-if" feel and even though it's somewhat bleak, and if you're one of those people who can't stand sad endings, this would still appeal to you. There are some "mushy" parts that could do with some toning down, but it's a relatively serious drama with some light moments and some action.

You can watch it here; it has 11 episodes. :)