Netflix release a trailer for First Love, a drama series based on Hikaru Utada’s smash-hit song of the same name

Back in December 2020, news broke that Netflix would be releasing a Japanese drama series which was inspired by Hikaru Utada’s 1999 mega-hit “First Love” and their 2018 song “Hatsukoi” (Hatsukoi / 初恋 is Japanese for ‘First Love’).

Netflix has finally released a trailer, which as you can see from the screenshot at the top of this post, features Hikaru Utada in the form of a billboard, in addition to the song “First Love” itself. Because, how the hell could you make a J-drama inspired by Hikaru Utada’s “First Love”, name the damn show First Love and NOT use the song in the trailer!?

The story of First Love follows two characters from when they first cross paths in 1998, following them through the years up to 2018. Or so I assume the story will follow them up to 2018. The story itself starting in 1998 throws me a little, because it’s a year before “First Love” actually released. So I don’t know if this is a mistake or it’s intentional that the story doesn’t start on the year of the song’s release and that when “First Love” and “Hatsukoi” are of no relevance to the timeline of the story.

HENNYWAY.

I’m sure we’ll hear both songs constantly throughout. Hikaru Utada has not recorded anything new for this drama series. Both versions of the songs heard will be the released versions. But in true J-drama fashion, there will probably be re-arranged versions of the songs, re-imagined in different ways to match different moments of the story, and I’m looking forward to hearing them. Often times if a J-drama has a main theme song that I don’t like, it’s the scored and re-arranged versions of it that I do like, which in turn makes me then like the original version of the song. This was most certainly the case with Namie Amuro’s “Love Story”, which I couldn’t stand until I heard the melancholic twinkly version of it in the J-drama Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu (The Reason I Can’t Find My Love).

First Love stars Hikari Mitsushima and Takeru Satoh. The later of whom also starred in the 2009 Japanese movie Goemon, which was directed by Hikaru Utada’s first husband Kazuaki Kiriya. And if we wanna jump further down that rabbit hole and play connect the dots; Goemon also starred Yōsuke Eguchi, who is the husband of Chisato Moritaka, who was a big-ass J-pop star in the 80s, who became known for writing her own material and playing instruments on her own songs at a time when it wasn’t common for women in pop to do. Yōsuke Eguchi also rose to fame via his lead role in the now iconic Japanese drama Tokyo Love Story, which featured a main theme song of the same title from the legend that is Oda Kazumasa, who famously performed the song “Automatic” with Hikaru Utada for their 2018 comeback. And “Automatic” was one of Hikaru Utada’s first singles which features on the album *Turns to look into the camera* First Love.

First Love releases on November 27, 2021. A date which has no significance or ties to Hikaru Utada at all. And I think it’s a great date to release a sappy love story. Because even if you don’t watch it the week it releases, it’ll make a cosy holiday movie.

Netflix has a great range of Japanese dramas that they refuse to promote. I started watching Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light a while back, but never finished it because I got distracted by Marvel shit. But I was thoroughly enjoying it and will return back to it. Midnight Diner was also really cool, although it lost me a little in season 2, where I felt the premise ran its course. (Japan has a sequel problem just like everywhere else). And The Naked Director is just WILD. The first season was great, but I still need to watch season 2.

Me sitting here saying ‘Japanese dramas on Netflix are good’ and then proceeding to tell you that I’ve not finished watching a single one of them over the past couple of years is probably not a ringing endorsement. But give one a try if you haven’t done so already, just to prepare yourself, if you’ve not watched a Japanese drama before; because Japanese dramas tend to have a very distinct tone and pace, which isn’t for everybody. And if you want a cute, gay-ass Japanese drama to cut your teeth, I recommend Ossan’s Love. This is not available on Netflix, but it easy to find online. And for a Japanese drama on a national TV network, it’s pretty progressive. And the way it explores sexuality is pretty progressive, period.

A deviation for the topic of the original post, but that’s what you get round these parts.

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🎛️ Kingdomkaru Heartada: The Sanctuary of Passion
💿 Singlekaru Reviewtada: Pink Blood | One Last Kiss | Dare ni mo Iwanai | Time
💿 Albumkaru Reviewtada: Hatsukoi | Fantôme | This is the One | Heart Station | Ultra Blue | Exodus | Deep River | Distance | First Love
🎧 Spotifykaru Playlistada: Slaykaru Queentada | Hikaru Utada: R&B | Hikaru Utada: Ballads | Hikaru Utada: Bops | Hikaru Utada: Remixes