Hachimitsu to Clover

Honey & Clover

Happy 2008~~

It's again the beginning of the Winter Season's J-Drama. The 1st on my watching list is Honey & Clover. It was a popular manga and anime series, and later on was produced into a movie. And now, the drama series are on the way. I just LOVE the cast. They resemble the manga characters so much.

Takemoto Yu-ta (竹本祐太) is a 3rd year student in Architecture at an Art University. A shy and soft-hearted guy, who is always being bullied by Morita Shinobu (森田忍) & Mayama Takumi (真山巧), his best buddies. Most of the time the story is told from the point view of Takemoto. The story begins when he met Hanamoto Hagumi (花本はぐみ) under the sakura trees. Love at first sight...

Ikuta Toma (生田斗真) as Takemoto Yu-ta (竹本祐太)

First known Toma bcos he's Yamapi's best friend from the Johnny's Junior shows.

Really like him in Hanazakari last year.

Hanamoto Hagumi (花本はぐみ) lives in a small village all her life, with art as her only passion. She is gifted, and her painting is magnificent. Her cousin, Prof. Hanamoto Shuji (花本修司), teaches in the Art University, and introduces her to further her study, majoring in oil painting. She is inspired by Morita Shinobu's (森田忍) craft work on her first day in Uni and she starts to like Morita as well. Poor Takemoto...

Narumi Riko (成海璃子) as Hanamoto Hagumi (花本はぐみ)

Can you believe Riko is only 15??

Morita Shinobu (森田忍) is a 7th year student majoring in crafting. 7 years??? Are u sure Morita's not studying in a medical school? Well, the story will later unfold the reason that keeps him from graduating. A very talented guy, whose craft work has been winning 1st prize in the Art University for many years until Hagumi enters the Uni. Morita is always full of crazy ideas and pranks, and poor Takemoto is always the victim. But he is observant and real sweet to cheer Yamada Ayumi (山田あゆみ) up when she is down.

Narimiya Hiroki (成宮寛貴) as Morita Shinobu (森田忍)

Yamada Ayumi (山田あゆみ) is a 4th year student majoring in pottery. Beware of this sweet looking lady, if you ever mess up with her, get ready to be knocked off by her fly kicks. Poor Takemoto is always the victim, although Morita is the actual target. Yamada's smiles and tears all depend on Mayama, because she is pathetically on one-sided love.

Harada Natsuki (原田夏希) as Yamada Ayumi (山田あゆみ)

Mayama Takumi (真山巧) is a 4th year student in Architecture, the senior of Takemoto. He is the most matured guy among the guy. But most of the time, he still teams up with Morita to play pranks on Takemoto. Knowing Yamada is in love with him, but he cannot return her love, as he himself is on one-sided love with Harada Rika (原田理花), an Architect he works with in part-time.

Mukai Osamu (向井理) as Mayama Takumi (真山巧)

Seto Asaka (瀬戸朝香) as Harada Rika (原田理花)

Harada Rika (原田理花) is the coursemate of Prof. Hanamoto and her late husband. She owns an Architect Firm, where Mayama works part-time at. Realizing Mayama's feeling for her, she wants Mayama to stop working for her, as she does not want to hurt him. She still misses her husband, although he is no longer around.

From the same producer of Proposal Daisakusen, Honey & Clover features the sweet & sour moments of University life. A romance comedy of friendship, love and dreams.

Breath-taking scenery of flying sakura by the lake.

Hagumi painting under the sakura tree.

Hagumi's painting (Scenery of the Sakura) - 1st prize


Matsushige Yutaka (松重豊) is the Art Prof.
Remember in Proposal Daisakusen, he was still studying pottery in Uni.


Takemoto can't take his eyes off Hagumi bcos...

Hagumi is just too cute, eating the very 1st pizza of her life.