Soratobu Kouhoushitsu (2013)

I have been debating for a while if I should give this drama an overall 9 or give in to the impulse of bestowing it a 10. The "masterpiece" definition always sounds a little awkward to me, it seems to require I were ready to offer defensible reasons for my choices.

But I'm hair-splitting. Soratobu Kouhoushitsu is a terrific drama, one that starts without any pomp or expectations and slowly sneaks into the heart and under your skin. It does so in such a gradual, delicate and suave way the effect is powerful and lasting. By the end, I was so sad to see these characters go I couldn't bring myself to watch the last 15 minutes.
When I begin to feel nostalgic about something that isn't even over yet, it means I'm seriously in love. This is why I am not at all sure I'll be able to convey the feeling with my review, or convince any of you to watch this little jewel of a drama. This is not a rom-com, it's not melo, it's not a thriller, nor a simple life drama; it doesn't rely on plot twists, nor on sexy heroes... and yet my heart has stopped many times while watching.

Perhaps the main reason is in the acting, which is wonderful. I never needed confirmation of Aragaki Yui's acting skill, since I've loved her in everything she's acted in. This role however has sealed the issue. I loved everything about Ina-pyon, from her stubborn and passionate honesty at the beginning, to her compassion and better understanding she grows into. And I adored the chemistry she shared on screen with an outstanding Ayano Go, whom I have every intention of becoming a stalker to.
Honourable mention to Shibata Kohei, the most lovable, unforgettable and adorable chief ever appeared on screen. I'm almost offended that the actor isn't even mentioned in the cast. He was awesome here, the kind of character everyone would like to have as a father, or a superior at work.
Hats off to everyone else, from a gorgeous Renn Kiriyama to a hilarious Mizuno Miki, from a surprising Katsuhisa Namase to a sweetly idiotic Jun Kaname.

I can't possibly not mention the cinematography. Stunning. While watching I had to stop the screen every other minute to get a screenshot. Beautiful colours, terrific attention to little details, masterful use of camera angles. Truly lovely.

The same could be said about the music. Not too many pieces are used, but the few have the ability to enhance the scene and play with the viewer's feelings, just what an Ost should do.

I am well aware that I haven't said much about the main subjects of this drama. You may be wondering at this point: what it is about?
Please, bear with me. If my experience is anything to go by, this is a drama better approached without expectations or prejudice. Let its charm work on you as it did on me, by surprise.

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(Read the full review on my review blog, Re(mAAArk)able Reviews! [Link in my profile!])

...It's so cute. It's so normal. It's exactly what I was not expecting in a drama about a self defense force.

Sorai is learning about what it means to project an image to the people. He's so used to just being in the cockpit that he never realized that some people might see fighter planes as just for that: fighting. Inaba is a big kick in the pants to his ego there, and the two are so cute in their initial bickering and then total geeking out over different airplanes. I love the way they teach each other throughout the show.

Not only is the cast brilliant, but the writing is really effective in conveying things you might never have thought about in terms of the Japanese military. There's a reference, I won't mention how or why, to the March 11th disaster that is really effectively done. Similarly PR videos and people's reactions to them for the JASDF, and "even" and "uneven" reporting, are discussed at length in complex, intellectual ways. Everything is supporting by a thin layer of witty, happy humor that just ties this show together so well.

The music is a great addition too, with Amuro Namie's "Contrail" as the insert/ending song. Plus everything is shot so beautifully, all the airplanes and training exercises.

For people looking for an interesting subject drama, this is definitely one. And there's a fantastic romance subplot that is ever-present throughout, so even if you're not used to checking out this kind of drama, I still think it will work for you.

I'm a huge fan of ensemble drama, and SK did not disappoint in the slightest. There are episodes that focus on each of the PR department's members, but the main characters Inaba and Sorai are never lost in those shifts of focus. The balance is perfect. SK is a winner, and definitely my favorite of the season.

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Soratobu Kouhoushitsu was truly one of the most touching and inspiring dramas that I have ever seen up to date. This isn't the kind of drama I usually watch and the only drama related to planes I've ever seen were the Attention Please series. However, don't let this kind of bias stop you from watching this drama because the story is so beautiful and intricate. This drama isn't extremely fast-paced but will slowly sink into your heart and create a space for its place. That is the kind of drama it is.

So the acting in this drama is golden. Aragaki Yui and Ayano Go both stole my heart in this drama. I had seen Yui at numerous other dramas like Legal High, Zenkai Girl, and My Boss My Hero but this drama proves once again that she is a phenomenal actress. However this is my first drama with Ayano Go and I have touched by his acting. His expressions are so on point and his intense crying scenes are so well acted that they made me cry. I haven't cried while watching a drama in a long time but this drama managed to get me to be a little teary at almost every episode. A special mention goes out to Shibasaki Kyohei who played Sagisaka-san and is like the boss ever. He is such a cool and amazing character that is hard to find in dramas nowadays. Kaname Jun played a classy, cutey idiot very well and brought some great comical scenes in the drama. All of the supporting cast did a fantastic job in their roles and the drama felt very real to me, like that it wasn't a drama, and that the characters were actually living their roles.

The music of the drama wasn't too big in number and mostly one song was used. That song was Amuro Namie's Contrail which is such a nice song! It was the perfect song for the scenes in the drama and has become one of my favorite songs now. Everything about the drama was so beautiful and was put together so nicely. The direction, production, and camera work were all so spectacular so I had to mention them.

So to end, I just can't with this drama. I gave this drama an overall almost 10 because it deserved that score. The drama left me satisfied in the end. I didn't feel like the end was incomplete or that there wasn't enough romance between the leads. Whatever genres and themes that were intended to be expressed in this drama were expressed very well. I'm pretty sure you won't regret taking the time to watch this and it is a shame that this drama isn't as popular as others.

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Really an overall wonderful drama. Although the constant separations between Inaba and Sorai were frustrating because they were just being idiots and not official getting together even though them liking each other was so blatantly obvious, I did like the organic sort of truth surrounding their relationship because in reality, the issues they faced would occur to individuals within their respective areas of work. I liked how the storyline came a full circle and the bgms were great!!!! I would totally recommend this drama to anyone who likes a sweet but realistic romance with some awesome-ness involving fighter jets :)

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I just noticed that most of my favorite dramas come from TBS. This one was no exception. It is a very heartwarming story. Good work environment, giving your all, working for your dreams, nice friends and coworkers, a sweet romance and excellent acting. I loved it.

The setting is the Japanese Air-force Public Relations, which may be an odd place but it worked because of the people working there. I love to watch stories in places that make you feel, or part of them, or at least, wanting to be part of them and of course I felt the same with this group of people. Sorai (Ayano Go) is the sweetest Beta hero I've seen in a long time, hardworking, who loves what he does (and what he used to do), and who loves his Boss, who, by the way, was a gem. Who wouldn't want to have a Boss like Sagizaka-san, who was not only kind but a splendid matchmaker? He loved Sorai as his son, so that made him love "Ina-pyon" automatically like his daughter. And his story with his wife brought tears to my eyes, such a sad story.

I love stories where less is more.

Ayano Go looks and acts amazing in this. His gentle face, his dorky smile XD He and Gakky make a beautiful and cute couple. I hope they do a rom-com in a near future.

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Fast paced and sentimental

I watch dramas from several countries, but I think Japanese dramas are very unique in themes, directing, and editing. And unless the genre is pure comedy, they always make me cry at some point (although I only choose happy-ending ones). This is the reason why I always remember them even if I didn't rate them '10', while I’ve forgotten a bunch of other countries’ dramas.

They may have flaws, or some parts that I don’t like, but they never fail to engage my emotions. It happened again with Soratobu Kouhoushitsu, unexpectedly in some episodes, without tedious, previous melodramatic scenes where you already know what’s coming next.

I also loved most of the characters and the fast-paced overall story that would have been better without the typical silly separation of the main couple.

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