Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama First Love: Hatsukoi, which has captured hearts worldwide with its deeply emotional storytelling, nostalgic atmosphere, and the kind of beautiful melancholy that only Japanese dramas can deliver so perfectly.
First Love: Hatsukoi premiered on Netflix on November 24, 2022, featuring 9 episodes with each running approximately 50-60 minutes. The series stars Hikari Mitsushima and Takeru Satoh in lead roles, bringing exceptional depth to this romantic melodrama. Inspired by two iconic Hikaru Utada songs, “First Love” and “Hatsukoi,” the series creates a unique viewing experience that feels like a living, breathing piece of music translated to screen.
This romantic drama masterfully explores themes of lost love, second chances, and the bittersweet nature of memory. Set between the late 1990s and present day, the series follows two people who shared an unforgettable first love as teenagers and reconnect decades later as adults whose lives haven’t turned out as they once dreamed.
With its stunning cinematography, emotionally nuanced performances, and a narrative structure that gracefully moves between past and present, First Love: Hatsukoi offers viewers an intimate meditation on love, loss, and the roads not taken.
In the late 90s
In the late 90s, Yae Noguchi and Harumichi Namiki met and fell in love as teenagers in Hokkaido. After graduating from high school, Yae went off to college in Tokyo while Harumichi joined the Japan Air Self-Defense Force as a pilot. Their lives took different paths, and they lost touch for over two decades.
The series beautifully weaves between their teenage romance and their present-day lives, showing how their first love shaped who they became as adults. As they reconnect in their 40s, both carrying the weight of unfulfilled dreams and life’s disappointments, they must confront whether their first love can survive the reality of who they’ve become.
Yae Noguchi: Dreams Deferred
Hikari Mitsushima delivers a masterful performance as Yae Noguchi, a woman whose dreams of becoming a flight attendant were derailed by a tragic accident. Mitsushima brings incredible subtlety to the role, showing how Yae carries both the memory of her youthful optimism and the quiet resignation of middle age.
Her portrayal captures the complexity of a woman who has learned to live with disappointment while still harboring hope for something more. The way Mitsushima navigates between the vibrant teenager Yae once was and the more reserved woman she’s become is nothing short of brilliant, creating a character that feels deeply authentic and relatable.
Harumichi Namiki: A Pilot Grounded
Takeru Satoh brings depth and vulnerability to Harumichi Namiki, a former Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilot who left his career behind for reasons that slowly unfold throughout the series. Satoh’s performance captures the quiet strength of a man who has learned to live with compromise while never fully letting go of his first love.
The chemistry between Satoh and Mitsushima is palpable, creating romantic moments that feel both tender and heartbreaking. Their reunion scenes crackle with the tension of two people who shared something beautiful and are trying to figure out if it can exist again in their current reality.
The Music of Memory
One of the series’ greatest strengths is how it uses Hikaru Utada’s songs not just as background music, but as emotional anchors that connect past and present. The way the series incorporates these songs into the narrative creates moments of pure emotional resonance that elevate the viewing experience.
The climactic episodes use music to underscore the characters’ emotional journeys, creating scenes that feel like visual poetry. The series proves that when music and storytelling are perfectly aligned, the result can be truly transcendent.
Success on Netflix
First Love: Hatsukoi has become a standout success for Netflix’s Asian content, earning an impressive 8.4/10 rating on IMDb and widespread critical acclaim. The series has been praised for its realistic storytelling, exceptional acting, and the way it captures universal themes of love and loss that resonate across cultures. Many viewers have noted how the series feels like a beautiful homage to classic Japanese melodramas while maintaining a thoroughly contemporary sensibility. The show’s 9-episode format provides perfect pacing, allowing the story to unfold naturally without feeling rushed or overstretched, making it an ideal binge-watch for those who appreciate thoughtful, character-driven drama.
If you love Japanese dramas, nostalgic romance, and series that explore the complexity of human emotions with extraordinary depth, First Love: Hatsukoi is the perfect series to binge on Netflix.
First Love: Hatsukoi proves that some stories are worth telling slowly and beautifully, creating a viewing experience that lingers in your heart long after the final episode ends.
Series Details:
- Number of Episodes: 9 episodes (1 season)
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 8.4/10 (IMDb)
- Genre: Romance, Drama, Melodrama
- Main Characters: Hikari Mitsushima (Yae Noguchi), Takeru Satoh (Harumichi Namiki)
- Antagonist: Time, circumstances, and life’s disappointments (no traditional antagonist)