Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo

Background

It is based on the manga Itazura Na Kiss written and illustrated by Tada Kaoru. The Japanese soap opera is the fifth television adaptation of the manga, following the Japanese live-action Itazura na Kiss in 1996, the Taiwanese It Started with a Kiss in 2005, its sequel They Kiss Again in 2007, Korean Playful Kiss in 2010, the Thai Kiss Me in 2015, and the Chinese Miss in Kiss in 2016.

Series storyline

Season 1

Kotoko Aihara (Honoka Yahagi), a teenage girl who lost her mother at a young age and lives with her father, who owns his Japanese family restaurant, isn't very intelligent and lacks ability in school. She is in class F, the least intelligent class in her grade. Despite this, she has been in love with Tonan High School's most intelligent and popular guy, Naoki Irie (Yuki Furukawa), ever since she saw him give a speech at the high school entrance ceremony.

In her senior year of high school, she writes him a love letter and proposes him to be her friend in front of the whole school but is rejected by Naoki instantly without even reading it. On the same day, Kotoko's house is hit by a shooting star and collapses. When her classmates launch a charity fundraising campaign to help her, Naoki steps in to contribute money and is bluntly criticized by her and her friends. As the house is being rebuilt, her dad gets a phone call from his longtime friend and is invited to stay with them. When she arrives, she is in shock to see that this is the house of Naoki Irie and his family. Naoki came from a wealthy, well-educated family; his father is the CEO of the Pandai video game distribution corporation. Although Kotoko and her father received thoughtful treatment from the Irie family, she couldn't escape Naoki's indifference and coldness, and the contempt from Naoki's younger brother, Yuuki. Despite Naoki's coldness towards Kotoko, she couldn't give up her special feelings for him.

Besides Kotoko are her two close friends, Jinko and Satomi, who always support her wholeheartedly, and Kinnosuke (whom Kotoko called "Kin-chan"), who secretly harbors unrequited love for her, while she has an unrequited love for Naoki. Part 1 revolves around the turning points in their school life and love.

Season 2

After countless hardships and suffering, Kotoko and Naoki officially marries and enjoys their honeymoon in Okinawa. Part 2 of the series revolves around their married life and college, new friends and rivals, and their adult and career aspirations. Naoki switches to medical school to become a doctor, and Kotoko studies to become a nurse, supporting Naoki's work.

Cast

Main cast

Honoka Yahagi as Kotoko Aihara

The film's protagonist, Kotoko, lost her mother at the age of four and lives with her father, a chef and owner of a Japanese family restaurant. Kotoko is innocent and naive, not particularly intelligent, but always strives for success. She has had a crush on Irie Naoki since watching him give a speech at her high school's opening ceremony, confessed her feelings to him unsuccessfully, and eventually moved in with Irie after their own home collapsed. Kotoko doesn't hesitate to confront Naoki about many things, but she can't let go of her special feelings for him. She has two close friends, Jinko and Satomi, who wholeheartedly support her, and she befriends Kinnosuke, who has also harbored a crush on her for many years.

Yuki Furukawa as Naoki Irie

The male protagonist of the series, Naoki, is the most talented and popular boy at Tonan High School, possessing an IQ of 200 and admired by many girls and women from high school to university. Naoki comes from a wealthy and well-educated family, his father being the CEO of a large video game corporation. Although he is known as a "genius" with his superior intelligence and academic achievements, along with his illustrious reputation, he has low EQ and is unable to understand or express his own emotions. During high school, Naoki is known for his lack of interest in girls and his cold and mean attitude towards Kotoko. During the time he lives with Kotoko, Naoki admits that Kotoko changes him, helping him experience basic human emotions (like excitement and anxiety) that he had never felt before, and contributing to the development of his feelings for Kotoko. Because of Naoki's exceptional talent, he is also overly protected by his parents and expected to take over his father's company, making him afraid to confess his dream of becoming a doctor to them, though he later reveals his dream to Kotoko.

Supporting cast

Yuki Yamada as Kinnosuke "Kin-chan" Ikezawa

Kinnosuke is Kotoko's best friend and classmate. He has had a crush on Kotoko for many years and is willing to do anything for her, even sacrifice himself. His friends call him "Kin-chan." Due to low grades, Kinnosuke failed to get into university and instead became a chef at Aihara's family restaurant thanks to her encouragement. Kinnosuke clashes with Naoki because of Naoki's cold treatment and attitude towards Kotoko, knowing that Kotoko loves Naoki. Kinnosuke has tried many ways to win Kotoko's heart, including proposing to her when Naoki was planning to marry Sahoko, but ultimately failed because of her intense love for Naoki. In Season 2, Kinnosuke works in the cafeteria of Tonan University and befriends with Christine Robbins, a British exchange student.

Nanami Fujimoto as Jinko Komori

Jinko is one of Kotoko's best friends. She usually wears headphones around her neck and, along with Satomi, she looks out for Kotoko and adores her. Jinko is very into music, supported by her equally musical boyfriend. She has a habit of telling people things that are supposedly meant to be kept secret — such as when she told Naoki's mother that he and Kotoko had kissed and when she told Naoki that Kin-chan had proposed to Kotoko. She is well aware of Kotoko's feelings for Naoki and despite being aware of his cold attitude toward her, supports her friend to pursue this love.

Kasumi Yamaya as Satomi Ishikawa

Satomi is one of Kotoko's closest friends. She is passionate about design and dreams of working for a women's magazine.

Tomomi Nishimura as Noriko Irie

Noriko Irie, who is referred to as "Mama" by her husband, is the mother of Naoki and Yuuki. She loves Kotoko more than anyone because she has always wanted a daughter and treats Kotoko as her own from day one. She acts very young and can be somewhat immature. She is a lot younger than her husband and is very bubbly, energetic and positive. When she first found out Kotoko loved Naoki, she was very happy and from there she would stop at nothing to make sure they end up together. She supports Kotoko in her endeavour to win Naoki's heart, aiming to foil anyone else's plans to get close to him. She can sometimes be seen as a bit controlling, in the sense that Naoki moved out because he wanted to live his own life and not one that his parents planned out for him. Despite this, she really loves her family and is ecstatic when Naoki confesses and proposes to Kotoko.

Guest stars

Aiko Sato as Nurse Kotoko Irie

The actress who portrayed Kotoko Aihara in the original series that aired in 1996. She was seen in Episode 10, talking to Kotoko while recalling her memories when she was at their age.

Takashi Kashiwabara as Doctor Naoki Irie

The actor who portrayed Naoki Irie in the original series that aired in 1996. He was seen in Episode 15.

Episodes