Toshiya Omiya , a 27-year-old art university graduate, lives and works in the city of Osaka. He feels like he is living life aimlessly and doesnโt know what to do. One day, he takes a trip to Kyoto to visit his cousin Saki, who runs an antique store there. While experiencing nature and exploring the unknown aspects of Kyoto, including the small, nostalgic and sophisticated shops run by the individuals who live there, he gradually discovers what he wants to do with his life and starts to feel the desire to live in Kyoto himselfโฆ
The drama starts off with Toshiya (Ae! group’s Yoshinori Masakado) getting his portable bicycle ready to ride along the Kamogawa River. Toshiya has long been fascinated by the small differences in color like the colors of the sky, the green surroundings, the shadows, and the old colors of Japan. The soft, soothing, and careful narration by Toshiya matches the visuals perfectly and sets the mood just right as we get to experience Kyoto along with Toshiya.
All through “Kyoto no Ohikkoshi“, we get to see stunning insights into various shops in Kyoto, following Toshiya as he helps his cousin out with her antique store by running errands for her or watching the shop while she’s out. It gives us a great view of what Kyoto has to offer through the eyes of the young graduate.
It’s refreshing to see this kind of take on a drama – a mixture of a story and a documentary, but the natural acting of the cast makes it comfortable to watch until the end. Yoshinori‘s natural charm shines through in this role and you can’t help but be enthralled by the way he portrays Toshiya, down to the smallest details. The line between Yoshinori himself and Toshiya might seem thin but the more you watch, the more you get enchanted by Toshiya and you forget that he’s portrayed by Yoshinori.
Yoshinori Masakado of #Aeวgroup stars this December in "Kyoto no O-hikkoshi!" Shot completely on location in the ancient city of Kyoto, the docudrama follows a recently graduated big-city art student (Masakado) drawn in by the magic of its history and nature. #ไบฌ้ฝใฎใๅผ่ถใpic.twitter.com/QqWe8grUfz
There is one scene where Toshiya is going to a shop to find a new button for his coat, as he’s missing one. After finally finding one, he rides through the city until he settles by a riverbank. The significance of getting a new button is bigger than one can imagine. He feels like he’s living his life without purpose and is at a loss in life what to do, this button represents a change. Although it may seem like a minor alteration, it mirrors the decisions that Toshiya himself needs to make as he grapples with the direction of his life.
While you slowly get attached to Toshiya and his struggles, you continue to see the hidden but beautiful gems of Kyoto. This drama is a genius way of introducing the city to a new audience who might never have thought of experiencing the city otherwise. Through the drama, it gives the city a chance to appeal to a wider audience, effectively showing off its beauty and elegance through the help of the cast and story.
— ไบฌ้ฝใฎใๅผ่ถใใๅ ฌๅผใใขใซใฆใณใ (@kyoto_hikkoshi) December 29, 2023
The direction of the show and the screenplay is stunning and well thought through and it definitely shows all the attention to detail that went into the making of the show. Although it is a drama, the setting feels more akin to a documentary showing off the charms of Kyoto, which was partly intended to begin with.
As you watch Toshiya walk through all the various shops and talk to the owners, you get a feeling of accomplishment. It is history we’re seeing through his eyes and that history is something that we should be taking good care of. There are so many different shops and places, not only those shown in the drama, that hold such significance to Kyoto’s history, and “Kyoto no Ohikkoshi” is only scraping the top of it all. Even so, it’s beautifully produced and promoted.
“Kyoto no Ohikkoshi” presents a unique approach to a documentary-style drama, engaging the audience with its breathtaking visuals and heartfelt storyline. If you’re eager to explore the enchanting facets of Kyoto, this show is a definite must-watch. It not only captures the magic inherent in the city but also does so in a visually compelling manner that is sure to resonate with viewers.
Comment from Ae! group’s Yoshinori Masakado
Since the drama has a bit of a documentary element to it, I was at first a bit confused while filming, wondering if I was doing the right thing. But the director told me, "It's good to act normally," and I was able to honestly express Toshiya's reactions to the information about the city of Kyoto. As the shooting progressed, I think I gradually began to understand what he meant.
It was my first time working with Renbutsu-san, but I enjoyed the first scene we shot together, where we were taking pictures of antiques, and at that time, I thought "I might be able to speak like this for the rest of my life." Also, to tell you the truth, I don't wanto her to know it but I used to talk to Renbutsu-san in informal speech in our everyday conversations (laugh). I was wondering if it would get out somehow.
To be honest, I don't think this drama has a dramatic development. It's a slow-paced drama, but the people in it have their own axes to grind, and they all have concerns and thoughts similar to those of the audience. I want you to enjoy the characters of these people, and at the same time, enjoy the city, the atmosphere, and the entire space in this story. There are so many ways to enjoy this work, so you can enjoy it in any way you want. Whether it be from the perspective of "I want to go to this store," or "Let's walk around there," or "Let's relive the experience," or whatever. I want people to enjoy it as they wish.
I hope it will be a drama that will give you a breather, and if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed like Toshiya is right now, I would be happy if the drama can give you a push. I am sure you will feel something, so I hope you will watch it and immerse yourself in it as you like.
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