he Legendary Japanese Drama That Even Yoo Jae-suk Binge-Watched, Long Vacation

From "Dark Routes" to the OTT Era: Meeting the Golden Age of J-Dramas Again

In the past, to watch Japanese dramas—commonly referred to as "J-dramas"—one had to rely on illegal downloads or pirated videos known as "dark routes." Even then, there were numerous famous dramas boasting immense buzz and cinematic quality, but Korean viewers tended to consume mainly genre works like mysteries, suspense, and medical dramas. For romantic comedies or melodramas, the demand was sufficiently met by excellent Korean romance dramas, so viewers did not necessarily cross the language barrier to seek out Japanese works. Furthermore, the tight plots and ingenious subjects unique to genre works were recognized as the most powerful competitive edge of Japanese dramas at the time.

However, with the dazzling development of various global OTT platforms, including Netflix, an era has arrived where one can easily watch all movies and dramas from around the world from the comfort of their home. The most welcome change of all is that legendary masterpiece dramas, which were previously inaccessible and only heard of through rumors, can now be encountered with excellent accessibility. When discussing this golden age of Japanese dramas, the most unrivaled and famous actor who can never be left out is undeniably Takuya Kimura. He was a cultural icon commanding a massive fandom not only in Japan but also in South Korea. He boasted such overwhelming recognition that anyone with even the slightest interest in popular culture at the time knew him as an actor and singer from the group "SMAP."

Trendiness That Transcends 30 Years and Yoo Jae-suk's High Praise

Among the numerous hit works starring Takuya Kimura, viewers often encounter his authentic romance works, which show his true value, relatively late. Among them, the drama Long Vacation, aired in 1996, is a monumental work that recorded unprecedented, massive viewership ratings in the history of Japanese dramas, leading a social syndrome and trends. At the time of its broadcast, it was impossible to watch it in real-time through legal channels in South Korea, so it was talked about like a legend passed from mouth to mouth among drama lovers. Recently, when the "Nation's MC" Yoo Jae-suk highly praised it on a broadcast program, saying, "Even though it's an old work, I binge-watched the entire series as if I were bewitched," this classic masterpiece once again stood at the center of a heated topic among the public.

Following Yoo Jae-suk's mention, Long Vacation was officially uploaded to major OTT platforms, finally allowing countless viewers to easily enjoy this work. The very first impression felt upon playing the drama is that numerous Korean trendy dramas aired from the late 1990s to the early 2000s bear a strange resemblance to this work. Looking closely at the atmosphere of the times, the cultural background, and the character relationship setups, one can intuitively realize that the Korean pop culture industry, knowingly or unknowingly, received considerable inspiration and influence from this outstanding Japanese drama. Of course, because it is an old work, the picture quality might feel somewhat dated, but the core content, fashion, and sophisticated emotional trends it harbors do not fall behind at all even from a modern perspective.

The Queen of Romantic Comedies, Tomoko Yamaguchi, and a Stellar Cast

The fact that the plot development does not feel dated at all, despite it being a drama from the 1990s—nearly 30 years ago—is this work's most powerful weapon. Because it lacks the stale feel of the past, even the younger generation of viewers living in the present can immerse themselves in the play without a sense of disparity and watch it with great enjoyment. Along with confirming the dazzling days of Asia's top star Takuya Kimura, another legendary actress who exudes an overwhelming aura comparable to his appears in the drama. It is Tomoko Yamaguchi, who perfectly pulled off the female lead role of 'Minami Hayama'. Although she may be relatively less known to the Korean public, her status in Japan at the time was a top star holding the highest position.

Amidst the trendy drama craze in Japan at the time, Tomoko Yamaguchi boasted such unrivaled charm that it would be no exaggeration to call her the 'Rom-Com Queen'. There is a somewhat unfortunate reason why her name did not spread widely to South Korea: she suddenly announced her retirement from the entertainment industry right after this very drama, Long Vacation. Upon getting married, she no longer participated in drama filming and only stood before the public again after a very long time had passed. In this drama, she appears as an older woman than the male lead, and actually being the eldest among the entire cast, she excellently performs the role of firmly holding the center of the play with her uniquely mature and relaxed charm.

The Intense Wedding Dress Sprint and the Beginning of an Unbelievable Cohabitation

In addition to the lead actors, the supporting lineup that richly fills the play boasts a star-studded cast that will make your jaw drop when looked at today. You can meet the fresh days of Takako Matsu, who is famous for her clear and innocent image in South Korea through the movie April Story, and you can also appreciate the completely youthful face of Ryoko Hirosue, who once dominated an era earning the title of 'Nation's Little Sister' in Japan. The opening scene that kicks off the prelude to the drama is very intense and impressive. It begins with Minami, played by Tomoko Yamaguchi, sprinting with all her might through the city streets wearing a cumbersome traditional Japanese wedding dress. This is also an interesting segment that gives a glimpse into the universal culture of holding weddings in traditional attire in Japan during the 90s.

Panting and wandering all over the streets, the place Minami desperately headed to was none other than the apartment where her groom-to-be lived. On the day of her wedding, when the groom did not show up at the venue, she ran all the way there to find him. After Minami caused a commotion by roughly knocking on the door, the person who actually greeted her there was the groom's roommate, 'Hidetoshi Sena', played by Takuya Kimura. Through a bewildered Sena, she hears the devastating news that the groom has run away. In a desperate situation where her marriage is ruined and she has no saved money due to this incident, Minami, who has a somewhat tomboyish, unstoppable, and bouncy personality, makes a reckless choice.

The Romance of Complete Opposites and the Deep Lingering Impact of a Masterpiece OST

With nowhere to go, Minami barges into Sena's house without warning and boldly demands to live there for the time being, since the runaway groom's room happens to be empty. She half-forces a flustered Sena into agreement using her age as a weapon, and the full-fledged cohabitation of two people who seemingly wouldn't match at all raises its curtain. The outgoing Minami, who works as a model and harbors anxiety about her future, and the introverted Sena, who works as a piano academy instructor, are complete opposites in both personality and profession. The drama very excitingly shows the process of them exchanging conflict and comfort through various episodes they experience while getting complexly entangled with their respective acquaintances under one roof.

Another masterpiece element that can never be left out when discussing Long Vacation is the opening theme song that plays every time the drama starts. This upbeat song, which raises the immersion of the play to its peak, is truly pleasant to listen to. It also became a huge topic later when Takuya Kimura confessed in an interview that he actually felt romantic feelings for his co-star Tomoko Yamaguchi during filming. Although it was the first and last time such feelings arose from immersion in the play, and both of them are currently living very well as happily married couples with different spouses, this fresh behind-the-scenes story makes the play even more affectionate. With its unique seasonal feel being so excellent that the expression "For summer, it's definitely Long Vacation" is widely used locally, it is a perfect drama to watch this coming summer.