Review Drama Ikiru Toka, Shinu Toka, Chichioya Toka

Poster Ikiru Toka, Shinu Toka, Chichioya Toka

So, I've got a major issue here actually. The problem is that I constantly procrastinate and forget about the drama that I haven't finished yet. And today I'll be reviewing the drama that took me nearly 9 months to finish it. I chose this drama to watch on the spur of the moment because I saw the cast and the title sounded interesting. So there you have it, my short review of Ikiru Toka, Shinu Toka, Chichioya Toka. 

Jun Kunimura and Yo Yoshida

Ikiru toka, Shinu toka, Chichioya toka or Living, Dying, Father, etc is based on the same-titled essay by Jane Shu which tells the story of Kanbara Tokiko/Tokki-san (Yo Yoshida), her father (Jun Kunimura) and her late mother (Yasuko Tomita). Tokki-san is a columnist as well as a radio broadcaster who has a program called "Tokki and The People's Moment" where she and her announcer partner, Azumi Nanami (Nanami Hogashi), consult on people's problems. So, almost every episode begins with reading a listener's concern and Tokki-san attempting to consult it.

Yo Yoshida as Tokki-san

The main plot of this drama revolves around The Kanbara family. Tokki-san decided to publish an essay about her father. So she and her father go out quite often to spend time together and hear her father's stories even though they don't have a good relationship in the past. Each episode featured a different theme. This is the theme from the first episode till the last episode:

1. Marriage, Singlehood, Betrayal, and other things.
2. Growing Old, Memories, Funerals, and other things. 
3. Beauty, Appearance, Prejudice, and other things. 
4. Period, Tokyo, Remnant, and other things. 
5. Jealousy, Affection, Bond, and other things. 
6. Child, Couple, Happiness, and other things. 
7. Infidelity, Friendship, Secret, and other things. 
8. Partner, Career, Regret, and other things. 
9. The Past, The Daughter, The Truth, and other things. 
10. Mother, Prayer, Bereavement, and other things. 
11. Loss, Downfall, Human Being, and other things. 
12. Living. Death, Father, and other things. 

Tokki-san

The story begins with stories to which we can all relate and we can see how Tokki-san consults people's problems while sometimes also holding herself back from interfering in other people's problems and simply being a good listener. Also, watch Tokki-san and her father spending time together while listening to the story of her father and her late mother from the past. Tokki-san appears to despise his father while simultaneously adoring him. Seeing Tokki-life san's is both calming and thrilling.

Mayu Matsuoka as Young Tokki-san

However, the last four episodes are excruciating to watch. I can feel the sadness, sorrow, and aching of a young Tokki-san (Mayu Matsuoka) who is the only child and must deal with both of her parents alone. It's heartbreaking to watch Tokki-san struggle to deal with and accept her father again, as well as cope with her past. I cried a lot. 

Tokki-san and her Father

Yo Yoshida and Mayu Matsuoka fit her character like a glove. It's not the first time I've seen Yo Yoshida play an independent female character and she does an excellent job. Mayu Matsuoka perfectly portrays a young Tokki-san as someone cold to her father but close to her mother. Jun Kunimura also does an excellent job as a father who is shy and finds it difficult to express himself.

In the end, this drama will not disappoint you and is ideal for those seeking a calming yet painful experience. In addition, listener concerns are relatable these days. Also, there are only 12 episodes, each lasting 30 minutes.

Credit Pictures: Official Twitter Ikiru Toka