Younger people's dramas have lots of chemistry between people and some great kissing scenes. So I'm wondering why the ones I see on non-cable TV, often with older actors, are so stiff and awkward. In January, 2010, there was a drama about an older woman and a younger man who worked at her company. She also had a wacky hippy friend with a younger boyfriend. When the male lead was alone in an elevator with her, he suddenly decides to grab her and kiss her. There is zero chemistry (they're at work and aren't dating), and he just clamps his mouth on hers and then does nothing. What is up with that? Are older people supposed to be unsexy? Can anyone explain?
Also, there was a 20-min drama on NHK in the fall or winter that had a newly married young couple that acted like brother and sister, almost to the point of being genderless. Does NHK just not show anything sexual, ever? It's such a weird contrast to the romantic, sexier dramas on other channels (that I don't get!). Thanks!

Japan has always had a problem with PDA. It's just a part of their culture. They think it's vulgar. The reason trendy (young people) dramas tend to have more convincing kiss/love scenes is probably because they have become more Westernized/Western-influenced compared to programs aimed for a middle-aged/elderly audience.

It's true. NHK used to be (and still is) up-tight about sexual content in their programing. If there was ever anything remotely "obscene" there was usually a big stink about it (case in point, DJ Ozma's impromptu naked body suit dance during Kohaku).

However, I think they're starting to evolve slowly but surely. Take "Chase" for example, their latest 9:00 Saturday night drama. It's dark, gritty, and mature (yes, it even has sex!), so when I was watching it, I almost had to pause to make sure this was actually a NHK show. It's a huge step away from their usual image to say the least.

one the lousy kissing scenes. Sapuri
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Thanks for your responses. I understand why NHK wouldn't show hot make out scenes if it's conservative. What I don't understand is why they do show scenes with kissing, but the kissing is so bad (he grabs her by the shoulders and sticks his lips on hers, her eyes are wide open in surprise, they just stand there like that for a minute). Why not just skip the kissing and have them embrace or something? I don't know how to find an image of what I'm talking about to show you. [/i]

Conservation makes sense, even though I'd never thought of that being the reason. With awkward kiss scenes like that, between younger or older actors, I just figured it had more to do with the actual chemistry between the two people. o_o; Certain actors can have awesome chemistry together, and certain actors don't have any at all. To me, it seems like that might've been part of the issue, instead of them just being conservative - could be wrong though. xD;

bluestocking wrote:

Why not just skip the kissing and have them embrace or something? I don't know how to find an image of what I'm talking about to show you.

One of the things I love about dramas is how the guy will run in super slow motion in the pouring rain, chasing after the girl he's been trying to get for the whole drama, shouting CHOTTO MATTE or something equally moving.

Then he finally reaches her, there's a cut to a slow-motion, dripping wet shirted arm sliding across the screen, maybe they cut out all the sound except for the whooshing noise that the fabric makes, probably a cut to fingers approaching a shoulder, until he finally attempts the famous grip-n-spin.

Girl is spun around, surprised but also relieved it's him and not some chikan who followed her off the train. Maybe her purse drops in slow motion (again, no sound bar the sound of the purse dropping)...

You could successfully end the drama at this point, and everyone would be cheering and logging on to JDorama to post about how amazing the drama has been, and how that was the best ending ever.

But no, the cameras are still rolling! The sexual tension reaches fever pitch, the music is building up, or maybe it's the theme tune about to kick in, because they usually like to play the theme tune as often as possible (Hana Yori Dango, I'm looking at you), the karaoke fansubs are BEGGING to crawl along the screen.

They stare into each other's eyes, doing that left-right-left-right shift eye movement you do when you're SO CLOSE YOU COULD KISS. Damnit, one of the karaoke fansubs can no longer contain itself and accidentally spills onto the screen and has to be pulled out of the way before anyone notices.

And then they...

HUG!

Camera spins around them, or maybe just rests on the hapless couple, soaking in the magnificence of it all and letting the viewer breathe a sigh of relief and share in this tiny sliver of time that has been stretched to preserve this poignant moment. The theme tune starts, and the palpitating karaoke fansubs burst onto the screen to fulfil their destiny.

Gotta love J-dramas for conveying raw, sexual urges in the best way possible - WITH A HUG!
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Embarrassing Hideo Kojima Metal Gear Solid 4 signing video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgq1r8vVhyQ

Slightly less embarrassing impromptu Yoshinori Ono (Street Fighter 4 producer) interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5Yp7LFkdwM