Boys Over Flowers (2005 TV series)

Boys Over Flowers[1] (花より男子, Hana Yori Dango) is a 2005 Japanese television drama series starring Mao Inoue, Jun Matsumoto of Arashi, Shun Oguri, Shota Matsuda, and Tsuyoshi Abe. It is based on the manga series, Boys Over Flowers (花より男子, Hana yori Dango), written and illustrated by Yoko Kamio.

Boys Over Flowers
Also known asBoys Over Flowers
花より男子
GenreRomance
Teen drama
Directed byYasuharu Ishii
StarringMao Inoue
Jun Matsumoto
Shun Oguri
Shota Matsuda
Tsuyoshi Abe
Theme music composerYamashita Kosuke
Opening theme"Wish" by Arashi
Country of originJapan
Original languageJapanese
No. of episodes9
Production
ProducerKatsuaki Setoguchi
Production locationJapan
Running timeFridays at 22:00
Original release
NetworkTBS
Release21 October (2005-10-21) –
16 December 2005 (2005-12-16)
Related
Meteor Garden (2001, Taiwan)
Boys Over Flowers (2009, South Korea)
Hana Nochi Hare: HanaDan Next Season (2018, Japan)
F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers (2021, Thailand)

A sequel entitled Hana Yori Dango Returns aired in 2007, and a sequel film, Hana Yori Dango Final: The Movie, was released in 2008.

Plot synopsis

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Tsukushi Makino is a tough, hard-working, lower-middle class student at the prestigious escalator school Eitoku Gakuen. Initially, Makino wanted to attend Eitoku because her idol, an internationally renowned model named Shizuka Todou, was an alumna of the school. Not long after however, Makino discovers the superficial nature of her classmates. Their arrogance and her inability to relate to them because of her social status limit her chances to make friends. Worse yet, the school is ruled by the F4 or Flower Four, composed of playboys Soujiro Nishikado and Akira Mimasaka, introverted but intelligent and handsome Hanazawa Rui and violent and bratty Domyouji Tsukasa. The F4, sons of Japan's wealthiest and most powerful tycoons, bully fellow students out of boredom or malevolence until they are expelled or quit.

Makino's only wish is to remain invisible in Eitoku to avoid getting into trouble. However, she is immersed into the lives of the four legendary bullies after her first and only friend at school, Sakurako Sanjo, accidentally spills juice on Domyouji's white shirt in the cafeteria and she defends her. The next day, she receives a red tag in her locker (an order from the F4 to bully the target student by whatever means possible) and as a result, the whole school turns against her. Despite the harassment, Tsukushi, the "tough weed", refuses to give in or quit. After Domyouji treads all over the lobster her parents painstakingly cooked for her, she finally snaps, knocks him out and declares war on him. This unexpected retaliation catches him by surprise and causes him to fall in love with her. But Tsukushi has fallen in love with Rui, who in turn harbors romantic feelings for his childhood friend Shizuka.

The courtship between Tsukasa and Tsukushi is the main theme throughout the series. Various challenges threaten their blossoming relationship, including Tsukushi's wavering feelings for Rui, the envy of fellow Eitoku students, an obsessed childhood classmate, their differences in social class, Tsukasa's brash and possessive nature, and the animosity of Kaede Domyouji, Tsukasa's mother. The first season ends with Domyouji giving the saturn necklace to Makino and her confession of love right before he leaves for New York.

Episode overview

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# Title
1"Declaration of war! The thing which is absolutely more important than money"
Makino receives a red notice from F4. Her life is made a misery until she stands up to Domyoji and punches him.
2"The worst first kiss!"
Makino attends a high society function to welcome home Rui's childhood love.
3"Tears! Good-bye to the person I like"
Rui leaves for France to follow his childhood love.
4"First time coming home in the morning"
Makino and Domyoji get stuck in an elevator overnight.
5"Confession of life-threatening love"
Rui returns from France back to Japan.
6"A love triangle of a roller-coaster ride hair-trigger crisis"
Makino and Domyoji go on a double date.
7"Battle F4 dissolution!"
The F4 gets into a fight as Rui and Domyoji argue over Makino.
8"Now the female high school student's "Top of Japan" decision war"
Makino enters the Teen of Japan competition to earn enough money to pay off her dad's debt.
9"The greatest last present"
Makino comes second in the Teen of Japan tournament. Domyoji leaves to study Business Management in New York while the rest of the F4 spend Christmas in various ways.

Cast

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Main cast

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Supporting cast

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Guests

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Production credits

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  • Based on the Boys Over Flowers Comics by: Yoko Kamio
  • Screenwriters: Mikio Satake, Yuki Fujimoto, Natsuko Takahashi, Shuuko Arai
  • Producer: Katsuaki Setoguchi
  • Directors: Yasuharu Ishii, Daisuke Yamamuro, Osamu Katayama
  • Music: Kosuke Yamashita

Reception

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Episode Ratings

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Episode Subtitle Ratings
(Kanto)
Ratings (Kansai) Ratings (Nationwide)
01 Declaration of war! The thing which is absolutely more important than money 18.3 14.5 ??.?
02 The worst first kiss! 19.3 19.6 ??.?
03 Tears! Good-bye to the person I like 20.5 19.7 ??.?
04 First time coming home in the morning 20.7 21.1 ??.?
05 Confession of life-threatening love 19.0 19.7 ??.?
06 A love triangle of a roller-coaster ride hair-trigger crisis 19.7 20.0 ??.?
07 Battle F4 dissolution! 17.3 15.5 ??.?
08 Now the female high school student's
"Top of Japan" decision war
19.9 21.3 ??.?
09 The greatest last present 22.4 22.5 ??.?
Average -- 19.68 19.32 ??.?

Source: Video Research, Ltd.

Recognitions

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Year Ceremony Category/Recipient
2005 47th Television Drama Academy Awards Best Actress (Mao Inoue)
Best Supporting Actor (Jun Matsumoto)

International broadcast

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In the Philippines, the drama aired on GMA-7.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Boys Over Flowers". TBS Program Catalog. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  2. ^ Santiago, Erwin (5 July 2010). "Kantar Media/TNS National Household Ratings (July 2–4): Twist and Shout and M3 strengthen ABS-CBN weekend lineup". Pep.ph. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
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