Saw it! I saw it, too!
Saw it. Of course, I saw it, too.
My heart skipped a beat the moment they met.
Like in a dream, taken to a place with gorgeous scenery.
Introduced to surprisingly beautiful words, and comforted by a beautiful melody.
Tears filled my eyes.
It made me remember how wonderful friendship is. It made me miss people more than usual.
I, too, fell in love at first sight—with Jun-Sang!
Bingo! Yes, that’s it.
It’s said that “Winter Sonata (Fuyu no sonata)”, a message of love from Korea, has been seen by several people throughout the Nikkei community.
In 2005, upon my return from Japan, my childhood friend told me that there was a drama series that she “couldn’t stop crying while watching,” but I didn’t show much interest at the time.
A friend from Japan said she would send me the DVD, but I politely declined the offer.
I love movies and dramas. But that doesn’t necessarily mean I like storylines that would make me cry…
One day, after many months had passed, my friend called to tell me, “I sent you a present since I can’t go over to see you.”
The gift was a DVD of “Winter Sonata”.
Since it was the end of the year, the day I started watching was three days after Christmas. Ready, set, go! Here comes the beginning of Jun-Sang and Yujin’s love story!
By the time the New Year’s countdown began, I was completely carried away in the story—“Jun-Sang, please stay alive!”
Two days later, a happy ending!
I immediately started asking around for reviews from others who had seen it.
“It was so good,” “I liked how it didn’t have excessive make-out scenes like they do in Brazilian dramas,” “Such a cute story,” “It was refreshing,” “Beautiful,” “Brimming with pure emotion,” “Pure,” “Felt warmer than Japanese dramas,” “An honest portrayal of feelings,” “I’ll always remember my first love,” “Jun-Sang is better looking that Tom Cruise.” Of course, I felt the same way about everything. There are many movies and drams that I’ve liked before, but I’ve never liked anything so completely, from start to finish, as much as I did with “Winter Sonata”.
Ever since, I’ve been repeatedly watching my favorite chapters—like “Irony Of Fate (Unmei no itazura)”, or “The End Of Winter (Fuyu no owari)”, among others.
I wonder if I’ll ever be able to “Graduate from Yong-sama”… (Maybe never…)
© 2011 Laura Honda-Hasegawa