Minato Shouji Coin Laundry (2022)

In a circle we run, away from a cheeky teenager.

If you are ready for a whole lot of frustration, running in a circle, kids being scary straightforward and adults acting like shy teenagers - this is a perfect watch for you.

Here’s the thing - it was so exciting, fun and enjoyable at first. Being more or less the same age as Minato, I could easily understand his panic about starting to have feelings for a high schooler. Even the idea is scary. That said, I feel like they failed with Minato writing wise, since he just... existed and everything was happening around him. The guy did not try to process it at all and it left the viewers with repetitive scenes and plots, since nothing was changing character wise.

Shin was saving grace with his pro flirting, honesty and undying motivation to make Minato his. He was far more dynamic of a character, actually showing some change in his behavior depending on the situation and the circumstances.

There were also a few nice side characters like Sakurako and Asuka who added some wholesome platonic moments to this romance driven show.

Plot wise, we've got whole side plot of Sakuma Takayuki which was stretched so bad, taking too much screen time and becoming quite an annoying addition to the drama. The teacher might have been the sweetest dude ever, but that plot should have been resolved in 2 episodes max.

Performance wise I do not have any complaints. Kusakawa Takuya did his best with Akira - the character was just not it writing wise. Nishigaki Sho truly impressed me. He did quite well with some more subtle emotions and perfectly presented the angst related to the first big teenage love.

Production wise, it gave a high budget since of life webdrama vibes - which personally I truly love.

Overall, I am honestly not sure how I feel about it. On paper it works, but when I watched it, I was getting either frustrated or bored, and I was wishing for the show to finally end. I don’t regret watching, but I’m also not sure if I would recommend it for others to check out. I also crave second season or at least a special episode, because the payoff after all the running away was quite short-lived.

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Fluffy but shallow, has a lot of cute moments

This series got off to a strong start, with an age difference plot where a 17-year old (almost 18) aggressively pursues a man 10 years older. At first it's charming and fun, as Akira, the 27-ish owner of a local laundramat, is a bit scandalized that a high school kid is after him. The dialog and interplay between Akira's discomfort with the situation and Shin's cocky confidence that he was going to get his man was entertaining and cute.

But instead of dwelling more on what I would think would be the central conflict (the age difference), the plot devolves into an endless loop of both characters drawing back from each other - Akira because he's afraid that if Shin spends so much time with him his schoolwork will suffer and he won't get into a good school, and Shin because he doesn't want Akira to blame himself if Shin can't get into a good school.

The thing is, it's not zero-sum. Being with someone you love is energizing and their support can help you get through difficulty, so it just feels like the story is just forcing the characters into a holding pattern until Shin is 18 and graduated.

In addition, Akira has been harboring an old crush on his high school teacher, Sakuma, who is an interesting character - a bit hapless but mature and a real gentleman, an ably acted. The storyline was too long and dragged-out, however, like much of this series.

The other problem for me is that Akira is so immature and devoid of any impulse toward self-examination that there is no character progression - just a passive 2D character that things happen to.

The series really has nothing to say and follows a fairly conventional course, which is a shame given it's "forbidden relationship" elements. It's a fluff piece, with a lot of cute moments, but by the end the characters have been running in circles so long that I stopped caring what happened to them.

The ending is quite lovely and doesn't follow the usual fomula, which made it a delight because I wasn't correctly anticipating every line of dialog like I usually can in series like this.

If you like cute and fluffy, you may enjoy this. I don't mind recommending it - but you may want to give in to the urge to fast-forward though tiresome parts - you won't miss anything and it may make the show more enjoyable for you.

This would have benefitted from being about a third shorter - then the thin plot would have marched foward without repeating the same pattersn over and over, and the ending would be more anticipated.

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good character growth

Overall: I liked seeing two flawed characters (and yes Shin is flawed as well as he pushes and ignores Minato's boundaries multiple times) and Minato's character growth. Watched on Gagaoolala.

Content Warnings: non con touching/kissing, manhandling, internalized homophobia, non con photo taking, a high school senior (17 then 18) and a 28 year old (this aspect did not bother me personally)

What I Liked
- cute intro and closing credits/songs (watch the final episode closely as they are different!)
- that they actually communicated with one another, talked about their thoughts and feelings
- the food shirts that Minato wore
- how scenes towards the end of the final episode mirrored scenes in earlier episodes
- acting
- production value (cinematography, music)

Room For Improvement
- the pacing was a bit too slow with the whole teacher near conversation multiple times, that should have happened sooner
- I actually wished Shin had had some character growth and the ending had gone a slightly different direction
- I liked the sister and friend, couldn't care less for that depressing lump and did not enjoy the side couple
- continuity error with sheet placement
- the technique at the very end needed improvement but I'll give them a break as it might have been both of their first times

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Why should we accept this show???

I'm logging on here to talk about why I think the age gap discourse surrounding this show is complete nonsense and also why the show is complete trash in spite of it!!
If we're being realistic the only way a relationship between people of these ages would occur in a real life scenario is if it were grooming. It's a total fantasy. Two people get to know each other when the first is only 17 and the second is over ten years older??? And they start to date once that person hits legal age? Get real.
In my eyes only a deeply delusional person would write something like this. What's the point in portraying a relationship like this when you could write any other scenario about grown adults. And before you write what I'm saying off as a cultural misunderstanding, please know that I speak fluent Japanese and lived in Japan for a year. Believe me when I say that even within Japanese culture it's not acceptable for a high school aged child to date an adult, and just because it happens more often there does not make it okay.
Second, if we ignore the age gap, and accept the fact that Shin is the one who most wants the relationship to happen, the way he approaches trying to get with Minato is quite frankly gross. Minato repeatedly turns him down and yet Shin ATTACKS HIM and aggressively violates his consent (Minato says no over and over) many many times!!! That's not okay and it shouldn't be portrayed as if it's just some cutesy attempt at flirting. When they get together in the end it just feels like Minato was finally ground down and just gave in.
This bullshit should not fly and while I think there's many BL dramas that are bringing gay people into a positive light in mainstream Japanese culture, such as Cherry magic, What Did You Eat Yesterday, and Old Fashioned cupcake, I don't think we as a community who enjoys these shows should have to put up with this kind of nonsense and accept it as fluff when it's perpetuating harmful tropes and stereotypes about gay people.

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KelpiView : Dancing to the tune of a lovestruck teenager

Overall Impression :
The japanese BL scene has done it again. This was nothing short of an entertaining piece of work. everything from casting, story to scene edits and voiceovers are done well. even the side couple of the show was done in an exceptionally good way, even though, i honestly wanted more side couple scenes, but i will take what i get lol. Even though, this show is slightly longer in terms of your common japanese BLs, but good in a sense that it doesnt feel draggy in a sense.

What I liked about it :
Awesome cast!
The cast members did an awesome job in bringing the characters that they portrayed to life. none of the acting that was presented was awkward in anyway, which is a huge plus. As main leads, Kusakawa and Nishigaki (Akira and Shin) did a great job in their respective roles. but the one that made a lasting impression on me was the portrayal of Shuu and Asuka done by Inaba and Oku. Sakurako played by Toyoshima was a great portrayal of a support role, which is great thus, an honorable mention here.

Unique story!
What i felt about knowing that this would be a love story revolving around an old laundomat? "Eh?" was my initial thoughts. but it did transition quite well and how it was properly integrated into the show. Saying the laundromat is a main hotspot is an understatement because almost all of the characters are, in one way or another, had encounters in the laundromat. Plus the age gap romance as well as comedic scenes / storytelling, it has become one of the best japanese BL i have seen. Not to mention the little tid bits of side couple history that makes me want more. i hope they do a spin off on the side couple.

On point costumes!
Very seldom that when i watch something, i thought to myself "Wow, that shirt is a nice shirt.." :Opens Amazon to search for that exact shirt: This is what it has done to me. The costumes for this show is done well in regard that it wasnt over the top and very realistic. Some shows, would put the cast members in outfits that looks awesome in shots, but generally would be a lil bit unrealistic. The outfit for this show is selected well and has good aesthetic feel to it, albeit being simple.

What I disliked about it :
Too little side couple moments
I think this is my common dislikes about almost every single show i see LOL. but, dont get me wrong, the main couple is good, but i think that the side couple could have been shown more in terms of progress to really sell it as a side couple. Yes, i understand the meaning of being the "side" couple, obviously they wont get as much screen time as the main couple, but a lil bit more would do wonders to adoring fans.

Did I enjoy it? :
yes i did, all 12 glorious episodes. really hoping for some spinoff or SP episodes for the side couple. i need that. i really do. lol.

Would I recommend it to others? :
Definitely! that is if you dont mind a slower paced show. If you're the type that wants couples to get together at least at the middle of the season, then this isnt a show for you though. i will just leave that as a warning. overall, this show was very entertaining. definitely put it in your PTW list or even better start now because the show just ending like one day ago (at the writing of this review lol).

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Minato’s Laundromat is a Hidden Gem!

Let me say firstly that I don’t know why people rate dramas when they are still ongoing. I don’t think it’s fair to rate a drama low or whatever when it’s still ongoing. As you don’t know the entire story and plot yet.
Moving that all aside, this was a wonderful series! One of my top BLs of 2022 definitely! Will definitely rewatch this in the near future and I encourage everyone to give this drama a chance! Don’t let the age gap turn you away because you are missing out on a wonderful drama series that also teaches you life lessons. Kusakawa Takuya as Minato Akira and Nishigaki Sho as Katsuki Shintaro were wonderful characters! As were everyone else, Asuka, Sakurako, Shuu-sensei, and Sakuma-sensei. I wish there was a season 2 for this series! I will continue to support the cast and I applaud everyone for their hard work! .皆様、お疲れ様でした！そして、有難う御座いました！よく頑張りました！

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age gap romance, pining since childhood

A high school student pursues the man of his dreams who happens to run a laundromat in this classic age gap BL. This drama has a 10 year age gap so if that wigs you out, don't watch it. I happen to LOVE age gap romances.

Minato’s Laundromat is so steeped in yaoi tropes and archetypes, not to mention a typical romance arc, that it will be an overload for some, but those of who love this genre for its DNA will adore it. It made me very happy because it did everything I want a BL to do, and there’s not much more I ask of a show than this. It’s the closest Japan has come to perfect live action yaoi since Seven Days.

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Just because it's spinning, doesn't mean it's being cleaned

I don't have much words for this washing machine overall, so let's keep it short and to the point. This wasn't either. It's stuck between a comedy which builds its humor on highschooler harrassing a guy 10 years older than him on one side, and psychological drama that deals with trauma of said older guy on other side. It never goes far enough in either direction, just repeats the same wishy-washy cycle over and over again.

What I liked:

1. Visuals - both leads are pretty good-looking (as is usual in BLs), and the environment is also nice.
2. OST - the intro song is lively.
3. Neko comment from a side character. [start of episode 11]

What I disliked:

1. The plot doesn't move, for vast majority of the time. You're getting the same interactions over and over again.

2. It felt like writers didn't know what they wanted this show to be. Aside from constantly switching tone from kinda funny to kinda sad, back and forth, they introduce small side plots that are cleared almost as quickly as they come. But never developed.

3. Strong themes are brushed away nonchalantly. [more in spoilery comment under review]

Overall, I can't feel anything intense for this drama, other than frustration. It's just whatever.

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Was Not Expecting to Enjoy This so Much

My love for this series comes as a very pleasant surprise. I was not excepting myself to like this at all, and was fully prepared to watch the first episode, and then shelf it until infinity. After coming from Senpai, Danjite Koidewa, which I dropped mid-first episode, I was a little worried about where my head would be at with this one, but I decided to trust my gut anyways, and good thing I did. Minato Shouji Coin Laundry is a surreal feeling of a forbidden love that claws at your heart whilst also being hilarious in and of itself.

Let's Dive In.

My worry for this series was definitely the age difference, especially since this was one dealing with a high school (underage to of age) and a grown adult almost in his thirties. It's a very quick turn-off, it's a very quick, "no, this is not the move," but I gave it a shot anyways. The only reason this age gap didn't throw me off was because Shin (the high schooler) was the one initiating the relationship. The one wanting to hold Akira's hand, kiss him, go on a date with him, be his boyfriend, etc. And Akira being the adult of the two of them was the one doing everything in his power to prevent it from happening. Telling Shin he had more going for himself than him, telling Shin his crush was only temporary, telling him to move on and start college, etc. Had this been vice-versa -- Akira initiating everything on Shin -- then this would've immediately been dropped. But it's not like that. This isn't grooming or anything of the sort. In every instance, Akira is trying to persuade Shin out of admiring him, and it's handled with such great care while also being entertaining and silly. Yes, Akira's feelings for Shin are obvious from the first episode, but he suppresses them in the most responsible way possible. This was definitely giving forbidden love, which I can somewhat like given the circumstance, and yes, this was one of those circumstances.

The writing in this is lovely. Anytime Shin was going on one of his ridiculously beautiful monologues about his feelings for Akira, I found myself getting emotional because it was so touching. Especially the one in the hotel and the note he wrote to Akira, it was all so beautifully put together. Outside of Shin, the writing and characterization for Akira were perfect. His childish demeanor, yet stern attitude. His sudden joy of the smallest things, the emotions we see play on his face during his internal monologues. Gosh, it was like a perfectly wrapped present you don't want to open because it's too perfect.

Their relationship was nice to watch, There were a lot of instances when it felt like they were running in circles, but it was nice to see Shin flirt, Akira get flustered and reprimand him, only for him to have this internal monologue about wishing he could say it back. I won't lie, I was a little shocked that they ended up getting together in the end. I was so sure this series would either take the, "we don't get together at all" route, or the, "we get together after Shin is finished with college" route. But the ending was the best part o this entire series. The way Akira pours out his heart because he believes Shin is leaving only for Shin to say he's staying, and yet still they have this incredible moment, full of silliness and perfected emotions. And these two had decent chemistry. There might've been times their physical chemistry wasn't always there, but for sure, their emotional connection was subpar, especially when I get teary-eyed just watching them stare and cry with one another. This honestly couldn't have been any better.

Akira's whole situation with his swim coach was a little frustrating. Akira being a grown adult should've been able to handle it accordingly without acting so -- well, childish. That was the only thing that I can think that really frustrated me about his character, his inability to just spit it out and continue to take us on this elongated journey through the 12 episodes of him just trying to explain his feelings to his coach. Would've rather this had been resolved immediately so that Sukama could've been a mentor for his relationship instead of the thing that's stopping it.

Moving onto the side characters, I really loved Shin's sister. I think she was adorable and liked how she was Shin's wing woman. she played a nice supporting role in the help of getting them together.

Asuka and Hiiragi's relationship was a lot more irritating because Hiiragi just never looked interested, and even if he didn't know how to show it or whatever, I don't know how Asuka didn't just run and move on. But aside from their relationship, I really liked Asuka's character. he was playful, genuine, and a lovely person. I would love to see him in a main role.

Ratings:

Story: 8.5/10 - A really strong story. There were times when something felt a bit draggy, and a lot of times it felt like nothing was going anywhere in the story. but aside from that, it was entertaining and a really fun watch, It kept me wanting to come back and finish, which is the most important part.

Acting: 9/10 - such, such a good job from the actors. Everyone did so well in their roles, Takuya definitely took the lead as the best out of all of them. Tomoya would for sure be my second favorite, with Sho following behind. Either way, they did an incredible job, all emotions were accurate and of perfect timing.

Music: 5/10 - Kind of hated the intro song, very distracting and loud and obnoxious, but everything else in the actual series was fine.

Rewatch value: 7/10 - I rarely rewatch, and this probably won't be much of a difference, but I could for sure see myself going back to watch certain parts.

I highly recommend this series. It going to be tough now because I thought that Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss was going to be my favorite Japanese series of 2022, but now these two have gone head to head, and I'm not positive anymore how I feel. Either way, this was a beautiful series, so well done, and now I think I want a season two even though I envy season two's. Sigh.

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Lackluster At Most

Finally, after months, I finished this drama. I turned on 2x speed halfway through, which helped it keep my attention. Otherwise, Minato Coin Laundry was as boring as Minato's character.

I am going to keep this short, because I already gave too much attention to this waste of time drama.

Pros:
1. Unique idea. The plot execution sucked, but I think it would have been really good if they did some things differently. The age gap didn't bother me, since Minato never lead Shintaro on, so it wasn't a problem.
2. The side couple. Wish they had more screen time, and wasn't so rushed near the end. It felt half developed. They would be the only reason I would watch season 2.
3. Good ending. 10 minutes till the end, I was afraid Shintaro would move away and never get with Minato, which I would have hated. There is nothing worse than the feeling after watching an incomplete ending! I was pleasantly surprised it ended with a smile on my face.

Cons:
1. The repeat of themes. Throughout the whole drama, the story was going in a circle. if it wasn't some jealousy moment, it was Shintaro getting upset at Minato for declining his *illegal* advances or something along those lines.
2. The lack of backstory with Shintaro. It was weird how he didn't seem to care about his dad moving out, or his sister having to take care of everything because the parents worked all the time. It felt like random unexplained filler.
3. The attempted rush of a relationship when Shintaro turned 18. Just because you are a week older than being a minor, doesn't mean you should rush into a relationship with someone 10 years older! I wish he hadn't been so forceful at times.

Minato Coin Laundry was overall easily forgettable, and I have no motivation to watch the next season. Wasn't for me.

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Completing 2 series that have similar background (This one & Old fashion cupcake) in the same week, which tells about a love story with ages difference, give me a positive value in comparing the quality between the two.

Old Fashion Cupcake (hereinafter will be shortened by OFC) tells about (almost) 40s guys with (almost) 30s guy, and this one tells about men (almost) 30s with school-age teenagers. But unfortunately with a very short episode OFC is more able to make me crazy in love than Minato. It's not that I don't like this series, but I don't quite understand about Akira's character who wandering around the place. Honestly, It made me feel bored at one time. Even I had to pause watching this series for a whole month. I know loving a teenager is quite challenging, but as an adult I assumed that Akira should be better in making some difficult decision for himself or (might be) for Shin.

For me, the heroes of this series is actually Shin's character who is really firm in his stance ( I even think that he is too firm for a teenager), and of course Akira's adorable character who made me smile every time he appears.

But the good side of this series that OFC doesn't have is its original soundtrack. Their song are much more interesting than OFC and it succeed to convince me to put some songs into my playlist on several streaming platforms. lol

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