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ariel alba
The trio of debut directors Yaegashi Fuga, Makino Masaru and Harashima Takanobu are responsible for bringing 'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' (ひだまりが聴こえる) to the small screen, for the TV Tokyo channel, the real-time adaptation of the shōnen genre manga -ai eponymous written and illustrated by Yūki Fumino.
The script is in the hands of Kawasaki Izumi, known for writing the series 'Nagatan to Aoto: Ichika no Ryourijou', 'Jimi ni Sugoi! Koetsu Garu Kono Etsuko', and the specials 'Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko' and 'Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko 2', among other serials and films.
'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a compelling Japanese youth, college and LGBTIQ+ romantic drama that delves into themes of identity and personal growth. The series explores the relationships and identities of two teenagers who begin a journey of discovery and transition from what they should be to what they want to be, in which their group of friends will also participate, who are united by the search for their place in the world. Its plot begins by narrating the difficulties that Kōhei Sugihara has hearing, since the current university student had suffered from a sudden sensorineural hearing loss during high school. Circumstances have led him to become a lonely, distrustful, introverted, unsociable and distant boy with great difficulties relating to other people. He himself admits to feeling "out of place wherever he goes."
Thus, the creators present us with a love story between two teenagers of the same gender, and analyze the problems that the world can pose for a person with hearing problems.
Kōhei's entire life changes when he accidentally meets Taichi Sagawa, who offers to take notes in classes for him in exchange for the lunch that the disabled student gives him every day. Kōhei will soon discover that he can hear the loud voice of the new acquaintance without difficulty.
This is how a friendship develops between a boy who had always had problems socializing, because his hearing problems caused him to be marginalized by his classmates, and another happy, optimistic, determined, empathetic, energetic boy and extrovert who lives practically in poverty, needing to work while attending university in order to survive. Both will help each other and, little by little, they will give in to their feelings, unleashing a beautiful story of friendship and love.
Taichi will make Kōhei open up to the world once he assures him that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi's kind words pierce through Kōhei's usual defense mechanisms and open his heart, causing his feelings for Taichi to turn into love.
This relationship changes Kohei forever.
Thanks to Taichi, Kōhei begins to smile and integrate into the social life of the campus. Others also begin to see him with different eyes. Taichi becomes the friend he never had or perhaps lost when he lost his hearing and was ostracized. Taichi teaches him "that there may also be a place for him on the other side."
Taichi and Kōhei challenge gender norms on a journey of self-discovery. His story takes us into themes such as the search, the formation of identity, personal growth and the transition to adulthood. But it also addresses feelings such as loneliness, happiness, marginalization or improvement.
The two protagonists spend time together outdoors while having lunch or in other spaces on the university campus, creating an intimate and comforting atmosphere. Beautiful scenes filled with subtle gestures and glances highlight the growing connection between the characters. As they exchange words, smiles and shy glances, viewers are left with a sense of anticipation of what is to come in the next episode until the series' conclusive close.
There are many challenges that this production more than overcomes, and several reasons that enhance its plot proposal. Beyond the structural, acting and logistical aspects, which through austerity allows this series to achieve a lot, and the virtues in the themes addressed, and their management, the narrative structure must be highlighted.
With a slow pace, and alternating different timelines that go from the adolescence of the two protagonists, narrating the moment in which Kohei begins to lose his hearing and how he isolates himself from the world, or the divorce process of Taichi's parents that It led to him going to live with his grandfather, to the present day, each episode, from less to more, manages to generate expectation, interest, entertainment, and leaves an important space for personal reflection.
This slow pace creates a context that allows for the correct development of the protagonists' story. As a weak point we can mention, on the other hand, the lack of depth in the construction and history of other main and important characters in the story: Yokoyama Tomoki, Sugihara Ryoko, Yasuda Satoshi, Sagawa Genji, Miho, Maya...
'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a story of growth, of the transition to adulthood, and the team behind the cameras knows how to put themselves in the eyes, the body, the sensitivity of those young people who are just beginning their steps in the university world, young people among the adolescence and adulthood, for whom the conflicts they are going through would be deciding "their entire life."
The tempo, the music, the movement of the bodies build a truth in which some lines of the script may be redundant. A detail that in no way detracts from an endearing and loving story, which knows how to deviate from the commonplaces that the universe of television series has built.
The young and promising actor Nakazawa Motoki, in his first leading role after appearing in the film 'Sayonara Monotone', from 2023, and several series, including 'Saitama no Host', plays Sugihara Kohei.
For his part, rising star Kobayashi Toranosuke, also playing his first leading role, after debuting in 2022 in the series 'Kateikyoushi no Torako', takes on the role of Sagawa Taichi.
Nakazawa Motoki and Kobayashi Toranosuke had already worked together before, when in 2023 they coincided in the series 'Gekokujo Kyuji', in which the former played Inuzuka Sho, while the latter played the character Hioki Soma.
Personal and sincere, with a cast that is simply perfect and which is joined by Usa Takuma, who we saw in the role of Sakuma Hajime in the BL series '25 Ji, Akasaka de' or in 'Kiss x Kiss x Kiss: Love ii Shower', of the same genre, and music that carries the narrative drift with sensitivity and fairness, 'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a series of enormous beauty.
These three actors, along with the committed performance of a cast that includes Natsuki Omi, Nishida Naomi and the renowned veteran actor Denden, is another reason why viewing this series becomes an interesting experience.
It is not a simple love story between two teenagers, but rather it represents the problems that can arise in a romantic relationship when one of the two members of the relationship has a hearing disability. Thus, beyond a standard love theme, 'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a call to eradicate the mistreatment and discrimination that society carries out on minority groups, be it the members of the LGBTIQ+ group or the disabled, in this case, those who have hearing problems. "Stress is the worst for you... Living in a society designed for those who can hear might be the biggest challenge," the doctor will tell Kōhei.
In this way, the series becomes a manifesto to demand the equality of all human beings. The fact of being homosexual, something considered taboo in Japan, a country that does not yet accept equal marriage and where members of that community face discrimination and constant challenges that heterosexual people do not experience, should not be seen as something bad, but rather it should be to be integrated into society until, one day, there is no type of exclusion for the mere fact of being different from others.
To the delight of manga and BL lovers, the series does not have the same ending as the 2017 film of the same name. As I expressed in the review of this feature film: "Despite the fact that the development of the plot is very similar to the story created by Yūki Fumino, its ending has nothing to do with the original. Instead of the magical and emotional ending of the manga, the one of the film directed by Kamijo Daisuke leaves BL lovers with a bad taste in their mouths.
'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is, ultimately, a series whose main theme is simply love, and focuses on the fundamental idea of accepting each individual as they are and showing respect towards others, a message that runs through the story of the two young university lovers.
The script is in the hands of Kawasaki Izumi, known for writing the series 'Nagatan to Aoto: Ichika no Ryourijou', 'Jimi ni Sugoi! Koetsu Garu Kono Etsuko', and the specials 'Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko' and 'Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko 2', among other serials and films.
'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a compelling Japanese youth, college and LGBTIQ+ romantic drama that delves into themes of identity and personal growth. The series explores the relationships and identities of two teenagers who begin a journey of discovery and transition from what they should be to what they want to be, in which their group of friends will also participate, who are united by the search for their place in the world. Its plot begins by narrating the difficulties that Kōhei Sugihara has hearing, since the current university student had suffered from a sudden sensorineural hearing loss during high school. Circumstances have led him to become a lonely, distrustful, introverted, unsociable and distant boy with great difficulties relating to other people. He himself admits to feeling "out of place wherever he goes."
Thus, the creators present us with a love story between two teenagers of the same gender, and analyze the problems that the world can pose for a person with hearing problems.
Kōhei's entire life changes when he accidentally meets Taichi Sagawa, who offers to take notes in classes for him in exchange for the lunch that the disabled student gives him every day. Kōhei will soon discover that he can hear the loud voice of the new acquaintance without difficulty.
This is how a friendship develops between a boy who had always had problems socializing, because his hearing problems caused him to be marginalized by his classmates, and another happy, optimistic, determined, empathetic, energetic boy and extrovert who lives practically in poverty, needing to work while attending university in order to survive. Both will help each other and, little by little, they will give in to their feelings, unleashing a beautiful story of friendship and love.
Taichi will make Kōhei open up to the world once he assures him that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi's kind words pierce through Kōhei's usual defense mechanisms and open his heart, causing his feelings for Taichi to turn into love.
This relationship changes Kohei forever.
Thanks to Taichi, Kōhei begins to smile and integrate into the social life of the campus. Others also begin to see him with different eyes. Taichi becomes the friend he never had or perhaps lost when he lost his hearing and was ostracized. Taichi teaches him "that there may also be a place for him on the other side."
Taichi and Kōhei challenge gender norms on a journey of self-discovery. His story takes us into themes such as the search, the formation of identity, personal growth and the transition to adulthood. But it also addresses feelings such as loneliness, happiness, marginalization or improvement.
The two protagonists spend time together outdoors while having lunch or in other spaces on the university campus, creating an intimate and comforting atmosphere. Beautiful scenes filled with subtle gestures and glances highlight the growing connection between the characters. As they exchange words, smiles and shy glances, viewers are left with a sense of anticipation of what is to come in the next episode until the series' conclusive close.
There are many challenges that this production more than overcomes, and several reasons that enhance its plot proposal. Beyond the structural, acting and logistical aspects, which through austerity allows this series to achieve a lot, and the virtues in the themes addressed, and their management, the narrative structure must be highlighted.
With a slow pace, and alternating different timelines that go from the adolescence of the two protagonists, narrating the moment in which Kohei begins to lose his hearing and how he isolates himself from the world, or the divorce process of Taichi's parents that It led to him going to live with his grandfather, to the present day, each episode, from less to more, manages to generate expectation, interest, entertainment, and leaves an important space for personal reflection.
This slow pace creates a context that allows for the correct development of the protagonists' story. As a weak point we can mention, on the other hand, the lack of depth in the construction and history of other main and important characters in the story: Yokoyama Tomoki, Sugihara Ryoko, Yasuda Satoshi, Sagawa Genji, Miho, Maya...
'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a story of growth, of the transition to adulthood, and the team behind the cameras knows how to put themselves in the eyes, the body, the sensitivity of those young people who are just beginning their steps in the university world, young people among the adolescence and adulthood, for whom the conflicts they are going through would be deciding "their entire life."
The tempo, the music, the movement of the bodies build a truth in which some lines of the script may be redundant. A detail that in no way detracts from an endearing and loving story, which knows how to deviate from the commonplaces that the universe of television series has built.
The young and promising actor Nakazawa Motoki, in his first leading role after appearing in the film 'Sayonara Monotone', from 2023, and several series, including 'Saitama no Host', plays Sugihara Kohei.
For his part, rising star Kobayashi Toranosuke, also playing his first leading role, after debuting in 2022 in the series 'Kateikyoushi no Torako', takes on the role of Sagawa Taichi.
Nakazawa Motoki and Kobayashi Toranosuke had already worked together before, when in 2023 they coincided in the series 'Gekokujo Kyuji', in which the former played Inuzuka Sho, while the latter played the character Hioki Soma.
Personal and sincere, with a cast that is simply perfect and which is joined by Usa Takuma, who we saw in the role of Sakuma Hajime in the BL series '25 Ji, Akasaka de' or in 'Kiss x Kiss x Kiss: Love ii Shower', of the same genre, and music that carries the narrative drift with sensitivity and fairness, 'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a series of enormous beauty.
These three actors, along with the committed performance of a cast that includes Natsuki Omi, Nishida Naomi and the renowned veteran actor Denden, is another reason why viewing this series becomes an interesting experience.
It is not a simple love story between two teenagers, but rather it represents the problems that can arise in a romantic relationship when one of the two members of the relationship has a hearing disability. Thus, beyond a standard love theme, 'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a call to eradicate the mistreatment and discrimination that society carries out on minority groups, be it the members of the LGBTIQ+ group or the disabled, in this case, those who have hearing problems. "Stress is the worst for you... Living in a society designed for those who can hear might be the biggest challenge," the doctor will tell Kōhei.
In this way, the series becomes a manifesto to demand the equality of all human beings. The fact of being homosexual, something considered taboo in Japan, a country that does not yet accept equal marriage and where members of that community face discrimination and constant challenges that heterosexual people do not experience, should not be seen as something bad, but rather it should be to be integrated into society until, one day, there is no type of exclusion for the mere fact of being different from others.
To the delight of manga and BL lovers, the series does not have the same ending as the 2017 film of the same name. As I expressed in the review of this feature film: "Despite the fact that the development of the plot is very similar to the story created by Yūki Fumino, its ending has nothing to do with the original. Instead of the magical and emotional ending of the manga, the one of the film directed by Kamijo Daisuke leaves BL lovers with a bad taste in their mouths.
'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is, ultimately, a series whose main theme is simply love, and focuses on the fundamental idea of accepting each individual as they are and showing respect towards others, a message that runs through the story of the two young university lovers.
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