I heard about this show like a week ago through a random tumblr post. A gifset of Sakuko searching the internet for the term “AroAce”. I did a double take. Theres no way, I thought. An aroace character? The words aromantic and asexual being used on screen? So I did some quick research and discovered that this is from a Japanese drama show called Koisenu Futari.
Here’s a summary of the show:
About two people who are aromantic and asexual and begin living together. Sakuko finds it difficult to live in a society which operates under the assumption that people will fall in love with each other. She meets supermarket employee Takahashi when she goes to support a “fall-in-love” campaign by her junior at work. She is startled when she hears him say that there are people who don’t fall in love. As Sakuko’s mother keeps hurrying her to get married, she decides to move out and rent an apartment with her friend but her friend backs out at the last minute after reconciling with her ex-boyfriend. Just when Sakuko is about to give up, she ends up living with Takahashi under one roof because of their similar values towards romance.
So not only does this show have an AroAce character, it is CENTERED on not one but TWO Aroace characters and their experiences and feelings as AroAces.
Do you know how rare that is!?!??!
Last night I finally found a way to watch it with English subtitles and I blew through the two episodes available when I tell you I cried. Oof. I cried no less than 3 times during episode 1 alone.
I mean look at this. Talks of amatonormativity, Sakuko’s friendship being mistaken for romantic feelings, friends ditching her for romantic relationships, constantly being told she’ll find her “fated partner”, touch aversion, and so much more.
Is this what real representation feels like? This is a little overwhelming to be honest. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire life. There has never been anything like this on tv ever. We as a community have gotten so many crumbs. A few canon ace characters. Even fewer aro characters. I can’t even name 1 aroace character. And even then their stories are side plots or they’re secondary characters or just a throwaway joke/plot device. I can count on hand the number of accurate decent representation for the aspec community on tv.
But this show. This is me. This is my experience, my feelings, my identity. Sakuko is my coming out story. Sakuko and Takahashi are living my life. I see myself on screen for the first time. I’m crying again because I’ve never know what this could feel like. I feel heard and seen. I feel accepted and normal.
A part of me still worries that the other shoe is going to drop and they’ll have Sakuko and Takahashi fall in love I’m the end and then they’ll be “normal” because that’s what always happen. Always always always. But I genuinely dont think that’s what’s going to happen and I’m ecstatic about that.
A whole show about two AroAces!!!! I’m over the moon right now. Lots of sobbing happening right now. Words dont convey the amount of happiness I feel about this.
