New BL Drama! Get Ready for April Showers!
As the spring begins to… well, spring, we find ourselves moving into a new season of television! And one of the benefits of this is the launch of a new BL drama: Life in Smokey Blue!
Originally called Smoke Blue no Ame Nochi Hare in Japanese, the title might seem in English like it’s been sipping a little depresso espresso, but it’s actually referencing the sunny day after rain on a cloudy day.
But we know that just “there’s a new BL drama coming out” isn’t nearly good enough for our beloved readers! So, let us take you through the basics of what it’s like to live Life in Smokey Blue!
Summary of the BL Manga
We begin our story from the perspective of our tipsy yet not topsy protagonist, Azuma Sakutaro. Somewhat unusually for a BL story, he’s a little more advanced in age than most stars, having reached the big 38 years old. One night, when he is out drinking, without a care in the world (he is currently unemployed, and living with his sister) he is on his way home with a handsome young guy… when suddenly, someone emerges as if from the shadows to tell Azuma that his would-be paramour is no good, and spirits him to his place, instead.
Upon awakening, Azuma realises that this long-haired, slacker-looking guy is actually his former coworker, Kuji Shizuka, who was always his superior, rival, and unattainable peer… except for the one night they shared together on Kuji’s last day at work. It’s been years since, but the two are now sharing the same room together, and Kuji asks Azuma for a favor: could the fluent English-speaker Azuma help him with some freelance translating he’s been doing?
As the two begin to work together, and get closer, it becomes slowly clearer why they could work well together: the rivalry they had is gone, but some of the intensity of feelings remain. Azuma is given new purpose through Kuji’s requests, and Kuji in return, has a new confidant to talk to about the things in his life, such as why he left his old job… or why a wheelchair sits in his apartment, unused.
Who is Starring in the New BL Drama?
Taking the starring role of Azuma Sakutaro is Kouhei Takeda, who has previously starred in a number of Kamen Rider series, as well as the lead in acclaimed dramatic movie Hold Your Hand, and was also the Japanese voice of lead character Vaan in Final Fantasy XII.
“I was a fan of this work even before I was approached about adapting it into a drama,” he says. “The miraculous balance and delicate relationship in which they are indispensable to each other is carefully portrayed by the cast, the director, and the staff working together.”
Playing Kuji Shizuka is Kento Shibuya, another actor who has an extensive history playing super sentai characters, as well as character-led dramas.
“From the very first day of filming, we were blessed with a smoky blue sky, and while being supported by the director, and the staff, I’ve been spending intense days and I feel like Kuji is becoming a part of me,” he says. “I will cherish this role and do my best to portray the character with care so that this story reaches many people and becomes a work that will be loved for a long time to come.”
Reasons to Be Excited
One reason for the fossils amongst us is: this is focused on (relatively) older men! Rather than being youngsters in their teens or early 20s, we have some grown-ups in the mix. But more than that, we have some genuine fail-boys, who are trucking on but who have abandoned the traditional office-based worklife of Japan. An inspiration to us all!
Another is to see the chemistry between our two gorgeous leads. With similar acting role histories, and with the characters being near-but-not-quite-rivals, the pairing is exquisite.
So, whether you’re in the mood for some middle-aged man-love, some translation tribulations, or just starved for some foxy fellas finding one another, there are a hundred reasons to get hype for this show!
