Itazura Na Kiss & Versions

Itazura Na Kiss is a a Japanese manga which has spawned version after versions across Asia.

The drama has proved popular that it has also been made into films.

The currently popular A Love So Beautiful is purported to have the same framework of the Itazura Na Kiss.

It is a story of a high school girl who finally found the guts to confess her love to a super handsome fellow student with an IQ of 200 via a love letter.  She ambushed him one day and tried to give him her love letter but he refused to take it.  Her undying admiration continued on fuelled by the boy’s hot and cold treatment of her.

Versions from different countries varies a bit but not much.  So you think if you’ve seen one, you have seen them all.  But that is not really the case as every version has its own charm and hook.

The first adaptation was a Japanese drama made in 1996.  It was made up of 9 episodes which can be seen in youtube.  It is said that this is the best version as it remained really faithful to the manga version.  It is even called Itazura Na Kiss.

It started with a Kiss (2005) & They Kissed Again are Part 1 & Part 2 of the Taiwanese version, starring Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng.  This in my opinion has the real heart.  It looks and feels real.

Playful Kiss (2010) was the Korean version and my favourite.  I am shallow, I just adore the impossibly gorgeous tandem of Kim Hyun-joong and Jung So-min.  They have a cute chemistry and Hyun-joong is just oozing with sex appeal.

Mischievous Kiss Love In Tokyo 2013 & Mischievous Kiss Love in Okinawa 2 (2014) are the Japanese remake.  The Okinawa was when they went on their honeymoon.

Kiss Me (2015) is the Thai version.  Among the various versions, this one is the most different.

Miss In Kiss (2016) is a Taiwanese remake.  The girl in this version is the plainest amongst all the girls.  But having said that she is still rather endearing.