Summer Snow (2000) User Reviews

Natsuo, youthful head of the family, meets Yuki, a bank clerk.

[etsuo · 9/10 · 18 March 2002]

Natsuo Shinoda, has been head of the household of a "Mom and Pop" bicycle shop ever since the death of the elder Shinodas. One day, he shows a boy how to ride a bike, which strikes passerby Yuki. Harsh words are exchanged, but Natsuo cools off and apologizes to her. They find something to like about each other, and this leads to SCUBA lessons.

However, Natsuo hasn't been attentive to his high-school-age sister, Chika. She's been intimate with classmate Hiroto, and the pregnancy test is Positive! His younger brother, Jun harbors an "impossible ambition," to become a teacher in spite of his hearing/speaking disability. Hiroto, an indifferent student, has been hanging out at Pachinko and video game parlors with a gang of motorcycle-borne purse snatchers who prey upon old bank customers. Yuki has a secret--a heart condition that's kept her from experiencing LIFE. Her father, Shogo Katase, is a Juvenile Crime detective who's been watching Hiroto as a purse-snatching suspect. Seiji, a young doctor, considers Yuki his due to their long association at the hospital where Yuki has been a patient. Will Natsuo keep away from Yuki and let her go to America for a heart transplant with Seiji?

Will Hiroto remain on the straight and narrow path as he promised Chika? Stay tuned as the "underwater snows"

"Acchi Muite Hoi!"

[daisukereds · 8/10 · 4 October 2023]

Summer Snow is considered to be atop a list of Japanese Dramas, and for good reason!

It might be a bit old, but due to its timeless core, writing and superb acting.. is still VERY watchable today!

The leads make this story a delightful romance that is beyond memorable. Together, they give you bittersweet developments and a relationship that you'd like to continue forever.

Tsuyoshi plays Natsuo ("Natsu" meaning Summer) with a cheerful "funny guy" personality and kind demeanor, while still being mature and innocent. I normally don't like male romantic leads, but Tsuyoshi played such a balanced and likeable guy, that he has become my favorite. This is exceptionally rare, since I REALLY like Ryoko Hirosue from this era! Enough to get jealous, and a bit protective over who she'd end up with. As Yuki (meaning Snow), the way she smiles, laughs and interacts with him makes her the sweetest and most lovable 20-year old girl you would adore to have by your side. And both their personalities transcend their roles.. it's quite fantastic to watch. I'd go as far as to say this is my favorite couple I've seen on anything! No competition.

As for the drama itself, it covers a lot of topics.. from growing-up without parents, to sickness and death, to teen pregnancy and many more! And while that might make it seem quite serious, I do think that every plot point written around the main two is somewhat underdeveloped, brushed-aside and with dramatic obstacle that last less than an episode (maybe 2 on cliffhangers). Summer Snow is 11 episodes story that could be easily trimmed in half or rewritten to have more meaningful points.. but after watching it, I would be against touching it for fear of ruining it. I loved it, but it is by no means perfect. If the ending wasn't the most memorable conclusion I've seen in a while (albeit predictable and properly hinted at).. the story wouldn't feel as satisfying.

I would love to talk more about it with someone..

Anyway! While it is a bit long, I could not recommend it enough. And on top of that, I'm grateful for another catchy song (sang by the lead himself!) to add to my collection.

Quite simply the best drama I've ever seen.

[bramcote · 20 August 2003]

Summer Snow is one of those dramas that starts off as your typical, run-of-the-mill family stories based on a group of young teenagers. However, what sets this piece of amazing work apart from the rest, is the growing feeling of anger, torment and depression, that eventually leads up to a single point of the story itself, that is explicably noted right at the start, and in the title.

Growing up is never an easy topic, and Summer Snow tries to show this through a number of characters that we undoubtedly understand further into the eleven episodes. Pursuing through this topic is life itself, and thus involves women with heart disease and another with pregnancy. Although quite controversial, these issues are dealt with in a manner you wouldn't quite expect.

Most shocking, of course, is the eventual ending that the viewer receives. It is certainly a shock, but not in a way that it causes the whole series to be distasteful. Instead, it allows the viewer to think through the problems that the characters themselves have been through, culminating to a final 'point' in the purpose of the series itself.

The characters are well defined, and actors prove their very worth in this emotional drama. Considering that these actors are quite young (Tsuyoshi Dômoto was around 21 during the filming of this series; Shun Oguri, the most notable actor, was around 17/18), truth be told they display a wide range of techniques that only further improve the impact of the story.

Summer Snow deserves a lot of praise for it's unique storyline, and how the scriptwriters, director and actors handle certain aspects. If you haven't considered this series yet, your best bet would be to check out JDorama (via google) for more information. I personally rate this the best ever drama series I've ever seen.

One note; the name Natsuo means Summer, while Yuki means Snow. Bare this in mind while watching this fantastic drama.

Probably best drama ever

[aim7sparrow · 10/10 · 14 February 2011]

When we started watching it, my girlfriend said it's boring, nothing is happening, and that she doesn't want to watch it anymore - and she was saying it for first 3 episodes. After watching a bit more she changed her mind, just to say in the end that it was best TV series and that it was very hard not to cry in the end.

In the beginning it seems very simple, eventless and innocent, but if you give it a bit of patience, you will probably remember those series whole life.

Unforgettable and truly Japanese - feelings of all the characters are displayed in their purest and strongest form.

I wish more series would be like that - making one remarkable unique TV season instead of displaying same characters coping with same problems over and over, endlessly dragged out for commercial purposes.

My first j-drama...

[scobbah · 20 December 2005]

I don't really know where to start here. "Summer Snow" is the first j-drama that I have fully managed to pull myself through (counting 11 episodes). I got quite hooked from the beginning, as I really enjoy the atmosphere. It is a good mix of comedy and love (hey it's a drama, are you surprised?) here for sure. So the plot's about the Shinoda family, consisting of two brothers and a younger sister. They have lost their parents, but they move on with their life running their bicycle store, whom the older brother takes care of meanwhile his young brother and sister are still attending classes at school. While the sister starts dating a guy that Natsuo, the older brother, doesn't like Natsuo himself starts seeing Yuki, a sweet girl who's working at the local bank. Yuki's having problems with her hearts which she tries to keep away from Natsuo's knowledge so they can go scuba-diving together. Yuki's doctor, who has a special liking about Yuki, grows jealous on Natsuo and the fun may begin. I do recommend this, and I think I've taken one step closer to get stuck in the ocean of j-dramas now.

Good one !!

[phoebuzz · 9 February 2005]

Something there is that makes the story linger in you. Pretty good to sit and watch. Natsuo, a young adult is burdened with the responsibility of bringing up his siblings. His sister Chika, carries her classmate Hiroto's child, and Hiroto caves in to a group of urchins and wastes his time at video game parlors. Natsuo meets Yuki, a bank employee by accident and falls for her. Unfortunately Yuki has a heart disease which she hides from Natsuo. Yuki does not like anybody else to know she is not well. She just hates to be empathized. Ryoko Hirosue has marvelously portrayed this subtle fact. Amidst all this, Natsuo's brother Jun is caught by police as he tries to save Hiroto from bad company. Yuki gets weaker and weaker and she needs to go to America for treatment. She needs to take a big decision, America or Natsuo !!!