Under the Miracle Cherry Tree (Boku Dake ga Jū-nana-sai no Sekai de, English: Under the Miracle Cherry Tree or The World Where Only I'm 17 Years Old) is a 2020 Japanese television drama series in the romance and fantasy genres directed by Hisao Ogura. The series premiered on the streaming platform AbemaTV on February 20, 2020 and ran for eight episodes until April 2, 2020. The story tells of the reunion of two childhood friends separated by death, wrapped in elements of miracle and time.
Synopsis
Mei Konno (Marie Iitoyo) and Kota Sometani (Hayato Sano) are high school students who have feelings for each other. However, their hope of confessing their love is dashed when Kota dies suddenly at the age of 17. Seven years later, in 2020, Mei, now 24 years old, returns to her hometown for the first time. Her arrival is prompted by news that the special cherry blossom tree, the place where she and Kota used to spend time together, is going to be cut down.
Under the cherry blossom tree that blooms miraculously in the middle of winter, Mei is reunited with Kota, who should already be gone. Kota appears in his former form, still 17 years old, while Mei has grown into an adult. This miracle allows Kota to be present in the real world for as long as the cherry blossoms remain in bloom. In that limited time, they get a second chance to express the feelings that have long been held back and to solve the mystery behind Kota's death.
Cast and Characters
A lineup of talented young actors portrays the key characters in this drama.
Kota Sometani (Hayato Sano): A young man who died seven years ago and returns as a 17-year-old spirit. His character is depicted as still having the innocence and spirit of a teenager, in contrast to his friends who have already grown up.
Mei Konno (Marie Iitoyo): Kota's friend and sweetheart, who is now 24 years old. Kota's death left her devastated and caused her to distance herself from their circle of friends.
Iori Ishikawa (Kousei Yuki): A close friend of Kota and Mei who also still carries the wounds of the past from Kota's death.
Other supporting cast members include Yutaro Watanabe as Ryohei Yoshimura, Karen Otomo as Haruka Noda, as well as senior actors such as Yoshihiko Hakamada and Hikari Ishida, who play the parents of the main characters.
Production and Broadcast
The series was directed by Hisao Ogura with a script written by Tomoko Aizawa and Haruka Okita. The accompanying music was composed by Masahiro Tokuda. The main theme song, titled "70億にただ1つの奇跡" (70-oku ni Tada Hitotsu no Kiseki), is performed by the music group ACE COLLECTION.
Under the Miracle Cherry Tree is one of AbemaTV's original dramas and premiered on February 20, 2020. The series consists of 8 episodes with a duration of around 30 minutes per episode.
Themes and Reception
This drama takes up themes of loss, the grieving process, and the power of memories. Kota's return gives Mei and her friends the chance to face the past and begin the process of healing. Critics considered the drama successful in conveying an emotional message about the importance of expressing feelings and cherishing the time one has with loved ones.
Although the plot was considered fairly easy to guess and the short duration made some character development feel less than fully realized, the performances of the actors, especially Hayato Sano as the main character who is "trapped" at the age of 17, received much praise. The drama is described as able to touch the audience's feelings without needing excessive visual effects, relying on the strength of the narrative and deep acting.
References
Plex. "Under The Miracle Cherry Tree · S1 E1 · #1 Under The Sakura's Tree". watch.plex.tv.
Plex. "Under the Miracle Cherry Tree". watch.plex.tv.
Drama-Otaku. "Boku Dake ga 17-sai no Sekai de (2020)". drama-otaku.com.
AnimeClick. "Under the Miracle Cherry Tree". animeclick.it.
MyDramaList. "Under the Miracle Cherry Tree - Reviews". mydramalist.com.
StrangerClubOfSeries. "Under the Miracle Cherry Tree". strangerclubofseries1.com.
TEGASIAN. "Menjelajahi Keajaiban dan Misteri dalam Drama ABEMA "Boku Dake ga 17-sai no Sekai de"". tegasian.tegaroom.com