Kazoku Game - an afterthought

Finally got down to watching Kazoku Game. Finally. 

I approached the show with apprehension because the main character, Yoshimoto sensei, played by Sakurai Sho, reminded me of Sho's previous role as an eccentric emcee with exaggerated-expressions of "The Quiz Show". Didn't enjoy that drama. I was only able to watch through it because I am an Arashi fan, and as a fan I thought it was not honourable to quit on him quarter-way. But I've grown up, and I'll quit on a drama if it sucked and a waste of my precious time. The second reason for the apprehension was last year's Nazotoki movie starring Sakurai Sho as well. It completely baffled me why it was well-received in Japan. It was horrible and a poor excuse of a movie. Hey producers and screenwriters, it doesn't mean you can neglec the storyline cos you have Japan's no.1 man in your movie! 

But bad experiences with Sho's drama projects aside, Kazoku Game won the game against my doubt and cynicism. From the get go, I was in. I was thoroughly sucked in to the story of the Numata family and how Yoshimoto sensei was going to play with them using his extreme, unheard-of ways. During the first few episodes, I could not quite decide if the Yoshimoto character was a villain or the good guy and  for that, I must applaud the screenwriter(s) and the director for effectively creating this curiosity bubble without bursting it too soon. Was Yoshimoto sensei genuine when he said he'll help the badly bullied, Numata Shigeyuki who has not attended school in months? He managed to get Shigeyuki back to school, yet in another scene, Yoshimoto sensei seemed to be egging the culprits into bullying Shigeyuki further. He set the stage for a birthday party for Shigeyuki knowing that his classmates would not turn up. This is-he-good-or-is-he-bad curiosity kept me glued and excited for more episodes. 

The unraveling of the ingenuity of Yoshimoto's game with the family was exciting as it was extreme. In order to play the Kazoku Game, you need a really good and scheming brain and Yoshimoto had it all. Yoshimoto sensei was a genius when he used a heavy-duty door (those you see in banks for high security) to lock Shigeyuki in his room in a bid to lure him out of his self-imposed isolation. In dealing with the elder son's arrogance and un-compassion, Numata Shinichi, an honour student, Yoshimoto sensei took compromising photos of him shoplifting and slicing bicycle wheels. You thought these photos were simply blackmail material, but as the show progressed you find yourself impressed with how Yoshimoto sensei used it as tools of change - to change Shinichi's deviant behaviour.  

Bullying - thumbtacks glued to seat.

Yoshimoto sensei with the elder son, Numata Shinichi. Here, he films Numata Shigeyuki being bullied by his classmates.

Yoshimoto sensei tells Shigeyuki to be stronger, because reality is cruel.

Yoshimoto sensei wins over the Numata family (with the exception of Shinichi) when they see a more cheerful Shigeyuki. 

Extreme problems call for extreme measures.

Throughout the show there were flashbacks of Yoshimoto sensei's past as a school teacher and the circumstances which led to his present eccentric persona. That part of the show was the sickest. It's revolting knowing that there are people like that out there. He was a monster, a monster created because everything was too perfect for him. No struggles, no opportunities to exercise empathy and no one (not even his parents) stepped in in time to stop his un-compassionate attitude and twisted cognition. Who would have thought teachers could be that warped! Don't worry, it isn't Sakurai Sho's character and anyhow, I don't think the Johnnys would ever play pure villain characters. 

Sawada kun had minimal scenes in the show but was a central character to Yoshimoto sensei's life mission.

Acting-wise, I thought Sakurai Sho shone in this show. Never thought his acting was bad (though it is not as natural as fellow Arashi member, Nino), but I thought it was his best role and acting to date. It must have taken a lot of energy out of him, out of any actor, to portray such a conflicting character. Yoshimoto sensei was anguish, eccentricity, kindness, evilness personified. The other actors did well too. The screenwriters gave them sufficient screen time to develop their characters and I found myself rooting for the family to get their act together and repair their problems. 

Cast of Kazoku Game on VS Arashi!!

    

In line with my general preference for Japanese dramas due to the life lessons and inspirations I usually gained, the dialogue that left the greatest impression on me was the exchange between Shinichi and Yoshimoto sensei when the former lost the bet. It was in the sensei's reply that reminded me of an important lesson - when Shinichi defiantly asked Yoshimoto sensei if he wanted him (Shinichi) to drop dead and die, the sensei said "No, that's too easy" and continued, "I want you to rebuild your family". To die is seriously easier than staying alive and dealing with the issues/problems of life. To rebuild one's family, one's life, that takes immense courage and willpower.