Occasionally, I’ll catch an episode of a live action Japanese drama and think, “Ah, I should really watch more of these.” But, I never seem to follow through. I just don’t have the time for it, I suppose. That, and I watch them just as much for the cheese factor as anything else, and it seems silly to set aside time for that alone. Even in Tokyo, I never bothered watching television, although that probably had more to do with my never being home in the evening. Except for the time the NHK man showed up, of course. Conspiracy, indeed.

In a lot of ways, Bokura ga Ita is a live action show disguised as anime. That’s not to say it would work better as live action, however. Stylistically, there are so many things the show does that only work in two dimensions, much like Honey & Clover. Still, it would be easy enough to fake.

Bokura ga Ita is also a show that’s difficult to talk about, because it’s really not all that special. The story and characters are standard shoujo manga boilerplate, the animation isn’t particularly flashy, and the direction is straightforward.

Or is it?

I actually find the simplicity of the animation comforting. I don’t have to think much about it, but it’ll occasionally do something spectacular, and I’ll think, “Wow, how about that!” The same with the direction. I’m a huge Akitaro Daichi fanboy, but I wouldn’t even recognize his work in the show if I didn’t know about it beforehand. Considering his distinct style, that’s saying something. Yet, once again, the show will occasionally do something spectacular, and I’ll think, “Wow, how about that!”

And, honestly, the two leads are quite fascinating. Everything that defines them as characters is entirely believable, as are the situations they find themselves in, yet… they’re still fascinating. I have fond memories of high school, but it’s not something I think about all that often. It’s so far in the past that it’s almost something abstract. But, as I’m listening to Yano and Nana talk to each other, I’m always thinking, “Ah, I remember this conversation.”

I can never remember how it turned out, though.