Utakoi otherwise know as Chouyaku Hyakuninisshu: Uta Koi is about the 100 romantic poems that make up karuta.
Utakoi starts with the love stories of two brothers. The first half is the story of Narihira and Takaiko . Narihira is a womanizer, but as soon as he saw Takaiko he fell in love. Unfortunately Takaiko was to be married to the emperor and their love had to remain a secret. The two tried to run away and failed. Much later after Takaiko had given birth to the new emperor and Narihiri was a general meeting with the emperor, the two met again. Narihira recited the Chihayafuru poem, that is used so often in Chihayafuru, to speak of his love for Takaiko. The second half is about Narihira’s brother Yukihira and his love for his wife Hiroko. This half has a lot of history about the two brothers family. Hopefully they will come up again or that will be a waste of time. Yukihira has to leave his wife often and she does not show that she misses him. Yukihira tries to get Hiroko to understand that she is important to him and that if she calls him that he will come.
The stories in Utakoi are sweet and romantic, but the way they are presented leaves something to be desired. I do not like the narrator in between the stories. There is no reason for him to be there. Just put something in the opening about what the stories are about and present the poem at the beginning. The narrator is just awkward and takes away from the feel of the stories. Also putting the history lesson in the middle of the second story killed it at the beginning. If they had put the history of the family before the whole episode or at least before that section it would have made the story stronger instead of interrupting it with information. Hopefully they will present the stories better in the future.
The stories themselves were nice, the story of Narihira and Takaiko was the better of the two. Yukihira and Hiroko were so restrained and awkward most of the time.
This picture is for the ladies.
The music choices for the opening and ending in Utakoi really do not fit with the pictures or theme. I know that the stories contained are not historically accurate, but this are still stories about historical figures and classical poetry. Also the pictures are of a romantic or sensual nature mostly, so I was expecting something slower and softer. Instead we have a lively song that sounds like it should go with an action show for the opening. The ending is even worse with all the broken English and modern feel. The two songs do not even sound good. I normally do not talk about the music, but the songs are just so strange and take away from the opening and ending so much I had to say something.
Overall if you are looking for short romance stories and hot man chest then this is for you. Also Chihayafuru fans will probably enjoy seeing the cards depicted.
Status: Still Watching. Hope this show will improve.
