Zenkai Girl

My jdorama for Summer 2011, Zenkai Girl stars Aragaki Yui and Nishikido Ryo.  Aragaki is the overachieving Ayukawa Wakaba while Nishikido is Yamada Sato, her exact opposite -- stay at home single dad, no college education and no great ambition.  The Ayukawa character reminds me of Tracy Flick from the American movie Elections.   But since this is a jdorama and she is in the land of "ganbarimasu" - overachieving, overdoing and over-everything is the norm.  There are no gray areas in how she her character is presented.  In fact, unlike in the American movie, Ayukawa's success is appreciated by all the other characters who eventually came to like her (or if not - they at least respect her).  Well, maybe what really sets Ayukawa Wakaba apart from Tracy Flick is her Japanese sense of belonging in a community.  More than her individual achievements, she is first and foremost a member of the Samejima Sakuragawa Law Firm and the Parent Rotation Club.  

All the child actors and their characters are memorable.  The young Wakaba is overzealous yet lovable; Hinata is an adult-child fashionista.  Last is Pitaro who should not grow up and stay as his cute five-year old self forever.   

Here are my favorite lines from the last episode:

I believe that people who have had the taste of defeat are stronger than those who only know how to win - Ayukawa

If you like him, then it isn't about what you want but about what you can do to make that other person happy - Hinata

I can't do anything great for you.  But I will love you my entire life.  So, will you marry me? - Sota