He Who Can't Marry (TV Series 2006– ) Poster

(2006– )

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8/10
One of the best comedic drama in recent years from Japan
ebiros225 September 2011
This is a great comedic drama starring Hiroshi Abe, and Yui Natsukawa. The title literally means "A man who can't get married", and hints at the personality of the main character played by Hiroshi Abe.

Shinsuke Kuwano (Hiroshi Abe) is a good looking, and successful architect, but he's a nerd and doesn't enjoy the company of a woman. He runs his own office with his assistant Takashi (Eiji Murakami), and Maya Sawazaki (Reiko Takashima) who works for a general contractor's office that brings him clients. He always eats alone, sometimes rents a video, and hates to compromise when it comes to his work. There's nothing wrong about his person, or his personality except for the fact that he's somewhat socially retarded. One night he gets hit with a severe stomach ache. While he's suffering, his next door neighbor Michiru (Ryoko Kuninaka) comes to his condo to ask him to lower the sound of his stereo. She takes Shinsuke to a hospital that's run by his brother in law Yoshio (Toshinori Omi). There he meets Dr. Natsumi Hayasaka (Yui Natsukawa) who's working the graveyard shift. She wants to give him rectal examination, but Shinsuke refuses, and as soon as his pain subsides with the aid of medicine, he goes home without the permission of the doctor. But few days later on his 40th birthday, the pain returns, and he's sent back to the hospital. This time, Shinsuke is forced to submit to Natsumi's rectal probe. Natsumi and Shinsuke from then on starts to meet each other in strange coincidences, and without either of them recognizing, they start to fall in love.

What's superb about this comedy is that it goes deep into the modern day social culture of Japan. Each situational comedy is a reflection of people who lives in modern day Japan. You will understand why Japan is one of the few countries in the world where population is decreasing when you see this series. Hiroshi Abe, and Yui Natsukawa puts in a superb performance portraying the intelligent but lacking individuals who've lost emotional ties to other human beings, but feels something is lacking in their lives. The supporting cast is also great in this series, bringing the level of drama a notch or two higher in each of the episodes.

Superbly crafted, and performed drama that's a must see for all Asian drama fans.
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8/10
Funny Quirky Romance
info-591829 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is a quirky romance in the way that only Japan can make them.

The show centres around the main character, Shinsuke Kuwano, played by Abe Hiroshi, and his interactions with his neighbours, his family and workmates. He plays a nerdy architect, with high ideals, but absolutely no social skills. However he is a very talented architect, so people are forces to deal with him, and his poor staff are forced to have him working for the sake of the company. The support players, particularly the doctor character Natsumi Hayasaka played by Yui Natsukawa (a love interest) are great, but the main things about this show is Kuwano. His social interactions and awkward reactions with people are some great comedy, while at the same time, you empathise with hsi character. Abe Hiroshi is a great actor, and does an excellent job of playing the otaku architect.

I've watched a lot of Japanese series, but this is definitely one of the better ones.
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10/10
Top notch jdrama - Can if a loner architect find love?
fprefect-685-2810843 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Kekkon Dekinai Otoko (aka The Man Who Can't Get Married / He Who Can't Marry) draws you into the world of a 40 year old a successful architect that has limited emotional intelligence and people skills. In 12 episodes this 2006 Japanese drama answers the question can this loner find love?

Kuwano, the eccentric loner architect, has three primary female friendships: his next door neighbor, Michiru, a young woman with the cutest dog who finds him off-putting; Dr. Natsumi, his doctor who treats him and is intrigued by his eccentric ways; and Maya, his under appreciated business partner. The three women befriend each other and find they all enjoy talking about the strange and eccentric Kuwano.

What I liked:

a) Kuwano, the main character is played to perfection by Abe Hiroshi. He is spot-on in the part and draws you into the character's world. You grow to like the loner Kuwano character, you root for his evolution over the 12 episodes, and you want him to find love.

b) Dr. Natsumi, the lead female character, is breathed to life by Natsukawa Yui. You understand why she is intrigued by Kuwano but also why she hesitates to fully engage him.

c) the writer Ozaki Masaya crafted 12 episodes that are compelling. You grow to care about these characters and there isn't a rotten character in the bunch. The characters become friends and help each other deal with this quirky architect.

d) the cutest dog ever, Ken, a pug you will fall in love with. This darling dog has his own storyline, has center stage in episode 8, and is crucial to Kuwano's growth as a person.

This fine drama won Best Drama, Best Director, Best Scriptwriter, Best Actor - Abe Hiroshi, Best Supporting Actress - Natsukawa Yui, and a Special Award for the pug Ken (the dog) at the 50th Television Drama Academy Awardsin Japan.

If you've never tried a Japanese drama and want to watch one with an adult storyline, this one may click with you too.
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10/10
A hilarious take on ageing man getting difficulty in marrying
giteckm10 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
From start to end nothing seems wrong with this drama. Hiroshi Abe shines as a 40+yrs bachelor Kuwano Shinzuke who doesn't want to get married. Only after he meets a 40+yrs old female doctor who cures him forcefully for the first time,he begins liking her.

Its his transition for a solitude seeking bachelor to company seeking person that is worth watching. All the support cast fit well. They have given brilliant support.

The story shows the life of people who are having difficulty choosing right partners.

Its a must watch!!
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10/10
Hidden gem.
whitekae8 January 2021
I came across these series in Netflix when I was looking for something nice to watch. It's fantastic. Funny and realistic. Blown me away.
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5/10
season 2 took a nosedive
dharmathug27 July 2022
Season One was entertaining but the gimmick does wear thin after a while. Also seems painfully behind the times - featuring single women who pine desperately to get married and talk about it all the time.

Still, as it was a unique show, with some good actors, we go along with it. The lead male, and architect, is a what we would say now, "on the spectrum", a high functioning autistic character who has difficulty dealing with all people and thus spends most of his time out of work - where he spends most of his time - alone at home entertaining himself.

He first goes to the hospital as he has a stomach malaise, and then proceeds to go almost every day it seems to consult with a femal Dr there, who he gradually seems to like. In spite of his uncensored blurts of often extremely blunt speech, extremely unJapanese I might add, he seems to make an impression on her. I should note that his speech gets him in trouble with everyone, at work, in restaurants etc.

If this sounds like a thin plot, it is. Basically a series of inept interactions and apologies, interspersed with women getting together and whining about unfulfilled love lives. Kind of pathetic to see working women so infantilized in this show. His family is not much better, with his mother deperately trying to matchmake him at all times. The Dr is one of the few to hold her own and keep her character intact and mature, dealing with the architect and her patients and friends.

Season 2 is more of the same, but the lead male is older with much less of the little charm he had in S1. Frankly he spends his time openly sneering at people and any niceties he acquired in S1 seem to have been lost. This makes all the essentially copied and pasted plot line from S1, with new women of course, redundant and frankly unappealing now. Who cares about a well into middleaged bachelor with no redeeming social values, with half the show devoted to people talking about him in frustration behind his back?

Not I.
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