.Kimi no te ga sasayaite iru.

Primary Actors: Shinji Takeda, Miho Kanno
Supporting Actors: Mariko Kaga (mother), Hirotaro Honda (business friend), Midori Kiuchi (Miho's friend)

_______________________________________________________________Storyline

"Kimi no te ga sasayaite iru" is a Japanese dorama modified from the VERY popular manga by Junko Karube. In English this title means "Whispering Hands". The drama started around December 1998 through late 1999. It was broadcasted on KDOC television channel 46 every Sunday 10:00-11:00 during November. I remember I used to watch it every Sunday night right after I finished homework for elementary school.

Miho Kanno, the beautiful and talented model/actress, assumes the role of a deaf woman who surmounts countless obstacles and challenges in the workplace and home.
Shinji Takeda, the handsome and capable saxophone player/actor, plays the role of a young businessman climbing the corporate ladder. However, he is entranced by the "new" girl Miho who begins to work at the same company, and eventually marries her through wedlock, despite his mother's objections.

The story unfolds like this: Miho and Shinji, two people working in the same company, meet each other and build a strong relationship based on love and trust. Although it may appear hackneyed and trite, it is not overstated. Shinji learns sign language from Miho during their lunch breaks and soon enough he becomes fluent in exchanging and understanding hand signals. <> The couple begins to go out on official dates and spends holidays and such events together. When they begin to discuss marriage plans, Shinji's mother intervenes on behalf of her son and argues that it would be impossible for her son to live with a deaf wife. Misunderstandings arise between the couple and as a result, Miho and Shinji's relationship nearly collapses. However, their willingness to try again breaks the misunderstanding, and Shinji proposes to Miho -- she accepts.

They have a splendid wedding with pretty peony blossoms falling on them and friends and family popping wine corks. A prolonged period of happiness ensues, until Shinji plans to have a FAMILY. Understandably, Miho is afraid of having a child who may have the same hearing defects as herself; she does not wish to bring more pain and suffering into the world. Eventually Shinji persuades Miho to have a baby -- deaf or not. Miho is easily reassured, and she consents.

During her pregnancy, Miho becomes doleful and melancholic(?). She perhaps feels further burdened with the discomfort of being deaf and pregnant. The scene when she buys a CD for her baby to listen to in her stomach is poignant and somewat interesting. She places the stereo speaker right next to her belly and falls asleep. Although she can't hear the soothing baby music (music especially compiled for fetuses/foetus to listen to) the fact that she still wanted to try made me almost break up in tears. Shinji comes to the rescue of her moody roller-coaster sympathies, and he takes her to the beach. There, he finally makes her laugh by shuffling in the water and he soons takes her to other fun places like the amusement park to make her forget of all her worries.

The baby is a week late, but when the baby finally arrives Miho suffers tremendous pain! She screams out loud for the first time in a LONG while, and she is taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, Shinji is giving a presentation to his boss but fortunately Shinji's friend, Hirotaro, makes signals that his wife is in the hospital. Shinji darts out of the building and rides a cab, but amazingly there's TRAFFIC!! He pays the taxi driver and runs through the traffic to the hospital! Shinji finally arrives and comforts Miho until she is docile. Miho gives birth to a baby girl, Jisuru, and she fortunately is NOT deaf.

Years pass forward. As Jisuru is growing, she questions her mother's disability. However, as she becomes older, she learns of Miho's deafness when she calls Miho's name countless times with no coming response. Miho is filled wtih sorrow when Jisuru does not wish to learn sign language. Jisuru finally notices how much pain she is inflicting upon her mother and so she decides to learn sign language with the help of Shinji and Miho. Time yet again skips forward and Jisuru is an elementary student. The Takeda family is forced to move to another county when Shinji is given a promotion to another district. Jisuru is harassed by her schoolmates who tease her about Miho's disability... Hardship soon follows, and Jisuru becomes ashamed of her mother. With much understanding, Jisuru begins to understand her mother's position to a higher degree and she becomes proud of her mother's perserverance through all the hardships Miho has suffered.

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"Kimi no te ga sasayaite iru" is a drama about the values of life. It teaches morality and family values. I truly LOVED watching the ups and downs of their life, and feeling sad and happy for them!! It is a must-see! I wish KDOC or KCET or ASAHI Homecast would air this series again since it is only 8 episodes long! I hope you enjoyed my review!

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