J-Dorama Rape-Hugs: 2012

Nemureru Mori, Episode 9

We continue Rape-hugMas by going back to the classics. Here we present the pre Japanese Dorama Golden Era Nemureru Mori (Sleeping Forest). It's like watching crappy Peanuts Specials every year. You don't really enjoy it, but surely someone at some point enjoyed it, right? Right? Otherwise why would it still be on TV? Do programmers really not give a crap for the last few weeks of the year? Or am I just a Grinch? Do I maybe just need a hug? Anyway, on to the rape-hugs!

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Honjo Manami ♀
Rape-Huggee: Kimura Takuya ♂

The Context

They are an ex-couple that is going through a rough patch because he loves another woman and doesn't really like her. She is kind the crazy ex who desperately wants him to love her, so at this point she decides to go all-in, literally throwing herself at Kimura.

The Result
His hat falls off. Also, soon afterwards she is murdered.

The Depiction

Relevant to this scene is that Kimura's character works as a genius event-lighting expert (and all of his events seem to include solely With or Without You by U2), which gives the spectacular backdrop for this rape-hug. She visits him on set, they have a heartfelt chat from an uncomfortably long distance, and as he walks away we see him getting tackled. It's just uncalled for. We don't even see her approach. It reminds me a little of this commercial:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tbSpAsJSZPc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Other special touches to this rape-hug are the slow-motion whiplash of Kimura, the shot of his stylish lighting-director hat falling to the well-lit cobblestone ground, and the closeup of her hands in what appears to be a heimlich maneuver.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆
This is one of the creepiest female-on-male rape-hugs in recent memory. There is not only the nighttime rear suprise-attack, but also the creepy things she says as she hangs on.
"If I do this... You will become warm. And I won't be cold."
If that was whispered by a man wearing another human being's face, it would still be in character.

Video
Enjoy the force of impact in real time. It's something you just can't prepare yourself for. You know it's coming, but then BANG! Every time.

Love Shuffle, Episode 10 (number 1 of 2)

We continue Rape-hugMas with yet another spectacular performance by our favorite repeat offender.

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Tamaki "Heavyweight Rape-hug Champion of the world" Hiroshi ♂
Rape-Huggee: Kanjiya Shihori ♀

The Context

These two characters have a history of rapehuggery, outlined in a previous post about the first episode. And after separating and "shuffling lovers" for the middle eight episodes, Tamaki decides after all that she is the only person he wants to rape-hug. He's such a romantic.

The Result

This is the resolution for their relationship, which is that she is the lucky lady to have been selected by this fine gentlman. See that's the thing I hate about Tamaki Hiroshi - every character he plays is a successful man who is incredibly popular with women, but he posesses zero charm and always has to resort to rape-hug to seal the deal. This just doesn't quite fit with the personality of someone who is supposed to be successful and popular with women and he keeps trying to force the issue - in several different ways.

The Depiction

Often Christmas rape-hugs come in the Fall broadcasting season, making the finale close to actual Christmas (which, remember, in Japan is not a time spent with family, but is the most romantic time of the year for couples who go and watch Christmas illuminations.) However, Love Shuffle was in the Winter season making this a March airing, and not specifically during Christmas. Still, someone has forgotten to take down the illuminations, giving the viewers something interesting to look at while two bland characters share a miserable happiest moment of their lives.

Awkwardometor ☆☆

This is relatively low on the awkwardometor scale - as she is sobbing and some may think that all she needs is a hug. Also, Hiroshi does not precede this rape-hug with a menacing glare or threatening words as he usually does. However, as we have discussed, there is a precedent here and we of the Rape-hug Community watch must stay vigilant when serial rape-huggists are about. If you make yourself a reputation, you're going to have to live with it.

Video
There's nothing much else to see here people. Move along.

Bonus Repeat: Watashi ga Ren'ai Dekinai Riyuu, Episode 10

Let's continue the festive season of Rape-hugMas with a revision of a dorama that surprisingly only had one rape-hug - Christmas themed one. In fact, in the Christmas spirit the awkwardometor has been turned down from four stars to a two-star rating. The original posting can be seen here.

The Actors

Rape-Huggist Tanaka Kei ♂
Rape-Huggee: Karina ♀

The Context

This dorama gave Rape-hug Community Watchmen like me a serious case of blue-balls, having to wait until the end of the finale for the first appearance of rape-huggery. The relationship between the two characters is so obviously going to work out in the end despite the fact that neither of them are ever seen smiling in the same scene. So you're just waiting out the other relationships that each of them inevitably have until the moment that one of them announces that they are going to America and the other has until the day before they leave - after a significant event - to decide if they want to join them as if it's some kind of reality TV show. So finally in the final episode when you see them standing 3 metres apart against a backdrop of Christmas Illuminations, he takes the inevitable step.

The Result

I guess this is the result that everybody expected and wanted, but notice how neither of them seems at all happy during the rape-hug. It's as if he is saying "fuck it, I will never be able to get a better wife than this so I may as well...". Call me a romantic, but I believe that it should take at least 6 months after getting married to be this miserable.

The name of the drama translates to "The reason I can't find love", and this is probably the most appropriate title for any Dorama I've ever seen.

The Depiction

The entire dorama series led up to this moment, as both characters work at an event lighting company. This final storyline is that they are co-producing the lighting for a big Christmas party, after which he will pack up and leave straight for the airport.
Visually, the background is far more interesting than either of the characters or anything they say and do. Other than the sparkles, there a three-metre gap that is shown via a wide-shot, as he strides to embrace the emotionally-lifeless victim. ("Emotionally lifeless" is also a good general description of Karina's acting).

Revised Awkwardometor ☆☆

Although it's a night scene in a park, is a relatively admissable rape-hug. Besides, the park is well-lit and she knows exactly what was going to happen. Both of the characters aren't so much awkward, but just bad at life. It's supposed to be some great happy moment for both of them yet somehow it's one of the most depressing things I have ever seen. The reason the initial rating was a 4-star was the typical Japanese TV closed-mouth kiss which is in fact not a rape-kiss. It's hardly noticable, but Karina actually tilts her head a couple of degrees upwards before impact which in Japan is legally admissable as consent. Sure it kind of looks like she is simply bracing for impact of a blind-man but the law is the law.

Video
Much like the entire series, there's honestly not much more to the video than can be seen in the GIF, unless you like looking at sparkly Christmas lights and hearing crappy J-pop.

Last Christmas, Episode 3 (no.1 of 2)

'Tis the Christmas season, so for the entire month will be Christmas-themed rape hugs! We start Rape-hugMas month with the obvious dorama.

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Tamaki "Captain Rape-hug" Hiroshi ♂
Rape-Huggee: Katase Ritsuko ♀

The Context

The two involvees are dating, but since this is a family dorama their relationship is purely for narrative purposes only. However, Tamaki is a piece of shit who doesn't know how to treat a female. Also, the character he plays is a piece of shit who doesn't know how to treat a female, so the other characters are telling him to finally make a move on the girl he is basically already dating.

The Result

With several people looking on, Tamaki, in his usual creepy and aggressive rape-hug manner, cuts off her conversation with a surprise frontal attack. Everyone on the dancefloor notices this 'hot steamy action' and stops, because apparently this is a junior dance filled with awkward 13-year olds who are otherwise too shy to talk to the opposite gender.

These two eventually sort-of start dating, going long distance and breaking up and all that, but just know that this is only the third episode of the series and Tamaki has plenty more rape-huggery in him. Even more amazing is that he isn't even a lead actor in this dorama - where does he get all this energy for rape-hugging?

The Depiction

Most of the action is shot in profile to highlight the distance between the couple that has suddenly been eliminated. I quite enjoy how the aftermath shows the people on the dancefloor suddenly stop dancing. The only thing that shot was missing was the sound of a broken record.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆
She is obviously very feeling the awk, replying to his so-called gesture by saying "Everyone is looking at us...", which if you know how to translate Female into Male would mean "stop it". But subtlely don't work on a serial rape-huggist like Tamaki who assures her by saying: "I don't care."

However, on the awkward scale I can't in good conscience rate this higher than a three simply because he was peer-pressured into doing it.

Video
Watch the sequence play out from the time a female colleage eggs him on until the awkward aftermath and the DJ trying to capitolise on this 'romantic moment' by finding a slow song.

Yume no California, Episode 6

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Nomura Hironobu ♂
Rape-Huggee: Kuninaka Ryoko ♀

The Context
They both work at the same company, although she is a temp-worker who tries her hardest not to look like she hates her job. The two spark up a non-romantic relationship until he eventually asks her out. This event occurs after the date when she runs away when she reveals that she has been divorced. I'm not quite sure what the motivation was for the rape-hug, but I suspect the guy didn't know what else to do in that awkward moment - may as well make it as awkward as possible, right? And when the rape-hug wasn't bad enough, he tries to turn it into a kiss.

The Result

What did the five fingers say to the face? Glorious. Although really she should have slapped him before the hug. You know, you really have to be firm with Japanese people who are interested in you - men and women - because they just aren't used to hearing the word 'no'.

The Depiction

This is a classic night scene in a park, and the camera cuts back and forth with close-ups of their expressionless faces. I find it quite odd that a couple of low-angle shots are shown for no apparent dramatic or symbolic effect. I think even the director felt awkward when in the editing room so he just slapped all the shots together.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆

While I definitely applaud the use of open-palm violence to combat rape-hug, the slap didn't actually result from - or punish the hug itself. But the reason for the awkwardness is the guy's complete inability to read the situation. First of all, usually when a woman is literally running away from you and you do run after her, chances are that she wants a little bit of distance. Then his words preceding his rape-hug are hardly the most romantic: "[knowing you're divorced] only makes me more interested in you". And then somehow after embracing a motionless human being, he thinks that trying to kiss it is a good idea. It's a tough watch, like seeing a skateboarder approach a set of stairs knowing you're watching a programme called "Stupid People Getting Hit in the Nuts".

Video
To truly appreciate just how long a short scene can be, take a look at the video. Also, note how when the guy leans in for the kiss, the intrumental version of California Dreaming jumps in. I don't quite know how this song was relevant to this dorama (apart from a flimsy conversation that worked it into the storyline), but I like the harmonica wailing out the tune as she runs away.

Manhatta Love Story, Episode 3 - Double Header!

The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Funakoshi Eiichiro ♂
Rape-Huggee: (prob.) Morimoto Yuko ♀

The Context

As can be gleaned from the above GIF, this is a meta-rape-hug as this is a small scene on TV within the dorama. So within the vacuum of the meta-dorama there is no context. But again, the one small snippet they show of a fake dorama just so happens to be of a rape-hug. In this, the male character is actually playing himself in this dorama as a famous actor, on the other side of the TV screen in the father of the female victim.

The Result

Predictably, the father watching his daughter get ravaged on TV gets angry tries to break it up, which only makes his daughter get angry at him for butting into her career.

The Depiction

This is a rear-attack, and a prolongued attack from the technically difficult kneeling position. It is made especially creepy by the end part where he sniffs her hair.

Some may argue that this scene errs more on the rape-side than the hug side, but since this is a dorama for all the family, it stands as is.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆
I don't know about other people, but watching this makes me very uncomfortable. Actually, I do know about other people who are Japanese - they're immune to seeing things like this. That's why I believe that rape-hugs are a gateway rape. In this scene the female even tells him to stop as he keeps rubbing and grabbing at her as if it's turning him on even more. I understand that this scene is supposed to add humour watching the father go insane, but wouldn't it be funnier if, instead of her being sexually assaulted, if his daughter was being a total slut? Just a thought.

Video
Watch the reaction of the father as he realises what he seeing on TV, and another character trying to tell him to calm down as it's only acting. On the one hand, his reaction is the correct on, but the overall message from the dorama is defintely not.

No.2

The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Matsuo Suzuki ♂
Rape-Huggee: Morishita Aiko ♀

The Context

This is an extremely complex dorama in the pretty much every character at some point falls in love with another character (and by extension, rape-hugs). This particular trist is of one such doomed relationship where they have an argument outside the cafe. Then she says "What do you want?" and apparently the correct answer is a rape-hug.

The Result

Still in just the third episode it's a doomed relationship, but it leads to some extra drama as another character oversees them. It's not quite explained why he is creepily spying on them from behind a telephone pole, but they're got 42 minutes to fill every episode dammit!

The Depiction

There's not much to say here, as the focus isn't really on the rape-hug, but rather on the fact it is being spied-on. The are no cuts and no real reactions shown as the camera zooms out on the lifeless hug to the profile of a downtrodden character standing alone in the dark.

Awkwardometor ☆☆

This is a rather bland depiction of rape-huggery, and feels almost like A) he only did it to make her shut up, and B) she was actually inviting it. Yes, that is what all rape-huggists say, but in this case she is being cute-angry, stands in close range and coyly starts rearranging her shawl within arm's reach. This is not condoning his actions, but rather condemning hers for accepting it without reciprocating. Alternatively, if she didn't want it, she could have shrugged him off. We need answers!

Video
Here's a video of one of the most boring rape-hugs you will ever see.

BONUS!

This gem was from the popular sit-com Modern Family Season 2 (episode 14) and demonstrates the vast cultural divide between the East and West when it comes to rape-huggery. Let's outline some of the main differences and why the depiction of this rape-hug was not only okay, but funny.

First, let's outine the general gist of the above scene. The fat guy, Cameron, has come to see his boyfriend at the office. He suspects the receptionist - the guy in the white shirt - to have a crush on his boyfriend so he makes sure to show off some affection. Then, on the way down in the elevator, the receptionist attacks Cameron.

Difference no 1
In this scene the victim is completely unaware of the imminent rape-hug. See, in Japanese Doramas, you know a rape-hug is coming like a shark smelling blood. This eliminates any of the surprise elements which may result in genuine emotion - or in this case humour. See, when you know there is a rape-hug right around the corner, just by sitting there and passively watching you almost become implicit in the crime. It's like bullying - doing nothing is just as bad as being the one who drew a penis on that nerd's forehead. That's why the mission of J-Dorama Rape-hugs was started.

Difference no 2
The rape-huggist knows that what he is doing is wrong. As seen in the gif above, he is shaking his head right before he lunges, and he also whispers "Please don't hate me". This is societal awareness that uninvited touching is a bad thing. Japanese doramas on the other hand glorify rape-hugs.

Difference no 3
It's a rarity. I watch a lot of TV and movies, and rape-hugs don't come around all that often in American TV. This is the first rape-hug in Modern Family - which means it took 38 episodes. Even accounting for the half-hour format, a Japanese dorama running for 19 hours with some unwanted hugs is just unfathomable. It cannot be fathomed! No-one could possibly ever try to fathom it!

Ah, cultural differences. Some may say I'm being ignorant, but I would like to end by quoting Bill Maher:

I know a whole generation has been raised on the notion of multiculturalism; that all civilizations are just different. No! Not always. Sometimes things are better! Rule of law is better than autocracy and theocracy; equality of the sexes, better; protection of minorities, better; free speech, better; free elections, better; free appliances with large purchases, better! Don't get so tolerant that you tolerate intolerance.

I would like to add to that that regular hugs are better than rape-ones. And no, that doesn't mean that I condone those hippies with those "free hug" badges, because hugs should not only be wanted, but they should also be earned.

Hotaru no Hikari, Episode 8

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Ayase Haruka ♀
Rape-Huggee: Kato Kazuki ♂

The Context

These two have been dating for a few episodes and have carefully followed the J-dorama relationship curve.

They are awkward together
He 'proclaims his love'
They hold hands and go to the amusement park
He kisses her while she imitates a mannequin

Then he jumps the gun and asks her to move in with him. She eventually agrees and the rape-hug scene comes when they are looking for an apartment. By "they are looking for an apartment" I mean "he decides the apartment and announces it to her because she doesn't have an opinion". She was extremely worried about the fact that she likes to wear jerseys at home, and when he tells her that despite her love for wearing jerseys he still wants to move in with her - she strikes with that rape-hug.

The Result

They do move in together, but because their relationship is so perfect and so polite you know it will never work out. I guess it should be a hint when the only real emotion that is shown is expressed by rape-hug, you're in trouble.

The Depiction

The room is sparse and the light streams in through the apartment window. She drops her head and runs three pathetic steps toward the light/her boyfriend, and dips her head, nestling it in his armpit upon impact.

It's quite disturbing too that A) she has to make a run-up to hug him and B) that he totem-poles himself. I mean, he just said something very sweet to her so he should be expecting a hug. Also, he is facing her and she sucks at running. He could at least raise his hands to stop his girlfriend from being a rape-huggist.

Awkwardometor ☆☆
I don't know which of the two is more awkward. On the one hand, she is completely justified in hugging him but turns it into something weird, but on the other hand he asked her to move in with him yet he doesn't have the balls to reciprocate a measly hug.

Video
Rape-hugs really are a litmus test for bad acting. Firstly, any actor with an ounce of dignity would steer clear of them - or at least find that rare context where it works. Here in this tiny 8 second clip is all you need to know about the acting performances in this series. [Note: Ayase Haruka won awards for this role. Awards! How?]

First Love, Episode 1

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Fukuda Kyoko ♀
Rape-Huggee: Watanabe Atsuro ♂

The Context

As you can see in the above GIF, she is in school uniform and he is not. The reason he isn't in school uniform is because he is the teacher.

This scene is a flashback from several years earlier which moves the entire dorama. She is a quiet student who falls in love with her teacher and this is the moment that she makes her move. They are in a secluded part of school presumably at lunchtime (I presume that it is exam season because the gymnasium is deserted).

The Result

He reciprocates the rape-hug and kisses her back, which would be awesome if he wasn't her teacher. Another student witnesses the event and because he is such a popular teacher she attempts to commit suicide which forces the teacher to "take responsibility" and hand in his letter of resignation and disappear out of her life without saying goodbye.

For those scoring at home, there are several extremely Japanese things about the above paragraph:

A relationship between a student and teacher - a disturbingly popular theme in J-doramas.
Someone attempting to commit suicide
Someone else claiming responsibility simply by leaving their job
Someone breaking off a relationship simply by leaving
- this is heightened by a 'running alongside the train' scene, which is completely ridiculous in a country where a train leaves every 8 minutes.
The rape-hug

The dorama continues on several years later when he reappears in her life as the fiancee of her sister.

The Depiction

The rape-hug is definitely in the 'Praying Mantis Style' where the aggressor remains very still until she lunges. This is where it gets weird. He - and remember - he is a teacher who should immediately bat off any advances from students, instead embraces that awkard moment. He gives a face as if he just creamed his breifs, moves his hand creepily onto her bra-strap-area, puts his hands stiffly on her shoulders like a boxing trainer between the 11th and 12th rounds and leans in for a pathetic closed-mouth kiss. I mean, if you're going to break the law and lose you job, you may as well make it worth your while.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆

This is a strange situation where the fact that both parties are willing participants it does not mitigate the awkwardness of the situation. The dorama tries to present this event (shown in flashback form in most episodes) as a blossoming of first love, when in reality it is about the childish female crush-turned-obsession and a morally weak man. That, and the very long-drawn out scene makes this an easy 4-star rape-hug.

It's such a shame, but Fukuda Kyoko is seemily always cast as someone with extremely unhealthy or depraved sexual attractions. Here she macks onto her teacher, in Strawberry on the Shortcake she falls in love with her step-brother, in Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake she is a fan of a 40-year-old music producer and sleeps with him despite being 17 (and having AIDS and getting pregnant), and in Friends she commits the biggest relationship sin a Japanese person could do: fall in love with a Korean.
[I kid. Actually, Friends is probably the best romance Japanese Dorama I have seen - possibly because it is half made by Korean directors/actors/etc.]

Video
As the entire scene was too long for the one GIF, you may want to see the scene in all it's entirety including the reciprocal kiss - you know, in the interest of journalistic integrity.

Ikebukuro West Park Gate, Episode 1

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Kato Ai ♀
Rape-Huggee: Nagase Tomoya ♂

The Context

This is that all-too-familiar situation where you have your eye on someone but their best friend is throwing themself at you. In this situation, he likes her best friend who is much prettier (at least in the world of J-doramas) and has just called his cellphone. Feeling that her opportunity is slipping Kato Ai grabs away his phone and makes a close-range hug-attack followed by a sloppy kiss.

The Result

As seen in the GIF, he momentarily engages her before throwing her off in a manner similar to when your older brother tosses his dirty laundry on your face.However, later on in the series they do end up together.

Also - and this is definitely a spoiler although I stupidly wasn't aware at the time - her best friend ends up being killed later on in this episode. Yeah, that's the difference between men and women. When two guys like the same girl one will step down honorably, but when two girls like the same man it's a fight to the death.

The Depiction

The moment of impact is only shown for an instant as the shot quickly changes to her attempt to kiss him. Both of their faces are highlighted although there is absolutely no expression in either of their face - primarily because Japanese people still haven't learnt about the open-mouth kiss. A nice touch is when he throws her off, it is shown from a low angle to make him look brooding and tough. Yeah, he doesn't take any crap from anyone even if that crap is a girl hopelessly and completely throwing herself at him.

Awkwardometor ☆☆
A large part of the awkwardness of a rape-hug is the reaction of the victim, and this guy is simply too tough to care. And in fact, their relationship over the next few episodes is relatively normal as they search for the murderer, and they do begin dating. So, I guess her strategy worked?

Video
Watch the above scene followed by him scolding her for her misbehaviour, and for all her talk of sex and giving him presents. I'm starting to think that this character isn't a very realistic portrayal of a male human being, or perhaps due to seeing so many rape-hugs I have lost all faith in humanity.

Haikei, Chichiue-sama, Episode 9

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Morikami Chie ♀
Rape-Huggee: Ninomiya Kazunari ♂

The Context

They are coworkers at a Japanese style restaurant. He is a junior chef and she is a waitress who is at least 15 years his senior and has a child. After a round of post-work heavy drinking, she is completely drunk and he is left to take her home. He finally gets her home, drags her inside and tries to put her to bed. Now, this is a classic rookie mistake - or perhaps a reality only seen on television. Once you get someone home who is that drunk, you'd probably take them into the bathroom first, or dump them ontop of the bed and try to feed them a glass of water. You don't pull up the sheets. Because, I guess that was her cue to rape-hug'n kiss him. But really this is basically the depiction of attempted rape - and he says so in a voiceover as he leaves the apartment.

The Result

He feels very dirty about it, but there is no mention of the event between them when they show up at work the next day, and the event is soon forgotten about.

The Depiction

As mentioned above, there is such a fine-line here between rape-hug and legitimate rape. The ordeal is papered-over quickly enough, but could you imagine how disturbing this would be if the gender roles were reversed?

Awkwardometor ☆
This is - no doubt - an extremely awkward scene. Although not explicitly mentioned, he seems to be a 22-year old virgin who is completely smitten with another girl, so although douchebag males would probably joke that they would love for this to happen to then, to him this was not a welcome surprise. But the portrayal of rape-hug in Haikei Chichiuesama is surprisingly self-aware for a Japanese dorama, and that is all we strive for at JDRH.

Video
From the GIF, it may be difficult to ascertain who is attacking who especially since he is the one who lifts up the bedsheets, but the video clears leaves any trace of doubt behind.

Yume no California, Episode 2

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Kaito Ken ♂
Rape-Huggee: Shibasaki Kou ♀

The Context

They are a couple who have been dating for quite some time, and it is quickly established that the reason they are dating is only because he has money and she doesn't... have a personality. Before and during the rape-hug he talks trash about her friends, but because he is from a good university he does it in a way that kind-of makes sense to a weak-willed female who is a model and makes it clear that she isn't very smart. Because from the outside, this is the perfect Japanese relationship: A rich, older, jealous man and a dumb, younger beautiful woman. This scene comes when she is starting to make other friends - one of whom owns a penis - so he becomes extremely posessive and forbids her from seeing them again, and suggests that she stops working so she never has to go out into society again. You know, "love".

The presence of a rape-hug in this particular dorama could have been fortold by glancing at the title of this episode which is 「君を抱きしめたい」 "Kimi wo dakishimetai / I want to hug you". That's a red-flag right there. Actually, I think this establishes prior intent.

The Result

They soon break up. Good. However, as profiled in episode 7, she rape-hugs another character. See, it's a vicious cycle like bullying where the victims then become the assailants. We must break this cycle.

The Depiction

This rape-hug is structurally extremely similar to the previous entry in J-Dorama Rape-hugs (Sleeping Forest Episode 7). They are both of jealous men who are trying to prevent their partner from leaving them. They are at home at nighttime. Their victims are both emotionally-dead and they approach them from behind while saying very creepy things. Compare and contrast the two.

Again, it is very difficult to really get a grasp on domestic rape-hugs, but I do know one thing for certain. That, if you are hugging an emotionless person from behind while saying anything, it will sound very creepy. Come on "Work with me and I'll encourage you?" Sure, that's an awkward translation by a fan-subber, but context is everything. He could be singing the Lion King sountrack and it would sound creepy.

Awkwardometor ☆☆
This gains one star more than the Sleeping Forest episode 7, based on the motives of the males. In Sleeping Forest, he is trying to hide the fact that he murdered her entire family before her eyes when she was 11 years old. In Yume no California he is trying to make her withdraw from society so she will be entirely his. Okay, when I put it like this, it almost sounds like I'm trying to make an argument that subjugating women is worse than multiple homocide. But in terms of the actual contact, in the first rape-hug they are both hysterical, where in the second he is complete, douchebag male tarnishing the good name of the hug.

Video
There's not much to see that wasn't in the GIF, but try watch this video and read the subtitles without thinking "Wow, this guy is a total psychopathic douche-nozzle."

Nemureru Mori, Episode 7

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Nakamura Toru ♂
Rape-Huggee: Nakayama Miho ♀

The Context

The two of them are engaged to be married within a few months, and they start hitting troubled times when she gets flashbacks of her childhood. She is having thoughts that she killed her entire family as an 11-year-old and wants to call off the wedding incase she is a cold-blooded killer. Yes, the storyline is as convoluted and ultimately silly as it sounds. Being the man, he takes matters into his own hands and strides over for an uninvited hug.

The Result

She doesn't return any pressure, but I guess the rape-hug was successful as the wedding goes ahead as planned. But [spoiler alert] it turns out, obviously, that he was in fact the killer all along! Oh the plot twists!

The Depiction

The filmography is quite typical for an interior rape-hug - namely a long shot as the rape-huggee strides/runs to the victim, and then an extended shot of their expressions. Here, the attack is from behind, and then they rock like a pirate-ship as he whispers really weird things into his ear.

Awkwardometor ☆
Domestic rape-hugs are often difficult to judge, especially true in this scene. His intentions are seemingly pure in trying to assuage her fears, but her expression and the fact that he suddenly comes in from the rear makes it all decidedly less romantic.
I have a theory that most rape-hugs in Japanese doramas between people that are already a couple is a desperate attempt to make up for a total lack of chemistry. Whenever these two are on-screen together, they seem to be controlled by dyslectic puppeteers. They never share a smile, or a look, never have any physical contact, and they are always sad. Sure, this is supposed to be a dark/mysterious dorama, but I feel that people should still act like people. Perhaps this is deliberate to forshadow that he is actually the murderer of her entire family, but more likely is that they are both poor actors. (Having seen both in other doramas, I vote for the latter.)

Video
Sometimes the animate GIF doesn't allow you to fully appreciate the speed of approach and the impact upon contact. Also, the fansubs show some of the excellent dialogue that do not make the rape-hug any less odd.

IS, Episode 3

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Inoue Masahiro♂
Rape-Huggee: Fukada Saki♀♂

The Context
This dorama centres around Fukuda Saki's character who is an intersexual - as in s/he has no defined gender. At first I thought this would be a very serious dorama about a very difficult topic -- especially in Japan. However, it quickly devolved into pretty much every crappy dorama full of bad acting, stilted dialogue, predctable plot-twists and the occasional rape-hug. In this scene - Fukuda's character (who feels like a boy but has been forced to go to her school as a girl) is at a boy's house. They had gone to a football (soccer) match and afterwards went to his house to watch more football videos. Until now they had been hanging out as friends, but after an awkward topic was breached, the camera zooms into his face. Yes, a rape-hug was inevitable.

The Result
As you see in the GIF above, she/he did not accept the rape-hug, and immediately after runs away. He runs after her (probably not the most non-rapey option) and confronts her. They then agree it was a mistake and decide to simply be friends.

The Depiction

The sequence begins with a very creepy slowmotion zoom-in shot of his face as he decides to rape-hug her/him from behind while s/he is looking through the box of VHS's. The impact is shown a couple of times from different angles in slow motion with fade-cuts, along with closeups of both their faces. It is a relatively long drawn-out sequence. Then, the slowmotion stops and contrasts with the sudden burst out of the rape-grapple.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆
I hesitate to award this a full 5-stars based solely on the fact that they are both minors and it would be difficult to convict the perp. However, we have to congratulate I.S. for combining several of the awkward markers:

The reverse attack
The incredibly creepy closeup as he pre-determines his rape-huggy actions
The sitting-down position which just looks wrong

Then of course add to it the fact that he has no idea that the person he is compelled to hug is actually a he-she. See, we could all learn from this that our actions have consequences.

Video
To truly appreciate the sheer unwatchability of this scene, here is the video with the excruciating slow motion and mockingly romantic music.

Hana Yori Dango Season II, Episode 1

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Ikuta Toma ♂
Rape-Huggee: Inoue Mao ♀

The Context
It is the start of the 2nd Season of this very successful dorama. She has gone up a school year and her boyfriend has gone overseas. So the problem is, how do you introduce some conflict into the dorama? That's right: a rape-hug!
Junpei is a new character who is actually a world-famous male model, but at school nobody recognises him because he wears glasses. How is this possible, you ask? Well, this is a dorama intended for silly teenage girls, is why. They have a couple of random meetings and it seems like they could become good friends, or perhaps more. However, afraid of her current relationship, she says it would be better if they don't be friends anymore. He starts crying, she says "well, we can still be friends...", and then he is so overjoyed that he rape-hugs her and doesn't even hear her saying "Stop it."

The Result
The rape-hug is cut short when she spots a friend eavesdropping on them, and she is the one who appears to feel guilty. What are we living in the Middle East now, where rape-hug victims are the ones to blame?

Spoiler Alert: It turns out that Junpei was actually a mortal enemy of her boyfriend and was planning all along to take revenge on him by stealing his girl, or kidnapping him, or something that only a teenage girl could suspend their belief enough for.

The Depiction

This scene is usual for it's spare use of cuts. It consists mainly of a long-shot containing horrifically terrible overacting, and it progresses to a mid-shot where he grabs her by her jacket sleeves as she is trying to escape, and the rape-hug occurs in the same scene. I can only hope that they needed only one take, and judging by the quality of acting, I think that was the case. There is also a crappy piano tune playing which stops suddenly when a door is heard opening. During the struggle, there is another cut to close in and show us her facial expression as she realises she has been caught in the act. Her face is quite similar to an O-face.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆
This is a high-degree of awkwardness, based partly on her terribly overacted facial expressions. In the screen-grab we see her pouting like a fish, and then her face turns into an inappropriate expression of carnal desire as she realises she has been caught in the act. Perhaps that's what gets her off.
Also, you can't avoid the fact that she is screaming for him to stop - which he doesn't until another male disturbs them.

But the most awkward part to me is when the music screeches to a stop. The hotel-lobby-like piano music continues along to provide a nice background during the rape-hug and screeches to a halt only when someone else interrupts it. It isn't the physical assualt, but the fact that someone else saw it. Think about that.

Video
Enjoy the terrible acting which extends across language barriers, and pay particular attention to the moment that the music stops.

Mitsu no Aji, Episode 4 (no1)

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Kanno Miho ♀
Rape-Huggee: ARATA ♂

The Context

This is the 2nd rape-hug between these two characters in this dorama. In the first, she was feeling insecure about her relationship with her fiancee and she grabbed him from behind while was busy in the kitchen. It was only slightly odd, mainly because this was her way of saying "let's get married".

Two episodes later, he realises that he has just married a psychotically jealous bitch and is already making preparations to leave her. That's when she commits one of the most disgusting rape-hugs you will ever witness as a last ditch attempt to keep her man from leaving.

The Result
This relationship did not end well.

The Depiction

The rape-hug begins with a spousal fight and as he fights her off and turns to leave, she tackles him to the ground and clings on for dear life. The next 60 seconds (or about 1.3% of the entire episode) shows the two of them writhing around on the floor. She is crying. She tries to make out with him. He is crying. She places her hands around his throat, but you aren't scared for his life because he is twice her size (and a bad actor). It's also notable that he is obviously considering whether he leave right now, or that he takes this opportunity for some breakup sex. I mean, that is the only reason that a female-on male rape-hug could continue on for so long. And yes, she obviously would put out to keep him, and sure, she's pretty smoking hot.

But all that writhing... That's what stays burned into my memory. It reminds me of a game the kids sometimes play at sleepover parties called "wormies". It's when everyone zips up their sleeping bag completely and act out an orgy.

Also the acting is terrible, which is normal.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆☆
We did it! Finally a female-on-male rape-hug with a 100% awkward rating! This is a major success for the gender inquality in Japan. And add on the increased difficulty of the fact that the two characters are married. Now that is super-awkard. Congratulations!

Also note that Kanno Miho is putting together one hell of a rape-hug resume as both a victim and ... "victor"?

Video
See how long you can watch this clip without turning away. This is the rape-hug equivalent of 2 Girls One Cup.

Great Teacher Onizuka, Episode 1

The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Kirari ♀
Rape-Huggee: Sorimachi Takashi ♂

The Context
He is the new teacher of a very naughty class, and this is the first attempt by the students to get him fired. In this first plot he finds one of his female students crying at his doorstep saying that she doesn't want to go home. He lets her in, and she quickly undresses and makes her advances.
As soon as she hugs him, two classmates jump out of the closet flashing their cameras.

The Result
The boys think that they have photographic proof with which they can get the teacher fired, or blackmail him. It sort of works, but not really. She quickly gets up and puts her school uniform back on looking really proud of herself, which I find a little odd. Because sure, she may have succeeded in her little plan, but she also just showed her tits to three men. No shame or modesty at all?

Note: From the angle of where the photo is taken, because he his sitting down cross-legged, and she can only be seen from behind as she hugs his stomach, it would seem that the photo would A) look like she is giving him a BJ, and B) that her face wouldn't appear in the photo, so it wouldn't really be an incriminating photo at all. Well, I guess if a photo of a teacher appearing to get a BJ was floating around school that would cause some problems, but still, that wasn't the plan.

The Depiction

As noted above, this a relatively rare seated rape-hug, which often results in the point of contact being a little bit too close to the crotch. It also shows only his facial reaction, which is of confusion (presumably her's is an expression of vindictive teenage whore-ism).
It also differs because the event lasts for only a few moments. See, that's one of the most bothersome elements of Japanese rape-hugs - they last forever, or at least far longer than human nature would dictate. Even if they can't say the word "no" because they are Japanese, presumablyquite often they would still struggle immediately.

Awkwardometor N/A
This is obviously supposed to be an awkward moment for Sorimachi's character, but as a rape-hug this is how they should be portrayed: as a bad thing! It's not an expression of uncontrollable desire, or of claiming another human being as your own personal posession. Here the act of rape-hug is evil and malicious. I doubt that this is an indictment of rape-hugs as a cultural Japanese phenomenom, but it does show them for what they often are - unsolicited and unwanted hugs.

This is perhaps not a reason why GTO is probably the greatest Japanese Dorama that will ever be made, but I don't think it is a coincidence.

Video
Watch the entire sequence of schoolgirl in her underwear lunge at her teacher, and then two guys jump out of the closet with their cameras out. Also bewonder how casually she gets up and puts her clothes back on, because this is the rare rape-hug where the rape-huggist should be the one feeling dirty afterwards.

Manhattan Love Story, Episode 2

The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Bruiser Brody ♂
Rape-Huggee: Sakai Wakana ♀

The Context
This dorama centres around several characters involved in the TV industry, and in this scene some characters are watching Sakai's character - who is a TV presenteress - give some kind of report on live TV. They are casually watching and commenting on the events on TV while she is screaming "help" and trying to escape a giant Professional Wrestler who is shouting things like "I'm going to eat you".

Note: This is Bruiser Brody's only appearance in the entire dorama. So there truly is no context to speak of.

The Result
There are no consequences of this action, presumably because everybody thinks that both the professional wrestler and the TV presenter are faking it. In fact, the man watching TV is commenting on how cute she is as she is literally being assaulted on live TV.

On the one hand, I would like to think that this is a meta-commentary on Japanese television and the inequal gender relationships that make such shocking abuse seem so normal in Japanese society, but on the other hand, this is so disturbing - and there are many other rape-hugs in this dorama that I no longer think it is likely. It's a shame because Manhattan Love Story does a good job of pointing out the sillyness of Japanese TV on many occasions. However, this is probably intended simply as some comic relief, because you know how hilarious a giant foreign man pillaging an innocent Japanese lady is.

The Depiction

Everything about this rape-hug is so completely overboard. Come on, he is running towards her from behind while screaming how he is "going to get her".

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆☆
This is easily a 5-star quality rape-hug. There is the attack from the rear - but not because she isn't expecting it -- but precisely because she is and she is so terrified and is screaming for help. Also, the fact that he is an enormous professional wrestler who also happens to be white - it's probably the most terrifying prospect for any Japanese woman.

Video
To truly appreciate the wrongness of this scene, watch it in real-time and see how non-chalant the men watching the TV are. Also observe the terrible acting of the Pro-wrestler - he makes the Japanese dorama actors look amazing.

Mukodono 2003, Episode 2

The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Nagase Tomoya ♂
Rape-Huggee: Hoshino Mari ♀

The Context
This rape-hug actually has no context. By which I mean, it is almost a meta-rape-hug. Mukodono 2003 is a dorama about an actor who tries to live a normal personal life, and on occasion we see him on TV or billboards, or in this case - acting a single scene from a dorama he is in. And sure enough, the one scene they chose to represent is of an isolated rape-hug. I love that the directors and writers decided to run with this. Stick with what you know, right?

The Result
Nothing resulted from this, apart from a queasy feeling in my stomach. You see, this would have been a perfect opportunity to comment on the status of the rape-hug in Japanese TV. Several of the other episodes in this dorama make really stinging observations on the ridiculousness of celebrity status and on Japanese media. Sure, it is mostly a stupid dorama, but a few times I was thinking "can they do this?" And then they just let this rape-hug slide by.

The Depiction

The filmography is perfectly stereotypical for this dorama inside a dorama scene. Sweeping shots and closeups of their faces. The actual impact isn't shown, however, opting instead for a series of quick cuts (similar to an overproduced music video during a difficult dance move that the lead singer can't actually do). And this includes the upper-arm grab. You see this occasionally in Japan - not even just on TV. Seriously, I have seen couples walk down the street with the male almost dragging his girl down the street by her forearm as if she was a child who just drew on the walls with crayon. I wouldn't think women would like this kind of treatment. But then, what do I know about women?
I also appreciate the closeup of her face where it looks like she has died inside. See, shouldn't it be a hint that no rape-hugee is ever visibly happy during the rape-hug?

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆
It's difficult to rate this one, however, the awkwardness is in the fact that everybody treats it so normal. I sometimes feel like a schitzo who sees horrible murders all over the place but noone else seems to notice. Am I going crazy? Does noone else see this? Rape-hugs are driving me towards insanity.

Video
Watch the entire over-preoduced scene, and after the scene ends observe the pan-out which shows all the people working on the dorama sitting around - not one of whom seems plussed.

Guilty, Episode 9

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Tamaki Hiroshi ♂
Rape-Huggee: Kanno Miho ♀

The Context
This is a repeat rape-hug between these two characters, who were spotted rape-hugging in episode 4. (Note that Tamaki Hiroshi is the patron saint of J-Dorama Rape-Hugs for the most frequent and the most disturbing rape-hugs in all of Japanese Dorama-hood.) While the first rape-hug was when he professed his love for her, and there was a kind-of relationship between them, nothing really happened, except for that she - a psycho serial killer - kills a few more people, and he - a detective - fails to stop any of the killings. In this rape-hug, I guess he is reaffirming his love for her, in his own special way. This time, he finally finds out beyond reasonable doubt that she is going around passively murdering people, but instead of arresting her, he tries to tear down her apartment which is full of pictures of people she has and is still planning to kill.

The Result
Again, the result is negligible - they are kind of together, but then again they never get together. What I mean by this is, the drama ends with her killing herself by drinking poison, and he discovers her and defiles her dead body by French rape-kissing her corpse, thereby allowing them to be dead together.

Man I hate any dorama with Tamaki Hiroshi in it.

The Depiction
This rape-hug begins with quite a lengthy fight-scene, him trying to destroy the room, her getting in his way, and him thinking that is the best possible opportunity to make his move. I mean, they've been dating for several episodes now, and as far as I can tell he's still on first base.

During his freak-out he grabs her by the shoulders, which is usually what a man does when a woman is freaking out. Then he says that he loves her in his over-dramatic manner with his violently contorting face, she starts crying (an acceptable reaction), and then he closes the deal. Then he continues the torture by whispering things in her ear.

Yes - the translation actually uses the words "I've caught you". How come no-one has ever picked up on the rape-hug epidemic in Japanese TV?

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆☆
This easily gains the full five stars for awkwardness. Any time that there is a fight-scene where the woman is not a martial artist or somehow incredibly good at fighting because it is one of those stupid comedy dramas for teenage girls, then things have gone horribly, horribly wrong. There is also the long pause beforehand, the "I've caught you" line, and the creepy whispering in her ear. Sure, you could give any rape-hug by Tamaki a five-star just on reputation, but he keeps outdoing himself.

Video
Watch the incredibly disturbing fight-scene turn into the above rape-hug.