Love Shuffle, Episode 4


The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Matsuda Shota
Rape-Huggee: Yoshitaka Yuriko ♀

The Context

He is a playboy and she is a severely depressed suicidal teenager. In fact, although the concept of this dorama is about four people switching parters, she is actually a therapy patient of one of the characters. Also, she is a teenager. In this scene she tried committing suicide by jumping off a bridge. You see this in Japanese dramas quite often and it makes no sense to me. How is jumping off a bridge - which isn't even that high - into a body of water an effective way to kill youself? Maybe you'll be lucky and land on a barge. The "jumping off a bridge" method of suicide in Japanese doramas is only behind "Walking out into the sea" method in terms of stupidity.

The Result
It is unclear whether the intent of this rape-hug was to say "I want you to be my posession", or "please stop trying to kill yourself". Either way, this storyline doesn't really seem to go anywhere.

The Depiction




There are several classic elements to this rape-hug, primarily the completely limp female body as she accepts whatever the male decides to do to her. The moment of impact is all shown in a wide-shot against the sunset backdrop across the water as a lone clarinet plays a solo. What makes this rape-hug unique is that before he pulls her towards him, he puts a condescending hand on her shoulder, bows down to look her in the eye and speaks to her as if she is a child - which she is!!!. 

 
Awkwardometor
The age difference makes this rape-hug extremely disturbing to me, as well as the fact the is a severly suicidal teenage girl. I know there is a conception out there that feeling loved is the cure for everything, but do you really think a suicidal teenage girl will be able to process being rape-hugged by a man at least 10 years older than her? Also, the condescending nature of the arm on the shoulder and perfect limpicity of her body makes for a scene that is hard to watch.

Video
Watch the incredible acting by Yoshitaka Yuriko as she channels her inner jellyfish and makes it look like she has no bones. 
 

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