IS, episode 4

 

 

The Actors

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


The Context

This is the 2nd rape-hug between these two characters (where she is actually an intersexual), the first being the episode before where he creepily rape-hugged her/him from behind while watching videos at his house. He/she ran away from him, so you can't really get any more definitive rejection than that. Right? Well, no, he didn't learn from his mistake. This time, at the very end of this next episode they are playing soccer together and for no real reason she falls over. She's supposed to be a very good soccer player, so I don't know how she could simply topple over like that. It's a stretch. Then he offers his hand to help her up. He 'accidentally' pulls too hard, and it magically turns into a rape-hug.

 

The Result

 

She tries struggling, at which point he doubles up and wraps her up tighter. She submits. Then they start sort-of dating from the next episode. Also, it wouldn't be a crappy dorama if there wasn't somebody who accidentally sees the rape-hug. So, as they stand there in the middle of the field embracing, there is one of those horror movie angles when someone watching from behind the trees. Who could it be? Then she has a voiceover where she says how confused she is and end credits roll along with the compulsory shitty J-pop song.

The Depiction

 

We get a visual feast of creepiness here. Slow motion high angle as he helps her up, low angle as she gets flung up, a close-up of his face as he realises he has a chance to steal a hug, a close-up of her as she realises and starts struggling, and then a close-up of his hands going from the small of her back to the back of her head, her finally sort-of putting her hands around his back, and an over-acted surprised close-up of his face. Everything about this gives me douche-chills. Teenage boys are so fucking stupid.  

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆☆


Being a teenager is rough. There is so much awkwardness as it is, but this, this is just too much. His expressions border on psychotic, and the whole premise of initiating the hug is so opportunistic and forced. And then there is part where he quells her struggling by gripping tighter. Add to that the previous episode's rape-hug and the aftermath and we have a quality 5-star rape-hug (and I'm not even taking into the account that she's an intersexual). I know some creeps out there are saying "but she actually liked him but couldn't bring herself to open up to him because of insecurity about her gender", but if that were a real reason then the whole world would become a rape-hug free-for-all, and that's a world that I don't want to live in.


Video

Enjoy the well-produced scene with equally terrible acting. Pay close attention to the way she falls over. Also, take note of the orchestral music that tries to suggest that this is a romantic moment, and then finally the "serial killer" angle from behind the trees.

Papa to Musume no Nanokakan, Episode 6

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Kato Shigeaki ♂
Rape-Huggee: Aragaki Yui ♀


The Context

This is a body-switch drama where a father who works at a marketing company who gets a contract for a teenage girl's fragrance line is out of touch with his teenage daughter. Then they eat magical peaches and they switch bodies, because that's what happens when you eat magical peaches, duh! oh what hilarity. Surprisingly she is able to navigate the corporate world and make the marketing campaign a success, and he is exposed to the fact his daughter is of dating age and in the end they learn many things about each other. That's where this rape-hug comes in - the boy that she has liked for a long time finally summons the courage to make physical contact with her. The only problem is: she is actually her father! Oh, humour directed at tweenage girls is always the best. Only except the exact opposite. What I am trying to say is that this entire drama is a terribly bad and unfunny version of the remake of Freaky Friday, which is already a terribly bad and unfunny movie that I once watched back in the days when airplanes only had one movie to choose from.

The Result

 

The horny teenage boy imposes his will upon her, who is actually her father, and after a few seconds of accepting the embrace (which is actually kind of gay statutory kinky when you think about it) she/he fights him off with a biblical "thou shalt not pass" - type pose. He takes this rejection very hard and turns and walks away. Has the father ruined the relationship of his daughter? We'll have to wait until the next and final episode. (P.S. thank the sweet lord this dorama wasn't a full 10 or 12 episodes...)

The Depiction

 

This rape-hug follows a similar formula to what we have seen before. It takes place in a quiet park, he makes a small speech and suddenly lunges in taking her by surprise. We know that she is surprised because look at the size of those whites of her eyes. It's amazing what a simple surgery can do. Then he grasps her by the upper arms to look at her to guage her reaction. Then she does a Moses and parts those seas, the drama heightened by a low angle.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆

I 'm inclined to rate this higher based on the fact that she is playing 15 year-old, however Aragaki was actually 19 when this dorama was filmed. But it is still slightly disturbing that he, a high-school aged boy rape hugs her and when she flinches, instead of being apologetic, he runs away offended as if she is a slut. I'm not 100% sure, but I think this sends out the wrong message to the teenage girl audience that this dorama was absolutely geared to. Seriously people, this is a problem that every year affects younger and younger people.

Video

Get the full experience of the wide eyes and highly over-acted rejecting the hug. Also, pay attention to his disgusted expression right before he walks away.  

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.

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.  

Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu, Episode 10

The Actors

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


The Context
They are best friends and she is a tomboy, who realises that after several years she does in fact like him. Over the whole drama, this plays itself out as he gets engaged and all that usual stuff and she is a total bitch unable to be happy for him. Predictably, by the last episode he finally comes around, rape-hugs her, turns it into a rape-kiss and says that he will go to America, and won't she come along? This sets up a dramatic running-to-the-airport scene to end the dorama. 


The Result
[Spoiler Alert]

The thing about these type of dramas that really pissed me off is the sterily of the relationships. Not once do the two of them laugh in each other's presence, as if falling in love is like finding out you have AIDS. She doesn't have to give an answer to his proposal straight away, instead he gives her a plan ticket and says he will be waiting  for her when the plane leaves. Really? Who does this? That is, except for every main male character in one of these ridiculous, predictable doramas. So, although it was disappointing when she declines his offer because of some shitty reason like "I want to help my friends", I though him being dumped at the airport was well deserved for being such a pussy.

The Depiction



The rape-hug takes place in the night-time park filled with Christmas lights and a shitty pop song in the background. They fall silent, he looks her in the eye and says "I like you", and with an extremely sad expression and a sense of duty, he gently goes in for the kill. Despite her being portrayed as 'just one of the boys', in reality she's simply another one of these opinionless female characters that are so popular in J-doramas. There are closeups of both of their blank faces, and they separate. Just in case that wasn't painful enough, he goes in for the combination rape-hug'n kiss. She takes it like a man. The closed-mouth kiss looks like a Barbie and a Ken doll making out, only with less human emotion.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆

In general, the location of a park at nighttime makes for a more awkward rape-hug, but this is slightly reduced by the Christmas lights because to Japanese people Christmas lights are like a table leg to a dog on heat. Also, the winter coats make the contact less awkward. Overall, there is not a very rapey atmosphere and it feels like both these characters are just not very good at being human beings. This is probably due to the fact that this dorama is so sterile, so it feels like you're watching two nerdy 40 year-old virgins figure out how to have a mutual orgasm. Which is truly awkward.


Video
Watch the "romantic" moment among the pretty Christmas lights to the sounds of the shitty J-pop song.

Proposal Daisakusen, episode 8

The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Yamashita Tomohisa ♂
Rape-Huggee: Nagasawa Masami ♀





The Context

It was clear by the name of this series ("Operation Love") that there would be at least one great rape-hug scene. The drama is basically about a guy who travels back in time to woo the girl he really liked, and it is a brutal viewing experience of inept wooing-technique ("woo-nique"). This even includes a rape-kiss. Then, by the eighth episode he pulls off the classic come-from-behind rape-hug in a park at night immediately after being turned down.

The Result
I am pleased to report that this rape-hug did not go down well. Ideally she would have fought him off first (and/or given him a slap), but at least this behaviour was not encouraged by a successful outcome.

The Depiction



As is the convention, the rape-hug is preceded by a close-up of the rape-huggists face as he/she decides to go for it. Then, after he takes off towards his target, we are treated to the victim's perspective. The camera follows her as she walks away, and suddenly the rape-huggist appears from the right of the screen, grabbing her tightly around the shoulders and just below the neck, presumably to avoid touching her boobs. Then we see the classic early symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome spread across her face.

It's amazing that a rape-hug can make these two very good J-dorama actors look extremely average. That's the power of the rape-huggery.



Awkwardometor ☆☆☆
All signs point to 'awkward'. You have the 'from-behind' and the 'in the park at night aspects', as well as the conversation that happened prior to this event which basically had her saying:"we will never be together", and he decides to double-down. Although you can't see the long-shot of the event, I have the impression that his genitals may have been, lets say "too close for comfort", which is often the risk of a reverse-hug. However, we the viewer have been waiting for the rape-hug for the entire series. You know it's coming, and I would honestly rather had had it earlier in the series just to get it over with.  So when it finally happens, I almost felt relieved. It's like pulling a plaster - it's better to just do it right away because the suspense is not enjoyable.


Video
Enjoy this rape-hug in real-time, along with the sounds of rapist-footsteps followed by the awkward silence broken only by oblivious cars driving  by.

Yume no California, Episode 7

The Actors
Rape-Huggist: Shibasaki Kou ♀
Rape-Huggee: Domoto Tsuyoshi ♂



The Context
In this dorama, Domoto is the classic "dick in a glass case" / eternally in the friend-zone. She is an old classmate and who happens to be a model (and way out of his league). She is dating another man who she doesn't really like, so when they have an argument, she immediately arranges to meet the friend-zoned friend. Spurred by her weakness, she pulls a hideous face and takes a huge run-up for the dramatic rape-hug.


The Result
This rape-hug results in him being totally confused and her feeling guilty because in Japan inter-gender friendships cannot allow any physical contact - inluding accidental hand-brushes when opening a door. It would have been an inconsequential event, however, this was also overseen by a mutual friend who instead of being shocked at a violent rapey-hug, assumed that the two were having freaky monkey sex at any opportunity and was too embarrassed to mention it.

The Depiction
The cinematography pulls out all the cliche stops for this rape-hug including Shibasaki's hideous face of torment as she makes the decision to rape-hug, then a sweeping long-shot as she makes violent contact and he stands his ground like a loyal (and dead) British soldier in the Boer War. Then, upon contact we hear the beginning of the dorama's theme song 'California Dreaming' to indicate the magnitude of this shocking overseen event, and see the very different emotions on both their faces.

Contrast the Ali-like speed of her hands, with his daytime gargoyle defenselessness against her. 

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆
This is extremely awkward for a female-instigated rape-hug due to several factors. The facial expressions lend some credibility to my suspicions that Shibasaki is kind of crazy. He is playing a character who seems to be a virgin - or at least acts like one - and has absolutely no idea what to do. He's basically in a prison of rape-hug. Add onto that, the setting of a park at night (prime raping real-estate) and that they are overseen by a mutual friend. It would have been a four-star awkward rape-hug if this wasn't so obviously a device to extend this dorama a few episodes-worth of superflous forced dorama airtime.

Video
Enjoy the rape-hug in real time, along with the annoying introduction to California Dreaming.