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.

 

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.