Long Love Letter - The Drifting Classroom

First let me tell you that I watched this drama 12 hours straight. I've only ever done that once before with a drama called The Devil Beside You. My only excuse, this show completely enthralled me.

It's Japanese, taking place in a high school in Yokohama. Basically, and the official summaries tell the story differently, a space time anomaly warps the school, just the school, into the future. This happens Jan. 7th, 2002 at exactly 11:15 am. Its a day before the school officially opens for the new year, so only a few students and faculty are there.
The future world all around them is a wasteland of sand. The only things they have to survive with are what can be found in the school, the only food, the only water.

So, that is the Human Drama, Sci Fi aspect of the show. The characters are very real, with a variety of personalities and pains. The acting is believable, sucking you into the story of their struggle and hopes. I became very emotionally evolved.

Now, don't get me wrong. The show has its flaws. It isn't perfect, fancy effectwise, or completely believable, but I really liked it.

The best part is, of course, the romance element which I have obviously waited to comment on last. Yuka is a former teacher at the school, who resigned because of an incident involving a fight with a student. Now she works at her parent's flower shop. A year before, she runs into Akio and they totally hit it off, but that night Akio's cell phone is stolen. He can't remember her number and thus loses the ability to contact her.

He finally runs into her again a year later, and now he is the math teacher at the high school. They have a few encounters, good and bad, before Jan. 7th. Then, that day, she is at the school trying to get payment from a female teacher for a flower delivery. Before she leaves for an important appointment, she pauses to talk with Akio at the entrance to the school. Therefore, she just barely happens to be there when the school vanishes.
Akio and Yuka find themselves the support of the frightened children, and their relationship grows as they work together to make the best of a bad situation.

That's all I am saying story wise. Their romance is absolutely adorable. Akio is cool and reliable, but also sweet and adorable. Yuka is so strong in spirit. It's a great combination.

Overall, I give it a 9/10. But that is a personal score. You probably won't see it so high anywhere else. If I could find a copy, I would buy it, just so I can experience it again sometime. Not too soon. Whew, I am tired.