The greatest intro to a Japanese TV show ever

Last edited Tue Sep 11, 2012, 10:42 AM - Edit history (3)

This is the intro to a show called “Age, 35: Koishikute” which aired briefly on Fuji TV from April to June 1996. It is a drama about a married couple, Hideshi and Akemi Shimada, who each end up finding themselves in an affair. The intro opens at a bar with a live band (Sha-ran-Q) performing its hit song, “Iiwake” (“Excuses”). The song begins:

"Sabishii yoru wa gomen da
Sabishii yoru wa tsumannai
Sabishii yoru wa akita
Sabishii yoru wa cry cry cry"

(I hate lonely nights
Lonely nights are boring
I am tired of lonely nights
Lonely nights make me cry, cry, cry)

Then there is an instrumental interlude in which we catch brief glimpses of the 4 main players, including a very coy look by a woman, Misa Terui, who becomes Mr. Shimada’s girlfriend.

The scene switches to black-and-white as we get an introduction to the four main characters in the drama, starting with Mr. Shimada. The singer sings:

"Konna onna wa nidoto inai to
Muchu de horeta…"
I’ll never see another woman like this again
In my dreams I have fallen in love…

then there is a sensuous pan of Mrs. Shimada, and the singer sings

"…horemakutta onna ni…"
fallen many times in love with a woman

then switches to the girlfriend and the singer sings

"…nigeraritari shita…"
whom I have found refuge with…

Then we see the fourth character, Shin Narise, who ends up becoming Mrs. Shimada’s boyfriend. And the singer sings:

“Boku ga inaku nara, dare ka naku kana”
If I die, will anyone cry for me?

Then we see Mr. and Mrs. Shimada at the same table, and the singer continues

“Neru made, tama ni, konna baka na koto to ka
Kangaetari shita”
I sometimes lay awake thinking about such stupid things…

Then there is apparently glass breaking, signifying the couple’s broken relationship.

Next is a scene where Mrs. Shimada is sitting at a table with her husband and his girlfriend. The singer sings:

“Damasu hou yori, damasarerya ii”
I would rather be cheated on, than cheat on someone…

Mrs. Shimada leaves the table in a huff, then, sits down at the table of her soon-to-be boyfriend

“Nante uso kana”
Well, maybe that’s not true…

“Ahhhhhh”

Then four brief head shots of the 4 characters, perfectly timed to the beat of the music.

Then we see scenes of tonight’s episode, then return to the bar where 3 of the characters are taking turns leaving the bar. When the singer finishes his song, the only one left in the bar is Mr. Shimada, who, presumably, is going to be spending a lonely night.