Bengoshi no Kuzu, Episode 1

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Unknown (perhaps Sano Shiro) ♂
Rape-Huggee: (Yasu Megumi) ♀

The Context

Although I take the business of rape-hugs very seriously, it does mean that I have to pore over hours and hours of terrible doramas. Often I call the acto of watching a dorama 'rape-hug mining'. I especially dislike rigidly episodic doramas such as medical, detective or legal doramas with one case per episode. Because each series is only about 10 episodes long, they hardly have any depth and they seem like crappy knock-offs of American shows which aren't eve that good to start with. Bengoshi no Kuzu is about a lawyer whose name is Kuzu (meaning "trash"). Oh the hilarity. So imagine my delight when this dorama presented itself with a rape-hug in the first 10 seconds of the first episode! That's got to be a record. It's like when footballer Vinnie Jones got a red-carded right after the opening whistle - that's true commitment to being an asshole. Although there probably are some more rape-hugs to be mined in the later episodes, there was no real reason to watch any further. Basically, the rape-hug occurs in the opening scene which turns out to be a sexual harrassment case that will be solved over the next 45 minutes.

In the interest of journalistic integrity, I continued watching, and it turns out that the incident above was in fact not sexual harassment, but part of a consentual relationship between the OL (office lady) and her boss. She was suing for a pay-out. This, however, is not consistent with the scene shown above. Unless they are into kinky role-playing, it seems odd that she would squirm and shout "stop". So, the only explanation for what we see is that this is the explanation she gave, although there is no indication that that was the case. Hence, this is not a very high-quality dorama.

So in summary, although we see a very disturbing case of sexual harrassment via rape-hug, she was asking for it? Again, not a very good dorama.

The Result

We learn that she is actually a greedy conniving whore, and Mr. Kuzu solves the case with his unorthodox but effective lawyering ways.

The Depiction

The drama opens with a first-person view of the offender as he appoaches her in the deserted open-plan office. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first instance I am aware of where there is a "rape-hug-cam". Then she drops the papers she is holding. This filming technique is usually applied in detective-style dramas in order to mask the offender until the big reveal at the end, but the next scene just shows the guy ravaging the girl, hugging her from behind with his hands groping at her hand which she is holding in front of her breasts, because they wouldn't actually show the guy squeezing her like he was testing fruit at the grocer.


Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆☆



Although we later learn that this is not a case of sexual harrassment, the treatment of the issue is way off-point. It basically tells us that what we saw was not a rape-hug, even though it clearly was - and a violent one at that. The awkwardometer can be seen as how unaware the people involved in the making of the dorama  are in realising the gravity of the issue. How do you explain this to the children? Think of the children! It's like rape-hugs are either a girl is asking for it, and/or she wants money. Japan may be able to produce top-class sex-bots, but they are still 50 years behind the modern world in terms of gender equality. 

Video

Here is the entire 20-second start to Bengoshi no Kuzu. I don't think this is what they mean with by "start with a bang".

 

Dream Again, Episode 6

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Sorimachi Takashi ♂
Rape-Huggee: Kato Ai ♀

The Context

This is a very convoluted script, and by 'convoluted' I am combining the words "Confusing", "Vomit" and "diluted". A famous baseball player starts sucking and retires, and the drama starts just when he rediscovers his fire for baseball and decides to mount a comeback. This upsets his girlfriend and somehow leads him to throwing his engagement ring into a river. Then he literally gets struck by lightning and dies, only there was some kind of clerical error so he comes back to earth inside another man's body. I don't know how Sorimachi - who is the god of Japanese doramas - got sucked into this piece of crap conference-meeting power-script. In one short span of the dorama his daughter who has a non-specified terminal illness collapses, recovers, runs away, there is a shitty little scene of trying to find her, and then she tries to commit suicide by walking into the ocean while he holds her back and slaps the sense back into her. I'm not trying to give a recap of this dorama, but if they manage to put all those clichés into one small section of the plot, you can bet your life they'll find space to include a rape-hug somewhere. 

The Depiction

Usually I place the video clip at the end, but in this case I think it is worthwhile to take a look now, just to see how many clichés are forced into this one scene like a fat man's haggis. So, she doesn't know that this man is actually her reincarnated ex-fiancé, but they find themselves talking while overlooking the view from a bridge at night. Then, the ominous soft piano music starts to play as the camera slowly zooms in on his face to show that he is completely tuning out whatever she is saying. Then he makes a lunge to grab her wrist, and in slow motion pulls her towards him.

Then, once the action is complete, the theme song by Kobukuro kicks in. This artist is used for many themesongs in doramas and although I don't have any evidence, I would think that his voice is the voice of rape-hugs. I'm saying if rape-hugs had it's own nation, Kobukuro would be singing the anthem before every sports event that Rapehuggistan is in.

 

The Result

This rape-hug is used as the cliff-hanger between episodes 6 and 7, and the seventh episode ends with her brekaing free of the rape-hug and briskly walking away. So, the result was not looking good - and he knows it. In fact, one of the next scenes is of Soramachi talking to his guardian angel. Did I mention that he has a guardian angel and that this script is a total piece of shit? 

Watch the following clip (with fansubs) where Sorimachi asks his guardian angel (he is the one who is glowing blue. Duh.) as to whether he should apologize. The angel replies:

"As an adult you might need to say a word of apology. You suddenly hugged her after all."

There you have it: an angel - a divine messenger of god (or whoever it is that gives a shit about the Japanese) - is on the fence about the legitmacy of rape-hugs. 

Meanwhile, the poor victim in this matter is showing signs of severe trauma. While sitting at her desk her phone starts ringing. When she sees that it's him she has a flashback of the rape-hug - which she admittedly did almost accept - but her fiancé had only recently been struck dead by lightning. Give her some time to mourn, dammit! Then she does a double face-palm. Where's her guardian angel when she needs one?

Remember, rape-hugs are not a victimless crime.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆☆



I'm giving this a full five-star rating.I don't care that he is actually her spouse-to-be, and that she almost accepted the advances. It's at night on a secluded footbridge, and he literally grabs her wrist. Seriously, when do you ever grab someone's wrist? The answer is when you are trying to lead someone somewhere against their own will - like a naughty child to the corner of the room. That is not a good way to woo. And throw in the fact that she is mentally fragile after her fiancé suddenly dieing only a few months earlier, and the trauma she showed afterwards.  

The follow-up converstation with the guardian angel is almost on the right track about showing remorce, but eventually belittles the gravity of the act. That conversation was backed by a peppy comedic tune, whereas the facepalm scene was something out of a pyschological thriller. 













What are we doing here people?

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.

Kamisama Mou Sukoshi dake, Episode 5

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Nakama Yukie ♀
Rape-Huggee: Kaneshiro Takeshi ♂


The Context

 

He is a famous songwriter and she is his top popstar. She was friends with his deceased wife and he has since gone into a deep writer's block. Nakama Yukie's character has fallen in love with him and is jealous when he starts banging a 17-year old girl with AIDS. Yeah, it's a pretty heavy dorama in the "Dying girl" genre, but it's a shame that statutory rape aspect is mostly overlooked - probably because he has great hair.It's so wavy!

So as a last desperate attempt to steal him while he is freaking out and tearing up some paper with failed lyrics on it, Nakama makes a running rape-hug.

 

The Result
Sadly, on so many levels, he choses to keep banging the 17-year-old AIDS girl.

 

The Depiction

 

We are treated to some really dramatic action-pack closeups. First he tears up the paper and his face, and then we see her rage face as she runs towards him like Braveheart in the final battle. Just before contact we get a long shot, just as she almost slips over on the paper scattered over the floor. I'm convinced that this wasn't intentional, but this dorama was from the late 90's when it was probably too much effort (or too costly) to re-shoot a scene. I love Yukie Nakama as much as any heterosexual, but honestly, she isn't a great actress. Or at least, she is always cast as a hardass and good at everything when she quite clearly isn't. She is much convincing as in Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake as a shallow pop-star and I truly love the fact that in this scene she stuggles with a primary form of human locomotion.

Look at Nakama with her legs akimbo, rescuing her balance with the rape-hug.

Awkwardometor ☆☆

For some reason I don't find this scene very awkward, despite the whole statutory decision and the AIDS girls thing. Maybe it's the lack of balance that brought in some unintentional comedy, or maybe it's the fact that the victim is a guy. Or it could be that being rape-hugged by Yukie Nakama - probably the sexiest woman in Japan for a solid decade - doesn't seem like such a bad deal. What I'm saying is, for so many reasons, he made the wrong decision, this should have been a regular hug and the drama could have ended right here.



Video

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.  

Long Love Letter, Episode 9

The Actors

Rape-Huggist: Kubozuka Yosuke ♂
Rape-Huggee: Tokiwa Takako ♀


The Context

 

They are two of the remaining 30 or so people in a post apocalyptic world, and since the others are all students at the high school or old staff, the task of repopulating the world is basically up to them. Despite this, it takes nine whole episodes before her boobies touch his man-breasts ("moobies"). Finally, after walking hours away and seeing a desolate landscape before them, he turns towards her with lust in his eyes and passionately asks permission to hug her.

The Result

 

Obviously it is oxymoronical to "passionately ask permission". If there was ever a time and place to passionately ravage a female it would be millions of years in the future where humanity is on the brink of survival. But no, these are Japanese actors and it states somewhere in their contracts that their romance must begin with a rape-hug. And yes, despite him asking permission to hug her, and her saying "okay", they still manage to turn it into a rape-hug. Usually if you'd ask someone for a hug, there'd be an expectation that you'd mutally meet in the centre. But no, after she consents, she stands up and closes her eyes to let this one remaining male in the world have his way with her. This is so disappointing in every single way. I just hope that if there ever is a scenario where humanity depends on two sexually mature people to repopulate the world, that they aren't Japanese. It's not that I don't want the only people in the world to be Japanese, but I'd have a fear that five years into post apocalpytic life they'd still be calling each other by their last names.

The Depiction

It's quite a generic depiction of rape-huggery, with so much awkwardness before, during and after - which again makes no sense as it's made clear that they like each other and everybody they know and love are long dead. The main difference here is the blue-screened image of a desert behind them.

Awkwardometor ☆☆

While it is an amazing feat to even have a consentual rape-hug, and it is extremely awkward, on some levels this is not actually a "rape" hug. Still, even if you have consent and the other party isn't seeming to enjoy themselves you might want to be careful. But even then we can see her smile so at least we know everything is okay. But what if by "Hold you in my arms" he meant 'to have sex'? Where does that consent end? It's a fuzzy line, which again, doesn't really matter in a world where humans are wiped out, but isn't that the point of Science Fiction: to question and tests the limits of morality by removing irrelevant factors?




Video

Watch the video and hear the stilted dialogue where he asks for and she gives consent to hold her. 

Tiger and Dragon, Episode 6

The Actors

Rape-Huggists: Nagase Tomoya et al ♂
Rape-Huggee: Nameless extras ♀


The Context

The boys are on a night out in the town, and are looking to get some femular attention. Being Japan, there is always a snack bar/cabaret nearby where annoying girls are always ready to provide inane conversation, overpriced drinks and perhaps a handjob for the right price. So they are in the bar when Nagase's character gets an important phonecall. Being the leader of the group, everyone is waiting on him, and when he hangs up, all hell breaks loose.

The Result

This is the only gang rape-hug I have ever seen in a Japanese (or any other) dorama, and I hope it is the last. It significantly does not result in anything (a lawsuit comes to mind), as the scene immediately cuts to the advertisements. I somehow doubt that Coca Cola would be pleased with being the first thing people see after a violent group rape-hug.

The Depiction

It begins with Tomoya hanging up his phone, standing on the sofa and throwing off his blazer as he yells his battle cry to the men "Sorry to keep you waiting [for group rape-huggery]". Then the camera pans out as the men attack in formation around the six waitresses, form a human chain and start thrusting their pelvises towards the centre in a sychronised fashion. Note how all the women are cowering in fear. 

The entire sequence is very animalistic and reminds one of the age-old battle in nature of fish and dolphins. The females here are the fish, who when threatened form a bait ball as a last ditch defensive measure as individuals are more likely to be attacked than groups. However, the dolphin has evolved hunting techniques to exploit this behaviour by circling the prey so they form a tighter ball making for easy pickings. 

Note that the entire sequence is filmed in one shot. I just hope that this means they needed only one attempt at this scene.

Awkwardometor ☆☆☆☆☆


Tiger and Dragon has previously been feaured twice before on J-Dorama Rape-hugs, and both times they were actually used in a fashion that had some geniune humour to it. It is a very difficult line to tread, and in this case they failed horribly. This above scene is so horrific that I will never forget where I was when I saw it first. Overall Tiger and Dragon is a very good dorama, and this was very-much out of character. It was not, however, out of character with Nagase Tomoya who seems to be quite comfortable with rape-huggery. Every dorama I have seen with him in it he offends, which leads me to think that perhaps it is stated somewhere in his contract.


Video

Watch the carnage of the scene, the battle cries, and the cutaway to the commercials. Still feel like having a refreshing Coca Cola?