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This article is about the audio drama. For other uses, see Hana Yori Dango.

Hana Yori Dango (花より男子 (はなよりだんご) ) is a series of three audio dramas, also called drama CDs[2] or CD books (CDブック () ),[3] based on the Boys Over Flowers manga by Yoko Kamio. They were released by Shueisha from July 1993 to July 1994 on both CD and cassette.[4][5] The audio drama is the first adaptation of Boys Over Flowers.

It stars Takuya Kimura (SMAP) as Rui Hanazawa in his first voice acting role. Chisa Yokoyama costars as the voice of Tsukushi Makino with Takumi Nishio as Tsukasa Domyoji. All three installments of Hana Yori Dango were directed by Shigeharu Shiba. The first two were written by Mami Watanabe and Tomoko Konparu wrote the final one.

The story follows Tsukushi (Yokoyama), a regular student at Eitoku Academy, whom develops a crush on the mysterious Rui (Kimura). She gradually becomes more involved with Tsukasa, the hot-headed leader of the F4. Obstacles are thrown in Tsukushi's path as she tries to make sense of her feelings and chose between Rui and Tsukasa.

Premise[]

Tsukushi Makino (Chisa Yokoyama), a commoner attending Eitoku Academy, has a crush on the handsome and rich, Rui Hanazawa (Takuya Kimura).[6] Unfortunately, the other members of Rui's group, the F4, are becoming troublesome, particularly the leader Tsukasa Domyoji (Takumi Nishio). Things take a turn for the worse, when Tsukushi and Tsukasa accidentally kiss at the party on his ship. Meanwhile, Rui's first love Shizuka Todo (Saeko Shimazu) returns to Japan.

Tsukasa attacks Tsukushi after learning that she likes Rui. Later, Shizuka announces her intentions to return to France. Tsukushi begs her on her hands and knees to remain in Japan. Rui overhears and yells at Tsukushi for interfering.[7]

After finding Rui and Tsukushi kissing on the beach, Tsukasa ends their friendship. When he decides to have the two expelled, Tsubaki Domyoji (Rei Sakuma) steps in to deal with the situation. It is determined Tsukushi and Rui's fates will rest on the outcome of a basketball match.

Cast and characters[]

Starring

Costarring

Minor voices

Staff[]

  • Original work: Boys Over Flowers by Yoko Kamio
  • Illustrated by: Yoko Kamio
  • Script: Mami Watanabe, Tomoko Konparu (3)
  • Sound director: Shigeharu Shiba
  • Recording adjustment: Kunio Kuwabara
  • Effects: Yasufumi Yoda
  • Music: Shoichi Tamasa, Keiko Fukasawa (2)
  • Recording studio: Tokyo Television Studio (1), New Japan Studio
  • Sound production: Omnibus Promotion

Production[]

Drama-CD-ad

Takuya Kimura on an ad for the second drama CD

Prior to the audio drama, a survey was conducted by Margaret about cast suggestions for a possible live-action adaptation of Boys Over Flowers. Takuya Kimura from SMAP was the most suggested to play Rui Hanazawa. Author Yoko Kamio also agreed with the choice. Margaret's editorial staff later negotiated with Kimura for him to voice Rui Hanazawa in a drama CD.[8][9] It was Kimura's first time voice acting. The recording lasted for a total of seven hours from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Kamio sat in for part of the recording and was happy with the results. She felt that the voice actors suited her characters.[2]

The first drama CD was released on July 16, 1993. It was followed by a second installment on December 10 of the same year.[1] Kamio was unable to sit in for the recording of the second CD. However, she listened to the final product and was pleased with Kimura's performance.[7] The third CD was released on July 22, 1994, a year after the first.[10]

Promotion[]

Audio-drama-3-interview

Kimura and Chisa Yokoyama with Yoko Kamio

To promote the first installment, Takuya Kimura was featured on the cover of Margaret's fifteenth issue of 1993. It also contained an informal interview of Kimura conducted by Kamio.[3] She wrote about it and her other experiences with the audio drama in volume four of the manga. The second and third installments were also regularly promoted in Margaret. For the third installment, Kamio interviewed Kimura again as well as Tsukushi Makino's voice actor Chisa Yokoyama.

Gallery[]

Listen[]

Notes[]

  • The audio drama remains the only adaptation in which Rui Hanazawa is treated as the male lead.

References[]

See also[]


Boys Over Flowers adaptations
Television series

Boys Over Flowers (1996-1997) | Meteor Garden (2001) | Meteor Rain (2001) | Meteor Garden II (2002)
Hana Yori Dango (2005) | Hana Yori Dango Returns (2007) | Boys Over Flowers (2009) | Meteor Garden (2018)
F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers (2021-2022)

Films

Hana Yori Dango (1995) | Hana Yori Dango: The Movie (1997) | Hana Yori Dango Final (2008)

Musicals

Hana Yori Dango: The Musical (2016) | Boys Over Flowers: The Musical (2017) | Hana Yori Dango (2019)

Audio drama

Hana Yori Dango (1993-1994)

See also

Hana Nochi Hare: Hanadan Next Season (2018)

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