Hana Kimi (Taiwanese Television Series)

Hanazakarino Kimitachihe, also known as Hana-Kimi, is a Taiwanese drama produced by and first aired on CTS and GTV . The show was later re-broadcast on Singapore’s Channel U as well as Hong Kong’s TVB network. Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu is the second Taiwanese drama to be based on Hisaya Nakajo’s manga, Hana-Kimi. The drama features Wu Zun and Jiro Wang of Fahrenheit, and Ella Chen of S.H.E. The soundtrack was released on December 1, 2006.

Although the original manga’s title means “For You In Full Blossom,” the drama’s title means “The Tricks of Boys and Girls,” referring to student life within the drama. The official English name is actually an incorrect romanization of the original manga’s title. When VIZ media translated the manga from Japanese to English, “Kimitachi e” became “Kimitachihe.” Evidently, the latter name was used. The show was filmed at National Chi Nan University in Puli, Nantou County. The Chinese title is also the name used in the Chinese translation of the Hana-Kimi manga by Tong Li Publishing.

Major Characters

Lu Rui Xi 盧瑞莃 (Ella Chen; based on Mizuki Ashiya) – Female protagonist who masquerades as a boy to attend Quan’s school.

Zuo Yi Quan 左以泉 (Wu Zun; based on Izumi Sano) – The male protagonist, who is a school athlete. He is usually quiet but defends those he cares about.

Jin Xiu Yi 金秀伊 (Jiro Wang; based on Shuichi Nakatsu) – Ying Kai’s soccer star. He begins to question his sexuality when Rui Xi arrives.

Mei Tian 梅田 (Tang Zhi Ping; based on Hokuto Umeda) – He is gay and is the school health official. He serves as Rui Xi’s counselor and guardian several times.

Summary

Three years prior, a girl named Lu Rui Xi high jumper Zuo Yi Quan on television and was amazed by him. She decides to transfer to his school and become his friend, but the particular school he attends is strictly boys-only. After a shaky start, including a rude collision with Quan outside of the classroom, Rui Xi is able to settle in at the school. By a stroke of luck, she has been assigned to be Quan’s room mate.

Soon, she is accepted as a normal student, but after sustaining an injury to the head, her gender is discovered by Mei Tian, the school health official, and Quan (whom she does not realise knows her secret). Mei Tian becomes her confidant, but Quan keeps Rui Xi’s secret to himself in order to protect her identity. Jin Xiu Yi begins to question his own sexuality when he finds himself attracted to this new student, whom he believes to be male.