Glass Heart

Presentation

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Overview

Synopsis

Saijo Akane is a drummer who dreams of living from her music. But she’s rejected at every audition. One day, Fujitani Naoki proposes her to join his new band TENBLANK. Naoki is a genius musician, admired by his peers. As a band, the team will have to deal with successes, but also overcome hurdles along the way.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

I will reject any opinion that says that Glass Heart is not a gem! This J-drama is simply amazing and deserves to be watched by everyone. The plot is impeccable, characters are adorable, doubting their future and themselves, but resolute to become successful. There are talented and believe in their band. The bond between the members is heartwarming. Each has a personality that participates in the synergy of the group. They just complete each other. At some point, they even gave me the impression that TENBLANK was an actual band and that I was going to their concert. Not going to lie, I’m addicted to the drama’s playlist. But the best part of the drama is how well music is woven into characters’ journey. Music is at the heart of the band and the show. There was just a vibe and energy that can’t be described with words. And the cast is just fantastic. From secondary characters to leads, they are all credible in their role. I can only recommend you watch this drama!

Analysis

• TENBLANK, the synergy of sounds
  Fujitani Naoki, the soul
  Saijo Akane, the heart
  Sakamoto Kazuchi, the voice
  Takoaka Sho, the head
• Other characters
  Shinzaki Toya
  Sakurai Yukino
  Isagi Ichidai
  Kai Miyako
• Music at the core of the show
  The meaning of a band
  Being a musician
• TENBLANK’s playlist
  MATRIX
  Crystalline Echo
  Unbroken
  Lucky Me
  Citrus
  Play Out Loud
  Chasing Blurry Lines
  A Song for Us to Sing
  Forever Eve
  Glass Heart
• Real-life energy
• Downsides of the industry
• Love triangle
• Cinematography

TENBLANK, the synergy of sounds: TENBLANK is a band like no other. It’s composed of four talented musicians who shine individually. However, the strength of the group resides in the energy and sensitivity each member brings to create harmony and perfect synergy.

Fujitani Naoki, the soul: Fujitani Naoki (Takeru Satoh) is the soul of TENBLANK. He’s a genius consumed by his music. He eats, sleeps, and lives to the sound of music. Therefore, he spends most of his time in his own world, surrounded by notes, staves and rhythms. Without his precious songs, Naoki would die. No one can take music away from him, even if it drains him from his energy or if he suffers from a brain tumor. Music is his soul. That’s what everyone comes to realize by the end of the show. Naoki is a complex character. His genius isolates him from the mortal world. But he’s also excluded by others who fear his talent. That’s what happens with his producer, Isagi Ichidai (Fujiki Naohito), whose personality changed after meeting Naoki; but also with his half-brother Shinzaki Toya (Suda Masaki) who felt inferior. The male lead is aware that his capacities may destroy others’ creativity and hurt their feelings. As a successful solo artist, he discovered that expressing his feelings through music resulted in pain for others. So instead, he wishes to form a band to create music that heals. While assembling TENBLANK, he selected each band member carefully. He felt they were their loneliness, but also that their music was their whole life too. He’s seen the potential in his peers and fought to reveal it. Thanks to his newly-formed band, Naoki learns camaraderie, friendship, loyalty and love. Feelings he was unable to reach on his own.

Saijo Akane, the heart: Saijo Akane (Miyazaki Yu) is the beating heart of the band. She’s the drummer who gives pace to her teammates’ instruments, and the woman who connects the group together. Before joining TENBLANK, Akane went through a lot as a musician. She was rejected numerous times by other bands either because she was a woman or because she apparently had no sensitivity and didn’t know how to play with others. She’d play a soulless beat. However, Naoki disagrees with that statement. Right from the start, he sees potential and talent in Akane. She just lacks confidence. But, she believes in her dream and lives for her music, just like Naoki. Thanks to him, she reveals her full potential and unleashes the beast in her. Her journey is at the heart of the drama. We go from discovering Akane’s music during a rainy performance in duo with Naoki to witnessing her rise as the drummer of TENBLANK revealing her talent on stage. The last scene focuses on her face, and we can clearly see that she’s grown so much. She succeeded and got her revenge on others by trusting Naoki, letting go of her fears and boosting her self-confidence. Though considered the weakest gear at the beginning – even by her own teammates – she turns out to be the real heart of the band. Her cheerful personality melts Kazuchi’s heart, her optimistic mindset pleases Sho and her brightness pierces through Naoki’s darkness.

Sakamoto Kazuchi, the voice: Sakamoto Kazuchi (Shison Jun) is a talented pianist whose skills rival Naoki’s. Just like the leader of TENBLANK, Kazuchi also shines as a genius composer and Naoki knows that. He noticed his potential long before Kazuchi realized he was up to par with his peer. Seeing his talent, Naoki worked hard to convince his equal to join the band. Yet, the relationship between these two is not a smooth ride. Naoki constantly pushes Kazuchi’s buttons in order to make him grow. First and foremost, he wants him to learn how to be part of a band. Indeed, Kazuchi has always composed for himself and his piano, alone in his room behind a camera. The melodies he creates are beautiful but they don’t fit with others’ instruments yet. By being part of the group, Naoki forces Kazuchi to get out of his shell and solitude, to open up to others, to become more vulnerable, to express his feelings through music and words, and to voice out what he’s got inside. Kazuchi is indeed a solitary, reserved and taciturn soul. However, he grows as an individual and musician by being in contact with Akane’s brightness, Sho’s generosity and Naoki’s craziness. TENBLANK becomes a place where he belongs and can be himself, where he can fully and openly thrive. His friendship with Sho, his romantic feelings for Akane and his admiration for Naoki change him little by little. I’m not going to lie, I really liked this character. He appeared to be mean and distant, sometimes judgmental towards the group (especially Akane), but he softens up. He proves to be reliable, loyal and attentive. I would consider him the voice of the group because he doesn’t fear to voice out his feelings and opinions whether it’d be by confronting Naoki or by confessing his love to Akane.

Takaoka Sho, the head: Sho (Machida Keita) greatly admires Naoki and respects his music. He’s in love with the sounds he creates ever since their encounter 5 years ago. He’s the first person to ever ask the great composer to join a band. Though not ready at the time, Naoki comes back to him 3 years after. The leader is not blind and clearly views Sho as one of the best guitarists he knows. His temperament and talent are also be a perfect fit to the band. On top of that, he greatly appreciates Sho as a friend who turns out to be the most rational of the team, as he uses his head in many situations rather than his heart. To him, Naoki’s music is a masterpiece that can’t be destroyed. So, he treats it very respectfully. But that’s not what Naoki wants. He knows how passionate and energetic Sho’s guitar can be. He doesn’t want him to play the notes with his head and by the book. On the contrary, he wants Sho to play with his guts and to color his music with his own sound. That’s how they can make TENBLANK’s music and not just Naoki’s songs. Sho knows that, but needs some time to wrap his mind around it. Moreover, he’s like a brother to Naoki. He accepts his way of life, his passion and craziness. This means that he’s also afraid of losing him, especially when he discovers that he has a tumor. Although Sho tries to take music away from his friend to protect him, he eventually comes around when he realizes that Naoki is nothing without music. To me, Sho is a generous, calm and comprehensive person. He never judges nor criticizes. Even when Naoki brings Akane to the team, he supports and trusts his decision. However, this doesn’t mean that he is not capable of being overwhelmed by emotions. He deeply cares about the band, his peers, music and Naoki. That’s why he’s got a little outburst by the end of the show, but Naoki’s songs are always there to bring him back to light.

Other characters: The four main members of the band are absolutely amazing. Yet, the drama also offers very interesting and complex secondary characters worth mentioning.

Shinzaki Toya: Shinzaki Toya is Naoki’s half-brother, as they both share the same father. Toya is extremely talented and as passionate about music as his brother. When he was a kid, his mother would often compare him to Naoki. She could not understand why her son couldn’t surpass another woman’s. Due to her pressurizing behavior, Toya started to feel inferior to Naoki, thinking he would never be able to reach his level. Indeed, music would come easily to Naoki, when Toya would need to pour all of his efforts to compose one song. This discouraged Toya many times and created hatred and resentment towards Naoki. Both brothers are estranged at the beginning of the show. The competition they suffered during their childhood drove a wedge between them. However, they also profoundly love each other. They just need to write it down on paper and sing it to each other. The occasion arises when Toya is stabbed and urgently sent to the hospital. This moment is an opportunity for the two men to reconnect through music. Toya lives and would die for it. He doesn’t care about his health. That makes him quite similar to Naoki. Despite their differences, it turns out both brothers have a lot in common. So, they choose to raise each other up instead of letting competition and rivalry erect a wall between them. I have to admit that Toya was a rather confusing character to me at first. I could see that he was talented, passionate and drained by music. It all started to make sense when they announced that he and Naoki were related. From that moment on, Toya became an appreciable character whose intentions were good and genuine.

Sakurai Yukino: Yukino (Takaishi Akari) is obsessed with Naoki and his music. She’s even convinced herself that she owes her success to his songs and that without his music she’s nothing. She lacks confidence in herself, despite being one of the most beloved artists of the moment. But that’s just an unfounded fear. Yukino sings extremely well and has all the necessary qualities to become a star and remain at the top. She lets fears, doubts and others’ criticisms (like Ichidai’s) sway her. However, she takes another start at the end. Akane invites her on stage during the Rock Alive Japan festival to support TENBLANK and sing. That’s a way to show her that she belongs to the team as Naoki’s friend, but also to help Yukino regain faith in herself and her talent. She’s indeed revealed that Ichidai had stolen all of Naoki’s songs and released them as his own. She thinks her career is over because she sang those stolen songs, but she’s given a second chance. Yukino is a symbol of redemption. She demonstrates that your life can go back on track if you tell the truth and assume the consequences. These are not always bad and you fill eventually find people to support you.

Isagi Ichidai: Ichidai was Naoki’s producer. He was a man of talent, but was crushed by Naoki’s genius. Seeing how easily Naoki could produce songs, he developed an inferiority complex. Ichidai was not bad at music, he was just not on the same level as Naoki. The composer realized that his presence in Ichidai’s life was destroying his creativity. That’s why he left. However, Ichidai convinced himself that Naoki and he shared the same musical soul and that Naoki would be nothing without him. Truthfully, Ichidai is an amazing music producer and businessman, but not an artist. He feared he’d lose everything he’d worked for with Naoki’s departure so he tried to destroy him instead. He resorted to schemes like cancelling their venue, revealing his sickness to the group members,… to cut his wings. But in the end, he’s the one who got burnt when Yukino revealed his misdeeds. He went too far and didn’t respect artists’ integrity nor others’ music and was punished for it.

Kai Miyako: Kai Miyako (Karata Erika) dreamed of becoming a singer but failed. She then became TENBLANK’s manager and made it her duty to protect not the group, but Naoki. Even it meant hurting Akane or sabotaging their performance. This mentality was criticized by Naoki who emphasized that he wanted a manager capable of protecting the whole band. If she was against their success, then there was no room for her. Miyako then disappears, which gives her time to reflect on her behavior. At the end, she comes back with a new mindset. She wants to become the manager of the band again, but will prove her worth to them first. She is ready to protect the group as a whole and dreams of their success. Miyako had an awakening after her discussion with Naoki. She’s given up on her dream because she lacked self confidence, she didn’t trust her music unlike TENBLANK, but she believes that now she can protect theirs to the best of her ability.

Music at the core of the show: The show would not be the same if music was not the main driver of the plot and the overall atmosphere. Characters live for music, their passion consumes them. The drama also shows that music can hurt or heal, separate or bring together, be feared or admired, be about love and life. Using music as a red thread, the show is able to create relationships between characters, but also with the audience.

The meaning of a band: According to the drama, being a band means making everyone’s sound play in harmony and sync together. The guitar, the drums, the piano, the voice, everything works as a whole like a body. No member is independent or doing things on his own. But this doesn’t mean that each personality disappears. On the contrary, everyone’s respective specificity transpires in the song. Each musician is an individual conscience aiming to do the same: unite and sound as one. There’s no ‘I’ in the band, only a ‘we’ that transcends individualities.

Being a musician: That concept is mentioned at the end of the show by Akane’s mother. She actually puts the finger on an absolute truth: Being a successful artist is not necessarily linked to talent. It’s about discovering your inner secrets, learning who you are and laying all of those answers in the open for others to listen. If you’re true to yourself, then your music will sound genuine and talk to people. If people can identify with your songs, then you’re on your way to become a successful musician who can convey feelings through sounds.

TENBLANK’s playlist: The reason why Glass Heart is so good is because the playlist it relies on is absolutely fantastic and meaningful. Each song reflects the band’s journey and supports the storytelling. Using them as a red thread, we can clearly follow the evolution of the band and of its members’ feelings.

MATRIX: ‘MATRIX’ is the first song in the drama that is used to introduce the band to the public and viewers. Its rock vibes, energetic rhythm and compelling harmony set the tone of the band and the drama. That song also represents the first exploration of Akane’s potential. While on stage for the first time with the band, Akane is pushed by Naoki to reveal herself and unleash the beast in her.

Crystalline Echo: This song is linked with the first MV recorded by the band. The video showcases members under the rain, especially Akane and Naoki sharing an umbrella. This mirrors their previous encounters in the rain. The first one being during the concert and the second one being in the streets when Naoki is hit by a sudden urge to compose. That’s also the moment when Akane realizes her feelings for Naoki. ‘Crystalline Echo’ symbolizes the pair’s blossoming love in a pouring rain.

Unbroken: The title of this song, ‘Unbroken’, is the perfect depiction of the scene it’s linked to. TENBLANK is invited to perform on live TV. The show takes place near a harbor. Artists and the staff are thus using boats to prepare. At some point, Akane is locked up in a boat room. Even when she manages to get out, the boat has sailed. She’s about to miss her performance. Meanwhile, the rest of the band is looking for her frantically. When they are about to go on air, TENBLANK catches up with the boat on which Akane is stuck. While live, they perform ‘Unbroken’. It’s the perfect song to demonstrate that they will not let anyone sabotage them or get in their way.

Lucky Me: ‘Lucky Me’ is by far my favorite song of TENBLANK’s playlist. It is sang by Naoki after all their venues have cancelled their tour because of his former producer Ichidai. The leader feels responsible for hurting TENBLANK and disappointing everyone. So, he writes a song to apologize to his fans and team members. ‘Lucky Me’ tells the story of a lonely person who seems to have it all. But he ruins everything and can only blame himself for that. If we draw a parallel with TENBLANK’s predicament, the music speaks for itself.

Citrus: This is a TENBLANK’s song that is played in duo with OVER CHROME’s ‘Vibrato’ by Toya. Both brothers reconcile with this song and share their brotherly love for each other. While they are performing, the drama traces back their past and childhood, rivalry and love.

Play Out Loud: This song is synonymous with their comeback on stage. As the title suggests, they intend on playing out loud to show that TENBLANK is still going strong.

Chasing Blurry Lines: ‘Chasing Blurry Lines’ echoes the disorientation and uncertainties that come with being an artist.

A Song for Us to Sing: That song is a duet between Naoki and Yukino. It highlights her desire to get closer to Naoki, to sing his songs and her love for him.

Forever Eve: This is my second favorite song after ‘Lucky Me’. It’s a love song that Naoki had never intended to write in the first place. Even more, it’s a song that displays unknown feelings. ‘Forever Eve’ is his love confession. He pours his heart and soul into each and every word of the song, hoping that it’d be enough to make Akane come back to the group at the end. Whilst kissing her, Naoki whispers the lyrics in the middle of the street during a cold winter day.

Glass Heart: This song draws a parallel with the title of the drama, and marks a the end of a cycle in the last episode. That’s the final song the band sings on stage, but it’s also the song that convinces Sho to get back to the band and that reconciles him with Naoki. The part that goes ‘you keep asking why?‘ is directed to Sho, as that’s what he’s been doing with Naoki. I think the title suggests that a band is like a heart of itself. Everyone’s feelings interfere, but also combine to create music. However, this balance is fragile and harmony can break anytime. TENBLANK is a heart made of glass. Each member needs to tread carefully to express themselves, but also protect each other.

Real-life energy: I’m not going to lie, but I felt like TENBLANK was a real band with actual songs. The concert scenes were so realistic that it made me feel as if I were actually there. Moreover, the drama has this very peculiar vibe and energy that transpire through the screen. As a viewer, the band’s music, struggles and desire to be successful are quite palpable. I’ve rarely been so involved in the making of a fictitious band, so it’s rather impressive. To me, the drama talked to my heart, my soul and my inner feelings.

Downsides of the industry: Though Glass Heart portrays success and is quite hopeful at the end, it also points out all of the downsides of the industry. Through Miyako’s unrealized dream, we get to understand failure, resentment and disappointment. Through Yukino and Ichidai’s collaboration, we witness how cruel the industry can be when it comes to song theft, rejection, criticism, fear of not being talented enough. Through the struggles of TENBLANK, we have a view of the hurdles scattered along the way, the cunning behaviors of those who want to sabotage you, and how one small thing can make a group explode.

Love triangle: The depiction of the love triangle was simply perfect. Akane falls first for Naoki and his music. Then, matters turn complicated when Kazuchi falls for her. He knows that she has a crush on the band leader. Therefore, he doesn’t push his luck. On the contrary, he remains on the sidelines, encouraging her in her music and keeping an eye on her from the shadows. Whenever he gets the chance, Kazuchi protects Akane or comforts her. Though it’s not reciprocated, I really appreciated that the second lead dealt with his feelings and accepted his crush’s without forcing anything onto Akane. When it comes to Naoki, he seems unreachable. He lives in his own world and even mentions that he has no time for love. He’s rejected Akane, but she doesn’t give up on him. At the end of the show, Sho discovers that Naoki has a brain tumor and needs surgery. He’s aware that going on stage puts his life at risk. That’s why, he tries to force him to stop music. Others agree and the band enters a crisis. But Akane sees things differently. She is the only one who truly understands Naoki. She knows that he’d die without music. So instead of trying to force him out of it, she helps him compose. This, combined with Akane’s numerous attentions and displays of love, touch Naoki’s heart. Without realizing it, he too falls for her and finds himself writing her a love song. Naoki never thought it’d be possible for him to have something else but music in his life. Yet, Akane proved him wrong. Kazuchi is a good loser and accepts defeat graciously. He ensures Akane that he doesn’t have feelings for her anymore – though it’s not true – so she can pursue Naoki without regrets. Meanwhile, Kazuchi uses his pain to make better music. He’s been rivaled by Naoki once again. Still, he made peace with it. To be honest, it was only normal for Akane and Naoki to be together, considering the symbiosis between them. Ever since their first performance on stage in episode 1, these two have been in sync. They understand each other and use music to communicate.

Cinematography: I’ll be very brief on that part because the show speaks for itself. But the scenes – especially music/concert ones – were absolutely beautiful and aesthetically amazing. Every detail was polished: the costumes, the raindrops, characters’ movements and gestures. Like I already said before, Glass Heart is such a pleasant sensorial experience (from ears to eyes).