Japanese Drama Review 21 - Hanayori Dango Episode 1 - Revealing the F4

The aftermath of Makino’s speaking out allows us to learn more about the F4’s. They are not all they seem to be. There is more to them than our first observation and consideration – they are not regular high school bullies – not all of them!

Makino’s interaction with Rui while in the stairwell, surprised me. It caused me to see him differently, and consider him to be gentle, even compassionate. He has some understanding of the difficulties others have – that they have problems too. From the brief exchange between Rui and Makino where we are allowed to learn more of him, I consider him to be quiet, and reflective. He seems more content to be alone, to read, and be away from the center of activities. ‘Oh, I know you have some problems,’ he says as he walks away. Then, the scene changes and we see Makino walking away from school – she does not know it but she is being followed by Tsukasa. I’m sure her nonchalant demeanor infuriated him as she casually walks and skips down the street. We learn the depth of his heart considerations towards Makino when we see his method of punishing the three Eitoku students who have cowed to his bullying, threats and intimidation. Tsukasa is angry, and resentful of them – they did not complete the instruction given to bully, humiliate, and injure Makino. This is no ordinary bullying. This is extreme. Three young men are water-bullied by Tsukasa – three against one. And, they allow it. What kind of control does he have over them that they would not group together and take a stand against him? What do they fear?

It must be awful to be so controlled and intimidated by your fear of someone that you would injure another when told to do so – you do their dirty work.

Although I hate the evil these young men are instructed to carry out, I wonder about the fear that grips them – how established a hold it has on them. Their fear, and the one whom they fear, keeps them captive. They are enslaved.

How can we begin to bring change to a young person so caught up and active in living out their fear? At the same time, how can we prepare those who are the targets – on the receiving end – of the threats?

What would you say to them?

• Repent … and turn back (Acts 3:19).

• For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved (2 Peter 2:18-19).

• The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

• While the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it (Hebrews 4:1).

• Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (Hebrews 12:1-4).

• The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. (Psalm 118:6-8).

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