[Recap] Kimi ni Sasageru Emblem (An emblem dedicated to you)
I'm having an unhealthy amount of feelings from Sho's drama so you guys have to bear with me blogging about it. Based on what I've seen from the behind the scenes footage and the actual drama, Sho and the cast put in a lot of heart and hard work into bringing an awareness about the issues surrounding paraplegics.
Based on a true story, "Kimi ni Sasageru Emblem" depicts an extraordinary love story of the uphill struggle of Takajo Kazuya and his incredible transformation from being a professional soccer player to a top wheelchair basketball player after his legs were paralyzed in a car accident, with the love and support from his wife Miki. - Fuji TV
Here's a recap of my favorite scenes from the drama.
Miki speaks to Kazuya as he's lying in his hospital bed after the accident.
"Hey, why won't you go for your rehabilitation? If you did it properly, you'd be able to move freely. You can be independent and work. I asked the doctor, people do get married and have children."
Kazuya turns to the side, leaving Miki's comments ignored.
"Kazuya. It's just soccer."
Kazuya snorts. "That's just rich, coming from you."
Miki is visibly upset, but she wills her words to be positive. "Come on, you can do it."
Kazuya lets out a bitter laugh. "What and how am I supposed to do with this body? YOU try it then!"
"I'm not you, so I won't do it. The one who has to do it is you, Kazuya."
"You're always so bloody calm about it."
Miki starts to lose her temper a little.
"Then what? Should I be weeping beside you? Poor Kazuya. Let me help you! I'll do anything for you!"
"Even if it's a lie, it's easier to listen to all that, isn't it?" Kazuya snaps back.
I wish I could GIF because Nagasawa Masami takes on Miki's character with such maturity and steely determination. It's delightful to watch.
As Kazuya was moping in his hospital bed, he finds Miki's organizer and starts to read it.
In it, Miki describes her records of Kazuya's matches from her perspective. The last entry, in particular, caught Kazuya's attention.
If someone had to lose their legs, it should have been mine.
God is cruel. What is left for a Kazuya who can't run?
I will stay.
I'm not going anywhere.
Kazuya puts the organizer down, unable to read any further.
A piece of paper sandwiched within the organizer catches his eye.
Kazuya unfolds it to find a marriage registration form. Miki has already filled in her name and signed it.
Miki drops by the rehabilitation clinic and to her disbelief, finds Kazuya there.
"This isn't enough at all. I need something more challenging," says a sweaty Kazuya after the intense session.
The physiotherapist suggests that Kazuya try getting from the floor onto the wheelchair within the week.
"Piece of cake," replies Kazuya, who was never really known for his modesty.
"What's up with you?" says Miki, as she hides her delight.
"I haven't eaten so I lack the energy." (Sho's husky voice is a taddevastating here.)
"Just you wait, Miki."
Kazuya tries, and tries, and tries.
And one day, he succeeds.
"I did it..."
The relief washes over Kazuya in palpable waves.
"Did you see that!?" Kazuya hollers, not really caring if anyone heard. "I did it!"
Miki arrives at the hospital one day to find Kazuya drying laundry on the rooftop.
"I'm good at this, aren't I?" says Kazuya when Miki smiles at him.
"The doctor says you can be discharged."
"Really?" says Kazuya. "Great!"
"You've worked so hard!" enthuses Miki.
"You too, Miki."
"Okay, now--" Miki reaches into her bag to take out the marriage registration form.
"After I'm discharged, let's break up."
Miki can't quite believe her ears.
"You saw that, right? I can do anything by myself now. I can live by myself. Miki, you need to live your own life too."
Kazuya starts to leave but Miki grabs him by the wheelchair's handle.
"You've gotta be kidding if you think this is for my sake!"
"Please understand!" Kazuya steels himself for what he's about to say next. "I don't want to be with you, Miki."
"What?"
"It's just soccer. You said that, Miki, but it was really important to you, right? Sorry, I read your organizer."
"You were proud of me as a soccer player. I never knew you watched all my matches. But I can't play soccer anymore. I'm not someone whom you can be proud of any longer."
"Are you stupid?"
"There you go again."
"Are you stupid!? At the very least, for the past 2 months, I've never been prouder of you, Kazuya. You lost something precious that you couldn't live without. Most people can't recover from that sort of despair!"
"But you weren't afraid to show your miserable self and completed your rehabilitation. You made it out of the hospital three times faster than the other patients. I thought you were so brave. I just thought, 'You're so amazing!' That's the Kazuya that people look up to! It's this part of you, Kazuya!"
"You're still someone who can continue to inspire others."
"I'm telling you, it's just soccer! I had no interest in the sport to begin with anyway. Even without it, you're still you."
"You're right," says Kazuya.
"It's... just soccer."
The other actors in this were great too, but I lack the tears to continue screen capping. I don't blame Sho for feeling teary every day on set.