Soul Mate: A New Japanese Romance on Netflix

“Soul Mate is a heart-stirring journey that spans 10 years across Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon are both incredibly touching in their respective roles.”

Soul Mate is a Japanese romance drama series written and directed by Shunki Hashizume. It stars Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon. The series is composed of 8 episodes and premieres on May 14th on Netflix.

THE PREMISE

Soul Mate follows the story of two characters. First, Ryu Narutaki (Hayato Isomura), a young Japanese man who used to play ice hockey at university with his one-of-a-kind best friend, Arata (Koshi Mizukami), until an incident destroyed Arata’s life. Ryu abandons everything and flees to Berlin to live with his childhood friend, Sumiko Shinonome (Ai Hashimoto). But starting over does not ease Ryu’s pain. Second, Johan Hwang (Ok Taec-yeon) is a Korean boxer who also happens to be in Berlin, facing struggles of his own. The two meet by chance, and their encounter changes their lives.

A 10-YEAR JOURNEY

Soul Mate is an ambitious work: a 10-year journey spanning Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. It’s definitely not a boys’ love, despite what you would expect. But, it’s a mature story, one that strays away from the stereotypes of this Japanese genre. It doesn’t rely on the homoerotic aspect of the relationship. In fact, the story is driven by the human connection between these broken characters, who find themselves and change each other’s lives. Their lives are intertwined, always drawn back to each other, wherever it is. At its heart, this series is about friendship and romance, and how both can be deeply connected.

The friendship between Ryu and Johan develops naturally and seamlessly, like fate. It’s a strong and beautiful bond, full of both joyful moments and inevitable conflicts. That’s part of life. All in all, this is exactly what the series tries to portray – life in all its dimensions. Unabashedly, it’s complex, it’s nuanced. It’s not just one thing or the other; it’s both. Ryu and Johan endure many trials, but together they become stronger, ready to face what lies ahead. Sometimes they are geographically apart, sometimes they are close. What makes this story so powerful is that you see their evolution through the years. A decade is a long time for life to change significantly more than once.

PREPARE THE TISSUES

Undoubtedly, prepare the tissues because it will make you cry. There won’t be a dry eye by the end. I was moved by the relationship between these characters, but also their own personal stories. It’s a heart-stirring journey, one that sends a message worth listening to. Whoever you are attracted to, men or women, it’s a universal story that will resonate with you. Love and friendship have no boundaries, it’s timeless.

The series also cleverly stays away from the stereotypes of coming-out stories and other clichés you may find in gay stories that Hollywood produces. It doesn’t focus on their sexuality; it focuses on what they feel and what they mean for each other. This is what also makes this story unique in its own way. It’s truly heartfelt. It’s all about emotion.

A PORTRAIT OF LIFE

Beyond the intertwined story of Ryu and Johan, Sumiko also plays a central role in the series. Her story may not be the main subject of the series, but what she goes through is explored with great depth. Soul Mate explores the hardship of being a young adult and the sorrow life may bring along the way. The audience fully experiences the characters’ lives through this journey. You see the characters studying, having a job, moving to a home… Speaking of jobs, over the course of a lifetime, people rarely have just one job; they go through different jobs, especially in our generation. And because it’s a ten-year journey, the audience gets to see that as well.

You see the characters grow emotionally and as individuals through the different experiences that come their way. This series is not just one thing; it is a multitude. It skilfully explores mature themes in an earnest way. Death is obviously part of life, and because it is a portrait of life, it’s also tackled. At times, it’s dramatic for sure, the story really goes hard for the feels, but it never falls into a melodramatic tone.

CAST

Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon are incredibly touching in their respective roles. They both deliver an authentic performance, portraying with great care the struggles of their characters. Their on-screen chemistry is palpable. It grows as their characters grow closer. Ai Hashimoto delivers a strong performance, too. She beautifully portrays the struggle of being a woman in a society that has certain expectations for her.

VISUALS AND SOUNDTRACK

The series beautifully explores the landscapes of Berlin, Seoul, and Japan. It mostly takes place in Japan. So, it fully takes advantage of the varied landscapes, from the city to the peaceful countryside. The theme song is ‘Our Hearts’ by STUTS & butaji featuring Aina. It’s a wonderful song that captures the essence of the relationship between Ryu and Johan. You will definitely stick with the end credits each time just to listen to this song.

VERDICT

Soul Mate is a heart-stirring journey that spans 10 years across Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. It’s a beautiful and timeless story about friendship and love between two young men. All in all, it offers a portrait of life—dramatic, yet never falling into melodrama. It successfully steers away from stereotypes, focusing instead on telling a sincere story about human relationships. Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon are both incredibly touching in their respective roles.

Soul Mate premieres May 14th on Netflix.