If you don’t know or remember, Mars was a hit Taiwanese drama back in 2004 starring Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu. It’s based on a Japanese Manga, Mars, written by Fuyumi Soryo. It’s one of the few darker Twdramas at the time. The funny thing is… I don’t remember much about the middle-ending of this series. I watched when I was still a teen and never rewatch it since then… The one thing I did remember is the beautiful soundtrack, the songs still in my mp3 player! The new adaptation comes from Japan and they have cast Taisuke Fujigaya as Rei (Vic’s role), Marie Iitoyo as Kira (Barbie’s) and Masataka Kubota as Tatsuya (Xiu Jie Kai’s). The new drama is called Mars ~Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru (Mars ~But, I Love You~) and premieres on January 24th.
From Wiki: Kira Aso and Rei Kashino meet when Rei asks Kira for directions to a local hospital one day in the park, but instead of telling him the directions she draws him a map and hands it to him without saying a word. On the back of the directions is a picture Kira drew of a mother and child. On the first day of school they are both surprised to find that they are in the same class. Later, Rei walks in on their teacher sexually harassing Kira. Rei promises to protect Kira in exchange for a painted version of the sketch that was on the back of the map. He also offers to “lend Kira his body,” and she asks him to model for her. Thus beginning a relationship that is opposed by the world in general. They draw on their love for each other to heal the wounds the world has left on them; Rei, the scars from his twin’s suicide over something Rei told him, and Kira, her hatred of men due to her stepfather taking advantage of her.
Pictures from the Twdrama:
I only like Barbie in a handful of roles, and this is one of them. I think I need to rewatch this version. Vic pretty much started my preference for guys with long hair. His hair during Mars was a source of mesmerizing day dream. *hehehe*
Xiu Jie Kai! Poor thing follows her around like a puppy.
SO CUTE back in the days…. both are happily married now so I can’t complain…
Let’s meet the Japanese Cast:
Taisuke Fujigaya from the boyband Kis-My-Ft2. An outgoing playboy with a dark and mysterious past. He smiles and jokes around to hide his hidden secrets. He’s drawn to the heroine almost instantly and together they fight the demons of their past. Yes. Yes. Can’t compare so don’t!
Marie Iitoyo. An introverted artist who lives with her mother and stepfather. She was raped by her stepfather when she was a teenager, which causes her to be withdrawn and timid. She looks too cute and pure for this role. X)
Masataka Kubota as Makio Kirishima. The hero’s best friend who harbors a crush on the heroine since high school. Wiki has it all wrong. Lol. EDIT: 2/9/16.
Opening Themesong of Mars:
Ending Themesong of Mars:
Still give me the chills. The soundtrack is perfection.
Via: 01
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
Omg, that “Hana Yori Dango” haircut! Yes, it was definitely a very dark drama for its time, especially in the whole candyland that is TWdramaland. The japanese cast looks so young and cute for such a sad story… 😛
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I loved his long hair… gave me life.
Right! They look so bubbly and cute. XD
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
i was just re-watching this the other day since i haven’t seen it for so many year and now the japanese version is coming out…finally. i was thinking that ‘why hasn’t there been a japanese version for mars yet?’.
but i dont really know if the cast for the jversion is a good cast. i know them and all but i would’ve prefer other older actors.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I only recognize the last actor from the Japanese version so I can’t say much until the actual product.
There might be other versions from other countries now that Japan revives the Manga. Lol.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
This makes me want to rewatch mars again hihi
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I agree!!! The soundtrack is bomb!!! I still even karaoke to the duet song! Lol.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
i want to ship the girl with masataka… i watched many of his doramas, the latest one i watched was Death Note. he’s not that handsome but he has something that makes me looking at him only instead of the lead 😛
ah i miss the TW version… 😀
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
Masataka Kubota stole my heart and soul in SUMMER NUDE and again N NO TAMENI. There is something about him, screen presence I guess, that grabbed my attention and kept me there. While I think he is better suited for Vic’s role as oppose to Taisuke Fujigaya, I believe he will shine as Xiu Jie Kai’s role too. After all, he did worsen my Second Lead Syndrome.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
If there is a contest of misleading manga cover pics, the first pic you’ve posted above would be in my top 3… they look so happy..
I can’t remember a lot of scenes between the OTP but I still remember the fear barbie’s character had whenever she takes a bath, and the scene where her mother did not believe her.. I am still enraged up to this day.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
LOL. I FINALLY WIN SOMETHING??!! My HS curse is over? =D
I don’t remember those scenes you described. Dang. Rewatch is a must now.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
Did my memory fail me again?.. My apologies of it did… 🙂
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
Oh no, I have only watched Mars once so I can’t recall anything, except for the soundtrack. It just means that a rewatch is overdue. 🙂
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
Ah yes, back then there weren’t any digital copies. I bought all the original CDs at Ng Hing Kee Book Store.
My sis loves ZaiZai till this day. I just adored his mane of glory. Meeting him in person was a let down for me; he looked like a paper thin screen door in person. LOL~
I too want to rewatch the original series after reading this big news. I’m getting all excited.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
The copy that I have is so uglyyyyyy. Lol. The quality makes me depressed.
Yay! Let’s rewatch together!
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I still watch this drama after so many years. Have repeated watching this drama about 8 times. It is like reading a literature book. Very thought provoking and there is no end to the drama. This drama has helped me look at people and situation in different angles and not two dimensional. I love this drama very much.
Hope the Japanese version will be as good. Zai Zai was not a very good actor then but he and Barbie was prefect for this drama. Their chemistry was electrifying.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
We do love our thought-provoking dramas! Barbie’s character is a rarity, also.
Electrifying is the right word. I shipped them more in here than in Meteor Garden. hehe. That drama is all Jerry. XD
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I gree with your comment 100% I here it is to hoping is just as good! ???
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
one of the Twdrama for me. best OTP because they heal each other wounds. I watched it so many times but never get bored of it. I hope the japanese version will not be a let down.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
Oh wow! Nostalgia! One of the very first asian dramas I watched. It’s been around 9 years or so?! can’t even recall when, its been so long! The manga gave me so many feels, I had to watch the drama. The soundtrack still gives me goosebumps this very day!
In the Jdrama, Masataka Kubota is better looking than the lead. That’s my bias at least, lol
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
watched the original but thought it was kinda boring.Vic played his usually solemn roles while barbie suffered ptsd from being assaulted when she was young. However I do look forward to the japanese version
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
You might want to kill me but by looking at the pics ..(I don’t know any of the J-Actors) it looks like it should be reverse. The 2nd looks more like Rei and the lead as the hero’s bbf! Lol
MARS WAS MY VERY FRIST DRAMA AND IT’S DEAR TO MY HEART!!
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
i too love this drama and manga, because my past is similar to Kira Asos past. it has helped me to heal the wounds and become a survivor. and i m going to watch the Japanese version to and to me the story is ore important then who is playing who. i have watched Kamen Teacher and Fujigaya Taisuke is very natural when riding the bike so i believing him.
my past is some like Kiras , but i was raped when i was 10 years old and the man who raped me was my brothes godfather. so i can relate what Kira had gone trhough.
so this drama and manga have a very special place in my heart.
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I’m sorry to hear about your story Sanna. No one deserves that and I hope you’re living life strong and proud of the person you have become. *hugs*
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
“… and Masataka Kubota as Tatsuya (Xiu Jie Kai’s).” just a possible correction. (warning. possible spoilers.) i do not think that kubota plays the Da Ye character. instead i think that he plays the Tong Dao character. referring to the dramawiki entry, he plays the role of kirishima makio (while according to wikipedia, kida tatsuya is rei’s best friend, who likes kira).
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I think wiki got me fooled. Lol. I still need to watch Mars to clarify. Thanks! 🙂
26 thoughts on “Japanese Manga Mars gets a new drama adaptation in 2016”
I re-watch taiwanese “Mars” each year. It’s one of my all time favorites.
Watched the first episode of the jdrama – waiting for the english subs 🙁 been like 3 weeks now.