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Water Boys

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Waterboys

Details

Production Credits

Cast

Synchro Boy Group

Synopsis

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Yamada Takayuki

Who has ever heard of men's synchronized swimming?! Two years after the release of "Water Boys"-the mega-hit movie about high-school boys obsessed with synchronized swimming-an even hotter summer hit is about to arrive to your television screen.

Fans of the movie "Water Boys" loved the amazing acrobatics performed by the actors. So they are sure to love the new Fuji Television drama which features even more sensational routines, stunts, and dancing than in the movie.

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Waterboys

The 32 swimmers in this drama were carefully chosen by audition to fill each role-of course, none of them had ever done synchronized swimming before. Each swimmer that was selected, participated in intense training sessions, and through this they have become very proficient at the sport. Their performances are powerful, and at the same time, very original.

The Story

During the summer two years ago, five high-school boys brought fame to a small town in Japan. What was so unique, was that they formed a "men's synchronized swimming club." Their involvement and struggles while learning synchronized swimming-known to be a sport for girls-brought much attention to their school and town.

Two years have passed since that summer, and the boys of Tadano High School are still in the club. The Fuji Television drama "Water Boys" shows how these young boys fight to learn synchronized swimming, fall in love, and enjoy friendship with one another.

The First Episode

The school festival of Tadano High School is best known for its synchronized swimming performances, which attracts many tourists as well as the media.

Kankuro Shindo belongs to this now famous swimming club. He is a good-for-nothing that has no confidence in himself, and usually refrains from speaking up.

At a school festival during his freshman year, Kankuro was fascinated by the exciting performance of the men's synchronized swimming club, and decided to join. No matter how much he was made fun of being a terrible swimmer, he never gave up.

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But on the day of the school festival during his second year, he became so nervous that he got diarrhea, and was unable to participate in the event schedule for the club. Kankuro, now a senior and the leader of the synchronized swimming team, is determined to take part in this year's event no matter what.

Unfortunately, the Board of Education has requested the team to "voluntarily tone down" their activities. To Mr. Yamaoka, the Vice Principal of the school, nothing is more important than maintaining a high standard of education. According to him, not one member of the synchronized swimming club has ever passed a university entrance exam directly out of high school. So, he insists that they study harder in order to earn recommendations for college.

Most members of the swimming club comply with this request, and begin spending more time on their studies and less in the school practicing synchronized swimming-including Kankuro, who is left with no other choice.

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Amidst this commotion, Norio Tatematsu transfers to Tadano High School. He was strongly moved by the news footage of the men's synchronized swimming team, and decided to join. So, naturally he does everything he can, to have the team participate in the school festival.

Norio's aggressiveness helps motivate Kankuro, and together, they start collecting signatures to oppose the Board of Education's decision to "voluntarily tone down" club activities. Masatoshi Tanaka, the student council president, absolutely hates synchronized swimming, and says it's a sissy sport.

In the faculty room, Miss Sakuma who supports the men's synchronized swimming team, and Miss Onogawa who opposes the sport are having a quarrel. Mr. Sugita who usually acts cool in front of his students, is caught right in the middle of their argument. Mr. Ozaki, the Principal of the school, tries to avoid trouble at any cost, and sits by and watches them as they continue their debate.

There's one other person that's watching--Go Takahara. Go has had to repeat the same grade because of his violent behavior.

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One day, Kankuro comes across Kyoko, the most popular girl in Sakuragi Girl's High School. He accidentally sells her a ticket to the synchronized swimming event that is scheduled during the school festival. But under the present circumstances, there is no way the event is going to take place.

This wasn't the first time Kankuro and Kyoko met. Two years ago, Kankuro was just about to ask Kyoko on a date, when the ticket he had in his hand flew high up in the air, and got trampled on by a huge crowd of people. Feeling miserable, Kankuro followed the crowd and saw the men's synchronized swimming team performing in front of a swarm of people. There, he also saw Kyoko's beautiful smile.

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After three long years of having a crush on Kyoko, Kankuro finally gets the chance to talk to Kyoko-thanks to the help of Kankuro's childhood friend, Asako. Kankuro is so excited that he is unable to tell Kyoko that they have been "voluntarily toning down" synchronized swimming club activities.

Katsumasa Sato is a former member of the swimming team, who now teaches synchronized swimming to the women in the district. He takes Kankuro and Norio to a dolphin trainer named Mr. Isomura, and his brother Kiyomasa-both of whom appear to be shady and good-for-nothings. When Kankuro and Norio are about to go home, they meet a woman who runs a nearby "old-lady bar." She (he, actually) talks the two boys into going directly to the Board of Education together, and protesting. This woman brings along with her, several owners and workers from stores in the local shopping district.

Reviews

I watched the movie version wich was awesome and very funny, so I figured that with these Johnny's Jr. kids, the drama would be just as good. It's still pretty funny and to tell you the truth, I like it a lot better than the movie. More story development. - Mari

The plot is kinda repetitive from the movie. In fact, nothing can be compared to the movie version. It's the mother of all waterboys installment, for cryin' out loud! Well, i'm still entertained by Waterboys TV. Simply because its funny. I just wish that the creative team create NEW sinchro coreography. - Ultranguik

Related News

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Waterboys

[excerpt Japan Times, Channel Surf, August 11, 2003]: One of the biggest Japanese box-office hits of 2001 was "Waterboys," a movie about a bunch of high school boys who want to start a synchronized swimming team. Right now, Fuji TV is in the midst of a TV serial version of the movie. (Tuesday, 9 p.m.)

The series centers on five boys living in a small town who are determined to start a synchronized swimming team, despite the fact that most people consider it exclusively a woman's sport. They are ridiculed by their fellow students and when they apply to their high school to start a synchronized swimming club, the school turns them down. The only they can do is start a synchronized swimming appreciation club.

They continue trying to pursue their dream, but in secret. For a time, they all get jobs at a nearby hot spring resort and after hours use the spring for practice. They try to use the pool of a municipal health club but are kicked out when their intentions are discovered.

WATERBOYS II [excerpt from Televiews, Daily Yomiuri, Wm. Penn, July 22, 2004]: No wonder in the first week of the new season, the top-rated series (20 percent according to Video Research) was Water Boys 2 (Tuesdays, 9 p.m. on the Fuji network). This high school squad does not make much of a dramatic splash but at least one can stay cool vicariously splashing around in the pool with them.

Trivia

It was a top high rated drama during summer 2003 in Japan. It had an astounding victory over Stand Up by TBS. Both serials focus on the high school happenings and have boy idols to act in it. It reflects truly how high school students feel studies aren't that important as hobbies and they should work hard to realize their dream. The first episode has high ratings due to the impact by the movie. It had lower ratings later and rose again due to the word of mouth in the youth audience.

Source: Spcnet

Episode Ratings

  • Ep 01: 17.9%
  • Ep 02: 13.6%
  • Ep 03: 16.4%
  • Ep 04: 16.5%
  • Ep 05: 17.1%
  • Ep 06: 14.5%
  • Ep 07: 14.4%
  • Ep 08: 14.6%
  • Ep 09: 16.7%
  • Ep 10: 15.5%
  • Ep 11: 19.2%

External Links

Pictures

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Previous season:
Kao

Time slot
Kakku

Next season:
Anata no tonari ni dare ga iru

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