Yes, he’s emotionally stunted. But in Season 2, his cruelty crosses a line at times—especially when he coldly tells Kotoko to leave after she sacrifices everything for him. The writers lean so hard into “tsundere” that he becomes unsympathetic for long stretches. You’ll want to shake him.
Here’s a solid, balanced review of Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo Season 2 (2014), the sequel to the popular live-action J-drama adaptation of Kaoru Tada’s manga Itazura na Kiss . Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5) itazura na kiss love in tokyo season 2
The Irie family (especially the warm, scheming mother Machiko) continues to steal scenes. New characters like the mature, handsome doctor Kinnosuke (Nakamura Tomoya) add genuine romantic tension—for the first time, Kotoko has a viable, emotionally available alternative to Naoki. Yes, he’s emotionally stunted
The leads remain the heart of the show. Miki’s Kotoko is less shrill and more mature here, while Furukawa’s Naoki shows rare, tiny cracks of vulnerability—jealousy, fear of losing her, even clumsy affection. Their silent moments (e.g., the hospital scene, the final bridge hug) carry more weight than any kiss. You’ll want to shake him
The middle episodes (hospital internship, Chris’s cohabitation) drag. The final resolution feels slightly rushed, with Kotoko’s career and Naoki’s feelings both tied up quickly.
If Season 1 was a whirlwind rom-com about an underdog girl winning her icy genius crush, Season 2 is a much messier, more grounded, and often infuriating look at what happens after the fairy tale ending. It tests the very foundation of Kotoko and Naoki’s relationship—and sometimes tests the viewer’s patience. 1. Honest Portrayal of Married Life Unlike most romance dramas that end at the wedding, Season 2 dives into the mundane and stressful realities of early marriage: living with in-laws, financial pressure, long-distance strain, and mismatched libidos/emotional needs. Kotoko’s struggle to feel worthy of Naoki, and Naoki’s inability to express love conventionally, feels painfully authentic.
The final few episodes deliver a satisfying, tear-jerking resolution. Naoki’s quiet character growth (learning to say “I need you” in his own way) feels earned after 16 episodes of coldness. What Falls Short 1. The “Other Woman” Fatigue Season 2 introduces Chris , a beautiful, wealthy singer who openly pursues Naoki—and worse, lives in the Irie house for multiple episodes. While Chris has some depth (loneliness, genuine friendship with Kotoko), the dragged-out “misunderstanding jealousy” arc feels recycled from Season 1. Naoki’s passive tolerance of Chris’s advances is infuriating to watch.