Tumbling

Tumbling starring Yamamoto Yusuke, Seto Koji, Miura Shohei, Daito Shunsuke, Nishijima Takahiro, Tomiura Satoshi, Yanagishita Tomo, Kaku Kento, Tamoto Soran, AKIRA, Kuninaka Ryoko, Otsuka Nene.

Azuma Wataru is a 3rd year high schooler. A delinquent, who is undefeated and is considered to be the leader of the school. He'll take on any fight with his gang, even if they're out numbered, and come out victorious. The other delinquents in his school praise him for being so powerful but deep down Wataru feels like something is missing.

Wataru is approached by his homeroom teacher Kashiwagi-sensei. Wataru is lacking credits from his 2nd year and needs to either participant in club activities or take extra lessons for a month. If he refuses to do either, the school will have to contact his mom. In order to not have Wataru's mom contacted by the school, Wataru chooses to try club activities.

Wataru tries out several sports teams but they end in disaster when his temper gets the better of him. Kashiwagi-sensei takes Wataru into the gym to check out the gymnastics clubs. Wataru sees that his crush, Mari-chan, is joining the girls rhythmic gymnastics and decides that in order to win her attention he'll join the boys rhythmic gymnastics club.

You can just guess what happens when a delinquent ends up joining a boys rhythmic gymnastics club. First all Wataru does is just trash talks the club and his two delinquent best friends also hang around (but aren't part of the club) and mess up what little practice time the club actually gets.

Tumbling wasn't anything like I thought it would be. It surprised me... in a good way. Though the drama is primarily about tumbling and gymnastics, it didn't let that subject be the only thing the drama is about. The club members had to deal with other major life issues on top of having to make their club work with such a small amount of members. No one took them seriously and in the beginning I don't think they really took themselves seriously. As the story progresses, you see how each person grows as an individual and how the club members grow as a group. How old friendships become stronger and new friendships form and become a lifetime friendship.

This was truly a beautiful drama and I'm not just referring to the amount of adorable Japaneses boys involved, though that is a bonus. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how they would work through their issues and become stronger separately and together. The theme song is amazing and fits with the drama. I was not disappointed with the flow of the story, how it progressed and the outcome of everything. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Here's a short trailer for Tumbling.