Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu

I’m a sucker for contract relationship dramas. There’s just something about watching two characters finding themselves unexpectedly falling for each other despite their best plans not to. And We Married as a Job (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu) is no exception. Watching these two slowly fall for each other and open up to each other and come to rely on one another was sweet and charming and incredibly wholesome. These are two likable characters who develop a very likable relationship with one another. What makes this drama stand out from the pack, however, is how realistic and believable it all is. I can 100% see this happening in real life, something that can’t typically be said for these sorts of stories. That’s not to say that I have a problem with contract relationship dramas that are not realistic. If a story is well-written and the relationship is likable, then I don’t mind having to suspend my disbelief. But there is something nice about watching a contract relationship drama play out in a way that would be very plausible in the real world, and I think this drama illustrates this well.

First and foremost, Mikuri and Hiramasa are very well suited for each other. Despite their difficulties around expressing their feelings for one another, they are surprisingly adept at communication otherwise, and that’s ultimately why their relationship works so well. Whenever they hit a roadblock or setback, they sit down and work out a plan to overcome it, and most importantly, neither of them give up. They each have their moments where they think about quitting, but every time, they ultimately choose to stick with it and make it work.

Other things to note about this drama:

I initially was confused by Mikuri’s daydreams as I did not realize that that was what they were, but once I figured it out, I found them quite enjoyable. They give you a really great insight into who she is as a character, not to mention they’re really fun. (She frequently imagines herself taking part in different Japanese television programs that exist in real life, from documentaries to news shows, etc. They make for fun references even if you’ve never seen the real programs themselves.)

I related to Mikuri and Hiramasa’s struggles with finding meaningful, romantic connection with others. In the case of Mikuri, her personality has apparently turned off all of the guys she’s dated previously despite her best efforts not to do so, while Hiramasa has always been too fearful of putting himself out there to make an attempt at finding love. Turned out, their personalities were perfectly suited for one another, and once they found each other, they were able to put those fears and insecurities to rest.

I quite enjoyed the eventual loveline, and message behind it, between Mikuri’s older sister and Ryota. They made a really charming secondary couple.

Final thoughts:

Overall, I really love this drama, and it’s now in my favorites. With such likable and relatable characters, such a wholesome and heartwarming story, and conflict that’s believable, it’s hard to find something not to like. We Married as a Job was a breezy, enjoyable watch, and I highly recommend it.