Mana Ashida faces mixed reviews in Japanese remake of Attorney Woo

The Japanese remake 'Extraordinary Attorney Minami' debuted on the 19th through a Fuji TV affiliate network, drawing divided reactions as viewers compared Mana Ashida's performance to Park Eun-bin. While some praised Ashida's detailed physical acting, others noted differences in dialogue speed and atmosphere compared to the 2022 original.

While a new version of 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo', which gained syndrome-level popularity through Park Eun-bin's performance, has been born in Japan, local reactions toward the protagonist Minami (played by Mana Ashida) are divided. Immediately following the first broadcast, praise poured in with comments such as "it was goosebump-inducing and wonderful," whereas viewers who had seen the original expressed disappointment, comparing the performance to Park Eun-bin. The high quality of the original and the intense presence of its lead actress appear to act as both an expectation and a burden for the Japanese version.

The drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Minami' made its debut on the 19th through a Fuji TV affiliate network. A remake of the 2022 ENA drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo', it tells the story of a new lawyer with autism spectrum disorder who grows by solving cases using an excellent memory and unique perspectives. The work is being released not only on local Japanese broadcasting but also on Netflix, drawing interest from viewers in Korea as well.

Mana Ashida plays the protagonist Minami in the Japanese version. Having built high recognition in Japan since childhood through her recognized acting skills, she transforms in this work into a new lawyer who experiences difficulties in social life but demonstrates unique insights in court. As Park Eun-bin, who played Woo Young-woo in the Korean version, earned great love by building the character through delicate gestures, expressions, and a unique way of speaking, how Mana Ashida would reinterpret the original's individuality through her own acting was a major point of interest even before the broadcast.

Following the first broadcast, reactions praising Mana Ashida's acting skills continued in Japan. The Japanese media outlet MANTANWEB drew attention on the 22nd by introducing the favorable responses from viewers. On Japanese social media, reactions such as "I got goosebumps from Mana Ashida's acting within 5 minutes of starting," "The gestures and eye acting are amazing," and "I was surprised because the acting was wonderful" were posted. It is evaluated that she put great effort into detailed physical acting and eye contact to express the character's traits.

There were also viewers who accepted the similarities to the original positively. Representative reactions include, "It was much more like Woo Young-woo than I thought," and "There is immense respect for the original." They highly valued the fact that the core of the familiar character was maintained while adding the expression unique to the Japanese actress. Since how faithfully the characteristics of the original are brought to life is an important evaluation standard for remakes, the early praise can be interpreted as a positive signal for the production team and the actress.

The Japanese media outlet cinemacafe.net also reported the reactions of original fans after the first broadcast. A notable aspect was the way detailed settings were changed to fit the living environment and culture of Japan. The revolving door scene, where Woo Young-woo experienced difficulty in the Korean version, was changed to an escalator scene in the Japanese version, and the kimbap that Woo Young-woo enjoyed eating was replaced with rice balls. This reflects an attempt to localize the background and props while maintaining the character's traits and the main storyline.

Regarding this, one viewer mentioned the change from the revolving door to the escalator and kimbap to rice balls, evaluating that the settings were adjusted to suit Japanese characteristics while following the core of the original, conveying a sense of respect for the work. They gave meaning to the fact that rather than simply copying the Korean version, the story was moved to an environment familiar to Japanese viewers. However, the task remains that for the localization of settings to lead to a successful remake, the character's emotions and the rhythm of the story must be convincingly implemented beyond mere outward changes.

Not all reactions are favorable. Some viewers expressed disappointment by directly comparing the acting of Park Eun-bin and Mana Ashida. On the Japanese drama review platform Filmarks, an evaluation was posted to the effect of, "The eyes, gestures, and actions are not inferior to Park Eun-bin, but I felt a decisive difference in acting ability." In particular, it was pointed out that Mana Ashida's voice, way of speaking, and dialogue speed felt awkward, and that the innocent atmosphere expressed by Park Eun-bin was not sufficiently brought to life.

One netizen who watched the Korean version first did not evaluate Mana Ashida's acting itself negatively, but pointed out that the Japanese version has excessive explanations and lacks parts where emotions are conveyed through visuals or nuances. This is also a problem that is difficult to explain solely through the individual actor's acting ability. Even when based on the same script and settings, the feeling conveyed by the character can change depending on the rhythm of the direction, the density of the dialogue, and the way expressions and silence are utilized.

Ultimately, the biggest barrier for the Japanese version 'Extraordinary Attorney Minami' to overcome is the already successful original and the image of Woo Young-woo built by Park Eun-bin. While it may be accepted as a new drama by viewers who have not seen the original, the difference between the two works will inevitably appear more distinct to existing fans. In a situation where early praise and criticism coexist, the point of interest is how convincingly Mana Ashida will complete her own Minami as the episodes progress.

'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' gained great popularity both domestically and internationally when it aired in 2022, and Park Eun-bin received the Grand Prize in the TV category at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2023 for her acting in the work. The high expectations left by the original can act as both a burden and a driving force for success for the Japanese version. Attention is focused on whether Mana Ashida can capture the hearts of viewers with her own independent character interpretation, moving beyond the comparison with Park Eun-bin.

Read the original (Korean)