Beautiful Life (2000 TV series)

Beautiful Life (ビューティフルライフ)
Genre	drama, romance
Written by	Eriko Kitagawa
Directed by	Kōzō Nagayama Masayuki Suzuki Hirotsugu Usui
Starring	Takuya Kimura Takako Tokiwa
Opening theme	Kon'ya Tsuki no Mieru Oka ni by B'z
Country of origin	Japan
Original language(s)	Japanese
No. of episodes	11
Release
Original network	TBS Television
Original release	January 16 – March 26, 2000

Beautiful Life (ビューティフルライフ, Byūtifuru Raifu^?) is a drama of "Toshiba Nichiyo Gekijo (東芝日曜劇場 Tōshiba Nichiyō Gekijō)" on TBS Television. It was first shown in Japan from 16 January to 26 March 2000.

Beautiful Life was a massive success, achieving a TV rating of 41.3% -- a record it held until it was eclipsed by Hanzawa Naoki in 2013 (42.2%)

One day, Shuji on his motorbike and Kyoko in her car meet at the crossroads -- they get into a small argument over her driving. They don't have any interest in each other at that moment but at the library where Kyoko works. Shuji sees Kyoko using a wheelchair. That was how they first met. They begin to talk and Kyoko feels regarded because Shuji never looked at her as a disabled person. Gradually, her feelings change and she waits for Shuji to come to the library.

Shuji works as a hairstylist at a popular hair salon called HOT LIP. A fashion magazine asks the salon to choose its best haircut for an article, and the owner says that both Shuji and Satoru should find a cut model themselves and that he will choose the best haircut. After some thought, Shuji asks Kyoko to be his cut model. She first says no, worried about her appearance and her disability, but Shuji tells her that he will be her ‘barrier free’ so she does not need to be anxious about it.

Shuji's haircut is chosen for the magazine, but Kyoko feels ashamed when she sees it. Everyone thinks the magazine chose Shuji's design because Kyoko was in a wheelchair in the photo, just because of the 'impact' it makes. But soon, Sachie tells Kyoko she shouldn't care about her appearance.

Satoru feels jealous of Shuji because Shuji is becoming more popular. Satoru steals Shuji's haircut design and says it is his. But Shuji becomes a Top Stylist so he forgets about the stealing.

Gradually, Shuji and Kyoko get close. But still, Kyoko doesn't trust Shuji from her heart. Shuji is now the best hairstylist at HOT LIP and he is very busy. They don't have time to see each other.

Sachie and Masao are getting close too. At first they are both scared to speak because they like each other, but slowly, they get to know each other.

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