Often, they involve unrequited love. For example, in many Japanese dramas and movies, one character may love another deeply but the feeling is not reciprocated immediately. This creates a sense of longing and pain.
Often, Japanese love stories emphasize the beauty of the transient nature of love. For example, in many stories, the lovers may not be able to be together forever due to various reasons like social status or illness, but the love they share is still deeply felt and cherished.
Often, Japanese love stories emphasize the concept of fated encounters. Characters seem to be brought together by some unseen force, like in 'Kimi no Na wa'.
Often, Japanese love stories emphasize on the concept of 'fate'. Characters seem to be bound by an invisible thread that brings them together or pulls them apart. For example, in many traditional stories, two lovers might meet by chance in a beautiful natural setting like a cherry - blossom - filled park or by a serene river.
Japanese love stories often have a sense of delicacy. The emotions are usually subtly expressed rather than being overly dramatic. For example, in 'The Tale of Genji', the characters' love and longing are shown through their poetry and glances. Another characteristic is the influence of nature. The changing seasons, like cherry blossoms in spring or snow in winter, are often used to mirror the characters' feelings. In 'Love Letter', the snowy backdrop adds to the mood of melancholy and reminiscence.
Japanese love stories often have a sense of melancholy. For example, in many stories, the lovers may be separated by social status or fate. They also tend to focus on the small, delicate moments between the characters. Like in 'The Tale of Genji', the way Genji exchanges glances or shares a poem with his love interests is very important.
Japanese affair love stories usually involve a sense of melancholy or bittersweetness. Many stories deal with themes of unrequited love or love that is hindered by external factors such as family, society, or illness. In 'I Want to Eat Your Pancreas', the girl's terminal illness adds a tragic element to their budding love. Also, cultural values like respect and propriety are reflected. Characters may hold back their feelings out of respect for others or because of social norms, which makes the love stories more complex and nuanced.
Japanese love stories often emphasize the beauty of pure and innocent love. They usually depict the delicate emotions between characters, like the shyness and hesitation at the beginning of a relationship.
They usually have an element of mystery. Maybe one of the lovers has a secret past or a hidden talent. This mystery adds to the sexual tension. For example, a man seems ordinary but he has a past as a great swordsman, and as the woman discovers this, her admiration and love for him grow, and with it the sexual attraction.
Reflection on time and change is another characteristic. As people grow older, things change around them. In Japanese mature love stories, there is often a contemplation of how time has passed, how relationships have evolved, and how love endures or changes with the passage of time. For instance, in stories about old couples, their love might be different from when they were young, and the story explores these differences and the beauty in the new phase of their relationship.
Japanese classic love stories usually have a strong sense of melancholy. The love may not always end happily. There is a certain beauty in the sadness, like in 'The Crane Wife' where the separation at the end is both sad and thought - provoking. Also, nature often plays an important role. It can be a symbol of the lovers' relationship or a backdrop against which the story unfolds, mirroring the ebb and flow of their love.