Aahana Swrup
Created by Shunki Hashizume, ‘Soul Mate’ (Originally titled ‘Sôrumeito’) is a Japanese series that examines the role of profound connection and love in the lives of two men. The story spans a period of ten years, starting in Berlin, where ice hockey player Ryu first meets Johan, a Korean boxer. After a fateful meeting in which the latter saves the former’s life by pulling him out of a burning Church, the duo decide to exchange numbers and remain in each other’s orbit. Long-distance phone calls and short visits soon turn into a decision to move in together in Tokyo, where Ryu and Johan become each other’s life companions. It’s there that another one of their friends, Sumiko, becomes a part of their lives after a tragedy forces her to become a widow and a single mother to the young Kanau. The story delves into these richly diverse and uniquely nuanced lives of the central characters, delving into the universally resonant question of what it means to share a life with another.
Soul Mate is a Fictional Story About Fated Companions in Life
‘Soul Mate’ charts the narratives of two fictionalized characters and their similarly fictional relationship. As a result, the show at large shares no direct inspirations from real-life events or people. Instead, it strives to capture a heartwarming story about the sort of human connection that retains universal appeal and resonance. The idea for the series came when creator Hashizume Shunki, who also serves as the writer and the director on the project, had a conversation with Ota Dai, the executive producer. The conversation, which unraveled over shared coffee, centered around the idea of destiny bringing people together at opportune moments in their lives and defining the rest of their future.
In an interview with Variety, Dai spoke about the same and said, “We (Dai and Shunki) arrived at the ultimate destiny story, where people from different cultures and backgrounds meet in a foreign land, and their lives intersect. The story, filled with life’s joys and pains, combined with the exceptional performances from (Hayato) Isomura and Taec-yeon, will warm the hearts of viewers.” This idea of fateful encounters and universe-ordained connections remains reflected in the project’s title, ‘Soul Mate.’ However, instead of taking the word at face value and exploring the more cheesy aspects of fated love, the story dives deep into the realities of finding a kindred companion in life and choosing to spend one’s days beside them.
Soul Mate Explores a Deeply Profound Love Between Two Men
The most instrumental aspect of ‘Soul Mate’ that instills a sense of authentic realism into the series stems from the central relationship between Ryu and Johan. The two men meet entirely by accident, in a foreign country that neither belongs to. While their connection is a fateful accident, their ensuing friendship remains a choice that the duo continues to make for multiple years. Through college, military service, first forays into the professional, and across two different nations, Ryu and Johan continue to nurse their relationship, making it stronger and more resilient. Afterward, they decide to build a home together in the same city and apartment as partners in life. This mundane and domestic storyline becomes something magical in the nuances of the connection between the two protagonists.
Although their relationship is explicitly romantic, the series shows restraint in depicting any outwardly romantic gestures or physicality in their dynamic. Instead, their love exists in small acts of service and continuous dedication and devotion. In a conversation with Teen Vogue, lead actor Isomura spoke about the decision to present this non-explicit version of romance between Ryu and Johan. He said, “It’s (the series is ) basically “soulmate” in a nutshell. There are a lot of LGBTQ+ shows in the world, a lot of depictions being more affectionate, like having a kiss scene or a love scene, but we don’t have that. It’s more about their emotional connection. I feel that it’s a very new way of capturing a relationship between two people.” In choosing to confine the narrative’s focus on the emotional connection between its protagonists, the series presents a relationship that different people from different walks of life will find relatable and realistic.
