He Who Can't Marry

Kekkon dekinai otoko, known in English as He Who Can't Marry, is a 2006 Japanese drama broadcast by Fuji TV. The theme song is "Swimmy" by Every Little Thing. The drama was produced by Kansai Telecasting Corporation and Media Mix Japan.

He Who Can't Marry (2006-2019) is a Japanese television drama created by Masaya Ozaki for Fuji TV. Hiroshi Abe plays Shinsuke Kuwano, a single architect whose reluctance to commit to marriage keeps colliding with the expectations of family, friends and the women around him. Reiko Takashima as Maya Sawazaki and Yui Natsukawa as Natsumi Hayasaka appear among the principal figures in his social circle, while Takashi Tsukamoto as Eiji Murakami and Mitsuko Kusabue as Ikuyo Kuwano round out the cast. The engine of each episode is the small, awkward friction of dating, family dinners and marriage counseling, with the lead's stubbornness serving as both the comic and emotional core. Set in contemporary urban Japan, the series moves at a gentle, conversational pace, mixing light comedy with a wistful look at midlife loneliness. It runs across two seasons totaling twenty-two episodes of hour-long drama, and it is best approached as a character-driven series. Fans of Sex and the City, Thirtysomething and Gokusen will find resonance in its blend of romantic comedy and grounded domestic drama, and its warm, rueful tone suits viewers who enjoy relationship stories about adults who are not ready to settle down.

• Sex and the Citymidlife single professional romantic comedy-drama, marriage and commitment themes
• Thirtysomethingworkplace-adjacent adult romantic drama about relationships and life stages
• GokusenJapanese workplace and romantic drama with a stubborn single lead

Created by

Masaya Ozaki

Release Date

2006-07-04

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

8.0 / 10 (31)

What is He Who Can't Marry about?

A single architect in his forties faces the pressures of marriage and commitment in this Japanese drama.

What is He Who Can't Marry like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of He Who Can't Marry as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is He Who Can't Marry violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in He Who Can't Marry.

Which shows are like He Who Can't Marry?

Shows with a similar feel include Sex and the City, Thirtysomething, and Gokusen.

How long is He Who Can't Marry?

He Who Can't Marry: 2 seasons, 22 episodes.

Is He Who Can't Marry still running?

No, He Who Can't Marry has ended.

Where can I watch He Who Can't Marry?

In United States, He Who Can't Marry streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.