Introduction
I waited for a while to watch this drama after it finished airing, because I didn’t want to be biased by the Korean version. I watched the Korean Marry My Husband ( 내 남편과 결혼해줘 ) while it was airing last year. Now, although I already knew the outcome of the story, I had already forgotten the details of the plot. Therefore, I could watch it with a fresh perspective, with only a vague memory of what actually happens.
This dorama was a live adaptation from the Webtoon, not the Korean drama. The fact that the non-Korean viewers of the Korean version were ten times more than the non-Japanese viewers of the Japanese version tells me that this Japanese adaptation was still less popular globally than the Korean adaptation, despite a lot of efforts taken by the production company to create a Japanese version that also caters to international audiences.
Therefore, if you haven’t watched it yet because you’ve already seen the Korean version and think the Japanese version will be the same as its predecessor, let’s see if my review can convince you.
Drama Info
Drama title: Watashi no Otto to Kekkon Shite (Native title: 私の夫と結婚して )
Alternative title: Marry My Husband: Japan
Genres: Romance, Drama, Fantasy
Aired: Jun 27, 2025 - Jul 25, 2025
Episodes: 10 | Duration: 60 min.
Director: Ahn Gil Ho ( 안길호 )
Screenwriter: Oshima Satomi ( 大島里美 )
Adapted from the web novel "Marry My Husband" (내 남편과 결혼해줘) by Seong So Jak (성소작).
Where to read: Webtoons (English official version)
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Trailer:
Original Soundtracks
“Burn it Out” by elley
“New Days” by Jihyo ( 박지효 ) from TWICE
“The Mask” by Ahn Siwoo ( 안시우 )
“Blazing Steps” by Wendy ( 웬디 )
“So You Can Shine” by Kangnam ( 강남 )
“So You Can Shine” by Takumi ( 尾崎匠海 ) and Kyosuke ( 藤牧京介 ) from INI
Synopsis
Misa has been a supporting character all her life, blindly trusting her best friend and husband. When she discovers their affair, the betrayal results in her death. Waking up ten years in the past, Misa vows to become the main character of her own story. She plans to ruin her betrayers by making them marry each other, but after meeting her director at work, she starts to consider who she truly is (source: Amazon Prime).
Characters
Character Chart
Main Characters
Koshiba Fuka ( 小芝風花 ) as Kanbe Misa
Betrayed by her best friend and husband, she loses her life. When she comes to, she’s time-leaped 10 years into the past. Determined to seek revenge, she decides to live as the “protagonist” instead of the “supporting character” she was before.
Satoh Takeru ( 佐藤健 ) as Suzuki Wataru
The grandson of the chairman of the company where Misa works. He’s cool and awkward in love, but he has a pure and unwavering one-sided love for Misa, his first love from university.
Yokoyama Yu ( 横山裕 ) as Hirano Tomoya
Misa’s husband in her first life. He was spoiled growing up by his mother and his three older sisters. He controls Misa by getting “sulky” when things don’t go his way.
Shiraishi Sei ( 白石聖 ) as Esaka Reina
Misa’s childhood friend and only close friend. She doesn’t hesitate to lie if it’s for her own benefit. She has a strong attachment to Misa.
Supporting Characters
Sumiyoshi Yuriko (Tabata Tomoko) – Misa’s senior colleague
Suzuki Miku (Kurosaki Reina) – Misa’s junior colleague
Tanabe Yuto (Shimekake Ryuya) – Misa’s high school classmate
Section Chief Tomita (Shimizu Shin) – Misa’s boss
Kanbe Shigeo (Tsuda Kanji) – Misa’s father
Review
Story: Character-driven
Instead of being plot-driven, a revenge execution towards the villains, Watashi no Otto to Kekkon Shite is more of a character-driven drama. For example:
- Risa transformed from a passive and pushover victim to a confident and proactive protagonist. The drama highlights her character growth and self-awareness as she navigates her second life. There are also moral dilemmas when Risa plans to marry Reina and Tomoya, knowing well that Reina will be the substitute for Risa’s misfortune.
- Although it’s a short and fast-paced drama, viewers can see a gradual development of romance between Risa and Wataru. They don’t fall for each other right away. In the beginning, Wataru, as her director, is more like her spiritual mentor, and their interactions shape her journey of self-discovery.
- Reina and Tomoya have realistic backstories and motivations, making them more than just one-dimensional villains.
Plot: Fast-paced
- With only 10 episodes, 60 minutes each, good for binge-watching, it’s fast-paced and focuses mostly on Misa’s life journey. There are also some office events and incidents.
- Because the focus is on Misa, along with her interactions with Wataru, Reina, and Tomoya, the side stories of the supporting characters (Miku, Yuto, and Yuriko) barely have their screen time. This is preferable if you’re the type of viewer who focuses more on the protagonists and skips or fast forwards side stories.
The Romance: Wholesome
When I watch romance dramas, I prefer the Male Lead and the Female Lead to meet in the first episode. In this drama, Risa crashed into Wataru in the elevator halfway through Episode 1, when she was in a hurry to attend a work meeting. Not to contrast with the Korean version, but FYI, the Male Lead showed up for the first time in Episode 5 of 16.
After their first meeting, their romance is slow-burning and subtle. It emphasizes a deep connection and genuine care between Misa and Wataru, with a focus on their individual growth and mutual respect, with quiet moments (for example, their meetings in the tea house), shared understanding, and a gradual development of their relationship.
Characterization: Acting out Multidimensional Characters
The leading actress, Koshiba Fuka, showed a strong performance as the heroine. Her portrayal of Kanbe Misa as human, soft, and sensible with subdued emotional expression aligns with the Japanese cultural influences. Koshiba was able to convey depth and emotion, making the story feel authentic and engaging. For example, in Episode 1, when she got a medical leave to go home, she rode a ‘supernatural’ taxi home. The taxi took her on a trip along four seasons, and her facial expression, admiring the miraculous scenery, is quite emotional.
Koshiba Fuka also had a great chemistry with her co-star, Satoh Takeru, who played the Male Lead, Suzuki Wataru.
The other leading actors’ portrayals make the respective characters feel relatable. Wataru is depicted as calm, composed, and attractive, and genuinely cares for Misa’s well-being, not just as a romantic interest, but as a person he wants to see happy. Reina is obsessed with Misa, driven by possessiveness and past traumas. Tomoya is a mama boy with fragile ego and deeply flawed.
The supporting actors’ performances are also outstanding, contributing to the overall quality of the drama.
The Visuals: Japanese Style
There are a lot of beautiful scenes filmed with Japanese touch, showing its elegant and artistic culture: for example, a traditional Japanese cafe, desserts, scenery, and the theatrical vibe.
I also found the information about the filming location in Toyama, where Wataru took a trip to Misa’s hometown and drove along an impressive red bridge with spectacular winter scenery as a backdrop. The location is Shogawa Gorge in Toyama Prefecture.
There is also the Japanese theatrical vibe. When Wataru watched the confrontation between Risa and Reina, and knew how they acted out their pretenses, for him it was like watching a theatrical play.
Music: So many OSTs for a Japanese drama!
I was surprised when I compiled the OST info for this article; they used 6 songs, unheard of in typical Japanese dramas that usually only provide 1 or 2 OST songs. The main theme, “So You Can Shine,” is even sung in Korean and Japanese versions. I like that song because the lyrics capture the feeling of (Wataru’s) unrequited love and offer support.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Watashi no Otto to Kekkon Shite is a laid-back approach to the Webtoon’s story, focusing on character relationships and romance while still incorporating the revenge plot. It may not attract viewers who are more into darker and more dramatic revenge plots, because the revenge has been toned down in this drama. Watashi no Otto to Kekkon Shite, rather than a full-blown revenge drama, emphasizes personal growth of the heroine, alongside the main theme of second chances: learning from the past and redeeming oneself. That is, the core essence of rebirth/reincarnation-themed dramas.
I actually saw this series (binge watched) recently. I was wondering if anyone knows where the last scene was filmed. It’s such a beautiful scene, with a snow-covered peak and ocean in the background. At first I thought that last scene was filmed someplace in southern Hokkaido, but now I’m not certain. In any event, I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I haven’t seen the Korean version,
I looked up the info (in Japanese) for the filming locations, the sources only stated Tokyo and Shogawa Gorge, Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
What a beautifully written review. Thank you. It was particularly insightful. I’m thirty minutes into Episode 1 on Amazon Prime (Germany). I was so glad to find this article, as it provided me with an invaluable context in which to view the series. I live in the United Kingdom, the child of European immigrants who escaped political tyranny in the 1950s, I am anticipating end of life and find that introspective Korean and Japanese films and TV series are better suited to my temperament than many of their Western counterparts. I shed many tears when I watch programmes such as this one. I regard this as cathartic and find the recurring theme of reincanation more compelling than the Christian alternative which is the dominant one in my local community.. Looking forward to viewing the entire series and to the Korean version too.
Thank you for reading! The Korean version emphasizes the revenge event, thus it is more thrilling for the type of audience who love the thriller genre. While this Japanese version emphasizes the character growth of the Female Lead, thus more towards slice-of-life genre.