sorry hanakimi taiwan fans, but the japanese version is leagues better! we just finished a marathon screening of all twelve episodes and it was well worth it. my bro thought me and my girlies (his daughters) will last only 3-4 episodes .... boy! was he ever wrong! he underestimated the power of teeny bopper thrill.
at 5am we were chanting, "episode 10 episode 10".
I know Oguri Shun is not as arrestingly handsome as Wu Chun (sorry Oguri fans) but he's such a good actor that he made his brooding performance sympathetic and totally crushable!
we're also watching the taiwan version on network tv but like my sis said, "If Hanakimi japan is freshly squeezed orange juice with pulp bits, Hanakimi taiwan is diluted artificially orange-flavored water."
although the taiwan version has strong lead performances in ella and wu -- the supporting cast falls flat. The japanese version has three very strong performances in Oguri, Maki Horikita, and Ikuta Toma surrounded by a supporting cast of wildly funny and heart-warming characters in the persons of the other dorm mates. They're so ridiculous you can't help but laugh.
The japanese version pulled off a gut-wrenching finale because of the supporting cast. I don't know how the taiwan version did it but I don't think they can upstage the japanese version's finale.
We're so looking forward to watching the special. I heard it's going to be shown sometime in June. Maybe we'll do another marathon before watching the special.

it is great??em how can i download it?what else website cn i download it??very interesting because i like a hanazakari series....