Natsuna looks back and says: "I wasn't just just on the verge of depression, I literally broke down. There were a lot of mixed reactions to the drama even while it was on air, even after it ended, and I felt like I was living through all those criticisms which were aimed at me. Those were really tough times.".
Jun to Ai's ratings averaged 17.1%, and isn't exactly bad when you compare it to others in the past 10 years. But it came after Umechan Sensei, a drama that averaged over 20% -- a feat that wasn't achieved in the 18 series that preceded it -- and was succeeded by Amachan, a drama that became a social phenomenon, which in effect highlighted Jun to Ai's shortcomings further.
"I literally didn't want to do anything after we finished shooting, and had no motivation at all. Even if I did do something, I didn't have the confidence as I was paranoid that everyone will still think that I'm 'the girl who had a mixed reception in the morning drama'. I didn't want to appear in front of people too much at that time. I even considered seeking medical attention." She was afraid of taking the next step, but the core fans of Jun to Ai helped her suppress all the negativity.
This was at her handshake event to commemorate the release of her picture book last January. "I read all those letters they compiled from the core fans of Jun to Ai. I went home, read them, and choked since I cried so much... But that made me feel refreshed and helped me move on."
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