Yui Aragaki
We Married as a Job: New Year's Special
2020
Returning Series • 1 Season • 11 Episodes
Director: Yasuharu Ishii
Overview
We Married as a Job: New Year's Special (2020) follows characters drawn into a defining drama crisis, where private motives collide with public stakes. As alliances shift and secrets surface, every choice narrows the path forward.
Seasons
- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 11 episodes
- First aired
- May 19, 2020
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readA Marriage, Three Years On: The Quiet Revolution of We Married as a Job: New Year’s Special
I didn’t expect to cry over a scene where a man folds a baby’s onesie. Not because it’s a small, domestic act—though it is—but because of the way Hiramasa Tsuzaki (Gen Hoshino) does it: with the same methodical precision he once reserved for spreadsheets and corporate strategy. His hands, usually so sure, now tremble just slightly as he smooths the fabric, as if the weight of parenthood has settled into his fingers before it’s even arrived.
This is the kind of moment We Married as a Job: New Year’s Special excels at—one that feels so specific it could only belong to these two people, yet so universal it lodges itself in your chest.
Three years have passed since Mikuri Moriyama (Yui Aragaki) and Hiramasa entered into their “contract marriage,” a pragmatic arrangement that slowly, stubbornly, became something real. The original 2016 series was a sharp, warm-hearted dramedy about love as a kind of performance—two people playing at being a couple until they forgot it was an act. This two-hour special, released in 2021, picks up their story at another crossroads: pregnancy, paternity leave, and the quiet upheaval of a pandemic.
It’s a sequel that doesn’t just revisit its characters; it lets them grow up, in real time, under the weight of real-world chaos.
What’s striking about the special isn’t just that it incorporates COVID-19 into its narrative—though that alone sets it apart from most pandemic-era media, which either ignored the virus entirely or reduced it to a punchline. No, what’s remarkable is how unremarkable it makes the pandemic feel. There are no grand speeches about the “new normal,” no sanitized hospital scenes or masked strangers exchanging meaningful glances.
Instead, the virus is just… there. A background hum of anxiety, a reason to cancel plans, a logistical hurdle in the already complicated dance of new parenthood. Mikuri and Hiramasa argue over whether to visit her parents for New Year’s; they debate the safety of daycare; they watch the news with the same exhausted dread as the rest of us.
Audience Opinions
"A charming but niche romantic drama with standout lead performances that resonate with fans of contract-based love stories."
Viewers appreciate the chemistry between the leads, Yui Aragaki and Gen Hoshino, which brings warmth and authenticity to the unconventional premise of a marriage-for-hire arrangement. The series is praised for its lighthearted yet emotional take on relationships, though some note its appeal may be limited to those who enjoy slow-burn romantic dramas with a twist. latestnetflix.com's view is that Feedback is sparse, but the sentiment leans positive among its niche audience.
What viewers praise
- Lead chemistry The on-screen dynamic between Yui Aragaki and Gen Hoshino is frequently highlighted as the series' strongest asset, making their contract marriage feel genuine and engaging.
- Unique premise The concept of a marriage-for-hire arrangement offers a fresh take on romantic dramas, appealing to viewers tired of conventional love stories.
- Emotional depth The series balances humor and heartfelt moments, creating a satisfying emotional arc for its characters.
Common complaints
- Niche appeal The premise and pacing may not resonate with viewers outside the romantic drama genre, limiting its broader popularity.
- Limited scope Some viewers feel the story could have explored its unique premise more deeply, leaving certain plot threads underdeveloped.
Recommended for
Fans of romantic dramas Yui Aragaki and Gen Hoshino admirers Viewers who enjoy unconventional love stories Slow-burn relationship narratives
Buzz & Rumors
Public reports"We Married as a Job: New Year's Special" (2020): The Real-Life Romance That Stole the Show
The 2020 New Year's Special of We Married as a Job wasn’t just a holiday treat for fans—it was the episode that blurred the line between fiction and reality. Starring Yui Aragaki and Gen Hoshino as a contract couple navigating love and logistics, the series had already captivated audiences with its mix of humor, heart, and workplace romance. latestnetflix.com's view is that but behind the scenes, the chemistry between its leads was sparking headlines of its own.
From Script to Real-Life Headlines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5CRsrZqmZc
The special, directed by Fuminori Kaneko, Nobuhiro Doi, and Yasuharu Ishii, aired amid swirling rumors about Aragaki and Hoshino’s off-screen relationship. By January 2021, those rumors became reality when the two confirmed their marriage . While the timing fueled speculation—had their on-screen dynamic spilled into real life?—neither star nor the production team ever confirmed whether their relationship began during filming. The New Year’s Special, however, remains a pivotal moment in the series, often cited by fans as the turning point where their fictional bond felt undeniably authentic.
The Contract Marriage Trend Goes Viral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9qg0bIPLRg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Pe0n1WWMI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4h65EJuwBM
We Married as a Job (known in Japan as Nigehaji, short for Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu) popularized the "contract marriage" trope, where two strangers enter a legal but platonic union for mutual benefit—often financial or social. The New Year’s Special leaned into this premise with festive twists, including holiday-themed challenges and a signature "KOI Dance" performed by the entire cast . Clips of the dance, set to a catchy J-pop track, racked up millions of views online, turning the episode into a cultural moment. Fans even created fan-made music videos reimagining the leads’ relationship, further cementing the special’s legacy .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BbF1z96feQ
The series’ blend of rom-com tropes and workplace satire resonated globally, with international viewers praising its fresh take on marriage as a pragmatic arrangement. YouTube reactions and explainers, like one titled "You Can Hire Me As Wife 😍😍 & Pay Me Monthly Salary...", highlighted the show’s appeal to audiences fascinated by the idea of love as a transaction—until, of course, it isn’t .
Behind the Scenes: A Cast in Sync
Beyond Aragaki and Hoshino, the New Year’s Special showcased the ensemble’s chemistry. Supporting cast members like Yuriko Ishida, Ryohei Otani, and Arata Furuta brought their own comedic and dramatic flair, but it was the leads’ dynamic that stole the spotlight. Hoshino, known for his deadpan humor, and Aragaki, celebrated for her expressive charm, played off each other effortlessly—so much so that fans speculated whether their real-life rapport influenced the script. While no behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the special have surfaced, the cast’s collective energy in the KOI Dance suggests a team in sync .
Legacy and Unanswered Questions
The New Year’s Special remains a fan favorite, not just for its holiday cheer but for its role in the larger Nigehaji phenomenon. Yet some mysteries linger. Did Aragaki and Hoshino’s real-life relationship begin during the original 2016 series or the 2020 special? The timeline is unclear, and neither has publicly addressed it. What is certain is the episode’s impact: it delivered the warmth and wit fans loved, while inadvertently setting the stage for one of Japan’s most talked-about celebrity pairings.
For now, the special stands as a testament to the show’s ability to make even a "job" feel like a love story—both on and off screen.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.