I Loved 2000, but I’ll Keep 2025 - A Beautiful Life （ビューティフル・ライフ） Rewatch

One of my favorite TV-dramas growing up, really, many of them, starred Takuya Kimura (known as キムタク in Japan). He’s like the Japanese Tom Cruise, he’s played a lawyer, a pilot, a neuroscientist, an F1 racer, a teacher, a samurai, and even a chef. In this drama, Beautiful Life (ビューティフルライフ）he’s a charismatic hairdresser. I was in middle school when it came out, so it was refreshing to see it again for the first time in 25 years on Netflix.

Watching Beautiful Life took me back to the year 2000. It reminded me that in some ways, the past really was better, and in other ways, not so much. I found it to be a good metaphor for how we view change in our modern world. In the age of AI, I often hear people talk about the past as if it were a golden age, but the reality is...like life... everything is mixed. So here are two reasons why the year 2000 was better… and three reasons why we’re actually better off in 2025.

What Was Better Back Then (2000)?

Romance Without the Algorithm - When Shuji and Kyoko first meet, it isn’t through a dating app or social media. There’s no swiping left or right, just a conversation in a library. It’s easy to forget how meaningful those random, analog moments could be, when love wasn’t something we scheduled but something we stumbled upon.

The Power of Shared Silence - One of the most moving aspects of Beautiful Life is how much is said through silence. Shuji and Kyoko often sit together without speaking, especially as her illness progresses. These moments aren’t awkward and they’re intimate. Compare that to today’s constant stream of notifications and distractions. We fear silence. There’s a scene in the 11th episode that captures this old school world perfectly. Kyoko’s mother goes to visit Shuji to talk about her daughter’s illness. She asks if they can have tea. Later that evening, after his work shift, they sit down together one on one for a quiet, focused conversation. I had two conflicting thoughts watching that moment. On one hand, I thought, Wow, what a meaningful, respectful way to speak about something serious. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but think, This must have taken so much time… couldn’t they have just talked on the phone?

Why 2025 Is Still Better

Technology Empowers - Especially for the Disabled Kyoko’s life in Beautiful Life is shaped by her physical limitations and by society’s lack of support (back then, this drama even helped the term "barrier-free" バリアフリー become more widely recognized in Japan). In 2025, technology has transformed what’s possible for the handicapped. Voice-activated devices, smart wheelchairs, and remote work or learning platforms now allow much more independence. Kyoko’s world today would have so much more potential. In theory, she could pursue more educational and career opportunities than what was possible in 2000.

Love Doesn’t Require Sacrifice to Be Real - One of the central themes of Beautiful Life is love as self-sacrifice, what the Japanese would call 自己犠牲. Shuji gives up his dream job, Kyoko hides her fears to avoid becoming a burden. Their love is real, but it depends on personal loss. In 2025, love and life is slowly being redefined. It doesn’t have to come from pain. Healthy relationships are built on shared strength, not suffering. This reflects a broader societal pattern how both Japanese culture and many older Westerners tend to overvalue suffering as a sign of virtue, especially in love. But we’re beginning to learn in 2025 that love doesn’t have to hurt to be meaningful. Pain does not necessarily always equate growth.

Remote Connection Makes People Less Isolation In the drama, Kyoko becomes increasingly limited to her home as her condition worsens. Her support system is loving, but physically limited, just her family her closest friend and Shuji. In 2025, things would be different. Virtual communities, online video calls, and various online spaces offer connection. She could attend lectures, join book clubs, or even share her story with others. Physical limitation no longer has to mean emotional isolation.

Conclusion – Natsukashii 懐かしい, but Also Real

Beautiful Life made me feel deeply 懐かしい, nostalgic in the best way. But let’s be real, I also like living in 2025... I can send my mom and dad photos of what I’m seeing while I’m seeing it. If this were 20 years ago, I’d have to call the house landline, go to a photo shop, wait for prints, pick them up, and then show them. If I'm in Dubai over the weekend, I can send video updates to my friends and family... Lets just say I'll always take 2025 over 2000!

Link to Netflix - Life is Beautiful