Ossan Idol is amusing for many reasons.
One is that the male leads cover the classic three romantic male archetypes:
1. Sweet, instantly likable, optimistic Miroku
2. Intense, business leader Yoichi
3. Roguish, bad boy Shiju
Basically,
1. Bingley
2. Darcy
3. Rochester (one has to go outside Austen for the third type, unless one counts Captain Wentworth, who sort of works)
Even more interesting is the female characters they are paired with:
1. A more managerial version of eldest sister Jane: Anne and Eleanor and Jane combined.
2. A somewhat more intense but equally direct Elizabeth
3. A matter-of-fact artist
The archetypes live! As characters, they create easy balance. Without Bingley, Darcy's attributes may not be as noticeable. And without Darcy and Jane Eyre's borderline eye-rolling, Rochester's sheer nuttiness may not become apparent. The archetypes don't only function on their own behalf but as highlights to other characters.
It is easy to see why they are so useful.
