Drama Digest
28-year-old Yoshioka Toshinori is an employee in an advertising agency. His days include being tremendously busy and the only travelling he does is the constant back and forth between his office and his house. The daily grind has simply sucked out his soul.
One day, by pure chance, Toshinori happens upon his senior, Tanaka Keiko, for whom he may or may not have had feelings at one point. Seeing his dilapidated state, she invites him to a U-shaped izakaya or an informal Japanese bar, which serves both drinks and snacks.
The food there is so delicious that Keiko reasons that food is the only thing her worn-out junior needs to come back to life. Hesitant at first, Toshinori takes the initiative to push open the door of the bar and what awaits him is a world full of surprises.
The Feel-Good Part
Since this is a breezy gourmet saga, the series is indulgent in showing the different mouth-watering dishes in Japanese cuisine, as well as their healing effect on both Toshinori and the viewer. If the feeling of being calm and happy could be trapped in twelve episodes, this would be it.
The Disappointing Factor
Nothing is disappointing about this series. It comes to heal and healing is what it does through the run of 23 minutes.
In-Depth Analysis
The series is slice of life. While watching it, I felt like the burden of worries and tension I had on my back was slowly lightening. I believe that that was the same for the characters. They have real problems, but they do not shadow their lives. They exist as a separate part of the characters’ lives. And they disappear whenever the doors of the izakaya usher in our characters.
The food is gorgeous. They have been shot in very tight point-of-view shots so that the viewer gets a first-hand visual experience. Although the actor is a little inexperienced, he does a good job “eating for the camera”. Viewers are warned to properly dine before bingeing on this series, as the many shots of the gorgeous Japanese cuisine are set soon to make their stomachs rumble.
The show makes use of the L-shaped bar to symbolize several things. Keiko acts as a reflection of Toshinori’s heart and sitting in that L-shaped bar enables them to sit face-to-face with her as if he’s finally facing the spirit and love of life that was missing in his life. And the shape of the bar also lets a deeper connection with the other people and more so, himself.
The series doesn’t tell a story as much as it takes the viewers through Toshinori’s journey through food, healing, and self-discovery. There are no such highs and lows in the series. Also, Keiko’s presence does not guarantee romance, which is much better.
What I like about Japanese foods is that the different regions affect the flavor and making, and the people have very creative ways of incorporating that subtle difference in their food. The drinks served greatly accentuate the taste. This creates not just sustenance, but a complete experience.
Star Power
Asaka Kodai, Nakamura Yuri, Kozono Ryo, Fujii Takemi, Kita Kana, and Takezai Terunosuke turn in solid performances. The dialogue is simple, however, they say much through their expressions and actions.
Overall Opinion
Definitely a good watch. I would further tell people to sit with pillows and a pot of well-brewed tea to further enjoy the show.
