Hase Taiga has been working part-time at a small, pleasant restaurant called “Tanomi” for three years. He once aspired to become a professional athlete, but unfortunately, his performance wasn’t satisfactory. Since then, he’s been drifting through life with no plans for the future. One day, he meets Rin, a young student from South Korea. She, too, doesn’t know what to do with her life. She’s studying animation but isn’t sure if she’s good enough to pursue it as a career. Their unexpected meeting will finally force them to move on and make important decisions.
I started watching this drama because I accidentally found it on Netflix and was curious how they would portray the relationship between a Japanese man and a Korean woman.
What I found most captivating about this drama was the calm atmosphere and the exceptionally realistic approach to the relationship between two young people from different worlds and how they influenced each other. The cultural differences were portrayed in a very engaging way. Each of them saw their role in the relationship differently, had different expectations for each other, and this caused numerous misunderstandings and frustrations.
Before they met, Taiga and Rin felt stuck, their future a vast unknown. Their meeting caused them to move forward, and their lives finally got back on track.
The ending was a huge surprise (I was like, “EEEEEE?????”), but it was also very realistic. It left me a bit unsatisfied, but any other outcome would have been too unbelievable and downright clichéd.
This is a story about two lost people who, thanks to a chance meeting, actually found themselves. They were a kind of catalyst for each other, allowing them to boldly continue their journey of life.
The only downside to this drama is the chemistry between the main characters. There was a certain awkwardness and uncertainty, but maybe that’s how it was supposed to be on screen. It’s hard to say. The actor played it well, but the actress didn’t. It’s clear she still needs to gain experience. I saw that the drama had very low ratings (probably because of the ending), but I had a very enjoyable time with her.
Who is this drama for? For people who enjoy calm dramas that deal realistically with relationships, and for those who aren’t afraid of low ratings:):)
