this was the first jdrama i actually finished and i guess you can't pick a better one as your first jdrama...it's very short and every character is so lovable. due to the length though i guess it goes without saying that some of the conflicts introduced sometimes get resolved too neatly. the most rewarding part of this show truly is watching kahoko grow.
i have mixed feelings about kahoko's strength and how it's depicted in the show. it does feel fairly conservative i think, that kahoko's kindness and gentleness would be framed as strengths to serve the people who love her, rather than personal strengths of her own if that makes sense, but it IS a family drama after all so i guess i shouldn't ask for so much. i guess that's why there is hajime, to show her inner worth as a kind and honest person, but not only to serve others.

i personally feel like this show was strongest when it was about kahoko and izumi. of course kahoko and hajime's relationship was very important too but i think the complexity of emotions and love between kahoko and her mother was something i rarely ever see depicted with as much understanding as this show did. i think izumi appears unreasonable (and kind of phony sometimes lol) but her love for kahoko and the reasons behind her actions was so deeply resonant with me at least. i think it goes without saying too kahoko's actress does an amazing job of selling the character too...she absolutely stole the show. there's a lot worth checking out here i think, and it's not at all a bad show to put on to pass the time or to just check out as an introduction to jdramas.

also sometimes with jdramas i've started before (but never finished) was that the cinematography was soooo lacking LOL. but here i think the show was shot in a genuinely beautiful way, and i did want to continue watching for that reason too.