Osen (2008)

I usually read manga and don't watch J-drama as often. However, I stumbled on this drama and absolutely love it. This drama has some story-building, character type and visual components very similar to a manga. That being said, this drama is a loose adaptation of a manga with the same name. I haven't read the manga, so I'm just going to review this drama as an independent story.

I have to say that I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful female lead and the pretty Japanese essential scenery: the traditional Japanese room, garden, and food. What goes beyond the visual feast of this drama is the heart-warming stories that surround the act of eating and hosting guests at the Isshouan restaurant. This might be a drama about food, but it has many lessons about human relationship. The theme that appears throughout this drama is the tension between tradition and modernity. Although the ending did not thoroughly resolve this problem, it is still an acceptable ending.

Overall, this drama has excellent casting: the female lead is very pretty, and was capable of showing various expressions and emotions while still keeping the character coherent. The male lead, and all the supporting male characters are very good looking. There are also a lot of traditional Japanese costumes, beautiful kimonos and food. This drama is both a good story and a feast for the eyes.

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