Hope my letter finds you even better than I left you. The journey I spend with you here was most certainly a special one, the one I'll cherish for a long time. I couldn't say goodbye just yet so I decided to write this to you and talk a bit more.
Now where to begin. Surely, a father and his two children coming to a rural place to live in the middle of nowhere would definitely not sound so pleasing to everyone. On top of that when there is a 40 year (not everyone is a fan of age-gaps,okay) difference between us.
I myself wasn't really fond of everyone in the beginning. Just like Jun, even I had a hard time adjusting to the surroundings in the remote Rokugo. Everything felt so boring and mundane. There was nothing happening and all I could do was complain. But soon things changed and everything grew on me. I found a place for me there. The shack started feeling like a home. I wanted to study together with everyone in Ms. Ryoko's class. How I wished I could have fed the fox with Hotaru and have Yukiko beside me to comfort me whenever I was feeling down. And all the little adventures we had here. Like the construction of the pipes and wind-mill, and the time we saw a UFO in the mountains. And not to forget the boat race where everyone had so much fun and Sota was gloomy because he had no partner. Never knew that living in snowy places was such a struggle and is not the way it is generally romanticised.
Talking about all the people here, I think I found a family. They are not the most perfect people and come with a load of flaws and problems. Everyone complains so much and even create many problems at times. But I believe that's what made them special. Because they were like real people, they felt so close and their lives, struggles and happiness felt like my own. Also I think little Jun gets unnecessary hate. I mean he does behave like a brat at times but he was the most relatable person there. Not everyone likes the idea of leaving a life in Tokyo only to settle in a tattered shack with no electricity and water and only bears and foxes as neighbors. And the way he was done with everyone up there in Furano was a mood. But just like the seasons, he too changed and became a more responsible son and a dependable big brother. Though there were not many people up there, but everyone I met will live with me for a long time.
It's already been 3 days since I came back from my trip to Furano but I already feel like going back there and meeting everyone once again. The trip was a bit long but I took my sweet time with everything without rushing and the results left me more than satisfied. Somethings are better enjoyed slowly.
I think it's time for me to end this letter. I am sure I will revisit this place often whenever things become a bit rough and I need a reminder to take it easy. It's good to know that I have something to take me through a trip of heavy nostalgia, back to the simple times where the most mundane things are the ones which give me all the comfort I need.
Goodbye Keiko-chan and until next time.
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What really stuck with me is how genuine all the characters are. As if you are really seeing real people. This is extremely rare with TV shows. It is beyond good acting its real.
I recommend this drama if what I wrote interests you. It is a drama worthy of high ratings.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the best TV series I've ever seen
This is not only one of the best J dramas, but one of the best TV series period that I've ever seen. It's so classy, humane, unsentimental, and absorbing. The child actors are so important to the show, and they're excellent. Hotaru is such a lovable and perfect daughter. Jun, on the other hand, has his weaknesses and flaws, and often annoyed me, but he's very relatable, and a more realistic character than Hotaru. But Tanaka Kunie's performance as the dad stood out among an outstanding cast. And the writing was excellent. For example, Jun's voiceover narration to Keiko was just perfectly written and was a nice touch. And the dialog and plot developments all felt natural and realistic - something that's very difficult to pull off.The only minor flaws in my opinion were the bizarre UFO subplot, the death of Shokichi's grandfather after selling his horse (which I thought was a little too much), and the unsatisfying last episode (which is hopefully compensated for by the specials that follow). I also wasn't a huge fan of Sota and Yukiko's relationship because I thought both of them were being really irresponsible, but it was a realistic situation. Lastly, even though Tanaka Kunie had the perfect look and feel of this man who's rough around the edges but has a good heart, but I thought that it was unrealistic that he would be surrounded by so many beautiful women like his ex-wife, Yukiko, Kogomi, and Ryoko. It might have been a little more realistic to cast more normal-looking actresses in those roles. But they all did a great job acting.
I was so surprised that a drama from 1981 could be so high-quality, comparable to the best Japanese movies of that time.
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