Bokura no Shokutaku (2023)

"I'll stay with you until you stop feeling lonely."

First, I just have to say, I started this directly after watching A Christmas Carol (2022). After such a dark, harrowing film, I had no idea what a perfect palate cleanser this would be, and I'm so happy it's what I chose to binge. Tooth-rotting sweetness that had my cheeks hurting after almost constant smiling every single episode.

For me, this is close to the perfect fluff-style BL drama. Adorable fluff mixed with tender, heartfelt moments with a dash of reasonable angst that didn't stray into too-heavy territory, just adding the perfect amount of depth and stakes for our main couple. That angst (and hurt/comfort) was rounded out and resolved very nicely as well. The pacing was perfect, and I continuously found myself thinking 'already?' whenever an episode ended, because I was so wrapped up in every moment and was never bored.

I have noticed some comments about the main pairing being "dry". Now, I'm all for 'to each their own'; if that's your opinion, who am I to say your wrong? Except... maybe you are? A little? No hate, I just feel like the people who think relationships and couples like this in BL are "dry" are looking for instant sparks, mutual intense pining, and lots of spiciness. There are plenty of BL series of that nature. But it's this kind of pairing in BL's that I think is exceedingly rare, and is my absolute favorite: quiet, solidly built, based on respect and day-to-day interactions. It's not an instant heart-eyes romance: it's more realistic, arguably more meaningful, and much more introspective. You come to love the characters for who they are and their roots, and from there, you come to root for something more.

As for the main pairing, I personally love their chemistry. There was never a single moment where I felt anyone was reaching too much, trying too hard, nor was there any awkwardness. They met each other perfectly at the middle, and it felt effortlessly real in that way; I found myself completely convinced in the way they interacted each episode. Everyone was fantastic, but I do specifically want to shout-out Iijima Hiroki. The way he portrayed Minoru was equal parts sweet and heartbreaking: the care and absolute love and devotion he had for his brother while simultaneously struggling with the thought of no longer having that independence of someone his age was beautifully done. Further, in the development of his relationship with Yutaka, he really did a great job in portraying that silent battle with his own feelings, how he slowly came to terms with how he felt, but struggled deeply with it, because he so badly wanted to stay close to Yutaka no matter what, valuing his company over anything, even so much that he harbored deep guilt every time he reached out a little with how he felt (which made moments like the cheek kiss, the confession, the hand holding, etc) so much more impactful. Iijima just knew exactly who he was playing, and brought him to life brilliantly.

I also can't end this review without giving a quick mention to little Maeyama Kuuga. Seriously, where did this kid learn to act? For example, the scene where he saw Yutaka crying and instantly broke down himself? What a little talent. I'm usually not into dramas that revolve around a child in some way, but he really made it impossible for me not to love him.

All in all, if you're into sweet fluff, realistically built relationships, and tender/adorable family moments, I would highly recommend this one. As someone with family troubles of my own, I found this extremely cathartic and just such a nice watch. Japan yet again proving that they're owning the BL game atm.

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YES!!! KILL ME WITH CUTENESS!!

Omg how do I even explain. Everything is so amazing here. Totally love the healing vibe and the characters are so amazinggggg.
Tane is totally carrying the show. Every time he is on the screen, I just wanna scream out loud. He literally has such a natural chemistry with the other two characters. Yutaka and Minoru are killing it. Currently I am just waiting for the new episode where they grow closer. They are so adorable. Yukata's awkwardness around Minoru and Tane and him slowly warming up to them is so amazing. It's nice to see Yukata finally trying to achieve happiness.
Storywise, this is amazing. I love the development and the pacing. Fluff, cuteness plus mature characters all at once.
I already have a feeling, I will rewatch it when all the episodes have aired again and again.
Overall, this is an amazing drama which deserves more attention. If you need a good smile and cute plot, this is perfect for you.

So I made the mistake of starting this too soon. I should have realized, Japanese dramas only air one episode per week. and Now I am dying for the next episode. Hopefully, there won't be too much angst cuz this is literally my comfort drama currently.

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heartwarming slice of life series

Overall: this series really gets you in the feels. Aired on GagaOOLala, 10 episodes total about 20 minutes per episode. Has a 1 episode spin off. It is based on a manga which I purchased on Amazon and read (and it stayed pretty close to the source material).

Content Warnings: past bullying, trauma

What I Liked
- the intro/outro songs
- sweet moments
- the cooking
- slice of life vibe
- that kid is adorable and the dad is super supportive
- Minoru seeking out communication
- production value

Room For Improvement
- not a fan of some of the exaggerated expressions, many series based on manga have a character like this but it doesn't feel right in the live action adaptation
- too many flashbacks
- wish we got some/more romantic attraction signals from Yutaka
- went too quickly from daytime to nighttime in episode 8 during a short story

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Cute and Angsty

Some people may say this is a drama about loneliness, others may say it is about how a persons childhood trauma can leave them scared shitless... Others or the same people may say this is a sweet and fluffy romance. And then there are probably those who will focus a lot on the kid and how this is about found family and connections.


Me I managed to mention all of the above and probably left something out of this too but what I am trying to say is that this short drama has a lot to offer to different people depending on which angle they choose to look at this. As I am sure there is more to dig out of this very short drama. So basically so little screen time so many angles. Without it becoming messy. An achievement not many writers will active so hats off to the writer of this story.

The characters in here are all lovable, lovely, human beings with a bunch of flaws, fears and very different personalities that mix beautifully together to create very little drama but a whole lot of angst.

I personally love the way our lonely male lead talks with the kid in this drama instead of to the as many other grownups often do,

I can also relate so some of the fears shown in this drama, I am not going to get in to details about this but will say that the characters in this are indeed highly relatable.

This is definitely a short drama I recommend to most, they could have switched out some of the flashbacks to the past to some more details about relationships past. Part of me would have wanted some parts to pick up the pace other parts of me found the at times annoyingly slow pace to be true to the story so I guess this is just one of those things that will leave me undecided and up to you watchers to figure out how you feel about it.

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Best bl of 2023

This is an absolutely amazing bl. I love that it tackles children and the acceptance into a
relationship, it’s so beautifully done. They are so adorable together I’ve lost the plot ❤️❤️❤️ 10/10. I love that they also compared the reaction over the spilled drink/food from both the
uni girl and Yutaka, it genuinely didn’t bother him, he’s accepted Tane with his open arms 😩❤️
I sincerely hope they’ll be a S2, the chemistry between the leads feels so genuine.
Japanese bls always hit differently it’s certainly my favourite country to watch them.

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The Warm Accepting Hug We All Crave

I loved the manga and I just can't stop watching the first two episodes. My rating may change later.

What I Like So Far:

- Yutaka played by Inukai is too adorable. Inukai is really a man of 1000 faces. He's so gentle and kind you just want to protect him from any harm.

- The subtle glances Yutaka makes at Minoru, the way Tane clings and adores him, and the way the father welcomes him with open arms just feels like the warm accepting hug he's wanted and deserved his entire life. Like the rest of us, Yutaka wants to hear that he is enough and to feel wanted.

- I like Iijima as Minoru. At first I wasn't sure, but the more I watch, the more I appreciate his subtle portrayal of a lost 23 year old who just wants to do what's best for his family after the passing of his mother. The scenes where he is arguing with Tane are so natural and real I almost forgot it was a show and not a reality TV show.


******SPOILERS*******

What I'm looking forward to:

- I'm looking forward to the scene where Yutaka runs into his brother.
- The manga author already acknowledged the lack of romance in the original story. I wonder if the show writers and directors will take any liberties there.
- Looking forward to the holiday scenes.

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Absolutely beautiful

I thing I don't even know enough words to describe how beautiful this drama was. A story so simple holds amazing messages to everyone. The characters are so real and so beautifully written. Yutaka is a relatable character for everyone who's felt alone most of their lives. Seeing him learning how to love and trust someone was really touching. I can completely understand what he said about being so happy that it will be painful when it ends, because nothing lasts forever. I can understand how he thought about ending things and leaving before loving someone too much. Once my mother said I'm someone scared of creating roots and because of that she was scared I would never be happy. She was right, I'm like this. In the last episode of this drama I really crying and my heart started to really hurt because I started to feel this nostalgic feeling of something I never really had. I thought to myself "I want this kind of happiness too". I think this drama will be forever important to me. Like Yutaka, I hope that not only me but everyone who's scared of the pain of happiness can become strong enough to experience the love and warmth someone can bring. I really hope we all can be strong enough to be happy.

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How Can You Not Love This?

Oh, this was like the bread and butter on BL. I can't imagine someone watching this and not falling in love with this adorable makeshift family. I don't know why I haven't watched this before now, but oh boy, am I glad I came around to this wonderfully happy little BL.

Let's Dive In.

Wow, so this was the cutest little J-BL I've seen in a while. The stacks are pretty low, but the feels are incredibly high. Yutaka who has always eaten by himself due to past trauma finds a little dude and his incredibly hot brother to spend his long-awaited time with. It's so nice just to see people connect over food and feel warm and loved. I can't even say anything different than what others have said because it's all true: this was a really special BL.

Ratings:

Story: 9/10 - Such a lovely story. We see so much domesticness go on between the three of them and it's the best thing ever. I also liked how we see Yutaka at work but it's not overbearing or with tedious office jargon. Their relationship is so precious while not having to be too physical, and it's perfect.

Acting: 9.5/10 - That kid stole the show. The way he was able to keep up with these adult actors was insane. I don't think I've seen a kid act that good in a while, and he's so incredibly young to be acting so good!! The leads did great as well.

Music: 6/10: It wasn't directing but not very memorable.

Recommendation Value: 8/10: this was just so precious, I highly recommend it if you're wanting a heartfelt watch. it does have some tough stuff about grief and death which could be a doozy, but for real, please watch this!

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Gentle and Genuine Strangers to Friends to Loves. Comfort Show.

So sweet, thoughtful, and heart-warming in such a gentle and earnest way that it's 100% smile-inducing without being saccharine-sweet or cringworthy. There are multiple thoughtful messages explored with the story and a couple poetically worded lines.

Very slice-of-life with low angst that does get resolved. Yutaka and Minoru (with Tane) positively effect each other and Yutaka and Minoru show growth in other parts of their lives because of it. They are very caring and supportive of each other.

There is a lot of care and love in this friendship that grows into more. It's gently and realistically romantic. This is *not* a spicy BL, and it wouldn't fit the story well. The desire of the leads to be in each other's presence and the appreciation they have for having the other in their lives is the focus, and it is palpable. And it is not just platonic; fairly early in the story Minoru is aware of his growing feelings for Yutaka and that he yearns for more than friendship. The actor, Hiroki, is so expressive with his face and eyes that his emotions are easy to comprehend.

There is not a lot of skinship, but when it happens it is meaningful. Later in the story, the hesitancy and awkwardness in direct touches is completely in character, especially for two inexperienced 23 year olds. The desire to connect despite their nervousness is there, and it's romantic in a soft and heart-warming way.

Every actor was perfect. I loved the family dynamics and Minoru's Dad is the best! He gently and deftly encourages Minoru to follow his heart but let's him handle things on his own. He genuinely just wants his son to be happy. The younger brother was written his age and the actor was very natural. Every character was totally lovable yet very distinct.

While there is a lot of eating, it's more about the company one eats with than the food itself. Food appreciation was done much more naturally in this than in other food-focused JBLs; people actually take a moment to taste the food before saying it's good, and while there is enthusiasm, it's not over-the-top.

The gentle pacing, to me, was perfect and every episode felt satisfying while holding my anticipation for the next one.

This has become one of my go-to comfort shows, and it would be a good one to see with other people too.

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Favourite comfort drama of 2023

*story*
Nice and simple and just involves 3 characters meeting up to eat good homemade food and make amazing memories together.

*characters*
The main 3 characters are all so distinct from each other. Tane and his big brother, Minoru, have such a sweet and genuine relationship, and seeing Yutaka with them is so great and fun as well. All in all, this is definitely character-driven.

*music*
I think it fits the drama perfectly.

*Overall*
It's definitely something I want to re-watch on a winter afternoon. It'll make you feel less lonely and more inspired to eat homecooked meals.

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Many likeable elements, but a very slow-paced drama for me.

I might be in the minority that I am not in love with this drama. I like it fine, but not as much as others.

I like many of the elements that others do - the cute kid, the close bond between Minioru and little Tane, the three-way bond between Yutaka, Minoru and Tane, and of course the sweet romance. The three of them are adorable together and their scenes bring me joy and put a smile on my face.

However, I think this might be more successful if it’s a movie and not a drama. Even though the episodes are really short (about 20 mins each), I feel the pacing is too slow. Not much really happens in the drama, and issues are not really explored in depth. The episodes are already short and the drama still spends a minute or two on flashbacks/recaps.

The exploration of loneliness, loss, responsibility, family and being together and enjoying food - are all great messages. I just wish they were executed better. If you enjoy many extended quiet moments, at a slower-paced drama, this will be very enjoyable.


Completed: 6/8/2023 - Review #316

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Need to watch

First, I would like to say that this is the most wholesome Japanese BL I have ever watched.

The plot was so good, and I love the stories and how they bonded. I don’t feel like this was rushed at all, like how some are where they jump into a relationship. I feel like they had time to grow.

For example, how they made lunches together and how they healed each other from their past traumas relating to their own family.

Plus the kid was very cute and a shipper without knowing and I will definitely be watching this again.

Overall, I feel like every one of these actors had very good chemistry where they were able to bond, and I would give anyone interested in starting out watching bl this to watch.

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