This drama is really a major success in Japanese dramas industry, I hope I am not going overboard when I am saying this, but this compliment isn't yet enough. The story addresses tons of life lessons, gets them all in 12 Hours or more (only), which in reality, might take years to realize them. It briefly tells about families connections, the parents' concerns and worries about their kids' futures, the importance of experiencing different hardships in order to pursue a dream, the sacrifices that one should make for the sake of beloved ones, the soul of determination, the ambitiousness, and even more. You will definitely laugh, cry, get excited, thrilled, happy then sad. Simply you will see a lot of things which makes your heart experience all sorts of feelings, all in once. The story is taking place in the old eras of Japan, the places, the roads, the green nature, the woody stuff, the houses, the rain, the clothes, the accents, the foods! Everything was represented there in a very well way, makes you get drown into that time, it is totally absorbing! It just makes you an alive person in that past, as if you once witnessed everything by your own eyes, lively... accompanying all those people. Mentioning the years, the name? of the eras and also the months preciously... Making a steady development throughout the time, and moving from one period to the another gradually, was a very good aspect of this drama, it makes it even more real how things get progressed before your very eyes, that in some points when you're watching the latest episodes, then if you go back and get a quick glance at the first or second ones, you gonna feel so old (in a good way, Lol), you gonna feel how you lived for so long with all those characters and their lives. The acting was fabulous, so deep yet vibrant! The main along with the supporting actors did a great job in each and every single scene. In the very first episode, you might think that Tokuzo is slightly overacting, but then when you are watching more and moving forward, the story reveals the truth behind his personality. He's actually born like that! A mischief, clumsy, short-tempered, unpredictable sort of fellow!, His character will get absorbed and will sink in your mind, that you will end up loving him with all his weird characteristics! I love Sato's performance generally, he has great skills that led this drama to its success. But to be honest, I believe that his acting as Kenshin was the finest performance he had so far. Shutarou or maybe I should call him Nii-yan, had a very bright spot in this story, he showed a very brilliant acting in that role. A very kind and gentle nature and so pure at heart! He was one of the reasons that made me like this drama very much, Indeed! When I watched his character in this drama, I really had fallen in love with him, that I actually was praying in my heart (I want to meet a person like him in my life, Amen) 'Don't laugh at me, I mean it'.. :D And then comes Toshiko, another bright person who added lots of flavors to the story! The acting was incredible. Every time she comes to the screen,I keep staring at the details that she brings them in with her. From the way she puts her hands on the ground when she bows, to her way of walking, to her calm voice, to her black hairs, to her decent character, to her love for her husband, to her everything. Usami san, Shintarou, and the rest of the cast! They all were meant to work together in this drama! Yeah, I gotta highlight this point! Usually, the foreign actors (Non-Japanese) in any Japanese drama bring an odd acting, it looks so miss-matching with the rest of the actors, and so poor played, BUT, in this drama, they proved the opposite fact. I was amazed by the french actors, they really made it look so natural and smooth! The Americans, Hmmm.. Not so great, yet not really bad. Okay, The music! Inserting the classical pieces was a smart idea. The music in this drama overall, played a major role. It is like... some sort of feelings don't across your heart till you hear the music played in the background, you feel crying but the tears comes out only when you hear that melody! It makes you feel the moment. Indeed, It added lots of warmth to the whole thing, especially the old Japanese melodies, Oh God, It brings my tears! I got so emotional when I watched this drama. I had confusing feelings, I got happy and sad in the same time. I am not an easy person to cry over anything, yet I had my tears rolling down most of the times. It had a great philosophy about life, family bonds, brotherhood, friendship, love, care, dream, finding the true-self. It was inspiring in its all angles. It wasn't about food as much it was about 'human being', it makes you stop for a second and contemplate your life.. it makes you feel every message left behind. I believe that this drama, is much more than a drama and bunch of actors together having their feet on the stage to prove their talents, No. It comes from an entertainment industry, yet it feels like a school of life, teaching you and making you ponder. and yes, You will learn so many good words like: Magokoro, Hagemiyou, (Douyajaa = which actually has no meaning :D) I am not a Japanese person (I wish I was), but I love Japan and I wholeheartedly consider it as my homeland, and this drama, and the history that has been shown in this drama (The fighting, the wars, the national spirit, the commitment to the homeland, to its nation) made me even much prouder of Japan! I am really gonna cherish those feelings forever. Finally, I have to leave this note and I am frankly stating that I not being judgmental when I say this. When I see these kind of dramas, It makes me re-think about my choices of dramas. Like those dramas that has a tangled problem of two people trying to get together, and they go through some difficult times but then they stay lovers or get married at the end and the story finishes with that, like what these kind of dramas gonna bring to me in my life? anything of value as a final result?.. I mean I enjoy them as well, But you know.. A story like ( Tenn no Ryuriban ) makes those silly stories even more meaningless! Am I harsh? I don't know, But that's my humble opinion! THIS DRAMA IS A TOTAL EPIC, I can re-watch it ('Infinite' Times). I can say happily that I am so blessed to finish this year with such a great drama, Thank you Japan!