Warm human drama
I am very excited to watch this drama as this is the first lead drama for Machida Keita, and right after Cherry Magic where he is currently at the new height of popularity. The drama is very short, only 6 episodes 24 mins each so it is an easy watch. I like it quite a lot, the story is warm and light, the characters are well-acted and overall it is a well-made drama. I really couldn't find any fault in this show, except that it's rather short and I don't see enough Machida ^^STORY
The synopsis will remind you of Midnight Diner, where the episode focuses on the troubles of the customer who comes to the establishment. But due to the short duration, the story is not as deep as Midnight Diner and is not explored further. You also get glimpses of the background of the three main characters (Amamiya, Nakauchi and Kobayashi), even though at the end Amamiya's background is still relatively unknown. I think it is also because the original manga is still very new (only 1 vol released so far) therefore they can't really explore his background further. The possibility of any sequel is very much open at this moment.
I also really like the visual of this drama, it is dominated with yellow/brown color which exudes warm atmosphere.
ACTING
All the characters are very well acted, including the guest roles which include some famous figures such as Kaji Yuki and Nakayama Miho. Machida is great as beautiful bartender even though I wish he had more lines and more scenes to show more of his acting capabilities. Fujiwara and and Morisaki also did a great job portraying their characters and I find Kobayashi's character is very interesting.
MUSIC
I think this is one of the J-drama that has the best music imo (besides Cherry Magic). The OP (Entertainer by I Don't Like Monday) song is very catchy and addictive, and the ED (Tooi Hoshi wo Kazoete by Sard Underground) is the remake of song by one of my favorite singers, Zard. Definitely recommended!
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An ode to dream chasers!
If you are fan of jdramas which-totally touch your hearts,
makes you feel raw emotions,
connects you with the characters,
then this show is definitely for you.
In an intriguing episodic format, bar's each customer finds
Solace, hope and comfort in three different forms:
A drink from Amamiya Ryoichiro,
A canned food dish from Nakauchi Satoru, and
Words of wisdom from Kobayashi Naoki.
The bar serves as "reality asylum" for aspiring artists of all kinds:
Musicians, painters, comedians, writers.
With a "lighter focus" story arc on three men's lives and pasts.
This show is packed with many stories and gives many life quotes.
This will surely make you think about your life and your dreams as well.
Even the underlying subtle social commentary was thoughtful,
For instance, a toy car gift for a girl child.
Acting wise, I liked all the three men.
I liked "Entertainer" by "I don't like Mondays".
Definitely worth the rewatch for the heartwarming messages.
~~~
I don't personally like the idolizing of canned food.
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The only thing I found unsatisfying about this drama is that the stories of the main characters could be more developed. The drama was too short and many things remain unsaid. Even though I really enjoyed it as my evening relax after a difficult day.
Aaah now I wish Machida made me one of his tasty cocktails. :P
PS: Rewatch Value is low because I am not the type of person who rewatches films/dramas. Also, I tend to rate things quite strictly, so some people might give a better rating.
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Each episode focuses on a different customer of the bar and their personal problems and worries. Amamiya Ryoichiro serves a role of a mediator, rarely ever giving his own opinion on the subject - focusing on making the guest comfortable enough to share their stories. On the other hand, Nakauchi Satoru and Kobayashi Naoki present usually opposite takes on the presented situation, which helps the viewers see that most issues are not just black or white scenarios.
Taking into consideration the short duration, the social issues are never presented in a complex and detailed way, but the show still opens the door for the viewer to reflect on the topics on their own.
The acting was on point, and the casting team did a fantastic job, not only with the main characters, but also all the supporting and guest roles. The natural expressions and line delivery, mixed with simple directing created this familiar feeling that made it easier to relate to the characters, even if we could not get to know them that well.
The only criticism I have would be the lack of backstory of the main characters, especially Amamiya Ryoichiro. His character was like a blank canvas - focused on reflecting what is happening around him and guiding other people's thoughts and emotions. While it might have been a writing and directing choice, I wish we could get to know him and his story more.
Overall, it’s a short yet meaningful series that presents you many interesting and realistic stories in a heartwarming and pleasant way.
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One of the best so far
After Alice in borderland and Cherry Magic I became an orphan of dramas with Keita Machida. I have accepted that the actor is one of my favorites and I want to watch more and more of his dramas. I looked around, and because of the synopsis and the ease of finding one to watch, I ended up choosing this drama.Although I started the drama with Keita, I ended up loving the visuals and the development. I like dramas where we have one or more main characters who serve as a bridge for us to get to know other characters and their various stories. And that is what Three Star Bar in Nishi Ogikubo is like.
At the same time that the three main characters are developed, we get to know many of the customers and their concerns. While at the bar, they drink, eat, and let off steam thanks to the atmosphere. Something worth mentioning, this is the kind of place that I love very much and would easily visit if it existed in real life. Anyway, thanks to these customers and the problems they face we get to know the problems of the protagonists.
The episodes are fast paced and the characters are captivating, it's a drama that deserves a lot to be recommended. If you are looking for an interesting Japanese drama that will keep you entertained, Three Star Bar in Nishi Ogikubo is for you.
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About dreams and warm things.
“A dream is such a wonderful thing to have.”Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou is the story of three friends and the bar they run. The “Three Star Bar” in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District, is unassuming appearance. With its vintage exterior and warm interior, it becomes a home for lost souls, even if it is just for a few hours.
“It is a bar where anybody can come.”
Kobayashi Naoki is a failed novel writer the owner of the bar. He inherited it from his grandfather. One of the many unconventional charms of the bar is that it serves canned food. Amamiya Ryoichiro is an high-school friend of Kobyashi, who stumbled upon the bar when he was at an emotionally low moment in his life. He becomes the bartender and has been working there for a month. Nakauchi Satoru is a chef who decides to retire. He was a perfectionist but in his effort to be perfect he loses his passion which is conveyed as a loss of sensation in his taste buds.
Each episode follows the lives of the customers who stumble upon the bar when they are unhappy or dejected. The viewers get to follow the live stories of these ordinary men as they converse with Amamiya and when these men and women leave the bar, they leave happier and livelier than before.
But the bar must be closed when Kobyashi’s grandfather’s cans run out.
“The cooked food inside the can bides its time until the lid is opened. For for years, and years.”
If I need one word to describe Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou then it would be “cosy.” With warm pleasing aesthetics, this is an excellent story on life and dreams, compromise and balance, friendship and love and perfectly conveys the message, “Live in the moment.” Sometimes all you need to do is to flip over a painting and look at it from a different angle. :)
“Don't hide your wounds. Those wounds make you who you are today. Even if you fail, don't hide it. Don't be afraid of getting hurt, and move on with dignity. That's what my grandfather used to say to many customers who came here.”
–Kobayashi Naoki, Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou
This show could have easily become a 9.0 except there was to to ask for on how they handled the stories of the main characters. There growth was there but I felt a little bummed out about how little they showed on our three mains.
Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou also delivers perfectly on the “food” tag. Check out this feed post to get an idea :)
https://mydramalist.com/profile/Nada_SouSou/feeds/km6PACJ
A warm pleasant story with a perfect ending and awesome actors who brought the characters to life. 8.5/10 » awesome drama which impressed me (my rating scale is on my profile ;)
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This review may contain spoilers
Just wonderful
I've never written a review before so bear with me. This drama is absolutely brilliant, honestly. More than a plot-driven drama, like most dramas out there, the whole story is character-driven. The highlight of the drama for me was definitely the characters, especially Amamiya who's played by Machida Keita.The cast was amazing but the acting wavered at some points from many of the support characters. I usually cry a lot during dramas but the emotional (in both happy and sad ways) barely moved me. However, that can be easily overlooked as the main characters, and the stories behind the side characters were enough to make the drama a good one.
However, I was a bit disappointed by the ending. It's not like it's a bad ending, in fact, it may be a lot of peoples' preferred ending but I was actually rooting for something more tragic. Amamiya's character development was great to see, but it was slightly predictable. I would've preferred if he didn't find his dream, his meaning for life, even after working in that bar with Nakauchi and Kobayashi.
The ending that I wanted was one in which Amamiya ends his own life after helping the customers that visited the bar and parting ways with his friends. So yeah, if I had to rewrite the ending I would do it that way, but that's not to say the ending of the drama currently is bad.
OK now to the part that I loved the most, the OST. Honestly, I vibed to it so hard BAHAHA IT'S SO GOOD. I didn't skip any of the intros just to listen to it, and if I ever do rewatch Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou, then you bet nothing will change. I really do recommend you give this drama a shot!
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A short series that took me by surprise
I didn't know exactly what to expect when going into watching "Nishi Ogikubo Mitsuboshi Yoshudou", and I won't lie when I say I only really started watching it because a favourite actor stars in it. But I quickly found myself positively surprised by the series, by how easy it was to become interested in the three main characters and their stories, and also wondering "what WILL happen once they run out of all of those cans of food?" because it could either result in just the way the promise was made - they close the bar, and go on about their lives. Or they continue running the bar. I kept bouncing back and forth between both options and am glad to find out that they decided to keep it running at the end.One particular episode that reduced me to tears was the third episode, with the man whose deceased wife had a sweet tooth, while the man himself wasn't much of a fan of sweets. But he comes to the bar one evening, orders [canned] chocolate cake, and tells the story about his wife with the sweet tooth. I feel like every episode left me with some sort of impression or life lesson to learn, and that's far more than I think you can really expect out of a TV series, especially one as short as this one (with the longest and most complicated name that I won't keep repeating or I'll lose my mind). They packed so much into six single episodes, and it's impressive. That's the only fitting word for it.
I will definitely rewatch this series at some point. And probably again, because I think it really was that good.
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Heart warming, short and sweet
This short and sweet 5-part series, reminiscent of many outstanding Japanese dramas of late, delivers a story that leaves us craving more episodes and deeper character exploration.The always reliable and charming Keita Machida, sporting his Cherry Magic haircut and brown attire, portrays a charming barman in an unpretentious suburban bar that he runs with 2 former school mates.
We were pleasantly surprised to discover the 3 Star Bar served canned food, expertly prepared by a chef — a twist that adds an unexpected layer of humor to the plot, compared to step-by-step cooking shows such as Fermat's Cuisine and What Did You Eat Yesterday. Yet, somehow, this plot device works! Adapted from a manga series, of course, which often have a quirky point of interest.
Although it takes a few episodes to build momentum, viewers will find themselves drawn to the characters, guest and the stories. The show skillfully used flashbacks of the late bartender, akin to a cherished grandfather, imparting wise advice to patrons and loved ones. Further exploration of this character would have enriched future episodes.
Some dramas, much like the sakura season, dazzle with their brilliance only to fade away all too soon. The final episode highlights the overall production quality of the series, which does not insult us with rushed stories and silly resolutions; just a quietly enchanting tale that leaves us yearning for more.
A second season or more episodes would have been a marvellous opportunity to explore the back stories of the 3 leads with greater depth: the published Hemingway-esque writer grappling with writers block and divorce, a humble bartender with a nightly chauffeur, a chef who loses and recovers his sense of taste. However, all three of the leads have been very busy since 2021, so clearly this will remain a limited and very short series.
Embrace this series for what it really is —a fleeting cherry blossom that warms the soul for a brief moment in time.
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This review may contain spoilers
A sweet little drama - just 6 episodes, 24 min. each - about three old friends running a tiny little old-fashioned bar where they help people solve their problems. There's pretty much just one set so it feels very intimate since most of the stories take place inside the bar and they - well, mostly Machida Keita's Amamiya - help people simply by talking to them and nudging them in the right direction.Machida Keita is - as usually - ah-mazing in this. Amamiya's sadness as he watches the cans with food they use to prepare dishes for their guests disappear one by one, knowing that once they use them all up, the bar will close because that was the deal, watching his friends find back to their feet while he's still floundering... My heart was breaking for him so badly. Goodness, he's a great actor!
A feel-good series for when you desperately need warm fuzzies!
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messages
honestly, an awesome drama, 6 episodes, 24 minutes each, the one main question was, what is your dream, I'll not put any more on here cause it will be spoilers, after watching this, you will have some neat questions to answer for yourself! the actors were awesome, sorry I have never watched them before. oh yes, a reminder, y'all ever watch missing, the other side, if so, remember Thomas leaving and looking at the camera? well this "welcome" that this guy shows at the beginning, is so warm and really means it! Welcome!Was this review helpful to you?
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Drown Your Sorrows or Pick Yourself Up
This is a very warm and charming drama full of human lifestyles that are extremely different, depressing, exciting, full of the unknown... As life generally is. Full of genuine sentimentality, care, generosity, understanding, and patience this story is the definition of "slice-of-life", to me, at least.The characters within this story really had you falling in love with them and their story(ies) very quickly. One episode I was enthralled by someone dark and mysterious, the next I was crying, the next I was curious, and the next I was laughing! For only six episodes, this show really had a wide opening to the viewers feelings and emotions. It was like each episode the bars' new customers hit the buttons of your own personality, your own lifestyle.
The music really built up the story, kept the viewer wanting more and more of each story. The music kept the audience swooning for each "main character" of each episode; with even the most upsetting of moments, anger or sadness, the music kept the flow of the story going, helped it along just perfect enough to build up the story to it's climax. Kept the audience ready and waiting for more of each character's life, their story. On the edge of their seat is where you want your audience to be with the story, and the music added to the ambience and entertainment of a fabulous bar.
I think if they made this 12 episodes, it would be 50% too much and 50% the best length. This story is not a one-hit-wonder, it is a wonderful story of life and kindness in the deepest parts of humanity. I would have liked to have seen more of Fujiwara Kisetsu
(Nakauchi Satoru, Chef), Morisaki Win (Kobayashi Naoki, Bar owner), and Machida Keita (Amamiya Ryoichiro) together as friends and employees for their wonderful bar. This story is an underrated diamond, a wonderful show full of expectations at the right moment.
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