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MusicalVeggies
STORY (No spoilers)
It was by sheer luck that I came across a random recommendation for this seriously overlooked show and since the title intrigued me (it had 'Kyoto Love Story' in it, how could I NOT check it out, lol), I decided to check out the synopsis and when I read that the show was about a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto, I excitedly decided to watch it because I've always had a soft spot for shows which depict age-old traditions and cultures - there is just so much rich history and traditional customs embedded within them that really fascinate me.
Well, this show did not let me down or disappoint me, both from a traditional and cultural standpoint but also from its cinematic and absolutely breathtaking shots of historic Kyoto. This show is a marvellous showcase of the city, of its famous cultural landmarks and of the lives of the people who descend from established traditional families with the grand weight of history and legacy supporting them. While the show does centre around the 3 daughters of a traditional Japanese confectionery and the interesting workings and operations behind it, there are also brief introductions to other age-old Japanese cultural aspects such as kabuki, tea ceremony, ikebana, geikos, etc. And characters all speak with a delightful Kyoto accent. For me, to be able to see all this come alive on-screen was one of the absolute best things about this show.
Within such a rich cultural context are our 3 leading ladies - the daughters of an old established Japanese confectionery shop, the 450-year-old 'Fukuyado Honpo'. The show depicts their budding love lives and it's quite interesting to see how each girl grows into her own skin through their different characters and personalities. Their own love interests present different challenges to them and it's quite the ride to see how each couple work through their own issues and their own imperfections.
There is one thing worth mentioning though - a lot of the characters have one thing in common which is being TIGHT-LIPPED. Perhaps this is a natural result of living in a city so steeped in ancient culture and traditions but our characters all tend to hide away their thoughts, feelings and their emotions, maintaining a strict sense of decorum and propriety as far as they are able. This problem seems to be prevalent in almost all our characters and is the source of bulk of the conflicts within the show. It can be a source of frustration for viewers but patience is a virtue because thankfully our characters learn to work through their weaknesses and grow into better understanding of themselves and their partners. The ride can occasionally be rough but there are rainbows after the storm!
MUSIC
The OST for this show consists mainly of our opening and closing songs which are lively and catchy and very memorable. I particularly loved the closing song - the way it comes in at the end of the episode always lands with impact and gives additional oomph to the drama.
RE-WATCH VALUE
While the show might have been interesting in terms of its setting and the character journeys, it was not captivating enough for me to want to rewatch. I might just check out some of the scenes here and there but certainly not a full rewatch by any means.
It was by sheer luck that I came across a random recommendation for this seriously overlooked show and since the title intrigued me (it had 'Kyoto Love Story' in it, how could I NOT check it out, lol), I decided to check out the synopsis and when I read that the show was about a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto, I excitedly decided to watch it because I've always had a soft spot for shows which depict age-old traditions and cultures - there is just so much rich history and traditional customs embedded within them that really fascinate me.
Well, this show did not let me down or disappoint me, both from a traditional and cultural standpoint but also from its cinematic and absolutely breathtaking shots of historic Kyoto. This show is a marvellous showcase of the city, of its famous cultural landmarks and of the lives of the people who descend from established traditional families with the grand weight of history and legacy supporting them. While the show does centre around the 3 daughters of a traditional Japanese confectionery and the interesting workings and operations behind it, there are also brief introductions to other age-old Japanese cultural aspects such as kabuki, tea ceremony, ikebana, geikos, etc. And characters all speak with a delightful Kyoto accent. For me, to be able to see all this come alive on-screen was one of the absolute best things about this show.
Within such a rich cultural context are our 3 leading ladies - the daughters of an old established Japanese confectionery shop, the 450-year-old 'Fukuyado Honpo'. The show depicts their budding love lives and it's quite interesting to see how each girl grows into her own skin through their different characters and personalities. Their own love interests present different challenges to them and it's quite the ride to see how each couple work through their own issues and their own imperfections.
There is one thing worth mentioning though - a lot of the characters have one thing in common which is being TIGHT-LIPPED. Perhaps this is a natural result of living in a city so steeped in ancient culture and traditions but our characters all tend to hide away their thoughts, feelings and their emotions, maintaining a strict sense of decorum and propriety as far as they are able. This problem seems to be prevalent in almost all our characters and is the source of bulk of the conflicts within the show. It can be a source of frustration for viewers but patience is a virtue because thankfully our characters learn to work through their weaknesses and grow into better understanding of themselves and their partners. The ride can occasionally be rough but there are rainbows after the storm!
MUSIC
The OST for this show consists mainly of our opening and closing songs which are lively and catchy and very memorable. I particularly loved the closing song - the way it comes in at the end of the episode always lands with impact and gives additional oomph to the drama.
RE-WATCH VALUE
While the show might have been interesting in terms of its setting and the character journeys, it was not captivating enough for me to want to rewatch. I might just check out some of the scenes here and there but certainly not a full rewatch by any means.
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