Osen

I was quite fascinated by the leading character's trait as well as the actress behind the role.

She is a person that shoulders the responsibility of a Ryokan-style (high-class heritage) Restaurant. With a sloppy side, but displaying her temperance and genius (as well as the family burden from an early age) to please and understand her customers fully. She has as strong preference for what she thinks is worth the effort, a driven personality.. and her motto "kuru mono kobamazu, saru mono owasa desu kara" or "do not refuse the things that come, and do not pursue the things that leave" is repeated many times and is the foundation of her persona.

As you can expect, problems surrounding the restaurant as well as from third parties arise, and they deal with them with food and service only they can provide. The show it's quite "concerned" with the concept of keeping up with new age, and the topic of tradition and being left behind ("jidai").

With layered characters and a colorful cast, and (surprisingly) no romance, being quite educational on several topics (for anyone interested in Japanese culture and traditions).. and one of THE most interesting endings I've encountered on a Japanese show. For a second, my expectations rose (as they usually do) and my imagination went wild (with developments I would have written myself, given the chance).. and the show actually went that way!! I'm quite positive this drama was simply too well written and I didn't notice, only believing that I was having my own delusions, when it was carefully crafted to deliver that experience in the first place. Delightful experience and will certainly watch again in the future.