~A story can be told in many ways, sometimes with broad cinematography upon the screen while other times all that is needed are the gentle brush strokes of human emotion..spirit..empathy..trust..uncertainty..hardships..tragedies..friendships..love..hope & dreams as the day~to~day revelations reveal a larger canvas of life~*.
So is "Yasashii Jikan", all the warmth and sudden turns of life as seen through the eyes of Wakui Yakichi a businessman who leaves his work in New York to return home to Hokkaido and now runs an intimate coffee shop after the tragic and sudden passing of his wife Megumi….and while the heart of the story is between father and son as circumstances of Megumi's death surround his son Takuro, it's also through the comings and goings of visitors to the coffee shop which unfold for a seamless array of storytelling in a style very much unique to this drama~♥. Against the scenic backdrop of Hokkaido a most moving performance by Terao Akira and Ninomiya Kazunari (I think this is one of Nino's♥ very best roles and on an emotional level #1!!!) as father and son struggle with a journey of healing, understanding and forgiveness…the healing of two souls really so torn apart for so long, and can't even say how much I cried while watching this drama♥ (;´□｀)！！！The outside or "side stories" which are through chance encounters of daily life give the drama an extra layer of realism and while they may not always be related to the drama's central relationship, I just never felt them to be quite "outside"….as each in their own right seemed to find their rightful place~.
Hirahara Ayaka's theme~* song♪ "Ashita" lays a foundation of true gentleness from its very first soft piano keynotes~* and here the lyrics in particular are most moving and directly symbolic of the drama's underlying themes♥. The melody will no doubt embrace and eventually engulf you within just a few episodes…it's so so much a beautiful song♪ and Hirahara Ayaka's vocals are exquisite~*. Throughout my viewing of these 11 episodes her song became just as much a part of the drama♥ as the characters themselves~.
One of the most endearing and powerful images throughout the drama are seen through Yakichi's eyes as the days wind down to a closing of night in silence where his spiritual conversations with Megumi occur in a sense of understanding and healing and having them nearing the end of episodes always left me with a feeling of warmth~* and yet a melancholy sadness as I couldn't wait to watch the next episodes to see how the story and its relationships would unfold~.
For a drama which isn't dependent on action or elaborate effects I found the imagery and many more scenes here than in numerous other dramas to have stayed with me…even days after I've watched the final episode. You really are left with a enthusiasm of how misses or chance meetings can mean so much more if only we gave them our attention and how those little moments~* of time in our daily lives could grow to much more leisure or significance. Themes of friendship, morals and how life's most difficult choices have their consequences and effects on others lives is also touched upon and perhaps those even knowing such difficulties first hand can find a redemption in how the human spirit plays out here….not always the smoothest or easiest road taken but with friendships♥ around you there's an encouragement you may take away.
"Yasashii Jikan" now ranks as one of my top 10 favorite♥ dramas of all time (I can't say enough about how impressed and moved I was with the character development, writing and ever engaging storyline~*) and while there were numerous special appearances~* and I know many more viewers surely recognized many more of them…..for me my two most favorite♥ were the cameos in episodes 7 and 9 by folk singing legend Kitajima Saburo and former J~Pop idol/ current actress Koizumi Kyoko respectfully~*…and seeing Kyonkyon♥ as a nurse was really cute~*…mite ne~＾ ＾。
~♥~
