Arifureta Kiseki (2009)

To date this is my favorite drama. The story is about three generations in Japan that have grown up since WWII. The two lead characters (Nakama and Kase) are adults but still the youngest members of their families. The scriptwriter portrays each character with warmth and a critical eye revealing both strengths and weaknesses. In some cases, for example the two fathers of the middle generation, you can't tell which parts of their characters is a strength and which is a weakness.

Unlike most dramas that I've seen, all the characters are completely realistic, even the most bizarre. There is not much action in the drama. For me this was no problem because I was so caught up in the characters. The acting was superb especially Nakama Yukie and Kase Ryo.

The script is exquisite. Look for the scene where Kase explains Irish dancing to Nakama. So simple and innocent and such a powerful description of their lives!

This drama is worth watching again and again but one caution. If you need English subtitles make sure they are good. Some of the translations are so bad that it ruins the story. Look for subtitles by Momoflower, she did a wonderful job.

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I loved this. I always prefer stories that are character-driven, and Arifureta Kiseki was perfect. It follows Kana and Shouta, two people from different walks of life with a common pain that brings them closer together as the months go by. Nothing is perfect though, and throughout the drama they face road blocks in their relationship that require time and lots of development in each of them to overcome.

There are funny moments, there are heartbreaking moments, and there are adorable moments between all of the characters no matter their relationship with one another. Arifureta Kiseki explores the complexities of friendship, of family, and of being with the person you love, even if you're not sure you can be with them.

The acting was fantastic, and I really appreciated every moment. The episodes are around 40 minutes long, but I was never bored and I never wanted them to end. I think the music could've been a little better, but it did work for the show and was well-placed. I also found the scene jumps to be a little jarring, but honestly I don't care much about cinematography so I didn't mind. The best scene is the Irish dancing scene, and it was really well-done.

I would definitely watch this again and I'm glad it was my first Japanese drama. It was such a joy to watch; I'd recommend it to anyone that enjoys stories about *characters*. There isn't any action in this and the storyline is entirely about Kana and Shouta as they grow separately and together. It's just really, really well done.

9.5/10

**2020/04/11 - 6.0/10
I changed my rating because I realized that this isn't at all memorable for me. I don't remember the characters, what happened, or really anything about it that I discussed in my review. Shows that are true 9s for me are super memorable and the stories stay with me for years. Unfortunately, I felt that this was more of a 6 star show.

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