Initial Anime Review: Hanasaku Iroha

*This review has been updated. Click here for final impressions: "Hanasaku Iroha Final Impressions"

Evening folks.

Apart from the SG 2011 elections (which i can't participate in), everything in Anime & Manga seems the same.

And no, i'm not going to talk about it because this is not a political blog and i'm no political correspondent. Go to Channel News Asia to find out.

It's so horrible that i don't get manga for an entire week. Well... Japanese have to have their golden time.

Today, I've decided to do a review on:

"Hanasaku Iroha", or "Hana-Saku Iroha" (don't see what difference there is by placing a hyphen) an anime which I am currently watching. Yes, its one of those romance-filled, real life, super emotional type animes that we all (or some of us) love.



And just to make it a point, how can you not love the main character? She's sooooooo cute!!!

Well, I should go explaining the plot first, since that's the most important part.

Life in tokyo is, erm... not so good, when you have an irresponsible mother who is having a boyfriend and decides to abandon you to someone else. This is currently the life of this 16 year old girl; Ohana Matsumae. A hardworking girl who gets no reward for her efforts. You can say is harsh, but that's what makes it so realistic, lol.

So Ohana is left in the care of her grandmother, whom she realises owns a Taisho period (1920s) hot spring inn called Kissuiso in the countryside. Not getting on good terms with her grandmother at all, she makes her work at Kissuiso. However, she finds herself at ends with, well, almost all of the employees at the inn. (Like i said, harsh). Very discouraged at first, (even getting slapped later by her grandmother), she learns that she must change for the better, to make ammends, and get along well with them, eventually helping Kissuiso become even better in the future.

It is, without doubt, one of the best countryside type anime which i have ever seen. The plot is very well made, and it also contains humour to a generic level, though i don't quite understand why there was bondage in this anime, which is very unique.

Main Cast.

Besides that, it really is a heart-warming anime that you MUST WATCH.
You can get the fansubs for Hanasaku Iroha from Doki, Hatsuyuki and SHiN-gx


Hanasaku Iroha has 26 episodes, and premieres from April 3 to September 25



Oh yeah, i still haven't done the OP review... Damnit...

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