A Warmed Up Love

Sweet and great characters

Really happy I only discovered this after it is finished airing. This is the type of drama you binge-watch in one go. I didn't expect to love this as much as I do. The story was rich and entertaining and the overall vibe is perfect for Christmas/Winter time. The characters and the actors are all great in their roles too. I would argue some were a bit too good to be true towards the end. Though it's nice to see them all being kind, I don't think their actions and decisions were realistic.

Setting the huge age gap aside and the fact that the fl is really young, the main leads were perfect together. I absolutely loved the whole of the first 7 episodes (I watched those all in one go) and had to watch the rest the next day so I guess that broke the momentum for me. What I loved most was the mini heart to heart sessions the leads get when they are together on screen and that despite how different they are, they do match each other well when it comes to the most fundamental part - they get each other.

So the part where they keep saying to each other they don't match each other well, although true in most parts, is not entirely correct. I would have loved if we saw more of Asaba realising he loves Kiki without someone else (his ex-girlfriend) having to tell him.

It was such a slow-burn romance but I loveeeeeeeedd it. The actors are one of the massive reasons why - they all just were perfect for their roles. Although I wished Makoto didn't fall in love with Kiki because they matched better as friends and not only that, Kiki never saw him as more than friends despite her efforts to.

I really liked how they all had respective relationship and Asaba was direct with Kiki in telling her he's not able to respond to Kiki's feelings. Even their dates with the other leads were a nice addition to the depth of the story although I would have appreciated if there were less of them especially towards the end.

As much as I didn't mind them not spending so much time with each other (Asaba and Kiki), I wanted to see them more together towards the end. The distance between them on the first episodes were fine as they did interact when it mattered the most and also the drama had other full stories to offer.

However, the ending although happy, wasn't as satisfying for me. I kept feeling I wanted to see more of the leads together and I really wish they showed Kitagawa meeting someone else, she deserves it especially as she longs to be a bride and a mother. There was a part of me that thought what the point of all this was if there were no good ending for the other leads as they were actually kind. Again, by the end it felt like they prevented Kiki and Asaba from having more screen time together because they were trying to prolong the conclusion of their romance as much as possible.

Plus, there was no need for Kiki to be quite whiny towards the end, I felt like despite her young age, she is actually understanding of Asaba and what he is working towards so that bit at the convenience store was, I guess, for the sake of the scene and kiss lol.
The other characters and side couple were great to watch too.
And the OST!

So yes, overall, I am so glad I happened to stumble upon this. I feel like J-dramas have been on a roll recently. Its been years since Ive seen one and to have been watching one after another is surprising. I want to see more stories like this but with more screen time of the main leads together and if the other leads could please fall in love with other characters, for their own sake. We don't need to see them so heartbroken.

I have more to say but this drama was just really good although a tad bit stingy with showing us more of the main leads together. I wanted it to be longer! I personally really enjoyed this story so much.

P.S: Put a high-rewatch value because I feel like this is just perfect for the holidays. And probably because I'm still hung up on the story lol.

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Warm, Holiday Feels - Least Weird J-Drama I've Watched

This was a surprisingly sweet, warm, comfortable, holidayish watch. It didn't feel like a jdrama - the characters didn't act like they were animated or had just jumped out of an anime. There were no "WTH DID I JUST WATCH?!" moments, though I kinda hate the way jdramas allow SMLs to make non-consensual moves on the FLs.

FL: Mori Nana reminded me of Park Bo Young's Do Bong Soon. A cutie who has been dealt an unfair hand in life, but with determination, seeks to find another passion.

ML: I loved the way this guy was written. I went in expecting another arrogant, emotionally stunted tsundere CEO, but he surprised me. This guy is sweet, listens well, can humble himself, and wears his goofy side on his sleeve.

Both leads had excellent comedic timing, and contrary to many commenters here, I thought they had chemistry from beginning to end. It was plain as day for anyone to see that they liked each other, but they took a long time to recognize it. I loved their back-and-forth banter, and the way they had the same dream and different skills to accomplish it.

Another thing that can act as both a pro and a con is that there are no bad characters. SFL and SML are both extremely nice people, with their own flaws, but sometimes so nice it was difficult to watch their hearts break.
The supporting cast was lovely, and it was so nice to watch the convenience store group be each others' best buddies. On a whole, i think this will be one of my holiday picks when that time of year comes around :)

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Sweet and charming romance

PLOT: ML, CEO of a chain of convenience stores he wants to renovate, hires FL, a part-time employee who makes online dessert reviews. She will participate in the dessert creation team (with ML2 and ML's ex). ML and FL will gradually develop a special bond, despite the age gap, FL2, ML2, etc.

+++ I really like the CL's relationship; it's very cute and has intriguing interactions. Here, we have two one-sided lovers who sacrifice themselves for the happiness of the couple (which is rare), but in the ML-FL2 relationship, there's no chemistry, just affection, and in the FL-ML2 relationship, it was clearly friendship on FL's part.
+++ Realistic story, with believable professional relationships and endearing characters.

### Such classic clichés that they're worn out: the fall where the ML catches the main FL, the CL running towards each other in the finale, etc.
### I'm not a big fan of Japanese OSTs, always very cheerful (fake cheerfulness) regardless of the context.

=> Nice series, driven by the interactions of the CL.
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Cute romance dans le sucré

PLOT: Le ML, CEO d'1 gpe de supérettes qu'il veut rénover, engage la FL, travailleuse à mi-temps, qui fait des critiques de desserts en ligne. Elle va participer a gpe de créat° des desserts (avec ML2 & ex du ML). ML & FL vont peu à peu nouer un lien spécial, malgré age gap, FL2, ML2, etc.

+++ J'aime bcp le CL, très cute et avec des interactions intrigantes. Ici, on a 2 one-side-lovers qui se sacrifient pr le bonheur du couple (c'est rare), mais ds le couple ML-FL2, il n'y a aucune alchimie, juste de l'affection, et ds le couple FL-ML2, il s'agissait d'évidence de friendship de la part de la FL.
+++ Story réaliste, avec des relations professionnelles crédibles et des personnages attachants.

### Des clichés tellement classiques qu'ils sont usés : chute où le ML rattrape la FL, CL qui court l'un vers l'autre dans le final, etc.
### Je ne suis pas une gde fan des OSTs japonaises, tjs très guillerettes (fausse gaité) quelque soit le contexte.

=> Série sympa, portée par les interactions du CL.

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This drama was such a refreshing change of pace. It reminds me of the cutesy cooking manga I used to read like "Mixed Vegetables" and "Kitchen Princess," but not in a high school setting. I like the business atmosphere a lot. The lead actors Tomoya Nakamura (one of my newer favs) and Nana Mori have excellent chemistry despite the drama being decidedly non-skinship. It might be because Mori was so young, or just the route they decided to go, not sure, but it actually worked. Because it allowed the focus of the drama to be on the actual story, not on "ooh, they're touching." The one thing I don't usually care for are tsundere characters and Nakamura's character is definitely that. It took roughly 5 episodes for me to warm up to him. But once I did, I realized he was a pretty nice guy. It probably helped once, well, his plotline twisted unexpectedly and made him more accessible. The FL has a lot of emotional hangups from previous failures so it's interesting to see her work through those as the story progresses, learning that failing doesn't mean quitting, etc. Some really excellent messages. AND, this drama has the absolute nicest alternate love interests I've ever encountered. None of that backbiting and sniping we usually see, just genuinely nice people. That was such a breath of fresh air. And of course, rooting for the age-gap couple. Because they're darling, once you get to know them. This might be one of my most favorite age-gap stories, actually. It just took it's time in the telling. Overall, a sweet and clean drama for anyone who likes cooking, age-gap romances in a business setting, and sweet fluff.

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Mature characters - nice rom com

I wasn’t sure who was supposed to end up together and how the couples were going to end up together. I felt that Kiki and Shintani were more couple-like and as the series was progressing, I was thinking – ah maybe the second lead gets the girl here. Hoping against hope, of course, it wasn’t meant to be. Asaba’s feelings for Kiki was confusing – maybe he was confused as well, but really why did he have to realise almost right to the end of the show. All said, it was a good ending for Kiki and Asaba. I just wished we saw more of them as a couple to have a more fluffy feel.

I liked that the drama did not over complicate situations by misunderstandings. The characters all acted mature and realistic. You have supportive friends and colleagues. No scheming and revenge.

A nice light rom-com.

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Um J-drama Gostoso de Assistir

Este J-drama me envolveu de uma forma encantadora. Embalada por uma história fácil de acompanhar e sem exagerar no drama Kono Koi Wa Atatamesu Ka? acabou aquecendo meu coração :)

Apesar de parecer um típico J-drama, acabamos sendo apresentados a uma protagonista que não segue muito o padrão das protagonistas dos dramas de romance japonês. Kiki é uma garota que não tem problema de declarar seus sentimentos para quem gosta e como uma pessoal normal do "mundo real" faria ela não fica obcecada ou perseguindo o cara como na maioria dos J-dramas.

Eu gosto dos dramas japoneses mas odeio as protagonistas que correm atrás do protagonista como idiotas. Caramba, o mundo é grande, se uma pessoa não corresponde aos seus sentimentos bola para frente, isto não é o fim do mundo. Esta foi a principal razão de minha alta classificação para este drama, a protagonista segue em frente tanto na vida profissional quanto na vida amorosa, foi uma ótima personagem.

Além de ter gostado da personagem foi ótimo acompanhar todo o processo de criação e desenvolvimento de novos doces.

Me despeço deste drama com pesar, já sinto saudades, foi uma boa sensação a espera à cada semana por um novo episódio. Altamente recomendável. Amei o final :)

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Me falaram tão bem desse Jdrama que criei expectativas demais.

Só pra não dizer que é 100% garantido que irei gostar de todo drama que minha irma indica. As vezes aparece um drama que foge da curva e não me agrada da mesma forma que a agradou.

É bem verdade que nossos gostos são bem parecidos, por isso boa parte das vezes nossas opiniões sobre os dramas que assistimos caminham em mesma direção. No entanto, de tempos em tempos acabo não gostando de algum drama que ela achou maravilhoso e vice versa. Talvez esse seja o 1% de alguma coisa que difere nossas personalidades e Kono Koi wa Atatamesu ka representa justamente isso.

Por volta do mês de Novembro/ Dezembro de 2020 me lembro de vê-la super empolgada enquanto acompanhava o lançamento semanal dos episódios. Fiquei super empolgada ao ouvir as inúmeras qualidades do drama em questão, então resolvi assisti-lo no início desse ano.

Mas a verdade é que ao contrario dela, achei o desenvolvimento da trama super arrastado, e não tive vontade de ver o próximo episódio o quanto antes, e olha que o drama nem é grande, mas cheguei a demorar vários dias para chegar no final.

Talvez eu tenha criado expectativas demais sobre a história, mas acho que mesmo que não fosse o caso o mesmo resultado iria acabar acontecendo inevitavelmente porque não consegui me envolver com os personagens da história.

Asaba Takumi é justamente o tipo de personagem masculino que não gosto: um executivo competente no trabalho, mas quando o assunto é romance sua personalidade fria e indiferente me tira do sério.

O lado bom é que ao contrário do que geralmente acontece nos Jdramas a protagonista não é aquela tipica mulher boba que correrá como louca atrás do homem o tempo todo. Inoue Kiki é uma jovem que já teve suas desilusões amorosas e profissionais e por isso não age como uma menininha indefesa.

Suspeito que teria gostado mais do drama se focassem mais no desenvolvimento dos doces, e no crescimento profissional dos personagens dentro da empresa, e na relação de amizade entre eles.

Quando o romance entrou no jogo, Kono Koi wa Atatamesu ka acabou entregando aquela típica receita japonesa nada romântica que vivo fugindo porque nunca consegue me satisfazer.

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