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Really good and homey... but might benefit from more episodes
I honestly almost didn't watch it because of the age gap. But after seeing so many good reviews, I caved in and watched it. And honestly? It's such an underrated gem.Personally, I don't think that it's a romance-focused dorama, but shows more the struggles of being a woman in that time period (which is set after WWII in Japan). It shows how a woman, despite her skills, is often doubted and looked down on just because of her gender. Because of this culture being ingrained in the FL (Ichika), even she thought that her dreams must have limits. However, with the encouragement and support (+ a little bit of force) that she got from Amane, she begins to see that she has a place in the culinary world. With this, she begins to inspire other women around her as well.
However, it does have elements of romance. While the age gap did bother me, I can see that both Ichika and Amane went into the marriage fully aware that it is simply out of obligation. Both of them pulled their own weight in the relationship and didn't have power-imbalances that are prominent in age gap relationships. But with time and after seeing each other's strengths and weakness, the romance started to develop. However, I do think that the progression of their relationship wasn't clearly shown well. To an extent I can get how Amane's feelings developed, but with Ichika it was less convincing because she was more dismissive of such feelings (which I get, because she thinks she's hindering Amane from realizing his own future and tries to ignore any developing feelings for Amane's sake). I guess that if it had more eps, they could explore the relationship further.
Production wise, it is SO GOOD.
Would personally recommend!
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Good Enough
Japanese Drama " Nagatan to Aoto no Ryourijou" is a historical drama about food and family.The drama has that slice of life, cozy atmosphere that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. Those endings of the episodes were especially adorable and a nice touch.
The story is also pretty enjoyable, with the main couple's relationship being handled with care and nicely so that it wasn't that much of a deal their age gap. The male lead acting mature and not all cute and like a kid, aided with that a lot. Their relationship, overall, had a nice development and provided the drama with some lovable and sweet moments.
The little family drama that was added towards the ending was okay and didn't overshadow the main point of the story. It was also nice to have the female lead try to become a chef even though she was a woman. Her relationship with food was also interesting to watch.
So, overall, eight and a half out of ten.
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Food is love :)
It was such a refreshing story, the visuals were amazing, the cooking was scrumptious and the actors did a good with their respective characters. An Older woman and a younger man, not your conventional love story. Often times, people forget that even older/widowed women are worthy of love and recognition. Usually it is the older man and younger woman story that gets airplay, so this was indeed a surprising treat (no pun intended). There is also a subtle hint of feminism incorporated amidst the traditional Japanese society.The background with cooking all the dishes were very well executed. Even I want a Madeline! The end credits with extra scenes and song were smooth.
The subtle chemistry between the leads was just perfect because it was meant to awkward and sweet, each thinking if they should have feelings. As an older woman, her dilemma of having a younger husband thinking practically because of her age and position as widow made her felt unworthy of him. While he on the other hand, found her resilience to be attractive and yes food is definitely the way to a man's heart as he saw how she tried to get him to try the dishes as well as seal of approval. (taste of the food) But I think Amane liked Ichika from the first day he met her after she called him Aoto.
I would rewatch it because it is warm, cozy and sweet.
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Forget romance—this kitchen serves equality with a side of soy sauce
I have mixed feelings about this drama, not because of the large age gap between the two main characters, but how it’s being presented.We learn that, in order to save their restaurant, Ichika’s family arranged a marriage of convenience for one of the daughters. In the beginning, it was Ichika’s younger sister who was supposed to enter that marriage, but at the last minute, she backed out because 1) she was also older than the groom 2) she did not want to be stuck in a loveless marriage 3) somebody else who liked her proposed to her. All good reasons NOT to agree to a contract marriage.
But then we see Ichika agreeing to this contract marriage because of her outdated (and perhaps believable) concepts compared to her younger sister, who had a more idealistic view of the world. Being a widow in 50s Japan, Ichika basically consigned herself to a lesser role in the kitchen despite her excellent culinary skills. Her belief that a woman in a patriarchal society will never amount to being a head chef, let alone operate a business, is one that is valid considering what is the norm at that time. However, just because society has traditionally accepted a certain thought does not mean it couldn’t be changed for the better. And this is where Amane, her new husband, comes in.
Despite his young age, Amane is very sensible and has the business acumen to support Ichika in her dreams of managing her own cuisine. He quietly does things for his new wife without her awareness. Amane’s contribution to Ichika’s efforts later came to fruition when she finally salvages her family restaurant from ruin.
If you are expecting romance from this drama, don’t. This show is mostly about the food and how one woman’s dreams came true despite the obstacles in her way. Amane’s growing affection for Ichika looks very one-sided to me. I am not sure if it’s because of how the characters are written or the lack of chemistry between the two actors is the reason for this. The most I can see between Ichika and Amane is like how a big sister dotes on her much younger brother.
This drama is more like a PSA for food or for feminism, or both.
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A Soothing Drama of Food, Growth, and Quiet Love
This drama is super calm and healing, with food really at the center of it. Every scene in the kitchen, every dish being carefully prepared, feels soothing and almost therapeutic. The rhythm of cooking and sharing meals gives the show this gentle flow that makes it easy to just sink into.That said, the large age gap between the leads can be a little uncomfortable, and the chemistry sometimes leans more toward an older-sister/younger-brother vibe rather than straight-up romance. Even so, it’s really refreshing to see a female-centered character in this era. Ichika is independent, skilled, and determined, and her husband Amane quietly supports and believes in her the whole time. Their relationship shows that a healthy marriage can grow from respect, encouragement, and trust, not just instant sparks.
By the end, the drama really drives home that marriage is about two people willing to commit to each other. Feelings don’t have to start as love. They can grow naturally, like Amane’s affection for Ichika. It’s a nice reminder that love can develop from understanding and shared responsibility.
And the ending credits are such a cozy touch. The soft song sets a mellow mood, and the visuals always show people cooking—sometimes Ichika, sometimes other characters. Those small, slice-of-life cooking moments make the world feel alive and comforting, letting the warmth of the episode linger even after it’s over. It’s simple, but it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes this drama feel like a quiet, satisfying escape.
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A culinary series about a coock woman's journey in the 1950s
PLOT: FL, 34, a hotel chef, agrees to marry ML, a 19-year-old student, in place of her sister to save the family's traditional restaurant. He will help her become the head chef there (against the prejudices and customs of the time) and do everything he can to save the restaurant.+++ Excellent period recreation (sets, costumes, attitudes, etc.).
+++ Beautiful food scenes (with recipe summaries).
The two lead actors have a poker face, and the age gap is a bit difficult to overcome (FL acts almost like a mother).
### The development of feelings is implied, but the romance was never explicit.
=> It's still difficult being a woman, but in that era, it was even worse!!
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Série culinaire sur le parcours d'1 femme dans les années 50
PLOT: La FL, 34 ans, chef ds 1 hôtel, accepte d'épouser à la place de sa sœur, le ML, étudiant de 19 ans, pr sauver le restaurant traditionnel de sa famille. Il va l'aider à devenir Chef ds ce restaurant (contre les préjugés & habitudes de l'époque) et tout faire pr sauver les restau.
+++ Bonne reconstitution de l'époque (décors, costumes, mentalités, etc.).
+++ De belles images de cuisine (avec résumé des recettes)
Les 2 leads actors sont assez poker-face, et le age-gap est un peu difficile à surmonter (la FL se comporte presque comme une mère).
### La romance est sous-entendue, mais jamais rien d'explicite.
=> Cela reste difficile d'être une femme, mais à cette époque, c'était pire !!
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