拝啓、父上様 ▫️2007 ▫️Info

I had fond memories of this show, but to be honest I didn’t remember any details. I think in my mind I had mixed up this one and Yasashii Jikan, which to be fair are both the same writer, director and starring Nino. I didn’t enjoy Yasashii Jikan as much as I thought I would upon a second viewing and I enjoyed this unexpectedly more! Strange how the mind works.

This show has a lot of the features of Yasashii Jikan (including unfortunately some sexism/objectification of women) but it felt overall more put together and entertaining. It had the good aspects, like slow and comfy vibes; human stories; scenery of Japan and information on Japanese culture (and of course Nino). It also had a diverse set of characters but I felt they were given more screen time and I was able to invest more in the side characters with this show. Perhaps there is no need to compare the two shows, but because they overlap in some ways it’s hard not to. If I were to judge this show without comparing it I would probably still appreciate or dislike similar things.

The story starts slow but that is a positive thing, especially because in the middle when things get more silly and exciting the contrast left an impression on me. It carries a nice balance between gentle slice-of-life and robust comedy adventures, with a side of drama. That type of environment seems perfect for a diverse actor like Nino, as well. Speaking of which, one of my favorite parts of the show is Nino’s narration. Every episode has long passages of Nino speaking his thoughts in the form of an imaginary letter to his father (who he has never met). Not only do you get to listen to Nino’s soothing voice but it was a great way to get insight into the character’s emotional world as he navigates the strange and difficult happenings around him. That narration on top of the pleasant scenery gave the show a very intimate and comfy atmosphere. I have always liked Yokoyama You so it was nice to have him around in a silly role as well — the whole cast was really solid.

Although the love story wasn’t the main thing I was drawn to, it was cute and I am always down for a clumsy, nervous Nino when it comes to romance. I think there are many things in the story I can’t fully understand, like the gentrification of these types of classic neighborhoods in Japan. But it’s not too hard to connect to the emotions characters reveal when encountering that type of situation. I thought overall it had a good ending, even though some questions are left unanswered. In a way, this leaves the world alive and still transforming and I didn’t feel unsatisfied at all. It also seems a bit metaphorical, in the same way no one knows what will happen in the future, no one in the show knows how their community will change, and it is left unknown to convey that reality. Great OST, vibes and Nino’s silliness shines through. This is a show I would watch again.

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