Rasuto kurisumasu

A very enjoyable romantic series with a tasteful comedic interlude here and there. It was perfect until about the 5th episode, then my enthusiasm dropped a bit, but it was still the best I've seen in a while. I was enjoying it, laughing along with them, and when there was a problem, a tense scene that usually ended the episode, I felt tense as well. :-D Good thing it's all out now. The main couple was good, they were funny, the problems were not solved by teenagers, but by adults, and the world was immediately more beautiful. In addition to the main couple we have three or four other couples. They're not as cool, but they still enhance the show more than anything else. I liked Haruki's directness and that he went after what he wanted. The Japanese don't do that that often. I just loved the story, the acting, and the humor. I even shed a tear. Only the ending was a bit too much for my taste (it almost seemed too American to me – I don't mean whether it ended well or badly, but the way it was executed). And that brings me to another big plus, and that is the OST, which was done by the band Wham! I dare say the Japanese couldn't have come up with anything better. Their music beautifully illustrates the whole atmosphere, plus the ending is terribly catchy, so I played it every time and sang along. :-D If you're looking for a more mature romance, you'll find it here. A better 4 stars. (2012.09.30)