I don’t usually watch J-Drama (Japanese Drama) but this came up on my feed on Netflix and I thought I’d give it a try and I was immediately hooked and I instantly fell in love with ‘Kotaro Lives Alone’.
Based on the manga ‘Kotaro wa Hitorigurashi’ the story follows Kotaro Sato (Eito Kawahara), a five-year old boy who moves into an apartment complex. Kotaro befriends his neighbor, an un-inspired manga artist named Shin Karino who is played by Japanese Idol and actor You Yokoyama, (now this is news to me since I don’t really follow the current trends with Japanese idols these days) when we meet Karino, his girlfriend dumps him because he was sleeping while she was waiting for him on their date. Karino is immediately curious about Kotaro, since the boy is living alone and the fact that he talks like a samurai.
While Kotaro insists on being independent like going to the public bath house alone or walking himself to kindergarden, Karino can’t help but worry about the kid and ends up walking with him to the bathhouse and bringing him to school. When Kotaro comments on how dirty Karino’s apartment is, he ends up cleaning and throwing the trash out and he is slowly starting to find the right inspiration for his manga. He may not realize it but Karino is slowly starting to act like a responsible adult because of Kotaro.
It’s not only Karino’s life which Kotaro changes, he also touches the lives of his other other neighbors as well. Mizuki Akitomo (Maika Yamamoto) is their beautiful neighbor, who makes delicious bento for Kotaro, she also works as a hostess in a club. While facing her own troubles, Mizuki is inspired by Kotaro’s strength and begins making changes in her life.
Now you might be wondering how does a 5-year old survive on his own? As the series progresses we learn that Kotaro receives a stipend from a law firm, the details of which I will be withholding to avoid spoilers. The shy and awkward lawyer Ayano Kobayashi is played by Kanako Momota, liker her co-star is also the leader of a Japanese Idol group- Momoiro Clover Z who sang the theme music to the two-part Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal movies, the song of course in on my playlist. At first, when Kobayashi is assigned the task of delivering Kotaro’s allowance, she thinks that it is demeaning of her job as an attorney but when she meets Kotoro, she too becomes inspired by him and makes a promise to do well in her job for him.
There are a number of other characters in the series and while it may have this ‘nothing is really’ happening vibe, it is the seemingly mundane and ordinary characters who capture your emotions. Turns out, the characters actually grown on you and become charming and endearing. As the series progresses the mystery of Kotaro’s situation slowly unravels and from being enamored with the cute Kotaro, themes of abuse and domestic violence make its way into the story, without being too blunt or direct about it. Part of the charm of the series is how it doesn’t become too overly dramatic of its themes but rather touches on it lightly but effectively.
From the first two episodes, you can’t help but smile and laugh because Kotaro is just too darn cute then by the third episode you are already crying at some scenes. Kotaro Lives Alone is a good J-Drama series to start with and is streaming on Netflix.