Deaimon

Deaimon is a really wholesome and easygoing anime. It's probably one of the best Iyashikei's I've seen. (Even tho it's not tagged to be one on MAL). Since it's one of the lesser known but great anime of spring 2022, I thought of making a review on it.
Here it goes:-

Story:
The storyline is pretty simple and easy to understand. Being mainly based around a wagashi store (Japanese sweet shop) called "Ryokushou", story revolves around the members of it.
"Nagomu", the shop owner's son who went to Tokyo to follow his career decides to come back and help at the store. He later finds out that they ... have adopted a little girl named "Itsuka" and is asked to be a father figure to her. The plot progresses depending upon the events occurring in Ryokushou store.

Characters:
Characters in Deaimon are very likeable. They are conveyed in a great way. Tho Nagomu and Itsuka are focused more often since they are the main leads. Interactions among them are one of the best things about this anime. They are really fun and wholesome to watch.

Artstyle & Animation:
Artstyle is decent. As for the animation, it's really clean. One thing I'd like to mention is that the way they showed the wagashi making process was really good. It was depicting all the things which are done in making actual sweets in real life. Another good thing was that they also share some factual knowledge about it time to time.

Sound:
All of the OSTs, opening and ending fit so well with everything. The ending is sure one of my favourite. I actually never skipped it. It's calm and soothing to listen.

Pacing:
Nothing to complain about here either. It's well paced and they show a decent amount of content in every episode. Everything shown is easily understandable.

Overall,
It's a great anime. Following the theme of the series, it has a healing effect and calm atmosphere. I watched it every week while it was airing and it was a great experience. Definitely worth a try...

Of all the comfy, slice-of-life shows this season, mangaka Rin Asano's story about a family-found situation, meshed with the delicacies of wagashi a.k.a Japanese confectionery sweets, is the ultimate combination of "comfort within your own home" and the genuine loving kindness of a well-knitted family-oriented relationship that's a charm to watch. And despite this manga being out since 2016, I'm surprised that even a few years onwards until today, this has not received an English translation, and even if you do find one, it's hard to come by. Despite this, Deaimon is really a hidden gem that I felt was and is now still underrated ... and underappreciated quite a fair bit, for a show that honestly didn't garner the reputation that it truly deserves.

As the title suggests, Deaimon is loosely translated as the Recipe for Happiness (I already liked the metaphor from Day 1), which is exactly what the show is going for, despite it being the kind of understated and lowkey introduction phases that foreshadows to us the audience that this is not gonna be something noteworthy. But you would be a buffoon if you'd thought of this in the most shallowest of notions, because the beholder of Deaimon lies in its simplicity to deliver a solid show that is consistent, predictable-yet-unpredictable, and a Hanasaku Iroha-cum-Barakamon mix of feel-good feeling on top of its many obtuse layers that you might be calling out the predictable angle of this, and I promise you that this won't be the case.

Deaimon: Recipe of Happiness's story rests on the never-ending tradition of a "family-found" story, where this girl by the name of Itsuka Yukihira gets abandoned by her lone father and is left towards the kind elderly folk of Ryokushou to be taken in and taken care of. Itsuka's biological father, whom seemingly from first glance, has undergone a divorce within the Yukihira family (though it's never stated), so much that it tormented the only daughter to question about her parents' origins for years while growing up in Ryokushou. Around the same time, the protagonist Nagomu Irino, who's been on a voyage of his own by running away from home to pursue his dream of becoming a musician in Tokyo, this went on for 10 years until word comes back that Heigo Irino, his father-cum-owner of Ryokushou was hospitalized, and the same word demanded that Nagomu pack his bags to immediately come home and help out in the family's wagashi business, and in the process, be the successor to Ryokushou. This is where the similarity to Spring 2011's Hanasaku Iroha comes about with the same ordeals of certain familial traits (like family legacy, succession and intergenerational bonds) where purpose is the premise's core forefront symbolism, and Summer 2014's Barakamon in the vein where both Nagomu and Itsuka meet that kickstarts the tumultuous relationship and thus begins the succession story of who's going to be the next heir to Ryokushou.

One thing that you must definitely understand to experience all that Deaimon is worth in its greatness, is in characterization, because this is a character-driven story after all. At first, it's a given that both Nagomu and Itsuka will be at loggerheads with one another, simply because their tolerance for each other is grinded only on the surface level. It's with the understanding of how the characters work that slowly intertwines the story plot, and makes the watching experience get better with every baby step in the way. Nagomu may look like a carefree idiot who minds his own business, a wishy-washy absent-minded person whom doesn't know how to make decisions, and someone whom plays to the tune of his own gags, but deep down, he's a mature and caring young adult that's learned the hard way after graduating from college and pursuing his failed musician stint dream in Tokyo for 10 years, earning nothing but a girlfriend (Kanoko Matsukaze) in the process, and then again only to dump her without any word heard for a period this long. In all essence, I felt an inkling that some of us are like Nagomu Irino: someone whom prioritizes his own life, makes decisions without thinking of the consequences, but yet can hold our head high and do things the way that is already glued to our character, and still make it through a dark period of our young adult lives experimenting and settling down when things feel right. And all in all, this is what makes Nagomu Irino likable, such that he has a lot of women in his life (not the harem type), from the elderly folk working in Ryokushou, his direct family, his girlfriend Kanoko, the part-timer Mitsuru Horikawa, and much less the central female MC Itsuka herself becoming her foster father figure in the process, to interact with while going through life's daily struggles and learning the different types of wagashi sweets with their symbolisms. I really like that.

On the basis for Itsuka Yukihara, being abandoned at a tender young age does not bode well, especially for children whom parents think that when they do not get their life together, all they can do is to "spare the rod and spoil the child", creating the nightmarish dreams that Itsuka would never see her real parents again. And in the years since she was raised in Ryokushou, she's learned to have both a mature mindset and a strong, but kind heart to serve those in need, just like a waitress in a restaurant. But don't try to trigger Itsuka, for her sharp tongue can sound nasty at times, and most of those times, it's Nagomu whom gets the bulk of the criticism that slowly with time, becomes one of calmness and understanding. That's not to say that Itsuka still harbours hatred for her parents, which when her mother Shinri eventually manages to locate her in Ryokushou, the nightmares come back like darkness looming within a person's being, and Nagomu has to play his part to ensure that the daughter-parent relationship is amended by hook or crook, but all done with heart to ensure that the prolonged years of hatred doesn't amplify out of spite. It's Nagomu's heart of sincerity that slowly transforms Itsuka's character from being a cold to a heartwarming person that's just like him, under his care. To that effect, I really have to give a shoutout to the total newbie VA Kozue Yuuki, for this is actually her very first character casting gig, and what absurdity to land a main character role from the get-go. How she depicted the 10-year-old Itsuka is nothing short of ingenious, the perfect casting voice for how a 10-year-old kid should sound.

The other characters, well mostly folks and friends of Nagomu and Itsuka, whether be it family or kin, are nice and work around carving both MC's lives in kindness and fervour. It's just a literate wagashi (sweet) feeling all around that touches the warmest depths of the heart to make this a show that absolutely needs no filters nor some wishy-washy, over-the-top drama just to spite the audience. It's just a very good show that displays as its warranted, with the family treatment being centrifugal to the overall enjoyment. Plus, it's a guarantee if you have a very talented series composer like Reiko Yoshida, this woman has done decades worth of scriptwriting and storyboarding, so much so that Deaimon adds to the blimp as a +1 to her versatile CV that's an amazing job well done.

I know I give a lot of flak to Encouragement Films for being a low-budget studio, producing existing projects that have been made by other studios (i.e. Symphogear's premiere season which has been since eclipsed by Satelight, or GochiUsa switching studios every season Date A Live style), shows that don't require lots of production prowess (i.e. Fall 2018's Merc Storia) and that one show which absolutely sucked in all aspects (i.e. Isekai Cheat Magician). But for Deaimon's case, it was different: it felt fresh with the watercolour visuals, the change of seasons and the light-heartedness of the character designs which I think blends well with the overall tone of the series, it's just beautiful to look at. And Deaimon to me, just looks like the studio has finally found its Encouraging stride producing light content (that's been done with Merc Storia), and I pray that it stays that way to make anime "Films" with a light coat of paint.

That in and of itself, trickles down to the OST, which I feel is one of the best low-key compositions of the season, and I say that with heart. For the longest while, I felt like Maaya Sakamoto was just gleaming along doing more anime VA roles than actual song compositions for Anisongs, and it's a stark comparison when you compare her VA role to her actual theme song compositions (which aren't many to begin with). The last song that I liked was Spring 2020's Arte's OP, and that in and of itself, almost seems like an exclusivity deal that she'd only be brought back for her songs in the Spring season because she fits the rhythms well. And this is exactly the case here with her OP "Sumire", which the music style hearkens back to her founding years in the late 90s being a growing Seiyuu to the juggernaut that she is today. The song sounds absolutely beautiful with the inner touches of warmth, that I am constantly always anticipating with eagerness with each passing episode. This song is definitely at the top 5 of my best OPs of the season. ayaho and Junichi Soga's ED sounds good as well, though not as immersive as the OP. But overall, it's really well done for its immersion with the anime in totality.

Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness is a show that's worth a recipe meant to invoke happiness from all of the unstable walks of life from people all around. And while this continues to stay underrated, I hope that we can continue talking about this fine little hidden gem that is truly the magnitude of fun and wholesome, in a way that is uplifting the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" in its AniManga form. It's sweetness in a way that you both can and can't explain, and it's certainly an enjoyable series if you give this show the chance that it deserves.

Every once in a while we get these slow burn, character driven stories that offer advice and legitimately solid examples of how to pick yourself up after failure. Deaimon does exactly that and really came out of nowhere as the pleasant surprises of the season.

At this point in my life, I love anime that end up being thought provoking and allow me to grow along with the characters. I like characters who are relatable, not perfect and organic. This show has all of that as well as some pretty educational cooking information too.

I’m not going to lie, as someone who loves romance drama and unfinished ... relationship business plot lines, I absolutely loved Kanoko and Nagomu’s relationship in this. They felt like actual normal people which is so hard to come by in modern anime where it’s usually just fanservice, nosebleeds and rinse and repeat romance tropes. Their relationship wasn’t the main focus of the story, of course. That would be the impact that Itsuka has on Nagomu which is also great, but it was my favourite part. I can really count on one hand how many shows we’ve had in the past few years that felt this real. Yesterday wo utatte comes to mind as one.

The first couple episodes started a little slow and admittedly I was kind of bored, but once the romantic undertones got introduced into the story and the family mochi business began picking up, it really hooked me. I was going to skip this show because quite frankly, a show about desert making on the outside isn’t something I’d be interested in, but I can’t express how wrong I was.

I’m so glad I did take a chance on this, fell in love with these characters and this small intimate setting and had a blast with it. I highly recommend this for any fan of slice of life, people who want characters that feel real and those who are just looking for a genuinely cute and wholesome show to watch. You won’t regret it.

Deaimon gets 8 deserts out of 10.

NOTE: while I focused on the romantic aspects of the story because that’s what most important in a SOL story for ME. This story has something for everyone, people who want fluffy surrogate dad/daughter moments, people who want to see healthy parent child relationships, those who want to learn about Japanese sweets, drama lovers, some genuinely hilarious comedic moments and some lovely art, this has it all. The only reason I can’t give a 9/10 is because I didn’t see enough of Kanoko and Nagumo’s relationship develop in the 12 episodes.

"Sugar
Yes, please
Won't you come and put it down on me?
I'm right here, 'cause I need
Little love, a little sympathy
Yeah, you show me good loving
Make it alright
Need a little sweetness in my life."

You can call me cringe for putting this outdated mainstream pop music's chorus in a review,cause that song popped on my head everytime i watched the show.
... Cause i does give you sweetness both mentally and physically (cause they sell sweets...get it?"

After a 2 years of not watching dad and daughter relationship based anime since Kakushigoto and UchiMusume,i finally found this gems that similar like it with a new theme,SWEETS.

Sweets is symbol of happiness (except if you're diabetic of course) and can this anime catch up with the theme itself and spread happiness as well ? it absolutely does.

Though at some part of the first episodes makes me anxious by seeing the main male lead well let's say "failed at life" cause he pretty much a jobless and since I'm gonna graduated from highschool soon,the thought of being a jobless or NEET extremely scared me to the bones.

BUT,the sweetness that i got just overwhelmed that feeling and i can enjoy it and forgetting that part.

The animation is also pretty good,it match the vibes and feel "calming" and serene,sure it's not an over the top or unique kind of animation but it still above average.

The music is also perfect for this anime ,especially the opening.
One word i can use to describe it is "peaceful",if you're a fans of a slow tempo yet catchy music,I'm pretty sure you gonna like it.number 3 on my best OP for this season.

The characters make the show even more perfect,the tempramental dad,the sweet and caring mom,the tsundere kid and the chill and easy going MC,ain't that sound like a perfect family to me.

Overall this one is a very recommended SOL anime,this is my comfort anime for this season,I'm pretty sure most of SOL fans are gonna like this one as well.

Also i hope that the story doesn't develop like Usagi Drop or UchiMusume cause you know why,i personally doesn't hate or dislike the "daughter to couple" kind of thing but just this once,please don't go down that route.

(THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS)

Deaimon, also known as Recipe of Happiness, is a story about finding. Everybody at one point in their lives is looking for something, whether something small or large. Adapted by the Young Ace manga by the same name, this wholesome yet somehow sorrowful anime is about a girl named Itsuka and our protagonist Nagomu, who are both looking for something in their lives.

The story is outstanding. The main topic of the story is our heroine, Itsuka looking for her father, who left her at Ryokushou. We are often presented with flashbacks of her dad and their life until he left ... her. While looking for her father at the station, that's where she meets our protagonist Nagomu, who has returned after 10 years of being a musician in Tokyo. Nagomu's band broke up, and until now he has been doing side gigs, barely passing by. Many twists could shock you and keep you interested, and although this is a healing and easygoing anime, the story is fantastic.
The sort of episodic nature of the show fits, as we see the people who work and revolve around the shop, with each character getting their episode to shine. The buildups and character growths were handled excellent, and the way the show unravels bit by bit is terrific.

Normally, I think good art is crucial to an anime. Good art catches your eye and it brings the show to life. Deaimon does it exceptionally well, as each background art was made with love, with the style being incredibly unique and beautiful, looking like a pastel painting. The details of the seasons passing by were spectacular and added a lot of flavour to the show. Character designs were decent, some characters looked average but some looked great. The animation didn't flow sometimes, but a lot of times the animation looked beautiful, like the snowing segments. Overall, Deaimon chose a strange but unique art style and executed it very well.

Music and sound are also very important, as they show the mood and how the characters are feeling. Whether it is a comedic scene, a sad scene, or a wholesome scene, Deaimon puts the perfect soundtrack to fit the mood. It never felt out of place or weird. The opening and ending themes were superb, one of my favourites this season. The singer sang it very elegantly and the music compliments her voice. The background noises are what you would expect in an anime, although I loved the sounds when they are making food. The voice acting is like any other anime, however, I think Nagomu's voice acting was great. This was also the first role of Itsuka's VA, and I think she did a great job as her. The side cast voices fit the characters and I never thought that there was an out-of-place voice.

Now, the characters, which I believe is one of the highlighting points for Deaimon. Nagomu is very unique, as he's not your typical adult protagonist. He's a total immature goofball, who likes to have fun whatever the situation. He's selfless and always helps, but sometimes makes things worse. Itsuka is another great character. We don't know much about her and don't see much from her perspective, but she gets amazing character development from a stern child to someone who learns to appreciate what you have. The relationship between Nagomu and Itsuka (while not pulling off an Usagi Drop) was very wholesome and provided a lot of growth throughout the series.
The side characters were all great, as each had its own arc and problems to overcome. There are so many, so I'll list the important ones. Kanoko is the most important side character in my opinion, as she is Nagomu's ex and provided a combination of character development and relationship growth while showing Nagomu's past. Mitsuru wasn't as important but gave tons of moments when showing her crush/admiration for Nagomu. The love triangle between Kanoko and Mitsuru was priceless. At first, Nagomu's parents didn't seem to be happy with their son, as he left them to pursue his dream. However, near the end, we can see they accepted him and stopped being a total jerk to him. Many other characters like Saki didn't play a crucial role but were fleshed out and weren't one-dimensional. Some characters showed up for only about half an episode and rarely showed up again, like Koume and Naruto, who were somehow pretty well written and showed some building around Ryokushou's area.
There was a particular character I had mixed feelings about, and that was Itsuka's father. I feel like his motivations weren't explained and he was too mysterious for us to know more and sympathize with. We got many interesting flashbacks and twists revolving around him, but we never saw a part where he explains his goals. He disappeared out of nowhere and didn't explain what happened. Giving his child away was a pretty dick move too because he could've possibly found Itsuka's mother or taken responsibility for Itsuka. However, I can see he was a well-thought-out character and if we ever get a continuation, I hope we can see his motivations and potential redemption.

I enjoyed this anime a lot, it provided growth and development, a great story and characters, some wholesome, depressing, or hilarious moments, a beautiful art style and sound, and overall well-written. I look forward to any possible future installments to this amazing, heartfelt, softening anime!

Slice of life lovers, welcome! Anime watchers, proceed with caution.

I always like to start a review with some background or context. Slice of life is one of my favorite genre in anime. I'm a sucker for a good story and emotional impacts. During every anime season, I mostly watch shows that I will follow weekly or that I believe I will complete. Deaimon was my top pick for spring 2022 and was the show I gave my utmost attention. After its first couple of episodes, I truly believed it would end up being a great or even excellent anime. To put it simply, Deaimon is ... a rather average series that leaves alot on the table.

One of the major gripes I have with this anime is how much of it is a setup for a story we might or might not ever get a follow-up. This anime ends up having accomplish next to nothing in terms of plot advancement. The only real thread of story we have is teased time and time again. Then, by the end of the 12 episodes, the one thing we expect to happen sooner or later never does. We leave Deaimon knowing there is more to it than a single season. However, that doesn't excuse that this season alone doesn't really stands on its own which make this a rather poor anime.

Another problem I have, Deaimon has alot of ideas that are barely presented or worked upon. While the core of the series is the interpersonal relationship between the cast, most of it is either resolved or put forward in a shallow/straightforward way. Personally, I think a good slice of life needs layers and/or consequences to justify handling mature themes. A concrete example of a poorly explored relationship is Nagomu (the protagonist) and his father. To make the story short, Nagomu was supposed to inherit his family business since birth but along the way he discovered music and left his family to pursue his dream. The anime starts when he comes back to the family business because he received a letter telling him that his father grew ill. Misunderstanding aside (the father had a very minor back injury), Nagomu and his father never really mend their relationship or we don't get moments to see them talk their differences and grow closer again. Instead, like almost every characters, Nagomu's relationship with his father is a comedic plot device to create laughter. I believe it's truly a shame how the main character of the series is always used as a punching bag for comedy while the show also tries to make him have meaningful relationships. The formula of the show is mostly Nagomu helping the person having trouble for the episode in a serious heartfelt way. Then when it's over and done, everyone goes back to laugh at quirky and how much of a klutz Nagomu is. It becomes tiring real fast.

I'll just quickly say that Deaimon has alot of potential if it becomes a multi-season anime and finally delves deeper in its themes. As of right now, it's a shallow, heartwarming and interesting anime. With no payoffs as of yet, Deaimon has a frustratingly abrupt ending and doesn't offer much outside of an okay slice of life show.

There is a lot to love about Deaimon.

Story and character: 7
The story is pretty heartbreaking, but at the same time is also very sweet. It's heartbreaking, because the theme of the show, of how a precious little girl cannot find her dad, the poor gal. To be taken in by a family, and to be put forward as the future heir of the lil business they have, is pretty nice. It's as if she's always been part of the family, which is really neat. Only for the son to come home, after hearing his father had been hospitalized, and for him to find out ... about the precious one, and now, having to be sort of her father figure.

As for them themselves. The family in general is pretty wholesome. I can't really find any real issue with them. Besides one issue that I hope doesn't become a thing, but for now, it's sweet and wholesome. It reminds me a bit of MySenpai in a way, with it's direction and pace, which makes the characters stand out more for different reasons.

As for them, Itsuka is honestly a treat. She's so strong and determined, despite whats happened to her. You'll want to hold her in your arms, and tell her that she'll find her dad one day. She will. The son on the other hand, can be a bit of a mixed bag at times, not in a bad sense, but more that he's got a lot to live up to in many eyes, but in context, he really is a good dude, I can't say anything bad about him. Two good main characters right there, and so much more.

Art and sound: 7
The style of the art really does look quite nice. Honestly feels like someone has gone over it in full anime colour, and really did a good job with it. Making many areas look super nice, and super fitting to each and every scene, nothing looks bad or out of place. A great style indeed. The sound really goes well with it too, a massive highlight within the show, is when they nail all of that down, and make it sound so natural. Great stuff.

Deaimon was expected to be something sweet, but ended up being something sweeter in a different light. A fun wholesome watch for sure.

As sweet as the sweets made in the Ryokushou, this show is a whole bundle of sweetness that always brought me more smiles than expected.

Shows like this are a must-watch for me to wind down and enjoy the little things we encounter in life. We follow through the daily life of Itsuka and Nagomu in a series of day-to-day mishaps. Each episode has a swell conclusion but always leaves us with enough story build-up for future episodes. The occasional flashbacks are an excellent way to portray the background for each character introduced in the story and are done in a way that doesn't feel forced.

The ... pace is very much laid back, but it fits so well because shows like this are supposed to not feel rushed. Although, they managed to introduce someone new in each episode and dedicate almost the whole episode to fleshing out their personality and background. I'd like to know how they plan to tie up the story of these people at the end of the season.

By applying watercolor style to the environment, I think they managed to elevate the visual quality of this show. Incredibly, having this specific style can give me a soft and fluffy feeling from those few silent moments in the story. The characters are depicted with a limited color palette, so it might be hard to differentiate between several girls in the shop within the apparent age groups. But I think after we learn more about each cast, we can identify each one as an individual.

As the story is set in Kyoto, the character who are natives of the area talk in the Kansai dialect. I think it's one of the rare occasions where most of them are cast as a Kansai native, so it's pleasant to hear it as a change. Probably the most notable is the VA for Itsuka, as she manages to sound like a disciplined young girl and not sound too much like a teenager.

I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Sakamoto Maaya for the opening song. It was such a relaxing song to open each episode. Another surprise is that they decided to put an upbeat and cheerful piece as the ED. Like how I enter the show to unwind and leave satisfied and lively.

A lovely show so far, and I am interested in seeing how the story unfolds. Maybe not the most unforgettable series in this season, but it is definitely one to enjoy while it lasts. Would even recommend it to someone who is not familiar with the genre.

This Anime is really really good!! I usually don't enjoy Slice-Of-Life Anime so much because they are plain and simple, but that does not mean they are not good, they are good. But DEAIMON in as Anime which is really interesting and enjoyable!!

Story is normal, but what makes it stand out is how it is executed in this Anime through its sweet moments. It's fun to watch and there is hardly any dull moment that I can remember. This was certainly refreshing.

I never thought that I'd enjoy a Slice-Of-Life Anime this much. As many as I've seen, they usually tend to get boring as they ... progress. This Anime is different from others, and a lot. I won't say that it's on a level of masterpiece, but to be able to make such a good Anime in a genre which I thought was never that exciting or interesting, this was a good watch and opened my eyes. So I am going with 9/10.

It's LOVELY...

Deaimon is one of those animes which you start watching and don't realise where those precious 23 minutes went by.
All of the aspects of this anime can be described by just one word - SWEET.

The story is about Itsuka, who is searching for her Father and Nagomu, who has returned to his hometown after 10 years to help out his family, and also takeover their Wagashi shop because of his father's hospitalization - Because of Hemorrhoids 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

And the OP - "Sumire" by Sakamoto Maaya and ED - Koko ni Aru Yakusoku were just soooo good that you can't really skip it out.

The animation ... style, which looks old compared to other animes is truly fitting for it and sets the tone perfectly.

This anime is really what it claims to be - Recipe for Happiness

Just a pure, wholesome, lovely, family-friendly confection-themed Anime.
Frankly, I expected a bit more from the drama aspect of the story, and a bit more fun from the abundant amount of characters. But those were just my expectations and, I can't blame the show for that. Overall, a relaxing and light-hearted Anime to watch.

PROS: Lovely Soundtrack. Fun male-protag with good VA. Artistic Visuals. Recommended for everyone.
CONS: Side characters and their stories were either lackluster, generic, and/or forgettable. Same thing with running gags which (imo) you only remember when they mention it again on some episodes.

STORY:
Itsuka's family situation, Nagomu's road to maturity, and these two's development into ... a father-daughter dynamic. These things will be the main driving point of the story. It was Itsuka's story that got me intrigued early-on but, but it left me a bit wanting for more as they handled that issue a bit too quickly and easily. But they did leave it open-ended so, I guess I can expect more drama if it gets a second season. Personally, Nagomu's parts were the ones that really hooked me but, that's mostly because of relatability with his character being a middle-aged man searching for passion and all.
The story is also confection-themed but to be honest, as much as I appreciate and love the idea, it never really hit me until I started typing this review. I wish they emphasized that part a bit more. Nevertheless, it was still overall a fairly entertaining light-hearted story.

CHARACTERS:
It's filled with characters but it's definitely not character-driven. Other than Nagomu, no one else really stood out as unique and interesting. Not even Itsuka. Not to say they are bad characters, just that they're mostly generic and average.
Nagomu and his dad's banter were quite fun though. Mitsuru and Kanoko bits too but, they were mostly there to give the show a romance aspect, with the latter being the more relevant one. Still lacked involvement though.
And just to show how lackluster the side characters are: Hiiro, one of the employees of the confection store who had a very quick arc, was seemingly forgotten to be included in the group picture shown during the ED sequence... but they remembered to include Nagomu's childhood friend who was barely on the show.
With all this criticism being said, they may not be much individually but, they managed to give off a family vibe as a whole.

ART & SOUND:
Character Art is just fine, but the scenery and backgrounds were really beautiful in the eyes.
Nagomu's VA was ear-catching with a unique mannerism and accent. Itsuka's and Mitsuru's VAs were good too.
And of course, my favorite part of the Anime and probably the biggest reason I remained 'til the end... the SOUNDTRACK. The OP theme really sets the mood for what your gonna get in this Anime. There's a comedy, yes BUT, this is an Anime mostly about heart-warming stories, and "SUMIRE" by Maaya Sakamoto really works well in setting the mood for that. And while it didn't hit me as hard as the OP did, the ED ("Koko ni Aru Yakusoku" by Ayaho x Junichi Soga) is also very fitting to end every episode with a good vibe, reminding the viewers that this is still a fun, light-hearted Anime.

OVERALL:
I think my review already implies that Nagomu was the MVP of the Anime for me XD Which is true. But I still appreciate this Anime as a whole. Definitely, one I can recommend for some relaxing, light-hearted, family-oriented story viewing. Just don't expect to see much from every character.
They did leave it open-ended for a possible (likely?) 2nd season and if so, there's still that one important character that they have yet to fully introduce which could possibly make things, specially the drama aspect, interesting. We'll see I guess.

First Time reviewing so I'll keep this short.

1. I liked the basic premise of the story of
Man Nagomu and he's father prodigy Itsuka
a 10yr old girl who's father abandoned
Her and she works at the sweet shop that
Nagomu returns to work after his parents
Sent their letter to come and he decides
To take shop's responsibility.

... 2. I also loved Nagomu and itsuka Father-
daughter bond that's as the story progres
Slowly for Itsuka Nagomu becomes her
Father like figure and I also liked all
The main supporting cast.

3. One thing which many people disliked it's
Animation specially some light shade in
Character's design which at times feels
Irritating to watch but for it's not my
That big of a deal.

4. Overall if you like to watch this kind of
An anime than "DON'T SKIP THIS" cause its
A good anime that will gives good vibes
And for me it's emotional and Joyous ride
That many animes this genre are failed to
Achieve

My overall thoughts on the series
I like when some anime goes out of their comfort zone in creating an intuitive and exploration adoration of life. What I mean is that this anime probably has a story created from real life events or could be a fictional story, either way, they really wanted to show how much they love confectioneries or have background in working within the business. This can push the limitations out of creativity and uniqueness.
Story 7/10
The story is great as it was easily explained and simple in the beginning stages. There are very funnies comedic ques I would never expect to happen, ... and it was at least not overwhelming like most anime. The story is very simple and easy to get into, very casual and comforting to watch with anyone. If you are looking to indulge yourself in Japanese culture this anime is a great start in learning more about Japan and Japanese everyday enlightenment.
Art 6/10
The art styles are not the greatest, but it does the job. I don’t think anime is aiming to be the best-looking anime out there. There is nothing special about the art style compared to most anime however I do think it is fine the way it is. The animation is great and the attention to detail in most of the anime is spot on, I like the small little things that make it that special.
Sound 7/10
The opening song is very good, its nice and heartwarming. The music is just wonderful, because of how well it goes together with not only the art style but the story. I would not say that it is lacking but I do sometimes feel if you want something upbeat you would somewhere else. I myself like it as it is just subtle, and really makes my brain jump for joy.
Character 6/10
The characters are plain, there are not a lot of character development, but they do express fundamental parts that feel extremely important. The characters are developed throughout the story and start to get good and learn more and more about them. The characters have hard shells, and they break throughout of their shells, and you start to see more character, if you give it enough time. This can seem exhausting, and your brain starts to wonder where some of the stuff is going. There are a few characters that do jump out a lot as the voice actors for them are good.
Enjoyment 7/10
This anime is a lot of fun, I just have a loss of words of how well its written and overall art style fits so well for what the anime is all about. The music surprised me too. If you look to experience more of the wonderful world of Japan and Japanese cultures this is a great anime to watch it is spectacular to watch with kids too. I had such a blast with this anime I hope you do too, if you start watching the anime because of this review please hit the helpful button, so I know I made someone's day. HAPPY WATCHING C: of course you can always do it after watching a few episodes the series.

Deaimon a recipe for happiness....Surly this is one of those Slice of Life anime with a soft touch, so:

Story-Good 7: The plot about a young man who comes home after he hears about his father being hospitalize, well not that he has a couple of unsuccessful bouts with his musical career in Tokyo but that the way things has gone with him...So, he comes home with hopes of taking over his family's Ryokushou sweets shop only to find out that an adopted girl he never met will inherit it. Well , not that he feels bad about it but, having an little girl to someday ... take over the family business...it's just that both the girl and the guy's father seems to get along very well and both have the same hardworking and strict personality where just like the guy's father he too gets a lot of flak from the girl cu'z of his easy going attitude. But that's not the point the point here is about how one girl who was abandon finds a new family that has care for her and seemly feels hostility towards a guy that has the same easy going attitude, but unlike the girl's own father the guys tries his best to get closer to the girl, can it be called romance???? Maybe no, cu'z of the age differences and the possibility the guy's Ex girlfriend who might get back with the guy.

Art-Decent 4: Given that there isn't any eye candy around here for them hounds to howl about.

Sound-Decent 4: Nothing to say since I don't give a fuck as to who did who.

Character-Decent 4: Given that the characters here were more like a family there wasn't much about to say about them, cu'z of the fact that the character's here were the ordinary ones.

Enjoyment-Decent 4: It was really enjoyable to an extend, well for the next 7 episode that is, beyond that one would wanna just go to the finale.

Overall- Good 7: It was good , but , at times it can be a chore to just watch it beyond 7 episode , so season 2? Maybe not, a 2 episode OVA to which girl finally found his real father, if it can be done.

I'm actually mad that this ended lmao. I hope a Season 2 gets made cos it's actually really really good. It's much slower paced and obviously as a slice of life, nothing much really happens.

But with that said, the animation of the Japanese desserts and the relationships within the shop are so fun to watch. Nagomu is the obvious comedic relief here but he isn't just an air-headed guy with nothing to offer, he actually works hard and is very patient with everything going on around him. Itsuka is like a tsundere daughter lmao and I love how cold she is. She's also very responsible ... and I like how mature she is cos sometimes she's put into situations where the adults are more immature than her and it's such a laugh.

A must watch when you're feeling all warm and cosy. An 8/10 for me.

Food for the Soul

This was such a warm-hearted and comfy anime that I'd like to binge any time.
To be honest I was having a bad time and this anime managed to pick me up just after a few episodes.

The realistic and rewarding interactions between multiple persons with excellently written character were awesome.
If you are in the market for a slice-of-life anime and you aren't in your best condition, I suggest you to have this a go. It worked for me.

I especially loved how they managed to bring in music, food, slight romance and the best characters into a single story.
The Opening and Ending songs ... really boost the charm of this anime.

Definitely in my re-watch list and this is masterpiece for me.

Deaimon is a decent feel good anime about 2 people who're very different and have different issues being Itsuka with the slightly more serious issue which is helped alot by Nagomu who allows her to see the world and herself in a different life. I found the story to this anime very nicely done as a feel good anime should be as eventhough the characters slowly develops as a person and grows from the family she's around.
The confectionary theme is also nice and allows for the characters involved to bounce off eachother from what the different sweets mean from meaning of them and the art ... of them.
As of right now I'd personally give this anime a 7.5 since it was very good but not so good that it brought much new to the table but it did accomplish that feel good feeling it set out to from the character design and story.
So I'd give this one a watch with in mind that I would say it's a feel good anime which would rank highly among the animes which are feel good ones.

There's a concept that comes up in fiction that I have my doubts about: the idea that you can just “rewrite” a memory by doing the exact same thing with a different person or intention. Most often it seems to pop up in romance, where a character thinks that a bad romantic or sexual experience can be “rewritten” to remove the trauma, but there's been a lingering sense in Deaimon that perhaps Itsuka can rewrite her memories and trauma about her father's abandonment with Nagomu – or at least that's how it's felt to Itsuka herself. And maybe that is what Nagomu's parents intended when ... they first presented the idea of Nagomu acting as a father to the girl way back at the series' start; no one in his family is especially good at communicating what they actually mean, so even if that wasn't the point they were making, it would have been easy for someone, like Itsuka, to misunderstand what they were saying.

Even if Itsuka was unaware of the idea, she's been very resistant to Nagomu's advances. There are a lot of reasons why she'd feel such complicated emotions where he's concerned: he's the biological son of the family that took her in, so she may fear that he'll displace her, his parents were hurt by his move to Tokyo, so she's not going to like him because he was “mean” to the people who took her in, his personality may just be one that clashes with her own, all fluff to her prickles. But a piece of her also seems to fear that if she treats Nagomu like a father figure, it'll displace her biological dad in her heart and mind, and that somehow accepting Nagomu in that role means that the father who left her won't ever come back.

Because of her competency and put-together attitude, I feel like not many of the characters have necessarily understood Itsuka as a person. Again, this may not be the case with Nagomu's parents, but they're not champion communicators, so even if the attempt was made, they may not have gotten through. But for all of his faults, Nagomu is able to see through most of Itsuka's defenses. He knows that she's been to the amusement park before and that she's looking for her father the whole time they're there, but he doesn't say anything because the point is to let her work things through as best she can, in her own time. He doesn't make a big deal out of the moment when she grabs his shirt out of fear that she lost him and only steps in when she needs him to, at the very end of the episode when he tells her that just because her father didn't show up today, that doesn't mean that she won't ever see him again. And in the meantime, he's there for her, even if she's not sure she's allowed to accept him as a substitute father figure yet.

I said that her father didn't show up rather than that he didn't come because it looks very much like he did arrive, he just didn't let Itsuka see him. While I'm sure we all have mixed feelings about that and theories of what he was thinking, I think it's worth noting that he looked much less conflicted and more put-together than we've seen him since his (presumptive) high school days. He may have simply wanted to see for himself that Itsuka is doing fine, and while that certainly could be read as selfish since we know that she misses him, he also may believe that leaving her at the confectionery is the best and most stable thing for her at this point. It's hard to say, but the implication I take from it is that he's less of a villain and more a father in over his head trying to do the best thing for his daughter, even if we don't agree with how he goes about it. Sometimes there are no perfect solutions, and this may well be one of them.

If you were hoping for a solid conclusion to Deaimon, well, this isn't one. There are still a lot of threads dangling and questions left unanswered. But Itsuka, Nagomu, and Kanoko all seem to be in better places than they were, with the sense that they're going to keep moving forward. It may be too late for Nagomu's dad to learn not to be a jerk to his son or to understand that not all innovation is a bad thing, but maybe he's more like Itsuka with his social prickles than Nagomu. In any event, this is a comfortable ending if not a final one, and for the kind of show it is, I think that works.

"Deaimon : Recipe for Happiness" follows Itsuka & Nagomu working at Ryokushou, a Wagashi (sweet) shop and as the Anime progresses, you start to see the character relationships, their struggles and their resolutions for said problems, via sweets aka "Wagashi". A quick debunk of the title gives away what the show really is about.
*Deai* (出会い) means "new encounter" or "to meet someone new", *mon* (もん), as an abbreviation of *mono* (もの), means "thing", but *Deaimon* (であいもん) means various seasonal food. So in each episode, you meet a new character, or new encounter between already introduced characters which intertwines with different sweets it shows in each ... episode. This Anime shows, while not in-detail the sweet making process in Ryokushou and how these chanced encounters will find a meaning each sweet conveys.

The story is just like any light-hearted Iyasheiki Anime and the character troubles are just as small and relatable too. The show's slow & delicate approach to drama allows it to give a sense of maturity in these moments where they deliver a simple yet effective message.

Opening song *Sumire* by Maaya Sakamoto and Ending song *Koko ni Yaru Yakusoku* by "ayaho × Junichi Soga", both songs fit perfectly well & create the perfect mood to watch the show, and are well arranged with the calm visuals. The art style is really beautiful to look at. If you're in the mood for a slow show to let the daily exhaustion out, then I definitely recommend this.

A calm setting with rural accents, polished art style to beautiful backgrounds & character designs, with a tickling like comedy that just makes you laugh a bit and a cast of characters that have a child-like energy with a slightly mature undertone;
This "Recipe for Happiness", is probably the sweetest Anime of the season.

As a 10/10, I feel like I have to write a review so this is my first review..

Story: There is nothing special about the story. It's just one revolving around a girl placed in an unfortunate situation with a very loving family. The story follows Nagomu and Itsuka. One of my biggest pet peeves of shows that I genuienly enjoy is common anime plot points. (high school romance misunderstanding, forced beach/swimsuit episodes, star crossed lovers, etc) This show does not fall for this for the most part as most things that happen to the characters are very grounded in our own world. Everything that happens ... has buildup and resolves that all make sense given the context. While there is nothing new being done here, every week watching it, the story does its part in making sure all the other elements of the show can really shine.

Art: My god, have you paid attention to the backgrounds? Nearly all the backgrounds have a pastel like fading style (not an artist) that is too reminiscent of colored (story) books I used to read as a child. Maybe its more of an Asian thing but I still have so many childrens books that have that style and this style gives that much more character to the show. Being drawn so simply, it can still look so good because its goal is not to look detailed and squeaky clean, rather give a warm fuzzy/cozy feeling. This applies also to the floors. A big oversight by many anime studios tend to be the foot walking on the floor. If you observe characters walking with their feets visible, many have them shifting their steps as some kind of 4 dimensional treadmill. The style of the background allows the characters to show a first person perspective often without any immersion being broken. As for the character designs, they only really do the job, and kind of like the background, has a style that allows animators to consistently draw faces and such in a natural way.


Sound: The sound designs such as various samples of wagashi making processes and such do their role just fine. The main string sound track that plays every episode never gets tiring as it is a simple tune and doesn't get used overtime, though it is always used every week. They could have had some more variety in that regard but the track already does it job well in every scene it plays so there is no real complaint to be made.

Characters: 7/10 its quite ok. How they act and interact in non-anime ways is by far the best parts about the story and characters. They all feel very much real. The most 'anime' kind of characters may be the store owner dad and Itsuka. However, the dad seems to act in a more animated way because he doesn't really know how to treat his beloved son that has left the store for a decade just to come back for his sake. Itsuka, I hearad quite a few people online complain about her behaviors. First, Itsuka is a child. She was abandoned by her mother first, when they all presumably lived together and her always being busy with work, breaking promises to the young Itsuka. This kind of behavior especially from a mother figure may either set an example or a reserve in Itsuka's person to either act the same way, or place a distrust to adults. Next, she was abandoned by her father, though I highly doubt her memories of 'children are useless and hold you back' mentality of her father is most likely inaccurate, she was still left there without warning. No matter his intent, he had left her just like that. It is a miracle she has become quite bright and the only thing about her father she brings up in her life is checking up in Kyoto station every so often. Now for the complaints. Most complaints I've heeard about Itsuka has to do with her mother. Her mother wants to bring her to France to live with her, where she works. Of course, she doesn't do that and stays at the store in Kyoto. This makes her 'selfish'. This is just dogshit. A child in middle school, who was left by both her parents, has friend groups, quite happily attends school, is already in apprenticeship, a prospect of a career she is very personally fond of, all in a loving family type environment in her native country shouldn't leave all that behind her if she decides not to. Demanding her to abandon all this, move to a foreign country, having to learn a completely different language, culture, and way of life in general is asking too much. While something great could bloom out of it, she will be living with a parent who priorities work over anything, grandparents she's never met, all while struggling in a new country. This could hardly be called selfish give all this context. As for Nagomu, don't call him cringe, he's in his late 20s and he's still that happy and childish. Try being like him at that age, you'll be envious, not cringing.


While no specific aspect of this show may earn a 10/10 for me, it's the combination of everything that makes this show up that allows me to enjoy and fully immerse in these charaters everyday lives every week I tune in. When I'm watching this show, the only way I can describe my feeling is the equivalent of the characters in this show enjoying the wagashi, just pure bliss of gentle sweetness and smoothness that is more than just healing for me.