Growing up has never been easy for anyone, and Ohana is no exception. Hanasaku Iroha, or Blossoms for Tomorrow, depicts the adventures of the young and energetic Ohana Matsumae, after she is sent grudgingly to her grandmother's hot spring inn.
While the underlying story may not appear to be the flashiest of concepts, I cannot stress how much I unconsciously became drawn into it. And while Ohana is introduced as the main character, a rather large cast of characters all seem to get just about the same amount of screentime as her. While an overly sized character pool is often regarded as a weakness in an anime, as in many cases this results in an overall lack of character depth, however, in Hanasaku Iroha, each character goes through successes and failures in attempts to improve themselves. Hanasaku Iroha is definitely a character-driven show and by realising the dreams and desires of each one, this anime creates a truly colourful atmosphere.
Genre-wise, Hanasaku Iroha is quite the interesting combination, combining Comedy and Drama in a Slice of Life setting. Many anime have attempted similar groupings, however Hanasaku Iroha seems to stand out among the rest in the balance it achieves between the genres. There are times when you'll want to laugh and there are times when you'll tear up, and this show manages to create these moments in perfect harmony.
Whether it be Ohana's attempts at understanding romance, or her struggles in becoming a worthy waitress at the Kissuiso Inn, there is never a dull moment in this anime. Hanasaku Iroha is definitely an anime to consider watching, as it is a show that never fails to not only get you laughing through silly things like Jiroumaru's sexual 'antics', but also questions the fundamentals of your outlook on work, love, and life itself.
So go watch Hansaku Iroha, and join Ohana and the zany staff of Kissuiso, at the "place where dreams are born."
