Our story starts off on an odd note. Ohana, an angsty 16 year old, suddenly gets the news her irresponsible and promiscuous mother is going to elope with her current lover leaving Ohana to live and work with the grandmother at a traditional Japanese inn out in the country. Quickly, it is sink or swim for Ohana as she must earn her keep at the inn or be kicked out. There she learns various personal trials about life itself.
Here in lies the start of many issues within this anime. Ohana begins angsty and a bit cynical and seemingly overnight (off screen) turns into the optimistic cheerful girl the audience see on screen. The plot never seems to advance with Ohana and each life learning experience, but rather skips as fast as a lightning bolt out of the sky. Basically, she and her personality are all over the place according to what is needed on screen. Somehow, Ohana herself does not come off as a mental sociopath and still remains very much human. Each and every side character is very bland and offers not much more than their defining trait such as her roommate wants to be a cook, her grandmother lives only for the inn, and among others.
Episodes are centered on Ohana as she reacts over emotionally to a situation driving the singular plot of the week. Even when a side character is featured and “changes” according to how Ohana reacts, the next episode will have the side character reset to their previous bland self as if nothing happened. The concept of conflict seriously lacks within Ohana. Everything and every so-called problem is easily solved by whatever emotion Ohana has at the time. Dare not even get into parental issues this show portrays.
Is Hanasaku Iroha a bad show? No, it is fine at best. Ohana is a character that has flaws, problems, and angst like any other human teenager. However, there is no fallout, or even any repercussions to actions. It is simply a show about an emotional girl that can overcome anything through sheer will of positivity and hard work.
