What is Tamako Market about?
Tamako market is set in a shoutengai area, called Usagiyama. Shoutengai is essentially a region comprised of lines of shops selling daily necessities and other items to those living in the neighborhood. Every ethnic group in the world has had similar places emerge naturally, and not surprisingly, these have often served as centers for cultural activities. The anime is about Tamako, the eldest daughter of a wagashi-ya (a shop selling traditional confectionaries), named Tamaya. We get to see the livelihoods of people living in the shoutengai, who are brought together by the charm and earnestness of Tamako. Of course, the story is focalized onto Tamako, her friends, and a talking bird - with whom, Tamako ends up meeting in the first episode and who also serves as an eloquent narrator cum observer in this anime.
What does the anime have in store for you?
Tamako Market is a slice of life anime and quite appropriately, it engages the viewer in various narratives that make the viewer feel a part of the livelihoods of people living in Usagiyama. Tamako, in particular, is a girl of a lovable and charming demeanor, that fits in well with her inherent simplicity. This makes her a natural sponge for love, for both the characters in the anime and the lucky viewer. Thus Tamako Market promises you a nice serving of ordinary happiness - neither too sweet nor laced with complications of romance - only whiffs of the same, here and there. Being a KyoAni production, pretty much each episode is a technical masterpiece! WATCH OUT for insanely realistic body movements and detailed facial expressions! Hats off to Yamada Naoko and Horiguchi Yukiko!
Of course there's much more!
Who is this not for?
If you are looking for shoujo-esque romance. this is not for you. However, if you like romance a lot and also dig slice of life (you liked stuff like Hanasaku Iroha/Shirobako/Sakura Quest/Minami-ke/Sangatsu...) then do try watching it, after all, there's a follow-up movie - Tamako Love Story, which is a must-watch! If you consider yourself to be a viewer who is looking for plot developments in every episode, I'm not sure if you should watch this. With Tamako Market, you've got to be able to appreciate CHARACTER development and not PLOT development.
I hope this helps you decide if you want to watch Tamako Market or not. Have a nice day!
