The character-driven plot involves a rich young woman named Akiko; her maid, Sara; Kiyosumi, the wealthy banker that Akiko is being pushed to marry; and Taka, a handsome member of a crime syndicate. All of the characters, rich or poor, are restricted in some way. They yearn for freedom and independence, and think that the others have what they lack, although those that they consider “free” are just as bound as they are. As the drama centered on these characters unfolds, and their lives intertwine, the date of the Great Kanto Earthquake inches closer. What will happen to these characters after the earthquake strikes? Will they be able to find each other and confess their honest feelings?
I will go ahead and say that while the ending of the OVA does hint at some developments, it is open-ended and vague; I guess the intent was to have viewers pick up the manga afterwards to find out how the story went. (The manga appears to be out of print, by the way.)
The characters are unique, and it’s interesting to see how they play off of each other. Akiko’s immaturity and naiveté can be a little grating, but it’s understandable. Sara, who arguably is the heroine of this OVA, gets fairly good character development for what little time there is for it. Kiyosumi is rather undeveloped, but he fills his role satisfactorily. Taka acts like a jerk half the time, and a kind and considerate person for the rest; his character is a bit unstable and could have benefited from more backstory.
The music is decent; pleasant to listen to, but on the bland side. It does fit the tone of the series well, however. The voice acting is okay. Sometimes, it felt like the actors were speaking too quickly to try to cram as many lines in as possible (perhaps, again, due to this only being 4 episodes long). But the voices were appropriate for the characters.
As for art, the character design is superb. Designed by Akio Sugino, who also designed characters from “Rose of Versailles,” the characters in “Kasei Yakyoku” have a classic Art Deco look that’s really appealing. The backgrounds look nice as well. The animation is good, but there are some parts (particularly dramatic scenes) that switch to still artistic shots for some reason, perhaps for emphasis.
The basic story is solid, but the execution can be a bit off. Scene transitions are a bit rough at times, and there are some parts that just don’t blend well together. While most of the plot is carried forward logically, there are a few critical instances that rely on convenient coincidences, which strain one’s suspension of disbelief. As mentioned earlier, the ending does not conclude anything for any of the main characters, and thus is unsatisfying.
Also of note, there are a few sex scenes and some mild nudity, but they are important to the plot (i.e., not strictly “fanservice”). There is also some violence, and a few of the secondary characters are killed on screen.
Overall, due to the design, the characters, the setting, and the unique premise, this is an interesting OVA, although it’s difficult to recommend to a general audience due to the objectionable content and the inconclusiveness of its story. If you’re into aesthetically-pleasing character-driven melodramas set in the 1920s, though, this one should not be missed.
