Wakako-zake

Wakako-zake knows what it is. It knows it's a short look into one woman's enjoyment of food, drink, and pairings. There's not a lot to say about this anime. I actually did really enjoy it and looked forward to it each week. Each episode promised to be an insightful look into food culture done in a calming and reflective manner and it succeeded very well. No drama, relatable main character, and succinct writing made this a success. It also usually made me hungry.

What can I say, apparently my favorite of Summer 2015 is the two minutes per week of literally just watching a woman eats, drinks, commentates, and lets out what is probably the most contented sigh you’ve ever heard in the history of moving pictures. You don’t need to be a big foodie or particularly invested in Japanese culinary to be able to appreciate this show. Wakako basically acts as a tour guide into her headspace, delivering simple and instantly relatable monologue revolving around “what I will eat today, and why”. Such is the nature of this one-woman show, the voice actress is probablythe most important element in it, and the renowned Miyuki Sawashiro didn’t disappoint. Whether she’s gushing about the smell and flavor of karaage or grumbling about a bad day in the office, Sawashiro lend a distinct and calming tone to Wakako’s mental mutterings (framed in such a way that it also felt like a natural conversation with the audience). She also nailed The Sigh, such a signature moment in the show, every single episode felt like it’s building up to that. There’s not many other stuff, and needless to say, don’t expect much of drama or actual development. What is indeed there should reliably get you in the mood though: the thirty-second opening jingle is catchy and fitting, the depiction of food (of which there’s a delightful variety) is mouth-watering, and even Wakako’s incongruous design should eventually become endearing. When I first read the synopsis, I thought there’s dark undercurrent about alcoholism and depression, but in reality (at least insofar as this adaptation goes) it’s a mostly pleasant watch highlighting the necessary self-indulgence in-between the daily grind of work. There’s a few glimpses of Wakako’s daily life intertwined with her philosophy on food, and while one may wish for more of that, the overall mood I got from her is the blissful savoring of solitude instead of wallowing in loneliness. I can dig that. I obviously enjoyed Wakako-zake, as would many others—perhaps excepting those who are somehow deeply averse to the act of putting food inside their body. Due to its exceedingly repetitive nature it’s probably not fit to be binged, just like how you wouldn’t gorge yourself with fine food all at once. It’s also preferable not to watch this while hungry and not in a state to be able to grab something quickly!

Short, slice-of-life clips of a young working woman who loves a good beer and savory foods. Great show to watch while drinking with friends, not so great when you're hungry yourself. The highlight of the show is the excited descriptions of foods traditionally found in 'izakayas' (a sort of street-side Japanese pub), given in enough detail that one can almost enjoy the dishes as much as Miss Wakako herself. The short length of each episode doesn't detract from the sensation that one is actually stepping into one of these restaurants themselves, if only for a moment. Don't come into this expecting a riveting story orbeautiful landscapes, but if you're looking for a comfortable and heart warming anime to enjoy during a night-in, Wakako-zake is worth your time.

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