bitter and sweet = honey and clover

Honey and Clover, Hachimitsu to Kuroba, is a manga series that gave birth to two seasons of an anime series (2005-2006), a live-action movie (2006) and drama (2008) of the same title. The movie featured Arashi member Sakurai Sho in the lead role while the recent drama adaptation prides itself with another Johnny’s Jimusho protege, Ikuta Toma.

The story begins with Takemoto Yuta, a freshman who moves in Room 202 of a shabby apartment complex where he met his schoolmates from the same art college, senior Mayama Takumi of Room 101 and overstaying 6th year student Morita Shinobu of 203. Immediately he sees Morita’s out-of-this-world behavior, bringing home huge loads of a random food item and sleeping for long hours after coming back from his mysterious “jobs” - which is the same reason why he couldn’t graduate. Meanwhile, Mayama, despite his personal struggles, acts as a senior to both flatmates and even helps Morita get up in the morning. Their otherwise routine college lives dramatically change with the arrival of Hanamoto Hagumi (Hagu), the eighteen-year old art student who surprisingly looked and acted like a small child. They were introduced by the girl’s uncle and their professor, Hanamoto Shuji. As the semesters go by, Takemoto and Morita both realize their feelings for Hagu and show affection in repressed and strange ways, respectively. Meanwhile Mayama deals with his own romance issues with Yamada Ayumi, a very pretty pottery student nicknamed Tetsujin/Iron Lady for her determined attitude and karate kicking. Yamada’s love for Mayama was never returned because he pines for an older woman named Rika, the founder of Harada Design firm which he worked for. The lives of the five college students unfold in this series as they discover young love, battle through career issues, struggle with independence and do some soul-searching… with tons of hilarious memories on the side.

I’ve never seen an anime that induces any more nostalgia than Honey and Clover. The storyline is so uniquely crafted that from the first chapter you already know it’s more than the regular school dramedy. It’s mature, sentimental yet funny and heartwarming. Takemoto does the saddest monologues I’ve ever heard from a fictional character. He almost always looks like a teenager going emo over the simplest things. Overdramatic, dumb and overused but darn, I love it. And who doesn’t like stories of unrequited love? Yamada and Mayama’s stereotypical non-romance is odious at times but very addicting to watch. Their relationship is something you’d say you’d find tiring to understand but deep inside, you would probably relate to. I find the story’s strength in that despite Hagu’s nauseating cuteness, Shuji’s seriousness and undeniably adult presence balances everything out pretty well. Another crucial element of the story is Morita’s comical appearances (or disappearances, for that matter) along with the interesting sidestory that comes with his character.

The plot may seem slow-paced especially to those who prefer action-packed comedies or aggressive fantasy dramas. However, I think H & C is captivating and refreshing that sense. I may also be guilty with pressing fast forward during the long agonizing landscape shots of the anime but after rewatching, I realized how it all becomes part of the drama. It makes you want to lay back and take it all in; be absorbed in Takemoto’s monologues, let yourself loose with the occasional hilarity and just give yourself enough reason to cry. I admire the author for writing it in such a way that every chapter reflects something that people actually feel or experience. The author presents to us something simple, real and heartfelt.

Something called Life.