Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness

Of all the comfy, slice-of-life shows this season, mangaka Rin Asano's story about a family-found situation, meshed with the delicacies of wagashi a.k.a Japanese confectionery sweets, is the ultimate combination of "comfort within your own home" and the genuine loving kindness of a well-knitted family-oriented relationship that's a charm to watch. And despite this manga being out since 2016, I'm surprised that even a few years onwards until today, this has not received an English translation, and even if you do find one, it's hard to come by. Despite this, Deaimon is really a hidden gem that I felt was and is now still underratedand underappreciated quite a fair bit, for a show that honestly didn't garner the reputation that it truly deserves. As the title suggests, Deaimon is loosely translated as the Recipe for Happiness (I already liked the metaphor from Day 1), which is exactly what the show is going for, despite it being the kind of understated and lowkey introduction phases that foreshadows to us the audience that this is not gonna be something noteworthy. But you would be a buffoon if you'd thought of this in the most shallowest of notions, because the beholder of Deaimon lies in its simplicity to deliver a solid show that is consistent, predictable-yet-unpredictable, and a Hanasaku Iroha-cum-Barakamon mix of feel-good feeling on top of its many obtuse layers that you might be calling out the predictable angle of this, and I promise you that this won't be the case. Deaimon: Recipe of Happiness's story rests on the never-ending tradition of a "family-found" story, where this girl by the name of Itsuka Yukihira gets abandoned by her lone father and is left towards the kind elderly folk of Ryokushou to be taken in and taken care of. Itsuka's biological father, whom seemingly from first glance, has undergone a divorce within the Yukihira family (though it's never stated), so much that it tormented the only daughter to question about her parents' origins for years while growing up in Ryokushou. Around the same time, the protagonist Nagomu Irino, who's been on a voyage of his own by running away from home to pursue his dream of becoming a musician in Tokyo, this went on for 10 years until word comes back that Heigo Irino, his father-cum-owner of Ryokushou was hospitalized, and the same word demanded that Nagomu pack his bags to immediately come home and help out in the family's wagashi business, and in the process, be the successor to Ryokushou. This is where the similarity to Spring 2011's Hanasaku Iroha comes about with the same ordeals of certain familial traits (like family legacy, succession and intergenerational bonds) where purpose is the premise's core forefront symbolism, and Summer 2014's Barakamon in the vein where both Nagomu and Itsuka meet that kickstarts the tumultuous relationship and thus begins the succession story of who's going to be the next heir to Ryokushou. One thing that you must definitely understand to experience all that Deaimon is worth in its greatness, is in characterization, because this is a character-driven story after all. At first, it's a given that both Nagomu and Itsuka will be at loggerheads with one another, simply because their tolerance for each other is grinded only on the surface level. It's with the understanding of how the characters work that slowly intertwines the story plot, and makes the watching experience get better with every baby step in the way. Nagomu may look like a carefree idiot who minds his own business, a wishy-washy absent-minded person whom doesn't know how to make decisions, and someone whom plays to the tune of his own gags, but deep down, he's a mature and caring young adult that's learned the hard way after graduating from college and pursuing his failed musician stint dream in Tokyo for 10 years, earning nothing but a girlfriend (Kanoko Matsukaze) in the process, and then again only to dump her without any word heard for a period this long. In all essence, I felt an inkling that some of us are like Nagomu Irino: someone whom prioritizes his own life, makes decisions without thinking of the consequences, but yet can hold our head high and do things the way that is already glued to our character, and still make it through a dark period of our young adult lives experimenting and settling down when things feel right. And all in all, this is what makes Nagomu Irino likable, such that he has a lot of women in his life (not the harem type), from the elderly folk working in Ryokushou, his direct family, his girlfriend Kanoko, the part-timer Mitsuru Horikawa, and much less the central female MC Itsuka herself becoming her foster father figure in the process, to interact with while going through life's daily struggles and learning the different types of wagashi sweets with their symbolisms. I really like that. On the basis for Itsuka Yukihara, being abandoned at a tender young age does not bode well, especially for children whom parents think that when they do not get their life together, all they can do is to "spare the rod and spoil the child", creating the nightmarish dreams that Itsuka would never see her real parents again. And in the years since she was raised in Ryokushou, she's learned to have both a mature mindset and a strong, but kind heart to serve those in need, just like a waitress in a restaurant. But don't try to trigger Itsuka, for her sharp tongue can sound nasty at times, and most of those times, it's Nagomu whom gets the bulk of the criticism that slowly with time, becomes one of calmness and understanding. That's not to say that Itsuka still harbours hatred for her parents, which when her mother Shinri eventually manages to locate her in Ryokushou, the nightmares come back like darkness looming within a person's being, and Nagomu has to play his part to ensure that the daughter-parent relationship is amended by hook or crook, but all done with heart to ensure that the prolonged years of hatred doesn't amplify out of spite. It's Nagomu's heart of sincerity that slowly transforms Itsuka's character from being a cold to a heartwarming person that's just like him, under his care. To that effect, I really have to give a shoutout to the total newbie VA Kozue Yuuki, for this is actually her very first character casting gig, and what absurdity to land a main character role from the get-go. How she depicted the 10-year-old Itsuka is nothing short of ingenious, the perfect casting voice for how a 10-year-old kid should sound. The other characters, well mostly folks and friends of Nagomu and Itsuka, whether be it family or kin, are nice and work around carving both MC's lives in kindness and fervour. It's just a literate wagashi (sweet) feeling all around that touches the warmest depths of the heart to make this a show that absolutely needs no filters nor some wishy-washy, over-the-top drama just to spite the audience. It's just a very good show that displays as its warranted, with the family treatment being centrifugal to the overall enjoyment. Plus, it's a guarantee if you have a very talented series composer like Reiko Yoshida, this woman has done decades worth of scriptwriting and storyboarding, so much so that Deaimon adds to the blimp as a +1 to her versatile CV that's an amazing job well done. I know I give a lot of flak to Encouragement Films for being a low-budget studio, producing existing projects that have been made by other studios (i.e. Symphogear's premiere season which has been since eclipsed by Satelight, or GochiUsa switching studios every season Date A Live style), shows that don't require lots of production prowess (i.e. Fall 2018's Merc Storia) and that one show which absolutely sucked in all aspects (i.e. Isekai Cheat Magician). But for Deaimon's case, it was different: it felt fresh with the watercolour visuals, the change of seasons and the light-heartedness of the character designs which I think blends well with the overall tone of the series, it's just beautiful to look at. And Deaimon to me, just looks like the studio has finally found its Encouraging stride producing light content (that's been done with Merc Storia), and I pray that it stays that way to make anime "Films" with a light coat of paint. That in and of itself, trickles down to the OST, which I feel is one of the best low-key compositions of the season, and I say that with heart. For the longest while, I felt like Maaya Sakamoto was just gleaming along doing more anime VA roles than actual song compositions for Anisongs, and it's a stark comparison when you compare her VA role to her actual theme song compositions (which aren't many to begin with). The last song that I liked was Spring 2020's Arte's OP, and that in and of itself, almost seems like an exclusivity deal that she'd only be brought back for her songs in the Spring season because she fits the rhythms well. And this is exactly the case here with her OP "Sumire", which the music style hearkens back to her founding years in the late 90s being a growing Seiyuu to the juggernaut that she is today. The song sounds absolutely beautiful with the inner touches of warmth, that I am constantly always anticipating with eagerness with each passing episode. This song is definitely at the top 5 of my best OPs of the season. ayaho and Junichi Soga's ED sounds good as well, though not as immersive as the OP. But overall, it's really well done for its immersion with the anime in totality. Deaimon: Recipe for Happiness is a show that's worth a recipe meant to invoke happiness from all of the unstable walks of life from people all around. And while this continues to stay underrated, I hope that we can continue talking about this fine little hidden gem that is truly the magnitude of fun and wholesome, in a way that is uplifting the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" in its AniManga form. It's sweetness in a way that you both can and can't explain, and it's certainly an enjoyable series if you give this show the chance that it deserves.

Every once in a while we get these slow burn, character driven stories that offer advice and legitimately solid examples of how to pick yourself up after failure. Deaimon does exactly that and really came out of nowhere as the pleasant surprises of the season. At this point in my life, I love anime that end up being thought provoking and allow me to grow along with the characters. I like characters who are relatable, not perfect and organic. This show has all of that as well as some pretty educational cooking information too. I’m not going to lie, as someone who loves romance drama and unfinishedrelationship business plot lines, I absolutely loved Kanoko and Nagomu’s relationship in this. They felt like actual normal people which is so hard to come by in modern anime where it’s usually just fanservice, nosebleeds and rinse and repeat romance tropes. Their relationship wasn’t the main focus of the story, of course. That would be the impact that Itsuka has on Nagomu which is also great, but it was my favourite part. I can really count on one hand how many shows we’ve had in the past few years that felt this real. Yesterday wo utatte comes to mind as one. The first couple episodes started a little slow and admittedly I was kind of bored, but once the romantic undertones got introduced into the story and the family mochi business began picking up, it really hooked me. I was going to skip this show because quite frankly, a show about desert making on the outside isn’t something I’d be interested in, but I can’t express how wrong I was. I’m so glad I did take a chance on this, fell in love with these characters and this small intimate setting and had a blast with it. I highly recommend this for any fan of slice of life, people who want characters that feel real and those who are just looking for a genuinely cute and wholesome show to watch. You won’t regret it. Deaimon gets 8 deserts out of 10. NOTE: while I focused on the romantic aspects of the story because that’s what most important in a SOL story for ME. This story has something for everyone, people who want fluffy surrogate dad/daughter moments, people who want to see healthy parent child relationships, those who want to learn about Japanese sweets, drama lovers, some genuinely hilarious comedic moments and some lovely art, this has it all. The only reason I can’t give a 9/10 is because I didn’t see enough of Kanoko and Nagumo’s relationship develop in the 12 episodes.

(THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS) Deaimon, also known as Recipe of Happiness, is a story about finding. Everybody at one point in their lives is looking for something, whether something small or large. Adapted by the Young Ace manga by the same name, this wholesome yet somehow sorrowful anime is about a girl named Itsuka and our protagonist Nagomu, who are both looking for something in their lives. The story is outstanding. The main topic of the story is our heroine, Itsuka looking for her father, who left her at Ryokushou. We are often presented with flashbacks of her dad and their life until he lefther. While looking for her father at the station, that's where she meets our protagonist Nagomu, who has returned after 10 years of being a musician in Tokyo. Nagomu's band broke up, and until now he has been doing side gigs, barely passing by. Many twists could shock you and keep you interested, and although this is a healing and easygoing anime, the story is fantastic. The sort of episodic nature of the show fits, as we see the people who work and revolve around the shop, with each character getting their episode to shine. The buildups and character growths were handled excellent, and the way the show unravels bit by bit is terrific. Normally, I think good art is crucial to an anime. Good art catches your eye and it brings the show to life. Deaimon does it exceptionally well, as each background art was made with love, with the style being incredibly unique and beautiful, looking like a pastel painting. The details of the seasons passing by were spectacular and added a lot of flavour to the show. Character designs were decent, some characters looked average but some looked great. The animation didn't flow sometimes, but a lot of times the animation looked beautiful, like the snowing segments. Overall, Deaimon chose a strange but unique art style and executed it very well. Music and sound are also very important, as they show the mood and how the characters are feeling. Whether it is a comedic scene, a sad scene, or a wholesome scene, Deaimon puts the perfect soundtrack to fit the mood. It never felt out of place or weird. The opening and ending themes were superb, one of my favourites this season. The singer sang it very elegantly and the music compliments her voice. The background noises are what you would expect in an anime, although I loved the sounds when they are making food. The voice acting is like any other anime, however, I think Nagomu's voice acting was great. This was also the first role of Itsuka's VA, and I think she did a great job as her. The side cast voices fit the characters and I never thought that there was an out-of-place voice. Now, the characters, which I believe is one of the highlighting points for Deaimon. Nagomu is very unique, as he's not your typical adult protagonist. He's a total immature goofball, who likes to have fun whatever the situation. He's selfless and always helps, but sometimes makes things worse. Itsuka is another great character. We don't know much about her and don't see much from her perspective, but she gets amazing character development from a stern child to someone who learns to appreciate what you have. The relationship between Nagomu and Itsuka (while not pulling off an Usagi Drop) was very wholesome and provided a lot of growth throughout the series. The side characters were all great, as each had its own arc and problems to overcome. There are so many, so I'll list the important ones. Kanoko is the most important side character in my opinion, as she is Nagomu's ex and provided a combination of character development and relationship growth while showing Nagomu's past. Mitsuru wasn't as important but gave tons of moments when showing her crush/admiration for Nagomu. The love triangle between Kanoko and Mitsuru was priceless. At first, Nagomu's parents didn't seem to be happy with their son, as he left them to pursue his dream. However, near the end, we can see they accepted him and stopped being a total jerk to him. Many other characters like Saki didn't play a crucial role but were fleshed out and weren't one-dimensional. Some characters showed up for only about half an episode and rarely showed up again, like Koume and Naruto, who were somehow pretty well written and showed some building around Ryokushou's area. There was a particular character I had mixed feelings about, and that was Itsuka's father. I feel like his motivations weren't explained and he was too mysterious for us to know more and sympathize with. We got many interesting flashbacks and twists revolving around him, but we never saw a part where he explains his goals. He disappeared out of nowhere and didn't explain what happened. Giving his child away was a pretty dick move too because he could've possibly found Itsuka's mother or taken responsibility for Itsuka. However, I can see he was a well-thought-out character and if we ever get a continuation, I hope we can see his motivations and potential redemption. I enjoyed this anime a lot, it provided growth and development, a great story and characters, some wholesome, depressing, or hilarious moments, a beautiful art style and sound, and overall well-written. I look forward to any possible future installments to this amazing, heartfelt, softening anime!

Slice of life lovers, welcome! Anime watchers, proceed with caution. I always like to start a review with some background or context. Slice of life is one of my favorite genre in anime. I'm a sucker for a good story and emotional impacts. During every anime season, I mostly watch shows that I will follow weekly or that I believe I will complete. Deaimon was my top pick for spring 2022 and was the show I gave my utmost attention. After its first couple of episodes, I truly believed it would end up being a great or even excellent anime. To put it simply, Deaimon isa rather average series that leaves alot on the table. One of the major gripes I have with this anime is how much of it is a setup for a story we might or might not ever get a follow-up. This anime ends up having accomplish next to nothing in terms of plot advancement. The only real thread of story we have is teased time and time again. Then, by the end of the 12 episodes, the one thing we expect to happen sooner or later never does. We leave Deaimon knowing there is more to it than a single season. However, that doesn't excuse that this season alone doesn't really stands on its own which make this a rather poor anime. Another problem I have, Deaimon has alot of ideas that are barely presented or worked upon. While the core of the series is the interpersonal relationship between the cast, most of it is either resolved or put forward in a shallow/straightforward way. Personally, I think a good slice of life needs layers and/or consequences to justify handling mature themes. A concrete example of a poorly explored relationship is Nagomu (the protagonist) and his father. To make the story short, Nagomu was supposed to inherit his family business since birth but along the way he discovered music and left his family to pursue his dream. The anime starts when he comes back to the family business because he received a letter telling him that his father grew ill. Misunderstanding aside (the father had a very minor back injury), Nagomu and his father never really mend their relationship or we don't get moments to see them talk their differences and grow closer again. Instead, like almost every characters, Nagomu's relationship with his father is a comedic plot device to create laughter. I believe it's truly a shame how the main character of the series is always used as a punching bag for comedy while the show also tries to make him have meaningful relationships. The formula of the show is mostly Nagomu helping the person having trouble for the episode in a serious heartfelt way. Then when it's over and done, everyone goes back to laugh at quirky and how much of a klutz Nagomu is. It becomes tiring real fast. I'll just quickly say that Deaimon has alot of potential if it becomes a multi-season anime and finally delves deeper in its themes. As of right now, it's a shallow, heartwarming and interesting anime. With no payoffs as of yet, Deaimon has a frustratingly abrupt ending and doesn't offer much outside of an okay slice of life show.