Forget the romcom aspectits secondary in Okitsura. If thats the only thing youre interested in then this anime probably wont be for you. Otherwise welcome to my review I genuinely hope that youll be one of the very few people maybe Im the only one?? who might feel the same way I did while watching Okitsura : This review will be deeply personal and subjective. Ill be sharing why this anime resonated so much with me so please dont take it as an objective critique. It may also be difficult to fully understand given how indescribable some emotions and feelings can be. Its going to be quite long but I hope you take the time to read it. In any case this review is mainly for those who will recognize themselves in my words. I never imagined Id feel compelled to write such a long review also that my first real review will be about an anime like thisso niche so unexpected. But for my own wellbeing I need to talk about it. Maybe I can encourage a few people with tastes similar to mine to give it a try. If even one person who shares my expectations ends up watching and loving this anime because of me that will already be a huge victory. Okitsura has finally given me that feeling I had been searching for so long. How I discovered Okitsura and my first apprehension: For a long time I had been looking for a certain vibe a specific feeling in an anime. When I saw Okitsura pop up on Anilist I immediately assumed it was just another lowbudget romcom with an unnecessarily long titlesomething like Hokkaido Gals but this time in Okinawa. I wasnt looking for a romcom though. I was looking for an anime that could give me THAT feeling which Ill explain later. But I already suspected that the vibe I was searching for would only be a pretext in this animea shallow backdrop to a standard romcomand that Id ultimately be disappointed. I started watching the first episode with a lot of skepticism almost to the point of wanting to fastforward through it convinced that I would drop it by the end of the episode. But then suddenly in the middle of the episode I had a revelation: Wait a minute I actually love this? This feels like exactly what I was looking for And with that I started feeling that special emotion. I finished the episode completely focused and from that point on I binged the entire series in just a few days. Now that Ive finished it Im writing this review while experiencing that postwatch depressionthat emptiness we sometimes feel after an anime has deeply touched us. You might wonder: How can such a seemingly simple and average anime with such low ratings impact me so profoundly??? Thats exactly what Ill try to explain. The feeling I had been searching forand found in Okitsura: Some anime arent just entertainment. Theyre a genuine safe spacea soothing refuge that makes you feel good that lets you escape from daily life in the most comforting way. Okitsura is the perfect example of this. It beautifully captures the essence of iyashikei the genre I love so much. With its relaxing and heartwarming atmosphere it gave me this indescribable feeling of comfort happiness and serenity. Its just a simple 12episode sliceoflife anime yet it gave me something that very few anime ever have. Its all about the mood and atmosphere. No stop seeing this as a romcom. Its not one. Unlike what I initially expected the exact opposite turned out to be true. Okitsura isnt a romcom where the setting is just a pretext for romance. Instead romance is just a pretext to explore the setting What makes this anime unique is its dedication to making us travel and discover the unique culture of a rarely featured region in anime: Okinawa. Through the adventures of the charactersin what may seem like episodic storytellingwe follow Teru as he experiences the traditions landscapes dialect lifestyle and rich local culture of this region all without ever feeling like a history lesson. Over the course of 12 episodes we are introduced to countless fascinating facts and anecdotes each one interesting funny and leading to a variety of engaging situations with the characters. Its a true journey through Okinawas culture making us want to visit and explore the island ourselves. In this sense it feels like a love letter to Okinawaalmost like a tourism ad highlighting the beauty and authenticity of the region. The animes overall ambiance plays a massive role in the emotions I felt. The OST the multiple beautiful endings and the openingperformed by Okinawan musiciansshow just how much the creators love this region and want to share it with us. Ive been listening to the Okitsura soundtrack on repeat ever since and I never get tired of it. The animes atmospherelike the Okinawan people and culture it portraysis so warm and joyful. The music too carries this bittersweet beauty that almost brings me to tears as it reminds me of the scenes the characters and this world as if they were my own memories... More than just an anime it was an emotional experience. Beyond its visuals and cultural exploration Okitsura is an emotional experience. The music the endings the overall peaceful vibe instantly filled me with an inexplicable nostalgialike the distant echo of a happy time a feeling that cannot be described only felt. And that feeling perfectly aligns with the themes and messages of the story. The characters are incredibly endearing. Yes they are simple even clich but they are perfectly executed within their archetypes. The dialogue is genuinely funny and Terus constant amazement at everything he learns becomes a hilarious and charming running gag. Despite having only a small cast their personalities work together beautifully making everything feel real. Their friendship their daily lives their laughter It makes you want to be part of their world to share those moments with them to live in Okinawa with this tightknit happy community. Im naturally curious and I found myself constantly looking up images and details on Google about the things animals and cultural facts mentioned in the anime. I even explored Okinawan villages on Google Maps. I cant think of many animeif anythat have made me do that. The romcom aspect: While romance is present its very much secondaryand I loved that. Theres almost no fan service and the relationships are sweet innocent and comedic rather than overly dramatic. It keeps that wholesome lighthearted flirting dynamic that fits the animes atmosphere so well. Despite covering an entire school year the anime barely focuses on school itself. Instead it creates a warm stressfree ambiance that makes it feel like the characters are on vacation all year round. This only strengthens that comforting feeling I experienced. Final thoughts: This anime was for me a true therapy. It brought me so much peace and joy that I can already see myself rewatching it whenever I need comfort. Okitsura is not a romcomits a cultural journey through Okinawa wrapped in a heartwarming iyashikei atmosphere full of humor lovable characters adorable relationships and music so warm and nostalgic that it makes you want to visitor even live in Okinawa. It gave me a rare sense of comfort and security but now I feel so sad that I cant be part of this world that I cant join this amazing group of friends and experience their culture alongside them. I feel like Im leaving them behind and the thought of not having a second season yet or maybe ever is heartbreaking. After 12 episodes I feel like I became their friend and shared those precious moments with them. I will never forget them. Okitsura wasnt just nether an animeit was a warm comforting and true journey that captures the very essence of iyashikei offering a unique and deeply insightful immersion into Okinawan culture. All of this is accompanied by funny and endearing characters touching and adorable relationships a soothing atmosphere and a gentle nostalgia that will leave an indelible mark on my heart. Im so glad I started to watch this show... Ill never judge a lowrated anime unfairly again before trying and you should too Thank you Okitsura. Thank you Teru Kana Hina and Okinawa. Ill be following the manga closely while waiting for a second season if even there is one.... And as Hina would say nji mensooree 3