The way the story unfolds, we learn more of this young boy and why he is living alone.

The neighours and characters all add to the warm environment that we can enjoy as we watch Kotaro grow.

It heals the soul.

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Story: The writing is superb, expected of a (manga?) that definitely has a plot backstory, yet the day-to-day feels slice-of-life. We learn why Kotaro has certain habits or does certain things, and we learn more about him with each episode.

Acting: Eita was 7 or 8 when he played as 5 year old Kotaro. I suppose they need to be older to have acting ability, and Eita's looks make the age difference unnnoticeable. As the main character, he needed to play the role of a kid emulating his favourite samurai in speech pattern and personality, and wisdom beyond his years from his experiences. I think he did that very well.

Music: Nothing noticeable, but in the more emotional moments, I find myself coming back to play it in the background.

Rewatch value: Slice of life has rewatch value. I like watching the characters interact and talk to each other.

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