Dagashi Kashi

Review By: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life, Restaurant, Junk Food

First Aired: Winter 2016, 12 episodes

Summary: Shikada Kokonotsu is the heir to the family business, a sweet shop that has been in the family for nine generations! The plan is for Kokonotsu to take over the rural sweet shop one day, but he plans on becoming a mangaka (manga author) instead, which would make Shikada Dagashi have to close its doors for good. Everything is about to change when the quirky Shidare Hotaru appears at the sweet shop. Apparently, Kokonotsu’s father is famous and she wants him to join her family’s big business candy company. However, he will only agree if she can convince Kokonotsu to take over the family business.

Dagashi Kashi is an easy show to watch, providing a healthy balance of comedy and candy. Each episode is centered around a couple of real-life Japanese candy treats. Hotaru is the authority on sweets, giving detailed explanations of the goodies, including the best conditions to consume them. One episode even has them turning up the heat in the middle of summer in order to provide the best possible candy consumption for one of their favorite treats. The candy promotion seemed a bit much at times, almost like they were straight up advertising it, but whatever. The animation is not the best out there, but it’s a show about candy so what do you expect? Hotaru’s eyes are pretty cool though. I should mention there’s a fair amount of fan service in the series. I mean it’s a show about eating candy, you can imagine the inadvertent trouble they get themselves into.

You might enjoy this if: You are a candy connoisseur, especially in the realm of Ramune. If your passion is Pocky, you’ll be delighted by Dagashi Kashi!

You might not like it if: You are looking for a full meal instead of filling up on snacks. While there is an overarching storyline, it takes a back seat to the episodic focus on candy.

Note to the Viewer: Dagashi Kashi means “cheap sweets candy”. It’s a fitting title if you ask me.

AMV – Lucky Strike by Anime Music

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