In other anime reviews, I acknowledge how much I do or do not take risks when contemplating what anime title I find are worthy of my interest. What is interesting about such examples, of which I'm sure you have encountered yourself, is that such circumstances are often more ironic than an exertion of one's pretentiousness. That is to say, there are animated films and series' that are so incredibly good, the issue really is not whether or not the title is worthy of playing within yours or my DVD player, but the case is often concerned with whether or not you or I, as gaijin otaku, are worthy of having interest in the production itself. And thus, we come upon Koi Kaze, easily one of the best anime domestic releases for the 2005-year.

Koi Kaze is an anime series about a 28-year-old guy named Koshiro Saeki and a fifteen-year-old girl named Nanoka Koshinata. Koshiro is at somewhat of a low-point in his life, however complacent he may be, wherein his job is slightly satisfying, his home life (consisting only of his simple father), is relaxed, and his most recent personal relationship that has been going nowhere, has finally ended. Koshiro then, isn't exactly satisfied with his life, but he's not exactly griping about not being totally fulfilled either. It isn't until his new ex-girlfriend remarks on how "nothing ever ruffles [his] feathers" that Koshiro begins to seriously contemplate the direction and motive his personal life has.

This anime series is very simple and direct in its objective, to give the audience a couple of characters... and pull at their emotions and psyche via personal relationships and emotional wavelengths like no other.

If you already know of what kind of personal relationship this series revolves around, then congratulations, you've made it past step one of finding out just how great this anime happens to be. If you don't already know, I'll kindly direct you to the link atop this review that takes you to a previous news article. Nevertheless, Koi Kaze is an anime series that is about personal relationships, but instead of taking the typical "guy likes girl" approach, I find that this series is actually a genuine drama.

There is little to dislike about the anime, and from the smooth animation quality, to the integrity of the show's characters, Koi Kaze is a brilliant presentation. Koshiro, the lead male, meets a young girl… and suddenly finds that he is unable to get the gal out of his head for quite some time. Is this the so-called LOVE that people have been talking about for so long? Let's find out.

One day in particular, a spring day with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, Koshiro runs into a bright-eyed girl on the commuter train… An observer might just say that it is a meeting of fate, as he returns her school ID of which she has dropped. It is as common an occurrence as any other, but when their eyes meet each other's… something happens. Something clicks, or rather, sparks. It is soon diffused in the tenseness of the moment, but soon enough, this alien sentiment of human attraction, will re-ignite.

Koshiro Saeki

The girl is Nanoka, and as fate would have it, this brown-eyed girl will be given a new opportunity at her youthful happiness. Nanoka is a high-spirited girl that often tries to make friends with everybody. Also, her chance meeting with Koshiro occurs not just once, but twice. The second chance meeting is outside of a building where Koshiro and a female colleague of his are leaving a business meeting. Nanoka is quick to thank the man--whose name she at present does not know--for returning her ID to her the other day. It is here that we catch a small glimpse into the dynamics between the two characters, the ignition and blossoming of a relationship, as Koshiro hesitates to respond with an appropriate means of address. Nanoka, to Koshiro, is a cute little girl with a distinct sincerity to which he has long forgotten… and perhaps, has forgotten to long for. Koshiro notices this in the girl, yet, even he himself doesn't even know why just yet.

And in a moment of brave anxiousness Koshiro (still at the presence of their second meeting), gives Nanoka a pair of theme park tickets… because he presumably knows not what to do with them (they were given to him as a gift). Koshiro, truly a shy man beyond belief, is not too sure was to what he's doing over the next few hours, spending time with a fifteen-year-old girl at a theme park; but as a part of the coincidence, I can sense a small attraction developing from Koshiro to Nanoka. I know it may sound a bit odd coming from me, but trust me, the narrative structure of Koi Kaze is so excellently coordinated, you slide right along with the story and its characters ever so legitimately.