Plot: Raita's father is a respected tea master who's renowned for making personalized tea blends. When he passes, there's nobody to take over his shop. The day of their closing, a tea master from Tokyo arrives with a will in his hands. Raita's father left his shop to him, unless Raita can beat him in a blending match.
Watches
July 27, 2025
A cute little drama that blends Japan's love for traditional crafts and arts with some simple but thoughtful life lessons. There's not much time, so the film isn't quite as subtle as it needed to be, but take away some of the more sentimental leaps, and what remains is a sweet and genuine drama.
The performances are decent, the presentation is basic but agreeable. What shines through is the love and dedication some people put into their craft, a firm and definitive rejection of whatever capitalism tries to sell you. Sure enough, it's a bit idealistic, but in a film that's not necessarily a bad thing. Pleasant.