jess.bartell - 2015-04-20 20:27:29

When one thinks of the topic of incest, the reception is either "Ew the fuck is wrong with you" or "Ch'ya man, I'd bang your sister's brains out if I were you" either way they are still both immature. What happens though if you utilize the theme of incest in a more mature way. You get an anime I like to call, Koi Kaze, so grab your siblings and hold them tight but not too tight and let's begin with the review.

Koi Kaze was produced by ACGT who created Kino’s Journey and Freezing, and is directed by Omori Takahiro who directed Baccano and Princess Jellyfish. It is a romantic seinen drama with 13 episodes and aired in 2004.

The Story
The story follows our main protagonist Koushiro, a 25 year old man who works as a wedding planner. He lives a depressing life, his parents are divorced, he lives with his father, and his girlfriend dumped him. But during this negative stage of his life, his sister of 15 years moves in with him. Now, Koushiro must suppress his increasing feelings for his sister while his sister is facing the challenges of adolescence.

Unlike the anime Oreimo which is more of a commentary on Otaku culture than incest, Koi Kaze takes its theme of incest quite seriously with a high level of maturity. This anime focuses on the question of what is morally right and wrong, and is taken from different perspectives of the matter. But though a touchy matter, it never felt cringy, instead the relationship rubbed off as very genuine and heartwarming. 

This brings me to the realism of the show, despite the questionable events that occur in the story the situations that arise are real issues that certain people endure in the real world, and it all boils down to how society perceives these issues which adds pressure to the subjects. The show is not hesitant to reveal its true colors and the realism couldn’t have been achieved without the aid of the beautiful slow pacing which allows the raw emotions of the characters to be amplified, and demonstrates the massive development within the relationship between the brother and sister over the runtime of the anime.

As a romance anime this easily surpasses most of the anime of its genre, with the moral of the story being love can exceed any barrier, and can manifest at any time even when we as human beings deny it. Also, in terms of other anime of its genre this anime can pace it's romance out properly without it becoming cliche and prolonged. Yeah, I'm looking at you Nisekoi, suck my spike Raku.

There is also a psychological element to this story as well but it’s very subtle and non conventional. Instead of trying to fuck the crevices of your brain like Perfect Blue and Lain which I love more than fapping to Fakku.net, the anime shows the deterioration of the main character’s mind with conflict of societal moralities through his actions, one being erm, uhh, ahem, spanking the monkey, and much more examples are displayed.

I personally gathered assorted feelings for the ending, on one hand it was a fair conclusion that fit with the themes of the show but on the flipside the relationship could have been explored deeper, and to display more of the taboos from society of an incestrous relationship. But what we got in the end was satisfactory

The Characters
The characters of Koi Kaze are both well characterized and developed despite some side characters not getting enough screentime.

Koshiro is the main character who is realistically portrayed as he struggles during a difficult time of his life, his girlfriend dumped him, and he’s living with his father. Also to top things off, he’s dealing with the psychological struggle of being infatuated with his sister of whom he just met after many years. Fully fleshed out and pragmatic, Koshiro has an abundance of problems to worry about as he’s constantly contemplating about the immorality of his thoughts and how society would perceive him if anyone found out about his lustful thoughts.

Nanoka represents adolescence and through her perspective we witness a pure view of the love forbidden by society. Also she develops substantial feelings for her older brother while also has to deal with being a teenager, have the hormones flinging, and getting the vagina tingling. She is more outward about her love, and feels less shameful towards the subject matter than others are. Nanoka both manages to resist what society dictates is morally correct and demonstrates a realistic portrayal someone like her in this situation. My only wish is that there could be more inner monologues from Nanoka to show what she's thinking instead of saying, that could have benefited her a lot more.

The biggest side character is Chidori, who is characterized to fit the role of the outside perspective of the incestrous relationship and introduces the harsh reality of how society treats people with the taboo relationship.

All and all, the characterization in Koi Kaze is top notch with many realistic representations of people I'm this type of situation though some of the side characters lacked any depth and were 1 dimensional.

The Art/Animation
The weakest component of this anime is it's art and animation department which in my opinion was highly minimalistic, and unappealing though in that regard has a decent level of realism as opposed to the flashy anime we always see. But the backgrounds aren't detailed, and the character designs aren't anything special. One little pet peeve I hated was that a lot of the time when a character closes their mouth their mouth is entirely white because of the teeth and for some reason it stood out so much. Imagine brushing your teeth only to find out your roommate changed the toothpaste with jizz, yeah, that's what it looks like. The animation was very lackluster throughout with minor character movements to accompany the already plain artwork. I can see what they were going for with the realistic looking approach but it really wasn't that appealing in that regard. 

The sound
Koi Kaze's voice acting can be described in 6 words, oh my Buddha Christ of Nigeria. The performances displayed emotion, passion, and fit the characters splendidly. However the weakest part of the sound happens to be the music which had a couple of nice piano/violin acoustics but other than that it’s just your regular soundtrack. It was very dry, even at times uninspired. The opening was fine, nothing stand outshine but it complemented the show well. 

In conclusion, though the controversial subject matter of the show is used horrendously in other shows to the point where it's insulting like Yosuga no Sucka dick..... Koi Kaze acknowledges that this issue is something prominent in this world and manages to convey a heartwarming serious story from something seen as taboo so in that regard Koi Kaze gets my verdict of being not good… It’s Very Good! and would be Greatness if it wasn't held back by the art/animation and lackluster ost.

mills.elijah - 2014-11-09 20:29:27

WARNING: The following review may contain minor spoiler to the show being review as well as mild language. Reader Discretion is advised.

      There are animes out there that have taboo themes and go into the gray area. Koi Kaze is one of these anime as it focuses on the romantic relationship between two siblings with a 12 year age difference. Despite this, I find Koi Kaze to be one of the best examples of romance in anime.

Show Info:

-Studio: A.C.G.T (Known for Kino's Journey, Project Blue Earth SOS, and Monochrome Factor.)

-Director: Takahiro Omori (Known for Durarara!!, Baccano!, Samurai Flamenco, and Natsume's Book of Friends.)

-Composer: Makoto Yoshimori (Known for Baccano!, Durarara!!, Natsume's Book of Friends, and Hamatora.)

-Original Material: Koi Kaze (Manga) by Motoi Yoshida.

      The Story

      The story of Koi Kaze revolves around Koshiro Saeki, a 27 year old man who lives with his father and works at an arranged marriage agency. Being the son of divorced parents he has found it hard to truly commit himself to loving someone romantically. One day, while on the train to work, Koshiro notices a girl get off who drops her wallet. He returns it to her and she thanks him and leaves. Later that same day, Koshiro is leaving work when he meets the girl again. They end up going to the amusement park to kill time while the girl is waiting to meet up with someone. As it turns out, the person the girl is meeting is none other than Koshiro's father, Zanzou, who explains to Koshiro that the girl, Nanoka, is his little sister who has come to live with them. The series then starts to focus on Nanoka's and Koshiro's relationship and interactions with each other as well as other characters from school or work.

       This show gets a lot of flak though for having taboo themes of incest and having pedophilia. Some people will argue that if it had sex like Yosuga no Sora did, it would have had more fans. But I am very, very glad it left out any type of sex between Koshiro and Nanoka because it just made the show a lot better and less weird.

      I also find the story to be a great example of romance done right. I have found that some (if not lots of) anime have their characters fall in love for "reasons". It has one of the greatest romance plots I have seen since Clannad After Story and The Wind Rises. It shows the bonds of Nanoka and Koshiro and how the two try to suppress their feelings, knowing it is wrong in society to love a sibling or blood relative, but ultimately realize that they love each other

      Story: 9/10

      The Characters

      Our main cast consists of Koshiro Saeki and Nanoka Kohinata, two siblings who have lived separately due to their parents' divorce.

      Koshiro Saeki is a twenty-seven year old man who works for an arranged marriage agency. He is a large man with a 5 o'clock shadow, and is often scowling. He comes off as a cross, gruff man but you soon see he is very emotional and generally caring, but he does not know how to express them. He is often annoyed by Nanoka because of his own problems and her very lively personality. Koshiro is protective over Nanoka because he feels he has responsibilities as her older brother. He soon starts to realize his true fellings for Nanoka after he reconnects with his ex-girlfriend, but suppresses his feelings. This character is labeled as a pervert by some viewers because of his relationship with his sister, and I can see why they say it, but he himself has a great amount of something called SELF-CONTROL. He is well aware that his and Nanoka's feelings are forbidden. Koshiro does his best to control this by burring these feelings down and repeatedly telling Nanoka not to say "it".

      Nanoka Kohinata is Koshiro's younger sister who is a fifteen year old high schooler. After she moves in to the Saeki household she takes over the family. She is very lively and active. After reconnecting with Koshiro she becomes very attached to him, wanting to hang out with him and visit him at work. Because she talks about Koshiro with her friends at school, they tease her about her "brother complex", though she refuses to admit her feelings for her brother.

      Other characters include Kaname Chidori, Koshiro's coworker who is very outgoing and joking. Futaba and Ouka are Nanoka's friends who tease her about her "brother complex", but all three are very good friends and hang out a lot. Another character is Zenzo Saeki, Koshiro and Nanoka's father who is very affectionate to his children (mainly Nanoka) and worries about her when she stays over at a friends house or comes home late from school.

      I fell the character's are fairly realistic, all things considered. They react the way most would to situations in the show. You can also become attached to them and even root for the two main characters when things get tough.

      Characters: 8/10

      The Animation

      Now the animation is not the highpoint of this show. Most anime from 2004 look better. Because of the poorer animation quality, most are turned off by this show, if they weren't already turned off by the incest/pedophilia aspect. But I would argue it adds to the show more than it takes away. While it is dull looking, during the romantic moments the show has, it gives the scenes a more quiet, fluffy feeling to them that I really liked. One of my favorite scene is in the first episode when Koshiro and Nanoka are sitting in the Ferris Wheel with a sunset in the background. The animation helps make the scene cute and fluffy.

      Animation: 7/10

      The Sound

       -Sub vs. Dub: I watched the show in Japanese and I have seen scenes from the English dub and both are very good performances by both sets of actors. It's up for you to decide which version you would like to watch.

       -Series Composition: The music for Koi Kaze is very gentle and light. It resonates with the show very well though no tracks stand out to me other than the ending theme. The opening theme is "Koi Kaze" by éf and I would recommend watching it once if you want, but I usually skipped it. It was a nice song but nothing fantastical. The ending theme is "Futari Dakara" by Masumi Itō and I absolutely LOVE the vocals to this song. It beautifully sung and it has a very calming sound, like a lullaby.

      Sound: 8/10

      Deduction

      Koi Kaze is a very gentle series that delivers a great story of true romance. It is a shame some people list it as a messed up anime with stuff like Boku no Pico or Kodomo no Jikan. Yet, Koi Kaze is a very fresh take on romance. It is a brave attempt at portraying a taboo subject, but it does it in such a gentle and beautiful way.

      Enjoyment: 9/10

      Final Calculations:

      -Story: 9/10

      -Characters: 8/10

      -Animation: 7/10

      -Sound: 8/10

      -Enjoyment: 9/10

       Total Score: 8.2/10 with a Recommendation to watch it.

       Recommened Anime: Hourou Musuko an anime that also deals with difficult topics in a mature way, though this focuses on gender identity. I also recommend Clannad/ After Story because like Koi Kaze it has a true romance with a gentle feel.

       Thanks for reading and until next time!

beverly30 - 2013-07-16 09:56:55

This anime is one of my ALL-time favorites, and currently ranks #4 on my Top 10.The story of Koi Kaze is a story of forbidden love. This, of course, made me think twice before attempting to watch... As you know, incest is mostly frowned upon in society. I looked into how Japan thinks of it, and while they tolerate cousins (I've seen so much cousin romance in anime, it doesn't bother much anymore...), they HATE and PERSECUTE incest more outright than we do!!!I was almost wondering how this could've aired!!!However, after watching the first ep, I couldn't have been more surprised at what I saw...Story: 10/10If I could, I would give this one 100/10, but I cannot, so yeah...The plot of Koi Kaze is probably the most fragile element of this anime, because even though it "is" incest, it is told in a way, where it's understandable, thoughtful, and ultimately, enjoyable."SPOILERS" I will reveal what made me utterly drawn to it, if no one wants to no how, skip until you see GIANT letters. (I'm only revealing most of the 1st episode.)Seemingly standard procedure: Guy gets dumped for "not caring enough". Guy lets girl go, and moves on. She's surprised that he isn't bothered by it, and it bothers him too inside...Procedure ends there: One morning he does a good deed for a high school girl who drops her pass, and he finds himself a little more... relaxed (the only word I can think of, without sounding indecent).Next day, he bumps into her, and awkwardly gives her tickets to a nearby park, he goes on a half-date/half-chaperone, and they unexpectantly spill their love life.She reveals your typical high-school turn down and handles it maturely, if with a little denial.He senses denial, and turns it into a question of depth: Can "I" truly love someone?She does nothing more than pat his head, and admits that she too felt "relaxed" when he did that good deed the other day...When the day is over, even though they do seem interested in one another, they attempt to go their separate ways...Ah, the not-so-fateful moment arrives, as daddio has to come out of the blue (not really), and blurt out the god awful truth!ALL THAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST EPISODE...Of course, that was all it took for me to press on with the story.For the safety of experiencing the "experience", I will not reveal more about the story than these few points:1. There is, literally, no other anime that tells this kind story, in the way that it does. (sounds like a riddle, but its execution is flawless!)2. The emotional content, is both natural and believable.3. YOU WILL WANT TO WATCH IT AGAIN.Art: 8/10This is, sadly, the shows weakest element, while the artwork isn't awful, I wanted the story to have the artwork it DESERVED!Fortunately, it grew on me, and, eventually, I wouldn't have it any other way!However, I give it an 8, because, by that era's standards of artwork/animation they could've put more budget into the series. Especially since it's only 13 eps long!All in all, the art is sup par everything else, but by show's standards, it's not that big of a sacrifice...Sound: 10/10This aspect is one of the few things that won't come into attention until you "notice" it, and believe me, when it happens, IT HAPPENS!The op and end theme appropiately match the story The op, especially, gave me a bit of dread early on, but as time went on, I felt that it was true beauty...Pieces of music that stand out, are the piano solo that occurs during the sentimental scenes, and the "harmony" that happens during the final moments......of most episodes...All in all, music was, and still is, a critical factor in delivering the package.It did not disappoint me.Character: 9/10The ONLY reason I didn't give this anime a perfect 10/10, was because the supporting characters rarely, except for a few "crucial" parts, had enough development or screentime.In a way, it's a good thing, because the show is about the main characters, and if we were distracted by anything that wasn't relevent, the delicate balance would be off.Koshiro - The main lead, he's a 27-year-old wedding planner, who got into the career for the purpose of being next to people during their happiest times.He, as a person, is almost ALWAYS misunderstood and because of that, wonders if he's misunderstanding himself.This causes him to fear the possiblity of him never loving someone completely and unconditionally.His answer comes in a package that forces him to wonder if the love he wants is worth the trouble.Nanoka - The main heroine, a 15-year-old freshman who moves into her brother's life, for the sake of commuting closer to home.She wants to be closer to Koshiro, since she has always found the concept of a brother comforting and exciting. As such, the events mentioned above (SPOLERS sec), don't really bother her too much early on. She is the victim of emotional lash-outs from Koshiro, as "he" attempts to distance himself as much as possible. She is puzzled and hurt, but wants to be closer to see if he really is an @$$hole, or if he is as sentimental as when they first met...However, her social life becomes more and more unnatural, since instead of focusing on the boys at school, she near-constantly thinks "big-brother" instead. More and more proof about Koshiro's good side only affect her more deeply, because she wasn't "expecting" it.If I reveal anymore, I'll regret, so hopefully you'll be interested. Some final pointers.1. Despite Koshiro's mature age and manner, he will still surprise you. In ways you want, and in ways you wouldn't think...2. Nanoka's age does come into play, but because the nature of her attraction is so complex, she, too, matures very fast. Her growth as a character was one of the greatest things about this anime!Enjoyment: 10/10I love this anime! I can say it over and over, and not think anything is wrong with it...This is one of the few animes where I have watched it more than 5 times!I can NEVER get tired of it, because the experience non-cliche, non-stereotype, and the theme is told in a way that no other anime can do it as well AND as effective!I'm glad I watched this (in both languages), and bought this.Overall: 10/10One of the best, if not THE best, romance anime ever...If anyone wants a romance, where you'd question your own morals and not feel weird about it, this anime will do just that, whether you want it to happen or not.Know how the word "moist" doesn't ryhme with any other word?Same applies here: Koi Kaze "cannot" be compared to any other anime. Period.+ Storytelling and actual story are both masterpieces. Ending is pefect for the type of story that it is.+ Sound/Music is to die for/matches perfectly with the moment.- Lots of people will shun it for being what it is... Not enough characters are utilized.- Artwork is initially unappealing. Takes a big man to admit the good parts.

euna.lind - 2013-07-06 20:02:56

Can you suspend your sense of morality for 13 episodes?

If so, you're in for something special. Koi Kaze is a hidden gem that doesn't get the attention it deserves.

You're reading this review because maybe you heard about this show from someone else. Maybe you stumbled across this randomly while searching for shows like Kiss x Sis or Yosuga No Sora. Well, if you're like me, a sucker for great romance stories, look no further. This is a unique show that pulls you into its world and doesn't let you go until the very end.

What is it about? It's the story of a 27-year-old man who is destitute of emotions. He's never loved another person and as a result, is utterly indifferent. Ironically enough, he is a wedding planner; he chose this career because he wanted to witness what "true love" was like.

Fast-forward to the middle of the first episode. A 15-year-old highschool girl enters his life. What unravels from this point onwards is the breakdown of a man as he struggles with his sense of morality. Heart-wrenching to watch at times, he fights his natural desires because of how strongly he holds to his principles. But how do you fight true love? Can you fight it at all?

Koi Kaze successfully tackles the ultra-taboo subject of incest in a manner that is respectful to its viewers. This is not Kiss x Sis, where incest is thrown around loosely. Instead, this is a show that understands the moral and real life implications of an incredibly taboo relationship. Whether or not you condone it should be discounted when watching this series. Why? Because it is exactly for those aforementioned reasons that you can witness a truly beautiful story.

The animation is pastel-like, uncommon of most shows, but it does not detract from the series. I would argue that it creates a certain atmosphere that allows you, the viewer, to step out of reality. The musical composition is emotional and appropriate cued in at key points in the story. In terms of technical points, Koi Kaze scores 10/10 in all categories.

If you have read this far, do yourself a big favor and watch this show. It's truly a special story that more folks need to know about. Just make sure to check your sense of morality at the door. If you can do that, you're in for a love story that rivals Clannad.

qhermiston - 2013-04-23 05:49:36

When it comes to anime, incest is a subject often treated as nothing more than an excuse for fan-service. From Kiss x Sis to Onii-chan no Koto nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne!!, incest is often treated as a joke or as fetish fuel much to others' pleasure or chagrin depending on one's views. Koi Kaze, however, treats incest in a serious and analytical manner, far different from many other anime that deal with the subject, and in doing so, manages to become an often overlooked masterpiece.

Koi Kaze is an adaption of a manga of the same name, written by a Motoi Yoshisa. The adaption was 13 episodes in length, and handled by A.C.G.T., the studio that handled Kino's Journey and Freezing. The story is about a wedding planner named Saeki Koushirou who, as fate would have it, has a terrible love life himself, and lives with his father. After being dumped by his girlfriend(tough luck, bro),  he meets a high school girl that manages to console him in during the typical sad aftermath of a breakup. Despite the age difference, something somewhere deep inside gives him feelings toward this girl. At the end of the day though, the two separate. Not for long however, as when he returns home he discovers the girl waiting for him, for she is actually his sister and will be staying with both him and his father for a while. And so, the painful and sad love story of the two star-crossed siblings begins.

Koi Kaze has a slow, but meaningful, pace. The interactions between characters are believable, and the unfolding romance is not abrupt. The two do not find out they are siblings and then start foodangling immediately after. It is grounded very much in actual psychology. Two siblings, away from each other since birth, can indeed develop feelings for each other when they meet again, something the show takes to it's advantage to ground itself in reality. Despite that fact, there is much apprehension and worrying, for they are in the end, still brother and sister. And so the story goes with this waltz of denial and blossoming love, questioning whether such a story could ever end well. Though the plot is wonderful, there are few issues that arise. The story of Koi Kaze is beautiful, but at times, painful to watch. If you are against incest, then a quite few moments of the show may leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth, no matter how much you enjoy the series. The ending of the show, leaves many questions hanging in the air, and almost seems as if the creators themselves did not know how to end it.

To match the beautiful story, is an equally beautiful soundtrack. Composed of soft piano keys and magnificent magical melodies, the soundtrack does a great job complimenting the show. With a great opening, and ending, provided by Masumi Itō, one of the singers of the Azumanga Daioh themes, the overall soundtrack is spectacular.

Now, even though Koi Kaze is a wondrous piece of art, every masterpiece has it's flaws, and Koi Kaze is not different. For Koi Kaze, it's weakness is the animation. It is unfortunate, but the budget for this show was quite small, and it shows. Many budget-saving techniques are highly noticeable, from somewhat sketchy movements, to white spaces in mouths when characters speak. It came out in 2004, but the animation looks much older than that. And this, is probably the greatest problem one would have with this show beyond the focus on incest.

Koi Kaze is a serious look at what it means to be siblings and in love. It has a believable and thoughtful story, and a soundtrack that just melds into the show. The animation, however, is questionable. It comes down to whether you prefer art or story, and for those that choose the former, than the art will be a massive negative. However, for those that prefer the latter, than you will be in for a story that will stay in your memories forever.