Review of Koi Kaze

*This review contains spoiler. My spoiler-free conclusion was - Koi Kaze is a beautiful depiction of circumstance. I have never seen a more sensitive and realistic anime, and I highly recommend it.* My first review here, and for a show I could not feel more strongly for. Koi Kaze is a brutally honest and realistic depiction of people struggling to deal with their circumstances. The story follows Koushirou, an average guy entering his 30s and dealing with a mid-life crises. His characterization is almost too realistic for my liking. I have met several Koushirou's in my life; people struggling with living a normal, boring life, shaken bya torn relationship. He's confronted by the arrival of his estranged sister, Nanoka, who has lived with her mother since the divorce. At the age of 15, Nanoka is struggling with just that; puberty and has craved a father/brother relationship her entire life.
So you have a man dealing with the break-up of a long-term relationship and struggling to find motivation, confronted with a beautiful girl, unsure of the changes around her and looking for someone to rely on. Their love feels like an infatuation and the show implies as much, with subtle hints about the changes with time. This realization makes the bridges they burn all the more sad.

Talking from a technical standpoint, the art is great. The washed out feel of the entire show, a bit like watercolors, really matches the simplicity of the story. The charecters could be more detailed, but that is compensated with some of the best voice acting I've ever heard. Yuki Nakamura, as Nanoka, delivers a very mature, but emotionally wrought girl with amazing clarity. It's an amazing performance. Koushirou's VA is decent, but nothing to right home about. However, Chidore, as an objective voice of reason, is exceptionally voiced by Akemi Okamura. The scene where she confronts Koushirou about the relationship is a highlight of the series.

Overall: The biggest critique of the show that I have witnessed is based on the subject matter. A 30 year old man falling for his 15 year old sister. While that may be a hard pill to swallow, anyone who approaches this anime with an open mind will be rewarded with an emotional masterpiece. Much like a Shakespearean play, you find yourself rooting for the romance, even if it leads nowhere good.