Shiawase Kissa Sanchoume

幸福喫茶3丁目

Company: Marine Entertainment
Based on: Manga
Released: 2007.01.25


I can do this... I can review something normal once in a while... Wait, maybe Are you Alice? can count as normal? Or maybe not... either way!

Shiawase Kissa Sanchoume (which would translate into something like "[the] Happiness Cafe on block 3") is a drama CD based on the manga of the same name. 16 year old Takamura Uru (CV: Kanda Akemi)  works parttime at the cafe "Bonheur" together with fellow part-timers Shindou Satsuki (CV: Toriumi Kousuke) and Nishimura Ichirou (CV: Sugiyama Noriaki). Working at the cafe fills Uru her days with happiness.

The first tracks of the drama CD are more of an introduction to the world of Shiawase Kissa. We meet everyone at Bonheur, regular customer Yamasaki Mitsuki (CV: Toyoguchi Megumi), and sons of a nearby wagashi (japanese sweets) shop; Abekawa Kashiwa (CV: Yusa Kouji) and Sou (Morikubo Shoutarou) and their little sister Sakura (CV: Tanii Asuka). If you haven't read the manga (like me) this is a nice introduction, as it everything you need to enjoy the story.

After that the actual story starts. The owner of a nearby french restaurant (CV: Yasumoto Hiroki) asks Uru  to be the model for a poster for their upcoming dinner for couples and newly weds. Uru agrees, but she still needs someone to act as the groom. Of course, all four of the above guys want the role of Uru her groom (ok, except maybe for Shindou who acts indifferent). Eventually they decide to decide who can be Uru her groom by holding a contest to decide. The one who gives Uru the present that makes her happiest wins and becomes her 'groom'.

The charm of this drama CD (and the manga as a whole) lies in the quirky personality of the characters. Shindou seems like an ever grumpy and violent person but actually bakes all the cakes for the cafe. Ichirou falls asleep the instant he gets hungry, and only wakes up again when you force-feed him something. Mitsuki is a super tall model, but is actually still in junior high and can eat for two. The Abekawa brothers speak kansai-ben, which is funny enough on its own. Sakura is just your standard super cute baby sister that every series needs.


Conclusion:
Any conversation between these characters is already funny, and the gifts they give Uru only make things better. While you could argue that this is just another shoujo manga, it is a very funny one and that is all that counts.