It's so easy for these kind of stories to end up feeling cheesy or clichéd, but this is not the case with Bara no nai Hanaya. The dorama is fresh and delicate, and touches upon various themes like family, friendship, vengeance, and kindness with the utmost sweetness and without too many pretences. Nothing in the story is ever exaggeratedly melodramatic or tragic, but it will make you cry nonetheless. Sometimes you will be happy-crying, sometimes you won't. But you can't help but shed a tear or two because the stories, the characters, the emotions - they're all real and will melt your heart. I would explain the story but here's the great thing about this dorama: there isn't just one. Every time a plot closes, another one opens up. This makes the story flow beautifully and naturally, and keeps you wondering what will happen next. The acting was amazingly well done, especially considering there's a child - the girl playing Shizuku - in the cast. Even the supporting cast was great. The only reason why I didn't give it a full 10 is because I don't think I liked Katori Shingo-san's acting in some places. The music was perfectly suited for the dorama, and I suspect the ED theme will be stuck in my head for quite a while. This is a beautiful, essentially human, family drama. It's a real gem worth watching, and I recommend it to everyone.