After taking a deep breathe, after shedding tears, after spending hours thinking about this show I finally decided to write my feelings down. Mother is not a drama, it’s slice-of-life and is in no way made for entertainment purposes but rather to move every shred of humanity in you. So why watch when a drama's primary purpose is to entertain? The answer is simple, Japan is the best in human dramas like Mother, which stay with you long after the glowing warmth of a sappy romantic comedy drama has faded. “I am not trying to justify what I’m doing, I am an observer who became a criminal that’s all“ Suzuhara Nao. A school-teacher who ‘kidnaps’ one of her pupils when she discovers she is being abused at home. Her desperate desire to save this little girl’s life she with no faith in authorities decides to take matters into her own hands. This is one of those few dramas that will have you emotionally invested by episode one. I personally have shed tears towards the end.The slow building relationship between Nao and Tsugumi, as little by little Nao learns what it really is to be a mother, is wonderful to watch. I am not afraid to say that despite the fact that “kidnapping” is illegal in the eyes of the law, I was wholeheartedly supporting Nao all the way. She wants to save this little girl, whatever it takes and she is willing to take the penalty. You can’t help but admire her strength. Another gift which this show bring to you and which rightfully could be the most important reason if not the only enough reason I’d tell you to watch this show for is Ashida Mana as Rena. This little girl was only 6 years old when she starred in this show and yet her acting skills by far surpass her age. Her emotional scenes just breaks your heart into pieces and leaves you uncontrollably sobbing. There are two scenes for her that left me emotionally vulnerable and heart broken from the heartbreakingly raw sincerity she has shown. I had to remind myself over and over she is just "playing" the part she’s not really going through this, I had to remind myself that so I too can move on with my life. Yes that's how powerful her performance is. You might read the synopsis and think to yourself there’s no way that this story can have a happy, feel-good ending. Without spoiling anything away, the drama ends in the best most fitting way possible. Personally I’d say the ending is one of the most wonderful things about this show and has left me speechlessly sobbing. Overall, I think by looking at the synopsis it is pretty much clear that if you are looking for something feel-good and entertaining then you most definitely should look elsewhere. But if you want to see a drama at its best, acting at its best, story at its best and finally Japan at its best then I suggest to have this one on your-must-watch-top-priorities.