Name: Ushi ni Negai wo Love & Farm
Genre: Drama
Year: 2007
Rating: Enjoyable
Every year students studying agriculture have to attend a compulsory hands on training program set in the country town of Yubari. This year six students travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido to work on the local farms in Yubari. Though some are clearly more enthusiastic than others, there are always those who travel to Hokkaido just to satisfy their course requirements. As for the towns people, each family are struggling financially and are all close to being forced to sell their farm. Whilst the farmers are not so looking forward to the new batch of students, they can only hope that all things will go smoothly. For if the program were to be changed to be optional, the town would lose their funding from the government. Amongst the six there are those who are looking forward to the new experience, those who are looking forward to returning home and one who is returning to a his dying town of which he had hoped to forget.
Also known as Wish Upon a Cow Love & Farm, this series is a pretty serious drama. It deals with the lives of farmers who are unwilling to adapt to the changing times and hence are trapped in a dying industry. In addition whats shown is quite real, especially the cow birth scene in the first episode. However given that said the series does have typical romance live-action qualities. There are relationships formed, multiple obstacles of which individual characters must overcome as well as issues within the families on the farms. The series is quite informative on the traditional methods these farmers use. It shows the hardships that the townspeople of Yubari must face. Hence this series will bore those who are only able to enjoy dramas with something flashy. Though the plot may not be as interesting as some other dramas, the series does provide enjoyment in its own way.
