Life throws the unexpected at us, and this is precisely what it does for coin laundry owner Minato Akira.

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Tsubaki Yuzu, Minato’s Laundromat (Minato Shouji Coin Laundry) is a Japanese BL about a middle-aged businessman who left the corporate world to take over his grandfather’s laundromat. There, he meets and befriends high schooler Katsuki Shintaro (Nishigaki Sho), only for their relationship to become increasingly complicated once Shintaro discovers Akira (Kusakawa Takuya) is gay.

Tense, chemistry-filled emotions run high as Shintaro pursues Akira in an attempt to seduce him despite their considerable age gap. Thus begins a heart-fluttering push and pull between two men at different stages of life and sexuality.

There is one thing Japan almost always does right regarding storytelling. No matter the topic and obstacles, Japan has a clearly defined way of tackling nuanced, intricate plots, especially those with a forbidden feel. Age gap romances aren’t new to Japan. If anything, they’ve become somewhat cliche, yet they never grow tiresome. Much of this has to do with the way they present them. They don’t shy away from the age-gap reality, often honing in on the difference. While this may be uncomfortable for some viewers, I respect that they don’t run from their plots out of fear of the audience. Instead, they face them head-on, presenting the story they intend to tell despite any possible feedback.

Japan’s desire to tell its stories without allowing public opinion to strangle its direction and creativity is one of my favorite things about Japanese dramas and films. As a viewer, I never know what to expect, whether it’s an over-the-top comedy with surprising depth or a seemingly romantic tale with an unexpected tragic ending. It’s like opening a fortune cookie. You never know what you’re going to get. Unless it’s a live-action, and you’re familiar with the manga or anime that inspired it.

With Minato’s Laundromat, the age difference plays a backseat to the evident stages of sexuality and life Minato and Akira are at. Although Akira has accepted being gay, he’s years ahead of Shintaro regarding the experiences a gay man in Japan may face. Being gay is one thing. Being out is another entirely. No one shares the same experiences. No matter what culture you live in, being gay in society and how that’s accepted differs from person to person, situation to situation, and generation to generation. Shintaro is just beginning his journey. On the other hand, Akira has settled into life and a routine with memories that shape how he presents himself. There’s no doubt that Akira is attracted to Shintaro. There’s also no doubt that he’s bothered by their age difference. But what ties them together is an equal attraction to the same sex that makes ignoring their feelings hard. Shintaro doesn’t even try to ignore his, being blunt and straightforward in an often abrasive way.

The first two episodes set the stage for the drama, delving just enough into Akira’s past and Shintaro’s present to foreshadow the doubts and emotions that the past and present combined will bring them.

And it all takes place around an old laundromat frequented by the elderly in a small town where anything can happen. I have a soft spot in my heart for stories that make a place and its people as central to the plot as the characters themselves. Minato’s Laundromat has humanized its setting, making it as three-dimensional as the people.

The creators behind this drama have already woven Akira and Shintaro into my heart. And it has nothing to do with their growing desire for each other and everything to do with what kind of trouble that passion could bring them.

And I’m here for the ride.

For a story that can potentially take viewers to unexpected places, check out Minato’s Laundromat on Gagaoolala.

Rating- 4.5 out of 5