Mitsuwano is a story of three young Geisha apprentices (called Maiko), Riko, Midori and Mai, partaking in an upcoming festival. Being only one episode long (about 30 minutes), it is really a condensed version of something that could easily run a full season.
Opting for a one episode OVA, the pacing is rather fast. It unfortunately skips a lot of character development. How did the three meet? How did they become such close friends? What was their back stories? Too bad none of these were explored in any details. What we get is a small arc of an overall story. In all honesty, it barely touches the surface.
The main take away is that all three Maiko are training hard for an upcoming festival. However, a shopkeeper tells them that only two of them will be chosen for a role in the performance. Hence, the three friends now become competitors. This ends as well as any slice-of-life anime would end. Honestly, the story is not something spectacular. In fact, I think it leans towards the cliche side of story telling. I really wish it would at least run another two or three episodes, letting the viewers in on the everyday lives of a Maiko and the path they take to become a fully fledged Geisha, a centuries old profession that is getting less and less attention in the 21st century.
The Gion district is more or less depicted in Mitsuwano. Everything in the world of Geisha is so delicate and organized. The art shows that organization in great details. The shops are clean, everything is in order, nothing seems out of place. The kimono is brightly colored and fit for purpose.
For those who have been to Kyoto (and the Kansai region in general) will notice the details given to the dialogs of the characters in Mitsuwano. The Kansai dialect is very noticeable and there are even a few occasions where one of the girls got scolded for not using the correct dialect. It is such details that make Mitsuwano watchable.
Overall, Mitsuwano is not a bad anime, but as I have said throughout this review, one episode is not nearly enough to give the characters and story the time it needs to grow and foster a relationship with the viewer. A longer format, or even a feature film would do it better justice. Whatever the reason that was decided to release Mitsuwano in this format, don't let the short duration put you off. The art is appealing, it is full of little details that make you think that the creators really did their research. The subject matter is interesting, albeit it is probably more relevant in Japan than in the rest of the world. Watch it for what it is.
