Romantics Anonymous

Review

I rate this a 10/10, and I honestly don’t indicate perfect scores very often. I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it.

The premise is incredibly refreshing and adorable: Hana Iwayama has severe social anxiety and can’t meet people’s eyes, while Sosuke Kojima has a phobia of being touched by others—yet from the very first moment they meet, they can look at and touch each other without any problem. It’s such a sweet, clever twist on the “fated connection” idea.What makes it truly special is how both characters grow and heal each other throughout relatively short series. Sosuke is smitten with Hana from the start (and never wavers), which is just pure catnip for romance fans. The series is funny when it needs to be, deeply heart-warming the rest of the time, and surprisingly thoughtful in its portrayal of anxiety disorders and trauma without ever feeling heavy-handed.The chocolate-making scenes are gorgeous—almost therapeutic to watch—and the happy, wholesome vibe is off the charts. If you love feel-good romances with zero second-lead syndrome, no unnecessary angst, and a perfect happy ending, this is an absolute must-watch. I already want to re-watch it, and that basically never happens.Spoiler SectionHana Iwayama is one of the genuinely sweetest, most selfless female leads I’ve ever seen. Giving up her prized original recipe at the chocolate competition so her teammate could take the spotlight? That moment was the cherry on top of her kindness.Sosuke Kojima is just as lovely. When his cousin tries to stage a hostile takeover of the family company, Sosuke doesn’t get bitter or vengeful—he understands the envy, empathizes, and immediately offers to share the top position. Even his best friend Daigo is an absolute gem (no wonder Hana briefly mistakes him for the guy who saved her at the beginning; they’re cut from the same ridiculously decent cloth).There’s none of the tired Japanese drama tropes I usually groan at—no silent pining from afar, no “I loved you first so you owe me” nonsense, no cold chaebol/F4-type male lead. Sosuke is soft and melty for Hana pretty much from episode 1, and it’s glorious. The story is fairly predictable, but in the best comfort-food way. And that ending—seeing them get married, Hana freezing in panic halfway down the aisle, and Sosuke just casually walking over to meet her instead? Perfect encapsulation of how they’ll keep supporting each other forever. I was grinning like an idiot. Easily one of the best short romances I’ve ever watched—yes, even compared to my beloved Korean dramas. 100% recommended.

Synopsis

Air Date: October 16, 2025 (Netflix global premiere)

Number of Episodes: 8

Average Run Time per Episode: 50 minutes

In the enchanting world of artisanal chocolate, two guarded souls navigate the delicate art of vulnerability, discovering that the sweetest confections are born from the courage to connect. Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri), the reclusive heir to a faltering sweets dynasty plagued by an aversion to physical contact, acquires a quaint Tokyo chocolaterie to revive his family's legacy. There, he encounters Ha-Na (Han Hyo-Joo), a masterful yet reclusive confectioner who crafts divine treats under a pseudonym, her genius veiled by a paralyzing fear of eye contact. As their professional collaboration ignites unexpected sparks—forged in late-night tastings and whispered recipes—they form an unlikely alliance, immune to each other's deepest anxieties. Through a tapestry of melting ganaches and tentative gestures, they unravel personal scars, blending professional rivalry with budding affection in a heartfelt ode to love's imperfect alchemy.

• Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri): The introspective president of a struggling chocolate empire, haunted by tactile phobias from past trauma, who steps into the kitchen to reinvent his legacy and finds solace in unexpected partnership.

• Ha-Na (Han Hyo-Joo): A prodigious chocolatier with scopophobia that keeps her hidden behind aliases and aprons, whose innovative flavors and quiet resilience bloom into bold self-expression amid budding romance.

• Takashi Fujiwara (Ryo Narita): Sosuke's steadfast childhood companion and confidant, a pragmatic executive at the family firm who offers wry humor and unwavering support while navigating his own tangled loyalties.

• Motomi Kawamura (Ayumi Ito): The bubbly, ever-optimistic sales whiz at the chocolaterie, whose infectious energy and meddlesome matchmaking often propel the leads toward awkward but pivotal heart-to-hearts.

• Kenji Koiwa (Eiji Okuda): The wise, no-nonsense veteran chocolatier and former mentor figure, dispensing gruff yet profound advice on life's bitter-sweet balances from his perch behind the counter.

• Shuntaro Fujiwara (Koichi Sato): Sosuke's imperious father and the iron-fisted patriarch of the Fujiwara confectionery empire, whose high-stakes expectations clash with his son's quiet rebellion in pursuit of authentic passion.