"Wakako-zake" is quite a Slice of Life experience in the form of a short. The premise, aided by the lovely OP, is simple, an office lady detouring to go to an izakaya instead of home! But, as for any good SOL experience, simpleness on the premise doesn't mean a lack of content or shortness of the feelings conveyed.

Should I go home? Or maybe something to eat and drink first? :)

What makes it special? The way that in two minutes and in an episodic format, the series can portray a cosy experience of the world of the after-office izakaya experience! Each episode follows a basic structure. First, the OP introduces our protagonist, Murasaki Wakako, as she just got out of the office and decided to have something to eat and drink before going home. Then it shows how Wakako picks a particular item and the perfect drink for it, followed by a reflection of how good the food is or any particular event related to the izakaya, the dish chosen or the drink that goes along with it!

The cosiness comes from how Wakako enjoys her eating and drinking; sometimes, she reflects on a bad experience in the office, maybe ranting about how another person makes an order or admires the way of eating the next, having a nice meal and drink is the perfect moment to think and reflect! The sounds, the sense of cosiness and how every environment is picked makes this short a treat!

Izakaya culture as a soothing experience!

Another trait of this short is the exposure to the izakaya experience and culture. I can't deny I got a few tips for mixing drinks with a particular food. And the whole scenario is lovely portrayed. Hard to express with words but the "local small business" feeling is wonderfully portrayed.

Lovely wisdom!

The OP is a lovely jingle that can turn into the perfect anthem of any watcher who shares the same ways as Wakako, the OP only lasts around thirty seconds, and the rest of the runtime devotes itself to a new after-office adventure! The sound department is outstanding, especially on the sounds accompanying the meal making and the izakaya ambient.

This short is an easy recommendation for anyone wanting an easy-to-watch relaxing experience. The series hits extra hard in cosiness when you share the same way of living and cravings as our protagonist!

I score this short as a 08/10. For any "comfy watch" seekers, this is a must! Just a word of advice, watch this short after a good meal or with something to eat; sometimes the temptation is too hard to ignore!

Thank you so much for reading! ^^