Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life

Hotaru works for a famous interior design company. It's a glamorous job, but Hotaru's private life is totally the opposite of glamorous. She lives alone, and when she isn't working, she's mostly lazing about her rented house in training wear. She's really not interested in doing anything, much less dating. "I'd rather lay around than fool around," is her motto. One day her landlord's son comes to inspect the rental property, not knowing that someone is living there. He is shocked at the mess, but not as shocked as Hotaru, as he turn's out to be her fastidious boss, Takano.

Hotaru Ayase (2007-2010) is a Japanese josei workplace romantic comedy series created by Satoru Hiura for Nippon Television Network. Haruka Ayase plays Amemiya Hotaru, an interior design company employee whose glamorous job hides a private life of lazing about her rented house in training wear. Her carefree routine collapses when the landlord's son arrives to inspect the property and turns out to be Seiichi Takano (Naohito Fujiki), her fastidious boss. Kazuki Kato plays Makoto Teshima, adding further romantic complication to the office and household scenes. The engine of the series is the friction between Hotaru's stubborn resistance to effort and romance and Takano's rigid expectations, played out through episodes built around everyday office politics, tense shared-living arrangements, and small social dilemmas in Tokyo. Its tone is light, breezy and comforting, with deadpan humor and gentle romantic tension. Told across two seasons and twenty-one episodes, it has the warmth of a slice of life romcom. Fans of Ugly Betty and Pride and Prejudice will find resonance in its mix of comic self-deprecation and slow-building romance.

• Ugly Bettyslice of life office romcom with a slacker heroine and a fastidious boss, light comedic romance
• Mr. Sunshineworkplace romance with comedic tension between opposites, japanese josei romcom tone
• Pride and Prejudicelighthearted romantic comedy about a lazy young woman and a stern colleague in a cohabitation setup
• Kimi ni Todokequirky workplace romcom tone with a deadpan heroine and an uptight love interest

Created by

Satoru Hiura

Release Date

2007-07-11

Episode runtime

46 min

Rating

7.4 / 10 (28)

What is Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life about?

A lazy interior designer's comfortable solitude is upended when her fastidious boss turns out to be her landlord's son.

What is Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life.

Which shows are like Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life?

Shows with a similar feel include Ugly Betty, Mr. Sunshine, Pride and Prejudice, and Kimi ni Todoke.

How long is Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life?

Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life: 2 seasons, 21 episodes.

Is Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life still running?

No, Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life has ended.

Where can I watch Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life?

In United States, Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Doki Amazon Channel.