Beautiful Snow

The Christmas episode of the Japanese anime, Ai Yori Aoshi, based on the original manga series.

Set in a time just before the series began, male lead Kaoru Hanabishi, having left his abusive family behind, endures a lonely Christmas in his apartment. A woman appears, claiming to be Santa Claus and looking almost exactly like Aoi Sakuraba, his childhood betrothed who at this point he has yet to reunite with. Santa comforts Kaoru and gives him a message of hope and patience, which viewers know will pay off when he and Aoi reuinite soon after. The next year, Kaoru recalls these events only vaguely, but still feels the joy her visit gave him when he needed it most.

This episode was originally aired on Japanese television and is available on DVD as part of the series' second season, called Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi.