What’s the Show? No-Rin (2014).
And what’s that translate to? Agriculture and forestry.
How do two such short Japanese words end up being such long words in English? What do I look like, a damn translation expert? The only reason I know that is because when I’m searching for merch for this show on Mandarake’s website it translates to that.
I don’t know what you’re talking about… What else is new?
Alright fine, so it’s a show about agriculture and forestry, that sounds kind of boring? You sound kind of boring.
Right, so I take it by that reaction that you like this show a lot? Or are you just being belligerent for the sake of it. Listen mate, this show gets talked to shit a lot online so excuse me if I’m kind of defensive of it is all.
By online do you mean the inexhaustible well of vitriol that is MAL? *hiss*
Fine, let’s sit down and talk this out, show me on the doll where did MAL hurt you? *points to the heart*
You’re going to have to be more specific, there’s only so many questions in a review. Fine, like I get that people have differing opinions, but seriously there’s so many people butthurt about a show just because it’s about it’s about instilling the virtues of ‘country life’ and ‘sustainable farming’. Like so fucking what if this doesn’t ‘jell’ with your fucking corporation loving attitude, maybe if you spent 5 seconds away from licking Ronald McDonald’s taint you’d realise that there’s more ways of life out there then the ones indoctrinated you by television commercials!
O…kay, is this going to be another one of those reviews where I have to have a panic attack about losing followers? I’m fine, I’m calm, I just needed to get that out.
Fair enough, so can we talk about what the show is actually about for a minute without you launching into a foul-mouthed tirade? Sure, sure. It’s about Tamo Agriculture School and class representative Kosaku who’s reluctant about the whole ‘farming’ thing, see his parents kinda decided to pick that career for him as they are country folk. In his private life he idolises a beautiful young popstar by the name Yuka Kusakabe, who lives a highflying city lifestyle. But she retires from the music industry to peruse a simple life, leaving Kosaku devastated that is until she enrols in the very same school as his, under her real name Ringo Kinoshita.
How convenient! Listen, I’m not going to spoil anything but let’s just say it’s not all just a contrived coincidence, it all makes sense once you know the actual reason she’s there.
I’ll take your word for it, so other characters? Yep! There’s Minori, who is Kosaku’s childhood friend, and who has a huge crush on him, also she’s a curvy girl (and not just up top) which is nice to see in an anime like this! Then there’s Kei who is a straight-laced analytical guy who for some reason likes to wear a mankini whenever water is around. There’s a bunch of other students in their class, but there’s one character I’m wanting to talk about…
Best girl? You know what, maybe she is; she certainly elicits the most laughs from anyone in the cast except for maybe Kosaku himself.
Why so hesitant to out and out call her your ‘best girl’? Well she’s 40.
*record scratch* Her name is Natsumi Bekki, but everyone calls her “Becky” and she is hilarious. Yes, the whole ‘desperate, middle aged, sexually aggressive female teacher’ thing is by this point a well-worn cliché but it’s just so over-the-top and borderline insane that I can’t help but love it!
Fair ‘nuff. So I get an idea of the characters but what is the show about? It’s a sitcom and a very funny one at that!
Oh… okay? I mean I know the Wikipedia page says ‘Comedy, Parody, Romance’ and indeed it is, and in that order, but, even though I watched this in Japanese with English subs, it totally felt like an American sitcom. I mean at least for the first half dozen episodes or so.
So recommended for everyone? Listen, I’m not going to go and say this will bridge some kind of cultural divide just because I called it akin to an ‘American Sitcom’ there’s some very Japanese things about this show, not the least Kosaku’s dakimakura and some might find the farming segments boring but the comedy and the parody and characters are all exceptional and easy to recommend.
Final score then? ‘Tis a fine and bountiful harvest, cream of the crop, *insert more farming related references* 91 out of 100.
Anime QandA 