Welcome to the NHK Review

I’m still two episodes away to the finale, but I really had to write about this already!

If there’s a show that can be considered both depressing and motivating at extreme levels in terms of comparing it to real life, this is it. The story focuses on the lives of young adults in Tokyo, wherein the main theme encompasses concepts on anime otakus, hikikomoris, and those who suffer from intense depression, loneliness and paranoia. “A common theme throughout the story deals with the hardships of life and how people must deal with them in their own way.“

Synopsis: Tatsuhiro Satō, a 22-year old college drop-out, has been living his life as a hikikomori and NEET (Not in employement, education or training) for four years now. Although living alone in his apartment, he’s still financially dependent on his parents. He shuts himself from society and only goes out at night to buy food. Often over-imaginative and paranoid about conspiracies to a ridiculous degree, he believes that the Japanese TV group NHK really means “Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai / Japanese Hikikomori Association“: a conspiracy of a higher entity to create more NEETs and hikikomoris.

14 Things You’ll Almost Always See in Anime – Part 2

Here’s part 2! You can read part 1 here.

8. Repetitive name yelling

Ever see characters spending quite some time and effort emotionally yelling their names to each other? The more they say their names, the more intense the scene becomes. The photo above comes from a parody in Minami-ke where the heroines watch a TV drama centering on the forbidden love of Ninomiya-kun and her Sensei. Their script would be nothing more than Ninomiya-kun saying ‘Sensei!’ and the Sensei shouting ‘Ninomiya-kun!’ all the time until they embrace. It’s hilarious!

14 Things You’ll Almost Always See in Anime – Part 1

Upon watching series after series, I’ve noticed recurring patterns in anime that would almost make them rather stereotypical. They’re fun, and it certainly makes watching a new batch of series with a sense of familiarity. On the downside of course, one would know what to expect next. It’s just a matter of how they’d play out the scenes. I bet you’ve noticed these X-factors of Japanese cartoons already. Here’s my list!

1. Japanese Etiquette

This is a given. Since anime is from Japan, proper etiquette and social behaviors are prominent within the characters. Such as bowing, saying “itadakimasu” (I humbly receive) before meals, “okawari” (More, please) and Gochisosama-deshita (Thank you for the food) after. A dramatic scene would include the heroine say “Okaeri” (Welcome home) to the hero after a life-deciding battle, and the hero would respond a heart-warming “Tadaima” (I’m home).