The Soul of the Best Man in Japan - Reviews and Recommendations for Anime that Depicts Ultimate Masculinity

The best male spirit in Japan - Nihonichinootokonotamashii -

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

January 5, 1999 - January 29, 1999
January 4, 1999 to January 28, 1999 Every Monday to Thursday 23:55 to 24:50
*Broadcast within the TBS series "Wonderful"
16 episodes, 7 minutes 30 seconds each, 16 episodes in total

■Broadcasting station

TBS

■Frequencies

8 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 16

■Original Story

・Original work: Masahiko Kikuni

■ Director

Director: Hiroyoshi Yoshida Animation Director: Bob Shirahata

■ Production

・Animation Production: Studio Deen

Review and Recommendation

"The Soul of Japan's No. 1 Man" is a short anime series that aired on TBS in 1999, and is based on the comedy manga of the same name by Kikuni Masahiko. The series aired as part of the late-night variety show "Wonderful," and consisted of 16 episodes, each of which was a self-contained episode. In just eight minutes, the series tells the erotic and hilarious tales of various men who aim to be "the best in Japan."

The greatest appeal of this anime is its unique theme and sense of humor. It depicts men striving to be "the best in Japan" in fetishistic genres that no one would think of, such as "Japan's best secretary," "Japan's best body scrubber," and "The man who wanted to appear on TV in Japan." These characters provide viewers with laughter and surprises by pursuing a "number one in Japan" that deviates from common values. Also, as it is a late-night slot, it is full of dirty jokes and extreme gags, faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work.

Studio Deen, the animation studio, developed the story effectively within the limited time frame and brought out the individuality of the characters to the fullest. Director Yoshida Hiroyoshi and animation director Bob Shirahata teamed up to vividly depict different themes and characters in each episode. Additionally, the unique touch of character designer Masaaki Kanami also adds to the appeal of this work.

The cast is also impressive, featuring talented voice actors such as Katsuaki Arima, Kazuya Ichijo, Masashi Yabe, Susumu Kaseda, and Chiharu Tezuka. Their acting skills make the characters' personalities stand out even more. In particular, the character of Jun Eguchi, played by Katsuaki Arima, leaves a strong impression on viewers.

The theme song "Yurameki" by Dir en grey also adds to the atmosphere of the anime. The lyrics by Kyo, the music by Shinya, and the arrangement by YOSHIKI and Dir en grey combine to create a song that brings out the worldview of the work.

"The Spirit of the Best Man in Japan" is a short but dense work that will make viewers laugh and be surprised. As it is a late-night show, it is full of extreme gags and dirty jokes, faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work. All the elements, including the animation production, cast, and theme song, are of a high standard, making this work even more appealing.

The reasons why I recommend this work are as follows:

1. Unique themes and humor

"The Soul of Japan's No. 1 Man" depicts the lives of men who aim to be "No. 1 in Japan" in a fetish genre that no one would ever think of. These characters provide viewers with laughter and surprises by pursuing a "No. 1 in Japan" that deviates from common values. As it is a late-night show, it is full of dirty jokes and extreme gags, faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work.

2. High-quality animation

Studio Deen's animation production effectively develops the story within the limited time frame and brings out the individuality of the characters to the fullest. The team of director Yoshida Hiroyoshi and animation director Bob Shirahata vividly depicts different themes and characters in each episode. The unique touch of character designer Masaaki Kanami also enhances the appeal of this work.

3. A great cast

The series features talented voice actors such as Katsuaki Arima, Kazuya Ichijo, Masashi Yabe, Susumu Kaseda, and Chiharu Tezuka. Their acting skills make the characters' personalities stand out even more. In particular, the character of Jun Eguchi, played by Katsuaki Arima, leaves a strong impression on viewers.

4. Memorable theme song

Dir en grey's "Yurameki" is a song that enhances the atmosphere of this anime. The lyrics by Kyo, the music by Shinya, and the arrangement by YOSHIKI and Dir en grey combine to bring out the worldview of the work.

"The Soul of Japan's No. 1 Man" is a short but dense work that will make viewers laugh and be surprised. As it is a late-night show, it is full of extreme gags and dirty jokes, faithfully recreating the world of the original. All the elements, including the animation production, cast, and theme song, are of a high standard, making this work even more appealing. Please give it a watch.