Review of "A Town Where You Live": The bittersweetness of youth and the charm of a heartbreaking love story

A comprehensive review and recommendation of Kiminoirumachi

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

July 13, 2013 - September 28, 2013

■Broadcasting station

TV Tokyo

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Kouji Seo's "The Town Where You Live" (serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine)

■ Director

Shigeyasu Yamauchi

■ Production

GONZO

■Works

© Kouji Seo, Kodansha / 2013 "A Town Where You Live" Production Committee

■ Story

"I want to forget everything" - leaving behind these cryptic words, she disappeared.
I'm heading to your town to find out the truth.

■Explanation

"A Town Where You Live" by Seo Kouji is a hit series currently being serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine.

Set in Hiroshima and Tokyo, the story of the protagonists struggling between friendship and romance while searching for true love is depicted with delicate and beautiful brushwork. This masterpiece of a youth romance drama, which has sold over 3.5 million copies, has been adapted into an anime by a stellar team including director Yamauchi Shigeyasu, series composition and scriptwriter Yoshida Reiko, character designer Nishii Terumi, and animation production by GONZO!

Seo's world - the beautiful and sensitive protagonists, their fluctuating emotions, the heart-rending sadness, the heart-fluttering joy of love, the pure scenery of Hiroshima, and the bustling lights of Tokyo - has finally been made into an animation!!

■Cast

・Aota Kirishima/Yoshimasa Hosoya・Yuki Eda/Ai Nakajima・Asuka Mishima/Ayane Sakura・Kyousuke Kazama/Daisuke Ono・Takeru Yura/Toshiki Masuda・Nanami Kamisaki/Yuki Takao・Tsuki Kaga/Nana Takano・Ren Eda/Saki Fujita・Kyomi Asakura/Aya Endo・Aoi Kirishima/Chiaki Takahashi・Mina Natsukoshi/Sayuri Yahagi

■ Main staff

・Original work: Kouji Seo's "A Town Where You Live" (serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine)
Director: Shigeyasu Yamauchi Series composition and script: Reiko Yoshida Character design: Terumi Nishii Music: Keiichi Oku Animation production: GONZO

■ Main Characters

Eda Yuzuki is a girl who came from Tokyo and is staying at Aodai's house in Shobara, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Although she and Aodai had feelings for each other, she suddenly broke up with him and disappeared.
Although she is innocent and free-spirited, she also has a mysterious side.

Aodai Kirishima is a high school student who is kind to everyone and loves cooking. He follows Yuzuki to Tokyo and lives with his sister in Narimasu, Tokyo.
She meets her neighbors Asuka Mishima and Kyosuke Kazama, and develops new friendships and romance...

Mishima Asuka is a high school student from Fukushima who lives in the room next to Aodai, who has moved to Tokyo.
Although she has a boyish and strong-willed side, she is an honest and kind girl.

Kazama Kyohei is a classmate of Asuka and quickly becomes friends with Aodai, who has moved to Tokyo.
At first glance, he gives off the impression of being carefree and easygoing, but he is actually very considerate and has his own dreams.

Eda Phosphorus

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Chase Episode 2: When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom Episode 3: Suddenly, a Bang Episode 4: Greetings Episode 5: Declaration of War.
・Episode 6/My true feelings.
・Episode 7/Wish.
・Episode 8/The night of the reunion ・Episode 9/Should we go on a date?
・Episode 10/Beautiful Flowers・Episode 11/Confession.
・Episode 12/The Town Where You Live

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・Period: 1 to 12
・Sentimental Love ・Lyrics and composition: Yuka ・Arrangement: Atsushi Yuasa
・Song: Mimimeme MIMI
・ED1
・Period: 1-6
・The Town Where You Live・Lyrics by Hiroshi Yamada・Music by Michihiko Ota・Arrangement by Michihiko Ota・Singer by Seidai Kirishima (Yoshimasa Hosoya)
・ED2
Period: July to November
・Dear friend
Lyrics: Hiroshi Yamada; Composition: Hidetsugu Kawai; Arrangement: Hidetsugu Kawai; Singer: Kyosuke Kazama (Daisuke Ono)
・ED3
・Period/12
・The Town Where You Live ~Answer Songs ver.~
Lyrics: Hiroshi Yamada Composition: Michihiko Ota Arrangement: Michihiko Ota
・Singer: Seidai Kirishima (Yoshimasa Hosoya)

■Detailed evaluation

"A Town Where You Live" is a youth romance drama based on the manga of the same name by Kouji Seo, and is an anime series that aired on TV Tokyo in 2013. The story is set in Hiroshima and Tokyo, and depicts the growth of the main characters as they struggle between friendship and love. Below, we will provide a detailed review of the story, characters, music, production staff, etc.

story

The story of "A Town Where You Live" begins with the protagonist, Kirishima Seidai, heading to Tokyo in pursuit of his girlfriend, Eda Yuzuki, who suddenly disappeared. As he aims to reunite with Yuzuki, Seidai meets new friends and grows through various human relationships. The appeal of this work lies in its realistic portrayal of the bittersweetness and sadness of youth. In particular, the relationship between Seidai and Yuzuki, as well as the friendships he forms with Mishima Asuka and Kazama Kyosuke, whom he meets in Tokyo, deeply move viewers. In addition, by setting the story in two cities, Hiroshima and Tokyo, the differences between the countryside and the city and the scenery of each add depth to the story.

character

Each character in "A Town Where You Live" is unique and charming. The main character, Kirishima Seidai, is a high school student who is kind to everyone and good at cooking. His purity and kindness endear him to viewers. Edaha Yuzuki is a character who is innocent and uninhibited, but also has a mysterious side, and viewers are drawn in by her actions and words. Mishima Asuka is boyish and strong-willed, but is also an honest and kind girl, and her relationship with Aodai is an important element of the story. Kazama Kyosuke gives the impression of being casual and aloof at first glance, but he is a caring and reliable presence who has his own dreams. The human drama woven by these characters is one of the charms of "A Town Where You Live".

music

The music in "A Town Where You Live" is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The opening theme, "Sentimental Love," is a pop and refreshing song sung by Mimimeme Mimi, expressing the bittersweetness of youth. The ending theme changes as the story progresses: "A Town Where You Live" from episodes 1 to 6, "Dear Friend" from episodes 7 to 11, and "A Town Where You Live - Answer Songs ver." in the final episode. These songs reflect Aodai's feelings and the development of the story, enhancing the emotions of the viewer. The background music used in the play also skillfully expresses the scenery of Hiroshima and Tokyo and the feelings of the characters.

Production Staff

The production staff of "A Town Where You Live" is a stellar lineup. Director Yamauchi Shigeyasu, series composition and script by Yoshida Reiko, character design by Nishiji Terumi, and animation by GONZO. These staff members have worked together to bring out the best in the original work. In particular, Yamauchi Shigeyasu's skill as a director has deeply moved viewers by carefully depicting the development of the story and the feelings of the characters. Yoshida Reiko's script faithfully reproduces the story of the original work while incorporating the unique directing of anime, drawing viewers in. Nishiji Terumi's character design firmly captures the image of the original work while adding movements and expressions unique to anime, enhancing the charm of the characters. GONZO's animation production beautifully depicts the scenery of Hiroshima and Tokyo and the movements of the characters, enriching the worldview of the work.

■Recommendation details

"A Town Where You Live" is a must-watch for those who love youth romance dramas. In particular, the story is set in two cities, Hiroshima and Tokyo, and the differences between the countryside and the city and the scenery of each city add depth to the story. In addition, the portrayal of the protagonists' growth, friendship, and love will deeply move the audience. Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening theme, ending theme, and background music during the play change as the story progresses, enhancing the emotions of the viewer. It is also not to be missed that the luxurious production staff worked together to bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest. Be sure to watch "A Town Where You Live" and experience the bittersweetness and sadness of youth.