The appeal and reviews of "Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha": A fusion of myth and youth

Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha - A Kyoto story where youth and myth intersect

"Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha" is a TV anime series that aired in 2014, and is based on a manga serialized in Young Ace magazine by Yoshida Morohe. The story is set in Kyoto and follows the growth of middle school girl Fushimi Inari as she struggles with romance and friendship while making full use of the transformation ability bestowed upon her by God. Below, we will introduce the appeal and detailed information of this work, and delve deeper into its appeal.

■Overview of the work

"Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha" aired a total of 10 episodes from January 16th to March 20th, 2014. It was broadcast on a wide variety of stations, including TOKYO MX, Sun TV, Mie TV, KBS Kyoto, Teletama, tvk, Chiba TV, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, Gifu Broadcasting, and BS11, in late-night slots in each region. Each episode is 30 minutes long, and is based on a manga by Yoshida Morohe serialized in "Young Ace" and published by Comix Ace.

The director is Toru Takahashi, the series composition is Doko Machida, the character design and chief animation director is Yuka Takashina, and the animation was produced by Production Iams. The production committee includes Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Tsuneo Takechi, Yoshikazu Kumagai, Masahiro Kiba, Yoshihisa Tsuda, Hideki Niimura, Shiro Sasaki, Yoshiyuki Matsuzaki, Keisuke Endo, and Yasuhiko Masaki. Copyright ©2014 Yoshida Morohe/KADOKAWA Kadokawa Shoten/Inari Production Committee, ©Kyoto Prefecture Mayumaro 13176, ©2013 City of Kyoto. All rights reserved.

■ Story

Inari Fushimi, a middle school girl living in Fushimi, Kyoto, is a little shy and has a crush on her classmate, Tambabashi-kun. One day, she accidentally receives the ability to transform from Uka no Mitama-no-kami, also known as "Inari-san," as a token of gratitude for the kindness of a baby fox she helped. With her transformation ability in hand, Inari embarks on a turbulent love life set in Kyoto. This is a touching story filled with the essence of youth, as it depicts the straightforward figure of a girl who grows up while struggling with love and friendship.

■Explanation

The original work is the latest work by Yoshida Morohe, which is currently being serialized in Young Ace and has had five published volumes to date. It has been popular among men in their teens to 30s, and has sold over 700,000 copies in total. Furthermore, its shoujo manga-like appeal has led to word of mouth, and the number of female fans is rapidly increasing. It has garnered a lot of support from both men and women. Plans to turn it into an anime were underway, and at "Kyoto Magic" held in Kyoto on September 6th, it was announced that it would begin airing in January 2014.

The story is set in Kyoto, and actual facilities and events such as Fushimi Inari Taisha (Inari Shrine in the play) and the Hongu Festival appear in the play, adding color to the story. Filming was carried out on location with the full support of the shrine, allowing for a meticulous production of the images.

■Cast

The main cast is as follows:

• Fushimi Inari: Naomi Ozora
• Uka no Mitama God: Houko Kuwashima
• Tanbabashi Koji: Hiroshi Okamoto
• Con: Hara Sayuri
• Kyoko Sanjo: Kumiko Ikebe
• Marutamachi Chika: Kaori Sadohara
• Sumizome Akemi: Iori Nomizu
• Fushimi Tobi: Youji Ueda
• Shishi: Yoji Ueda
• Roro: Natsuki Hanae
• Omiya Noume Goddess: Mikami Shiori
• Ootoshi God: Koyasu Takehito
• Amaterasu Oomikami: Masako Isobe

■ Main staff

The main staff are as follows:

• Original story: Yoshida Morohe (serialized in Young Ace, published by Comics Ace)
• Director: Toru Takahashi
• Series Composition: Doko Machida
• Character design and chief animation director: Yuka Takashina
• Main animator: Shen Hong
• Prop design: Okuda Mantsuri
• Costume design assistance: Miyana Okita
• Assistant Director: Hideki Okamoto
• Color design: Aya Ouchi
• Art Director: Jo Onishi
• Art setting: Ryu Sakamoto
• Director of photography: Ryosuke Tsuda
• Edited by: Shigeru Nishiyama
• Sound Director: Kazuya Tanaka
• Sound effects: Noriko Izumo
• Sound Production: Ducks Production
• Music: Takeshi Senoo
• Music Production: Flying Dog
• Music producers: Masao Fukuda, Masakazu Sato
• Executive Producer: Takeshi Yasuda
• Producer: Kenjiro Gomi
• Animation producers: Toshiyuki Nagano, Niyuu Oki
• Animation production: Production I.G.S.
• Producers: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Tsuneo Takechi, Yoshikazu Kumagai, Masahiro Kiba, Yoshihisa Tsuda, Hideki Niimura, Shiro Sasaki, Yoshiyuki Matsuzaki, Keisuke Endo, Yasuhiko Masaki
• Produced by: Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha Production Committee

■ Main Characters

The main characters are as follows:

• Fushimi Inari: A middle school student who is in love with Tambabashi from the basketball club. One day, she is given the ability to transform by Uka no Mitama-sama. She is a bit clumsy but a kind-hearted girl.
• Uka no Mitama no Kami: The chief deity enshrined at Inari Shrine. Commonly known as Uka-sama. She gives her divine powers to her angel fox to help him. Her hobby is playing otome games.
• Tanbabashi Kouji: The ace of the basketball team, the boy Inari is in love with. He comes from a single-parent household and is a reliable person who also takes care of his younger brother.
• Fushimi Touhi: Inari's older brother. He has a tendency towards chuunibyou and posts his own novels on his blog. Is he just a gaming buddy with Uka-sama?
• Sumizome Akemi: A girl in Inari's class. She's intelligent, beautiful, and reliable. She's the girl Inari admires, but...
• Kyouko Sanjo: A girl who is a childhood friend of Inari. She has a manly, competitive personality and is the type who uses her hands before her mouth. She is also very strong.
• Marutamachi Chika: A girl who is a friend of Inari. She is an otaku girl with glasses. She often hangs out with Kyoko and Inari.
• Otoshi-no-kami: The older brother of Uka no Mitama-no-kami. Commonly known as Toshi-sama. He is an extreme sister complex and has a bad reputation with women. Due to his abnormal love for her, Uka-sama openly avoids him.
• Omiya Noume: One of the five Inari Okami. He governs prosperity in business. Among the many unique gods, he has a gentle and calm impression.
• Amaterasu Oomikami: The sun goddess who rules over Takamagahara, the world of the gods.
• Shishi, Roro: The foxes who are the messengers of Uka no Mitama-sama. They use the Shishi tone when saying "ja" and the Roro tone when saying "deshu."
• Kon: A fox angel who supports Inari. He is saved by Inari when he nearly falls into the river.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Inari, first love, first transformation.
• Episode 2: Trials, secrets, and Amaterasu.
• Episode 3: My brother is so noisy and overly affectionate
• Episode 4: Scarlet, evening palace, love affair.
• Episode 5: Jellyfish, friends, and a summer storm.
• Episode 6: Touhi, Uka-sama, and Koisutefu
• Episode 7: A maiden's heart flutters in the crimson color.
• Episode 8: Izumo, matchmaking, and uproar.
• Episode 9: Fox, twilight, and the Milky Way.
• Episode 10: Inari, Kon Kon, Love Iroha.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

• OP1: Love Color Today
• Lyricist: kz
• Composer: kz
• Arrangement: kz
• Sung by: May'n
• ED1: SAVED.
• Lyricist: Shoko Suzuki
• Composer: Shoko Suzuki
• Arrangement: Ryuji Yamamoto
• Vocals: Maaya Sakamoto

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha" captivated many viewers as a story where youth and myth intersect. In particular, the protagonist Fushimi Inari's struggles with love and friendship as she grows while making full use of the transformation ability bestowed upon her by God resonated with many viewers. In addition, the beautiful scenery set in Kyoto and the appearance of real facilities such as Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine make the show very visually appealing.

The appeal of the characters is also a major part of the appeal of this work. Fushimi Inari is a slightly clumsy and shy girl, but her kind-hearted nature and the way she grows has endeared her to viewers. In addition, unique characters such as Uka-sama's love of otome games and Otoshi-gami's siscon personality add excitement to the story. In particular, the brother-sister relationship between Uka-sama and Otoshi-gami is a deep human relationship that also has comedic elements.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The opening theme, "Kyou ni Koiiro," captured the hearts of viewers with its impressive combination of May'n's powerful voice and kz's catchy melody. The ending theme, "SAVED.", features Maaya Sakamoto's gentle voice and Suzuki Shoko's lyrics, further enhancing the emotional impact of the story.

■Production background and technology

In order to maximize the appeal of the original work, many staff members worked together to create this work. In particular, director Toru Takahashi meticulously depicted the scenery and culture of Kyoto in order to recreate the worldview of the original work in the anime. Additionally, character designer and chief animation director Yuka Takashina used designs that highlighted the individuality of the characters, creating characters that will stay in the viewers' hearts.

Production Iams, the animation studio, used detailed images and beautiful colors to realistically depict the scenery of Kyoto and the expressions of the characters. Meanwhile, Dax Productions, the sound studio, used music and sound effects to enhance the atmosphere of the story. Takeshi Senoo's music in particular played a role in further enhancing the emotional impact of the story.

■ Viewer reactions and impact

"Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha" was highly praised by many viewers when it was first broadcast. It was especially praised for its story where youth and myth intersect, and for its portrayal of character growth and human relationships. The depiction of Kyoto's scenery and culture also captured the hearts of viewers.

This work, along with the original manga, has garnered many fans. It has been particularly popular among men in their teens to thirties, with the total number of copies sold exceeding 700,000. Furthermore, its shojo manga-like appeal has led to word of mouth, and the number of female fans has also increased rapidly. Another major attraction of this work is that it has garnered support from both men and women.

■ Recommendations and related works

"Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha" is recommended for those who want to enjoy a story where youth and myth intersect, and for those who are interested in the scenery and culture of Kyoto. It is also recommended for those who like works that depict the growth of characters and human relationships.

Related works include "Kyōsōgiga," also set in Kyoto, and "Noragami," which has a mythological theme. These works also share the same appeal as "Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha" in that they depict stories where youth and mythology intersect, and the growth of characters and human relationships.

Conclusion

"Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha" captivated many viewers as a story where youth and myth intersect. In particular, the protagonist Fushimi Inari's struggles with love and friendship as she grows while making full use of the transformation ability bestowed upon her by God resonated with many viewers. Another major attraction of this work is the beautiful scenery set in Kyoto, and the depiction of the characters' personalities and growth. Including the music and production background, this work was loved and influenced by many viewers. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a story where youth and myth intersect, and to anyone who is interested in the scenery and culture of Kyoto.