The appeal and reviews of "Yakinara Mug Cup Mo": A soothing anime depicting the world of pottery

"Yakinara Mug Cup Mo" - A moving story depicting the charm of pottery and the brilliance of youth

■Overview of the work

Yakunara Mug Mo is a TV anime series that aired from April 3 to June 21, 2021, and is based on a manga by Planet and Nippon Animation. It has 12 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and was broadcast on CBC, TOKYO MX, and BS11. It is directed by Jun Kamiya and produced by Nippon Animation, and the copyright belongs to the Planet Nippon Animation/Yakunitomo Production Committee.

■ Story

Himeno Toyokawa, who moved from Tokyo to Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, learns when she enters high school that her late mother was once a member of the pottery club and was a legendary potter. She becomes interested in pottery, and while getting used to life in Tajimi, she eventually begins to walk the same path as her mother. The story depicts Himeno's growth, friendship, and passion for pottery.

■Explanation

"Yakinara Mug Cup Mo" is set in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, and depicts the daily lives of four high school girls through pottery. The original work is a free comic created to promote Tajimi, and what makes it unique is that the setting is not Tajimi to feature the characters, but rather the characters and story were created to promote the city. There was also town-wide promotion, with banners and posters displayed at stations and shopping streets to promote the work.

■ Main staff

The original story was created by Planet and Nippon Animation, and the manga was written by Osamu Kajiwara, Eisuke Takeuchi, and Naoka Taguchi. It was planned by Kazuko Ishikawa, Kazuto Koike, Atsushi Murata, Makoto Hojo, Fumio Mizutani, Katsushi Ota, Hirotaka Kaneko, Michiyoshi Minamisawa, Kan'ichi Yoshihiro, and Maro Hosoi. The series was written and scripted by Toshihisa Arakawa, character design and general animation director Ayano Yoshioka, and prop design by Reki Taki and Yu Shimizu. The chief director was Kunpei Maeda, art director Hiroko Tanabe, art direction Eiko Tsunagu and Tadashi Iwasa, color design Tomoko Hanamura, director of photography Ryu Takizawa, editor Shinichi Natori, sound director Takumi Ito, music by Tomoki Hasegawa, music producer Tomoko Shibuya, music production by Nippon Columbia, animation producer Heisei Yamamoto, and director Jun Kamiya. Additionally, storyboards and direction were done by Kamiya Jun and Maeda Kunpei, animation directors Yoshioka Ayano and Kaneda Riko, key animation by Kaneda Riko, Sato Yoshiharu, Takemoto Shin, Nakano Yuki, Yamamoto Yosuke, animation by Takahashi Aya, Oba Shin, Fujisawa Kodai, Takahashi Ayumu, Horiuchi Anne, OLM Asia, and Studio Rings. Animation check was done by Takahashi Aya, art background by Kusanagi [KUSANAGI] Tanabe Hiroko and Lu Jiafang, photography by Takizawa Ryu, Urabayashi Tomohiro, and Kurita Momori. Cooperation was provided by Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, Tajimi City Tourism Association, and the "Yakannara Mugs" Promotion Council, ceramics supervision by Kokei Kiln, and production management by Shintani Yurie and Ishida Yuki.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Nice to meet you! Pottery Club (2021/04/03)
・Episode 2: The Pottery Club is in a Good Mood (2021/04/12)
・Episode 3: We're childhood friends... (2021/04/19)
Episode 4: The Taste of Ochazuke (2021/04/26)
・Episode 5/Teacher's Secret☆(2021/05/03)
・Episode 6: Garden of Sky and Wind (2021/05/10)
・Episode 7: What Himeno Makes (2021/05/17)
・Episode 8: Kukuri of the Mysterious River (2021/05/24)
Episode 9: Hit, Stretch, and Pull (2021/05/31)
・Episode 10/Hime-chan is doing her best♡(2021/06/07)
・Episode 11: I Want the Prize (2021/06/14)
・Episode 12: Smile for Tomorrow (2021/06/21)

■ Related works

"Yakinara mugs are also made at Niban Kiln"

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme song "Tobira o Aketara" was written by Mayumi Kaneko, composed by Kazuya Izumi, arranged by Maon Kuge, and sung by MUG-MO/Himeno Toyokawa (Minami Tanaka), Mika Kukuri (Yu Serizawa), Naoko Naruse (Yuki Wakai), and Touko Aoki (Rina Motoizumi). The ending theme song "Pale Blue" was written, composed, and arranged by hisakuni. and sung by Aya Uchida.

■Detailed evaluation

"Yakinara Mug Cup Mo" is a work that depicts the brilliance and growth of youth with the traditional art of pottery as its theme. It is moving to see the main character, Himeno Toyokawa, follow in her mother's footsteps, come into contact with the charm of pottery, and grow together with her friends. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal, evaluation, and recommended points of the work.

Story and Characters

The story begins when Toyokawa Himeno, who has moved from Tokyo to Tajimi, learns that her mother was a member of the pottery club when she entered high school. Himeno's attempt at pottery, carrying out her mother's last wishes, deeply moves viewers. Additionally, her friendships with Kukuri Mika, Naruse Naoko, and Aoki Touko, whom she meets in the pottery club, are also important elements of the story, and Himeno's growth is depicted through her interactions with them. Each character has a distinct personality, and Himeno's purity and hardworking side are particularly appealing. Mika's leadership, Naoko's kindness, and Touko's cheerfulness also enrich the story.

Depiction of pottery

One of the great attractions of this work is its detailed depiction of pottery. The pottery production process and techniques are depicted realistically, allowing the viewer to feel the beauty and difficulty of pottery. In particular, the pottery scenes supervised by Kokei Kiln reflect the specialized knowledge and techniques, enhancing the realism of the works. There are also many scenes introducing the pottery culture of Tajimi City, making this a great work for promoting the region.

Animation and Music

The animation is of high quality, with beautifully drawn character designs and background art. In particular, the colors and textures of the ceramic works are carefully recreated, making for a visually appealing piece. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening theme "Tobira o Aketara" and the ending theme "Pale Blue" are wonderful pieces that reflect the theme of the story and the emotions of the characters. Tomoki Hasegawa's music brings out the beauty of the ceramics and the brilliance of youth.

Evaluation and recommendation points

"Yakinara Mug Cup Mo" is an excellent work that is based on the traditional art of pottery, but also serves as a coming-of-age story. All elements are fused at a high level, including the moving story, the charm of the characters, the realistic depiction of pottery, and the quality of the animation and music. I would especially recommend this work to those who are interested in pottery and those who like youth stories. It is also a good opportunity to learn about the culture and scenery of Tajimi City, making it a valuable piece of local PR.

■Recommendation details

I highly recommend watching Yakunara Mug Cup Mo. The following points are particularly appealing:

• A scene that realistically depicts the beauty and difficulty of pottery
• A story of the protagonist Himeno's growth and friendship
• Value as a regional PR tool that showcases the culture and scenery of Tajimi City
• Beautiful animation and moving music

This work is enjoyable not only for those who are interested in pottery, but also for those who like youthful and moving stories. Please watch it and feel the charm of pottery and the brilliance of youth.