The appeal and reviews of "Sasaki and Miyano": A coming-of-age story that BL fans must see

"Sasaki and Miyano": A masterpiece that depicts the bittersweetness of youth and the charm of BL

"Sasaki and Miyano" is a TV anime series that aired in 2022 and is based on the manga of the same name by Shou Harusono. The work is a refreshing and heartwarming story that depicts the youth of high school boys and the world of BL (Boys' Love). Below, we will introduce the charm and detailed information of "Sasaki and Miyano" and explain why this work was loved by so many viewers.

Overview

"Sasaki and Miyano" aired for a total of 12 episodes from January 10 to March 28, 2022. It was broadcast on TOKYO MX and AT-X, with each episode lasting 30 minutes. Animation was produced by Studio Deen, with director Shinji Ishihira, series composition by Yoshiko Nakamura, and character design by Maki Fujii.

The story begins when Miyano Yumi, a rotten boy who has a complex about his feminine appearance, encounters a fight at school one summer day and, when he musters up the courage to step in to stop it, is saved by a slightly delinquent senior, Sasaki Hidenari. Since then, Sasaki takes a liking to Miyano, and he starts lending him BL manga. Sasaki gradually becomes attracted to Miyano as he talks about BL.

Character Introduction

The main characters are as follows.

• Sasaki Shuumei : Born June 17th, blood type O. A slightly bad-tempered senior who calls Miyano "Mya-chan." He likes sweet things and often carries snacks. He thinks Miyano is "cute."
• Miyano Yoshikazu : Born February 22nd, blood type B. A member of the discipline committee, he is a "fudanshi" who likes BL. He is concerned about his small stature and feminine face. Although he admires Sasaki, he is confused by how close they are. He doesn't like sweet things.
• Hirano Taiga : Born August 1st, blood type A. He is a classmate of Sasaki, and is a senior and junior member of the discipline committee with Miyano. He is rough with language, but he is caring and sometimes helps Sasaki with his studies. He lives in the dormitory and has a junior roommate.
• Jiro Ogasawara : Born April 15th, blood type A. Sasaki's classmate. At first glance, he looks intimidating, but he's surprisingly friendly. He and his girlfriend, who goes to a different school, often fight, but the more they fight, the closer they are.
• Masato Hanzawa : Born April 2nd, Blood Type: O. He is a classmate of Sasaki and a member of the discipline committee like Miyano. He also serves as the captain of the table tennis club and the dorm supervisor, so he always seems busy.
• Kuresawa Tasuku : Born September 14th, blood type A. Miyano's classmate, a member of the astronomy club. He loves his girlfriend, a "fujoshi" who loves BL.
• Tashiro Gonzaburou : Born July 8th, blood type B. Miyano's classmate, belongs to the table tennis club. Always cheerful and energetic, he is a mood maker.
• Akira Kagiura : Born December 25th, blood type AB. He is a member of the basketball club and lives in the student dormitory. He is fond of his roommate, Hirano.

Cast and crew

The main cast is as follows:

• Hideaki Sasaki: Yusuke Shirai
• Yumi Miyano: Souma Saito
• Taiga Hirano: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
• Jiro Ogasawara: Yuki Ono
• Masato Hanzawa: Yuuma Uchida
• Kuresawa Jo: Ryohei Arai
• Gonzaburo Tashiro: Mitsuhiro Ichiki
• Akira Kagiura: Nobunaga Shimazaki

The main staff are as follows:

• Original author: Shou Haruzono
• Director: Shinji Ishihara
• Assistant Director: Ueno Sota
• Series Composition: Yoshiko Nakamura
• Character design: Maki Fujii
• Art Director: Masaki Mayuzumi
• Color design: Katsuragi Imazato
• Director of photography: Kondo Masayoshi
• Edited by: Akane Shiraishi
• Sound Director: Hata Shouji
• Sound effects: Noriko Izumo
• Sound Production: Sound Team Don Juan
• Music: Natsuna Shibue
• Music Production: Nippon Columbia
• Animation Production: Studio Deen
• Produced by: "Sasaki and Miyano" Production Committee

Episodes and subtitles

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• #1: First time. (2022/01/10)
• #2: The girl I like. (2022/01/17)
• #3: Seniors. (2022/01/24)
• #4: Limit. (2022/01/31)
• #5: One by one. (2022/02/07)
• #6: Feelings. (2022/02/14)
• #7: I don't want to cause you any trouble. (2022/02/21)
• #8: I noticed. (2022/02/28)
• #9: I want to take good care of my seniors. (2022/03/07)
• #10: Love. (2022/03/14)
• #11: What should I do about these feelings? (2022/03/21)
• #12: Tomorrow. (2022/03/28)

Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

• OP1: Blink
  • Lyricist: Taihei Onishi
  • Composer: ZENTA
  • Arrangement: Miracle Chimpanzee
  • Sung by: Miracle Chimpanzee
• ED1: Strawberry Sunset
  • Lyricist: Yuriko Mori
  • Composer: Hinano Tanaka
  • Arrangement: Hinano Tanaka
  • Sung by: Hideaki Sasaki (voiced by Yusuke Shirai), Yumi Miyano (voiced by Soma Saito)

Broadcast and distribution information

"Sasaki and Miyano" was broadcast on the following stations:

• TOKYO MX: January 10, 2022 to March 28, 2022, every Monday from 0:30 to 1:00
• KBS Kyoto: January 10, 2022 to March 28, 2022, every Monday from 0:45 to 1:15
• Sun TV: January 10, 2022 to March 28, 2022, every Monday from 1:00 to 1:30
• TV Aichi: January 10, 2022 to March 28, 2022, every Monday from 1:35 to 2:05
• BS Nippon Television: January 11, 2022 to March 29, 2022, every Tuesday from 0:00 to 0:30
• AT-X: January 11, 2022 to March 29, 2022, every Tuesday from 22:00 to 22:30

It was also streamed online on the following platforms:

• Terrestrial broadcasting first and fastest independent distribution: U-NEXT (From January 10, 2022, distributed every Monday from 0:00)
• Unlimited viewing: d Anime Store, ABEMA, Nico Nico Douga, GYAO!, Hikari TV, FOD, Bandai Channel, Hulu, TELASA, J:COM On Demand, Miru Plus Unlimited Premium, Animehodai, Amazon, Animeca (From January 17, 2022, available every Monday from 0:00)
• Pay-per-view sites: Rakuten TV, DMM.com, music.jp, Video Market, HAPPY! Video, Crank-in! Video (From January 17, 2022, available every Monday from 0:00)

Related Titles

"Sasaki and Miyano" has the following related works:

• Sasaki and Miyano OVA
• Sasaki and Miyano -Graduation-
• Hirano and Kagiura

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Sasaki and Miyano" is a work that exquisitely combines the bittersweetness of youth with the charm of BL. Miyano's passion for BL and the changes in his relationship with Sasaki are carefully depicted, and the story development draws the viewer in. In addition, the characters are rich in personality, and the depiction of each character's background and growth gives the story more depth.

In particular, the relationship between Sasaki and Miyano is moving, beginning with one-sided admiration, and gradually developing into a deeper mutual understanding and respect. Sasaki's feelings towards Miyano, as well as Miyano's confusion and wavering feelings towards Sasaki, are portrayed so realistically that they evoke empathy from viewers.

The other characters are also charming, and the relationships between each character are richly depicted, such as Hirano's caring nature, Ogasawara's unexpected kindness, and Hanzawa's dedication despite his busy schedule. The combination of these elements has made "Sasaki and Miyano" highly acclaimed as both a coming-of-age drama and a BL work.

Recommended points

The reasons why we recommend "Sasaki and Miyano" are as follows:

• Realistic depiction of youth : The everyday lives, worries, friendships, and romance of high school students are depicted realistically, making it a show that many viewers can relate to.
• The appeal of BL : For BL fans, this is a work that will allow you to enjoy Miyano's passion for BL and his relationship with Sasaki. Even those who are not interested in BL can enjoy it as a coming-of-age drama.
• Appealing characters : The personalities and growth of characters such as Sasaki and Miyano are carefully depicted, drawing viewers in.
• Music Quality : The opening theme "Matsubaki" and the ending theme "Strawberry Sunset" are important elements in creating the atmosphere of the work.

Conclusion

"Sasaki and Miyano" is a heartwarming work that exquisitely combines the bittersweetness of youth with the charm of BL. The growth of the characters and the changes in their relationships are carefully depicted, and the story development draws the viewer in. This work can be enjoyed as both a youth drama and a BL work, and is sure to be loved by many viewers. Please give it a watch.