The appeal and reviews of "Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru": A moving story and deep characters

"Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" - A youthful love comedy woven with on-board and off-board tactics

"Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" is a TV anime series based on the original manga by Soichiro Yamamoto, and was broadcast on TBS Television and other stations from July 8 to September 23, 2022. This 12-episode work captivated many viewers as a youth love comedy with a shogi theme. Below, we will introduce the appeal and detailed information of this work and delve deeper into its appeal.

story

The protagonist, Tanaka Ayumu, is a beginner at shogi, but falls in love at first sight with Yaotome Urushi, a senior member of the shogi club, and joins the club. His goal is to beat Urushi at shogi. When that happens, he is determined to confess his feelings to Urushi. However, Ayumu's shogi skills are nowhere near Urushi's, and he is constantly struggling on the board. Meanwhile, Urushi is shaken inside by Ayumu's straightforward words and actions, but is at the mercy of his tactics off the board. With only two members in the shogi club, tactics on and off the board are being played out every day.

Commentary

"Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" is a work by Yamamoto Souichirou, who is also known for "Teasing Master Takagi-san", and is a heart-warming "off-board battle" love comedy set in the world of shogi. The protagonists' youth and love lives are depicted through the sport of shogi. Not only the battles on the board, but also the tactics and psychological battles off the board are a major attraction of the story.

cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Ayumu Tanaka - Yohei Azakami
• Yaotome Urushi - Kanna Nakamura
• Takeru the Ceratopsian - Tsubasa Goda
• Sakurako Mikage - Hina Hitsujimiya
• Rin Kagawa - Kazuki Mikawa
• Maki - Kana Hanazawa
• Miku - Eri Suzuki
• Hinano - Yuki Kudo
• Father of Urushi - Fumihiko Tachiki
• Mother of Urushi - Sayaka Ohara
• The Grandfather of Urushi - Masaaki Ihara

Main Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of this work. Below is a list of the main staff members.

• Original story: Soichiro Yamamoto (serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine)
• Planning - Shinya Watanabe, Kazunari Okuma, Yohei Takami, Junya Kawano, Itsuto Kaneko
• Director - Miki Minato
• Series Composition - Akao Deko
• Character design, chief animation director: Kazuya Hirata
• Prop Design - Mizuki Takahashi
• Art director: Hidenori Nakahara
• Art setting - Tomoyasu Fujise (chiptune)
• Color design - Hayato Yoshida
• Director of photography - Yutaro Kikuchi
• 3D Director - Tsutomu Ogasawara
• 2D Works - Yuko Shintani, Susumu Kashiwabara
• Edited by Yuji Kondo (REAL-T)
• Sound Director - Toru Kane
• Music - Jun Narita
• Music Production - Pony Canyon
• Music Producer - Shinichi Nakamura
• Animation Producer - Masato Shimizu
• Producers: Masahiko Ito, Shinichi Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Shioya, Takahiro Suzuki, and Hayato Kaneko
• Executive Producers: Masanao Takahashi, Sadakazu Kikuchi, Makoto Furukawa
• Animation production: SILVER LINK.
• Production: "Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" Production Committee (TBS Television, Pony Canyon, Kodansha, Days, SILVER LINK.)

Main Characters

We will introduce the main characters of this work in detail.

Ayumu Tanaka

He is a first-year high school student and a beginner in the shogi club. He has a crush on Urushi Yaotome, a senior in the shogi club, and has vowed to confess his feelings to her if he wins the game. He often keeps a poker face and doesn't show his emotions, but he often speaks directly to Urushi, making her blush.

YAOTOME URUSHI

A second-year high school student, she is the self-proclaimed captain of the shogi club. She struggles every day to get Tanaka Ayumu to admit his feelings for her, but he often fights back and makes her blush. Although she is a skilled shogi player, she has a weak side when it comes to Ayumu's "attacks."

Takeru the Ceratopsian

He is a first-year high school student, a childhood friend of Ayumu and Sakurako, and a member of the library committee. He joined the shogi club at Ayumu's request. Although he believes in "being manly," he secretly has feelings for Sakurako. However, he is often manipulated by Sakurako using hypnosis.

Sakurako Mikage

She is a first-year high school student and a library committee member, and is shy. She is skilled in hypnosis and is Ayumu's childhood friend. She secretly supports Ayumu's love, but she is not very good at love and is completely unaware of Takeru's feelings for her.

Rin Kagawa

He was a junior in Ayumu's kendo club in middle school, and entered high school when Ayumu and the others were promoted. Although he is a glutton and has a weakness for food, he also has a serious personality and a strong commitment to winning, and respects Ayumu for his stoic dedication to kendo.

Maki

A second-year high school student, she is Urushi's classmate and good friend. She likes talking about love and often encourages Urushi to talk about love, but it is unclear whether she is just being amused or has some other motive.

subtitle

The subtitles and broadcast dates for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1 - Senpai is cute (2022/07/08)
• Episode 2 - I want you to be happy (2022/07/15)
• Episode 3 - I want to go on a first date (2022/07/22)
• Episode 4 - Because I Want to Spend Time Together (2022/07/29)
• Episode 5 - I Want to Know More (2022/08/05)
• Episode 6 - Because I Want It from Senpai (2022/08/12)
• Episode 7 - I can't quit (2022/08/19)
• Episode 8 - It's a role I can't give up (2022/08/26)
• Episode 9 - I Want to Make Memories (2022/09/02)
• Episode 10 - It's a game we can't back down from (2022/09/09)
• Episode 11 - I Want to Become Stronger (2022/09/16)
• Episode 12 - I want to win and tell you (2022/09/23)

Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes for this work are as follows:

Opening Theme

• Song Name - Bargaining with a Poker Face
• Lyricist: Dan Miyagawa
• Composer - KOH
• Arrangement - KOH
• Sung by: Kana Hanazawa

Ending Theme

• Song Name - 50 Centimeters
• Lyricist: Erika Masaki
• Composer - Yuki Honda
• Arrangement - Atsuo Okuma
• Sung by: Urushi Yaotome (Kanna Nakamura)

Broadcast information

"Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" was broadcast on the following stations. It is also available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

• TBS Television - July 8, 2022 to September 23, 2022 (every Friday 1:28-1:58)
• Kumamoto Broadcasting (RKK) - July 9, 2022 to September 24, 2022 (every Saturday 2:25-2:55)
• BS-TBS - July 10, 2022 to September 25, 2022 (Every Sunday 2:00-2:30)
• TBS Channel 1 (CS) - July 17, 2022 to October 2, 2022 (Sundays 1:30 to 2:00)
• CBC TV - July 17, 2022 to October 2, 2022 (Every Sunday 2:42-3:12)

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" is a youth love comedy set in the world of shogi, and has gained support from many viewers. Below, we will take a closer look at its appeal and reviews.

On-board and off-board tactics

The greatest appeal of this work is how it skillfully depicts the shogi battles on the board as well as the psychological warfare and tactics off the board. The protagonist, Tanaka Ayumu, is a beginner at shogi, but he falls in love with Yaotome Urushi, a senior in the shogi club, and aims to win at shogi. However, Ayumu's shogi skills are nowhere near Urushi's, and he is constantly struggling in battles on the board. Meanwhile, Urushi is internally shaken by Ayumu's straightforward words and actions, but is at the mercy of the tactics off the board. These tactics on and off the board are a major factor in drawing viewers in.

Character Appeal

Each character in this work is unique and charming. The main character, Tanaka Ayumu, often has a poker face and does not show his emotions, but he speaks straightforwardly to Urushi, which often makes her blush. Yaotome Urushi is a skilled shogi player, but has a weak side when it comes to Ayumu's "attacks," and her adorable reactions capture the hearts of viewers. In addition, the supporting characters, such as Ayumu's childhood friends Kakuryu Takeru and Mikage Sakurako, and Kagawa Rin, Ayumu's junior from junior high school, are also charming and add excitement to the story.

Depicting youth and love

This work depicts the protagonists' youth and love lives through the game of shogi. The relationship between Ayumu and Urushi conveys to the viewer the bittersweetness of youth, as well as the excitement of love. In addition, the relationships between other characters, such as Takeru and Sakurako's relationship and Rin's respect for Ayumu, are also depicted, depicting the various aspects of youth.

Animation and Music

The animation for this work is produced by SILVER LINK., and the character designs and background art are carefully drawn. In addition, the opening theme "Tactics are a Poker Face" and the ending theme "50 Centimeters" are sung by Kana Hanazawa and Kanna Nakamura, respectively, and add to the atmosphere of the work. The ending theme "50 Centimeters" in particular resonates with the viewers' hearts as it sings about Urushi's feelings.

Recommendations and related works

"Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" is a youth love comedy with a shogi theme, and can be recommended to many viewers. It is a work that I would especially recommend to those who like shogi and youth love comedies. Also, the original manga of this work is very interesting, so if you are interested, please check it out.

Related works include "Teasing Master Takagi-san," also written by Yamamoto Souichirou, and the shogi-themed "March Comes in Like a Lion." These works can also be enjoyed as works depicting youth and romance.

summary

"Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru" is a youthful love comedy set in the world of shogi, and has many appealing aspects, such as the tactics on and off the board, the charm of the characters, and the portrayal of youth and romance. The animation and music are also excellent, and it is full of elements that draw the viewer in. This is a must-see for fans of shogi and youthful love comedies, and you can also enjoy related works at the same time. Please try to experience the world of this work.