Customer Reviews for
Ai Yori Aoshi, Volume 4: Truly Yours (Episodes 16-20)
And then there's Chika...
The fourth DVD volume of Ai Yori Aoshi introduces my second favourite character in the series (after Aoi-chan, of course). I refer to the cute, hard-working, capable, and spirited Chika Minazuki, who is Taeko's 14 year-old cousin. The usual gang, including Mayu, are invited to the beach house of Taeko's grandmother, where they meet Chika. Mayu is dead set on making this "a sweet yet hot summer story" between her and Kaoru. Miyabi-san's idea of summer is that Japanese pastime of "suikawari," or splitting watermelons with a bat and not cavorting on the beach.
But the battle between Tina and Mayu extends to the battle of the bathing suits, with Tina preferring those with an adult charm, while Mayu goes for those that are cuter and elegant, not obscene. Aoi herself buys a tasteful one-piece, but is too embarrassed to show so much bare skin in front of others, a sentiment I deeply share, and becomes the wallflower, watching Tina, Mayu, Taeko, and her fiancé Kaoru play on the beach.
There, Taeko's feelings about Kaoru, her university senpai (senior), are aroused. "Senpai is kind, easy to speak to and he helps me out in times of need. Perhaps my feelings are..." However, the precocious Chika decides to play Cupid and conspires to get Kaoru and Taeko together. A success? Put it this way, the best type of comedy is a matter of timing, and that happens. In introspection, Taeko realizes the strengths of her friends: Aoi is someone who can do anything, Miyabi-san someone strong-willed, Tina someone bright, and Mayu someone honest to herself. If she could be just like all of them, she'll be so much better.
Chika later repays the visit to the gang's mansion, where she asks them to let her stay so she can finish her summer homework, something she didn't do because she wanted to help her grandmother. The others are more than welcome to help her if she needs it, but Chika proves capable. In return, she helps out around the mansion, dressed in a cute maid's outfit similar to her cousin's. She impresses everyone, even Miyabi-san, who is astounded at Chika's putting away her files without asking her everytime! And get a load of her kicking Tina's pants in a fighting video game! Although fond of everyone, she has lots of affection for Kaoru, calling him "oniichan" or "big brother."
For Chika, an only child, she is all to delighted when Aoi says we're your family, eating together, sleeping under the same roof, and sharing fun and sad times. Indeed, she has some big sisters, one who's a good cook (Aoi), one full of energy (Tina), one who does her best (Taeko), one who works very efficiently (Miyabi), and a very kind brother (Kaoru). This is one of my favourite episodes for its tenderness. And, as Miyabi prophetically says after Chika says goodbye, "Perhaps we'll have another tenant soon."
An outing to an animal park turns into an overnight stay for Kaoru and Tina, when flooding disrupts the train lines. The hidden feelings Tina has for Kaoru surface. She says something interesting when asked why she loves animals so much. "Because snimals can't talk, people have to understand how animals feel. Of course, people can talk, but they don't really say how they really feel all that much." Ironically, that describes her to a tee. The end of this story has Satsuki Yukino, Tina's voice actress, doing a special ending theme song, "I'll Be Home."
The photo club's tea shop, originally in manga #2, finally makes its appearance here, though with Mayu and Chika's appearance, something not in the manga. The photo club's cosplay animal café for the 3-day university festival is a disaster when Tina's idea of cute animals include certain members of the family Reptilia. However, sometimes simpler is better, and Aoi-chan's deliciously brewed green tea leads to the traditional Japanese Café Aoi, named by photo club president Suzuki. This is a great moment for Aoi, who's in her element, but she clearly has fun working hard with things. But at the sight of Kaoru's ridiculous bunny costume, she bursts out laughing loud, surprising Miyabi-san. Another of my favourite episodes.
There is no such thing as too much Chika. Her appearance lights up the already tender-hearted series.
Ai Yori Aoshi, Volume 4: Truly Yours (Episodes 16-20)
Summer Fun With the Gang
Ah, there is nothing like summer episodes of your favorite anime! Usually there is a ghost story thrown in there, but not here. There would not have been enough time for fanservice. *koff koff*
Ai Your Aoshi: Vol. 4: Truly Yours contains six episodes and scanty extras.
Shores - The entire gang, ferret included, head to Tae's grandmother's place, which is conviently a beachouse and she has conviently invited them to stay. A new character is introduced, the last in the harem. She is a young girl of about ten, Tae's cousin. Her name is Chika. I will say more about this character later.
Waves - Encouraged by Chika, Tae, who has developed feelings for Kaoru, decides to take her cousin's advice and be bold in romance.
Bedsharing - On a trip to the animal park to see some rare monkeys temporarily on display, Kaoru and Tina get caught in a bad summer storm and have to share a hot hotel room together.
Lap Pillow - All these provocative titles! Chika comes to the mansion to stay until she finishes her summer homework.
Cure - No, the cure is not what you think. It is tea. This is a great episode that has a lot of Japanese culture as Aoi tries to teach the gang the art of preparing delicious Japanese tea. They need to do this to recoup their losses at the school festival that Tina and her reptile-loving ways caused.
OK, now about Chika. I really have a problem with how they sexualize a ten-year old here. Yes, it's all cute and innocent, but I am not stupid. Child molesters don't think they are doing anything wrong, do they? It's bad enough having thirteen-year old Mayu giving fanservice, but I can see what they are doing with Chika. There are closeups of her butt as she sits down, and just look at the DVD cover. Hell, why stop at ten years old? Why not add a five year old in there? Child molesters don't think they are doing anything wrong, do they?Ai Yori Aoshi, Volume 4: Truly Yours (Episodes 16-20)
One of my favorites
I am too familiar with and well aware of the areas in which Ai Yori Aoshi may be criticized. And on an intellectual level I would agree. There is absolutely no purpose to Tina's overtly perverse and rude behavior, which was for all intent a grossly distorted crack at American conduct. Taeko may have been more amiable had the character not been a stereotypical clumsy but well-meaning goof of a beauty who is the most endowed among the cast. And Aoi is so subservient, deferring her own wishes, ambitions and aspirations to a weakling that had abandoned her in the first place that it defies reality and suspends disbelief. And its most significant failing may be said to be its dishonesty. To begin with exposition of a profound romantic premise that after four episodes takes not just a detour, but a full 180-degree turn to become something less and driven by slapstick and fanservice is just deceitful and misleading. As a romantic drama, the title is guilty of all its shortcomings.
But what if the original intent had not been to create a romantic drama, but to sell a product that is highly popular among male demographics? And what if success in this business venture was to be found in illustrated literature that falls under a genre in which a harem was not only common, but fundamental? Moreover, what if author and artist Fumizuki Kou was a skilled and gifted writer able to conceive strong situations that test his characters and thus move his readers? And, that despite his need to eat and pay rent or the mortgage, his respect for his own artistry forbids him from producing entirely unsubstantial material, that he devises a plan to bring about warmth, richness, and dimension to the product. And that he does so by setting its foundation on the love of two childhood friends bethrothed to one another but separated by bitter familial politics. But he would decisively and canonically establish an exciting destiny for these two no matter who was thrown in the mix. And to highten and strengthen the dramatic impact, he would develop the two in the most engrossing fashion by sparsely placing throughout the series the tender, touching, inspiring, and captivating moments of intimacy shared between them. And as the two of them engage one another, we are exposed to their thoughts and emotions, raw in the pursuit of the other's well being but founded on a compelling desire to be the source of nourishment to the other. Finally, their interaction would be pure, honest, mutually exclusive, and courageously untainted by any form of wanton and gratuitous sexual provacation (Tina's antics notwithstanding) as is common in today's smut being passed off as romance. What if the powerful romantic elements of Ai Yori Aoshi was merely a component used to enrich the product belonging to a genre from which there certainly was no shortage?
This is how I view Ai Yori Aoshi. It is an enjoyable harem anime based on a fine manga. As a harem anime, it would then be expected for one male to end up in situations where he is living with many women. Yet, the title sets itself apart in execution, as it profoundly explores and develops that romantic component that was sorely neglected in Love Hina and diverted away from in Tenchi. It is also ludicrous to judge the character of Aoi Sakuraba in light of western upbringing and not consider the cultural context from which she was conceived. Whatever it is that one may say about her only demonstrates one's position about the culture, and not fallacies about her conception. The Aoi and Kaoru moments were few indeed, but they were moving and utterly delightful, and their rareness made them all the more special when they did occur. I have nothing but the deepest affection and fondness for Ai Yori Aoshi. I've not seen anything as breadthly emotional in a romance, not the books I've read by jaded authors nor any film or video to which their efforts I ascribe superficial. This title is one that I continue to watch over and over again. If the elitist viewer can get over him or herself, there is much to enjoy in this fine production.Ai Yori Aoshi, Volume 4: Truly Yours (Episodes 16-20)
Beach episodes with heart
Before watching this DVD I was quite annoyed at the idea of another harem series with the (...) girls going to the requisite trip to the beach. But, here, we have a twist. The most important girl in the series is too shy to wear a swimsuit. Most of the frolic occurs off-screen. So, instead of being completely about the male character falling head over heels for all the bikini clad girls. We get Kaoru just being his good old self and still wanting to spend time with his one interest, Aoi. The new girl here is Taeko's cousin, Chika. Upon meeting Kaoru she proceeds to play matchmaker with her cousin and her 'boyfriend', uh 'husband', uh... wait a minute... Tina gets another moment alone with Kaoru and this time it happens away from the mansion, not to mention at a romantic suites hotel. The tension between the two is expressed so well that it almost seems like they can't avoid each other for much longer. I'm still left wondering; How long can they stay friends? and What does Tina actually think about herself? The character development flys with leaps and bounds throughout this disk. This is a rare case where beach and festival episodes are more than just filler and skinfest. Look out though. The nudity does arise quite often in and around these episodes and there is a brief moment of underage exposure.Ai Yori Aoshi, Volume 4: Truly Yours (Episodes 16-20)
Summer time!
As in all anime series, there must be a few summer episodes. Swimsuits, ice cream and hard work. On the beach everybody gets to meet the cute and tanned Chika, Taeko's cousin, who tries to get Taeko and Kaoru together (and ends up falling in love with him herself). Chika later visits them at the mansion, asking if she can stay while finishing off her homework, and ends up looking at Kaoru as a big brother (and a lap pillow). Tina's trip to the zoo, with Kaoru, ends up in a love hotel.
Many of the episodes, in other words, seem to focus on Tina and Taeko, and their feelings towards Kaoru, who doesn't have a clue.
Tight swimsuits, animal costumes and a college festival seems to bring Kaoru more trouble than happiness, yet in the end he still ends up with Aoi. Boy, is the photo club a interesting club to join!
Five episodes and tons of extras makes this DVD, and the whole series, a great value and a joy to watch!Ai Yori Aoshi, Volume 4: Truly Yours (Episodes 16-20)
|
