Koi Kaze
| Koi Kaze | |
First tankōbon volume, released by Kodansha released in Japan on March 22, 2002
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| 恋風 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romance, Drama |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Motoi Yoshida |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Evening |
| Original run | September 2001 – October 2004 |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Takahiro Omori |
| Music by | Makoto Yoshimori |
| Studio | A.C.G.T |
| Licensed by | |
| Network | TV Asahi, Kids Station |
| Original run | April 1, 2004 – June 17, 2004 |
| Episodes | 13 |
Koi Kaze (Japanese: 恋風?, lit. "Love Wind") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Motoi Yoshida. It premiered in the September 2001 issue of Evening and ran for 29 chapters until its conclusion in the October 2004 issue. The individual chapters were collected and published in five tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. The series tells of the love affair that develops between 27-year-old Koshiro, and his 15-year-old sister, Nanoka.
The chapters were adapted as a 13-episode anime television series by A.C.G.T. Directed by Takahiro Omori, the episodes premiered on TV Asahi on April 1, 2004 and ran until June 17, 2004. Only twelve episodes of the series aired, with the remaining episode streamed online and later included in both DVD releases and when the series aired in reruns as the eighth episode. The anime series is licensed for release in North American by Geneon Entertainment, which released it across three DVD volumes in 2005.
Contents
Synopsis
Twenty-seven-year-old Koshiro Saeki, who lives with his father, is dumped by his girlfriend of two years, who claims he was too cold and she'd found someone else. While on a train the morning after, he sees high school student Nanoka Kohinata looking at a button and crying. As she's later getting off the train, she drops her wallet and Koshiro follows to return it. Koshiro finds himself watching her sudden smile as she notices the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Later, Koshiro is leaving his job at a marriage-arranging company with a coworker when he encounters the girl again. Having two free tickets to a nearby amusement park, he gives them to her. To his surprise she asks him to go with her. While on the Ferris wheel, the girl explains that she was crying on the train because she'd been rejected by a boy she'd loved for several years. Koshiro ends up telling her about his own break up, and cries while she comforts him.
As they leave the park together having enjoyed the outing and expecting to part and never meet again, they run into their father and are shocked to discover they are siblings. Nanoka moved to Tokyo just that morning to live with them because it is closer to school. As Koshiro hadn't gone home the night before, he hadn't learned of her arrival. Since they had grown up living separately, they didn't know what the other looked like.
As the series progresses, Koshiro finds himself unable to rid himself of the attraction that he felt for Nanoka when he first met her. Instead, his love and desire continues to grow, despite his attempts to fight them. Entering womanhood, Nanoka also develops feelings for her brother, only increasing Koshiro's struggle. In near desperation, he moves out of the family home to remove himself from temptation and attempts to keep his coworker, Kaname Chidori, from finding out the truth behind his brusqueness with Nanoka.
However, the solution is only temporary, as Nanoka begins visiting regularly, cooking him meals and spending time with him. Eventually, unable to resist their feelings anymore, they have sex. Unsure what to do now that they have broken a societal taboo, they visit their parents, before contemplating committing suicide together. In the end, they decide to live, and to continue their relationship.
Characters
- Koshiro Saeki (佐伯 耕四郎 Saeki Kōshirō?)
- Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (Japanese), Patrick Seitz (English)
- A 27-year old large man usually sporting a five o'clock shadow, Koshiro works for a marriage-arranging company and lives with his father.[1] He has almost completely forgotten that he had a sister until she came and moved in with them. He finds himself battling with society's definition of what an older brother should be and his sexual and romantic feelings for his sister.
- Nanoka Kohinata (小日向 七夏 Kohinata Nanoka?)
- Voiced by: Yūki Nakamura (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)
- Nanoka is a 15-year-old high school girl who has moved to Tokyo to live with her father and older brother to attend school.[1] A bright and active girl, she grows increasingly fond of her older brother, though is regularly annoyed with his brusque nature. Her friends unwittingly tease her about having a "brother complex", not realizing that Nanoka is actually falling in love with him.
- Zenzo Saeki (佐伯 善三 Saeki Zenzō?)
- Voiced by: Ryōichi Tanaka (Japanese), Doug Stone (English)
- Zenzo is Koshiro and Nanoka's father.[1] He is prone to bouts of hysterical worry and cares for both of his children, though in particularly Nanoka.
- Makie Kohinata (小日向 梢絵 Kohinata Makie?)
- Voiced by: Yūko Katō (Japanese), Wendee Lee (English)
- Makie is Koshiro and Nanoka's mother. Until moving to Tokyo, Nanoka lived with her mother, who runs a hair salon. She rarely sees Koshiro, though she speaks to him fondly when he visits.
- Kaname Chidori (千鳥 要 Chidori Kaname?)
- Voiced by: Akemi Okamura (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)
- Kaname is Koshiro's supervisor and appears to be around his age.[1] While she is often critical of his sloppy appearance, she encourages him where she can. When Koshiro first sees Nanoka outside his job, Chidori encourages him to go on a date with her, not learning until later that Nanoka is his sister. She eventually becomes suspicious of the siblings' relationship, and upon realizing she is correct, attempts to get them to end things, even trying to convince Nanoka that she is dating Koshiro. When she realizes that the siblings can't be happy unless they are together, she decides to leave them alone in hopes they can live with their choice. She shares the same name as Kaname Chidori from Full Metal Panic!.
- Kei Odagiri (Odagiri Kei)
- Voiced by: Kousuke Okano (Japanese), Liam O'Brien (English)
- Odagiri works in the same office as Koshiro and Kaname Chidori. He is the office pervert, who always wants a teenage girl as his significant other, revised after meeting Nanoka to wanting a younger teenage sister. He serves as a contrast to Koshiro, and as comic relief.
- Futaba Anzai (Anzai Futaba)
- Voiced by: Satomi Akesaka (Japanese), Tara Hudson (English)
- Futaba is Nanoka's first friend at her high school. She has brown hair worn in two twintails, and wears glasses.
Media
Manga
The first chapter of Koi Kaze premiered in the September 2001 issue of the monthly Japanese magazine The Evening. New chapters appeared monthly until its conclusion in the October 2004 issue. The 35 individual chapters were collected and published in five tankōbon volumes by Kodansha from March 22, 2002 through December 21, 2004.[2][3] Each volume's cover features Nanoka Kohinata, except the final volume which has Nanoka and Koshiro Saeki together.
| No. | Release date | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 22, 2002[2] | ISBN 978-4-06-352004-0 | |
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| 2 | November 22, 2002[4] | ISBN 978-4-06-352015-6 | |
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| 3 | July 23, 2003[5] | ISBN 978-4-06-352036-1 | |
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| 4 | March 23, 2004[6] | ISBN 978-4-06-352061-3 | |
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| 5 | December 21, 2004[3] | ISBN 978-4-06-352091-0 | |
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Anime
Koi Kaze was adapted as a 13-episode anime television series by Geneon Entertainment and Rondo Robe. Directed by Takahiro Omori, the episodes premiered on TV Asahi on April 1, 2004 and ran until June 17, 2004. The series also aired on Kids Station.[7] TV Asahi refused to air the eighth episode, as it was felt to be too controversial because it dealt with divorce, a taboo subject in Japan. The episode was aired on Kids Station and also streamed online on the Geneon Entertainment website and included in the subsequent DVD releases. The episode is sometimes numbered as episode 7.5 because it was not broadcast with the rest.[8] Geneon released the series across five DVD volumes in Japan, with the first volume released on July 23, 2004 and the final volume released November 25, 2004.[9]
The anime series is licensed for release in North American by Geneon USA which released it across three DVD volumes in 2005.[10][11]
The episodes uses two pieces of theme music. "Koi Kaze" by éf is used as the opening song for all of the episodes except for episode twelve, which does not have an opening sequence. "Futari Dakara" (ふたりだから?) by Masumi Itō is used for the series ending theme.
Episode list
| # | Title | Original airdate[7] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "First Flower" "Hatsuhana" (初花) |
April 1, 2004 |
| Koshiro Saeki is recovering from breaking up with his girlfriend Shoko Akimoto. On his way to work on the train, he first meets Nanoka Kohinata while returning a name tag that she dropped as she was trying to exit the train. After returning to his house from work, he finds out from his father, Zenzo Saeki, that his sister, whose face he can no longer remember, will be moving into their house for an easier commute to her school. The next day, Shoko visits him during lunch break to get back the key to her house. At the end of the work day, a customer gives boss-lady Kaname Chidori two tickets to the theme park next door. She gives them Koshiro, suggesting that he get back together with Shoko Akimoto. Upon leaving the customer's office, Koshiro meets Nanoka again and impulsively gives the two tickets to her. She insists that he come with her; and they spend the rest of the day at the nearby theme park, later consoling each other on their love lives. Their father appears at the end of the day to pick Nanoka up, revealing to both that they are siblings. Corresponds to manga volume 1 chapter 1. | ||
| 2 | "Apprehension of Spring" "Shunshō" (春宵) |
April 8, 2004 |
| Koshiro is uncomfortable with Nanoka's doting presence as he struggles with his feelings towards her. Nanoka takes over many of the household chores and even makes a bento for Koshiro. He reaches his limit when she arrives at his office to visit him, telling her to never visit him again and stop calling him her big brother. To work off her anger, Nanoka goes out with some friends, Futaba Anzai and Youko Tamaki, to eat ice cream and karaoke until night. On her way back, she calls once again via payphone, but is yelled at by Koshiro again. However, she forgives him when he goes to pick her up on his bicycle, after he tells her that father is very worried for her too. Corresponds to manga volume 1 chapters 2 & 3. | ||
| 3 | "Gentle Breeze" "Kunpū" (薫風) |
April 15, 2004 |
| Unable to sleep, occupied with thoughts of Nanoka, Koshiro remembers from his childhood what helped him to sleep on such sleepless nights. After he wakes up, he gives the teddy bear he has kept to Nanoka, and she then gives hers to him, both made by their mother, Makie Kohinata. Futaba falls in love with a guy, only to find that he is her friend Youko's boyfriend. Upon returning home, Koshiro finds Nanoka taking aspirin, finding out later that she is having menstrual cramps. On his day off the next day, it begins to rain, prompting him to wait for her at the train station with his umbrella. Corresponds to manga volume 1 chapters 4 & 5. | ||
| 4 | "Evening Shower / Summer Shower" "Yūdachi" (夕立) |
April 22, 2004 |
| At this time Koshiro is sensitive about people thinking that he has picked up or is dating a high school girl. While out watching a movie with Nanoka in the afternoon, Koshiro bumps into Shoko. After the movie he sends Nanoka home and looks Shoko up, explaining that Nanoka is his sister. They end up having dinner together in the evening. He initially hopes that they can get intimate afterwards, however she tells him her new boyfriend is visiting her. Frustrated, Koshiro goes home, and he inadvertently knocks over the laundry basket, with Nanoka's bra, while changing. He almost gets caught sniffing it, and afterwards is stricken with guilt and fear that he had been discovered. Corresponds to manga volume 1 chapter 6. | ||
| 5 | "Distant Thunder" "Enrai" (遠雷) |
April 29, 2004 |
| This episode Koshiro is burdened and angry over the guilt from the end of the previous episode. While doing household chores, Koshiro is shocked to find that Nanoka has emptied the trashcan in his room. He shouts at her for invading his privacy, though she does not know that the trashcan contained his tissues of his guilt. That night, as he returns home from hanging out with Kaname at the bar, Koshiro accidentally drops and breaks Nanoka's rice bowl when she surprises him while he was contemplating about when he previously sniffed her bra. The next day at work, Kaname informs Koshiro that it is Nanoka's birthday, asking him to meet Nanoka at the train station with an umbrella. He rushes off hoping that he can make amends for his bad behavior. He buys Nanoka flowers and apologizes. After he promises to buy her anything she wants for a birthday present, she picks out a new rice bowl for herself. Walking home, she has forgiven him and cleared things up to her satisfaction. He, on the other hand, wonders how things ended up like this, thinking "Wasn't I going to right everything?" Mostly corresponds to manga volume 1 chapter 7. | ||
| 6 | "Autumnal Melancholy" "Shūshi" (秋思) |
May 6, 2004 |
| The guilt in the last episode has faded a bit, but Koshiro is still burdened by shame that he thinks of Nanoka when he masturbates. Nanoka discovers that she has developed a reputation at school for having a brother complex. After working late on the upcoming school festival, she is walked home by a male schoolmate named Kazuya Miyauchi. Koshiro encounters them and shouts at her for being so incautious with boys. She protests her innocence and his jealousy shows when he blurts out that she has to be careful because she is cute. In Japanese the phrase Koshiro used apparently has an 'I like you' connotation. Both realize it and Koshiro hurriedly tries to walk back what he said. The next day, Nanoka avoids him by leaving early and gets jostled and groped on the train. That evening Koshiro gets home very late, and leaves very early the next morning. On the third morning Koshiro offers to commute together with Nanoka, and apologizes for earlier. He protects her on the train from the crowding in the car. Corresponds to manga volume 1 chapters 10 & 11. | ||
| 7 | "First Storm" "Hatsuarashi" (初嵐) |
May 13, 2004 |
| Miyauchi gives Nanoka a love letter from a secret admirer at school, but she has no idea how to respond to it. She asks Koshiro what she should do about the love letter and he indifferently says she should make up her own mind and not consult him. She meets with her admirer named Kazuyuki Asano and turns down his advances, but she becomes disappointed when he seems to show no interest in her. Koshiro regrets his prior indifference and tells Nanoka that it is okay for her to ask him for advice about anything she has on her mind. She is impressed by his concern about her, and then she confesses her love for him. | ||
| 8 | "Dew Frost" "Tsuyujimo" (露霜) |
July 7, 2004 |
| Koshiro remembers the birth of his sister and their life together before their parents' divorce. Although they were too far apart in age to understand each other, they felt a vague sense of affection. In the present, Koshiro goes to see his mother Makie for the first time in many years. She tells him how much Nanoka looked up to her big brother and tells him to be a good big brother to her. On the ride back, he remembers an incident when Nanoka gave him a glass of mud at the playground when she was a baby, and he ended up keeping it because it made her so happy. When he returns home, he makes the resolve to watch over Nanoka. | ||
| 9 | "Wind Flower" "Kazehana" (風花) |
May 20, 2004 |
| Koshiro contemplates the decision of moving out to resolve his situation. Nanoka plans to make him a sweater for Christmas. Later on, Koshiro asks Nanoka by phone to bring an envelope he forgot to his workplace. While she observes him from the waiting room, Kaname welcomes her there. As they make their way home together in the evening, Nanoka tells Koshiro she comes off as too serious. Even though he thinks that he sees himself as a liar, Nanoka embraces him and tells him otherwise. The following night, Koshiro finds Nanoka asleep in his bedroom when returning home from work. Things get awkward when he offers if she wants to sleep with him for the night. He feels uncomfortable with her saying that she loves him, but he holds her back when she tries to run away in tears. She breaks away from his arms and flees to her own bedroom. | ||
| 10 | "Wintry Moon" "Kangetsu" (寒月) |
May 27, 2004 |
| After Koshiro mentions to Kaname that he is thinking of moving out, she encourages him to find his own apartment. Since Nanoka does not feel she should go home, she arranges to stay overnight at Futaba's house, where she laughs after first seeing Futaba bicker with her sister, Wakaba Anzai. The three then stay up late playing video games. Wakaba explains how marriage is not only based on love, but also on other practicalities to consider. Nanoka calls Koshiro and makes up with him over the phone. Later that night, Koshiro announces to Zenzo that he is preparing to move out. After Nanoka comes home and hears of this, she later comes inside his room and asks if they can sleep together. He agrees on the condition that they not meet again. She wakes up in the morning alone in an empty bedroom. | ||
| 11 | "Lingering Winter" "Yokan" (余寒) |
June 3, 2004 |
| A month and a half after Koshiro has moved out, both the siblings are still thinking of each other, but keeping their promise not to see each other again. Nanoka sometimes walks by his new apartment or workplace, but avoids meeting him. Kaname has taken to sleeping over at Koshiro's apartment because it is closer to the workplace than her apartment. One day when they are going to his apartment, they see Nanoka outside. He pushes Kaname away to hide from Nanoka, and Kaname guesses why he had left home and has been hiding from Nanoka. She confronts him, accuses him of perversion, and walks away. He stays home from work the next day because of this. When he opens his front door to make a trip to the store, Nanoka is standing there. | ||
| 12 | "Spring Thunder" "Shunrai" (春雷) |
June 10, 2004 |
| Nanoka breaks their promise and comes to Koshiro's apartment to see him. She offers to make him a meal, but his refrigerator is empty so he goes out to pick up some things. In the meantime, Kaname drops in and is shocked to find Nanoka there. She tries to make Nanoka go home by telling her that she is going out with Koshiro. But Nanoka refuses, saying that her feelings for her brother are greater, and she insists that Kaname leave instead. Kaname encounters Koshiro on his way home and tries to talk sense into him, but he will not listen. Kaname begins to see that they truly love each other and apologizes, saying that she will not interfere any more. The siblings decide that they really do love each other and want to be together no matter what. They spend the night together as lovers. | ||
| 13 | "Heat Haze" "Kagerō" (陽炎) |
June 17, 2004 |
| Koshiro and Nanoka visit Makie's house together and give her a helping hand with chores. At night, they walk to a pier, and they question whether or not they should commit shinjū. Although he is saddened and confused, she is fine either way as long as she is with him. Koshiro decides to quit his job, and Kaname wishes him well on his way out. Koshiro stands outside Zenzo's house and apologizes. The couple frolic in the playground to the disapproving stares of the local matrons. Then at night, they sneak into the theme park where they met. They sit on the Ferris wheel and try to move it by prayer. They later carve their names on a tree and promise to go back there every springtime. When Nanoka has walked off to go home, Koshiro says to himself that he loves her. | ||
CDs
A full-size version of the series ending theme, "Futari Dakara" was released to CD single by Masumi Itō on May 26, 2004. A complete CD soundtrack followed on July 23, 2004. The soundtrack contains 31 tracks, including various instrumental background pieces composed by Takumi Masanori and Makoto Yoshimori, the full size opening theme, and the TV version of the ending theme.[12]
Reception
"Koi Kaze is not a series which is going to suit everyone's tastes due to its subject matter. It has the potential, though, to be the year's premiere romantic anime series." — Theron Martin, Anime News Network.[13]
"With the first third of the show on this volume, it's definitely one of the better structured doomed romances that I've seen in anime in a long time." — Chris Beveridge, Mania.[14]
"There are a million ways this series could have gone wrong. Instead, Koi Kaze deserves the highest marks possible for its thoughtful, honest, and mature handling of such a difficult and controversial issue." — Carlos Ross, T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews.[15]
"Koi Kaze is not a reassuring show, but if it skirts the edge of disaster instead of plunging in, it may offer warmth to lonely, troubled people, and that's worth a lot." — Christian Nutt, Newtype USA.[16]
References
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External links
- Official Geneon Koi Kaze anime website (Japanese)
- Koi Kaze at Internet Movie Database
- Koi Kaze (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Koi Kaze (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Articles containing Japanese-language text
- Manga series
- 2001 manga
- 2004 anime television series
- Articles with Japanese-language external links
- Drama anime and manga
- Incest in fiction
- Incest in television
- Kodansha manga
- Geneon USA
- NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan
- Romance anime and manga
- Seinen manga
- TV Asahi shows
