Roped into participating in a magic show one evening, Mei Ayazuki suddenly awakens to find herself in what appears to be the Meiji era. Having grown up isolated from those around her as a result of being able to perceive spirits, she’s shocked to discover that here in this time period her ability is not only recognized but in fact greatly prized by the assortment of stylish men she finds herself surrounded by.
A partly episodic history-centric romantic comedy with a few harem elements and tertiary dramatic aspects. It’s an alternate version of the previously released movies centered on a different suitor.
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This series takes place during the Age of Bad Taste, aka the Meiji era, in a Tokyo resembling a vast host club staffed with bishi historical figures. These dandies bring the Meiji period to life in a campy way that will almost certainly reemerge in answers to Japanese middle school essay test questions. I can see it now, ‘Koizumi-sensei’s suits were cut migh-tee fine. Kakko ii, machigai nee.’, etc. So far, I’ve only watched through ep 4, but have laughed out loud several times. The series is replete with art historical references, which it’s entirely OK to miss, but which… Read more »
Thanks to all the whacking and abuse, ep 5 broke the series’s graceful rhythm and felt a little ugly and even sinister at times. Without too much additional effort, the creators could have upped the sophistication factor and delved further into the grueling discipline of geisha training. Like most of the traditional Japanese arts, it is unimaginably physically, psychologically, and intellectually demanding, a lifelong commitment to which most Westerners cannot possibly relate. One would have to be grossly insensitive not to feel an omnipresent supernatural aura in Japan–even in downtown Tokyo. Ponds, in and of themselves, emit something similar. Show… Read more »
Loved eps 8 and 9!
Tenshin makes a flamboyant cameo appearance in ep 9, and it was an epiphany. Why do we tend to view historical figures as wise and grave? Among close friends more likely than not, in real-life, Tenshin probably behaved more like his ep 9 depiction.
“As modern as tomorrow”, it’s surprising how much the Tenshin of yore closely resembles his avant-garde 2012 counterpart (source: The Kimono Gallery). “Fashion passes; style remains.“. Definitely.
I wouldn’t mind a coat like Charlie‘s.
Ep 10 was tremendous and emotionally real except for an overlookable punt at the end with the third party smiling. It is possible for someone to feel so guilty about a past relationship as to be unable to move forward. My friend, Hari, who left the world to enter a monastery did exactly that with a relationship. Punishing oneself forever for ‘breaking another person’s heart’ is definitely among the more interesting options because, while it appears gallant, it is fundamentally an example of some of the ego’s finest legerdemain. * * * Like our familiars the cockroach and the Norway… Read more »
Ep 11 was possibly one of the best and most moving anime episodes I have seen. I will definitely remember it and rewatch it, regardless of whether I rewatch any others in this series. As a visual artist in traditional media who has had surgery for retinal tears (commonplace yet terrifying) and who went through over a decade of undiagnosed, probably clinical depression during which I had figuratively ‘dead eyes’, this had me sobbing. I relate to every bit of ep 11, which expressed that elusive ‘Japanese feel’. I could practically smell incense. While deep mutual romantic human love is… Read more »
With the best series, the ED is crucial to enjoyment and so it was, all through Meiji Tokyo Renka. A superb, fitting ending.
Mei’s feelings for Ougai-san and the Meiji Era exactly mirror my feelings for Japan — wistful, heartbreaking, a profound love for something just … out of reach.
A wonderfully entertaining series that, if you’re lucky, will speak to you deeply. More romantic, in fact, than even Roman Holiday. This series is a beaut.