Sakura Tsuushin (Sakura Diaries)

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Sakura Mail

Japanese: 桜通信

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Information

Type: OVA

Episodes: 12

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: May 21, 1997 to Oct 22, 1997

Producers: Kitty Films, Studio Tulip

Licensors: ADV Films

Studios: Shaft

Source: Manga

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life

Theme: Love Polygon

Duration: 21 min. per ep.

Rating: R+ - Mild Nudity

Statistics

Score: 6.15¹ (scored by 5,597 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #8947²

² based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #5435

Members: 14,888

Favorites: 17

Resources

AniDB

ANN

Synopsis

A Keio University (one of the top three colleges in Japan) exam candidate, Touma Inaba, is interupted when a cute young girl, Urara Kasuga, arrives at his hotel room door. She later turns out to be his cousin who he barely remembers from his childhood. Urara, who had felt something special for him (an other-than-cousinly-love), invites Touma to live with her since he has no place to stay other than the hotel room. Before taking the test, Touma meets Meiko Yotsuba, a beautiful, sophisticated woman also trying to get into Keio. Meiko gets into Keio but Touma does not, due to a cold Urara had given him shortly before. Although he did not make it, he pretends he does to earn the respect of Meiko. Touma is caught up in a love triangle with Urara and Meiko, while struggling to keep Meiko believing he's really a Keio student and still be there for Urara at the same time.

(Source: ANN)

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Adaptation:

Sakura Tsuushin

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Kasuga, Urara

Main

Hikami, Kyouko
Japanese

Inaba, Touma

Main

Madono, Mitsuaki
Japanese

Yotsuba, Mieko

Supporting

Hyoudou, Mako
Japanese

Akimoto, Kouji

Supporting

Tatsuta, Naoki
Japanese

Natsuki, Koumi

Supporting

Kasahara, Rumi
Japanese

Mashuu, Tatsuhiko

Supporting

Yasui, Kunihiko
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Campbell, Charles

Producer, ADR Director

Okajima, Kunitoshi

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Suzuki, Toshimasa

Episode Director, Storyboard

Otani, Masahito

Episode Director

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Opening Theme

"Kimi no Mado Kara (From Your Window)" by Takako Kuwata

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Ending Theme

"Koi wa Kaze ni Notte (恋は風に乗って)" by Takako Kuwata

Reviews

Jan 7, 2019

LightQuill

Recommended

Sakura Diaries, created by the prolific adult-manga artist, U-Jin, surpassed every one of my expectations and delivered one of the most heartfelt themes about independence, pride, and responsibility.

Sakura Diaries focuses on our protagonist, Touma Inaba, a slacker whose ambitions are those of a selfish nature and whose desires are those of a lustful encounter. Touma isn't interested in going to one of the top colleges in Japan, Keio University, and merely wants to take the entrance exam as a souvenir token. His intentions is suddenly turned on its head when he bumps into Meiko Yotsuba, a remarkably attractive woman that Touma quickly develops feelings for ... soon after their brief confrontation. Along the way, Touma meets up with his cousin, Urara Kasuga, who is deeply in love with Touma and tries to reconcile with him after years of separation. Touma, however, wants to steal Meiko's heart and enrolls in a cram school, hoping that he will make it to Keio University. This love triangle between Touma, Urara, and Meiko is the main focus that drives the plot throughout the show.

Touma is the worst romantic protagonist, but for all the right reasons. Throughout the show, he is always making mistakes and finds himself constantly lying. Whether it's to get closer to Meiko, or to protect Urara's feelings, it becomes apparent that he is the only character in this show that is emotionally hurting other characters. Touma is, by definition, his own antagonist and it is his selfish endeavors that keep him from making any progress in the relationships between his friends and lovers. Adding in the fact that he wants to lose his virginity and his disinterest in his studies are also vices that plague Touma's life. What makes Touma stand out is his countless efforts of self-reflection. He is aware of the dire consequences of his actions and tries to remedy it, only to find out that he doesn't the skills or courage enough to set everything straight. When Touma learns that he is being deceived, he doesn't curse at the deception but instead promises himself to improve himself by becoming a better person. This level of introspection and self-improvement is what Touma brings to the show, that he's able to grow and mature even if it hurts him the most.

Urara, Touma's cousin, wants nothing more than to be by Touma's side and desperately wants to get his attention, despite how much he dislikes the idea. Urara's character might sound simple, and the fact that she never changes as much as Touma perhaps proves that point. Perhaps it isn't too silly for me to say that she represents the rom-com character as the ditzy but supportive (and sexually promiscuous) female lead. It wouldn't come off as a big surprise when I also think that Urara is a product of society. Her only friend wants to have sex, and her naughty and crude discussion only fuels her loose behavior around Touma. She is also surrounded by popular culture (television, magazines, etc.) that promotes sex positivity and beautification. Urara doesn't change, but she allows others like Touma and Meiko to change themselves for the better.

Speaking of Meiko, Meiko is a unique character that will only describe her as the most mature individual in the show. When we are first introduced to Meiko, she is remarkably beautiful and her friendly nature compels Touma to follow her in hopes of making her his wife. Her true intentions are never clear until she herself breaks the news to Touma. I can't give out much away about her character, but her revelations and her overall character arc does keep me interested without making me feel disgust or enraged.

So with all of that said, Sakura Diaries is a character-driven show, and with such realistic characters on its roster helps it to stand out from its predecessors of the genre and show that it can move on from its tropes and cliches without feeling compelled to satisfy those traditions of the past. Sakura Dairies, on the surface, seems to be just your average rom-com where everything done and said is insignificant, but within it lies the heart and spirit of what makes characters fill with passion and vigor.

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Mar 17, 2018

DesolatePsyche

Mixed Feelings

First things first. My "reviews" system is explained on a blog entry. Which can be found through my profile.
------

✦Story
Story had actually got quite fairly enjoyable development. I did hate the story/thematic itself though. Which I ought to mention more under "characters" section. To be honest, I cannot remember much of this Anime as some time has passed since I watched this a.k.a didn't review with fresh memories. But I do know I started skipping at some point, I was intrigued with the development but really hated characters there for various reasons. The way it was wrapped up was also quite unsatisfying.

✦Art & Sound
For it's time ...

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Jan 30, 2024

Seky

Not Recommended

This anime/manga is not a romance anime, it is a hentai
The protagonist is poop, he is a bad person. The topic discussed is pedophilia, the insect, abuse, attempted rape and infidelity.

The male lead is one of the worst I've ever seen.
The animation is good for the time it came out, but the story becomes murkier in the manga and the male protagonist is the bad guy of the story, he is an unscrupulous pervert.

MANGA SPOILER ALERT

The girl is in love with her cousin whom she has only seen once in her entire life. And she becomes submissive and forgives him for all the horrible ...

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Poll: Sakura Diaries Episode 12 Discussion rebwaters - May 18, 2010	25 replies	by little_raven »» Apr 12, 10:10 PM
Poll: Sakura Diaries Episode 8 Discussion rebwaters - May 11, 2010	6 replies	by little_raven »» Apr 12, 1:15 PM
Poll: Sakura Diaries Episode 3 Discussion rebwaters - Apr 29, 2010	7 replies	by little_raven »» Apr 11, 9:10 PM
Poll: Sakura Diaries Episode 5 Discussion rebwaters - May 2, 2010	9 replies	by little_raven »» Apr 11, 9:04 PM
Poll: Sakura Diaries Episode 11 Discussion rebwaters - May 17, 2010	6 replies	by Ashhk »» Mar 28, 8:55 AM

Sakura Tsuushin

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