Mitsuwano

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Alternative Titles

Japanese: みツわの

Information

Type: OVA

Episodes: 1

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Mar 12, 2014

Producers: Starchild Records, Grooove

Licensors: None found, add some

Studios: Zexcs

Source: Light novel

Genre: Slice of Life

Duration: 28 min.

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 5.99¹ (scored by 2,268 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #9748²

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

Popularity: #8440

Members: 5,051

Favorites: 1

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Synopsis

In Kyoto, apprentices known as maiko are skilled performers of traditional dance and song. It is said their elegance and grace leaves any audience entranced.

Mai Ichinose, Riko Kikuzuki, and Midori Aikawa are young girls who aspire to become maiko. They reside together in a geisha house to polish and perfect their skills, developing bonds of trust and supporting each other. However, their shared dream may prove disastrous for their friendship...

When they learn about an upcoming festival, they cannot help but get excited. But soon they realize only two maiko can represent each house. It is then that the three close friends become distant, seeking to prove who is most deserving of the role. Ultimately, they must choose between fulfilling their own dream—finally within reach—or keeping their treasured friendship alive.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Mitsuwano

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Kikuzuki, Riko

Main

Sasaki, Nozomi
Japanese

Aikawa, Midori

Main

Satou, Rina
Japanese

Ichinose, Mai

Main

Horie, Yui
Japanese

Shino

Supporting

Ohara, Sayaka
Japanese

Kazuha

Supporting

Hara, Yumi
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Igari, Takashi

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Kameyama, Toshiki

Sound Director

Takahashi, Natsuko

Script

Horie, Yui

Theme Song Performance

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Opening Theme

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Ending Theme

"Kono Basho de (この場所で)" by Yui Horie

Reviews

Aug 3, 2014

Oixo

Recommended

A random watch of mine that felt like a waste of time but to be honest better then expected.

This is a 1 episode short story that follows 3 girls as they practice and strive to become Maikos. The show covers what the girls do to practice and do while they are getting ready for an upcoming festival.

The charcters are a nice bunch of teenage girls, there superior Maikos, and elderly teachers. They are all well designed and easy to like.

The music consists mostly of a piano that plays calmly during the show to set a perfect mood.

Art is nice and average. It is nothing spectacular ...

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Oct 25, 2015

aldero

Recommended

TL;DR The anime is too short to make any real impact

Mitsuwano is a story of three young Geisha apprentices (called Maiko), Riko, Midori and Mai, partaking in an upcoming festival. Being only one episode long (about 30 minutes), it is really a condensed version of something that could easily run a full season.

Opting for a one episode OVA, the pacing is rather fast. It unfortunately skips a lot of character development. How did the three meet? How did they become such close friends? What was their back stories? Too bad none of these were explored in any details. ... What we get is a small arc of an overall story. In all honesty, it barely touches the surface.

The main take away is that all three Maiko are training hard for an upcoming festival. However, a shopkeeper tells them that only two of them will be chosen for a role in the performance. Hence, the three friends now become competitors. This ends as well as any slice-of-life anime would end. Honestly, the story is not something spectacular. In fact, I think it leans towards the cliche side of story telling. I really wish it would at least run another two or three episodes, letting the viewers in on the everyday lives of a Maiko and the path they take to become a fully fledged Geisha, a centuries old profession that is getting less and less attention in the 21st century.

The Gion district is more or less depicted in Mitsuwano. Everything in the world of Geisha is so delicate and organized. The art shows that organization in great details. The shops are clean, everything is in order, nothing seems out of place. The kimono is brightly colored and fit for purpose.

For those who have been to Kyoto (and the Kansai region in general) will notice the details given to the dialogs of the characters in Mitsuwano. The Kansai dialect is very noticeable and there are even a few occasions where one of the girls got scolded for not using the correct dialect. It is such details that make Mitsuwano watchable.

Overall, Mitsuwano is not a bad anime, but as I have said throughout this review, one episode is not nearly enough to give the characters and story the time it needs to grow and foster a relationship with the viewer. A longer format, or even a feature film would do it better justice. Whatever the reason that was decided to release Mitsuwano in this format, don't let the short duration put you off. The art is appealing, it is full of little details that make you think that the creators really did their research. The subject matter is interesting, albeit it is probably more relevant in Japan than in the rest of the world. Watch it for what it is.

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Aug 4, 2014

Kundalini

Mixed Feelings

A Maiko is a culturally rich art and connoisseurship of Japan, and as the anime suggests, especially of Kyoto. Then honestly, why not focus on what it entails to actually be one?
Pfft.. That was the failure of this OVA. It only mentioned in a passing glance that Maikos are culturally rich assets, but never bothered showing a Maiko's life.

Story 4/10
This show is about 3 girls who want to become Maikos. And it's just about their friendship.

Art 7/10
Still crowds and subtle movements, but pretty and detailed backgrounds. The setting is good. There's a show at the end, but I'd have preferred more, esp. ...

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Recent News

Light Novel 'Mitsuwano' Gets OVA Adaptation to be Released March 12, 2014

It has been announced that light novel series "Mitsuwano," the Kodansha BOX-AiR Newcomer Award Winner, will get an OVA adaptation to be released on March 1...read more

Dec 21, 2013 4:08 AM by tsubasalover | Discuss (13 comments)

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Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Mitsuwano Episode 1 Discussion okanagan - Jul 20, 2014	21 replies	by removed-user »» Sep 3, 2020 2:19 AM
Preview VanishingKira - Dec 18, 2013	4 replies	by AreosVX »» May 3, 2014 9:34 AM
AD Stark700 - Feb 2, 2014	0 replies	by Stark700 »» Feb 2, 2014 12:54 PM

Mitsuwano

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