Ikoku Irokoi Romantan

I'll keep this simple - if you're just looking for ANY yaoi, ANY action...be my guest. You don't really have anything to lose with this show, but there's no gain to watching it either.

My main issue with the whole thing is that the relationship between Al and Ranmaru starts with Al forcing himself on Ranmaru while just telling him that it's okay (because somehow that justifies it in yaoi). I watched the first one and didn't enjoy it but figured I had to see it through, and it got worse. The plot goes all over the place and somehow Ranmaru ends up for auction ... in some weird viewing for rich men on ANOTHER boat...he gets sexually assaulted from which he should be traumatized, then they both decide to have sex in the middle of the boat with one of the previous assaulters punched up by Al right beside them. And the fact that Ranmaru is still married never goes away and in the end, he just runs away with Al without ever actually resolving the whole family/marriage part of the barely existing plot. Overall, not a great experience.

This is just your typical yaoi, fits the genre if that's what you're looking for, but overall not recommended. If you want something more on the yaoi side that actually has substance try something like Ai no Kusabi (1992).

I was enjoying myself until this one thing happens that's really fucked up. The plot is barely there, the characters are barely developed and the art is good only some of the time. Also if you're looking for porn this isn't it. The nudity is next to nothing.

I'm only giving this a 6 because if it was just the first episode I would've loved it but the second episode only seems to exist because someone asked "What can we do to make this worse?". So I thought I should warn people. Since I regret watching the second episode. Unless you're into fucked up shit.

This ... show is apparently supposed to be romantic but the relationship is more awkward than anything. I will admit that I found that awkwardness fun at some points but it was mostly annoying.

This is the problem with changing standards: it's evident that Ikoku Irokoi was received better in its hayday than it is now. It's not that this anime is bad, per se; it's more that it reflects the inclinations of the early 00s.

So before you completely dismiss this anime, consider a few things:

1. It seems that not many have focused on Ranmaru's wife despite her serving as a catalyst in this anime. Kaoru, who he wed to for the sake of his family, was physically and verbally abusive, which only gets worse over time. As a result, Ranmaru meets Al, who he immediately becomes attracted ... to.

There's a stark contrast between Kaoru, a highbrow yakuza's daughter who repeatedly shows her disdain for marrying a brutish, old-fashioned man she believes to be beneath her, and Al, a chauvinistic gentleman who's aloof enough to prioritize having a good time. So the anime presents a situation where Ranmaru is faced with two choices: the wife he doesn't love and that doesn't love him back, or the man who seems to fetishize the very traits his wife loathes, and that Ranmaru himself is proud of. It's obvious to see why it's called a "Love Affair".

2. Although there was non-con in the series, it was NOT between Al and Ranmaru. Not only did Ranmaru not stop or want to stop Al's advances (even when he wasn't drunk), but he plainly acknowledged it, his bemusement stemming primarily from cultural differences and his naivety with relationships. I won't go as far as to say that there's enthusiastic consent, but their relationship would better be classified as dubcon at least. That still might be a deal-killer to some.

Al, despite his gracefulness, is kinda scummy, but so is the whole cast. There is no development to be found here; there's only a string of tangentially-related one-night stands that clumsily guides the viewers to the grand finale. You'll be terribly disappointed if you expect anything more than what the title indicates. (Admittedly, there are things here and there to give the feel of 'the heart grows fonder apart', but that feels like a bit of a stretch.)

3. And, finally, keep in mind that this is the same creator of Viewfinder and Crimson Spell, the former of which was briefly animated. If you're expecting a well-rounded, tame, wholesome couple with no problems whatsoever, you won't find it with Yamane's works. Instead, try Given, Cherry Magic, Sasaki to Miyano, or any of the other BL series that are more suited for the times.

With that said, I personally have always enjoyed this (albeit with a few eye-turning caveats), especially as the smut was more daring then than it ever will be now, but I realize my opinion is a sorely unpopular one. Taking the larger audience into consideration, it's very likely that some viewers new to BL or searching for a mainstream-compatible series will not find enjoyment in Ikoku Irokoi, which is why I struggle to recommend it. That said, it doesn't erase the few charms the series does have, between its above-average animation and some lighthearted scenes here and there to soften the mood.