Haikara-san ga Tooru

Set in the 1920s, Haikara-san ga Tooru is the story of the high-spirited tomboy Benio and her relationship with a handsome half-German soldier named Shinobu. Benio is a very outgoing and athletic girl with firm ideas about being able to live her life as she wants to. When she first meets Shinobu, she dislikes him intensely, even though he manages to help her out of a series of embarrassing mishaps. She is therefore surprised when she finds out that she has been forced into an arranged marriage and that her husband-to-be is none other than Shinobu! The story then has many twists and turns, as Shinobu has to fight in the war, Benio has to wrangle with the idea of getting married, and getting along with her future in-laws and employer. Meanwhile, the great Kanto earthquake looms in the future...

Hanamura, Benio Main

Yokozawa, Keiko Japanese

Ijuuin, Shinobu Main

Mori, Katsuji Japanese

Aoe, Tousei Supporting

Inoue, Makio Japanese

Fujieda, Ranmaru Supporting

Sugiyama, Kazuko Japanese

Ushigorou Supporting

Masuoka, Hiroshi Japanese

English Teacher Supporting

Mizutori, Tetsuo Japanese

Ohikizuri-san Supporting

Yoshida, Rihoko Japanese

Primadonna Supporting

Matsukane, Yoneko Japanese

Female Teacher Supporting

Ootori, Yoshino Japanese

Shuran, Douji Supporting

Kimotsuki, Kaneta Japanese

Yokota, Kazuyoshi Director, Episode Director

Szczepanski, Vincent Script

Takagaki, Kouzou Storyboard

Yoshida, Hiroshi Storyboard

Reviews

Feb 22, 2023

Panda_Roll

Recommended

I watched this anime growing up in the 90s. I might be a bit bias since I watched the Arabic Dub of it not the sub.
Haikara-san go Tooru was known as Benio in the arabic Dub and as "here comes miss modern" in Japanese.


Plot = 9/10

In 1920 the young Benio has an embarrassing encounter with the VERY handsome army lieutenant Shinobu Ijuin. Between that, her classmate whispering in her ear about being a "modern woman" and her father announcing that he arranged her marriage to this stranger and that she must leave her home to leave with him... well she rebelled ofcourse.

The entire plot ... is about the clash of the old ways and the new with Benio's fiery personality reflecting it. The uncertain times that japan was going through and how to adapt as well as how the role women played changed during that time period. It weakens near the end of the show as the war and it's aftermath roll in though.

Characters = 8/10

There is nothing new here. The characters are very stereotyped for Shoujo manga (which this is based on). They are however true to type and act according to it.
Benio is the standout, although fiery and extroverted tomboy her youth makes her mailable and easily influenced by those around her.
The side characters all have their classic parts. The childhood friend that loves her but it's one-sided. The elegant classmate that she is admires. The... servant that treats her like a mafia boss???
Even within their established roles they all have their own personalities and motives which keeps things interesting.
The only that doesn't is Ijuin, the love interest. His role is to look pretty... that's about it. Even then the anime dives into his background to explain why he's like that with little character moments throughout that endear him to the viewer.

Animation and art = 8/10

This was made in the late 70s and it shows. Animation is a bit choppy at times however the style and character designs are distinct and very expressive.

Music and sound = ???/10

Again I watched the arabic dub. the theme song was literally "Benio, Benio, how cute she is. Everyone that meets her is happy!" Repeat till the credits end...

Overall = 8/10

This show is such an under appreciated gem and deserves more recognition as a classic. The animation is dated but still charming.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Sep 14, 2021

mathemagican

Recommended

If I ever took on a personal anime translation project, it would the absolute diamond in the rough, Haikara san ga Tooru はいからさんが通る. This show takes a popular showa manga in the rom com genre set in the Taisho era of Japan, and brings it to life in the way only anime can deliver. These characters evolved from seemingly flat comedy tropes into people who I constantly think about, months after finishing the show. This show succeeds as an adaptation by bringing a far more melancholic and ethereal ending to a typical "true love finds a way" narrative. Haikara san ga ... Tooru has a message about loss and morning which is hard to find even amongst the sea of anime released in more recent decades, and very few people in the west have ever heard of this show, a real shame, as I see it.

It's perhaps best to address the short comings of this show up front: If you dont particularly enjoy slapstick showa comedy, seen in shows such as osomatsu kun, tensai bakabon, or Urusei Yatsura, you may want to temper some of your expectations. I found it charming, funny, and found myself smiling and chuckling along the way. This was made long before the era of Otaku media, afterall, and so there is an element of the writing being a product of the time and culture. This extends to the art, from the backgrounds to the character designs, which may be less detailed and more stylized than the modern anime fan may be used to. Art evolves over time, after all. I found these aspects to be quite appealing, myself.

With that said, I will readdress the art as a strong positive, as the color work and the framing finds strength in how it communicates the emotional movement and themes of the show with particular poise. This aspect, particularly, improves greatly through the shows run time, with a specific scene around episode 30 coming to mind as a strong point. The visual language of Haikara speaks to the viewer in a visceral way.

The show diverges from the manga at a certain point, due to the abrupt cancellation of the show's place on television, but the anime take on the ending morphs the story and its themes into something amazing. Where the manga holds that true love can always find a way, the anime comments on the cycle of love from beginning to end, and that message resonated with me in a lasting way. The staff were able to deliver on something special as only a well considered adaptation can.

Finally, i think one of the most interesting aspects of Haikara is the way in which it engages with gender norms (at least as understood from a western perspective. I understand Japanese, but I am still a westerner after all). This theme is explored in a number of directions from a number of different characters, from Benio's masculine take on femininity to Ranmaru's feminine take on masculinity. There is certainly much more depth to this, but i will leave this note of the review here. I found this commentary to greatly enhance the core narrative and its themes, with a simple message: people are people, and they exist in society. People's relationship to societal expectation is, in the end, fluid and ever changing.

That Haikara san ga Tooru is not translated for the wider anime audience is quite honestly, a great shame, and I hope we as a community can correct that in the near future. If you understand Japanese, I highly recommend this show.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Aug 3, 2024

Zigizmund

Mixed Feelings

Haikara-san ga Tooru — this is not just an interesting story, but also a sincere and touching drama filled with love, humor and struggle for one's own ideals. Due to its originality and atypical heroine for the genre, this anime deserves special attention from both fans of the shojo genre and those who love good drama and historical context.

This is an old and very atypical animation work in the shojo genre, which impressed the audience with its unique heroine and the vibrant atmosphere of the Taisho era. At first glance, this anime may make you expect the typical love twists and turns and sweet moments ... peculiar to the shojo genre, but it demonstrates much more, thanks to its rich characters and elaborate historical background.

The main character, Benio Hanamura, is the embodiment of the Japanese "modan garu": She is brave, independent and defies established traditions. Since Banio's mother died when she was still a baby, her father was engaged in her upbringing, which significantly influenced the formation of the girl's character. Benio is the personification of a headstrong and audacious nature, which is considered atypical for most of the heroines of shojo anime. She wears Western dresses, drinks sake, does kendo and loves adventures.

Each character in the anime complements the unique atmosphere and depth of the narrative. For example, Benio's friend and love interest is officer Shinobu Izumizo, who, despite his noble birth and military discipline, respects the freedom and determination of the main character. This one unfolds into a controversial story that the viewer likes, where old traditions and a new, rapidly changing time collide.

Anime gives you a unique opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of the Taisho era, watching the bright and colorful characters and their experiences. Each episode opens up new facets of Japanese culture and traditions, showing how the characters adapt to changes and preserve their identity.

It should be noted that animation, despite its expressiveness and unique style, is partially outdated and may seem somewhat rude to a modern viewer. Nevertheless, the drawing style perfectly conveys the spirit of the time and gives the series a special charm, creating a unique atmosphere of the era. The classic approach to the design of characters and backgrounds makes anime a real retro gem that is worth watching for all true connoisseurs of the genre.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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70s-90s shoujo anime ✧

by emilyluna

49 Entries · 19 Restacks

classic/retro shoujo

by grrrlsrevolution

50 Entries · 172 Restacks

old shoujo animes

by Kaiortea

11 Entries · 6 Restacks

	Is anyone planning on subbing this ? Rozalthiric - Jun 3, 2017	14 replies	by ApacheSnow69 »» Dec 13, 2024 2:29 PM
	Poll: Haikara-san ga Tooru Episode 10 Discussion LastLuminescence - Oct 31, 2024	0 replies	by LastLuminescence »» Oct 31, 2024 11:22 PM
	Where can i watch this? hrpj234 - Oct 9, 2021	11 replies	by melanpon »» Oct 9, 2023 5:37 PM
	Poll: Haikara-san ga Tooru Episode 3 Discussion Daviljoe193 - Jan 13, 2023	0 replies	by Daviljoe193 »» Jan 13, 2023 4:11 PM
	Poll: Haikara-san ga Tooru Episode 2 Discussion T3chol3gTr3ndi - Sep 9, 2022	1 replies	by Daviljoe193 »» Jan 13, 2023 2:59 PM