Kanojo, Okarishimasu (Rent-a-Girlfriend)

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Alternative Titles

English: Rent-a-Girlfriend

Synonyms: I'd like to Borrow a Girlfriend, Kanokari

Japanese: 彼女、お借りします

Information

Type: TV

Episodes: 12

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Jul 11, 2020 to Sep 26, 2020

Premiered: Summer 2020

Broadcast: Saturdays at 01:25 (JST)

Producers: Mainichi Broadcasting System, Kodansha, DMM pictures, DMM Music

Licensors: None found, add some

Studios: TMS Entertainment

Source: Manga

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen

Duration: 24 min. per ep.

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 7.38¹ (scored by 207,607 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #1991²

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

Popularity: #330

Members: 391,160

Favorites: 4,896

7.38

Ranked #1991Popularity #330Members 391,160

Summer 2020TVTMS Entertainment

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Episodes: /12

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Synopsis

Kazuya Kinoshita is a 20-year-old college student who has a wonderful girlfriend: the bright and sunny Mami Nanami. But suddenly, he doesn't. Without warning, Mami breaks up with him, leaving him utterly heartbroken and lonely. Seeking to soothe the pain, he hires a rental girlfriend through an online app. His partner is Chizuru Mizuhara, who through her unparalleled beauty and cute demeanor, manages to gain Kazuya's affection.

But after reading similar experiences other customers had had with Chizuru, Kazuya believes her warm smile and caring personality were all just an act to toy with his heart, and he rates her poorly. Aggravated, Chizuru lambastes him for his shameless hypocrisy, revealing her true pert and hot-tempered self. This one-sided exchange is cut short, however, when Kazuya finds out that his grandmother has collapsed.

They dash toward the hospital and find Kazuya's grandmother already in good condition. Baffled by Chizuru's presence, she asks who this girl might be. On impulse, Kazuya promptly declares that they are lovers, forcing Chizuru to play the part. But with Kazuya still hung up on his previous relationship with Mami, how long can this difficult client and reluctant rental girlfriend keep up their act?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Related Anime

Adaptation:	Kanojo, Okarishimasu
Other:	Kanojo, Okarishimasu Petit
Sequel:	Kanojo, Okarishimasu 2nd Season

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Ichinose, Chizuru

Main

Amamiya, Sora
Japanese

Kinoshita, Kazuya

Main

Horie, Shun
Japanese

Nanami, Mami

Supporting

Yuuki, Aoi
Japanese

Sakurasawa, Sumi

Supporting

Takahashi, Rie
Japanese

Sarashina, Ruka

Supporting

Touyama, Nao
Japanese

Kibe, Yoshiaki

Supporting

Akasaka, Masayuki
Japanese

Kinoshita, Nagomi

Supporting

Nozawa, Yukari
Japanese

Ichinose, Sayuri

Supporting

Sadaoka, Sayuri
Japanese

Kuribayashi, Shun

Supporting

Kajiwara, Gakuto
Japanese

Flea Market Saleswoman

Supporting

Kowaka, Wakana
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Koga, Kazuomi

Director

Takakuwa, Hajime

Sound Director

Yamada, Taku

Episode Director

the peggies

Theme Song Performance

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Opening Theme

"Centimeter (センチメートル)" by the peggies

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Ending Theme

#1: "Centimeter (センチメートル)" by the peggies (ep 1, 12)
#2: "Kokuhaku Bungee Jump (告白バンジージャンプ)" by halca (eps 2-6, 8-11)
#3: "First Drop" by halca (ep 7)

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Reviews

Sep 25, 2020

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 2

Stark700 (All reviews)

608 people found this review helpful

If there’s one anime character this year that I want to punch, one character that I want to throw off a bridge, or one character that I simply want to say ‘you’re pathetic’ to their face, it would be Kazuya Kinoshita.

Imagine living in your neighborhood and all of a certain, there’s a hot girl living right next door to you. What’s the first thing you’d say to her? For Kazuya, his first conversation with Chizuru Mizuhara doesn’t exactly go his way. He’s far from an alpha male and his social experience is far from his set of skills. In fact, his girlfriend Mami even dumped him from the very first episode. Not more than 10 minutes into the show, Kazuya is single again and he got so desperate that he decided to rent a girlfriend. Talk about being pathetic.

You’re probably asking yourself if Kazuya is worth the time watching at all judging from the first few minutes of the very first episode. If you want to save the time, do yourself a favor and drop the anime altogether. If you’re a curious animal, then Kanojo, Okarishimasu will offer the type of guilty pleasure experience of following the life of Kazuya. It doesn’t take a genius to see that he is a thirsty guy. Even his friends falls into this category with their daydream fantasies. Unfortunately, Kazuya is the biggest culprit of being a pervert. It seems the show can’t go on without a single episode of him dreaming up some perverted fantasy, whether it’s between him or other individuals with some pretty girl. Oh and Kazuya represents the insecurity of a manchild. I could say this more than once because throughout the show, he suffers from a deep inferiority complex. When comparing himself to the girls, they seem way out of his league. He is so insecure that he had to resort to blackmail to impress his friends and grandmother.

Now, watching Mizuhara is a different story. She’s the complete opposite of Kazuya, or at least on the surface. Representing the perfect female role model, she’s beautiful, intelligent, and polite with great manners. But that’s just the tip of iceberg. Deep down, Mizuhara is shown to be a short tempered girl who seems to also be insecure about her own life. I’m not going to lie, seeing Mizuhara’s 180 degree personality change is satisfying. The words she says to Kazuya’s face after her broken façade is exactly what I’d say to him. Their relationship throughout the show is built on lies. It gets to the point where they resort to lying to their families in order to make them happy. In reality, it’s easy to see why since they made their choices. But how long can it go on? Will they take these lies to their graves?

Storytelling also seems to coincide with fate. Kazuya’s meeting with Mizuhara is just one example but later on, he also encounters Ruka, another rental girlfriend. This brings up complicated manners when she decides to be Kazuya’s girlfriend. She even knows the truth about Mizuhara being a fake and it complicates the story altogether. Kazuya himself realizes the hole he dug himself into and has little choice than to comply with Ruka’s wishes. The irony here is that Kazuya himself gets blackmailed after he blackmailed Mizuhara. Kazuya and Chizuru’s relationship also gets more complicated as it takes on a toll for both characters. At first, it’s somewhat easy to feel sympathetic for either of them. But in truth, there should be no pity. They made their choices on their own. No one really forced them to be in a fake relationship. They chose to make their decisions and the consequences of their actions is their own responsibility. That’s some real life drama that can be applied to any relationship. Only here, it just makes both characters look weak and vulnerable.

It’s rather comedic the show is tagged with romance. Of course, the catch is that the romance in this anime is fake built on deception since the first episode. Most characters don’t realize this between Kazuya and Chizuru. Ruka’s entry into the story also adds herself as a rival. Mami, Kazuya’s ex-girlfriend, also shows that she is more manipulative than meets the eye. As such, the series injects many scenes of misunderstandings. Some of these are close calls where Kazuya and Chizuru’s secret almost ends being exposed to public. It’s beyond pathetic to watch some of these scenes although such circumstances naturally fits with this anime’s themes. Still, I do want to admire the show’s integrity to keep up with its main premise. Kazuya and Chizuru represents how two very different individuals manage to come together. They are so different that they’re almost like different species. I’m not going to lie, watching this pair’s strange character chemistry sometimes can be mildly entertaining. And if anything else, Kazuya sometimes makes me laugh unintentionally for just being Kazuya.

Despite the show’s degenerate cast of characters, the artwork style is vibrant with energy. Almost every female character makes the male population turn their heads with their beauty. Mizuhara is the biggest example as she represents the iconic girlfriend, someone who you’d want to show off like a trophy wife. With a slim figure, lavish long hair, and charming smile, Mizuhara serves as the poster girl of the show. Similarly, Mami, Ruka, and Sumi all have their own feminine characteristics that is easily alluring. But if we talk about Kazuya, he just looks like your average guy with his pathetic little smirk and endless fantasies. When applying to the voice acting, I also do applaud Mizuhara’s VA during her personality changes. It’s not always easy to play a character this way but it is convincing. And if we talk about Mami, then she represents the bitch you won’t know what hit you before it’s too late.

If every relationship was built on a lie like Kazuya and Mizuhara, then we would be living in a world of illusions. I hope that’s not the case for you if you’re in a relationship. Fake relationships almost always have its consequences and this anime shows why. Discarding the real life comparisons, this anime itself is one that’s is deceptive to the core. Romance? Forget that because we’re not getting a real storyteller. Every episode makes me despise the main protagonist and he doesn’t get any better. If anything else, this anime taught me not to be like Kazuya.

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Sep 25, 2020

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 4

DannyTheDonkey (All reviews)

389 people found this review helpful

Despite its somewhat Kooky Premise, Kano Kari is an anime that we already seen a number of times before: the story of the budding and slowly progressing harem series between sad sack losers surrounded by ideal female typecast, with all the obligatory comedy and erotic scene that is only very rarely funny that we've come to expect of such a story.

Things are bizarre and uncomfortable from the start. Most of it comes down the plot being mostly coincidence based and so stupid; where everything is just small world with Kazuya and his rental girlfriend Chizuru; from enrolled in the same campus, to living in the same apartment even had each grandma rest in the same hospital. This was actually quite tolerable if this is the only plot points because something has to be made in order to make a story, but no the whole thing then just getting worse with Kazuya and Chizuru keeps lying and they keep digging themselves a deeper and deeper hole. In a sense the story actually could have ended within an episode if one of these couples just be honest, all of this plot event resulting a very frustrating start.

There are hiccups Kano Kari has within its formula. While the rental family/person thing is does actually exist in japan, the premise is a bit too basic for its own good. The anime is massively dull because of it. The whole Rental Girlfriend thing in this anime was practically accessible to everyone yet none of the characters were even had ever thinking that some loser guy dating ideal girl maybe even use the feature of rental girlfriend. There are some scene where the characters are using google for searching the identity one of the rental girlfriend and It was finded rather quickly isn’t that kinda degrading and gonna put some moral pressure for the rental girlfriend herself ? what if they family had seen it?, it was also practically indecipherable whether or not this intentional but at the beginning of the series Chizuru was trying to hide her identity by wearing glasses ala Clark Kent in the campus, but as the series goes on and more rental girlfriend has introduced none of them are trying to hide their identity.

Speaking of the characters, they are the series weakest point, Usually, the male lead has some redeemable qualities and we supposed imagined ourself to be at his shoes or at least being able rooted him, however I failed to do this with Kazuya; He’s dumb, shallow, and a proven liar! He’s also getting despaired on an ex-girlfriend that he only dated for a month. He’s a horn ball who like a middle school kid who just discovered erections for the first time, so he goes around popping boners as soon as a girl shows even an inch of her bare skin. Even goes as far as stalking a girl he doesn’t have any relationship with. He's very very unpleasant anime characters I've seen ti date.

The four major heroine has diverse cast of personality but still as basic as it can get. We got the typical female lead in Chizuru who starts out hating the main character, but she slowly develops feelings for him over the course of the story, there’s the ex-girlfriend Mami whose big pride makes her willing go extreme and dirty making her somewhat the antagonist of the series, there’s also Ruka the ‘imoouto’ type who’s dating Kazuya simply because her heart rates goes up every time she’s with him then you got quiet and shy type of female in Sumi who only appears at the last stage of the series. I should also add that these female character’s seiyuu has quite an extensive resume and indeed I obviously doesn’t have anything against in this sound department. OP was decent but I always skip the ED because I don’t see the appeal of it.

One of the noticeable things of the show it’s the art; there’s lots of contrasting colour throughout the majority of the series whether it is on the background, lighting and sound text; making it bright and very colourful, but to me the best way to describe Kano Kari visuals is probably something akin to plastic flower in wrapping papers; it was pretty but it didn’t have any sort of meaning. It’s not about the show not looking technically impressive. visuals aren’t everything. But nevertheless, this is a visual medium. In a visual medium, the visuals become a part of the narrative. In Kano Kari however it’s nothing more than eye-candy.

Characters were designed to be as cute as ever, to be as closest as ideal female girlfriend as posibly imaginable, it’s memorable as it is but simply because the characters appeal rather than their depth and personality which is not a great characters handling. Credit given to the sense of fashion though, as I think Kano Kari is the most fashionable anime to date, the characters wear different clothes in every episode and all of the clothes, from the everyday clothes, to winter clothes and swimsuit was alright.

Kano Kari has a kooky concept with a basic execution and a tendency to wear its inspirations on its sleeve, it is enjoyable for what it is, but there are a lot of thing that is also enjoyable. This is just harem popcorn entertainment. It doesn’t really take any unexpected turns, but seeing how far these characters are willing to go to screw up their lives to is very frustrating in itself, particularly in the earlier episode. If you have ever had trouble making friends, feel socially awkward in the slightest, or have a terrible love life, this is the kind of anime that is laughing at you.

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Sep 25, 2020

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 5

Marinate1016 (All reviews)

168 people found this review helpful

Look, I like a lot stuff that most people would consider trash. Some of the many 10s I've given out have gone to series that most of MAL, reddit and the rest of the anime community brushed off as bad. I'm easy to please. So when something doesn't please me, it's gotta be subterranean level garbage. That's what KanoKari is. At least in this first season, I've not read the manga so I can't comment on the MC's eventual development blah blah. What I can comment on is the absolute dumpster fire of a first season that this show got. The only. And I mean read more

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Sep 25, 2020

12 of 12 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 3

Watame (All reviews)

164 people found this review helpful

Japan is weird. You can rent dads, mothers, children, even a girlfriend. When Kazuya's love rejects him, he is just as desperate to try the service. Good for him, the girlfriend he hires is very cute, but he wants to hide his relationship from his acquaintances. Too bad, his new girlfriend goes to his university, their grandmothers are good friends, and they are neighbors. Kazuya also finds out that his new girlfriend is not as sweet as in the real life. How will their romance turn out?

Rent A Girlfriend has been on my radar for a while, since the storyline alone was enough to make me interested. Maybe it is because of the fact that there is a grain of uniqueness in the storyline of this anime, maybe I am just a sucker for romantic comedies, maybe both. Either way, it can either be a masterpiece, or I will enjoy seeing it burn. Anyways it does not matter. What matters is that Rent A Girlfriend has an okay storyline and with, pay attention to what I am about to say, minimal effort you can make an eye candy out of this series.

Story wise, it is quite good. Think for a second, do you know any other series that use the idea of rental girlfriends? By the way, it is a thing in Japan, where you can even rent a mother, who will cook for you and you will discuss your life problems with her. Here, however, the anime uses the idea of renting a girlfriend and there is such a service in Japan, too; you choose a girl to your liking, pay for her service, agree to pay for drinks, meals and transportation and it will cost you from 5, 000 to 8, 000 yen an hour. Indeed, all you can hope for will be a kiss.

However, all the problems begin the moment you take a closer look at the characters. The main and only problem of this anime is Kazuya, who is also called Kazu-kun by his ex, but I call him Kuzu-kun, so do not be surprised. Kuzu breaks up with his girlfriend, because of the fact, well, he is not the man Mami, his girlfriend, has been looking for. But, please, wait a little bit, since all the fun is about to begin and I am going to explain you the reason for calling him Kuzu, instead of Kazu. Having lost his girlfriend, Kuzu-kun starts to fantasize how his ex-girlfriend is having sexual relation with her new boyfriend. However, from all the feelings that any normal human being would have, for example: rage, grievance, indifference, what he feels is sexual arousal; you do know how such people are called, do not you? That is Kuzu, that is the person that does not change at all, a person that does not want to change. He claims that his family is poor, yet he is ready to spend the money of his parents to rent a girlfriend. Of course, I can make this list endless, but I do not see it needed.

What is funny about it, however, is the fact that Kazuya’s friends make more sense that he does and they have quite interesting personalities, when they are only supporting characters. Hell! Even Mami, who is, let us say, not the best girlfriend to have, makes more sense than Kazuya. Finally, the last character for me to touch upon is the rental girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara, who is the only well-written character in the whole series and with every episode you only start to respect her more and more.

All in all, this is the anime that you should watch. For boys, this is a perfect example of who you should never be in a relationship with, for girls it might also be an example of what boys you should never date. However, if you are pressed for time and are looking for a somewhat good romantic comedy, I would not recommend you to waste even a second of your free time on Rent A Girlfriend. In the end, it is for you to decide.

P.S. I apologize to all Kazuya that are reading and will read this review. I am sure that you are much better than the Kazuya from this series, hence it has nothing to do with you.

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Recent News

'Kanojo, Okarishimasu' Receives Second Season

The 12th and final episode of the Kanojo, Okarishimasu (Rent-a-Girlfriend) anime series ended with a second season announcement on Saturday. Synopsis Dumped by his ...read more

Sep 25, 2020 10:27 AM by Vindstot | Discuss (80 comments)

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	Poll: Kanojo, Okarishimasu Episode 3 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) Syureria - Jul 24, 2020	225 replies	by TheFireNinja »» Yesterday, 8:28 PM
	Why does Mami have more favourites than Chizuru? Mehcky-Man - Dec 23, 2020	27 replies	by C-T-N »» Jan 19, 8:00 AM