"Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku" details the struggles of the Miyakawa sisters as they battle one of history's most famous, most heart wrenching social problems: poverty. Cruel, heartless poverty. The sisters Hinata and Hikage live a life filled with unflattering things, like tofu substituted meat, skim milk, skim milk, and convenience store dinners. This show is a glimpse at sections of their life, filling the viewers with a sense of overwhelming pity.
For Hikage, the younger sister, she is an endearing elementary school student who puts up with her sister's wasteful spending, using precious dollars on unneeded things like light novels with ridiculously long titles and promotional items. Her cries of dissatisfaction are drowned out by the sounds of her growling stomach, giving her the unpleasant reminder that another day of meatless dinner awaits her. She goes to school, where she lives a relatively normal elementary school life, where her dear friends offer a respite to the battlefields of the supermarket. Her teacher, Kirito-sensei, being the sporting guy he is, attempts to help Hikage, as long as it has nothing to do with financial problems. However, the ever wise Hikage denies his advice, citing "love problems." This Kirito-sensei seems nowhere near as successful with women as his alternate world counterpart is.
Hikage's sister, Hinata, works in a book store to rake in meager allowances to sustain both herself and her sister. She is caring, but her impulsive buying habits are in direct confrontation with her family's dire financial situation. Seeing Hikage in distress upsets her however, and always tries to make it up to her, offering enticing things like sharing her limited edition goods, and sweet words to make her forget her growling stomach.
The ending song is tragically cut short for many of the episodes, given the studio's dire financial situation. The Miyakawa sisters sing their hearts out about their lone struggles, but alas, funding is little and the song cannot be complete...until near the end! The song is a cry for help to viewers, detailing their shambled lives, citing the delicious foods they want to eat and the poor substitutes they have instead. Like tofu steaks and skim milk. A given rule to people is to avoid skim milk, but in the most desperate of situations, rules are only "guidelines." Hearing the full song tugs at those heart strings alright.
"Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku" chronicles short adventures of the Miyakawa sisters, showing their heroic inner fighting spirits and absolute refusal to give up in the face of overwhelming odds. It is a tale worthy of your viewing and sympathies. Struggle along with the sisters as they battle a foe all too familiar to people: empty wallets and empty stomachs.
Let Hikage's shining, innocent face be a reminder of the important things in life. Like bacon. And steak.
