Maison Ikkoku

Maison Ikkoku is based on a manga series by Rumiko Takahashi, and is the only anime series based on one of her manga series where the ending corresponds with the manga ending. The anime ran for ninety-six episodes, which aired on Fuji TV from March 26, 1986 to March 2, 1988. Maison Ikkoku was produced by Studio Deen, and directed by Kazuo Yamazaki. On February 6, 1988, the Maison Ikkoku film, The Final Chapter, was released; however, it was produced by Ajia-do Animation Works, and was directed by Tomomi Mochizuki. There were also three OVA series produced, and all three of these were produced by Kitty Films: Through the Passing Seasons (released on September 25, 1988), Shipwrecked on Ikkoku Island (released on November 17, 1990), and Prelude: When the Cherry Blossoms Return in the Spring (released on June 25, 1992). Viz Media holds the distribution license for Maison Ikkoku in the United States.

A 22-year-old widow named Kyoko Otonashi becomes the new manager for a broken-down boarding house called Maison Ikkoku. She is a sweet and polite woman, but she also has a frightening side that emerges when she’s jealous or has to deal with her parents. She has a dog named Soichiro, whom she has named after her late husband. Yusaku Godai is a 20-year-old ronin student and resident of Maison Ikkoku, who is studying for his college entrance exams after failing in the first year. He’s a nice and handsome guy, but he can also be rather indecisive. Yusaku falls in love with Kyoko at first sight, but he has trouble telling her how she feels.

The other tenants of Maison Ikkoku are a thorn in Yusaku’s side, and tend to cause misunderstandings between Kyoko and Yusaku. Yotsuya is Yusaku’s mysterious neighbor, who is usually dressed in a business suit; however, no one knows what he does outside of Maison Ikkoku. Yotsuya enjoys mooching off of others, likes peeping on Akemi, and tormenting Yusaku. Akemi Roppongi is a bar hostess at Cha-Cha Maru. Between working the late-night shift and spending the rest of her night drinking, she often has a sleepy look on her face. Like Yotsuya, she also enjoys tormenting Yusaku.

Hanae Ichinose is a short, middle-aged woman, who also seems to spend quite a bit of her time drinking. She’s a gossip, and enjoys helping the tenants torment Yusaku. Her son, Kentaro Ichinose, is a bratty grade schooler. However, he is rather fond of Kyoko, because he sees her as the only other sane person (besides himself, of course).

Kyoko joins a women’s tennis team, and starts taking lessons from her coach, the handsome Shun Mitaka. He’s wealthy and educated, and works as a ladies’ tennis coach because of a love he has for tennis. Shun, who has a reputation as a womanizer, begins courting Kyoko. Kyoko generally likes Shun, but sometimes she feels pressured by him about a relationship. Kyoko finds herself torn between Yusaku and Shun.

Maison Ikkoku is an anime with elements that are more appropriate for an older teen and adult audience. Personally, I would recommend this anime to viewers sixteen or seventeen years of age and older.