Category: TV Genre:Drama, School Life Year: 2006 Studio: Toei Animation
A junior high school student Yamada Kyo and an elementary school student Yamada Asu are sisters, and they are living alone. Their father ran away leaving gambling debt, and the mother has already died. In spite of this unhappiness, they don’t gloom but they are living brightly and happily.
Because of the law changed a few years ago, Kyo can work now although she is still in junior high school. She works as a paperboy or a tutor to support the family. On the other hand, Asu do housekeeping jobs such as doing the meal, cleaning the room, and even handling the household finances to help her elder sister. There are kind people around them, such as the landlord or a novelist Saegusa, and they watch over the sisters gently.
They experience a lot of troubles and hard times, but the happiest thing for them is that they are nearby.
This is a heartwarming story drawing daily events of Kyo and Asu living in a small room of a 40-year-old apartment whose rent is 26,000 yen a month.
Feb 10 2008 09:06 AM Another late addition by me. Yup, this is a great series, one of the best I have seen so far. The sisters are sometimes almost sickeningly sweet with each other, but with their endearing characters they still manage to pull it off nicely without going overboard. I also like the Echigoya sisters a lot, who love each other a lot as well but show it in a different way. I was moved to tears by the end of the last episode, which is saying something about the impact this show had on me. The OP is also lovely.
I agree about wanting more, but it's quite clear that this is all we get. It's a shame, but I guess this is not commercially viable material.
Sep 2 2007 06:59 PM I know im digging up old corpses with this but had to say it
Definitely one of the best anime out there, how they manage to pack so much emotion and goodness into 1 episode is crazy. This is one of the few anime series i wouldn't hesitate to let my kids watch.
I've been in their situation too, ive even been homeless before when i was a kid, so i know exactly what they are talking about sometimes lol
Aug 11 2006 11:50 AM Heh, me too. Shopping at the dollar stores and STILL having to pick and choose... racing for the sales... or worse, just looking at the ads and thinking, "Even on sale, I can't..." Yep. Been dere, done dat.
I think that's part of what's so endearing about the show. It may seem a little extreme to a lot of folks, but for those of us who have been there... it's real... and it's heartening to see (even if they're animated) people who can take heart in each other even when the material supplies are so scarce.
Aug 10 2006 06:51 AM You know what the sad thing is? I was soo poor and cheap for the longest time that all those things in the intermission splash screens i used to do! The adding up the money? Well I had a clicker thingy that i could add up my purchases before i bought em so i would not over spend. And the little bars of soap to the big one? Shave em up with a knife add water, let em soften then form em in a washcloth. Yes I was in the lower dregs of society... I tore paper towles in half, washed dishes by hand, used as little hot water as possible. Turned EVERYTHING off that i could. replaced all my incandescent bulbs with florescent, diabled the porch light, put saran warp type film over the winders. Yeah, cheap to the max.
Aug 6 2006 10:10 PM I just started on this series... episode 2 of the 4 currently fansubbed... and I think the cuteness may be the death of me yet, heh!
Honestly, I agree... this is a very heart-warming series, portrayed with a childish innocence but an adult depth of awareness. I've recommended it to a friend of mine who dotes on her 19-yrs-younger sister... if they were a bit closer in age, I'd picture them to have this kind of relationship!
Jul 22 2006 11:25 PM Pretty good series....its quite entertaining and refreshing to watch a series like that...am going to stick with this anime...yep I like it...
Jul 22 2006 05:57 PM Watching a seris like this is truly heartwarming. With dynamic charecters and flowing storylines, you have a sense of realism while the lighthearted humor does not jar with the oulook of the series.
In paticualr i really enjoy how the BG art is done. A kinda real world watercolor look, wich is sustained throuought the series so far. The Comeny does not make excessive use of SD charecters or the over-the-top facial emotions.
If i were to compare it to anything KamiChu is the fiarst to come to mind.
Plot Summary: The Yamada sisters, Kyo (15) and Asu (9), are students studying in secondary and primary schools respectively. Their mother has passed away while their father ran away after incurring debts due to gambling. Despite the difficult circumstances, both of them decide to overcome the unhappiness and welcome their days with enthusiasm and pride. Fortunately, with the change in the law system several years ago, Kyo is able to study and simultaneously, take up temporary jobs (such as distributing newspapers and tutoring) so as to support the family and make ends meet. On the other hand, Asu will take charge of household chores, prepare meals and manage the financials to assist her older sister. Surrounding them are also good and kind neighbours such as the novelist, Saegusa-san, and the aunt at the public bath who will watch over them. Although life is difficult and at times painful, the sisters are happy to have each other.
I want more!! 
