Recent PostsHis and Her Circumstances
Kare Kano manga, volume 1 (English version)
彼氏彼女の事情
(Kareshi Kanojo no Jijō)
Genre
Comedy-drama, Romance
Manga
Author
Masami Tsuda
Other publishers:
MnC
Glénat
Carlsen Verlag
Panini Comics
Grupo Editorial Vid
Tonkam
Dynit
Jonesky
Demographic
Shōjo
Magazine
LaLa Magazine
Daisuki
Magnolia
Original run
December 1995 – April 2005
Volumes
21
TV anime
Director
Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki
Studio
Gainax
Other networks:
ABS-CBN , Studio 23 , Hero TV
K3
MTV Italia
Anime Selects, FUNimation Channel
Original run
October 2, 1998 – March 23, 1999
Episodes
26
His and Her Circumstances (彼氏彼女の事情, Kareshi Kanojo no Jijō?), commonly abbreviated Kare Kano (カレカノ, Kare Kano?), is a manga series by Masami Tsuda. It was published by Hakusensha in LaLa from 1995 to 2005 and collected in 21 bound volumes. It depicts the romance between “perfect” student Yukino Miyazawa and her academic rival Soichiro Arima, and the relationships of several of their friends.
The series was adapted as a 26-episode anime television series by Gainax, directed by Hideaki Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1998 to March 1999.
The manga is published in English by Tokyopop as Kare Kano. The anime is distributed in English by Right Stuf International as His and Her Circumstances, and sub-licensed by Enoki Films USA with the title Tales at North Hills High.
Contents
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Plot
The main character is Yukino Miyazawa, a Japanese high school freshman who is the envy of classmates for her good grades and immaculate appearance. However, this is a charade she maintains to win praise—in private, she is spoiled, stubborn, and a slob, and studies relentlessly instead of spending time with her sisters. On entering high school, she is knocked from her position at the top of the class by Soichiro Arima, a handsome young man whose very existence Yukino considers a threat to the praise on which she thrives, and she vows to destroy him. For his part, Soichiro is also living a facade, as he strives to be perfect in order to avoid turning “bad” like the parents who abandoned him. After some misunderstandings, they see through each other’s mask and fall in love. The series follows their relationship through high school and beyond as they learn how to trust each other, along the way also exploring the relationships of several of their friends.
The anime adaptation ends just before the school’s annual cultural festival, in volume 7 of the manga. The manga goes on to cover the festival (including a play written by Yukino’s friend Aya and performed by Yukino and friends), the revelation of the Arima family’s secrets, and the backstories of many other characters. The final chapter ends Yukino and Soichiro in their 30s, the same age as Yukino’s parents at the start.
Characters
Main article: List of Kare Kano characters
The main characters are high school students Yukino Miyazawa and Soichiro Arima.
Yukino Miyazawa (宮沢 雪野, Miyazawa Yukino?) Voiced by: Atsuko Enomoto (Japanese), Veronica Taylor (English)
Smart, attractive, athletic, and talented, Yukino Miyazawa had made herself to appear to be the model student. Her classmates admire her, often asking her for help and comparing her to models. Her “perfect” exterior is a façade, however, one maintained solely to receive praise from others. She calls herself a “queen of vanity,” having been that way her parents would praise her as a child for the slightest actions. She is described by Newtype USA as the “anti-Girl Next Door” for her perfection and deceitfulness.
While working so hard for praise, Yukino never realized that she had no real friends and was considered by her peers as a semi-approachable “guest.” This all changes when Yukino meets Soichiro Arima, who beats her high school entrance exam score, and is even more popular and athletic than she. Yukino envies her new rival and struggles to top his grades. When Soichiro confesses that he has a crush on her, she rejects him and laughs about it afterwards, though her observant sister Kano points out that her rivalry with him comes from admiration. More confident of her ability to top Soichiro, Yukino lets her guard down and Soichiro discovers her real self as a selfish slob at home. He uses this to blackmail her as a way to spend more time with her. After discovering that Soichiro also maintains a model-student façade for his own reasons, they become good friends and then fall in love. Yukino resolves to abandon her fake ways and become true to herself, though she initially has trouble breaking of her lifelong habit of pretend-perfection. Eventually, she is able to open her true self to others and earns real friends beyond Soichiro.
Soichiro Arima (有馬 総一郎 , Arima Sōichirō?) Voiced by: Chihiro Suzuki (Japanese), Christopher Nicholas (English)
Smart, attractive, athletic, and talented, Soichiro Arima is a model student who excels at kendo. He is at first smitten by Yukino, unaware that she secretly hated him and is trying to compete with him. After unwittingly discovering that Yukino is not the perfect young woman everyone thinks she is, Soichiro blackmails her into doing his student council work so he can spend more time with her. When Yukino finally revolts and learns that Soichiro, like her, is making an effort to “be perfect” for a reason, they become each other’s first true friend and eventually fall in love.
While Yukino is motivated by praise and vanity, Soichiro is trying to cover his “real” self, a self damaged by childhood trauma that he fears may be destructive. While Soichiro comes from a distinguished family of doctors, he was abandoned by his parents, who were the family’s disgrace, and raised by his uncle and aunt. Fearing that he may turn “bad” like his parents, he is always trying to hide behind a mask and constantly fights his own demons. As with Yukino, he feels more in touch with his true self as he falls in love, but along with love, he becomes increasingly jealous of Yukino’s friends, her activities, her life without him. When Yukino unknowingly hurts him, he becomes more jealous and afraid, and begins to wear another facade that he hopes will fool her and protect her from his “ugly” self.
Production
The anime was notable in being the first series produced by Gainax that was adapted from an existing manga. As with other anime directed by Hideaki Anno, the style is vivid, original, and at times unpredictable. Anno left the production partway through the series, and the last 10 episodes were directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki.
Many Japanese voice actors made their debut in TV anime with this series. This includes the actors for Yukino (Atsuko Enomoto), her sisters, Tsubasa, Tsubaki, Aya, Rika, and Soichiro.
Media
Manga
His and Her Circumstances was published in Japan by Hakusensha in LaLa from December 1995 to April 2005. The 101 chapters (called “Acts”) were collected in 21 bound volumes.
#
Japanese
English
Release date
ISBN
Release date
ISBN
1
1996-06-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12065-0
2003-01-21
ISBN 978-1-931514-79-8
Chapter list:
- Act 1: Her Circumstances
- Act 2: The Secret
- Act 3: His Circumstances
- Extra: The Tiger and the Chameleon: A Promise for One Week
2
1997-02-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12066-7
2003-03-04
ISBN 978-1-931514-80-4
Chapter list:
- Act 4: The Day I Fell in Love
- Act 5: School Maze
- Act 6: His Ambition
- Act 7: Crazy For You
3
1997-08-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12067-4
2003-05-06
ISBN 978-1-59182-058-1
Chapter list:
- Act 8: Rising Thunder Part 1
- Act 9: Rising Thunder Part 2
- Act 10 Rising Thunder Part 3
- Act 11: That Day, Yukino Was …
- Act 12: Fighting Woman Part 1
4
1997-12-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12068-1
2003-07-08
ISBN 978-1-59182-059-8
Chapter list:
- Act 13: Fighting Woman Part 2
- Act 14: Fighting Woman Part 3
- Act 15: Fighting Woman Part 4
- Act 16: At The End of the First Semester
- Extra: Meet Me Again Tomorrow in the Forest
5
1998-06-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12069-8
2003-09-09
ISBN 978-1-59182-180-9
Chapter list:
- Act 17: At the Beginning of Summer Break
- Act 18: Space
- Act 19: Western Boy, Eastern Girl
- Act 20: Telephone Line
- Act 21: From Here to Eternity Part 1
6
1998-10-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12070-4
2003-11-11
ISBN 978-1-59182-181-6
Chapter list:
- Act 22: From Here to Eternity Part 2
- Act 23: Absence
- Act 24: Love
- Act 25: Shinka (Prgress/Deepening)
- Act 26: On a Clear Day, I Can See Forever
7
1999-03-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12071-1
2004-01-06
ISBN 978-1-59182-472-5
Chapter list:
- Act 27: 14 Days: 1
- Act 28: 14 Days: Boy T
- Act 29: 14 Days: Tangled Threads
- Act 30: 14 Days: The Beginning
- Act 31: 14 Days: After School
- Act 32: 14 Days: Sunlight and Moonlight
8
1999-09-04
ISBN 978-4-592-12072-8
2004-03-02
ISBN 978-1-59182-473-2
Chapter list:
- Act 33: 14 Days: I Want To Know
- Act 34: 14 Days: The One I Love
- Act 35: 14 Days: Temperature 31°C
- Act 36: 14 Days: Hurricane
- Extra: The Raging King
9
2000-03-04
ISBN 978-4-592-12073-5
2004-05-04
ISBN 978-1-59182-474-9
Chapter list:
- Act 37: 14 Days: The Culture Festival Begins
- Act 38: The Culture Festival 1
- Act 39: The Culture Festival 2
- Act 40: The Culture Festival 3
- Act 41: The Culture Festival 4
- Act 42: The Wheels of Fate
10
2000-10-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12074-2
2004-07-06
ISBN 978-1-59182-475-6
Chapter list:
- Act 43: A Comfortable Room 1
- Act 44: A comfortable Room 2
- Act 45: Go Go Kyoto 1
- Act 46: Go Go Kyoto 2
- Act 47: Go Go Kyoto 3
- Extra: Act Zero
11
2001-07-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12075-9
2004-09-07
ISBN 978-1-59182-476-3
Chapter list:
- Act 48: Beautiful Days
- Act 49: Rain
- Act 50: Sing a Song
- Act 51: Live
- Act 52: Sleeping Beauty
- Act 53: Love
12
2001-10-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12076-6
2004-11-02
ISBN 978-1-59182-477-0
Chapter list:
- Act 54: Born
- Act 55: Yin and Yang
- Act 56: Tsubasa
- Act 57: You Light Up My Life
- Act 58: Rika’s Life
- Extra: Ushio-kun and Atsuya-kun
13
2002-05-02
ISBN 978-4-592-12077-3
2005-01-11
ISBN 978-1-59532-587-7
Chapter list:
- Act 59: And Then, Time Moved On
- Act 60: “1″
- Act 61: Perfect World
- Act 62: Footsteps
- Act 63: Away From You
14
2002-09-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12078-0
2005-03-08
ISBN 978-1-59532-588-4
Chapter list:
- Act 64: Broken
- Act 65: Preface
- Act 66: Crushed
- Act 67: Sudden
- Act 68: Pandora
15
2003-02-05
ISBN 978-4-592-12079-7
2005-05-10
ISBN 978-1-59532-589-1
Chapter list:
- Act 69: His Sonnet
- Act 70: The Sonnet of the Other Him
- Act 71: Her Sonnet
- Act 72: His and Her Sonnet
- Act 73: The End of the Night
16
2003-07-05
ISBN 978-4-592-17860-6
2005-07-12
ISBN 978-1-59532-590-7
Chapter list:
- Act 74: Days Passed in a Dream
- Act 75: Cycle
- Act 76: Path of Light
- Act 77: Mother
- Act 78: Bird That Flies Through the Darkness
17
2003-12-05
ISBN 978-4-592-17861-3
2005-09-06
ISBN 978-1-59532-591-4
Chapter list:
- Act 79: Prelude
- Act 80: Pianist
- Act 81: Concert
- Act 82: Tempest
- Act 83: A Boy and a Man
18
2004-05-01
ISBN 978-4-592-17862-0
2005-12-13
ISBN 978-1-59532-592-1
Chapter list:
- Act 84: La Vie en Rose
- Act 85: Cadenza
- Act 86: Nocturne
- Act 87: Game
- Act 88: The Way We Were
19
2004-10-05
ISBN 978-4-592-17863-7
2006-04-07
ISBN 978-1-59816-182-3
Chapter list:
- Act 89: Brothers
- Act 90: Spiral
- Act 91: Son
- Act 92: Long Journey
- Act 93: Atonement
20
2005-03-05
ISBN 978-4-592-17864-4
2006-08-08
ISBN 978-1-59816-183-0
Chapter list:
- Act 94: Salvation
- Act 95: The End of the Journey
- Act 96: Shizune’s Story
- Act 97: Bright Future
- Act 98: Shining Star
21
2005-08-05
ISBN 978-4-592-17865-1
2007-01-10
ISBN 978-1-59816-840-2
Chapter list:
- Act 99: The Story Untold
- Act 100: Graduation Nears
- Act 101: Spring and March
Anime
Kare Kano was adapted as an anime television series produced by Gainax. Episodes 1–16 were directed by Hideaki Anno and episodes 17–26 by Kazuya Tsurumaki.
#
Title
Original airdate
1
“Her Circumstances”
“Kanojo no Jijou” (彼女の事情)
1998-10-02
2
“Their Secret”
“Futari no Himitsu” (二人の秘密)
1998-10-09
3
“His Circumstances”
“Kareshi no Jijou” (彼氏の事情)
1998-10-16
4
“Her Difficult Problem”
“Kanojo no Nandai” (彼女の難題)
1998-10-23
5
“Day of Labyrinth”
“Kare no Yabou” (彼の野望)
1998-10-30
6
“Your Voice That Changes Me”
“Boku wo Kaeru, Kimi no Koe” (僕を変える、君の声)
1998-11-06
7
“Their Estrangement”
“Futari no Sokaku” (二人の阻隔)
1998-11-13
8
“Her Day”
“Sono Hi, Miyazawa Yukino wa” (その日、宮沢雪野は)
1998-11-20
9
“Atonement for Postponed Debts”
“Moratoriamu no Shokuzai” (モラトリアムの贖罪)
1998-11-27
10
“Everything Starts Now”
“Subete wa Korekara” (すべてはこれから)
1998-12-04
11
“At the End of the First Semester”
“Natsu no Yasumi no Hajimari ni” (夏の休みのはじまりに)
1998-12-11
12
“The Location of Happyness”
“Shiawase no Ari ka” (仕合わせの在りか)
1998-12-18
13
“The Subjectivity of Happiness”
“Shiawase no Shukan” (幸せの主観)
1998-12-25
14
“The Story So Far”
“Kore Made no Ohanashi” (これまでのお話)
1998-12-30
15
“The Story So Far (Part 2)”
“Koe no Mukou ni Mieru Mono” (声の向こうに見えるもの)
1999-01-08
16
“Eternal Interspersion”
“Eien no Tentei” (永遠の点綴)
1999-01-15
17
“His Return”
“Ano no Kyorai” (彼の去来)
1999-01-22
18
“Progress”
“Shinka” (シン・カ)
1999-01-29
19
“14 Days/1″
(14DAYS・１)
1999-02-05
20
“14 Days/2″
(14DAYS・２)
1999-02-12
21
“14 Days/3″
(14DAYS・３)
1999-02-19
22
“14 Days/4″
(14DAYS・４)
1999-02-26
23
“14 Days/5″
(14DAYS・５)
1999-03-05
24
“A Different Story From So Far”
“Ima Made to Chigau Ohanashi – 1″ (今までと違うお話・1)
1999-03-12
25
“A Different Story From Up to Now”
“Ima Made to Chigau Ohanashi – 2″ (今までと違うお話・2)
1999-03-19
26
“14 Days/6″
(14DAYS・6)
1999-03-26
Soundtracks
- His and Her Circumstances ♥ Act 1.0—First volume of the soundtrack.
- His and Her Circumstances ♥ Act 2.0—Second volume of the soundtrack.
Reception
Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2008)
References
- ^ “Women in Anime: A Guide for the Perplexed” (January 2003). Newtype USA 2 (1).
- ^ a b “Kare Kano (manga)”. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ “Kare Kano”. Tokyopop. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ “Kare Kano – Collection (1-3) (GN)”. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ “Kare Kano (manga)”. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
- ^ Bertschy, Zac (2003-04-08). “Review: His and Her Circumstances: DVD 2: Love and War Under the Cherry Blossoms”. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ “His and Her Circumstances (TV)”. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
- ^ “His and Her Circumstances (TV)”. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
External links
Official sites
- Hakusensha’s Kare Kano manga site (Japanese)
- Tokyopop’s Kare Kano manga site
- Gainax’s Kareshi Kanojo no Jijō anime site (Japanese)
- Madman Entertainment’s anime site
- Enoki Films USA’s Tales at North Hills High site
Other resources
- Kare Kano (manga) at Anime News Network’s Encyclopedia
- His and Her Circumstances (anime) at Anime News Network’s Encyclopedia
Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kare_Kano”
Categories: Manga series | Anime series | 1998 television series debuts | 1999 television series endings | Anime of the 1990s | Comedy-drama anime and manga | Gainax | Manga of the 1990s | Romance anime and manga | School anime and manga | Shōjo | Tokyopop titlesHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since July 2008 | Articles to be expanded since January 2008 | All articles to be expanded