Welcome to the NHK

[Ryo Misaki]

Anyone read/see/hear of this series?

NHK ni Youkoso, or Welcome to the NHK.

It's a series centered around Tatsuhiro Satou, a 22 year old Hikikomori (extreme social outcast, who, out of fear and paranoia of the public, refuses to leave his house for any but the most necessary circumstances).

One day a strange little girl happens upon his house while helping her evangelist aunt deliver flyers. This sparks a chain of events that change his life forever.

The girl, Misaki Nakahara, comes again insisting that she can change his Hikikomori ways if he attends counceling sessions run by her.



NHK isnt for everyone... In fact, it deals with some rather strong themes... Drugs, Hentai, etc... But the anime is MUCH less extreme as the Manga is.

At first, I thought it to be a funny yet nonsensical show with nothing but adult references and grungy style... But NHK seems to carry the "Evangelion Syndrome"... In which the first half is very humorous and superficial, just before decending into depressing madness in the last half.

NHK is actually FAR deeper than it leads on to be... Dealing HEAVILY with social, economical, and psychological issues of Japanese Society, and the Hikikomori lifestyle.

If you can survive the almost random and somewhat perverted first half... At exactly halfway, episode 13, the series becomes DEEPLY involved. And even turns out to be really touching. (you know... romantically. >_>)


So, I highly reccomend this series to ANYONE... over the age of 16. Not only because of the adult themes... (Though never quite explicit) But because much of it is deep enough that you probably wouldnt understand it anyway.

So if you like humorous stories that are a little slow moving, but make you think and carry a very rewarding ending, watch Welcome to the NHK.

You wont regret it!

"It's not too late to change your Hikikomori ways!"

[Misaki Zero]

Ryo I've heard of it I bought the 1 vol and read a Newtype promotional. I like it alot it hits a lot closer to home than happy otaku stories like Densha Otoko and Genshiken. Satou isnt your typical protagonist. Still I dont think it garnered an M rating unless the Manga gets alot more hardcore later on.

[BobCat]

Sounds like a great series.

[Ryo Misaki]

Ryo I've heard of it I bought the 1 vol and read a Newtype promotional. I like it alot it hits a lot closer to home than happy otaku stories like Densha Otoko and Genshiken. Satou isnt your typical protagonist. Still I dont think it garnered an M rating unless the Manga gets alot more hardcore later on.

Well... Densha Otoko hit closer to home than anything else I've ever read...
But the think about NHK... is that it's real life. Real problems.
It's not always the great happy life you always see in anime and manga... It's the way things are. The good AND the bad.

Oh, and I think the Manga does warrent it's M rating... With the themes (Hentai Games, Drugs, nudity, etc... even if some of it IS just fantasized, it's still there.. =P) and art... The series is DEFINITELY not for kids.
But, it is a good series, and I think everyone should see it.

I havent had a series cause THIS much of an impact on me in a LOOONG time. =P

[Misaki Zero]

older teen maybe but ''M'' there were only two reasons it might deserve to be M

[BobCat]

Well, I'm in process of watching it.

At this point: Misaki-chan's character development is VERY POOR. She comes off as selfish (I'm doing something good because you're more worthless than I am and I feel superior to you.)

[Ryo Misaki]

Yes... She seems that way at first... What episode are you on, BobCat?

It really doesnt start developing until half way. Ep 13.

You really dont wind up knowing ANYTHING about her until the VERY END. (eps 23 and 24...)

But the foreshadowing is great... and leaves you SO curious and wanting to know more about her... T___T

[!]

this is the series that has the "purupurupururin" song right?! i might check it out, great song

[BobCat]

Originally Posted by Ryo Misaki

Yes... She seems that way at first... What episode are you on, BobCat?

It really doesnt start developing until half way. Ep 13.

You really dont wind up knowing ANYTHING about her until the VERY END. (eps 23 and 24...)

But the foreshadowing is great... and leaves you SO curious and wanting to know more about her... T___T

The only reason she treats Satou good is because she wants to prove to herself that her evil stepfather was wrong. No other reason. It was a bad reason.
Women who get involved with men only to save them eventually wind up dumping them when they can't be saved or get the feeling they are not needed.

I liked the anime, but I still think Shinobu rocks more than Misaki-chan (though they look very similar!)

[Ryo Misaki]

Yes, Selo. That's the one.
But dont watch for JUST the song. It plays a minor role.

Watch for the depth and goodness!


BobCat... Did you see the end? Well... Shinobu and Misaki are VERY different. Shinobu has a VERY simple and easy life compared to what Misaki has led...

You say the reason is 'bad'... But when you've been beaten, and told all your life that you're worthless... It's hard to find a much better reason than that, now isnt it?

"He's useless, trash! Just a hikikomori worse than a stray dog! He's the only person in the world worse than even I am... That's why... That's why I need Satou-kun!"

I suppose, from a neutral standpoint, yeah, it's all the wrong reason...
But for someone like her, it's the only justificitaion she has.

Misaki seems pure... But in reality, she really isnt as pure as she seems... Shinobu, however, is.
But, again, Shinobu's simple. Compared to Misaki, her character is really kind of shallow...

I liked Misaki and NHK for the complexity and depth...

But then again, it's hard to compare Misaki and Shinobu... They are so different, and come from ENORAMOUSLY different types of Anime aimed towards completely different groups. =P

You may say that it's likely to end up like that in that type of situation... But in the end, I think it works well for Misaki-chan. ^_^;;;

[BobCat]

Originally Posted by Ryo Misaki

BobCat... Did you see the end? Well... Shinobu and Misaki are VERY different. Shinobu has a VERY simple and easy life compared to what Misaki has led...

Not when Shinobu grew up watching her parents fight constantly and is being forced to move. Shinobu may not have been beaten, but still had a bad life.

You say the reason is 'bad'... But when you've been beaten, and told all your life that you're worthless... It's hard to find a much better reason than that, now isnt it?

Right. She's hardly qualified to be a counselor. She feels so bad about herself, she could easily become a hikikimori herself.

But look at HOW she feels bad about herself. She does so in an egotistical manner Contradiction, ne? Not really. She gives herself the role and title of counselor, though she's not qualified for it. That's like saying "I used the 'objection!' site, I am now qualified to be your attorney." The poor girl needs to see a counselor, or at least talk to a friend about this.

"He's useless, trash! Just a hikikomori worse than a stray dog! He's the only person in the world worse than even I am... That's why... That's why I need Satou-kun!"

I suppose, from a neutral standpoint, yeah, it's all the wrong reason...
But for someone like her, it's the only justificitaion she has.

Yup.

I'll admit one thing: at least she's trying to help.

However, one doesn't help the victim by first cutting the victim down. One helps a victim by lifting them up.

Misaki seems pure... But in reality, she really isnt as pure as she seems... Shinobu, however, is.
But, again, Shinobu's simple. Compared to Misaki, her character is really kind of shallow...

Well, we really don't have much background information on Shinobu-nena, ne? The series didn't really go into her background. Naru's yeah. Motoko's, yeah. Even Su-chan got some background. But miss #2 most popular Love Hina girl of all time, never got this - an error I hope to correct with the HKSS doujin project

I liked Misaki and NHK for the complexity and depth...

Agreed.

I love how the real cure for hikikimori behavior is shown for the protagonist AND the Iincho's brother. Satou said it best.

"being a hikikimori is a luxury in itself."

Yup. As long as your living expenses are guaranteed, you have no incentive to change. When the cash stops flowing, a growling stomach is a cure for hikikimori

But then again, it's hard to compare Misaki and Shinobu... They are so different, and come from ENORAMOUSLY different types of Anime aimed towards completely different groups. =P

The only comparison is in appearance - which they differ only in eye color.

You may say that it's likely to end up like that in that type of situation... But in the end, I think it works well for Misaki-chan. ^_^;;;

Yup.

After watching this, I wanted to hop into a machine that would teleport me into that series, and that evil stepfather with a setting 10, sending him to the moon.

Also, why was she wearing a short skirt without any leg warmers in the middle of winter? Sheesh. What is she thinking? The girl is asking for a hospital trip.

Oh, and here's a topic I'd love to see discussed in the SSF: The NEET phenomenon: causes and solutions.

[XEN gK]

I have completed the anime and read some of the manga and own a copy of the novel where everything is based.

Only the first 3 or 4 episode and the last 2 episode of the anime is based on the novel. They would explain the flux in the story telling flow, as the novel was a serious and depressing story from start to end.

@SeRo
Yes, the "purupurupuru, I am girl like pudding" song is from this series.

[Misaki Zero]

theres a novel I must own it

[Ryo Misaki]

Indeed there's a novel. But it's Japanese...

It has yet to be released in the US.

Tokyo Pop is currently doing the Manga... Perhaps they might even do the novel too, afterwards? =P

I'd really like that. ^__^