This is a question for my Japanese readers, but it’s something I’ve been wondering for ages: is it customary for Japanese High Schools to plant at least one sakura tree near the entrance or something? Or is this just one really big stereotype that you only see in anime? Seriously though, I can hardly recall any high school in anime that doesn’t have those pink petals flying around when spring hits..
Setting that aside though, the past episodes of Cross Game have been nothing but goodness. This episode yet again had a wonderful slice of life feeling to it, as the new school year starts and Kou has finally moved into his final year of high school. Oh, I wish that the upcoming baseball tournament would never come.
This episode was all about Kou dating Akane, and Azuma hanging out with Aoba. It’s quite charming in the way that this series develops its love triangles: it’s done with the same subtlety as ever. And I’m someone who usually hates love triangles with passion. In Cross Game, they’re nowhere near as whiny nor do they have any intention to take over the series and destroy its real focuses. In this series, it’s very refreshing to see that potential couples don’t immediately get incredibly angsty once their loved ones are hanging out with another member of the opposite sex.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
For some reason, there are the same screenshots in ep 37 and 38 on your blog. :O Is this my computer messing with me, is it the episode copying the last one or have you made a small mistake yourself? xD Anyway! I’m really glad you’re blogging this. 🙂 The whole feeling you get from watching Cross Game is really nice.
Ack, that is just my mistake, sorry.
Since I’ve never been to Japan in the spring, I’m not entirely sure if it’s an anime stereotype, but sakura trees do have a symbolic meaning. Besides the fact it’s very popular, it probably seen as a good luck charm of sorts.
Really, this anime is the living proof that is possible for Japanese to make good love stories. Oh, and the part where Senda was singing the ending theme was hilarious.
Awesome slice of life…and the subtle jokes were funny. I was just cracking up. For example when Aoba apologized to Azuma and Kou was shocked and asked who was the polite girl.
The really good part of this anime is that the animation looks childish but the story line is deep. The characters are deep and not overly whining and exaggerated.
Aagh…can’t wait for next episode!
Awesome slice of life…and the subtle jokes were funny. I was just cracking up. For example when Aoba apologized to Azuma and Kou was shocked and asked who was the polite girl.
The really good part of this anime is that the animation looks childish but the story line is deep. The characters are deep and not overly whining and exaggerated.
Aagh…can’t wait for next episode!
It is customary to plant sakura trees in front of schools. It’s NOT an anime stereotype.