Atashin'chi


Atashin'chi is a Japanese comedy manga series by Eiko Kera. It was originally serialized in the Sunday edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper from 1994 to 2012, while a revival, titled Atashin'chi SUPER, has been serialised in Aera magazine since December 2019. The manga centers around the daily life of the Tachibana family.
An anime adaptation by Shin-Ei Animation was broadcast on TV Asahi from April 19, 2002, to September 19, 2009. A second anime series, titled Shin Atashin'chi was broadcast on Animax from October 6, 2015, to April 5, 2016, in Japan, and was simulcast on Crunchyroll in certain countries. Select episodes of Atashin'chi and Shin Atashin'chi are available on the official YouTube channel with English subtitles. A third anime series, Atashin'chi Next has been running on YouTube since June 5, 2024.

Overview

The story revolves around the Tachibana family, which consists of the frugal and sometimes unintentionally careless mother, the taciturn father who goes at his own pace, the high school girl Mikan, who is plain, timid and a bit clumsy, and the younger brother Yuzuhiko, a middle school student who is shy and unfamiliar with things like love, but is sensitive, logical, and has a steady personality. The brother and sister's names are based on the Citrus unshiu and yuzu fruits. Many other characters who intersect the Tachibana's lives are depicted interacting with the family as well. When the series first began, the story was centered around the family, with Mikan and her mother at the center. However, as the series continued, episodes that weave together the relationships between each family member began to be depicted.
The stage of the story in the anime work is Tanashi, Nishitokyo, and the family lives in a three bedroom apartment on the fifth floor. Starting with Tanashi Station, which is the nearest station, Seibu Shinjuku Line, Seibu Bus, Kanto Bus, Hana Bus, a community bus in Nishi-Tokyo City, etc. are faithfully reproduced in the work.

Characters

The Tachibana family

The family name, in earlier manga printings and in early TV episodes, was spelled using kanji as 立花. However, when the series reached international acclaim, especially in China, the spelling changed to katakana as タチバナ.
  • Father
  • *voiced by: Kenichi Ogata; Fujiko Takimoto
  • *A salaryman who works in Downtown Tokyo. He is the characteristic middle-aged Japanese working man who is a heavy beer drinker, smokes often, and frequents the pachinko parlors and loves baseball. However, he finds the time to be there for his family, and is often helpful on his Sundays off. He drives a blue hatchback coupe, but commutes to work by commuter train.
  • Mother
  • *voiced by: Kumiko Watanabe
  • *A modern-day Japanese housewife, who arrogantly prides herself on a clean home, a balanced budget, and a frugal yet "tasty" dinner. Although at times she finds nifty tricks to multitask and consolidate household chores, she is awfully clumsy and gets herself into sticky situations from losing control. Despite her hard work, she is also known for being somewhat lazy by taking copious afternoon naps, watching TV while eating senbei and skimping out on shopping and cooking on rainy days.
  • Mikan
  • *voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa
  • *A 17-year-old second-year high school student, and is the intended "main protagonist" of the series. She goes to a public high school, which is a long, stressful commute away. It also doesn't require school uniforms. She is portrayed as an easy-going, relaxed girl who likes to have fun. Often very maiden-like, but other times very tomboyish, she goes through every day with something funny happening. Her western name is Megan Tahoma, Megan Hilda Tahoma.
  • Yuzuhiko
  • *voiced by: Daisuke Sakaguchi; Yuka Inokuchi ; Mariya Ise
  • *A second-year junior high school student who is very studious and forward-thinking. He is innovative and his brain far exceeds his age. He tends to find solutions to the family's common mishaps. His western name is Yuzan Harold Tahoma.

    Supporting characters

People related to Mikan

Mikan's closest friends

Mikan's classmate. Her last name is Shimizu, which leads to her common nickname "Shimi-chan". She is Mikan's high school friend who attended a different junior high school, but she is a close friend of Mikan. She is mature, has a good style, and respects Mikan no matter what. She enjoys reading palms, tarot card readings and spirituality. She often goes to different fortune tellers/card readers for fun but also to learn from them. Whenever she gives any advice or her thoughts on any matter to Mikan, she pretends to smoke a nonexistent cigarette, to which Mikan then gives her a nonexistent Ashtray. Shimi-chan prefers the innocent side of Mikan, deeming it as cute and childlike. As of now, Shimi-chan is the only character who knows Mikan has a crush on Iwaki-kun. Originally, Shimi-chan thought Mikan had a crush on Yoshioka, which led to a confrontation that resulted in Mikan telling Shimi-chan her feelings for Iwaki-kun.
Mikan's classmate from the same junior high school. He has a slightly awkward and romantic personality. He and Mikan have been friends since junior high school, but have no romantic feelings for one another. Iwaki-kun and Yoshioka get along well together and talk about their similar interests. Sometimes Yoshioka likes to tease Mikan by making fun of her as a joke. In Shin Atashin'chi it was revealed that Yoshioka has a phobia of fish, more specifically a phobia of fishes' faces. Yoshioka finds it pleasing to correct Mikan's statements and finds the fact that Mikan doesn't know many trivial or philosophical facts unpleasing. So much so, that he just barges into Mikan's conversations just so that he can correct her and show his intelligence, which leads to Mikan being annoyed.
Mikan's classmate whose real name is Yuka. She is usually quiet, but when she smiles and she hugs her belly without worrying about others. She has white skin and is envied by Mikan due to her maiden-like personality. She, Mikan, and Shimi-chan are often seen together in a trio.
Mikan's classmate, often nicknamed with a "-kun" at the end is a tall humble boy with a warm, big-hearted personality who doesn't use many words when he speaks. He is on good terms with Yoshioka. Once on his way home, he picked up a ballpoint pen that Mikan dropped on the bus, which caused Mikan to develop feelings for him. Since then, Mikan has fallen in love with him so much that she can't even stand in front of him, but Iwaki himself doesn't realize her feelings for him.
Mikan's classmate. She has a sweet-hearted personality and is clumsy and forgetful at times. She is tall and gentle on the outside, a young maiden like beautiful girl. Lots of boys in Mikan's high school have fallen for her and would go to extreme lengths just to make her notice them. She doesn't realise why the boys are so kind to her and doesn't take their actions for granted. Despite being the most beautiful girl in school, she isn't all that intelligent and shows that by asking weird and self-explanatory questions to Mikan and Shimi-chan.

Bear Brigade Club

A member of Teddy Bear Brigade Club. She is a rich daughter who lives in a mansion, but she does not put it on her nose, and she is rather disgusting in the upper class life, and she wants to live in a downtown area. She has teddy bears in her room, just like Mikan. She has a stylish mother wearing makeup in the house, and her uncle who manages a dandy father and villa.
A member of Teddy Bear Brigade Club. She is chubby and small eyes. She is gluttonous and greasy, and brought a voluminous hamburger and fried chicken during the break of the school festival.
A member of Teddy Bear Brigade Club, she is on good terms with Asada, and they often act in pairs, such as chatting with each other. She always performing a duet with Mikan and shows off her harmonious singing voice. She basically agrees with everyone's opinion and goes out of control.
A junior who joined the club when Mikan and the others were in their second year of high school. She speaks with "ssu" at the end of her words. She looks chubby and has a shaved head with round glasses. At the teddy bear exhibition, he performed a breakdance while wearing a bear costume to attract customers, and the exhibition ended on a high note. She is the only one in Teddy Bear Brigade Club who has a boyfriend.
A man in a relationship with Nitta, a very normal gentle-looking guy with glasses. He described the members of Bear Lab as "there are people who seem to have a strong prejudice", and described Mikan as the most beautiful woman in Bear Lab.

Mikan's classmates

A girl with a laid-back, easy-going, and kind personality. She is Mikan's classmate. She is not named after her in the original work. He is good at praising her classmates, finding good points and honestly praising them.
She longs for a sailor suit, and she has been to school in a sailor suit under the influence of Miyajima-sensei's story of "What you can only do now."
He has a rectangular face. Only appears on the anime.
She belongs to the tennis club. Only appears on the anime.
His house is so close to the school that it takes less than two minutes. Only appears on the anime.
She has a mature appearance and is rather beautiful. She likes Shimi-chan, but she doesn't like Mikan's childish behavior and remarks when she's with her.
Mikan's friend since elementary school.
  • Iguchi
According to Mikan, he is a "normal" boy, but her mother, who saw his photo, criticized him as "a face that will definitely cause problems for women in the future."
He has an indecisive personality. Mikan's mother praised him as "handsome enough to be an actor," but Mikan denies it. Only appears on anime.
Mikan's mother praised him for being handsome, but he has a long face that earned him the nickname "Moai." Only appears on anime.
He had a crush on Emiko, but it's one-sided love. Only appears on anime.
Anime-only character. Her mother, whose hobby is baking bread, also appeared.

Mikan's teachers

Mikan's classic literature teacher. A teacher with white hair and glasses.During class, he often talks about his own experiences and thoughts, and Mikan is often interested in the story.
Mikan's homeroom teacher. In charge of world history. His students affectionately call him "Murakami-chan" behind his back.
Mikan's physical education teacher.
The homeroom teacher of the class next to Mikan. In charge of mathematics in Mikan's class.
Mikan's art teacher. His nickname is "Satosen". His real name "Satō" was revealed in the second season.

Mother's closest relatives

Mother's friend. She is Jun's mother, one of Mikan's elementary school classmate. She is 45 years old. She is active and has many hobbies. She is the type to "think up and act immediately". She often enjoys shopping with other members, and invites her to Ginza, mountain climbing, and pottery. She is especially close to her mother, who goes to swimming school together. She is good at making things by hand, she makes kamaboko and datemaki.
Mother's friend. A relatively elegant impression among the three. She wears square glasses with rounded edges, which she rarely removes, with the exception of episode 18 of season 2 of the anime. Her undressed figure looks just like her daughter. Her favorite phrase is "Oh, it's nice". Although she doesn't seem to match with Mother and Mizushima, she actually gets along with her because she's a big-hearted and friendly person.
Mother's friend. She has the most common sense among the four, and is often taken aback by Mother's irrelevant remarks. On the other hand, when she travels to Kyoto, she dresses up as a maiko, tries to eat while standing near the station, and is influenced by her friends to reach the same level. She appears the least of the four.
Miss Mizushima's friends. She is 40 years old. "Hohoemi-san" is a nickname given by Mother who can't remember her name. Mizushima doesn't call her "Hohoemi-san" in the original, but she usually calls her "Machiko-san" in the anime, but there was a time when she called her "Hohoemi-san" only once in the first season of the anime.

Mother's relatives

Mother's mother. She is Mikan and Yuzuhiko's maternal grandmother. She speaks fluent Kyushu dialect. Her face shape is just like mother, and she has a stubborn and stingy personality just like mother. Like mother, her cooking was bad, but her mother's taste was Chikuzenni.
Mother's father. She is Mikan and Yuzuhiko's maternal grandfather. He seems to have adapted to the times, and refused mother's gift of a hot spring trip on the grounds that "the toilet must have a washlet." Father even laughed at him, saying, "Times have changed."
Mother's nephew. During they childhood, their played with Mikan and Yuzuhiko at Mother's parents' house. One of them, nicknamed "Hiro-kun," took a nap right after drinking the juice, causing a rare incident in which a large swarm of ants gathered in his mouth.

Mother's neighbors

A housewife who lives next door to the Tachibana family. She works as a mangaka and she has two assistants.
A young housewife who lives on the same floor of the same apartment as the Tachibana family. Her son is Tatkun, who feels strangely attached to Yuzuhiko.
  • Suzuki
A neighbor of the Tachibana family who lived in front of Koshino, who appears only in the original work. She gave some dried fish to mother. The story of dried fish is replaced by Koshino instead of Suzuki in the anime.

Mother's acquaintances

A friend of mother's calligraphy club. She has an elegant personality and doesn't get along well with mother.

Yuzuhiko's middle school

Yuzuhiko's classmate and best friend. Initially envious of Yuzuhiko, who has her older sister, he is deeply in love with Mikan, but later portrays him as having a crush on Sudo. He talks a lot, and his thoughts come out easily.
Yuzuhiko's classmate. He often joins Yuzuhiko and Fujino. A fan of Marumi Maruno, just like Yuzuhiko. He is insensitive. He is good at mimicry. Yuzuhiko thinks Nasuo is troublesome because he interprets other people's stories in his own way and spreads them as rumors. He also knows the fact that Fujino has a crush on Sudo.
Yuzuhiko's classmate. She is a little conscious of Yuzuhiko. Her words and actions are absurd and difficult for those around her to understand, but Yuzuhiko can generally understand them accurately. She also often ends his words with "~nanoda", and sometimes sings "Papopoppapo".
Yuzuhiko's classmate. She has a witty personality and is a good understanding of Ishida. She is also good friends with Yuzuhiko and Fujino. Her dislikes are cabbage rolls and Fukujinzuke. Yuzuhiko called her "Sudo-san ", Fujino called her "Sudo-chan", and Ishida called her "Sudo".
Yuzuhiko's classmate. She is jealous and often gets angry with Ishida and Sudo, who are on good terms with Yuzuhiko. She forms Yuzuhiko's fan club with Yamashita.
Yuzuhiko's classmate. Kawashima's best friend. Like Kawashima, she likes Yuzuhiko and is overjoyed just by talking to him, but compared to the runaway Kawashima, her affection falls within the category of common sense.
A middle-aged female teacher who is Yuzuhiko's homeroom teacher. She has a persistent and sticky personality with a glaring look and a dull voice, and she never forgives any leftovers from students' school lunch.

Yuzuhiko's classmates

Yuzuhiko's friend from different class. He joins baseball club and recruited Yuzuhiko and Fujino to the understaffed baseball club. In the early days of the first season of the anime, he was only credited as "Boy A".
A female honor student who often says "I can't do anything", "I've already thrown it away", and "Seriously 0 points" while getting the highest score in the grade. She is good at history.
She is the most beautiful girl in her class and is very popular with boys.
She was in love with Yuzuhiko, and took advantage of the gift he gave to Fujino, who was craving chocolate for Valentine's Day, and gave it to her favorite, Yuzuhiko.

Yuzuhiko's teachers

Mathematics teacher. He always makes students who late to answer math problems.
Physical education teacher. A typical P.E. teacher who likes P.E. Even in the middle of winter, he wears short-sleeved shirts to class, so he's called a "crazy guy."
Known as "Katosen". He is characterized by a languid way of speaking with a local accent, and is often imitated by his students.

Father's closest relatives

Father's friend. A man from the same hometown as Father, he is a dandy, slender gentleman compared to Father. He gets along well with father, and goes to an izakaya run by a young couple with him, exchanging glasses and complaining about various things. His hobby is senryu, and he once brought in a haiku book he wrote himself and showed it to Father.
A couple who runs a pub where Father and Hiroshi frequent visited. The husband's name has not been revealed, but he is 46 years old.
In the anime she was given the last name "Inoue". In the first period, she only appeared in her husband, but in the second season, Mako also appeared, and the master also began to speak.
  • Father's Mother
She is Mikan Yuzuhiko's paternal grandmother, and she died when Mikan was 3 years old. She was suddenly hospitalized and Father returned to Kyushu, but as a result of her surgery, it turned out that she was already too late. When Father returned to his parents' home in Ōita, he cried alone in front of her portrait.
Mikan and Yuzuhiko's aunt.

Father's other acquaintances

Father's colleague from same company.
Father acquaintance from Oita. He works for a large company called Tokairin Shoji. He is nicknamed "Satsumaage-san" by Mother and Mikan because his head resembles a satsumaage. He had come to drink with Father, but he forgot his company documents and left.
The actress whose father into. When father watches programs featuring Mrs. Baisho, he only watches scenes where she is shown. Mother says she is the same type as herself, saying she is a big-mouthed, strong-willed woman.
Father's uncle that has a strict personality.
Katsuyoshi's son. He was naughty in his childhood.
  • Ichiro Yamakawa
An acquaintance of father. Anime original character. His names only appeared in the second season.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Eiko Kera, the Atashinchi manga began serialization in the Yomiuri Shimbun in June 1994 and ran until March 2012. The first tankōbon volume was released by Media Factory on April 26, 1995. The manga returned with a new serialization in December 2019.
The manga has been translated and published in Chinese and Korean, and the anime is also broadcast in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.

Anime

''Atashin'chi''

An anime adaptation produced by Shin-Ei Animation aired on All-Nippon News Network from April 19, 2002, to September 19, 2009, for 330 episodes. Akitaro Daichi and Tetsuo Yasumi served as directors, while Motoi Sakuraba composed the music.
The official Atashin'chi YouTube channel began streaming the first two episodes with English subtitles on May 15, 2020. Shin-Ei Animation and AlphaBoat are planning on streaming about 270 episodes in their original order until March 2021. The final episode of the series aired on YouTube on August 3, 2022.

''Shin Atashin'chi''

Shin Atashin'chi, a sequel to the original 2002 anime series, aired on Animax from October 6, 2015, to April 5, 2016, for 26 episodes. Shin-Ei Animation returned for the series' production. Ogura Hirofumi served as director, Akifumi Tada composed the music, while the original creator Eiko Kera wrote stories specifically for the series.
Crunchyroll began simulcasting the series outside of Asia on October 6, 2015.

Movie

Atashin'chi Movie

On December 6, 2003, to commemorate the 45th anniversary of TV Asahi, the animated movie "Atashin'chi Movie" which depicts the change of Mother and Mikan, was released. This film distributed by Toei Distribution. The length of this film is 95 minutes.The director is Tetsuo Yasumi.The script is written by Kazuyuki Ryosawa and Natsuko Takahashi. Akiko Yano participated in this movie by sing the theme song. It is also a collaboration between Toei, TV Asahi, and Shin-Ei Animation and commemorates the 45th anniversary of TV Asahi first broadcasting. The initial title was "Atashin'chi New Year's Movie"
The catch copy was "Congratulations 'Mother' silver screen debut ♪ Something will happen to the Tachibana family this winter!" in the early stages and replaced by "Oh my, Mother and Mikan have been replaced! What? What do you want to do?"
Even before the start of Atashin'chi broadcast on TV Asahi, TV Asahi and Toei planned to release this film. Before its release, TV Asahi and Toei said, "We want to make a series that lasts for 10 years and 20 years as a national animation as a work that the whole family can enjoy," and set the target box office revenue of 3 billion yen under "Doraemon movie" Despite an unusual campaign in which 10 of the main character's visited places where there were requests for business trips such as personal events all over the country, the box office revenue was 900 million yen, falling short of the target, and it was not made into a series.
It was screened in Taiwan from February 9, 2007, and in Hong Kong from January 17, 2008, recording the highest ticket sales in the second week of its release.

Atashin'chi 3D Movie

In the second movie, a 3D movie " Atashin'chi 3D Movie" was released on November 13, 2010. This film distributed by Toei Distribution. The length of this film is 43 minutes. Shin-ei Animation's first 3D movie. The director is Wataru Takahashi, who is making his feature film directorial debut. Screenplay by Hiroshi Ohnogi. Yoko Yazawa is in charge of the theme song. In addition, Tetsuo Yasumi, who was in charge of directing the previous work and the TV series, will be in charge of supervision.
The slogan is "I will announce it! My mother can now use her supernatural powers!!"
Although it was released on a small scale of 89 screens nationwide, it is popular among elementary school students and their parents, accounting for 80% of the total. Ranked 9th for the first time in the ranking.
It was also screened overseas, in Taiwan from January 21, 2011, and in Hong Kong from February 10, 2011.

Opening and ending themes

Openings

  1. 「さらば」/"Saraba" by Kinmokusei
  2. 「あたしンちの唄」/"Atashin'chi no Uta" by Kyōko Koizumi
  3. 「プロリンサイズ♪」/"Purorin Size" by Morisanchuu
  4. 「Let's Go! あたしンち」/"Let's Go! Atashin'chi" by The Tachibanas

    Endings

  5. 「来て来てあたしンち」/"Kite Kite Atashin'chi" by Aya Hirayama, adapted from Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance Marches
  6. 「Let's Go! あたしンち」/"Let's Go! Atashin'chi" by The Tachibanas
  7. 「ほっとっとっとな まいにち」/"Hottottotto na Mainichi" by Kigurumichiko
  8. 「プロリンサイズ♪」/"Purorin Size" by Morisanchuu
  9. 「さらば」/"Saraba" by Kinmokusei
  10. /"Rock-a-Bye My Baby" by Haruomi Hosono

    Movie

  11. 「あたしンち」/"Atashin'chi" by Akiko Yano
  12. "SUGAR!SUGAR!!SUGAR!!!" by Yoko Yazawa

    Inserts

  13. Karaoke tengoku by Mikan
  14. Jounetsu no akai bara by Mother