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“It’s easier for me if he just keeps behaving like a psycho… I think…”
When seventeen-year-old Yoshino Somei finds herself being wooed by Kirishima Miyama, who is the same age as her, she cannot decide if things were better when it felt like he wanted to murder her in her sleep.
Based on the manga series by Asuka Konishi, the animated adaptation of Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is a slow-burn romance between two teens from infamous Yakuza clans, expected to get engaged to each other as a way to broker peace between their families. The series is produced by Studio Deen, the studio behind dozens of popular anime titles, including Fate/stay night, Ranma ½, The Seven Deadly Sins, and Fruits Basket.
Spanning 12 episodes, season one of Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is faithful to its source material, so expect two volatile, unpredictable high-school students navigating the strange waters of young love in a violent world of guns, thugs, extortion, murder, and more.
Episode one sets up the premise well, just like the manga, introducing 17-year-old Yoshino Somei (voiced by Hitomi Ueda) as a young woman who’s led a very protected life, despite being the granddaughter of Renji Somei, one of the most powerful Yakuza leaders in the region. Renji arranges for Yoshino to get engaged to Kirishima Miyama (voiced by Akira Ishida), a boy her age who is also the heir of a powerful Yakuza family based in Tokyo. After much persuasion from her grandfather, Yoshino ends up going to Tokyo to meet Kirishima and finds him to be handsome, charming, and unlike a typical Yakuza.
In the next episodes, Yoshino moves to Kirishima’s high school, only to learn that he is a twisted, crazy sadomasochist and completely unpredictable. While Kirishima attempts to intimidate and humiliate Yoshino into rushing back to Osaka, the sheltered Yoshino proves herself to be a formidable foe, unwittingly winning over the bratty, arrogant Kirishima’s heart. He begins wooing Yoshino from the second episode of Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii! His sudden change in attitude and sweeping claims of ‘love’ keep Yoshino suspicious, wary, and confused for most of the season, maintaining a weird, comedic, and entertaining dynamic throughout.
However, Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii isn’t a straightforward romance between two youngsters from Yakuza families, and the character of Kirishima is shady at best. Even though he proves to be genuinely in love with Yoshino in his own twisted way, many episodes delve into the power politics of Yakuza circles. As heirs to two different major clans, both Kirishima and Yoshino often find themselves tangled in feuds, problems, or dangerous schemes orchestrated by enemies.
Since the story is set in the world of crime, with both leads knee-deep in Yakuza politics, neither of them resembles typical romantic leads. To add some drama to the romance, there’s also a potential love triangle subplot in the anime. Yoshino’s childhood friend, Shoma Toriashi, is properly introduced in episode 3 of the show. Also part of the Yakuza, Shoma was adopted by the Somei family and grew up with Yoshino. The two of them are very close, and there is some romantic tension between them. Due to their closeness, Kirishima often gets jealous, and a rivalry grows between him and Shoma, even though Yoshino tries to keep things amicable between them.
The second half of the series largely unfolds in Osaka, where Kirishima tries his best to get Yoshino to officially date him, but she is still unsure of her feelings for him. In Osaka, the two of them also find themselves targeted by hired goons as part of a larger, nefarious plot orchestrated by a mysterious new character.
While Kirishima is clearly the crazier character, shown to be extremely prone to violence, it’s Yoshino who makes Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii a hilariously entertaining watch. The show, of course, is exaggerated, with Kirishima carrying too much baggage for a 17-year-old, but the way Yoshino reacts to his bipolar mood swings and unhinged antics is very comedic. She is crazy in her own right, a weird mix of stupidity and intelligence. For instance, she tries to sell her kidney for some quick money or goes chasing armed goons without any coherent plan. But she also often thinks on her feet and is a strong, stubborn young woman who holds her own.
Watch the anime for the quirky characters, and if you don’t mind a bit of toxic romance. After all, it’s called Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, so there are going to be plenty of red flags.
Rating: 7 on 10. You can watch the series on Crunchyroll.
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