TV Review | Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii (Episode 1)

“Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is a fun and sexy romance with eccentric characters.”

Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is a series based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Asuka Konishi. The series premieres 7th October on Crunchyroll with episodes releasing weekly.

STORY

As the title indicates, Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is a romance anime with yakuza characters. Yoshino Somei is a high school girl who comes from a powerful yakuza family from Osaka. While, Kirishima Miyama is the son of a yakuza family from Tokyo. Yoshino’s life changes when her grandfather announces he has arranged a marriage between her and Kirishima. She is sent to Tokyo to live with his family.

Right from the start, this series sets the tone with laugh out loud moments. It’s a comedy that plays with old Japanese clichés of romance. Having two yakuza families at the center of this story just feels right. From start to finish, the series premiere is a fun ride. If the rest of the series is like that, it is going to be great!

Yoshino and Kirishima are two characters with opposing personalities. Yet, they have something in common – they are not what they seem to be. Thus, it’s a type of romance that plays with the hate/love trope. This is definitely what you want for a comedy. Both characters surprise each other in what they say and what they do. On top of that, it is a sexy series, not only by its visuals (Kirishima shows off his muscles in this episode) but also by the content of the dialogue. This episode is just a taste of what the series has in store.

VISUALS

Moreover, Studio Deen has done a beautiful work with the animation. It’s similar in style to Sasaki and Miyano, which was also made by the same studio. Indeed, the characters have wide eyes and the animation puts the focus on their facial expressions. Because this one is also a romance, the scenes are animated in a way that creates an intimate atmosphere. There’s an interesting contrast between that atmosphere and what’s actually going on. It subverts expectations while also setting the scene for the romance you’re expecting to see.

OPENING AND END CREDITS

The opening theme song is ‘Under and Over’ performed by The Oral Cigarettes. It’s a rock song that sets the mood for the series. This opening credits is a stylish one that presents the characters while also highlighting the sexy side of this series.

The end theme song is Nani Wararotonnen (なに笑ろとんねん) performed by Hitomi Ueda as her character Yoshino Somei. This song is more pop oriented and is just as good as the opening theme. Characters singing a theme song is something we often see in anime and it gives the credits a music video feel. The end credits shares the same visual aesthetic as the opening. Indeed, it heavily relies on the sexiness of the series while also putting the focus on Yoshino as she is the one singing the song.