Description
Touma's a cram-school student which is bad enough, but too add to his problems, he's told the sexy Meiko he's a student at the most prestigious university in Tokyo. Between classes at the cram-school and taking tests to get him into college and classes at the university to keep Meiko believing he's already there, Touma's life is a mess. To complicate matters even more, he lives with Urara who would gladly do anything he asks, except he hasn't been interested in asking. But when Touma finds out Meiko has a secret of her own, he just might rethink his priorities. Will true love triumph? Will lust conquer all? Or will everyone just call it a day and go home? Find out in the dramatic conclusion of Sakura Diaries!
Customer Reviews:
WHO WILL TOUMA LOVE?.......2006-07-03
Touma has been at cram school for almost a year now, but he seems to be making little progress academically. He can't possibly blame it on himself though, can he? He's still doing double duty at the university in a bid to make Mieko think that he's a brillant college student, but how much longer is that going to last, especially when the school "prince" is out to get Mieko for himself, and has begun investigating Touma's true status. Urara, on the other hand, is constantly on hand to do anything Touma's dirty but normal little mind wants her to do, whether it's emotional or physical comfort that he needs. In these last six episodes, Mieko will find out the truth about Touma, but more importantly, Touma will have to figure out what his feelings are for Urara. Is she just a convenient consolation prize or does he actually love her? And how is he going to get out of cram school with all these love affairs occupying his attention?
Sakura Diaries is an unrealistic mix of comedy and sexual tittilation that somehow works in a short 12 episode format. You can't help at times to be embarrassed by the inexperience of these characters, especially Urara, because she mistakes physical intimacy for love. I don't think she truly loves Touma. What she has is a very large and unhealthy schoolgirl crush, and being that Touma is her first cousin, I wouldn't be surprised if their kid was three times as dumb as Touma! But even though the main characters are immature and naive, you can't help but admire their searching and longing to find someone they can truly share their affections with. At least these characters try and refuse to give up. I did feel that this series ended too abruptly and could have used one more episode to wrap things up adequately.
I would also reccomend the anime "His and Her Circumstances" and "Golden Boy".
Average customer rating:
- A CUTE GIRL TOO SEXY FOR HER OWN GOOD
- A love triangle...
- Not so overcomplicated love triangle.
- Not so overcomplicated love triangle.
- Sexy? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
|
Sakura Diaries (Volume 1)
Starring:
Sakura Diaries
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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ASIN: B00003TKEM
Release Date: 2000-07-25 |
Amazon.com
Tuoma Inaba is a country boy who's determined to make a big splash in Tokyo, but things start to go wrong the moment he arrives to take his college entrance exams and a gorgeous call girl turns up in his hotel room. Tuoma's not too bright and he fails all of his entrance exams, but not before he's fallen for Meiko, who's heading for the prestigious Keio University. Meiko is only interested in dating a fellow college student, so Tuoma lies, telling her that he passed the Keio entrance exam. Now Tuoma has to lead a double life, pretending to be a Keio student while attending a Tokyo cram-school. His life gets even more complicated when he goes to stay at his uncle's house and the door is answered by the call girl, who turns out to be his cousin Urara. Urara is a high school senior who has loved Tuoma since they were both kids, and she knows that her cousin is lying to Meiko. She also knows that Meiko has a boyfriend. Things are going to get messy. Sakura Diaries deals with mature themes, but it is not as explicit as the cover art suggests. Instead it's a funny and surprisingly sophisticated sex comedy about a naive young man whose obsession with one woman blinds him to the love of another. It's an old story, but these first episodes suggest that Sakura Diaries may have some surprises in store. Rated 17 and up for nudity and sexual situations. --Simon Leake
Customer Reviews:
A CUTE GIRL TOO SEXY FOR HER OWN GOOD.......2006-06-07
Touma Inaba isn't the brightest light bulb in the universe, if you know what I mean. I didn't want to have to say dumb, it's more like he has a problem focusing on his studies. He's arrived in Tokyo to take his college entrance exams so he's staying at a hotel. He's from the country so the big city seems a little daunting to him. He might have passed his tests if he had went to bed about then, but his world is about to be rocked when what he thinks is a prostitute shows up knocking on his door. This cute high school girl tries every method she can to get him into bed, but she fails. Little does Touma know that this "call girl" is really his cousin, Urara, that he met years ago when they both were kids. She fell in love with Touma back then and she's there to "cheer him up" before his exams. Touma has no idea who this girl is, so he kicks her out! Not suprisingly, Touma fails his entrance test, but while he was there he met a beautiful young thing named Mieko. The problem is that she will only date a guy that is attending the most prestigious college in Tokyo. Touma of course lies to her and tells her that he goes there, but he really is enrolled in a year of cram school to prep for retaking the test. He moves into his uncle's house and finds out the truth about Urara and the romantic hijinks begin. Touma of course is so blinded by Mieko that he fails to see the love Urara is dying to give to him!
Volume 1 of Sakura Diaries contains six episodes and is quite risque for mainstream anime. It's meant more for an older audience, since it contains a lot of sexual situations and conversations. Not that this is a bad thing. The problem with Urara and Touma is that since they are both virgins, when it comes to sex and love, they don't really have a clue as to what fire they're playing with, and they also confuse the two. Urara, for example, cooks for Touma and when she serves the food, she is wearing an apron and nothing else under it! But when Touma attempts to force himself on her later in the DVD, she's shocked! These are in reality juveniles playing at being adults, and screwing each other's minds in the process. Sakura Diaries is a sex comedy-drama with a sugar coated heart at center and it will be interesting to see which relationships work out...if any!
For a similar theme and treatment I would recommend the manga Flowers & Bees.
A love triangle..........2004-12-13
Urara loves Touma. But Touma seems to lust after Meiko. And Meiko will only go out with a college man. So, of course, Touma, being the Japanese male that he is, lies.
Now Touma HAS to get into SOME school, while Urara has to keep his secret. Or maybe she should use it to ruin his chances with another girl?
Lots of humor and fan service, plus GREAT character design. They look like the artists used photos. But just a few warnings - first this DVD holds 12 ADV previews but only THREE episodes of this anime! And while the word s-e-x (or sexy) is used all over the DVD cover you won't find any in this disc. 90 minutes of fun and humor, but it's pretty clean. Mature, but mostly clean - what little that does happen is never shown. The only reason I might continue with the anime is to see what happens. I've heard mixed reviews of the anime and wish to see what happens on my own.
Not so overcomplicated love triangle........2003-11-27
United States Sakura Diaries is a somewhat basic love triangle story between Touma (who's hoping to find true love, and is always feeling guilty), Urara (Touma's younger cousin who fell in love with him six years earlier, and who's always keeping a positive outlook) and Mieko (the beautiful redhead who attends Keio University where Touma pretends he goes).
It's a cute story with lots of misunderstanding, some lies, and a fair amount of fan service.
Possible spoilers...
Chapter One - Tokyo Success
It's Touma's first night in Tokyo. He's moved to the big city because he's testing to get in Keio University. On his first night a call girl arrives at his hotel room. The call girl, Urara, who we find out later is Touma's cousin, recognizes him but he has no idea who she is. Nothing really happens because Touma is waiting to find true love. The next day on campus Touma runs into the doe-eyed Mieko and falls in love.
Chapter Two - My Cousin Is a High School Call Girl
Touma doesn't make it into Keio but Mieko does. He doesn't tell Mieko and enrolls into a cram school. Touma knocks on the door of his uncle's house and Urara, suprisingly, opens the door. She explains that the whole call girl act was just a joke.
Chapter Three - Is the Fake Student a Slave of Love
Touma goes to campus to tell Mieko the truth but overhears her telling potential suitors that the only requirement for her is that the guy must attend Keio university. Urara and her best friend, Komi come to campus and spy Touma telling Mieko that he's been accepted into the school's economic program.
Not so overcomplicated love triangle........2003-11-26
Sakura Diaries is a somewhat basic love triangle story between Touma (who's hoping to find true love, and is always feeling guilty), Urara (Touma's younger cousin who fell in love with him six years earlier, who tries to keep an upbeat outlook) and Mieko (the beautiful redhead who attends Keio University where Touma pretends he goes).
It's a cute story with lots of misunderstanding, some lies, and a fair amount of fan service.
Possible spoilers...
Chapter One - Tokyo Success
It's Touma's first night in Tokyo. He's moved to the big city because he's testing to get in Keio University. On his first night a call girl arrives at his hotel room. The call girl, Urara, who we find out later is Touma's cousin, recognizes him but he has no idea who she is. Nothing really happens because Touma is waiting to find true love. The next day on campus Touma runs into the doe-eyed Mieko and falls in love.
Chapter Two - My Cousin Is a High School Call Girl
Touma doesn't make it into Keio but Mieko does. He doesn't tell Mieko and enrolls into a cram school. Touma knocks on the door of his uncle's house and Urara, suprisingly, opens the door. She explains that the whole call girl act was just a joke.
Chapter Three - Is the Fake Student a Slave of Love
Touma goes to campus to tell Mieko the truth but overhears her telling potential suitors that the only requirement for her is that the guy must attend Keio university. Urara and her best friend, Komi come to campus and spy Touma telling Mieko he's got into the schools economic program.
Sexy? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!.......2002-05-18
They must have left the sexy parts out of the copy I rented to preview the series - rented because something seemed fishy about the reputation. This is for 10-year olds who think a dweeb drooling for a babe is funny... All those "sexy" comments are the video maker's public relations department trying to make it racy and trap the viewer with. Anyone who likes movies that are mature (married couples, lovers, etc.) will find it stupid and juvenile. On the other hand, if you like fairly silly, goofy, repressed...shows, this is for you!
Amazon.com
In the third three-episode volume of Sakura Diaries, the young protagonists continue to get themselves into ever more complicated romantic entanglements. Touma feels guilty after attacking Urara, but his cousin promises to forgive him if he stops pursuing Mieko. He can't, of course, and an angry Urara threatens to reveal his secret. Mieko has secrets, too, and when she tells Touma that she has a boyfriend, our lovelorn hero's dreams are shattered. He runs straight into Urara's welcoming arms, but there's still trouble brewing--Mieko is having second thoughts about rejecting him. The male characters in Sakura Diaries are idiots and the women are remarkably tolerant of them, but the show continues to be an entertaining romantic comedy, with the emphasis shifting toward romance as it approaches a conclusion. This anime contains some nudity and sexual situations. --Simon Leake
Customer Reviews:
A kiss in the rain........2003-11-27
The love triangles meet up with each other and feelings are revealed. Nothing really that exciting happens in these episodes, perhaps its a big set up for the final three episodes.
Possible spoilers...
Chapter Seven -- The Love Triangle
Touma finally apologizes to Urara and she asks him to bring her to an amusement park to make up. Touma calls Kieko and she tells him she wants to meet him face to face. When he meets up with her she's with Kashu who suggests they go on a triangle date. Komi and Urara look for Touma but find Akimoto instead who invites them out to karaoke. This happens to be where the other triangle date is taking place. Urara runs into Touma's karaoke room ... Touma's afraid she might give up his secret.
Chapter Eight -- Mieko's Confession
At the karaoke club instead of giving up Touma's secret, that he's really a cram student, she tells everyone that she's his little sister. Urara runs away and Komi and Touma chase after. Next morning Urara tells Touma she wants to meet that night at the ferris wheel. Mieko and Touma are finally alone and she tells him that she has a long distance relationship with another Keio student currently in Paris.
Chapter Nine -- First Kiss in the Rain
While Touma is pining over Mieko, Urara is waiting for him at the ferris wheel in the rain, he shows up an hour late. She's not mad and they end up kissing. While Mieko is thinking about Touma her boyfriend calls. Next morning Touma tells Urara that Mieko dumped him (even though they weren't ever really going out).
I'm on a roll.......2001-10-25
I know I've reviewed the whole series but I saw this item was unreviewed, so I will get to it and write one anyway.
Sakura Diaries is a series for someone who doesn't mind seeing the characters so sexually frustrated, you start getting sexually frustrated too...
A love triangle with a horrible end...
Poor Tonma ditches his hot looking cousin(so what? They're cartoons) for a snooty redhead who keeps teasing him.
Urura is too sexy to be waiting around for this blundering fool.
Not only is he a bit lacking in intelligence, but he lies and she becomes part of it to fool this Redhead chick who is engaged anyways....
Blah! Make your friends buy this, then borrow theirs.
It's ok, but that's it..
Payback sucks.......2001-02-04
Finally, Touma actually talks to Urura. But this leaves Urura very angry so she decides to deliver the final blow by telling Meiko Touma's dirty secret. But whats this? Meiko has a dirty secret of her own too. I'm not going to tell you because it spoil the fun of the DVD. I'd say out of all 4 discs that this one is propably the most boring of the bunch, but you still need to see it because its a drama. You can't stop watching until it ends. Its just that good. Its almost like watching a day-time soap, but not as boring. Anyway, if you have to get one of these discs, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you are keeping up with the series and find the story extremely interesting, then pick this up. And by the way, ADV? WHERE ARE THE EXTRAS!
Good anime sex-comedy.......2000-10-09
After the freakish twist of the second volume, Sakura Diaries gets back on track with this tape. There are still some tense moments, but we are mostly treated to what made me love the series, humor and innocent sexuality. This volume ups the amount of nudity a bit, so this is definitely not for kids, but adult fans of Japanese animation should like this just fine.
Great New Addition.......2000-09-29
This tape is a perfect blend of the first two. It has the comedy of tape one and the drama of tape two. If you loved the first two tapes get this one now. The story is alot less heart tugging then two, but it actually has some mild nudity (like less then one min.) and I really think it wasn't needed. The show was fine without the nudity. All the characters are here and a fleshing out nicely. They are all holding there parts in the story (and Toma is turning into a Golden Boy). So if you like a sexy(minus the sex) romantic teen drama see this now.
Average customer rating:
- A CUTE GIRL TOO SEXY FOR HER OWN GOOD
- A love triangle...
- Not so overcomplicated love triangle.
- Not so overcomplicated love triangle.
- Sexy? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
|
Sakura Diaries OVA Collection - Secrets & Lies (Vol. 1)
Starring:
Sakura Diaries
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
ADV Films
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ASIN: B000ADKWO6
Release Date: 2005-09-27 |
Amazon.com
Tuoma Inaba is a country boy who's determined to make a big splash in Tokyo, but things start to go wrong the moment he arrives to take his college entrance exams and a gorgeous call girl turns up in his hotel room. Tuoma's not too bright and he fails all of his entrance exams, but not before he's fallen for Meiko, who's heading for the prestigious Keio University. Meiko is only interested in dating a fellow college student, so Tuoma lies, telling her that he passed the Keio entrance exam. Now Tuoma has to lead a double life, pretending to be a Keio student while attending a Tokyo cram-school. His life gets even more complicated when he goes to stay at his uncle's house and the door is answered by the call girl, who turns out to be his cousin Urara. Urara is a high school senior who has loved Tuoma since they were both kids, and she knows that her cousin is lying to Meiko. She also knows that Meiko has a boyfriend. Things are going to get messy. Sakura Diaries deals with mature themes, but it is not as explicit as the cover art suggests. Instead it's a funny and surprisingly sophisticated sex comedy about a naive young man whose obsession with one woman blinds him to the love of another. It's an old story, but these first episodes suggest that Sakura Diaries may have some surprises in store. Rated 17 and up for nudity and sexual situations. --Simon Leake
Description
The wait is over! ADV Films is finally making an English dub of this anime classic availabel for fans everywhere! Last released sub-only in 1000, the home video version of Sakura Diaries is something of a holy grail for anime fans.
Customer Reviews:
A CUTE GIRL TOO SEXY FOR HER OWN GOOD.......2006-06-07
Touma Inaba isn't the brightest light bulb in the universe, if you know what I mean. I didn't want to have to say dumb, it's more like he has a problem focusing on his studies. He's arrived in Tokyo to take his college entrance exams so he's staying at a hotel. He's from the country so the big city seems a little daunting to him. He might have passed his tests if he had went to bed about then, but his world is about to be rocked when what he thinks is a prostitute shows up knocking on his door. This cute high school girl tries every method she can to get him into bed, but she fails. Little does Touma know that this "call girl" is really his cousin, Urara, that he met years ago when they both were kids. She fell in love with Touma back then and she's there to "cheer him up" before his exams. Touma has no idea who this girl is, so he kicks her out! Not suprisingly, Touma fails his entrance test, but while he was there he met a beautiful young thing named Mieko. The problem is that she will only date a guy that is attending the most prestigious college in Tokyo. Touma of course lies to her and tells her that he goes there, but he really is enrolled in a year of cram school to prep for retaking the test. He moves into his uncle's house and finds out the truth about Urara and the romantic hijinks begin. Touma of course is so blinded by Mieko that he fails to see the love Urara is dying to give to him!
Volume 1 of Sakura Diaries contains six episodes and is quite risque for mainstream anime. It's meant more for an older audience, since it contains a lot of sexual situations and conversations. Not that this is a bad thing. The problem with Urara and Touma is that since they are both virgins, when it comes to sex and love, they don't really have a clue as to what fire they're playing with, and they also confuse the two. Urara, for example, cooks for Touma and when she serves the food, she is wearing an apron and nothing else under it! But when Touma attempts to force himself on her later in the DVD, she's shocked! These are in reality juveniles playing at being adults, and screwing each other's minds in the process. Sakura Diaries is a sex comedy-drama with a sugar coated heart at center and it will be interesting to see which relationships work out...if any!
For a similar theme and treatment I would recommend the manga Flowers & Bees.
A love triangle..........2004-12-13
Urara loves Touma. But Touma seems to lust after Meiko. And Meiko will only go out with a college man. So, of course, Touma, being the Japanese male that he is, lies.
Now Touma HAS to get into SOME school, while Urara has to keep his secret. Or maybe she should use it to ruin his chances with another girl?
Lots of humor and fan service, plus GREAT character design. They look like the artists used photos. But just a few warnings - first this DVD holds 12 ADV previews but only THREE episodes of this anime! And while the word s-e-x (or sexy) is used all over the DVD cover you won't find any in this disc. 90 minutes of fun and humor, but it's pretty clean. Mature, but mostly clean - what little that does happen is never shown. The only reason I might continue with the anime is to see what happens. I've heard mixed reviews of the anime and wish to see what happens on my own.
Not so overcomplicated love triangle........2003-11-27
United States Sakura Diaries is a somewhat basic love triangle story between Touma (who's hoping to find true love, and is always feeling guilty), Urara (Touma's younger cousin who fell in love with him six years earlier, and who's always keeping a positive outlook) and Mieko (the beautiful redhead who attends Keio University where Touma pretends he goes).
It's a cute story with lots of misunderstanding, some lies, and a fair amount of fan service.
Possible spoilers...
Chapter One - Tokyo Success
It's Touma's first night in Tokyo. He's moved to the big city because he's testing to get in Keio University. On his first night a call girl arrives at his hotel room. The call girl, Urara, who we find out later is Touma's cousin, recognizes him but he has no idea who she is. Nothing really happens because Touma is waiting to find true love. The next day on campus Touma runs into the doe-eyed Mieko and falls in love.
Chapter Two - My Cousin Is a High School Call Girl
Touma doesn't make it into Keio but Mieko does. He doesn't tell Mieko and enrolls into a cram school. Touma knocks on the door of his uncle's house and Urara, suprisingly, opens the door. She explains that the whole call girl act was just a joke.
Chapter Three - Is the Fake Student a Slave of Love
Touma goes to campus to tell Mieko the truth but overhears her telling potential suitors that the only requirement for her is that the guy must attend Keio university. Urara and her best friend, Komi come to campus and spy Touma telling Mieko that he's been accepted into the school's economic program.
Not so overcomplicated love triangle........2003-11-26
Sakura Diaries is a somewhat basic love triangle story between Touma (who's hoping to find true love, and is always feeling guilty), Urara (Touma's younger cousin who fell in love with him six years earlier, who tries to keep an upbeat outlook) and Mieko (the beautiful redhead who attends Keio University where Touma pretends he goes).
It's a cute story with lots of misunderstanding, some lies, and a fair amount of fan service.
Possible spoilers...
Chapter One - Tokyo Success
It's Touma's first night in Tokyo. He's moved to the big city because he's testing to get in Keio University. On his first night a call girl arrives at his hotel room. The call girl, Urara, who we find out later is Touma's cousin, recognizes him but he has no idea who she is. Nothing really happens because Touma is waiting to find true love. The next day on campus Touma runs into the doe-eyed Mieko and falls in love.
Chapter Two - My Cousin Is a High School Call Girl
Touma doesn't make it into Keio but Mieko does. He doesn't tell Mieko and enrolls into a cram school. Touma knocks on the door of his uncle's house and Urara, suprisingly, opens the door. She explains that the whole call girl act was just a joke.
Chapter Three - Is the Fake Student a Slave of Love
Touma goes to campus to tell Mieko the truth but overhears her telling potential suitors that the only requirement for her is that the guy must attend Keio university. Urara and her best friend, Komi come to campus and spy Touma telling Mieko he's got into the schools economic program.
Sexy? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!.......2002-05-18
They must have left the sexy parts out of the copy I rented to preview the series - rented because something seemed fishy about the reputation. This is for 10-year olds who think a dweeb drooling for a babe is funny... All those "sexy" comments are the video maker's public relations department trying to make it racy and trap the viewer with. Anyone who likes movies that are mature (married couples, lovers, etc.) will find it stupid and juvenile. On the other hand, if you like fairly silly, goofy, repressed...shows, this is for you!
Amazon.com
If you're looking for a different kind of anime, Sakura Diaries might just fit the bill. It's a clever, quirky romantic comedy spiced up with lots of goofy humor and a splash of R-rated eroticism. Tuoma Inaba is your average country-boy loose in the big city. He arrives in Tokyo to take his college entrance exams, but Tuoma's not too bright and he fails them all. In short order our hero enrolls in a cram school, poses as a student at the prestigious Keio University in order to pursue one beautiful girl, and moves in with another--his cousin Urara who has a huge crush on him. Then things start to get complicated. This collector's edition contains all 12 episodes of Sakura Diaries. Because it is based on an uncensored version of the Japanese original, there are several differences between it and the earlier multivolume release on VHS and DVD. The plot remains essentially the same, but there's more nudity and newly translated subtitles, and there is no English dub. If you already own the earlier edition and don't care about a few extra seconds of skin, you probably don't need the collector's edition, but for completists and those new to Sakura Diaries, this is the definitive version. --Simon Leake
Customer Reviews:
A Great Series.......2007-09-05
I bought Sakura Diaries on a whim. I'd never heard of it and I wanted something different. I was tired of the things I watched on a regular basis and wanted a change. So I bought this series and absolutely loved it.
It's about a young girl. She's in love with a guy but he's in love with another girl. This is definitely a series recommended to everyone. It's fun, delightful, and wondeful. Especially that you're getting the entire series, all 12 episodes for such a low price. Highly recommended.
Anime Bliss.......2005-09-29
Sakura Diaries is one of the best animes I have ever seen, the story is very well done, the animations are top notch, and if I said what I truly liked about it I would be spoiling 12 episodes.
This is a romatic comedy which is well done it is also quite fun as possible. This isn't one of those J-Lo movies, it's worth taking a look at. Buy this collection.
wtf!?!?!.......2005-07-25
I don't really know what I was expecting coming into this anime, but it was just plain wierd. They were fu**ing cousins man. WTF? The end was just so, not there. There didn't seem to be an ending, so much as the episodes just stopped. Really, there is only one word that can descride this anime: Weak.
Typical japanese girl with no life...........2005-05-17
I havent reviewed anything else, but i feel that no1 has given the other side of this story so here goes:
You know the typical cute japanense girl in all anime romantic "comedies", their only purpose in life is to please a certain some1 their hearts desire. And for no1 good reason too, this person has no likeable qualities, and usually he doesnt even treat her with much (if any??) respect (btw i'm male).
Want a story of flat emotion, and boring scenes, then this is for you.
I'm busy watching desperate housewives and thoroughly enjoying it. I think the japanese really do sci-fi well (cowboy bebop and trigun where awesome), but please dont try to make series on the simple troubles or eastern luv (women surrenders all and should exist only to please the male).
BTW: i didnt enjoy love hina, HIGHLY repeative slapstick humour of punching keitaro constantly for some misinterpretted situation. And Naru isnt such a gem, more of a cow to me. So you can see my taste. If you enjoyed Love Hina, well maybe then predictable shows lacking any intellectual depth or well thought out plots are for you *cough sakura diaries *cough
Gosh, I **love** this series.......2004-08-13
Since I am new to the Anime world - hunting hi and low for a series I would enjoy with real human emotion was difficult to find...but "Sakura Diaries" delivered.
Once you get past the first episode, this story line should really grab you and warm your heart with these characters. Please note: There are a few sexual situations (not graphic) and nudity here and there...so its definately more for the "16 and up" crowd.
I won't go into the plot of it, since you can read other reviews on it - but I found this series to be enchanting and emotional. Its very funny, sad in parts, and shows REAL human emotion. Don't worry - no science fiction or monsters in *this* one...But if you want a story told with care and tenderness - this is for you. You will love all these characters, even if you don't agree with them - but you can certainly understand their point of view.
The only downside is the series wraps up and doesn't seem to leave you with a final ending...but the more I think of it - isn't LIFE kind of like that ????
Excellence in all aspects. You'll love it, and it might even teach you a few things.
Amazon.com
Episodes 4 to 6 of Sakura Diaries find Touma Inaba's love life becoming even more confusing. He's still pretending to be a Keio student while attending a cram school, and he's still pursuing the gorgeous Mieko while remaining blind to the affections of his cousin Urara. Meanwhile Tuoma begins to make friends with his fellow students, but the appearance of a rival suitor for Mieko further complicates his romantic entanglements. After a student party--and a lot of beer--Touma and Mieko spend the night at a love hotel, but Mieko falls asleep and Touma is too embarrassed by his lack of experience to make a move. He decides that the only way to prepare himself for Mieko is to seduce Urara, for practice. Even as he sets his plan in motion Inaba suffers pangs of conscience--he doesn't know how much Urara loves him, but she has been kind to him and he feels guilty about using her. Nevertheless he buys a box of condoms and talks Urara into a late-night game of strip rock-paper-scissors (yes, really). What happens next contrasts sharply with the goofy comedy of the early episodes, suggesting that Sakura Diaries will take a more melancholy turn as the show progresses. Episode 6 contains a long flashback that explains how Urara and Touma first met, giving some real emotional depth to Urara. Before the end of this second volume of episodes, Touma starts to realize that his feelings for his cousin are developing into something more than either lust or simple friendship. --Simon Leake
Customer Reviews:
Rape was interesting, but treated poorly........2001-07-20
I was really glad that they did do something on sexual ssault, but Touma is a jerk! And I don't think it was given enough gravity. ut at least they did discuss it. As for the rest of the ep, not bad at all.
Events go too far..........2001-04-06
Everything presented in the first DVD begins to develope through the second DVD. Poor Tounma finally snaps and agressive attacks Urara in a shocking, sort of, sexual situation dealing with his inability to resist her sexual taunts. Amazingly the writer makes the reprocussions seem absolutely embarrasing. However, as you find by the end of this series, things arent always as simple as they seem and the issues of control are complicated and layered pretty cunningly. Good stuff for the lovey anime fan.
Alot Diffrent from #1 but Still Good.......2000-08-26
This show pretty much the animated version of Undressed. The main diffrence between the shows is that this show makes the characters interesting. I really love Urara and Comey. They are so interesting and have the best voice acting in the series. I think that this tape is showing what way the series is going. This video is not funny like the first, but still it has all the right peices put together just right. There is sex, but there isn't so much that it's hentai. There is comedy but it is still dramatic at parts.
This video really is hard to watch at times, but they really help the story. I was shocked with what happened, but then they show how much it hurt the characters. It helped that they don't take the subject of sex or rape lightly. The characters are always wondering if they should or shouldn't. In the end you know that they are really struggling. It is very realistic in that aspect. I also liked that Comey isn't just a dits in this tape. She actually tries to help Urara, and even though it originally gets her in alot of trouble, in the end Comey helps out. I really can't wait till video 3 comes out. This series has me hooked (even if it is from U-jin).
Very different from the first.......2000-08-05
Having enjoyed the first Sakura Diaries immensely, I eagerly awaited this volume. For the first half of volume 2 I was quite pleased, as there were several scenes that were laugh-out-loud funny. Midway through, however, the story took a decidedly not-funny turn. I don't want to spoil it, but I must say I was rather disturbed by this. I did think it was well handled, but be prepared for it. You'll know it when it happens, and it is NOT a fantasy sequence.
I can't wait for the next one to come out, though.
An emotional turn.......2000-06-20
Where Chapter 1 of Sakura Diaries tickles the funny bone, Chapter 2 tugs more at the heart strings. The first episode on the video picks up with a sitcom feel: Touma meets a rival for Mieko's affections in Mashu, the Keio stud previously known only as "Vest Guy." And Mashu isn't buying Touma's tale of being an economics major. But the last two episodes focus squarely on Touma and Urara. New light is shed on Urara and Touma's prep school classmate, Akimoto. The intense climax of episode 2, as well as a good dose of character introspection, leave you reaching for the Kleenex. But never fear, fans of the "comedy" in romantic comedy. Akimoto and the ever delightful, scene-stealing gal-pal Komi provide the laughs through misty eyes. Even Mashu helps out a bit (if he and Komi don't meet up again, there's no justice in this world). Over all, Chapter 2 keeps you as glued to your TV as the first installment did, and leaves you dying for Chapter 3.
Amazon.com
The final three episodes of this sexy romantic comedy are more serious in tone, throwing a few more obstacles in the way of its cast of young lovers before reaching a touching yet ambiguous conclusion. It's exam time for Touma and he's desperate to get out of cram school and into a real college. Unfortunately it's impossible to concentrate on his studies when he has to choose between Urara (who has a very interesting way of scrubbing his back) and his dream girl Mieko. When Mieko learns that Touma lied about being a Keio student and Touma finds out that Urara lied about her father's business trips, it seems that their love triangle will lead to nothing but frustration. To make matters worse, Touma's grades are slipping, and he's in danger of becoming an eternal cram student. The final scenes leave a lot of questions unanswered, but the ambiguity of the ending suits the mood of the anime and seems right for the characters. Sakura Diaries provides a refreshing contrast to the fantasy anime productions that dominate the market outside Japan, proving that there is more to Japanese animation than giant robots. Some nudity and sexual situations. --Simon Leake
Customer Reviews:
An anti-climatic but fitting end........2003-11-27
The final part of the story sees all of the storylines nicely come to an end (and some new beginnings). It's a happy, almost anti-climatic ending but it seems quite realistic and leaves you with a warm feeling.
Possible spoilers...
Chapter Ten -- Bath Time For Two
One of the more risque episodes. Touma takes a bath and Urara, to cheer him up, uses her talents and washes his back. Touma goes to take the entrance exam and asks to exchange hairs with Urara for good luck. Urara, being the ultimate cheerleader, stands outside the exam window holding up a sign that reads "Go For It!"
Chapter Eleven -- Testing Student Syndrome
Touma ends up failing the test and commits himself to studying harder. Mashu, through some investigation finds out that Touma isn't a Keio student and tells Mieko. Touma runs into Erika his ex and stands his ground and admits he's a cram student, rather than feeling ashamed. Urara gives Touma a love note and Mieko thinks of Touma and his lie. Urara's uncle calls up and Touma finds out that he's not away on a business trip but that he really lives in Italy. He realizes that he shouldn't be living with Urara.
Chapter Twelve -- A Testing Student's Decision
Touma decides to leave the apartment. In this final episode you see all of the characters. At a baseball game Akimota tells Touma that he still needs to establish his identity. Kieko and Mashu discuss there pride and how they're living for their parents dreams. Urara is sad that Touma's moving out. Mieko calls her boyfriend up and tells him that she's met someone who lives his life to the fullest -- she calls off their wedding. Touma ends up moving in with Akimota.
All alone.........2001-08-16
Poor Urara, well, I have to say that I was happy with this one until I saw the ending.. (sigh).. The first episode with the famous (boobs and bathtub) scene was hilarious, and I laughed outloud a lot watching this one. This last DVD was very good compared to the others in the series. At least they didn't stretch it out too long, otherwise it would have been even more of a let down.
I have very mixed feelings towards this series. I get sexually frustrated watching it. It promises more, but all you get is turned down, just like Urara. Tonma is a big chicken who doesn't seem to have a clue..
I recommend watching this in both languages, I found that I enjoyed it more in Japanese. A lot of the jokes weren't the same, and they added more of a raunchy and stupid persona to Tonma. He is a little smarter in the Japanese version and this is seen in the bathtub scene. Over all, if you've come this far and need the last one to finish, I suggest you do. It only gets better from the third one.
The depressing ending will leave you with an empty feeling. But this can be remedied by thinking of other more fulfilling series, like Trigun or Outlaw Star.
Enjoy!
The best volume of the series..........2001-03-25
All the worms hatch out as the series draws to a conclusion. Perhaps the best aspect of the wrap is the revelation that there is no real honor, innocence or selflessness in any of the 'love' situations. Almost everything shrouded as 'love' is either selfish desire or hope of controlling others through deception. DVD 4 offers far more sexual proximity between Tounma and Urara while everyone comes closer to discovering what they want in life. The ending is bittersweet with a simultaneously uplifting message about self reliance, while being rather depressing in its statements about love and intimacy. Personally, I liked the fourth volume best although it'll make the tenderhearted fans cry and wish for something rather lighter and more mundane for a conclusion. If you have followed the series thus far, this is definitely worth while.
The Final Chapter..........2001-03-04
If you've gotten this far in the series, you already know what it's about ... so I won't go into too much detail. Just to Review, Touma wants to go to College in Tokyo, but after failing his entrance exams, he is forced to go to cram school and moves in with his Cousin, who looks upon him as her first love.
I was personally a bit disappointed with how things wrap up to close in the series. Not to give away the ending ... but watch the Sub first, not the Dub. For the tender hearted, it's a must ... the English version really messes up and rewrites the ending.
Urara and Touma grow closer, but Touma becomes more serious about his exams, and Urara just becomes more serious about him. Mieko and "The Vest Guy" make a few cameos, but really only appear so not to leave you hanging as to what happened to them. Urara's secrets are reveals and bring the story to a head, and force Touma into a choice between his heart and his future (Japanese only). The ending itself is a bit confusing, and can be interpreted a couple of different ways ... to say more will give the story away, however.
Not anywhere near as enjoyable as the first two volumes, also things get a bit more kinky... I really feel, considering how well the first two volumes were done, that this could have been much more enjoyable... The plot just doesn't hang together as well, and I couldn't see a point in many of the plot devices & subplots which move the series towards conclusion.
Farewell, days a bathroom humor.......2001-02-04
No! It can't end! I need more! Well, anyway, the ending to SAkura Diaries wasn't as big and spectacular as I was hoping for. There were some nice scenes like the one in the bathroom with Urara and Touma, but it could have been better. This final tape wraps up Touma's love and school life. It was done fairly well, but there was so much more that could have made it more enjoyable. We can only hope that there will be a sequel (hey, I can dream, can't I?). I just love this show though. Its on a level with Ranma 1\2, but at the same time not being a hentai. And this tape also shows SD at its full adult humor. Very few shows are capable of that (well, maybe "Maze", but that show ......). Anyway, I urge you to see the final conclusion. Its no big ending, but its still a great one. Come on, U-Jin. Shows us more!
DVD:
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DVD
DVD
Sakura Diaries OVA Collection - Secrets & Lies (Vol. 1)
Sakura Diaries (Volume 4)
Sakura Diaries (Volume 3)
Witch Hunter Robin - Anime Legends Complete Collection
