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「君と旅行鞄」 (Kimi to Ryokou Kaban)
“You and a Travel Bag”
I haven’t really watched detective series like Detective Conan or the more recent Gosick, but I’ve always enjoyed a good detective/mystery story. Kami-sama no Memo-chou seems to provide an average one in that department; I haven’t read the manga, but it looks like the format will revolve around a case-by-case basis, like Sherlock Holmes short stories. The first case was resolved in the double-episode premiere, and this week we have Meo, a mixed Thai-Japanese, who comes to Alice for help in finding her father Kusakabe Masaya, a former Yakuza. It seems that he was involved in money laundering and stole a few hundred million yen from the Kishiwada Yakuza before fleeing and leaving 200 million yen with Meo.
Clearly, this is a much more dangerous business to get involved in, as Alice’s mafia contact Yondaime (The Fourth) points out. On the other hand, Narumi our generic male protagonist really doesn’t understand the danger and risk involved. I think it’s fine to help Meo, but Narumi is rather naive in his ideals and he’s obviously very inexperienced in dealing with these professional criminal groups. Firsthand experience is good I suppose though, as long as he doesn’t die first. Meo’s emotions also tends to get in the way of her judgment, which is normal given that her father is in trouble, but idiots in these kinds of situations also tend to get killed or otherwise make things worse than they were. Her dad’s motives aren’t completely clear at this point, but I do think his foresight for Meo was probably for the best, even if his own actions weren’t so savory. Narumi means well too, but he probably should have chose his words more carefully, especially to someone like Meo, and shouldn’t have jumped so quickly to the conclusion that Kusakabe abandoned his daughter.
Those fools contrast sharply with others characters like the Yondaime or Alice. Alice may be a little egotistic and holds a lot of pride in her skills, but she is very knowledgeable and perceptive (as detectives should be) and also pretty cute at times. I like how she’s not easily ruffled, and her mindset is cold and calculating. However, Alice is also able to empathize with others and has a way with words that calms people down. Of course she also has her weak spots, especially things involving food, hygiene, and stuffed animals, but those are fairly amusing to watch. As for the actual case, I’m not finding it so gripping that I’m extremely eager to find out what’s next, but there’s enough intrigue to keep things interesting for now. There are bits of humor on the side, like the Yakuza mobsters surfing for porn or playboy/male prostitute Hiro’s antics, but the mystery aspect is not as captivating as I had hoped. The significance of the hidden cell phone is also a bit murky at the moment, but I suppose everything will be resolved next week.
ED2 Sequence
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ED2: 「あすなろ」 (Asu Naru) by 鈴村健一 (Suzumura Kenichi)
Watch the ED2!: Streaming ▼
Preview
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The father probably sacrificed himself rather then abandoning his daughter.
I think that the extra get in “he doesn’t get die first,” wasn’t necessary. I guess you’re still half-awake.
fixed, thanks.
it’s probable that he was trying not to get Meo involved, though leaving 2/3s of the money with her is rather risky too
Dunno why but I’m liking this show a lot, it certainly isn’t mind blowing but I’ve always liked shows with a big cast, all diverse different people from different backgrounds working together. Creates some interesting dynamics and dialogue.
Even if the show stays at mysterys these small I reckon I’ll still enjoy so as long it’s varied enough. Just wish it’d stop with Narumi walking in on the girls who slapping and ‘PERVERT’ moments, GOD DAMN IT KAMISAMA YOU CAN BE BETTER THAN THIS ;__;
Damn Meo’s hott. Always gad a thing for darker skin XD Seriously though, how many times is Ayaka gonna slap Narumi. He’s only listening to Alice lol. She has the adorable loli-power and he’s a protagonist, he has no choice but to obey!
Can’t figure out why the father took that 1/3 of the money, but it definitely seems like he’s coming back. Maybe he knows a way to settle the debt with just that much? I hope someone yells at Meo for calling his phone though. She did that before everyone started doubting her father, so that was kinda dumb. I mean, I can understand it, but still… it’s not like Alice told her not to just to be mean.
I realize we may have a thing for tans in anime because anime characters are usually so pale to the point where tans are unusual and often just come from another country! …….. and yes, she’s hot.
Tanned and Blacks in anime = always hot.
Yoruichi and Villetta Supporter for life.
Ironically enough, we Thai people try everything to get ourselves brighter and brighter.
Yea, some asians and black people prefer the light-skin look and try and bleach their skin and eat certain things which they believe will make them lighter. Example for black people = Kelly Rowland & Rihanna
I’m already tired of Ayaka slapping Narumi from the first time (second time was slightly understood but the first time was purely her fault).
Hope this changes a bit soon.
In such situations, it’s ALWAYS the guys fault- as per accordance to our wonderful double-standards.
I’m not a fan of episodic stories like in DtB or in this >.<
I like the characters in this and the setting enough to keep watching
I thought Meo and her father had a step-father daughter relationship, so shes not a mix?
That’s what I thought too. Kusakabe married a Thai woman nine years prior to the events in the episode, and Meo certainly doesn’t look nine years old to me. She’s full-blood Thai, and Kusakabe is her step-father.
I need more :|. The episode i mean
Everyone seems pretty happy with this show. I’m gonna hold off for a few more episodes then jump in full force.
I heard from other fan, that so far we are getting the least interesting arc. I’m guessing all the winner is at the end
Those Yakuza idiots are the best part of this show. Hahah.
This show might best DRRR!!!
I love how lolis order people around, in real life, my only master are the girls within 145cm of height, cup A, and no one else.
1st episode, they are amazed with how someone operates a computer, even using a scanner.
2nd episode, they are amazed with how someone handles a virus/spyware situation due to surfing through porns quite easily.
Yeah, the mooks of “friendly yakuza group” regard our protagonist as computer wizard 😛
Alice bossing people around is fun to watch too…
Still, the story itself seems less exciting than previous one. We need more clues!
I think Meo’s dad probably tried to daw away pursuers from her not, the other way around. Also there is slight possiblilty that her mom is somehow alive and the hidden cell phone is the key to find her. Or is it just a memento to be passed? Anyway, for now primary concern are the “big bad yakuza” attacking the NEET detectives base. Silly Meo should have listened to Alice and not phone dad anymore…
Ive got a question regarding ep 1. Maybe someone can answer me it.
Why was Miu in jail at the end?
From what I saw and heard she didnt have something to do with Shoukos death and didnt know Satoshi was hiding her corpse either.
And I dont think you get in jail because of compensated dating. Or do you? I mean as a women/girl. And she didnt do anything illegal except maybe that.
I think she was in hospital, possibly psychiatric one due to shock from the news…
Not jail, but child prostritution is illegal. In Japan, the country of extreme double standards though… who knows.
echi paint-sub gif i made of a scene in this ep.
http://i.imgur.com/rxtj1.gif
I fucking lol’d.
All hail kurisu.
All Hail THE ZOMBIE
Prooof…
I think there’s plenty of focus on the characters so far. Plus, it’s only the second episode. Isn’t it normal establish a setting before getting deeper into the characters?
sorry I realized that sentence is a bit confusing; I mean that there should be more focus on the plot
Glad this story arc is a bit less gloomy than the last one. I wonder when that dude will question why he is doing random things for who thinks are weird strangers. He reminds me of the main character from Durara, but except he has more balls and is far less annoying.
Are you kidding? When this new guy forms the largest gang in Shibuya he’ll be more B.A. than the m.c. in Durarara. Until something prove otherwise hes still number 2 in my book.
I think I might just put this on hold if it’s following the similar episodic format akin to DTB. As much as i loved DTB and am enjoying this show, I can’t imagine following this weekly and having a clear image of events and clues in my head along with everything else, real or otherwise.
The anime is much better than the manga in my opinion. I dropped the manga after a few chapters. Didn’t read the novel, but I think the anime is likely to derive more from the novel than the manga, if it derives anything from the manga at all.
What takes reason a hundred years to build a bridge to only takes the wings of faith a single night to reach.
i want to take alice home! >:)
usually, i dont like lolis, i hate them but alice is the only one that looks interesting and cute for me.
As a daughter, she has lots of potential. I would spoil her plenty. I doubt she would appreciate most of us as parents though.
what?
“Narumi our generic male protagonist”
THANK YOU. After Mikado from Durarara, all the ‘normal’ protagonist pales in comparison.
Did the music in the very beginning remind anyone of the X-Files?
So Narumi ends up with school mate or Neet detective?
Sawadee!
The story is interesting so far. I can honestly say this is my first detective anime series that has got my intrest. =D
And I would’ve gotten away with it, too, if it wasn’t for you meddling kids and that NEET.
YUUKOKOKO!
…all my detective story knowledge comes from Scooby Doo >_>
second ep awesome 2
boring as hell. pacing was ok, but the episode was just boring through out. and just when i thought it was getting better, the episode ends. i might come back to this series after the season has ended. but right now, i’m just not interested
I must say I like the fact that we have a detective who’s not an omnipotent genius who can just come up with correct answers off the top of his/her brilliant head. And the Dr. Pepper addiction is simply awesome, if only because I kind of have the same problem.
Btw, decided to pick up the light novel this anime’s based upon. I generally do this with animes I like, since the books tend to give more details left out by adaptations. But I must say this is one instance I like the anime better. The whole debate about meaning-of-life thing regarding the protagonist on his way to become full-fledged NEET is kind of weird in the book. I prefer anime sticking to “loli bossing people, drinking dr. pepper, and solving mysterious with a whole bunch of NEETs and whacky computer-retarded yakuzas” formula. It’s very good.