First Impressions / Yuru Camp

「テスト, カリブー, まんじゅううまい」 (Test, Caribou, Manjuu Umai)
“Exams, Caribou, Steamed Buns, Yum!”

Although this episode takes place around the exam period, no one in the Outdoors Club aside from Aoi is going out of their way to hit the books. Instead, Chiaki and Nadeshiko are looking into their own study material in the form of tapping into their hobbies. Chiaki puts on her professor’s mustache to learn how to use the new fancy picnic kit that she bought in a bid to keep up with the better prepared campers around her. Because her collection can’t take hot temperatures or fragrant food, and requires a vinegar soak and olive oil coat to ensure her food comes out good, a bulk of her time was spent making sure she could get her best mileage out of it. Studying can come at the last minute, as Aoi unfortunately knows all too well about Chiaki’s study habits. Meanwhile, Nadeshiko’s performance in school is meh, but that doesn’t stop her from documenting her daily activity through the pictures she takes on her commute.

Despite Episode 08 not having any study sessions, its main focus is planning for an upcoming Christmas camping trip. The second half of the episode, in particular, hones in on Nadeshiko’s introduction to Caribou, an outdoor shop where they plan on getting the proper camping equipment to take on a cold Christmas night. The trip to Caribou was an eye-opener for Nadeshiko as it gives her insight on just how expensive it can be to plan out an intricate outdoor trip, and that maybe Aoi and Chiaki’s part-time jobs wouldn’t be enough to get that last extra push to their budget that they’d have if she started working. From then on, Nadeshiko has work on her mind as she plans to make her own money to be able to afford warm items for their future Winter camping trips.

Nadeshiko’s search for part-time work is only one of the many hints that the episode has for what may lie in the future. As Chiaki gets familiarized with her picnic set, Ena pops on over and helps them clean their cookware. Ena is hesitant at the suggestion of joining them on a camping trip as she hates the cold, but it is the golden opportunity for her to join in once she makes a decision on if she wants to go after her exams. We’ve been seeing her and her dog in the OP, so it’ll be exciting to see when they’ll show up with the Outdoors Club. Similarly, Nadeshiko and Chiaki’s familiarity with Toba-sensei makes them curious about how she’ll look once she’s teaching them History lessons. Nadeshiko unknowingly met her in the last episode’s camping trip, and Chiaki only knows her from her boss describing her as an infamous customer who is always purchasing cases upon cases of beer. Even though this episode only teased a little of what was teased the last time around, it was a very pleasant episode, and sets the stage for multiple developments in Nadeshiko, Ena, and Toba-sensei’s next steps.

24 Comments

  2. The first part was sort of boring IMO. I think the problem for me was it was lacking in enough Nadeshiko and Rin. The expedition to Caribou made up for it. Nothing like equipment porn to make things fun. They should have done the whole episode there. Certainly enough equipment to drool over.

    Chiaki can’t drink until she’s 20 but she can work in a liquor store. Ah, Japan.

    Bear
    Reply

      3. That car BTW is a Subaru Impreza Hatchback MY2015 and it is used for Google Street View in Japan….In my country(Philippines)they used a Chevrolet Captiva as the GSV Car…….what about in your neck of the woods?

        XRaider
        Reply

  5. I’ve been wondering what some of the real-life equipment actually are when compared to what they use in the show…

    Rin uses a SOLO gas stove and tank which represents the real-life company SOTO. I think her folding table is also from the same company. Still no idea on the make of her tent, though I feel like I’ve seen it before. The Coalman brand seen in this episode is of course representing the COLEMAN series of gas burners and accessories

    Couldn’t find the real-world representation of the Outdoor Club‘s tents. Tried looking up GIANT TREE on google but didn’t see anything similar…

    Hikarub
    Reply

  9. Between the drop in quality and the almost complete absence of Rin this was weakest episode so far. It was not a bad episode but the previous 7 have been very consistent and set the bar at a height this episode did not reach. I hope this was a one time slump and not the new standard for the remaining episodes.

    Gars
    Reply

  12. Ep 09:

    – This Episode has a bit to much “commercial” soul. They should reduce it a bit down.
    – Also there was also a bit to much “Whatsapp” stuff. I know it saves budget. But try to reduce it too
    – Do not forget the soul about Camping, do not slip into “commercial anime”

    Worldwidedepp
    Reply

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