Season
overview:
By this point a lot of behind the scenes crew changes were going on. Likely the most visible was the replacement of Yuji Moriyama with Akemi Takada as character designer. Takashi Annou replaced Kazuo Yamazaki as the series director. Episode directors who had been with the series such as Keiko Hattori and Tsukasa Dokite also left at this point and made room for future Ranma 1/2 character designer Atsuko Nakajima to step in as animation director on many episodes from this point on. Episode 37 was an "umbrella game" that would be aired on TV Hiroshima if the "Night Game Broadcast '86 Yakult vs Giants" was rained out. Takashi Anno was the Series Director beginning at episode 27 and running through episode 52. Series Composition for episodes 27 through 52 was handled by Kazunori Ito, while Character Designs for episodes 27 through 96 were done by Akemi Takada. Music for episodes 27 through 96 was composed by Kenji Kawai with Takao Tsugiyama returning for episodes 38 through 96 as well. If you would like to see examples of the different styles of the various animation directors, please read our article on the animation directors of Maison Ikkoku.
Episode 25: 激闘! 五代VS三鷹プロポーズ大作戦!!
Gekito! Godai VS Mitaka propose daisakusen!! (In this Corner: Godai vs. Mitaka! The Clash of the Proposals)
As Godai watches Kyoko play tennis, Mrs. Ichinose tells him that things won't always stay the same. She mentions that Kyoko quit being their Manager this year and almost quit being an Otonashi altogether. Mitaka walks over and asks what the two are talking about, saying that he can tell just by looking at Kyoko that something is wrong with her. Soon, the entire Tennis Club is over at the fence talking about Kyoko, who finishes her workout and goes over to see what all the comotion is about. As the group covers up their discussion Godai is invited to play tennis with Kyoko in a mixed-doubles match against Mitaka and Ichinose. During the course of the match Mrs. Ichinose tells Mitaka about the recent goings-on at Maison Ikkoku and how Kyoko's family is pressuring her to remarry. Mitaka immediately takes this chance to tell Kyoko that he agree's with her family and that he would like her to be his partner for life, which Kyoko takes to mean his professional tennis partner. The next day, Kyoko and Mitaka go for a drive in the country and end up stopping at an empty beach, where Mitaka proposes again, making sure Kyoko understands him this time. When she comes home that night Godai finds out and as they walk through a local park, he asks her to wait three more years, so that he can graduate.
Doubles is played by two teams of two players each, most often all-male or all-female. It utilizes a wider court than singles matches: it includes the area in the alley (tramlines, in British terminology), whereas singles does not. The two players on the receiving side change positions after each point played (one at the net and the other near the baseline, preparing to return serve).
Mixed doubles is played the same as doubles, but with one man and one woman per team. This form of tennis is rare in the professional game because the men's and women's tours are organised separately (by the ATP and WTA, respectively).
Annother unique salesman playing a tune passes by. This time it’s the laundry pole song. This one is called saodake-ya, meaning “bamboo pole shop," because in the past, the poles all used to be bamboo. And these trucks also have their own song, this one features a singer singing “Take-yaaaaaaa, saodakeeeeeee!”, which means “bamboo seller, bamboo poles”.
After Kyoko tells Mitaka that she can’t partner with him professional you hear a bird fly past and call out “aho.” Aho (あほ, アホ, 阿呆) is a phrase in the Kansai dialect of Japanese, meaning idiot. This is a common anime trope that is used across hundreds of series when a character does something silly or makes a foolish mistake.
“I love the ocean.” - After rushing into the sea, Kyoko asks Mitaka if he will catch cold, he nonchalantly laughs it off while replying “Umi ga suki.” This is a subtle callback to Mr. Fujinami’s catchphrase from Urusei Yatsura, also created by Rumiko Takahashi and co-starring Akira Kamiya and Sumi Shimamoto.
Mrs. Ichinose tells Kentaro that she proposed to his father rather than the other way around. We will see how this plays out in episode 48.
Episode 26: 五代ボー然! 響子のヤキモチ大爆発!!
Godai bousen! Kyoko no yakimochi daibakuhatsu!! (Godai's Out of It! Kyoko's on the Rampage)
Kyoko visits an old high school friend and her new baby for lunch. The topic of conversation centers on how much Kyoko wishes she had had a baby with Soichiro before he died. Her friend tells her how much harder it would be for her to get remarried if that happened, and Kyoko says she isn't very interested in getting married. As she goes back to Ikkoku, Kyoko begins to weigh her options. She realizes that she would like to have a baby before she hits thirty, and that with Godai she would have to wait a few years, but Mitaka and she could get started right away. Ichinose visits her and tells her that Godai is cleaning his room for Kozue, who is making her first official visit today. Kyoko becomes jealous when she hears this, even though Mrs. Ichinose says Godai didn't brag about the visit, she just overheard him on the telephone. As Kozue arrives, Godai tries to sneak her in, but Mrs. Ichinose catches them, and makes sure she gets Godai to say how jealous Kyoko can be while Kyoko is listening. This sends Kyoko into a rage, and when Coach Mitaka calls, she readily accepts a date with him. Kozue and Godai's afternoon is interrupted when Yotsuya breaks down the wall between their rooms again, and scares Kozue into Godai's arms. Later that evening Godai and Kozue leave to go to her parents house and run into Kyoko who is leaving for her date with Mitaka. Godai asks why he isn't picking her up in his car, and Kyoko explains that its in the shop, but that its the man she's dating, not his car, depressing Godai. Mitaka waits for Kyoko outside a Dog Grooming Parlor, when suddenly a dog runs out and gets his pants dirty. A kind young worker brings him inside and tries to get the stain out when suddenly Annother dog scares him and he jumps into her arms. At that very instant Kyoko walks by and sees him hugging the woman. She becomes so upset that she stands him up and spends the rest of the night playing pachinko. On the way home she meets Godai again and becomes so annoyed by his questions that she throws a can at his head, knocking him down.
Between the transition of Mitaka and Godai sleeping in their respective homes, we see the child versions of Ataru, Shinobu and Megane run past once more. They appear later in the episode as well.
Kozue decides to make cream stew for Godai. This is the same thing that Mitaka made for Kyoko when she was injured in episode 16.
Kozue’s bag of groceries says Heaven 17 on it, which is likely a play on 7-11, as the logo looks similar, however Heaven 17 is also a British New Wave band who took their name from a fictious band in Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange.
Episode 27: 消えた惣一郎!? 思い出は焼鳥の香り
Kieta Soichiro!? Omoide wa yakitori no kaori. (Soichiro Gone!? Yakitori Memories)
Kentaro offers to walk Soichiro for Kyoko, but ends up losing him. Kyoko tries her best to reassure Kentaro that Soichiro will find his way home, but in reality she is terrified of never seeing him again. She remembers the day that she and her husband first brought Soichiro home, and how he wouldn't answer to any other name. All the tenants do their best to find the missing dog, and after many false hopes, begin to give up. Finally, Godai finds him at the house of a family a few blocks away and returns him to a greatful and shocked Kyoko.
The episode marks a major transition in the series, as episode 26 ended Kazuo Yamazaki's run as Chief Director, he would be replaced by Takashi Anno beginning in this episode. Tokio Tsuchiya's final episode working in Series Composition was 26, and he was replaced with Kazunori Ito, Yuji Moriyama stepped down as character designer with episode 26 and was replaced with Akemi Takada, while Kenji Kawai began contributing music in this episode.
This episode that Soichiro’s original name was very briefly Shiro.
At the finale of the episode as Godai sends Soichiro running back to Kyoko, Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again, Naturally” plays. While the song remained in the original VHS release of the series in America, the DVD version has the song replaced with background music due to the expensive rights.
Episode 28: 響子さんもビックリ私が賢太郎の父です
Kyoko-san mo bikkuri. Watashi ga Kentaro no chichi desu. (Even Kyoko's Surprised! "I'm Kentaro's Father")
The tenants are shocked when they begin seeing a mystery man leaving Maison Ikkoku. Soon enough they realize that he is none other than Kentaro's father, Mr. Ichinose! After losing his job, Mr. Ichinose begins having trouble finding a new one, meanwhile Kentaro has a parent/child sports meet at his elementary school, but is too embarassed to ask his overweight, alcoholic mother, and recently unemployed father to come, so instead he asks Godai and Kyoko to come as his sister and her husband. Godai is all to happy to accept, but Kyoko feels guilty. Yotsuya finally tells Mr. Ichinose what Kentaro has planned, and the Ichinose's decide to not only compete, but win the three-legged race.
An undokai (運動会) is a sports day held in Japanese elementary schools. Children wear their taiso fuku or gym clothes all day along with aka-shiro boshi or red and white reversable hats to signify which team they will be on in each event, either the aka-gumi (red team) or shiro-gumi (white team).
As Kentaro plays outside the trumpet of a tofu vendor can be heard in the distance.
When Godai and Kyoko practice for the three-legged race they lay their jackets on a large circular object. These are commonly seen in anime and are turf or lawn rollers. They’re used to level soil and make lawns healthier.
The beanbag toss is the game Kentaro watches where his classmates toss red and white beanbag balls into tall baskets. This is a staple even of childrens Sports Days in Japan.
The large pole game that is being played is called bo-taoshi (棒倒し). In the game, the two teams are divided in half, with half of the players being offense and the other half being defense for each team. The object is to bring a single pole down to a 30 degree angle within two minutes.
Episode 29: ハチャメチャ秋祭り響子さんと井戸の中
Hachamecha akimatsuri Kyoko-san to ido no naka. (Fall Festival Foul - Up ! All Swell That Ends In A Well)
All the Maison Ikkoku tenants visit a local Fall Festival and Godai and Kyoko even decide to take part in it. A misunderstanding leads to Kyoko falling down a very deep well. Before long Godai realizes that Yotsuya was mainly responsible for the mishap, but when he goes to save her, he gets pulled in as well. Soon Yotsuya drops by but instead of helping, he uses the well in order to partake of his favorite hobby, voyeurism. After he leaves Yotsuya brings Mitaka to the well, but for reasons only known to him, he decides to push him in with Godai and Kyoko. Now a new problem has risen its ugly head...who will help Kyoko get out, and who will stay stuck at the bottom of the well? Soon enough a frightened Kozue climbs down into the well to hide from some locals dressed as monsters, Akemi jumps in to visit with Mitaka, Sakamoto hops in for a visit, Yotsuya returns to join in the fun, and Ichinose drunkenly dives in too! Can Kentaro save everyone else?
The festival being celebrated in this episode is aki matsuri, literally a “fall festival.”
Tachibana Temple
The small vest Kentaro wears is a hifu (被布) which is worn by children over a kimono for warmth. Children usually wear hifu on Shichi-go-san, on November 15th.
In the background of the changing room Kyoko is in are items marked To-y and Momoko. The unique spelling of To-y indicates a reference to the manga of the same name created by Atsushi Kamijo. It ran from 1985 to 1987 in Shonen Sunday alongside Urusei Yatsura and Ranma 1/2. Momoko is likely a reference to famed idol Momoko Kikuchi (菊池 桃子).
“You’re Okiku that chick in the well, right?” – Kyoko is dressed as the lead character from Banchō Sarayashiki (番町皿屋敷). In the story a servant girl named Okiku is persued by a samurai, but she continually rebuffs his advances. Ultimately, he steals a Delft pottery plate and hides it. Knowing that she will be put to death for losing such a precious piece, she begs the samurai for help, but he will only grant it if she marries him. When she refuses yet again, he kills her and throws her down a well. Her vengeful spirit or onryo (怨霊) returns, counting from one to nine and then screaming as she cannot find the tenth plate that will always elude her.
Godai is dressed as a nekomata (猫又). A nekomata is a cat that has grown old and transformed into a yokai. However Yotsuya paints Godai’s face up in the traditional kabuki style of kumadori (隈取), more specifically the most well known red kumadori known as sugi-guma (筋隈). The red lines represent power and anger. Akemi scribbles some insults for added effect.
Other monsters at the festival include Frankenstein’s Monster, a werewolf and Master as a very creepy Mummy.
Episode 30: エッ響子さん結婚!? 五代くん涙の引越し
Eh Kyoko-san kekkon!? Godai-kun namida no hikkoshi. (What!? Kyoko Married!? Godai's Tearful Goodbye)
Rumors of a wedding between Mitaka and Kyoko are flying, leaving the tenants depressed that they've been kept in the dark. Godai finally decides to confront Kyoko, but a passing train leaves out a key detail, its Mitaka's Sister who is getting married, not Mitaka and Kyoko. A tearful Godai quickly packs up all his things and moves out of Maison Ikkoku before Kyoko can stop him. He finds a new apartment above a pachinko parlor and is shocked to find an incredibly sexy girl named Ayako already living there. He finally decides that it won't be too bad living with her until she can find a new place, that is until her Yakuza boyfriend shows up and makes this comfy couple into a terrible three-some. Kyoko is of course too proud to find Godai and tell him what's really going on, but even if she wanted to she couldn't, that is until the movers arrive for Godai's furniture. Getting the address from them, Kyoko visits Godai's new apartment to deliver a package, but instead finds only a half-dressed Ayako.
Godai moves in above the Grand Universe Pachinko Parlor. While gambling is illegal in Japan, pachinko parlors bypass this law by allowing patrons to trade in their ball bearings for prizes, these prizes can then be taken to an adjacent shop where the owner is willing to “buy” the prize back for a tidy sum of money, thus allowing the player to “earn” money without technically gambling.
As Ayako’s husband lays in her lap, she cleans his ear with a mimikaki (耳かき). The tool is used to scrape the wax off the flesh of the ear and is used not just as a cleaning process but for relaxation as well.
Godai’s new apartment is in Nishi (west) Tokeizaka. At the train station you can see this stop lies between Tokeizaka and Tokeisakai. All three of these are fictional stops. While Tokeizaka itself is fictional, it is based on a real area of Tokyo. The Seibu Ikebukuro Line around the Higashikurume Station (東久留米駅) is where most of the visuals of Tokeizaka and its surroundings are modeled upon. Higashikurume (東久留米市) is the area where Rumiko Takahashi lived when the manga began its serialization.
Episode 31: 一刻館スキャンダル五代くんが同棲中!?
Ikkoku-kan scandal Godai-kun ga dosei tyu!? (Scandal at Ikkoku! Godai's...SHACKING UP!?)
Kyoko learns that Godai is living with a woman, and thinks that this is the real reason he left. Godai comes back to the apartment and learns that the Yakuza has pawned all his belongings so that he can have money to gamble. After they refuse to move out, Godai hits the streets in hopes of finding a friend he can stay with. He calls Maison Ikkoku, but a dejected Kyoko lies and tells him all the rooms are full. After walking around all night and not finding a place to sleep, he begins to get really sick. Finally stumbling his way back to Maison Ikkoku, the other tenants see him and chance after him, Kyoko finally grabs him and tells him to come home.
Notes:
The unwitting hero of this episode is probably Master, who runs Chachamaru. Chachamaru is a snack bar (スナックバー). These bars are generally refer to a drinking shop where women serve customers over the counter. If the person in charge of the store is often a woman, who is called "mama-san" (ママ). Many shops are open until midnight. the main service is for customers to enjoy conversations with "mama-sans", clerks, and other customers, and sing karaoke while drinking alcohol and eating snacks. The alcohol and dishes provided are usually cheap and simple, but there are expensive products such as brandy, cheap shochu (焼酎). Until the early 1970s, it dared to say the current style, referring to the café-bar form, and during the day, dessert menus such as parfaits were also available. The master and/or the bartender were dressed in bow ties, and the atmosphere in the store often mimicked a petit modern space in a European style. Afterwards, the abbreviated name "Snack" came into fashion for these kinds of establishments, and a sign labeled as such stands outside Chachamaru.
A number of interesting magazines can be seen at the kiosk where Mrs. Ichinose and Kyoko have their conversation. In front of Ichinose is a magazine with the manga What’s Michael? (ホワッツマイケル?) on the cover. What’s Michael? is a series by Makoto Kobayashi that appeared in Weekly Morning magazine from 1984 to 1989. Other magazine’s include Shonen Jump, Lala, a shojo manga magazine, Elle, Depeche Mode (the French magazine from which the British pop group got their name) and the magazine that Kyoko flips through, which shows a drawing of a man with a beard on one page. This is famed director Orson Welles, who was writing a series of articles at the time in Big Comic Spirits, the magazine that Maison Ikkoku was originally published in. As Kyoko turns the page, the viewer can see Lum and Ataru from Urusei Yatsura getting into an argument.
Episode 32: 玉子はミステリー? 四谷の危険な贈り物
Tamago wa mystery? Yotsuya no kiken na okurimono (The Incredible, Unforgettable Egg! Yotsuya's Dangerous Gift)
Yotsuya entrusts a mysterious egg to Godai in the middle of the night, before mysteriously leaving Maison Ikkoku. The next morning everyone rushes in to Room 5 as they hear Godai's screams of terror. He thought the whole meeting between he and Yotsuya had been nothing more than a strange dream. When he tells everyone what happened, Kyoko and Ichinose are instantly flummoxed about what Yotsuya could possibly want Godai to do with the egg. Should he eat it, or protect it? Akemi decides to steal the egg and feed it to Soichiro, but Kyoko manages to snatch it back just in time. Over the next few days, Kentaro and Akemi both try stealing the egg, Godai worries over what to do before Yotsuya returns, a strange habit of Mrs. Ichinose's is revealed, and Kyoko becomes obessesed with trying to find out how to tell a hard-boiled egg from a raw egg without breaking it open.
This is the first episode that is not based on an original manga story.
Kozue and Godai have lunch at an okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) restaurant. Fans of Rumiko Takahashi most likely associate okonomiyaki with Ukyo Kunoji from Ranma 1/2. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake that has various ingredients added to it while cooked on a griddle.
“Because it might contain all the world’s misfortunes.” – Ichinose thinks that the egg could be Pandora’s Box.
Episode 33: 日記にショック! 惣一郎に恋人がいた!?
Nikki ni shock! Soichiro-san ni koubito ga ita!? (The Case of the Shocking Diary My Husband Had a Sweetheart!)
After finishing a tutoring session with Ikuko, Grandfather Otonashi asks Godai to return Soichiro's diary to Kyoko. On the trip home, Godai worries about it bringing back memories for Kyoko, and as soon as he gives it to her, it has the effect he was hoping it wouldn't. As Kyoko flips through the diary, she realizes that Soichiro's life was actually fairly boring. All he would write about was the food he was eating. Until one day when he received a mysterious postcard. But the postcard is missing, having fallen into Godai's bag. Kyoko becomes worried that the postcard was from Annother woman and searches everywhere for it. Godai notices how depressed she's become, but doesn't know why. He thinks the memory of Soichiro is too much for her to handle. A few days later, he finds the card, and returns it to Kyoko, when she realizes it was a simple postcard from her, she is overjoyed.
Kyoko let’s out a slight chuckle as she sees a stem floating in her cup of tea. This is known as a lucky omen in tea culture and is called chabashira (茶柱), which means ‘tea pillar’.
As Kyoko is cooking she samples her broth with a small dish. This is known as a kozara (⼩⽫) and is used for sampling as well as dipping sushi in soy sauce.
Kyoko mentions Godai’s grandmother being named Yukari as she previews the next episode, but her first name is never mentioned in the episode itself, with the exception of the title.
Episode 34: 恋は強引に! ゆかり婆ちゃん金歯で勝負
Koi wa goin ni! Yukari bachan kinba de syobu (Overpowered by Love! The Grandma Yukari Gold Tooth Gauntlet!)
Godai wakes up to rustling noise in his room, when he demands Yotsuya stop it, he opens his eyes to see his Grandmother. To his surprise, he was supposed to pick her up, but totally forgot. She wastes no time in scolding him, and embarassing him in front of Kyoko. When she learns from the Manager that Godai has a girlfriend, she insists upon meeting her. Godai takes her to meet Kozue the next day, and they all make a nice day out of it. Grandma pressures him into asking Kozue to marry, much to Godai's horror, but he gets out of it. When they arrive back at Maison Ikkoku, she demands that Godai choose between Kozue or Kyoko. Godai refuses to discuss it with her, until the other tenants arrive and begin to party. The next day, Grandma Yukari learns about Kyoko's friendship with Mitaka and insists upon meeting him. And so, Yukari attends Kyoko and Mrs. Ichinose's regular tennis class and meets Shun. At first he thinks she must be Kyoko's grandmother, and quickly realizes his charms have no effect on her. But before he realizes who's grandmother she is, he has invited her to his apartment for dinner, along with her grandchild and Kyoko. When he realizes his mistake he is tremendously upset. The following Saturday, Godai, Kyoko, and Yukari arrive at Mitaka's apartment. He wastes no time in showing off his extensive stereo equipment, priceless doll collection, huge bedroom, and elaborate kitchen. Godai is embarassed at how little he has in comparison. But on the way home, a pep talk from his Grandmother sets him straight. He will never give up on his bid to win Kyoko's heart.
In Godai’s room when he’s eating dinner with his grandmother you can see a book or cassette on his shelf marked A-ha. A-ha are a Norwegian pop band formed in 1982 best known globally for their hit song “Take on Me.” When this episode aired the band had just released their second album, “Scoundrel Days” which reached number 7 on the Oricon charts in Japan.
Mitaka mentions his rent is 200,000 yen a month. In episode 18, Godai lays out his rent, which was 22,000 yen a month. So Mitaka is paying roughly ten times what Godai does.
Episode 35: 追跡大作戦! 響子と五代のデートを狙え
Tsuiseki daisakusen! Kyoko to Godai no date wo nerae (The Great Date Race! Kyoko and Godai Have Left the Building)
Godai learns that his Grandma has set he and Kyoko up on a date. When he goes downstairs to apologize to Kyoko, she tells him that she's actually looking forward to it, which really gets Godai excited. As Godai and Kyoko head off on their date, Yuakari gives them their itinerary, and then they head off. The first stop is the movie theater, where they run into Yotsuya, after they escape from him, they go to a toy store, where Kyoko gets very excited and plays with everything. Suddenly Mrs. Ichinose and Kentaro walk up and talk to the two. Godai begins to get suspicious and pulls Kyoko out of the store. They hide for a second and then decide to go get lunch, at the restaurant they sit down next to Akemi and Master, and then they know something is really up. They run out of the restaurant and everyone gives chase. They finally catch a break, but it doesn't last for long as the tenants find them again. The rest of the day is spent escaping the Looney Gang. Godai apologizes for the ruined date, but Kyoko says she can't remember when she's had more fun. At home, the tenants report to Yukari that it didn't look like Godai and Kyoko had any fun, because all they did was run away. When Godai shows up though, he can't stop smiling.
After leaving the theater Jingle Bells plays as background music. This version of the song was never collected on any soundtrack for the series.
In one of the panning shots across the city a sign reads Isetan. Isetan (伊勢丹) is a chain of department stores in Japan. It is based in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo and ias considered to be one of the most influential and fashionable stores in Japan.
In the toy store a pair of children are playing either Super Mario Bros. or its sequel Super Mario Bros. 2 on a Famicom. The notoriously difficult sequel would have been in stores for a few months when this episode originally aired on television.
While the green monster toy Kyoko plays with is an obvious homage to Godzilla, it isn’t a real product. However the Cat Paw is an actual novelty toy that you can still easily buy today all over the world.
The ramp toy that Godai and Kyoko watch is an homage to the classic 1980s children’s toy known mostly as the “Playful Penguin Race.”
Kyoko’s stuffed animal is Kotatsuneko from Urusei Yatsura.
A building has a To-y sign referencing the then currently running manga by Atsushi Kamijo in Shonen Sunday.
“Me? I usually drink Hazakura, but this is good too.” – Ichinose’s brand of sake, Hazakura (葉桜
) refers to the time after Japanese cherry trees have dropped their blossoms and the young leaves are now visible.
Episode 36: いきなりキスの嵐! 朱美さんの失恋物語
Ikinari kiss no arashi! Akemi-san no shitsuren monogatari (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss... But a Woman's Love is Priceless)
Akemi sits in her boyfriend Hiroshi's car as they watch the ships coming into the docks. Suddenly he tells her he's breaking up with her, and Akemi finds Annother womans earring on the seat. She keeps her cool, and simply walks away. When she arrives at Maison Ikkoku though, she is completely drunk. When she passes out in the entryway, Godai and Kyoko have to carry her up to her room. She wakes up in a daze and kisses Godai. Kyoko starts telling her to pull herself together, and Akemi kisses her! Then Akemi tosses them out. Godai and Kyoko nervously stand in the hall, wiping the lipstick off their lips. The next day, Godai asks Akemi if there is anything he can do for her, but Akemi can't remember why he would ask something like that. Later she does remember and goes downstairs to apologize to Kyoko. In town, Akemi and Godai pass each other on the street, and she gives him a lighter that Hiroshi had given her. Godai begins to think that maybe she likes him, and so he nervously wonders what he should do. At Chachamaru, Akemi gets a mysterious call and runs out. The phone rings again and Yotsuya answers it. Its Hirosh, and he and Yotsuya meet so that he can try and get Akemi back. Hiroshi waits outside Ikkoku to try and see Akemi, but when Godai comes down, he drives off. Finally, Akemi decides to see him again, and he tells her he was crazy for leaving her. They decide to leave town together, and arrange to meet at the docks. Akemi leaves Maison Ikkoku the next morning and Godai walks her to the train station. After he helps her with her back, she remembers what a nice guy he is. She spends all day walking around Tokyo, waiting until the appointed time that she's supposed to meet Hiroshi. She waits all day and finally decides that he isn't worth it. Meanwhile, everyone is at Chachamaru, worried about Akemi, wondering where she could be. She suddenly walks in and everyone is relieved to see she's okay. She settles in for a drink with them, finally feeling like her old self again.
Godai has a poster of Rubix Cube on his wall. The 1980s were the height of popularity for this puzzle toy.
The trash can in the hallway says “burnable trash.”
“Kennosuke Yotsuya.” - Yotsuya gives the first of his many aliases in this episode. Written Kennosuke Yotsuya but pronounced as “Gorobei,” nicknamed “Honest Goro.”
As Akemi waits, she drinks Lowenbrau Draft. Lowenbrau is a real beer founded in 1383. It has been served at every Oktoberfest in Munich since 1810. The logo depicts Daniel in the Lion’s Den which is visible on Akemi’s can. It is distributed by Asahi Beer in Japan.
Akemi’s boyfriend Hiroshi drives a Nissan Skyline (日産・スカイライン), likely a seventh generation R31 from 1985.
