On the class ski trip, Tsubasa spends time with the beautiful indoor-type Sayuri. Can he help Minami befriend her?
Episode 3 — “Akino-san Is Super Unfriendly”
Hmm.
I liked the conversation between Sayuri Akino and Tsubasa on the bus in Hokkaido Gals. The pair talked about a common occurrence when talking to strangers in a temporarily intimate situation, like sharing seats on a bus. You feel like you can tell your seatmates anything about yourself because you’ll never see them again. Confessions with strangers can happen because of the cocoon of privacy and the safety of anonymity.
When I take trips by myself, I’m often on the receiving end of these revelations. They told me I have a face (or attitude) that made them feel safe to talk about things they’d never say in front of their friends or family. Tsubasa occupies that space for Sayuri because he’s the new guy in class. The drawback, of course, is that they won’t be strangers for much longer. I’m sure they’ll make memories together and then have genuine intimacy instead of the illusion of a temporary one.
But Hokkaido Gals did something I’ve never liked in anime: people whispering about another person within earshot. Tsubasa and Minami talked about Sayuri when she was inches away. Is this a cultural Japanese thing? Or is this a time-saving device creators use so they don’t have to draw another location where the whispering discussion happens? I mean, come on. How could Sayuri not hear Minami and Tsubasa talking about her? That’s disrespectful! I wonder if Japanese people have learned how to tune people out when they’re not involved in the conversation. Natives, please let me know!
Heh.
Minami! Calm down! She’s so excited about the ski trip. That’s Hokkaido for you. Classes go on day trips to ski resorts. Minami and Tsubasa have settled into a teasing rhythm in Hokkaido Gals. Uh oh. Quiet Sayuri looks bothered by the whole exchange. Unsurprisingly, Minami is a gyaru ski bunny. Hahaha. Translating Japanese skiing slang into American skiing slang. Aw. Minami tries to be friendly with everyone, but Sayuri isn’t responding. Is this believable? Can two people whisper about another person right in front of her face? Minami is desperate to become Sayuri’s friend because she’s “super adorbable!” More slang translation. Minami called Sayuri “なまらめんこっく, namara menkokku.” Hey! That’s the name of the show! Tsubasa wonders if a gyaru can be a prim and proper classic beauty. It’s a contradiction! Uh oh. Jealous Minami can be “adorbable,” too.
Tsubasa has never skied before, so he has to slowly learn how to stand up and walk around. Sayuri doesn’t know how to ski, either. How does that happen to Hokkaido gals? Hoho. Sayuri put earbuds in, so there goes Tsubasa’s chance to talk to her. He likes her nadeshiko maneuver of putting her hair behind her ear. Eep. Sayuri fell down already. Meanwhile, here comes Minami Ski Bunny Gyaru! Heheh. Sayuri got right to the point: Are Tsubasa and Minami going out? Uh oh. Powerful loner aura. Har. She calls practicing skiing “independent study.” Shh!
Hokkaido Gals Can Be Gamers!
Aw. Tsubasa and Sayuri’s teacher forgot about them. They missed lunch! They’ll have to eat on their own. Awkward. Eating on the bus together feels weird. Ack! Tsubasa forgot his chopsticks, but look what he found instead. Hokkaido Gals gave him a prim, proper, gyaru belly button! Sayuri wasn’t changing, she explained. She sweats a lot, so she had to wipe herself down. Could she use help with that? I’m sure she’d find volunteers. Wet girls are all right as long as they don’t stink. Well. Some people might like that, too. Either way, Sayuri felt embarrassed about her perspiration and stopped joining in sports activities.
Have you ever shared a secret with a stranger on a long bus or plane ride? Sayuri does this here, but Tsubasa is in her homeroom. This event opens a relationship route as if he were in a dating sim game. Ha! Sayuri is blunt. And correct. Tsubasa is that anime male character who overreacts to sexy situations in Hokkaido Gals. Ah. Confirmation for Sayuri’s gamer gyaru status. Look how she glares! How has Tsubasa not heard of Crash Sisters Plus? We know how sheltered that kid is, so no surprise here. Just mash the buttons! There goes Tsubasa overreacting to every little boob touch. Hoho. Look at Sayuri blush at every compliment. Literally tsundere. Her ears are so red! Namara menkokkuna gyaru! Gal Gamer Professor Sayuri will teach Tsubasa how to play video games.
Hokkaido Gals Fall Down Mountains
Tsubasa, be ambitious! Let’s see how Sayuri skis down a small hill. Also, face the truth: Tsubasa totally loves Minami. She’s his first friend in Hokkaido, but will she be his “first?” Oh, come on. Tsubasa doesn’t need a fake challenge to convince Sayuri to become friends with Minami. Yay! Tsubasa made it all the way down without falling. He can ski! Uh oh. Sayuri can ski, too, but she can’t stop. Ah. Mountain Rescue Gyaru knows what to do! Just fall down because the snow is soft. Aw. Minami made friends with Sayuri. But Tsubasa and Sayuri fell asleep on the bus ride home. Minami wanted to hang out with them!
Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! (道産子ギャルはなまらめんこい, Dosanko Gal wa Namaramenkoi) streams on Crunchyroll in Japanese audio and English subtitles.
Did you enjoy Sayuri’s debut? She has a pretty face, but I want to see her wearing less than a snowsuit. What “games” would you play with her? Let us know in the comments below.
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