Rin and Misa join Manatsu and Yuzu on their continuing hunt for the Great Nyu-Nyu.
#8 – “The Great Nyu-Nyu”
Hmm.
Slice of life comedy and character development continue on Kandagawa Jet Girls this week. On the comedy side, Jet Girls used the fakeout to good effect. It happened when Misa thought Rin was analyzing their race against Hell’s Kitchen, but Rin only wanted to see their victory pose. This plot point ties into a couple of characteristics the two teammates need to address so their teamwork gets better. The first is being in sync, which the two fun pairs of the Americans and the Ero Gyaru Combi covered last week. Rin and Misa are spending more time together, which is great, but they also need to be more open in their communications.
Here, Kandagawa shows Rin’s shortcomings when it comes to relationships. This has been tricky to portray, because Rin is so friendly and outgoing, however, she is not verbal in sharing her feelings and needs. She will have to meet Misa halfway on this because of Misa’s own personality quirks. Rin prays to the Kandagawa Guardian to be on the same page as Misa, but the hard work she needs to put into achieving her goal is just telling Misa this. To be sure, Misa has not put out the welcome mat for hearing about other people’s feelings and thoughts, but that’s why it’s hard work on Rin’s part. She’s been sensitive enough about Misa’s prickly exterior and Rin just needs to push through and talk to her.
Emotional work is still tough and something the girls would rather avoid, so I’m sympathetic to Rin relying on wishes, prayers, and other superstitions to just magically be a team. It’s another one of those anime norms that Japanese girls are superstitious. The Ero Gyaru Combi are already a great team and totally in sync, even knowing how to play little pranks on Misa and Rin through touches or eye contact, but they want Nyu-Nyu to grant them the wish of making Jet Racing training easier. It was a nice dichotomy of goals between MKHU and the Kandagawa Jet Girls for the Great Nyu-Nyu hunt.
A fun thing I noticed, which was hinted at earlier in the season, is how there is a yuri imbalance between Manatsu and Yuzu. Manatsu seems more innocent in a heterosexual way, but she also appears intrigued by how Rin and Misa interact with each other. Both she and Yuzu picked up on the Kandagawa Jet Girls’ yuri vibe and sarcastically applauded one moment. But there was a later moment when Misa gave Rin her sweater to cover up her ripped blouse and both gyaru blushed at the tenderness. It looked like Manatsu stared accusingly at Yuzu, like she wished her own partner did that stuff more. And Yuzu caught that look, because of how in tune they are. That was a great slice of life anime moment, gilded by the yuri lily too.
Heh.
Another episode of Hell’s Kitchen. Idol reality show stuff is rough.
Fighting to make the other one jump first might be a crack in their teamwork. Maybe. Their cutesy pose doesn’t look so good without the heart signs. They’re still pros!
Ah. This was all to bring us back to their viral show about the Nyu-Nyu.
Rin wasn’t looking at their last race to beat Hell’s Kitchen. She just wanted to see their signature pose again! The Kandagawa Jet Girls need a pose too! It’s team building. Or branding. Or identity-making!
Misa is so shy! I like her nervous tic of playing with hair. Hina’s mom likes seeing her reaching out and joining others too.
Misa won’t do that thing with the pose, but Rin might use it as leverage to get their double-face logo on their Jet Racer. Make it happen! Misa is slowly getting worn down. Why is Hina getting all embarrassed here? Does Rin’s pouty face look too much like she’s trying to kiss Misa?
Yay! The Ero Gyaru Combi is back! I love how they have their own theme music. And they’re still hunting Nyu-Nyu? The legendary monster now has a good luck superstition attached to it. Manatsu claims their hunting activity is Jet Racing practice. If they get their wish granted… This is still good work, though. Relationship building between Jetter and Shooter is key! Misa needs to learn that.
Ha! Rin’s wish is for Misa to do a Jet Kiss pose! Is one of those dolphins carrying a rose in its mouth? Romantic!
Oh. Looking for Nyu-Nyu in blocked off tunnels. It’s dark. They’ll have to hold hands! The gyaru get it! Applause. Encore. Misa is so happy to hold hands.
Yuzu is perceptive. She decided to treat the excursion like a test of courage just to get Misa to cling more tightly to Rin. Manatsu is totally in tune with Yuzu too, quickly following her lead. How did they see any of this in the dark with just one flashlight?
Uh oh. Those rats don’t look so cute. The show had some restraint with only one girl getting her shirt torn open, and just barely too. Manatsu and Yuzu appear not to be readily open about their yuri appreciation yet.
Ah. This is how we meet the final pair. At least the younger one, Inori. Take a bath? Of course! They probably do stink…
Emily takes her turn in the eye catch. Are we going to get the shrine maiden team next week?
Oh my. Watch that uncensored Kandagawa Jet Girls stream on HIDIVE. You can tell that Manatsu is skilled in “weighing” cup sizes from how well they matched the official information on the anime’s website. Inori looks like she’s interested in the bath time fun too.
The shrine belongs to the god of the Kanda River. Nyu-Nyu is the “reincarnation” of this god.
Aw. Rin recalled another memory of her mother fixing her button and calling her a troublemaker. Rin also kept her mom’s hairpin. Misa had a missed opportunity for bedtime snuggles. Slow yuri progress, but still slow.
Nyu-Nyu doesn’t grant wishes but will support your intentions, says Inori. Rin just wants Misa to put the “friendship logo” on the boat. Do it already, Misa! Inori is wise about how relationships get closer through shared experiences. Does she apply it to her own life? I want to know!
Rin prays for something good: to get on the same page with her partner and win their next race. But who will be their opponent?
Next time, we meet Inori’s other half.
