With the recent significant decrease in workload, I found myself actually having free time that didn't involve planning for (or panicking over) the arrival of a baby. This meant that I could actually get caught up in the many anime titles that I've woefully neglected over the last several months. I decided to attempt clearing some of the titles under my MyAnimeList Watching roster, and it seemed like a good idea to start with those that only had a few episodes left for me to watch.
I had originally foregone writing about last summer's Gin no Saji (or Silver Spoon) after I learned that there was going to be a second season and just decided to write a post that featured both seasons of the series once I finished (even if it did take me more than a few months to get caught up).
Hachiken Yugo enrolled in an agricultural school so that he could live apart from his family. Having always lived his life in the city of Sapporo, the new environment, classmates and experiences he encounters at the Yezo Agricultural High School proved to be overwhelming. Yet, even when surrounded by people who seemingly speak the foreign language understood only by those who lived all their lives running or working on a farm, Hachiken learns to embrace his new life and all the new knowledge it has to offer.
I had a suspicion that Gin no Saji was going to be a viewing win for me and slice of life titles are always welcome in my viewing list. And I wasn't disappointed in my expectations (neither was Marvin, who's particularly picky about which anime to watch).
Considering that he's the fish out of the agricultural school water, almost all, if not all, of the focus is on Hachiken. We get a picture of how the school's Dairy Sciences students juggle studying, practicum, and club activities, thrusting Hachiken in situations that, time and again, highlight how out of his depth he actually was when he impulsively decided to enroll in Yezo. The series humorously depicts the experiences of a city boy who never placed much importance on the source of the food on his table, as Hachiken learns where eggs actually pass through, what happens to livestock and why horses seem to dislike him. These scenes usually lead to plenty of laughter, with the humor well executed and playing on Hachiken's naivete never becoming a tiring sight.
While the humor of Gin no Saji was consistent and very much welcome, the comedy was also tempered by more serious themes. As much as Hachiken's life revolved around the agricultural lessons the school offered, he also gained valuable life lessons that made the series a must-watch. We learn through Hachiken, not just on the ways of farms that produce the food we eat, but an appreciation for their source. I don't know how many times I ended up craving the fresh produce that Hachiken experienced eating, knowing that his sense of taste was enhanced by his hard work.
Gin no Saji features a great character growth arc for Hachiken and some of his friends. Throughout his experiences and in opening up to new relationships with his classmates, Hachiken learns that he has the capability to exert effort for the sake of others, sometimes even pushing himself past his limits. While I wouldn't call him completely selfless, there's a sense of blind dedication in his actions to help others that you can't help but admire. When his classmates and teachers express their appreciation for his efforts, you can't help but feel the same as a member of an audience.
And the second season of Gin no Saji continued to utilize and build on its strengths in comedy and character building, this time offering more insight on Hachiken's reasons for enrolling in Yezo, and exposing both Hachiken and the audience on some of the harsh realities the Japanese farmers have to contend with.
I don't know if there will be another season of Gin no Saji, but I liked how they ended its second season and where they left Hachiken, who faces the rest of his stay at Yezo with a more positive outlook and his relationship with his classmates, particularly with love interest Mikage Aki, looking more rosy as he continues to be his helpful self.
I suppose that I could always turn to the manga series Gin no Saji was adapted from if I want to find out about his other experiences at Yezo, which I'm sure that I would enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed watching on my TV. For now, I'm really craving for the cheese and eggs they prominently featured in the series.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Adaptation, Anime, Comedy, Gin no Saji, Must-Watch, Slice of Life, TV
