User Reviews

Thanks to Robyn from Anime America on YouTube who suggested this series as it made her cry the most, I got down to watch it! It's very odd that it isn't recognised, it's just so touching but most of all sad. I was sad that poor Pork Bowl was slaughtered for food like the main character Hachiken was so attached to him. I mean I know that's life if you're living on a farm but it does show that losing a pet regardless if it is a working or home animal, it's a creature you've grown to be attached with at the end of the day.

However the anime has positives too, it did remind me of my grandparents farm life when grandad was alive and my grandmother was physically/mentally able. Although I'd never want to work on a farm myself, I still think it was nice for a change to include farming in an anime series! I guess Hachiken did make the right choice for him if he found the city life wasn't for him and of course that he managed to get himself a girlfriend out of working in the farm after all!

Good anime, definately would recommend you to watch it!

This series follows Yuugo Hachiken; a student from Sopporo in Hokkaido, who has decided to attend an agricultural school. This is not because he has any real interest in agriculture but because he wants to go to a boarding school so he can get away from home. Once there he discovers it is hard work; he may be academically gifted but he has much to learn about farming. As well as regular classes and farming practicals he joins the riding club; here he becomes friendly with Aki Mikage; a girl who is expected to take over her family's farm one day. Over the course of two series we see Hachaken learn a fair bit and this includes what happens to the runt piglet when it is fully grown and just how precarious the industry is when another friend's farm goes bankrupt.

There are lots of slice of life series set in high schools but this one is different; and not just because it isn't centred on a group of girls! The story is surprisingly serious at times without being overly depressing; in fact sometime there is humour among these moments and most episodes concentrate on Hachiken's learning about agriculture and riding rather than anything downbeat. When I first read the series summary I was unsure whether to watch it but I'm glad I did as it is an utter delight; Hachiken and Mikage are great lead characters and the rest of the cast are fun too. There are also interesting things to learn; I'd certainly not heard of Ban'ei horse racing, which involve large horses pulling heavy sledges. The animation is of a high quality and the characters are distinctive. Overall I heartily recommend the series; I just hope more episodes are made.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.