Minami-ke Episode 01

The three Minami sisters

"The Three Minami Sisters"

"Minami-san-chi no San Shimai" (南さんちの三姉妹)

Airdate: 7 October 2007

Internal Date: 14 October 2007 and some of the days afterward.

Previous Episode → 01

Next Episode → 02

Synopsis

This episode introduces Chiaki, Fujioka, Haruka, Kana, Keiko, Ninomiya, and Sensei.

The Minami Sisters are introduced and their distinctive personalities are made immediately apparent. Kana attempts to cook dinner, attempts to kiss Chiaki, and is fooled by Chiaki with regards to breakfast. Finally, Chiaki does long-term damage to the relationship between Kana and Fujioka.

Segment One

Shirt straight from the manga.

^[Manga]The day begins as Haruka steps out onto the balcony in the sunlight and stretches, before rushing back inside because a teapot has started boiling. Meanwhile, Chiaki and Kana both get up and pauses to gaze meaningfully at her calendar, specifically Sunday the 14th.

Haruka is preparing in the kitchen as Chiaki walks in to greet her and offer help. Haruka says she can peel the carrots. Kana charges in and gives a speech about it being Sunday and, as such, she is going back to sleep. She then dances her way back to her room as the others bid her good night. Strangely, this seems to hurt her, and she implies she wants them to stop her and ask for her help. Haruka says she can deal with the potatoes. Kana botches this horribly, and Chiaki again bids her good night, implying she can go back to sleep.

Segment Two

Chiaki looks forward to her pancakes while insulting Kana.

Kana gets Chiaki to cooperate.

^[Manga]The next day, when Chiaki returns from school, Kana, who is lying indolently in pile of half-eaten food and manga, comments that Chiaki should return home sooner to play with her. Chiaki responds condescendingly, and prepares to do her homework, prompting Kana to beg her to relieve her of her boredom. Chiaki is surprised, since Haruka had instructed Kana to prepare dinner. Kana has, of course, forgotten, but then begs Chiaki to help her. Chiaki at first refuses, but Kana blackmails her with the knowledge of what will happen when Kana is allowed to use her epically bad cooking skills freely.

After the two have donned aprons, Chiaki instructs Kana to check the fridge, which turns out to be mostly empty, which causes Kana to close the door in a huff at the lack of ingredients. Chiaki points out that this hardly the real issue.

Chiaki walks to the phone to order takeout, but Kana refuses to let her make the call. Chiaki enjoins her to swallow her pride and let them have a decent dinner, but Kana suggests they make pancakes, an idea Chiaki appreciates, since even an idiot can make them, or so she thinks.They begin making the batter and all seems well, but then Kana, digging through the fridge, begins deciding to add canned fruit, yogurt, juice, and other such novelties. Chiaki warns that the recipe should not be messed with, but Kana adds it all anyway.

Not surprisingly, the batter refuses to thicken, and as they are out of pancake mix, the dish is irretrievable. Kana says perhaps they should just call it cream stew.

Eventually, Haruka returns, apologizing for being late, and sees Chiaki force-feeding the "cream stew" to a remorseful Kana.

Segment Three

Chiaki narrowly escapes.

Kana eventually gets repaid for this.

The first of Chiaki's punches, eventually replaced by Fujioka the bear, though not completely replaced.

^[Manga]The sisters are watching an episode of Sensei and Ninomiya-kun, in which Ninomiya tries to push sensei away but he persists, insisting that he no longer cares how society views their relationship. This culminates in a kiss, which Haruka interrupts for Chiaki's sake by changing the channel to a news show about a loincloth festival. They then kiss.

Chiaki asks Haruka about the scene, but Haruka quickly changes the topic by asking her about her day at school. After the meal, as Haruka is washing the dishes, Kana questions Haruka's actions and Haruka admits that while it would be better for Chiaki to know about "Strange Things", she panicked and wasn't able to handle it properly. Kana announces that she will show Chiaki what a kiss is.

As Kana sits down next to Chiaki, Chiaki again questions the kiss, and goes on to wonder why they would show this kind of thing in prime time, since it would affect the viewers. Kana is taken aback by the point and asks Chiaki to explain what's so bad about it. Chiaki says it's because they're kissing, but Kana questions why kissing is bad, stating that one who has never done it shouldn't condemn it. Chiaki astutely asks if Kana has done so; they both know she hasn't. Kana thinks about it then asks if Chiaki wants to try it. Chiaki refuses.

Kana does not let it drop, and decides to try and force Chiaki into it. An extended chase scene follows, with Kana finally pinning Chiaki to the living room floor, but unable to finish before Haruka walks in and questions what they are doing. Kana explains and Haruka tells her to leave Chiaki alone. Kana rebuts that since Haruka is far more experienced (she is not), she should be the one to do this with Chiaki. Chiaki has no objection, but Haruka is disconcerted and loses her composure. Seeing nothing happening, Kana takes her place, and gets punched.

Segment Four

Karma dictates that Kana gets these eyes used on her.

The next day, Kana is still asleep despite it being time to go to school, so Chiaki comes in to wake her. Kana sits up, and with a blank-eyed expression, promptly forms the same puckering expression she wore while trying to kiss Chiaki the day before. This time Chiaki holds her off by swinging a binder at her, and Haruka walks in and asks what they're doing.

As Kana is being led out the door, she breaks off and sits down at the kotatsu, deamnding food. Chiaki tells her they'll be late, but Kana insists that not having breakfast is bad for the body. Chiaki comments that she and Haruka will therefore be fine. Kana is shocked at Chiaki's heartlessness, but Chiaki reiterates that it doesn't matter to her how Kana ends up. Kana appeals to Haruka, who gives her a small rice roll. Kana says it's not enough, but Haruka lays down the law, telling her to wake up earlier the next day, in a cheerful voice of course. Chiaki then gives a convoluted Minami Logic argument as to why Kana should go to school now, because of the lunch they serve there. Convinced, Kana rushes out the door.

At school, Kana is collapsed from hunger on the table, and Keiko asks her what's wrong. Kana comments that she's feeling particularly stupid today, having been tricked by Chiaki, now that she has realized the obvious flaw in Chiaki's argument, namely that lunch isn't served until noon. She then demands that Keiko give her food, but Keiko says she is unable to do so. Disappointed, Kana curses the devilish Chiaki and starts ignoring Keiko, who is distressed by this.

As Kana looks out the window, sighing melancholic at her hunger, Fujioka looks on, blushes, and clutches his heart.

Segment Five

Kana responds maturely to Fujioka's letter.

Kana reacts upon realizing the social power of having a popular boyfriend.

Kana wins her "fight" against Fujioka.

Kana approves of Chiaki's efforts for her.

^[Manga]In her shoe locker, Kana discovers a letter addressed to her. She promptly runs home and announces this to her sisters, showing them the letter and jumping on the table. Despite Kana's admonition that Chiaki not read the letter out loud, Chiaki does so. It is from Fujioka asking to meet her privately after the class the next day. Meanwhile, Kana covers her ears and overreacts in the background. Haruka asks Kana what kind of guy Fujioka is and Kana explains that he's a member of the soccer team who is highly popular with the girls, which causes Kana to realize that she can flaunt him and use him to show off. Kana jumps on the table again to celebrate. Chiaki comments how superficial this is, but Kana asks if Chiaki is jealous, then drinks Chiaki's tea.

Chiaki comments that the letter is suspicious and that it is unlikely that a popular guy would write a love letter to someone such as Kana. Overriding Kana's objection to this, Chiaki continues by explaining how she thinks the letter might actually be a challenge to a fight from the Banchou Fujioka. Haruka comments that Fujioka might just be bad at expressing himself, but is ignored as Chiaki offers Kana her special strategy for defeating the talented-with-his-feet Fujioka.

The next day, Fujioka waits in the classroom for Kana who finally appears. But instead of saying anything, Kana simply walks in and kicks the stammering Fujioka's left leg hard in the shins, then announces how this attack to his pivot leg has won her the fight.

Finally, Kana runs home and gives Chiaki the thumbs up on a plan successfully implemented.

Manner of Adaptation

The adaptation of this episode from the manga was highly faithful, with the primary differences being small differences in wording and extra material to pad the interludes. Notably, the chase scene was greatly extended.

Fan Reaction

Reactions to the episode were generally highly positive, with the view that the show had exceeded expectations. Some felt that the show was too slow-paced.