Koi Kaze

Koi Kaze
First tankōbon volume, released by Kodansha released in Japan on March 22, 2002
恋風
Genre	Romance, Drama
Manga
Written by	Motoi Yoshida
Published by	Kodansha
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Evening
Original run	September 2001 – October 2004
Volumes	5
TV anime
Directed by	Takahiro Omori
Music by	Makoto Yoshimori
Studio	A.C.G.T
Licensed by	Geneon USA
Network	TV Asahi, Kids Station
Original run	April 1, 2004 – June 17, 2004
Episodes	13
Anime and Manga Portal

Koi Kaze (恋風^?, lit. "Love Wind") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Motoi Yoshida. It premiered in the September 2001 issue of Evening and ran for 29 chapters until its conclusion in the October 2004 issue. The individual chapters were collected and published in five tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. The series tells of the love affair that develops between 27-year-old Koshiro, and his 15-year-old sister, Nanoka.

The chapters were adapted as a 13-episode anime television series by A.C.G.T. Directed by Takahiro Omori, the episodes premiered on TV Asahi on April 1, 2004 and ran until June 17, 2004. Only the first 12 episodes of the series aired, with the final episode streamed online and later included in both DVD releases and when the series aired in reruns as the eighth episode. The anime series is licensed for release in North American by Geneon Entertainment, which released it across three DVD volumes in 2005.

Synopsis

Twenty-seven year old Koshiro Saeki, who lives with his father, is dumped by his girlfriend of two years, who claims he was too cold and she'd found someone else. While on a train the morning after, he sees high schooler Nanoka Kohinata looking at a button and crying. As she's later getting off the train, she drops her wallet and Koshiro follows to return it. Koshiro finds himself watching her sudden smile as she notices the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Later, Koshiro is leaving his job at a marriage-arranging company with a coworker when he encounters the girl again. Having two free tickets to an amusement park nearby, he gives them to her but instead she asks him to go with her. While on the ferris wheel, the girl explains that she was crying on the train because she'd been rejected by a boy she'd loved for several years. Koshiro ends up telling her about his own break up, and cries while she comforts him.

As they leave the park together feeling a mutual attraction, they run into their father and are shocked to discover they are siblings. Nanoka moved to Tokyo that morning to live with their father because it is closer to school, but Koshiro hadn't gone home the night before so he hadn't learned of her arrival. As they grew up living apart, they didn't know what the other looked like.

As the series progresses, Koshiro finds himself unable to rid himself of the attraction that he felt for Nanoka when he first met her. Instead, his love and desire continues to grow, despite his attempts to fight them. Entering womanhood, Nanoka also develops feelings for her brother, only increasing Koshiro's struggle. In near desperation, he moves out of the family home to remove himself from temptation and attempts to keep his coworker, Kaname Chidori, from finding out the truth behind his brusqueness with Nanoka.

However, the solution is only temporary, as Nanoka begins visiting regularly, cooking him meals and spending time with him. Eventually, unable to resist their feelings anymore, intercourse ensues. Unsure what to do now that they have broken a societal taboo, they visit their parents, before contemplating committing suicide together. In the end, they decide to live, and to continue their relationship.

Characters

• Koshiro Saeki (佐伯 耕四郎, Saeki Kōshirō^?), 27, is a large man usually sporting five o'clock shadow, Koshiro works for a marriage-arranging company and lives with his father. He has almost completely forgotten that he had a sister until she came and moved in with them. He finds himself battling with society's definition of what an older brother should be and his sexual and romantic feelings for his sister. In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Kenta Miyake. In the English dub, he is voiced by Patrick Seitz.

• Nanoka Kohinata (小日向 七夏, Kohinata Nanoka^?) is a 15-year-old high school girl who has moved to Tokyo to live with her father and older brother to attend school. A bright and active girl, she grows increasingly fond of her older brother, though is regularly annoyed with his brusque nature. Her friends unwittingly tease her about having a "brother complex", not realizing that Nanoka is actually falling in love with him. In the anime adaptation, she is voiced by Yūki Nakamura. In the English dub, she is voiced by Stephanie Sheh.

• Zenzo Saeki (佐伯善三, Saeki Zenzō^?) is Koshiro and Nanoka's father. He is prone to bouts of hysterical worry and cares for both of his children, though in particularly Nanoka. In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Ryōichi Tanaka. In the English dub, he is voiced by Doug Stone.

• Makie Kohinata (小日向梢絵, Kohinata Makie^?) is Koshiro and Nanoka's mother. Until moving to Tokyo, Nanoka lived with her mother, who runs a hair salon. She rarely sees Koshiro, though she speaks to him fondly when he visits. In the anime adaptation, she is voiced by Yūko Katō. In the English dub, she is voiced by Wendee Lee.

• Kaname Chidori (千鳥 要, Chidori Kaname^?) is Koshiro's supervisor and appears to be around his age. While she is often critical of his sloppy appearance, she encourages him where she can. When Koshiro first sees Nanoka outside his job, Chidori encourages him to go on a date with her, not learning until later that Nanoka is his sister. She eventually becomes suspicious of the siblings' relationship, and upon realizing she is correct, attempts to get them to end things, even trying to convince Nanoka that she is dating Koshiro. When she realize she can't change their minds, she hopes they can live with their choice. In the anime adaptation, she is voiced by Akemi Okamura. In the English dub, she is voiced by Michelle Ruff.

Media

Manga

The first chapter of Koi Kaze premiered in the September 2001 issue of the monthly Japanese magazine The Evening. New chapters appeared monthly until its conclusion in the October 2004 issue. The 35 individual chapters were collected and published in five tankōbon volumes by Kodansha from March 22, 2002 through December 21, 2004.^[1][2] Each volume's cover features Nanoka Kohinata, except the final volume which has Nanoka and Koshiro Saeki together.

No.	Release date	ISBN
1	March 22, 2002[1]	ISBN 978-4-06-352004-0
Chapter 1: The Snow of Spring (春、ふる?) Chapter 2: An Unhappy Morning (目覚めの悪い朝?) Chapter 3: Stop Calling Me Brother! (お兄ちゃん禁止?) Chapter 4: "Let's Sleep Together Every Night" (「毎晩一緒に寝ようね」?) Chapter 5: Till the Full Moon Comes (月が満ちるまで?) Chapter 6: Puberty (思春期?) Chapter 7: Ghost of Suspicion (夏の午後はうたたね?) Bonus: Summer's Afternoon Nap
2	November 22, 2002[3]	ISBN 978-4-06-352015-6
Chapter 8: Summer Holidays (夏の休日?) Chapter 9: Mother's Lover (お母さんの恋人?) Chapter 10: Cute, Cute Little Sister (かわいいかわいい妹?) Chapter 11: Like, Hate, Like (すき、きらい、すき?) Chapter 12: Love Letter (恋文?) Chapter 13: The Way to Become Siblings (兄妹になる方法?) Chapter 14: A Romantic Autumn (ロマンチック?) Special: Little Sister's Kingdom
3	July 23, 2003[4]	ISBN 978-4-06-352036-1
Chapter 15: The Warmth of December (１２月の温度?) Chapter 16: To Say Honestly (本当はね?) Chapter 17: Running Girl (疾走少女?) Chapter 18: Jacket Colored With Love (恋色セーター?) Chapter 19: Two People Wandering the Face of the Earth (境界線上のふたり?) Chapter 20: First Love (はつ恋?) Chapter 21: Public Notice (告白?) Omake: Playing in a Department Store
4	March 23, 2004[5]	ISBN 978-4-06-352061-3
Chapter 22: Observer (傍観者?) Chapter 23: Brother, I Am Sorry (ごめんねお兄ちゃん?) Chapter 24: No Way There (出口なし?) Chapter 25: Summer * Alone ~ There Are Feelings? (夏・独り・ここにある気持ち?) Chapter 26: What if Memories Change? (いつか思い出にかわるなら?) Chapter 27: Luckily, So Far Away (幸せ、どういうこと?) Chapter 28: Koshiro's Abandoned Things (耕四郎の捨てるもの?)
5	December 21, 2004[2]	ISBN 978-4-06-352091-0
Chapter 29: A Long Night for the Two (Part 1) (ふたりの長い夜（前編）?) Chapter 30: A Long Night for the Two (Part 2) (ふたりの長い夜（後編）?) Chapter 31: The End of Summer (夏のおわり?) Chapter 32: The Love of a Lifetime (生涯の恋?) Chapter 33: Scene of a Family (家族の風景?) Chapter 34: Exposure to the Sun (陽だまり?) Final: And Then, It's Spring Again (そしてまた春?)

Anime

Koi Kaze was adapted as a 13-episode anime television series by Geneon Entertainment and Rondo Robe. Directed by Takahiro Omori, the episodes premiered on TV Asahi on April 1, 2004 and ran until June 17, 2004. The series also aired on Kids Station.^[6] TV Asahi refused to aired the eighth episode, as it was felt to be too controversial because it dealt with the divorce, a taboo subject in Japan. The episode was aired on Kids Station and also streamed online on the Geneon Entertainment website and included in the subsequent DVD releases. The episode is sometimes numbered as episode 7.5 due to its not airing with the rest.^[7] Geneon released the series across five DVD volumes in Japan, with the first volume released on July 23, 2004 and the final volume released November 25, 2004.^[8]

The anime series is licensed for release in North American by Geneon USA which released it across three DVD volumes in 2005.^[9][10]

The episodes uses two pieces of theme music. "Koi Kaze" by éf is used as the opening song for all of the episodes except for episode twelve, which does not have an opening sequence. "Futari Dakara" (ふたりだから^?) by Masumi Itō is used for the series ending theme.

Episode listing

#	Title	Original airdate[6]
1	"First Flower" "Hatsuhana" (初花)	April 1, 2004
Koshiro is recovering from breaking up with his girlfriend. On his way to work in the train, he first meets Nanoka while returning a name tag that she dropped as she was trying to exit the train. After returning to his house from work, he finds out from his father that his sister, whose face he can no longer remember, will be moving into their house for easy of communting to school. His girlfriend visits him during lunch break the next day to get back the key to her house. At the end of the work day, a customer gives Koshiro and his boss two tickets to the theme park next door. Upon leaving their work place, Koshiro meets Nanoka again and spends the rest of the day at theme park with her; they consol each other on their love lives. Their father appears at the end of the day to pick Nanoka up, revealing to both that they are siblings.
2	"Spring Blue" "Shunshō" (春宵)	April 8, 2004
Koshiro is uncomfortable with Nanoka's doting presence as he struggles with his feelings for her. Nanoka takes over many of the households chores and even makes a bento for Koshiro. He reaches his limit when she arrives at his office to visit him, yelling at her, telling her to never visit him again and stop calling him onii-chan. To work off her anger Nanoka goes out with some friends to eat ice cream and karaoke until night. On her way back she calls once again, but is yelled at by Koshiro again. However she forgives him when he goes to pick her up on bicycle.
3	"Balmy Breeze" "Kunpū" (薫風)	April 15, 2004
Unable to sleep, occupied with thoughts of Nanoka, Koshiro remembers how in his childhood what helped sleep on such sleepless nights. After he wakes up, he exchanges the bear he just brought with Nanoka's bear, both made by their mother. Her friend falls in love with a guy only to find that he is Tamaki's boyfriend. Upon returning home, Koshiro finds Nanoka taking pain killers, finding out later that she is having her period. On his day off the next day, it begans to rain, prompting him to wait for her with his umbrella.
4	"Evening Shower" "Yūdachi" (夕立)	April 22, 2004
While out watching a movie with Nanoka, Koshiro bumps into his ex and they end up having dinner together. He initially hopes that they can get intimate afterwards, however she tells him her new boyfriend is visiting her. Frustrated, Koshiro goes home, and he inadvertently knocks over Nanoka's bra while changing. He almost gets caught sniffing it, and he realizes that he is attracted to his own sister, even though he can't come to terms with his feeling.
5	"Distant Thunder" "Enrai" (遠雷)	April 29, 2004
Koshiro is shocked to find that Nanoka has emptied the trashcan in his room that contained the tissues of his guilt. He shouts at her for invading his privacy. That night he returns from drinking and drops and breaks her rice bowl when she surprises him contemplating it. Next day, when his father calls Koshiro at work and asks him to meet Nanoka at the station with an umbrella, he discovers that it is Nanoka's birthday. He rushes off hoping that he can make amends for his bad behavior. He buys her flowers, apologizes, and says he will buy her anything she wants for a birthday present. She picks out a new rice bowl.
6	"Autumn Melancholy" "Shūshi" (秋思)	May 6, 2004
Nanoka discovers that she has developed a reputation at school for having a brother complex. After working late on the upcoming school festival, she is walked home by a male schoolmate. Koshiro encounters them and shouts at her for being so incautious with boys. She protests her innocence and his jealousy shows when he blurts out that she has to be careful because she is cute. Next day she avoids him by leaving early and gets jostled and groped on the train. They have a talk that evening and make up. Next day, he makes a point of going with her and protects her on the train from the crowd.
7	"First Storm" "Hatsuarashi" (初嵐)	May 13, 2004
Nanoka receives a love letter at school. She doesn't know what to do about it. She asks Koshiro what she should do about the love letter and he indifferently says she should make up her own mind and not consult him. She meets with her admirer and turns down his advances and then is disappointed when he doesn't seem to care. Koshiro regrets his prior indifference and tells Nanoka that if she wants advice about anything, she can ask him. She is impressed by his concern about her and says "I love you".
8	"Frosted Dew" "Tsuyujimo" (露霜)	July 7, 2004
Koshiro remembers the birth of his sister and their life together before their parent's divorce. Although they were too far apart in age to understand each other, they felt a vague sense of affection. In the present, Koshiro goes to see his mother for the first time in many years. She tells him how much Nanoka looked up to her big brother and tells him to be a good big brother to her. On the ride back, he remembers an incident when baby Nanoka gave him a glass of mud and he ended up keeping it because it made her so happy. He resolves to be a good big brother to her.
9	"Wind Flower" "Kazehana" (風花)	May 20, 2004
Koshiro contemplates moving out to resolve his situation. Nanoka plans to make him a sweater for Christmas. Koshiro asks Nanoka to bring an envelope he forgot to his workplace. She waits for him and watches him at work. They go home together. Kaname remarks what a nice couple they make. Nanoka falls asleep in his room. He touches her face and asks if she wants to sleep together. She says she loves him. He says she's abnormal to say that. She runs away. He pulls her back and holds her. She breaks away and flees to her own room. They're both pretty upset.
10	"Winter Moon" "Kangetsu" (寒月)	May 27, 2004
Koshiro mentions to Kaname that he is thinking of moving out. She pushes him into doing it right away. Nanoka doesn't want to go home, so she arranges to stay overnight at her friend's house where she watches two normal sisters bicker and laugh. Koshiro and Nanoka make up on the phone. Koshiro announces to the family that he's moving out. Nanoka comes to his room and asks if they can sleep together. He agrees on the condition that they not meet again. She wakes up in the morning alone in an empty room and cries.
11	"Lingering Cold" "Yokan" (余寒)	June 3, 2004
A month and a half after Koshiro has moved out, both the siblings are still thinking of each other, but keeping their promise not to see each other again. Nanoka sometimes walks by his new apartment or place of work, but avoids meeting him. Kaname has taken to sleeping over at Koshiro's place because "it's closer to work". One day when they are going to his place, they see Nanoka outside. He pushes Kaname away to hide from Nanoka, and Kaname guesses why he left home and is hiding from Nanoka. She confronts him, accuses him of perversion, and walks away. He stays home from work. When he opens the door to go to the store, Nanoka is standing there.
12	"Spring Thunder" "Shunrai" (春雷)	June 10, 2004
Nanoka breaks their promise and comes to Koshiro's apartment to see him. She offers to make him a meal, but his refrigerator is empty so he goes out to pick up some things. In the meantime, Kaname drops in and is shocked to find Nanoka there. She tries to make Nanoka go home by telling her that she is going out with Koshiro. But Nanoka refuses, saying that her feelings for her brother are greater and she insists that Kaname leave instead. Kaname encounters Koshiro on his way home and tries to talk sense into him, but he won't listen. Kaname says that she will not interfere any more. The siblings decide that they really do love each other and want to be together no matter what. They spend the night together as lovers.
13	"Heat Haze" "Kagerō" (陽炎)	June 17, 2004
Nanoka and Koshiro visit Mama together. After, sitting by the sea, Nanoka asks Koshiro if they should commit lover's suicide. He cries and says he doesn't know. She says that she is fine either way as long as she is with him. Koshiro quits his job. On his way out he meets Kaname, who wishes him well. Koshiro stands outside his father's house and says "Excuse me". The couple frolic in the playground to the disapproving stares of the local matrons. Then at night they sneak into the amusement park where they met. They sit on the ferris wheel and try to move it by prayer. It moves a bit. They carve their names on a tree and promise to go back there every year. When Nanoka has walked off to go home, Koshiro says "I love you".

CDs

A full-size version of the series ending theme, "Futari Dakara" was released to CD single by Masumi Itō on May 26, 2004. A complete CD soundtrack followed on July 23, 2004. The soundtrack contains 31 tracks, including various instrumental background pieces composed by Takumi Masanori and Makoto Yoshimori, the full size opening theme, and the TV version of the ending theme.^[11]

Reception

"Koi Kaze is not a series which is going to suit everyone's tastes due to its subject matter. It has the potential, though, to be the year's premiere romantic anime series." — Theron Martin, Anime News Network.^[12] "With the first third of the show on this volume, it's definitely one of the better structured doomed romances that I've seen in anime in a long time." — Chris Beveridge, Mania.^[13] "There are a million ways this series could have gone wrong. Instead, Koi Kaze deserves the highest marks possible for its thoughtful, honest, and mature handling of such a difficult and controversial issue." — Carlos Ross, T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews.^[14] "Koi Kaze is not a reassuring show, but if it skirts the edge of disaster instead of plunging in, it may offer warmth to lonely, troubled people, and that's worth a lot." — Christian Nutt, Newtype USA.^[15]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "恋風(1)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3520048. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "恋風(5)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3520919. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
3. ^ "恋風(2)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3520153. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
4. ^ "恋風(3)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3520366. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
5. ^ "恋風(4)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3520617. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "放送日程" (in Japanese). Geneon Entertainment. http://www.geneon-ent.co.jp/rondorobe/anime/koikaze/news_schedule.html. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
7. ^ "TV Station Skips Koikaze Episode". Anime News Network. June 9, 2004. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-06-09/tv-station-skips-koikaze-episode. Retrieved November 11, 2008. 
8. ^ "恋風 DVDs" (in Japanese). Geneon Entertainment. http://www.geneon-ent.co.jp/rondorobe/anime/koikaze/itemlink.html. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
9. ^ "Koikaze Licensed?". Anime News Network. April 2, 2004. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-04-02/koikaze-licensed. Retrieved November 11, 2008. 
10. ^ "Geneon Entertainment Licenses". Anime News Network. July 31, 2004. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-07-31/geneon-entertainment-licenses. Retrieved November 11, 2008. 
11. ^ "恋風 CDs" (in Japanese). Geneon Entertainment. http://www.geneon-ent.co.jp/rondorobe/anime/koikaze/item_cd.html. Retrieved November 12, 2008. 
12. ^ Martin, Theron (March 4, 2005). "Koi Kaze Volume 1: The Reunion". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/koi-kaze/dvd-1. Retrieved February 9, 2011. 
13. ^ Beveridge, Chris (January 25, 2005). "Koi Kaze Vol. #1 (also w/box)". Mania. http://www.mania.com/koi-kaze-vol-1-also-wbox_article_76693.html. Retrieved February 9, 2011. 
14. ^ Ross, Carlos. "Koi Kaze". T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews. http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1080. Retrieved February 9, 2011. 
15. ^ Nutt, Christian (March 2005). "Koi Kaze". Newtype USA 4 (3): p. 172. ISSN 1541-4817. 

External links

• Official Geneon Koi Kaze anime website (Japanese)
• Koi Kaze at Internet Movie Database
• Koi Kaze (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Koi Kaze (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia