When a foreign person arrives in Japan for the first time, there’s much to discover – and even more so when you are an elf from a completely different world, as is the case in Welcome To Japan, Ms. Elf! Studio Zero-G’s newest adaptation follows Kazuhiro Kitase as he shows his elf friend, Mariabelle, the wonders of Japan. The first episode premiered on January 10th and the anime is set to run for 12 episodes.
I’m a sucker for stories about non-Japanese people discovering Japan for the first time. There are plenty of anime where foreign characters travel to Japan or characters from fantasy worlds are transported to Japan, and Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf focuses heavily on this. So far, the show is charming and cozy, and the friendship between the two main characters is already established, allowing us to dive right into the cultural sides of Japan.
Waking Up in Tokyo
Welcome To Japan, Ms. Elf‘s lead male character, Kazuhiro, has a single hobby: sleeping. He is seemingly a lucid sleeper, as he can make decisions in his dreams, which always take him on wonderous adventures in a fantasy world. Kazuhiro’s dream world extends beyond what is possible in a lucid dream when his elf friend wakes up with him in his bed in Tokyo, Japan after an encounter with a dragon. Even through the shock of Mariabelle waking up in his apartment, Kazuhiro takes her out on the town among cherry blossoms to show her his home.
The dynamic between the two main characters is endearing, and I like that the two have already established a friendship in the other world, so we don’t have to waste too much time for them to get to know each other. I also appreciate the sweetness of their bond. There are no quarrels or vitriol towards each other, so it’s easy and relaxing to watch them interact. That said, there is mystery surrounding the fact that Mariabelle has been transported to Japan looming over the two.
My favorite parts about the two episodes that have aired so far are moments of Mariabelle experiencing Japan for the first time. Her first dip in a modern Japanese bathtub, eating katsu-don, and learning Japanese phrases such as tadaima (I’m home) and itadakimasu (thanks for the food), are a delight to watch and remind me of my own first time in Japan.
Foreign visitors to Japan can easily relate to Mariabelle as she is introduced to the wonders of such a fascinating country for the first time – I think I had the same reaction as she did to eating katsu-don for the first time! It’s funny that Mariabelle always eats with a fork, as it’s a common stereotype that foreigners don’t know how to use chopsticks.
The second episode, which aired on January 18, spends more time in the fantasy dream world, where Kazuhiro and Mariabelle confront the dragon that seemingly was the cause of Mariabelle waking up in Japan. While the episode did need to answer some questions that left us hanging in episode one, I hope that less time is spent in this dream world and more time is spent in Japan. I love the cultural aspects of anime like this – Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable is a great example as it uses Hokkaido culture as a backdrop to its love story.
Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf is based on the light novel of the same name by Suzuki Makishima. Kaede Hondo, one of my favorite voice actresses, brings Mariabelle to life, while Kazuhiro is wonderfully voiced by Yusuke Kobayashi. I have no idea what is in store for the anime adaptation, as I’ve never read the source material, but I hope we can watch Kazuhiro and Mariabelle travel around Japan and explore more of Japanese culture throughout the series.
Episode 3 will air on January 25, with the anime streaming on Crunchyroll. You can vote for Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf in our weekly poll.
Also check out my review on Guild Receptionist, which is another anime airing this season.
© Makishima Suzuki, Hobby Japan / “Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf” Production Committee
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