Maison Ikkoku

Sorry...under construction...but, believe me...I'm working on it! Construction is occuring perhaps even as you read! (This is always the case, isn't it?

Briefly, Maison Ikkoku is almost all character interaction and romantic comedy. It takes its name from the rundown Tokyo apartment house where the main characters live. It was written and drawn by manga/anime artist extraordinare Rumiko Takahashi, who does a lovely job showing the everyday mishaps and triumphs of love. Takahashi said that she wanted to create a love story which could take place in the real world, and I, for one, feel that she's succeeded admirably.

Otonashi Kyoko:Kyoko is the beautiful Karinin-san (manager) of Maison Ikkoku. She is a widow and still keeps her husband's family name, Otonashi. Kyoko is torn between keeping his memory alive in her heart forever, and her love for Godai Yusaku...

Godai Yusaku: Yusaku is a penniless student, struggling to pass his college entrance exams. While he trys very hard to pass his exams, his efforts are often thwarted by the "Loon Squad", i.e. the other tenants of Maison Ikkoku. Yusaku is also terribly indecisive: he cannot tell Kyoko straight out that he loves her, nor can he tell Nanao Kozue that he likes her only as a friend...

Nanao Kozue: Kozue is a cute student Yusaku's age who is very much in love with him and makes it very clear that she expects to marry him! She is frustrated by the fact that he has never tried to kiss her... but she won't give up...In fact, she has to ask Mitaka Shun for advice on how to get Yusaku to like her...

Mitaka Shun: Shun is a dashing tennis coach (and yes, you heard that right). He is quite handsome (even his teeth sparkle) and is more assertive than Yusaku; he has even proposed outright to Kyoko! Like Yusaku, I think he is impressed by her spirit and her beauty...but unfortunately (for him), he is terrified of her dog, Soichiro...

Soichiro:Soichiro is Kyoko's dog. Described as big, mangy, and stupid-looking, he can be indentified by his questioning, "Bowf?". His name is, coincidentally, the first name of her late husband. (Hence, Yusaku's confusion when he hears Kyoko whispering, "oh, Soichiro!" in her sleep...) Soichiro seems loyal, but is sometimes quite taken in by the "Loon Squad"...

Yotsuya-san: Yotsuya is Yusaku's enigmatic next-door neighbor. No one knows his first name, or what his job is, but we do know that his favourite hobby is peeping at Akemi through a hole in Yusaku's wall...

Roppongi Akemi: Yusaku's other neighbor, red-haired, and almost always scantily clad. Works at the Cha Cha Maru bar...also crawls into bed with Godai, almost always managing to get him into trouble with Kyoko...

Ichinose Hanae: Mrs. Ichinose's hobbies include drinking sake, gossiping with Akemi, and generally making Yusaku's life a little bit more miserable...She also does a drunken dance with two fans, while laughing, "BWAHAHA!"as Kentaro tries to make her stop because "Mom, you're embarassing me!"

Ichinose Kentaro: Kentaro is the only sane resident of Maison Ikkoku, and he's just a kid! He enjoys baseball and is always trying to teach Soichiro tricks.

Nozomu: His first name escapes me. He's resident in room number two, sort of a non-entity, really. There's a practical joke battle going on between him and Yotsuya, but he's mostly harmless and quite clueless.

Other Characters

Otonashi-san: Kyoko's father-in-law. (Soichiro's father) He means the best for Kyoko...

Otonashi Ikuko: Kyoko's niece. Yusaku tutors her, or rather, tries to tutor her, but often ends up trying to get information out of her instead...

YagamiSatan incarnate! Run away! Seriously, though, she is tons more assertive than Kozue and she means business. With Yusaku, I mean. Basically, she is my _least_ favourite character. At least I can feel vaguely sorry for Kozue...but Yagami! UGH! *shudder*

Links to other Maison Ikkoku Cites...

The Berkeley Maison Ikkoku Page is very nice and is the "original" Maison Ikkoku cite. Here is the CD box shrine, a neat image gallery and episode information...can't miss it!
Maison Ikkoku Image Shrine is here...although, sadly, I could never download the nicest ones! My computer was being obstinate about it again...:P!
Mark Hairston's Maison Ikkoku page is a nice introduction to the series... Beware, though, last time, I couldn't get this one to load...
Another Maison Ikkoku Gallery! Yes, _you need_ Maison Ikkoku wallpaper...
The Maison Ikkoku Pocketbook Guide can be found here...
This is a lovely site, and quite nice visually...cool episode summaries, and it's up to date! Rock on!
Back to Katherine's Anime Page!
This page was last modified on April 19, 1998. Will miracles never cease?