A love triangle like none other, Kashimashi is a stellar romance highlighting pure hearts and first love.

Based on the popular manga by the same name written by Satoru Akahori and drawn beautifully by artist Yukimaru Katsura, the anime is a splendid retelling of the story with its maidenly characters, kind humour, and unique romance. Revolving around Hazumu, a kind and pure-hearted lad, one would expect this to enter a straightforward romance story or a harem comedy. Instead we are treated to a surprising yuri (lesbian themed) romantic tale when things change in the most unexpected way.

Hazumu has confessed his feelings to the love of his life, the sweet, quiet and elegant Yasuna. When he’s rejected, he goes off into the mountains where he collects his beloved plants for his gardening hobby and passion. However, things take a startling turn when a UFO crash lands directly on Hazumu and kills him! To make amends, the aliens reconstruct him form what DNA remained but with one slight hitch – he is now a she! For Hazumu, the transition to being a girl suddenly goes more smoothly than expected. After all, he was quite timid and effeminate to begin wit and in may ways seems more comfortable with himself now that he is a she. What Hazumu couldn’t expect is how this would impact on the people around him. The girl who broke his heart is now chasing after him and his protector and friend since childhood, Tomari, seems to be jealous. It is now a love triangle with three girls and the romantic dramedy is off to a fine start.

This is a love triangle told with a lot of affection, gentle comedy, a bit quirky, and utterly romantic. The comedy comes in the form of the off-beat moments and characters around the three girls. The spaceship out of nowhere is a prime example. Later, Hazumu is visited by both the space alien, who takes a job teaching at Hazumu’s school, and the space ship in girl form, Jun Puu. Hazumu’s parents are a bit daft and completely loveable. They embrace Hazumu’s change to a girl whole heartedly and with comedic results. Meanwhile Hazumu’s best buddy, Asuta, has to struggle with his new feelings towards his best male pal who is now an attractive girl. There’s also the guy crazy single teacher who is over-the-top with her energetic personality.

The romance between the three girls is done in a very gently moving, often poignant manner. Their love is depicted as something quite pure and innocent. First loves so often are. In this volume, the revelation of why Yasuna rejected Hazumu as a boy was done with some heart-rending angst and a lot of sympathy is garnered for her character. Yasuna is equally admirable though. Always protecting Hazumu, her feelings seem torn between that childhood friend and something deeper that has come to light only now that Hazumu is a girl and her affections are being won over by someone else – Yasuna.

The animation has done a tremendous job of being faithful t the beautiful artwork from the original manga. It has a very soft, warm look and gives a heightened sense of the romantic atmosphere around the three girls. The opening theme song, “Koi Suru Kokoro” sung by Eufonius, is heart-warming and captures the tender theme of the show perfectly.

EXTRAS:
Bonus features include original Japanese TV ads, clean opening animation, previews, and Kashimashi: Portraits of People featurette. Running just shy of fifteen minutes, this original Japanese feature is a video of a discussion between Kana Ueda (Hazumu) and Yui Horie (Yasuna). Although the discussion mostly focuses on their characters and the anime, viewers do learn about the actresses’ school interests as well as being treated to a delightfully giggly conversation between the two young women. 

IN SUMMARY:
Kashimashi is a tender romantic story about the love triangle between three high school girls. It has some quirky comedy like space aliens, but overall is a sweeping romance about innocent hearts and the poignant personal challenges that arise with the tribulations of first love.

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