New Anime Series: Tamako Market episode 1

An anime episode!!! WEEE! Although I had a bit of the lazies today. Meant to get more done but sometimes you need to sit down on the couch and do nothing. Also there might have been a Kira in my lap and it was hard to look at that sleeping face and put her aside to put the laptop in reach. So I can blame my cat for the lack of blogging yes? I think so.

Christmas was so last year!

But in any event...new anime series time!!!! What is up now? Tamako Market episode 1. A little show about a typical shopping street in Japan. So spoilers for talking birds and mochi coming out all over the place!! Enjoy!

Nice hiding spot....

Episode Summary: A young girl is skippin along after school with her two friends in tow. She waves a baton and nearly misses her turn down a busy little side street full of shops. Her friends bid her goodbye as she skips past all the shops as her family owns a mochi shop down this road. Our heroes name is Tamako and she seems well liked by most of the shop keepers. She stops in to see the flower shop keeper. As they talk Tamako sees something weird in some of the flowers. She steps closer to see...and it is a weird bird. It flies into her face and Tamako nearly suffocates. She sneezes all over the bird and the viewers see that the bird flew a long ways to make it to this vase in Japan. The bird starts talking which freaks out the shop keeper and Tamako. Tamako tries throw Dera (the bird as he introduced himself) away but he decides to hop a ride on Tamako's head instead. Tamako buys a bird book but can't find any information on Dera type birds. Tamako makes it home and sees her friend Mochizo watching their father's fight. Both dads own mochi shops across from the other and apparently often get in fights. Mochizo's father has bought a new sign and Tamako's dad finds it tacky. Dera is accidentally knocked in the head and Tamako runs inside to take care of said bird. Her little sister Anko and Grandfather were talking about why they are a mochi shop when the bird is brought in. Dera wakes up and freaks everyone else out with his talking. He explains that Tamako is courting him as she sneezed on him. Tamako starts to melt but Dera tries to explain that he has no time for Tamako as he is in Japan to find a bride for his Prince. Mochizo gets a little jealous of Dera and suggests throwing him away. Later that night Tamako and Anko go to the public baths as Mochizo was just leaving. He pretends he just got there for some reason and Tamako reminds Mochizo her birthday is New Year's Eve and to buy her a present. They go into the bath and Dera appears wondering where Tamako is. Mochizo takes Dera into the baths as the bird was cold. Dera seems to enjoy the baths but messes things up when he goes to the girl's side to spy.

Behold I am amazing!

Dera ends up spending the night at Mochizo's and is disappointed. Tamako ends up going to school during break as she and her friends are apart of the baton club. Tamako mentions all she wants for her birthday is a new sign board for the shop. After club she goes to the music shop on her street in an effort to find a song her mom used to sing to her. Dera joins her and is sad to learn that the momma has died a long time ago thus Tamako can't ask what the song is. Soon it is Tamako's birthday. But as it is also New Year's Eve there is plenty of work going around because mochi is super popular. Everyone is hard at work. Well not Dera who has gained about a million pounds since all he eats is mochi now. Dera watches as Tamako is hard at work on her birthday and feels conflicted. But announces to the family he has to leave and they are like okay bye? Tamako gives Dera some fresh mochi and he proceeds to choke on it. Everyone on the street (various shop owners) were on their way over to give Tamako a present when all of this goes down. They along with Mochizo run over to see everyone freaking out over the dying bird. Dera is saved and Tamako is beyond happy. Everyone leaves the mochi restaurant and realize no one gave Tamako her present. Mochizo is especially sad as he has a mountain full of presents he has never given Tamako. That night Dera snuggles with Tamako as she sleeps. Suddenly his eyes fly open into little TV screens and on the ceiling a vision of his Prince appears, asking how the progress is going. THE END!

Peace out talking bird!

Clearly I need to pay attention more in my life. Like open my eyes and see what is going on before me. PAY ATTENTION! Or was it not revealed before this episode that the bird talks? X____X The bird talks folks. TALKS!

At least it is not Mochi Mochi Shop.

Also is everyone's name in this show related to what they do or where they live? Tamako-Tama-ya Market. Mochizo-family owns a Mochi shop. Dera Mochimazzi- Yucky Mochi? We get it! This show is about mochi. Mochi for all. I am sure if I did the work I could see if other people in this show have similar names to what they or their parents do. Just....the names say it all.

So many little shops in a row.

That being said I think I will like this little show even if the bird if a bit creepy and everyone is mochi crazy. Forgetting a birthday because your family is working? Sad. But while my time was brief in Japan in 2011 I really loved visiting the little side streets that are the shopping districts. Especially since one was right around the corner from our hotel when we were in Kyoto. It just seemed so lively. So much fun. Maybe a lot of shopping bags and a lot more time to get your stuff than say going to Wal-Mart but still fun. So I think that watching this show will be fun just for that aspect.

Oh no not my favorite customer!!!!

The show did go a little....overboard with how close knit everyone is on the shopping street. Which is why I liked the rivalry that is going on between Tamako and Mochizo's dads. And yes on some of the streets there are similar stores that are very, very close together. Not right across the road mind you but very close. So having two mochi shops on the same part of the road isn't really that far from the truth. But yes everyone else is close knit and loves Tamako and everyone is there to help everyone else. Sing the working together song guys. All teasing aside...I can appreciate that kind of work environment. If one succeeds all succeed. And since Tamako is the main character of course she is loved by all. Pay for anything? Perish the thought! She is the heart of the street!

Don't forget about us! We're cute too!

We can't have a K-On! party without some cute friends. Said cute friends didn't have much to do with this episode. And besides a few text message they didn't come over on her birthday. :( Maybe they need to sing the working together song. If they came over and helped Tamako could have gotten off work sooner and maybe they should have hung out? Kanna and Midori....well I am sure something will come of them. Baton Club indeed though. I would mock it but that would be mean and I would be bashing myself in the head all the time. And at least it looks like they stick to their club activities instead of...you know all the other Kyoto Animation shows. XD So we shall see more of Kanna and Midori later.

Birds can't talk! This anime is void!

Do you know why we didn't see much of Kanna and Midori? Because this episode was all about the bird. THE BIRD! The bird that talks. Since I am not a fan of spelling we need to shorten that up a little bit. We will just stick with Dera since everyone else is mochi related. I know that in the synopsis the bird was mentioned but I thought it was going to be like Haru and his chicken. Random bird that sometimes shows up. I didn't know the other star was going to be a very...flamboyant bird that can talk. His name is still a little questionable though.

Um...why can you talk?

The bird has a back story though folks. Oh yes Dera is not a talking bird who struts around and flits with girls. Because that would just be silly. Dera is on a mission to help his Prince find a bride. Now I assumed the Prince was a bird too and that Dera was looking for a bird bride. It turns out at the end of the episode when Dera's bird eye lazer turn on that the Prince is a human being so....yeah. The talking Dera is looking for a female bride but might have gotten sidetrack a bit.

Um.....I don't think you can fly. Good luck to ya though.

Dera is not going anywhere for a while folks. Maybe a bit of it is because of Tamako's charm but he literally can't go anywhere for a while. He is super plump. PLUMP! Let my husband call Kira fat again and see what will happen. I will take out pictures of Dera (or Dela as on some sites?!) and go BAM. That is what fat is. Dera was quite fabulous before...maybe a bit FABUlous but now he is plump and in charge. Dera loves this new mochi treat that must not be available where he is from. He ate his little heart out didn't he?

Where is my birthday cake?!

Again I don't see how someone could forget it was their birthday. But I am not an anime character with a heart of gold. I can understand helping your family out for a little while as that day is a huge day for mochi but around 5 I be like SEE ya and hang out with friends. Or half the family keeps working and the other half can celebrate with Tamako. Also not understanding why the other shop keepers can't get their acts together. Maybe something is always happening in this shopping district. I guess it is the equivalent of being born on Christmas. Give her the presents the next day goobers. Although poor Mochizo. He seems to be a little assertive but not enough for Tamako to notice..

The Prince is real?!

Dera has decided to stay in town...mainly because he can't fly away. But because he might have feelings for Tamako. He was teasing Tamako about coming on to him but now he sees how special she is. So Dera stays. For now. But in the back of his mind ….and in his eyeball lazers he is on a mission. To find a bride for a Prince. X___X I am surprised the Prince is a human. I was expecting a bird Prince not sure why.....

I think the word for this series will be....mochi!

So I think I covered this episode pretty well. Tamako is the cute girl that everyone loves, Dera is a talking bird on a mission from some tropical place, and the rest of the street seems happy. Everyone gets along and makes money! WOOHOO! Now it is time to hit post on this episode as I watched it LAST WEDNESDAY! Dear Lord. XD