Hanasaku Iroha

"LETS OBEY THE TRAFFIC RULES EVEN THOUGH HE STOLE MY CAR & LETS MAKE PIT STOPS"

In other news, the anime finally dished out the fanservice everyone was hoping for.

already I am imagining the many scenarios for the hot yuri doujins that this episode will and may have already inspired.

The forced drama and yuri fanservice kinda ruined this episode. Also Ohana's speech about the sparkling and talent seems off, and the writer's confused look made me think the guy didn't even notice about her 'desire to sparkle', that he was just trying to write an erotic novel in the first place and this is all just a coincidence. The last few minutes and next episode preview saved this episode though, finally we're going to see their school life.

Haha, yeah, both of those moments were pretty surprising to me, (I thought that something might happen to Ohana at the end of episode 2, but never to that extreme). Although the bondage scene really did show off Ohana's personality/level-headness quite well.

I really liked how the novelist's perverted actions resulted in Ohana learning something about herself, though, (even if the phrase, "I was to sparkle," was originally in a sexual sense). I can definitely see that from the way that she acts/talks, (and that kind of personality usually turns people off, (Minko)/scares them, (Nako), because they want to be more like that themselves).

However, I was glad that Nako had her moment to "sparkle" when she saved the novelist with her awesome swimming skills. I really do hope that we see her teaching Ohana how to in the coming episodes.

First and foremost, I'll just get the disappointing parts off of my chest. The largest disappointment for me was the insertion of fanservice. I wasn't expecting fanservice, and I felt that it was unnecessary when we could have had Ohana just read it (and watched her reaction to it). That's not to say I didn't LIKE the scene, it was just unnecessary. I felt that the second part lent itself to a translation error: specifically, the choice to use "sparkle". Ohana says "kagayakitai", taken from the base "kagayaku", which can be translated to "sparkle" or "shine". The fact that I kept reading "sparkle" when I could tell the intended meaning was to "stand out" ruined the encouraging words Ohana gave to the writer.

Otherwise, I thought that this was a very good episode, just like the two that came before it. I'm pleased to see that we got development of all the major characters at this point. We now know that Minko, while being abrasive and downright rude, has a petty, almost cute obsession with Ohana. Nako, while being exceedingly nervous, is actually able to pull through in moments of crisis. Ohana continues to show her strength of character through the entire episode, and she's seriously becoming one of my favourite characters in anime. The Grandmother is another intriguing character- as expected, she actually does show that she cares (or at least likes to reflect) on Ohana, and I'd go as far to say that she actually DOES care about her customers (contrary to what she claims).

As for the drama events, I think my observations are better suited in reply to somesome's post:
It seems that by "forced drama", you're talking about the suicide scene. I actually found it funny, as Ohana broke the mood and actually caused the writer to lampshade his own melodrama, and thought it went over well. I think that the jump was just "spur of the moment", and he was just trying to get away from the prospect of changing (as the Grandmother suggested); though I do agree it needed some other motivational aspect. As for the Ohana's speech and the writer's reaction, I found this actually a better indication of Ohana's character, rather than an awkward or forced moment. It speaks volumes about Ohana that she still sees the good in the writer after all this. I think that you're spot on the writer's reaction: he just wanted to make quick money with something with erotic content. I believe that it's more of the fact that he now has no place to run (literally and figuratively), and he's being offered a chance to change and realizes that he can should take it, that forces his tears and willingness.

- Apparently granny knows what she is doing.
- And apparently, "balut" is a nasty deal in Japan.
- I kind of feel for granny. My father always told me that grandmothers love their grandchildren very much. Maybe it's like that here - granny may be very strict with Ohana but inside she was happy to have her.
- Nako's really that shy, but this episode made her charming in her own light. I kind of like it.

So there’s Fukuya, a large popular, fancy, modernized hot spring resort nearby competing with ye olde Kissuisou inn that Ohana is working at. And the chef that Minko works with (and has a crush on) is going out with Yuina who is the daughter of the rival inn’s owner.

Yeah, there was a lot going on in episode 4. From Nako's nice development, (where she was able to give a nickname to Minko/explain all of this to Ohana), to Minko's subtle confession about Tohru to Ohana, and then the crushing blow at the end, (with Fukuya seemingly going out with Tohru). I was quite surprised by that turn of events.

I'm hoping we'll see some kind of flashback, with how Tohru and Fukuya got together, and I'm wondering if Ohana is going to be more hesistant to talk to Fukuya now that she knows. And I'm also wondering what the Grandmother would think if she knew/would make Tohru break up with her if he wanted to keep his job.

Also, that heron is a badass.

Hestitate? on the contrary she'll try to talk to her even more. lol Since she's "Ms. Inconsiderate", and try to get involved in the problem.

and the grandma, I doubt she's that shallow to even prevent another person's love life just because of rivalry. If TohruXYuina relationship doesn't affect his work, why forbid it, heck he's even developing nicely according to the 4th episode.