Gin no Saji

  • Genres: ["Comedy"]
  • Type: TV
  • Status: Finished Airing
  • Year: 2013

Summary: Yuugo Hachiken is studious, hard-working, and tired of trying to live up to expectations he just cannot meet. With the ushering in of a brand new school year, he decides to enroll in Ooezo Agricultural High School, a boarding school located in the Hokkaido countryside, as a means to escape from the stress brought upon by his parents.

Initially convinced that he would do well at this institution, Hachiken is quickly proven wrong by his talented classmates, individuals who have been living on farms their entire lives and know just about everything when it comes to food, vegetables, and even the physiology of livestock! Whether it be waking up at five in the morning for strenuous labor or to take care of farm animals, Hachiken is a complete amateur when it comes to the harsh agricultural life.

Gin no Saji follows the comedic story of a young student as he tries to fit into a completely new environment, meeting many unique people along the way. As he struggles to appreciate his surroundings, Hachiken hopes to discover his dreams, so that he may lead a fulfilling life on his own terms.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Description

Yuugo Hachiken is studious, hard-working, and tired of trying to live up to expectations he just cannot meet. With the ushering in of a brand new school year, he decides to enroll in Ooezo Agricultural High School, a boarding school located in the Hokkaido countryside, as a means to escape from the stress brought upon by his parents.

Initially convinced that he would do well at this institution, Hachiken is quickly proven wrong by his talented classmates, individuals who have been living on farms their entire lives and know just about everything when it comes to food, vegetables, and even the physiology of livestock! Whether it be waking up at five in the morning for strenuous labor or to take care of farm animals, Hachiken is a complete amateur when it comes to the harsh agricultural life.

Gin no Saji follows the comedic story of a young student as he tries to fit into a completely new environment, meeting many unique people along the way. As he struggles to appreciate his surroundings, Hachiken hopes to discover his dreams, so that he may lead a fulfilling life on his own terms.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Gin no Saji Trailers


Gin no Saji Pictures


Gin no Saji Review

Gin no Saji — Yuugo Hachiken is studious, hard-working, and tired of trying to live up to expectations he just cannot meet. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.

Thematically, It sits firmly within Comedy conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.09). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.

Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.

On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.

The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.

Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.

No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.

In sum, Gin no Saji offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Comedy, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.


Characters & Voice Actors

Hachiken, Yuugo

Hachiken, Yuugo

Main

Kimura, Ryouhei
Kimura, Ryouhei
Japanese
Mikage, Aki

Mikage, Aki

Main

Miyake, Marie
Miyake, Marie
Japanese
Aikawa, Shinnosuke

Aikawa, Shinnosuke

Supporting

Shimazaki, Nobunaga
Shimazaki, Nobunaga
Japanese
Beppu, Tarou

Beppu, Tarou

Supporting

Kobushi, Nobuyuki
Kobushi, Nobuyuki
Japanese
Fuji, Ichiko

Fuji, Ichiko

Supporting

Yuuya, Atsuko
Yuuya, Atsuko
Japanese
Futamata, Kouji

Futamata, Kouji

Supporting

Tamaru, Atsushi
Tamaru, Atsushi
Japanese
Hachiken, Misako

Hachiken, Misako

Supporting

Imai, Yuka
Imai, Yuka
Japanese
Hachiken, Shingo

Hachiken, Shingo

Supporting

Konishi, Katsuyuki
Konishi, Katsuyuki
Japanese
Hachiken, Kazumasa

Hachiken, Kazumasa

Supporting

Horiuchi, Kenyuu
Horiuchi, Kenyuu
Japanese
Hirono

Hirono

Supporting

Iijima, Hajime
Iijima, Hajime
Japanese
Ikeda, Chidori

Ikeda, Chidori

Supporting

Ichimichi, Mao
Ichimichi, Mao
Japanese
Inada, Mother

Inada, Mother

Supporting

Saitou, Chiwa
Saitou, Chiwa
Japanese
Inada, Father

Inada, Father

Supporting

Ookawa, Tooru
Ookawa, Tooru
Japanese
Inada, Shinichirou

Inada, Shinichirou

Supporting

Ono, Yuuki
Ono, Yuuki
Japanese
Inada, Tamako

Inada, Tamako

Supporting

Takagaki, Ayahi
Takagaki, Ayahi
Japanese
Juui

Juui

Supporting

Morisaki, Hiroyuki
Morisaki, Hiroyuki
Japanese
Kawai, Hayato

Kawai, Hayato

Supporting

Watanabe, Takumi
Watanabe, Takumi
Japanese
Kitamachi, Minami

Kitamachi, Minami

Supporting

Tanezaki, Atsumi
Tanezaki, Atsumi
Japanese
Komaba, Misora

Komaba, Misora

Supporting

Gotou, Mai
Gotou, Mai
Japanese
Komaba, Nino

Komaba, Nino

Supporting

Gotou, Mai
Gotou, Mai
Japanese

Staff

Iwata, Mikihiro

Iwata, Mikihiro

Producer

Mori, Akitoshi

Mori, Akitoshi

Producer

Saitou, Shunsuke

Saitou, Shunsuke

Producer

Odagiri, Narumi

Odagiri, Narumi

Assistant Producer

Toriyama, Shin

Toriyama, Shin

Assistant Producer

Itou, Tomohiko

Itou, Tomohiko

Director, Sound Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Andou, Ken

Andou, Ken

Episode Director

Deai, Kotomi

Deai, Kotomi

Episode Director, Storyboard, Assistant Director

Heo, Pyeonggang

Heo, Pyeonggang

Episode Director, Storyboard

Murayama, Kiyoshi

Murayama, Kiyoshi

Episode Director, Storyboard

Muroi, Yasuo

Muroi, Yasuo

Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director, In-Between Animation, Key Animation

Nogami, Kazuo

Nogami, Kazuo

Episode Director

Shibayama, Tomotaka

Shibayama, Tomotaka

Episode Director, Storyboard

Kishimoto, Taku

Kishimoto, Taku

Script, Series Composition

Kojima, Masayuki

Kojima, Masayuki

Storyboard

Okamura, Tensai

Okamura, Tensai

Storyboard

NAOKI-T

NAOKI-T

Theme Song Arrangement

Sukima Switch

Sukima Switch

Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Lyrics

Tokita, Shintarou

Tokita, Shintarou

Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Composition

miwa

miwa

Theme Song Performance