One Week Friends

One Week Friends (Japanese: 一週間フレンズ。, Hepburn: Isshūkan Furenzu.) is a manga series by Matcha Hazuki. It was serialized in Square Enix's Gangan Joker magazine between January 21, 2012 and January 22, 2015. It was first published as a one-shot manga in the magazine's September 2011 issue. The series has since been collected in seven tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation by Brain's Base aired between April 6 and June 22, 2014. Sentai Filmworks licensed the rights to the show in North America and by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand. A live-action film of the same name was released in February 2017.

One Week Friends
Cover of Isshūkan Friends volume 1 by Square Enix
一週間フレンズ。
(Isshūkan Furenzu.)
GenreRomance[1]
Manga
Written byMatcha Hazuki
Published bySquare Enix
English publisher
MagazineGangan Joker
DemographicShōnen
Original runJanuary 21, 2012January 22, 2015
Volumes7
Anime television series
Directed byTarou Iwasaki
Written byShōtarō Suga
Music byNobuko Toda
StudioBrain's Base
Licensed by
Original networkTokyo MX, MBS, TVA, BS11, AT-X
Original run April 6, 2014 June 22, 2014
Episodes12 + 12 specials
Manga
Sono Ato no Isshūkan Friends
Written byMatcha Hazuki
Published bySquare Enix
MagazineGangan Joker
DemographicShōnen
Original runApril 22, 2021 – present
Live-action film

Plot

High schooler Yūki Hase notices that his beautiful classmate Kaori Fujimiya is always alone and seemingly has no friends. After approaching her and becoming better acquainted, Kaori reveals that every Monday she loses all memory of her friends. Despite learning this, Yūki endeavors to befriend her anew every week.

Characters

Yūki Hase (長谷 祐樹, Hase Yūki)
Voiced by: Yoshitaka Yamaya[2] Played by: Kento Yamazaki
Yūki is a second year high school student who develops an interest in an isolated classmate, Kaori Fujimiya. Despite Kaori forgetting about him every week, he never ceases working hard to earn her smile. He's weak in mathematics.
Kaori Fujimiya (藤宮 香織, Fujimiya Kaori)
Voiced by: Sora Amamiya[2] Played by: Haruna Kawaguchi
Kaori is Yūki's classmate who chooses to not make friends as she loses her memories concerning friends at the beginning of every week. She used to be popular in school, but was in a car accident that gave her a severe case of anterograde amnesia. She decides to keep a diary after Yūki suggests that she record her experiences. This helps her to become more and more familiar with Yūki, to the point of just barely remembering him. She is also able to remember thing linked to him with but where the memory have no reference to him in such as remembering making eggs for him but not the act of giving them.
She also seems to develop feelings for him regardless of conscious memory. When asked if she likes him in a later chapter she blushes noticeably. She had made a promise to meet up with her childhood friend, Hajime Kujō, but was unable to do so because of the accident. Her mother suggests that to an extent, she may be repressing her own memories. She is quite good in mathematics as compared to Yūki, and often helps him with his studies.
Shōgo Kiryū (桐生 将吾, Kiryū Shōgo)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya[2] Played by: Takashi Matsuo
Shōgo is Yūki's reliable best friend with good grades. He appears to be a cold person who's straightforward with words, and often sleeps in class while treating everything else as a bother.
Saki Yamagishi (山岸 沙希, Yamagishi Saki)
Voiced by: Rumi Ōkubo[2] Played by: Haori Takahashi
Saki is a clumsy and forgetful girl in their class who used to be Shōgo's primary school classmate. She used to be bullied due to her small stature in primary school, and has since depended on others for all matters.
Hajime Kujō (九条 一, Kujō Hajime)
Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma Played by: Shuhei Uesugi
Hajime is a student who transfers in during the second semester and who was Kaori's primary school classmate. He and Kaori promised to meet in the park the day before he transferred to Hokkaido, but Kaori did not show up due to her accident. His family has strict demands on him, to the point where he isn't allowed to buy games.
Maiko Serizawa (芹澤 舞子, Serizawa Maiko)
Voiced by: Asuka Kakumoto
Maiko is Saki's friend who often spoils her.
Ai Nishimura (西村 藍, Nishimura Ai)
Voiced by: Rui Tanabe
Ai is Saki's friend who is a good coordinator.
Shiho Fujimiya (藤宮 志穂, Fujimiya Shiho)
Voiced by: Mai Nakahara Played by: Sayuri Kokusho
Shiho is Kaori's mother.
Jun Inoue (井上 潤, Inoue Jun)
Voiced by: Junji Majima Played by: Shigeyuki Totsugi
Jun is Yūki's homeroom and math teacher.

Media

Manga

One Week Friends began as a one-shot manga by Matcha Hazuki and was first published in Gangan Joker's September 2011 issue. A full serialization later followed in Square Enix's Gangan Joker from January 21, 2012.[3] After spanning three years, the series came to an end in the February 2015 issue of Gangan Joker which was published in Japan on January 22, 2015.[4] Despite the end of the serialization, a special chapter will later be included in the magazine's May 2015 issue when it is published on April 22, 2015.[5] The chapters was collected into a total of seven tankōbon volumes, the first of which was released on June 22, 2012.[6] The final volume was released on April 22, 2015.[7][8][9] During their Sakura-Con 2017 panel, Yen Press announced their license to the manga.[10]

On March 22, 2021, the April 2021 issue of Gangan Joker revealed that a sequel manga titled Sono Ato no Isshūkan Friends would begin serialization in the next issue.[11]

Volumes

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 June 22, 2012[6]978-4-757-53633-3December 19, 2017[12]978-0-316-41416-6
2 November 22, 2012[13]978-4-757-53796-5April 10, 2018[14]978-0-316-44736-2
3 April 27, 2013[15]978-4-757-53953-2June 26, 2018[16]978-0-316-44739-3
4 November 22, 2013[17]978-4-757-54137-5September 18, 2018[18]978-0-316-44743-0
5 March 22, 2014[19]978-4-757-54256-3December 11, 2018[20]978-0-316-44746-1
6 July 22, 2014[21]978-4-757-54361-4March 26, 2019[22]978-0-316-44749-2
7 April 22, 2015[9]978-4-757-54434-5June 18, 2019[23]978-0-316-44753-9

Anime

An anime television series adaptation by Brain's Base began airing on April 6, 2014.[24][25][26] The TV anime is produced by Brain's Base and directed by Taro Iwasaki.[27] The opening theme is "Niji no Kakera" (虹のかけら, lit. "Fragments of a Rainbow"), sung by Natsumi Kon, with lyrics and composition by Ai Kawashima.[28] The ending theme is a cover of Sukima Switch's 2004 single "Kanade" (奏(かなで), lit. "Symphony") sung by Sora Amamiya, the voice actress of female protagonist, Kaori Fujimiya. The anime has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America.[29]

Stage play

A stage play adaptation ran from November 14 to 24, 2014 in Japan. The play stars Tomoki Okayama as Yūki Hase, Maya Okano as Kaori Fujimiya, Kimito Totani as Shōgo Kiryū, and Juria Kawakami as Saki Yamagishi.[30][31]

Live-action film

A live-action film was released in February 2017. The film is directed by Shōsuke Murakami and written by Yōko Izumisawa.[32]

Reception

Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network (ANN) gave One Week Friends an overall B+ rating. He wrote that the premise can push its dramatic moments a little too far and almost nothing happens throughout the first half of the series. Regardless, Kimlinger praised the plot's character development, saying that it saves the first half with its progression through little events; he added that the dramatic scenes are nicely underplayed to help viewers care for the characters. Kimlinger wrote that Brain's Base and director Tarou Iwasaki provide the series with a style that's perfect, calling the minimalist backgrounds evocative with the right mood and the character animations superb, saying "that makes the show what it is: a sleeper delight, plain and simple."[33] Fellow ANN editor Gabriella Ekens praised the show for being "emotionally intelligent" with its showcase of Yūki's character growth and for being "beautifully realized" with its "faux-water color style" illustrating Kaori's progression and recovery from amnesia, concluding that: "One Week Friends is slice of life at its best. Gentle, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant, it's the perfect comfort food for an afternoon in. It might be quiet, but you won't forget about it any time soon."[34] Conversely, Allen Moody from THEM Anime Reviews criticized the "blandness and predictability" of the premise and its characters, singling out Saki for being "annoying on several levels", but commended the show's overall "inoffensiveness" and felt that both Shōgo and Kaori's mom Shiho were the only "genuinely good" people throughout the series.[35]

The manga has had over 1 million copies printed in Japan.[36]

References

  1. "One Week Friends Vol. 1". ComiXology. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  2. Nelkin, Sarah (February 19, 2014). "Yoshimasa Hosoya, Rumi Ookubo Join One Week Friends Anime's Cast". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. 連載開始 (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  4. Cardine, Kyle (December 20, 2014). "One Week Friends Manga Slated to End on January 22". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  5. Ressler, Karen (January 20, 2015). "One Week Friends Manga Gets Special Chapter in April". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  6. 一週間フレンズ。 1 [One Week Friends 1] (in Japanese). ASIN 475753633X.
  7. Green, Scott (July 22, 2014). "Final "One Week Friends" Manga Listed for Next Spring". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  8. Nelkin, Sarah (July 21, 2014). "One Week Friends Manga to end in April 2015". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  9. 一週間フレンズ。(7) 完 初回限定特装版ラバーストラップ付き(SEコミックスプレミアム) (in Japanese). ASIN 4757544340.
  10. Ressler, Karen (February 22, 2022). "Yen Press Licenses Saga of Tanya the Evil, Acca 13, One Week Friends, A Polar Bear in Love, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  11. Mateo, Alex (March 22, 2021). "One Week Friends Series Gets Sequel Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  12. "One Week Friends, Vol. 1". Yen Press. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  13. 一週間フレンズ。(2) (in Japanese). ASIN 4757537964.
  14. "One Week Friends, Vol. 2". Yen Press. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  15. 一週間フレンズ。(3) (in Japanese). ASIN 4757539533.
  16. "One Week Friends, Vol. 3". Yen Press. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  17. 一週間フレンズ。 (4) (in Japanese). ASIN 4757541376.
  18. "One Week Friends, Vol. 4". Yen Press. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  19. 一週間フレンズ。 (5) (in Japanese). ASIN 4757542569.
  20. "One Week Friends, Vol. 1". Yen Press. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  21. 一週間フレンズ。 6 [One Week Friends 6] (in Japanese). ASIN 4757543611.
  22. "One Week Friends, Vol. 6". Yen Press. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  23. "One Week Friends, Vol. 7". Yen Press. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  24. Loveridge, Lynzee (January 21, 2014). "Sora Amamiya, Yoshitaka Yamaya Star in Isshūkan Friends Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  25. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 21, 2014). "Isshūkan Friends Anime's 1st Promo Video Streamed". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  26. "'Isshukan Friends' Anime Gets First Promo, New Casting". The Fandom Post. January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  27. Komatsu, Mikikazu (January 21, 2014). "VIDEO: 2014 April TV Anime "Isshukan Friends." 1st PV". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  28. Nelkin, Sarah (March 17, 2014). "One Week Friends Anime's 3rd Promo Features Natsumi Kon Theme Song". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  29. Ressler, Karen (March 27, 2014). "Sentai Filmworks Adds One Week Friends". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  30. "舞台『一週間フレンズ。』の全キャストが決定&メインビジュアルが公開!". Animate (in Japanese). October 14, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  31. "舞台『一週間フレンズ。』ゲネプロ取材レポート!". Animate (in Japanese). November 18, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  32. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 2, 2016). "Live-Action One Week Friends Film's Cast, Staff, February 2017 Date Revealed". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  33. Kimlinger, Carl (July 23, 2014). "One Week Friends Episodes 1-12 Streaming". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  34. Dong, Bamboo; Ekens, Gabriella; Jensen, Paul (July 13, 2015). "Don't You Forget About Me - Shelf Life". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  35. Moody, Allen. "One Week Friends". THEM Anime Reviews. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  36. Komatsu, Mikikazu (March 2, 2016). ""One Week Friends" Live-Action Film Confirms February 2017 Release". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
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