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DEAR BROTHER

Nanako Misono - Dear Brother   1991 NHK / NHK Enterprises Inc., Ikeda Riyoko Productions, Tezuka Productions

Original title: Oniisama e ...
Characters:
Nanako Misonoo, Rei Asaka, Fukiko Ichinomiya, Kaoru Orihara, Takehiko Henmi, Tomoko Arikura, Mariko Shinobu, Takashi Ichinomiya, Aya Misaki, Megumi Furuta, Junko Nakaya
Production: Tezuka Productions, NHK
Author: Iyoko ikeda
Directed by: Osamu Dezaki
Country: Japan
Year: 1991
Gender: Dramatic
Episodes: 39
Duration: 25 minutes
Recommended age: Teenagers aged 13 to 19

The animated series Dear Brother (Oniisama and .. in the original Japanese) is taken from the manga comic by Riyoko Ikeda (the same author of Lady Oscar) published in 1975 by the Shueisha publishing house and in Italy by Star Comics, with 4 manga of the format 12x18.
The anime consisting of 39 episodes was made in 1991 by Nippon Hoso Kyokai and Tezuka Productions, directed by Osamu Dezaki and broadcast in Italy on various private television stations, including Italia 7 Gold. The rights belong to Yamato Video which has collected the series in a box of 4 DVDs, for the home video market. Since March 2011 it has been broadcast on the Man-ga satellite channel, from Monday to Friday at 9,15 am and in reruns at 13.00 and 00.40.

Given the contents of the animated series Dear Brother, it is aimed at a female audience with age over 16, as it belongs to the genus Shojo-ai which addresses the issues of romantic relationships between girls, as well as the complex drama of drugs and psychotropic drugs.

Nanako Misono meets Rei Asaka aka Saint Just the flower - Dear brother   1991 NHK / NHK Enterprises Inc., Ikeda Riyoko Productions, Tezuka ProductionsThe protagonist is Nanako Misono, a 14-year-old girl who is preparing to attend the first year of high school at the Seiran, a prestigious and selective institute.
Her mother is very considerate, especially when it comes to clothing, as she keeps her daughter wearing the school uniform, although this is not compulsory.
After the necessary recommendations and compliments also from her father, the girl starts to take the train to get to the school, where she meets her friend Tomoko Arikura, who has always been her classmate. Every experience and emotion of hers is told through letters to the young teacher of the middle school Takehiko Henmi, whom she calls “Dear older brother”.
She confesses to him that at the age of 5 her mother took her away with her and married her current father, who is therefore not her natural father even though he behaves like one.
During the journey to the institute, Nanako meets a mysterious woman with long hair and androgynous features (remember Lady Oscar), who helps her get off a crowded bus.
Arriving at the school, Nanako and Tomoko both realize that they are the only ones wearing the uniform and, despite themselves, that they have not ended up in the same class. The opening celebration of the school year begins in the conference room and here Nanako meets Mariko Shinobu, her new classmate, who gradually introduces her to the most prestigious figures of the school.
Prince Kaoru - Dear Brother   1991 NHK / NHK Enterprises Inc., Ikeda Riyoko Productions, Tezuka ProductionsThe first is "Prince Kaoru" or Kaoru Orihara, a classmate of theirs with traits and male clothing, who, after a serious illness, was forced to miss a school year. Being more adult than the others, she stands out for her leadership attitude and for her sporting talent, which makes her excel above all in basketball.
Another prominent figure is Fukiko Ichinomiya, a beautiful girl with refined ways nicknamed Lady Miya, president of the student council and of the Sorority, an association present in many American colleges and reserved exclusively for the most educated, refined and high-ranking students. Every high school student aspires to be part of this prestigious club and Mariko in a particular way, as it allows a rapid social rise, thanks to the attendance of the most noble and prestigious people. To be part of the Sorority, the girls must first be selected from 10 candidates, and then invited to a party, where they will be subjected to a thorough examination. Lady Miya - Dear Brother   1991 NHK / NHK Enterprises Inc., Ikeda Riyoko Productions, Tezuka ProductionsOne of the most popular Sorority aspirants is definitely Aya Misaki, the daughter of a well-known lawyer and classmate of Nanako and Mariko.


At a certain point from the music room comes a beautiful symphony for piano, played by the woman Nanako met in the bus, this is Rei Asaka known as Saint Just the flower, due to its resemblance to the French revolutionary Louis de Saint -Just and for the characteristic of giving a red rose to his audience, at each performance.
Prince Kaoru, Lady Miya and Saint Just the flower are the "Magnificent Three", or rather the most admired and respected students of the institute.

Meanwhile, the "dear brother" Takehiko Henmi to take a short break from his work on the university thesis, meets with his friend Takashi Ichinomiya, to whom he confides in his friendship with Nanako and the gift he sent her.
A week after her entrance to the new school, Nanako has now abandoned her school uniform, to dress freely like all her classmates, but never misses an opportunity to continue to confide in her "dear brother". Nanako met Takehiko Henmi, when he did a substitute in his middle school class and since then has felt the irrepressible need to continue to maintain contact with him. He did not feel love, but only the need to have a sincere friend, to whom to confide the emotions of his life. His eyes and his voice communicated the deepest feelings of his person and in this Nanako it was as if he perceived a suffering linked to his past. Takehiko knew Nanako's father and that is why he agreed to answer his letters, assuming the role of "dear brother".


Meanwhile Mariko does everything to divide Nanako from Tomoko and have a monopoly on her friendship, so much so that she can also become her classmate, to the detriment of another student.
Mariko Shinobu - Dear Brother   1991 NHK / NHK Enterprises Inc., Ikeda Riyoko Productions, Tezuka ProductionsMariko is a girl with a strong character, very charming because of her red lips and is anxiously waiting to know who will be the 10 candidates to enter the Sorority, but she can't bear the idea that they can elect Aya Misaki, towards whom she nurtures a deep contempt. Prince Kaoru and Saint Just the flower respond to two diametrically opposed personalities: the first pragmatic and nonconformist, the second artistic and aristocratic, however the two are linked by a deep esteem and respect. The conflict arises between Lady Miya and Saint Just, as the latter seems to have a sort of fear and psychological subjection, towards the girl, as beautiful as she is proud and authoritarian.
Lady Miya enters Nanako's class and names the candidates for the Sorority. To her immense joy, Mariko is elected, but the same cannot be said of Kaoru Orihara, who renounces the candidacy because she despises the Sorority, even if she uses the excuse of her precarious health, not to offend Lady Miya.
The third elected of that class, much to her amazement is Nanako Misono, but it sends Aya Misaki into a rage. Nanako is defended by Mariko, but Aya also accuses her of not being worthy of the Sorority, as she is aware that her father was a writer of scandalous novels. Kaoru arrives to help the two girls, who blocks Aya by grabbing her wrists. Aya's behavior is not seen willingly even by Lady Miya, who nevertheless makes her enter among the candidates, given Kaoru's renunciation, but who swears to oppose with all her strength for a possible election. In view of the Sorority exam, Nanako will have to be part of the party that will be held that Sunday at 12 at the Sorority House, but she is sorry because she will have to give up the appointment with her friend Tomoko. Aya Misaki, on the other hand, is full of hatred towards him and swears that she will do everything possible to be elected in his place.
In her letter to her dear brother, Nanako, in order not to be under any illusions, tells of feeling like Cinderella, who will soon vanish her dream at the stroke of midnight, just like in the fairy tale.

Meanwhile, Mariko explains to Nanako what attitudes to avoid in front of the members of the Sorority: speaking rudely, dressing unkemptly, behaving badly and not respecting the commitments made. Nanako also raises the jealousies and gossip of Aya's friends, who devises a plan to discredit the girl in the eyes of the Sorority. As the daughter of a lawyer, she has secret information which she could use to her advantage.
Nanako - Dear Brother   1991 NHK / NHK Enterprises Inc., Ikeda Riyoko Productions, Tezuka ProductionsThe following day Nanako is seen with contempt by her classmates and even Tomoko herself, appears worried about her friend. This is because photocopies were made, distributed throughout the institute, of an article that discredits Nanako's candidacy, highlighting her unknown origins and the fact that she is not the daughter of her current father, a famous professor and writer. Nanako runs away in tears and Kaoru feels a deep contempt for Aya, the author of the article. During his run Nanako accidentally collides with
Rei Asaka, who is prey to drugs and psychotropic drugs, falls to the ground unconscious. Nanako collects the pills fallen from the woman's pockets, who, after getting back on her feet, continues her journey completely indifferent to what happened. Nanako confides to Tomoko that in view of her discomfort, she does not intend to attend the Sunday party, but her friend urges her to react. He does not find it right that the figure of his father should be offended, since he behaves as such and defines the action against him as a cowardly gesture, which should not be taken into consideration. For Tomoko, the party should be taken as an opportunity to redeem himself. Nanako appreciates her friend's words and returns to class with the firm intention of attending the party, much to Aya's anger. Nanako confides to her dear brother, of the great step she is about to take and of her hope of being able to be elected in that prestigious circle, despite the fact that she considers it vain and superficial.
That evening, Nanako's mother informs her daughter that she has received a phone call from Fukiko Ichinomiya, informing her of the change of time of the Sunday party, from 12 to 15 in the afternoon. In reality it was a call from Aya, made in order to exclude her hated rival from the competition. Nanako falls into the trap and at 12 on that Sunday she meets in a club with her friend Tomoko, to eat a cake.
Meanwhile, at the party, Fukiko can't explain why Nanako is late, so Mariko tries to call her home, but her mother says that her daughter has already gone out. Mariko becomes suspicious of that strange delay and realizes that something serious has happened to the girl, however Lady Miya no longer intends to wait and starts the party to examine all the candidates. After being called, interested parties will need to enter the interview room individually for consideration by the members of the Sorority committee.
Meanwhile Nanako heads to the Sorority House after going out with Tomoko, while Mariko is questioned by Fukiko who brings out her passion for dance and theater aside.
When the candidates have all been examined Lady Miya decides to close the party, but Mariko begs her to wait for Nanako, to give him one last chance.
Arriving at the school Nanako learns from Prince Kaoru that the party has already ended, while Mariko after a desperate run drags her to the Sorority House, bringing her in the presence of an indignant examining commission.

After a stern reprimand for her delay, Nanako is subjected to examination by Fukiko, who questions her about her favorite hobbies and what school courses she intends to attend. Nanako has a passion for making cakes, but this is not well regarded by members of the commission. Among his favorite letters are "The little prince" and "Anna with red hair", which however are considered childish readings. Among his favorite writers also stands out the name of a much appreciated De Sade, who however arouses general hilarity because of his forbidden novels.
At the end of the test, Nanako returns to her home sad and humiliated in her soul, with the knowledge that she has failed. Despite being comforted by Mariko, who nevertheless asks for an explanation for her delay. The two girls become aware that at the origin of the fake phone call, there can be no other person than Aya Misaki. Nanako vents her bitterness in the letter to her "dear brother", wondering the reason for so much hatred and malice towards him, but it is with her longtime friend Tomoko that she regains her smile and lightheartedness.
The next day, Nanako is joined by an enthusiastic Mariko, who tells her that both have been elected to the Sorority. Aya and her friends rail against Nanako, who is defended by Mariko accusing her of deceiving her friend. The discussion does not go unnoticed in the eyes of Kaoru, who despises Lady Miya and the Sorority, because it heralds contrasts and rivalry between the students. The election of Nanako and her friendship with Mariko causes enormous sadness towards Tomoko, which includes the possible estrangement of her best friend since she will give up the cooking class agreed with her, for the benefit of the more aristocratic decoration course floral recommended by Lady Miya. However, Nanako insists on convincing her that nothing has changed between them and will never change.
Meanwhile, Aya's allied classmates do everything they can to put Nanako in a bad light, trying to hinder her in the professors' questions. In English class, when the teacher makes the girl read a text, all her classmates make fun of her because they say they can't hear her voice. To put an end to that humiliation Kaoru intervenes once again, who takes Aya by the collar and drags her to the front desks in order to feel better, in front of an astonished professor.
Nanako and some of her classmates, including Mariko and Kaoru, begin to attend the cooking class, but the "prince Kaoru" is completely uncomfortable in handling the eggs, for the preparation of a cake, so in his help. and also to pay off, Nanako arrives, very good and completely at ease in cooking sweets. Aya's envy leads her to reveal that the reason for Nanako's familiarity in the kitchen is due to the fact that her mother was not of noble origins, but was a waitress in a bar. According to the reconstruction of the wicked girl, this was how he met the well-known professor, who seduced and convinced him to leave his wife and son. At those words Nanako flees in despair, while Mariko lashes out furiously at Aya.
So she thinks back to her mother's tales, where she remembers that her father was already separated from his previous wife when he joined them, but the thought that upsets her is the hypothesis of having a half-brother.
Meanwhile, his mother receives the gift package sent by Takehiko and is bewildered by reading that name.

Upon leaving school Nanako can't wait to meet her friend Tomoko again for the return by train, but Mariko misleads her by telling him that she saw the girl in the music room, when she was in the basketball court. Mariko reaches Tomoko inviting her to step aside, telling her that Nanako had decided to only hang out with friends worthy of the Sorority. Tomoko doesn't believe those words and wants to see Nanako immediately, but Mariko says she was instructed by her to relay those words. Tomoko then, with deep sadness, decides to end her friendship, with great satisfaction on Mariko's part. Meanwhile, in the music room Nanako, not finding Tomoko, decides to go home alone, but she is very worried about her best friend.
Upon her return home, her mother gives her the package received. The "dear brother" gift is a music box, but Nanako wonders about the possible existence of a child from her current father.

That evening Nanako calls Tomoko on the phone, to ask the reason for his absence on his return from school, but the girl does not want to talk to her, believing Mariko's falsehoods.
Nanako's mother asks for information about the person who sent her the gift and if there is a romantic relationship between them, but Nanako reassures her by claiming that it is only a close friend.
The next morning Tomoko is not present at the train stop, for the usual journey to school and this makes Nanako suspicious. During the break, Nanako tries to meet Tomoko, but the girl ignores her and tells her she is very busy with other friends, Mariko also arrives and urges her to take part in the admission ceremony to the Sorority.
In the corridor they meet Saint Just the flower, who with a sad and melancholy gaze continues to make one of psychotropic drugs. Like a fury Kaoru rushes, who with a jerk sends all the pills to the air and slaps her violently, in order to shake her from that devastating vice, but Rei does not give weight to her behavior and persists with other drugs. The only one who really manages to upset her is Lady Miya, who arrives at that moment and invites her to help her with the preparations for the ceremony: Saint Just obeys like a lamb to the girl's will. Kaoru can't stand that subjection and urges Saint Just to take off the bracelet, the jewel that binds her to Lady Miya.

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All names, images and registered trademarks are copyright 1991 NHK / NHK Enterprises Inc., Ikeda Riyoko Productions, Tezuka Productions and of the right holders and are used here for information and disclosure purposes.

Video of Dear Brother


Titles of the episodes of Dear Brother

01 - Wonderful people
02 - The glass slipper
03 - Nanako disqualified?
04 - Music box.
05 - The thorns of the suspect
06 - Alone and lost
07 - In the darkness of the clock tower
08 - I want you
09 - A sudden illness, a broken heart
10 - Mariko
11 - Under an elm
12 - The scar
13 - The legend of the suicide of love
14 - The secret door
15 - Fukiko and the sound of the ocean
16 - Comebacks
17 - Post scriptum
18 - In a dream
19 - The ephemeral game
20 - Shears

21 - The university festival
22 - Serenade of a summer day
23 - The Forbidden Gift
24 - Encore
25 - Scarlet lipstick
26 - The test in the snow
27 - The Mariko case
28 - Christmas candles
29 - The general assembly of students
30 - The petition
31 - The rotten fruit
32 - The pride of the last meeting
33 - Flying
34 - Ablution
35 - The Beach of Dreams
36 - The light of fireflies, the fire of love
37 - The carousel
38 - Yes ...
39 - A persistent fragrance

The story of Lady Oscar

 

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