Yakuza Fiancé Episode 1 Review: Match Made In Heaven Or Hell

The much-awaited romance anime is here, and I am very excited about it. Let us see how this episode turned out.

Yakuza Fiancé Overview

Yakuza Fiancé, also known as Raise wa Tanin ga Ii (来世は他人がいい), is a manga series created by Asuka Konishi, which has been serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon since August 2017. In October 2023, an anime adaptation was confirmed, with Studio Deen overseeing production. The project is directed by Toshifumi Kawase, with series composition by Rika Takasugi, character design by Itsuko Takeda, and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi and Masato Suzuki.

The anime is releasing its first episode on October 7, 2024, airing on Tokyo MX and BS11. Before the premiere, a special episode titled “Kansai Prologue-hen” was released for streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Japan from September 28-29, 2024. The series features the opening theme, “Under and Over” by The Oral Cigarettes, and the ending theme, “Nani Wararotonnen,” performed by Yoshino.

Crunchyroll will stream the series, while Plus Media Networks Asia has secured the rights for Southeast Asia. Here, it will be broadcast on Aniplus Asia.

Yakuza Fiancé Episode 1 Review

Romance anime is not uncommon for us, but when it is presented in a brand new way, then it definitely becomes an entertaining aspect. This anime also puts forward two very unconventional protagonists together in a romance thriller where you do not know what might happen next. Normally, the storyline is the focus of any show, but here, I will say the characters are far more attention-grabbing and engaging.

The plot is about two people born in the underworld Yakuza family of Japan, coming together for an arranged marriage that is decided by their grandfathers. The male protagonist, Kirishima, who comes off as a very sweet and understanding boy, only later shows his true colours.

I’m pretty certain we’ve never seen a romance anime hero as eccentric and downright unhinged as him before. His level of unpredictability and wild behaviour is on a whole other level, completely breaking the mould of the usual romantic leads. But, if you think the female protagonist is just a damsel in distress, then you are gravely wrong. She is a force to be reckoned with, and we will get more examples of that later.

The story begins like any romance, where the boy and the girl finally meet. The first impressions were not bad, and Yoshino, the granddaughter from the Soumei group, is even appreciative of Kirishima, the grandson from the Miyama group. But it is later Yoshino finds herself in deep waters and just how different the innocent Kirishima is in reality. She also realises this is a battle that she got thrust into, and to survive here, she must bear her fangs and fight to death.

Honestly, as a fan of the manga, it is a dream come true that this got an anime adaptation. The music was really good as it complimented the surroundings and also highlighted the personalities of the characters. The opening specifically was good and catchy. Apart from that, the animation is decent, though I would have preferred it to be a bit smoother.

Verdict

All in all, the first episode was a wild ride as right off the bat, we are shown what kind of people we are dealing with. You need to stay prepared to get surprised here with the antics of the characters. The pace is also fast, a feature I personally appreciate.

So, if you want to witness something that depicts romance with wildly interesting characters, this one is for you.

Also Read: Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 1 Review: Peak Shounen Is Back!!