Minami-ke (みなみけ, Minami-ke? lit. The Minami Family)

Minami-ke (みなみけ? lit. The Minami Family) is a Japanese manga series by Koharu Sakuraba, who also authored Kyo no Gononi. It was first serialized in the weekly Japanese manga magazine Young Magazine in 2004. The slice of life comedy focuses on the everyday life of three sisters: Haruka, Kana, and Chiaki Minami. The manga was adapted into an anime series by two studios. The anime produced by Daume first aired on October 7, 2007. Asread’s adaptation first aired on January 6, 2008, under the title Minami-ke: Okawari.

DETAILS 

Minami-ke
Minami-ke
みなみけ
(The Minami Family)
Genre Comedy, Slice of life
Manga
Author Koharu Sakuraba
Publisher Kodansha
Demographic Seinen
Serialized in Young Magazine
Original run 2004
Volumes 5
TV anime: Minami-ke
Director Masahiko Ohta
Studio Daume
Network TV Tokyo
Original run October 7, 2007 – December 30, 2007
Episodes 13
TV anime: Minami-ke: Okawari
Director Naoto Hosoda
Studio Asread
Network TV Tokyo
Original run January 6, 2008 – ongoing

Characters

Minami family

Haruka Minami (南 春香 Minami Haruka?)
Voiced by: Rina Satō
Haruka is the oldest sister and in her second year of high school. She has been taking care of her younger sisters since she was young, and this fact has led to some misunderstandings with her classmates. Haruka is the most reliable among the three, but becomes infinitely lazy when she is by herself. She was called Banchō (gang leader) during her junior-high days, though it is revealed soon after that it was simply a title.
Kana Minami (南 夏奈 Minami Kana?)
Voiced by: Marina Inoue
Kana is the middle sister in her second year of junior-high school. Kana is a lively girl who never thinks before acting. She often acts or talks impolitely without thinking, much to the annoyance of Chiaki. Other than that, she thinks everything she gets as a challenge, like the love letter from Fujioka (which Chiaki made her think that it was a letter of challenge). She generally does not get good grades in school, though she thinks that if she puts on Keiko’s glasses she will act and speak intelligently.
Chiaki Minami (南 千秋 Minami Chiaki?)
Voiced by: Minori Chihara
Chiaki is the youngest sister in elementary school. She is in class 5-2 (a reference to Kyo no Gononi). Her apparent high intelligence often makes her over analyze simple stuff. She also tends to ignore idiotic behavior displayed by Kana and Makoto, but she is quite nice to Haruka. Although being the youngest, she is the meanest out of the three; most of the time, she is quiet during group activities, and almost always uses the word “bakayaro”, which is a more forceful form for “idiot” in Japanese (“baka” being the less forceful term). Chiaki seems to know that Fujioka is genuinely in love with Kana.
Takeru (タケル?)
Voiced by: Shintaro Asanuma
First cousin of the three sisters. He occasionally visits the Minami sisters to check up on them and give them their monthly allowance. He often makes blunders and Kana, in contrast to Haruka and Chiaki, feels he’s “pathetic”. He later starts to feel some resentment towards Fujioka because he feels as if he is closer to the three girls than he should be.

Other Minami family

Tōma Minami (南 冬馬 Minami Tōma?)
Voiced by: Nana Mizuki
The only daughter in the other Minami family. She is a tomboy girl in class 5-1 who, despite having the same surname, is not related to the Minami sisters. However, Chiaki adopted her as a little brother because of the same surname. She has three older brothers that know nothing about her. Her tomboy action can be said to be an influence by her brothers. The way she acts, looks and dresses causes Fujioka to actually believe that she is boy.
The Eldest Son
Voiced by: Shinji Kawada
He is the eldest son of the other Minami family. It seems that he is working from the way he dresses. His name hasn’t been revealed yet. Though calm and composed in his demeanor, it seems as though he is in a state of denial concerning the adverse effects the brothers’ lifestyle is having on their younger sister.
Natsuki Minami (南 ナツキ Minami Natsuki?)
Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino
Second son of the other Minami family, and is in first year of high school. He used to be a delinquent, but had calmed down after Hosaka recruited him to the volleyball club. He got beaten up by Haruka the first time they met due to a misunderstanding, with him touching her chest. Despite this, he harbors no ill feelings towards her and instead shows signs of embarrassment and indirect affection towards her, this is made evident when the eldest Minami brother talks about having a girlfriend and Natsuki immediately pictures a provocatively dressed Haruka in his mind and suffers a nose-bleed.
Akira Minami (南 アキラ Minami Akira?)
Voiced by: Tatsuya Hayama
Third son of the other Minami family, and is in first year of junior high school. Maybe because of the gap in their age, he is treated as a child in the other Minami household and is often told not to interrupt when the other two elder brothers are talking. He likes long-haired girls, especially Riko, who is in the same class as Kana. Fujioka dislikes him because he assumes that he is close to Kana.

High school students

Maki (マキ?)
Voiced by: Reiko Takagi
Haruka’s classmate and a bit of an airhead. A member of the volleyball club. She tries to protect Haruka from Hosaka.
Atsuko (アツコ?)
Voiced by: Ryoko Ono
Haruka’s classmate. A member of the volleyball club.
Hosaka (保坂?)
Voiced by: Daisuke Ono
A third year, and captain of the volleyball club. He admires Haruka and would like for Haruka to become the volleyball club’s manager. He has tendency to act cool, stripping and fantasizing in front of people, making those who know him label him as a weirdo, especially Maki. He is however, considerably skilled at cooking.
Hayami (速水?)
Voiced by: Saeko Chiba
Third year. A member of the volleyball club (often acting like the leader of their team) as well as an associate of Hosaka. She is cunning and mischievous and is often thinking of rather devious plans. She has a distinctive smiling expression.

Junior-high school students

Fujioka (藤岡?)
Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara
Kana’s classmate. He plays soccer and is a popular classmate of Kana. He is in love with Kana, but Chiaki reads his love letters as letters of challenge, and Kana believes it and nicknames him Banchō (番長?), meaning a leader of juvenile delinquents. He is a bit naive and very innocent towards girls. His affection towards Kana will often make him do regrettable things.
Keiko (ケイコ?)
Voiced by: Saori Goto
Kana’s friend, an honor student. She is often ignorantly bullied by Kana and dragged into her silly escapades.
Riko (リコ?)
Voiced by: Ao Takahashi
Kana’s classmate. She has a crush on Fujioka and views Kana as a love rival, but befriends her to get close to Fujioka. Also has the same rude personality as Kana and ignorantly bullies Keiko.
Yū (ユウ?)
Voiced by: Momoko Ohara
Third year. She is senior to Kana. Reluctantly nicknamed Banchō in school, Yū gladly hands over the title to Fujioka when she intentionally loses a “Rock-Paper-Scissors” duel to him.
Hiroko (ヒロコ?)
Voiced by: Saeko Chiba
Third year. Yū’s best friend and classmate.

Elementary school students

Makoto (マコト?)
Voiced by: Rika Morinaga
Chiaki’s classmate. He is nicknamed “stupid child” which his classmates believe is more of an impression of him than a nickname. He has a crush on Haruka, and goes as far as cross dressing in order to see her at the Minami residence. When he crossdresses, he is referred to as “Mako-chan”. So far, only Uchida, Yoshino, Kana and Toma knows of his cross-dressing habit.
Yoshino (吉野?)
Voiced by: Aki Toyosaki
Chiaki’s classmate. She seems to be the most responsible and level headed among the characters her age. Might have found out that Mako-chan is really Makoto.
Shūichi (シュウイチ?)
Voiced by: Momoko Ohara
Chiaki’s classmate. Nicknamed “Plain Yogurt” by Chiaki because he does not have any qualities that stand out.
Yuka Uchida (内田 ユカ?)
Voiced by: Eri Kitamura
In class 5-1. Chiaki’s friend. She helps Makoto with his cross-dressing along with Kana. She is not seen as a smart character and was actually forced by Makoto to join team idiot. Impulsive and a little lacking in common sense, she is belittled by Chiaki often, and recruited by Kana to join her silly escapades.
Fuyuki (フユキ?)
Voiced by: Miho Saiki
He is a transfer student and a neighbor of the Minami sisters. His inability to refuse favors or demands plagues his very existence. Due to this characteristic behavior, he is often asked to do tasks outside his responsibilities.

Media

Manga

Minami-ke began as a manga authored by Koharu Sakuraba which was first serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Young Magazine in early 2004, published by Kodansha. As of March 2008, five bound volumes have been released.

Anime

There are two anime adaptations of Minami-ke, done by two separate animation studios. The first, under the original title Minami-ke, is produced by Daume and began airing on TV Tokyo on October 7, 2007. After the first anime ended, a second began on January 6, 2008 by Asread under the title Minami-ke: Okawari (みなみけ ～おかわり～? lit. The Minami Family ~A Second Helping~), and also airs on TV Tokyo.

Minami-ke (2007)

Episode list
# Title Original air date
 
01 “The Three Minami Sisters”
“Minami Sanchi no Sanshimai” (南さんちの三姉妹)		 October 7, 2007
The three Minami sisters and some of their friends are introduced.
02 “Weird School”
“Okashina Gakkō” (おかしな学校)		 October 14, 2007
The Minami sisters’ daily school life is shown. Some of their classmates are introduced as well.
03 “The Delinquent Football Player Returns”
“Tamakeribanchō Futatabi” (球蹴り番長再び)		 October 21, 2007
Fujioka addmitts that he likes Kana after she wakes up from a nap at school. Kana runs home then asks Chiaki what Fujioka meant by “I really like you.” The next day Kana invites Fujioka over for dinner, Kana ends up kicking Fujioka out.
04 “The Pattern of Love”
“Koimoyō” (恋もよう)		 October 28, 2007
Takeru visits Minami family. Riko has a crush on Fujioka, but is frustrated by his relationship with Kana. Meanwhile, Hosaka imagines what it is like to be a part of Minami family.
05 “Let’s Go to the Beach”
“Umi ni Ikōyo” (海に行こうよ)		 November 4, 2007
It is really hot and the Minamis decide to take a trip to the beach. Their swimming suits are too small. Kana and Chiaki go buy swimming suits, while Haruka makes dinner. Kana buys Haruka a two piece swimming suit.
06 “The Birth of Mako-chan”
“Mako-chan Tanjō” (マコちゃん誕生)		 November 11, 2007
Chiaki invites her friends over to work on home work. Kana asks Makoto what type of girls does he perfer. Haruka comes in and Makoto decides to help Haruka cook. The next day Chiaki ignores Makoto the whole day. Makoto comes over with Uchida the next day and Kana dresses him up like a girl.
07 “Various Faces”
“Iroiro na Kao” (いろいろな顔)		 November 18, 2007
Kana teaches Chiaki’s friends about how to deal with a suspicious man. Meanwhile, Haruka’s legendary past in her junior high school is revealed.
08 “Hosaka”
“Hosaka” (ほさか)		 November 25, 2007
Hosaka tries to get close to Haruka by making impressive bentos for her.
09 “Three Sister Weather”
“Sanshimai Biyori” (三姉妹日和)		 December 2, 2007
The Minami sisters’ daily life at home is shown.
10 “Boy × Girl”
“Otoko no Ko × Onna no Ko” (おとこのこ×おんなのこ)		 December 9, 2007
Toma, a tomboy from another Minami family, is introduced while Makoto is still pretending to be a girl in front of Haruka.
11 “The Neighboring Minamis”
“Tonari no Minami-san” (となりの南さん)		 December 16, 2007
The Neighboring Minamis are introduced.
12 “Christmas Eve”
“Kurisumasu toka Ibu toka” (クリスマスとかイブとか)		 December 23, 2007
The Minami family and the neighboring Minami family are having their own Christmas eve, while Hosaka is preparing a soba bowl to impress Haruka.
13 “Fruitless Love”
“Koi no Karamawari” (恋のからまわり)		 December 30, 2007
The Minami family celebrate New Year’s.

Theme songs
Opening theme
Ending theme
  • “Colorful Days” (カラフルDAYS?)

Minami-ke: Okawari (2008)

Episode list
# Title Original air date
 
01 “Hot Springs, Let’s Eat“
“Onsen, Itadakimasu” (温泉、いただきます)		 January 6, 2008
02 “Flavor is Inherited from Generation to Generation”
“Aji wa Daidai Uketsugarete Ikumono” (味は代々受け継がれていくもの)		 January 13, 2008
03 “Evening Hospitality, Extend the Bowl Hesitantly”
“Motenashi no Yoru, Sotto Dashi” (もてなしの夜、そっと出し)		 January 20, 2008
Chiaki’s classmates invite themselves to the Minami home for a group homework session and sleepover. Kana declares it a ‘pyjama festival’ and puts herself in charge of hospitality, to Chiaki’s annoyance. To feed all her guests, Haruka prepares a family-style nabe meal, and she invites Fujioka and Makoto to dinner. Everyone has a good time, but no-one gets much homework done.
04 “Is It All Right to Clean Up?”
“Katazuke Chatte Ii desu ka?” (片付けちゃっていいですか?)		 January 27, 2008
05 “Can’t Take Back a Served Tea Cup”
“Dashita Chawan wa Hikkomerarenai” (出した茶碗は引っ込められない)		 February 3, 2008
06 “Has My Rice Already Cooled Down?”
“Sametemo Attaka, Uchi Gohan” (冷めてもあったか、ウチゴハン)		 February 10, 2008
07 “The More You Chew It, The Sweeter It Becomes”
“Kameba Kamu Hodo Amaku Narun dayo” (噛めば噛むほど甘くなるんだよ)		 February 17, 2008
08 “The Pool Gives Me a Second Stomach”
“Pūru wa Betsubara desu” (プールは別腹です)		 February 24, 2008
09 “Does It Hurt Yet? Secrets of Mako-chan”
“Sorosoro Kurushii? Himitsu no Mako-chan” (そろそろ苦しい? ひみつのマコちゃん)		 March 2, 2008
10 “The Age of Dangos over Flowers”
“Hana Yori Dango no Otoshigoro” (花より団子のお年頃)		 March 9, 2008
11 “As Expected, It’s Getting Bad”
“Sasuga ni Yabakunatte Kimashita” (さすがにヤバくなってきました)		 March 16, 2008
Toma’s secret is almost revealed to Fujioka when he sees her in a girls uniform. Kana covers for her by making Fujioka believe that everyone must crossdress at her place and tries to force Fujioka to comply. Kana feigns a cold on Saturday to avoid doing the city cleanup; Chiaki stays to keep an eye on Kana and figures out she was faking. The next day, she truly catches a cold and tries to avoid being found out, all the while recruiting Uchida and Mako-chan for help.
12 “Even One Bite More Is Painful”
“Mō Hitokuchi ga Tsurai no desu” (もう一口が辛いのです)		 March 23, 2008
13 “Everyone At Once, ‘Thank You for the Meal’”
“Minna Sorotte, Gochisōsama” (みんな揃って､ごちそうさま)		 March 30, 2008

Theme songs
Opening theme
  • “Kokoro no Tsubasa” (ココロノツバサ?)
    • Performed by: Rina Satō, Marina Inoue, and Minori Chihara
Ending theme
  • “Sono Koe ga Kiki Takute” (その声が聞きたくて?)
    • Performed by: Rina Satō, Marina Inoue, and Minori Chihara

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