***SPOILERS AHEAD***

The DVD for Yamada’s First Time / B Gata H Kei was on sale, so I bought it. This show is funny, awkward, and sweet. Yamada thinks she needs experience (of the sexual kind) to become an adult, and is on the prowl for “sex friends.” However she hasn’t had a boyfriend yet, and the concepts of romance, relationships, and intimacy are all new to her. She thinks “cool guys” will find her lame for not being experienced, so she’s hoping to find an inexperienced guy to learn the ropes with (pun intended). Yamada runs into Kosuda at a store, and decides he’s the one she wants to lose her virginity to.

Kosuda is the sweetest guy. He’s thoughtful, considerate, sincere, and respectful. Meanwhile Yamada is self-absorbed, obnoxious, and arrogant. Yamada is the school idol, she’s beautiful, and knows it. But even she is self-conscious at times.

Thankfully Yamada has Takeshita as her best friend, and she helps to keep her grounded. Or at least tries her very best to keep her grounded. Takeshita endures Yamada’s incessant questions about relationships and sex. Yamada’s absurd ideas to lose her virginity are over the top. In addition to Takeshita, Yamada has a spirit guide…of sorts. Although some of the advice she receives seems questionable.

Yamada is hot and cold with Kosuda, since she gets embarrassed whenever she’s doing something outlandish in an effort to seduce him. He’s already attracted to her, if she would relax things would work out. But where’s the humor in that, right? She thinks very highly of herself, and believes Kosuda is fortunate that she’s considering him. Her narcissism is a tad off-putting.

Yamada’s little sister, Chika, has a totally different demeanor. Unlike her big sister, she’s grounded, has tons of guy friends, and is enjoying life without undue pressure (as she should be, especially at her age!).

Often Chika appears in the background to silently judge her sister and it’s the funniest thing. In this scene Yamada is jealous, and thinks Kosuda has a girlfriend. It’s just desserts, because she didn’t appreciate him for the wonderful person he is, she was too focused on what a prize she was. She’s drowning her sorrows with soda.

And who could forget the time when Chika could only look on with concern, at her sister’s obsession with learning how to use a condom. Safe sex is important…but did she need to buy that many boxes to practice with?!

Kosuda took Yamada out on Christmas Eve. His older sister helped him plan the perfect date. He was thoughtful, considerate, and generous. He bought her a lovely pair of earrings. Of course being the true pervert she is, Yamada has made an assumption of why the earrings were selected as a gift (Freud would have a field day with her). Hey…wait a minute, is that why my ex-boyfriend gave me that beautiful pair of diamond earrings for Chirstmas that year…..

I just finished episode four of the anime. I truly hope Yamada will realize what a great guy Kosuda is. Yes she is pretty, yes she is desired by many at their school, but Kosuda is a genuine guy who treats her well. She can relax and be herself with him. There’s no reason to plan such elaborate scenarios to entice him. He’s already smitten with her as she is. Yamada initially saw Kosuda as a conquest, but their growing affection for one another is apparent. I hope she realizes this, and appreciates him, before he gets snatched up by his childhood friend Miyano, or another girl.

Below are videos to enjoy if you want to get a feel for the show (there are spoilers so watch at your own risk). And I hope you like the Counting Crows, since the people who made these two videos did.