The television anime Hana Kimi, officially titled For You in Full Blossom, began airing its first episode on TOKYO MX and other Japanese broadcasters on April 4. Hisaya Nakajo, the original manga creator, passed away in October 2023, and following the conclusion of episode 1, a memorial message was displayed on screen. This tribute quickly sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans, with comments such as “I could not stop crying” and “Her works were my youth and I loved them deeply” appearing across social media.

Originally serialized in the manga magazine Hana to Yume from 1996 to 2004, Hana Kimi tells the story of Mizuki Ashiya, a girl who transfers from the United States to an all boys boarding high school while disguising her gender. Her motivation is to meet her idol, high jump athlete Izumi Sano. By fate or coincidence, she ends up sharing a room with him, leading to a story filled with danger humor and heartfelt moments within an all male school setting.

The manga series has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide. It previously gained massive popularity through live action television drama adaptations in 2007 starring Maki Horikita, Shun Oguri, Toma Ikuta and Hiro Mizushima, followed by a 2011 version featuring Atsuko Maeda, Aoi Nakamura and Shohei Miura.

Editorial Team Reflects on Nakajo Sensei’s Passion

This anime marks the first animated adaptation of Hana Kimi. The editorial department of Hana to Yume explained that the project had been developed in close consultation with Nakajo herself.

They stated that the anime had long been planned together with Hisaya Nakajo, and that she had looked forward to seeing how the world of Hana Kimi would be expressed through animation, enjoying character rough designs and scripts that differed from the manga format.

While expressing deep regret that they were unable to watch the completed anime together with Nakajo, the editors emphasized their gratitude that, thanks to the passionate support of readers, Hana Kimi has come back to life in animated form nearly 20 years after its conclusion. They added that the production team and editorial staff are working together to live up to the expectations of both Nakajo and longtime fans, encouraging viewers to look forward to the broadcast.

Memorial Message and Fan Reactions

After the episode ended, the screen displayed the following message:

“We extend our deepest respect and gratitude to the original creator Hisaya Nakajo and sincerely pray for her peaceful rest. From all members of the TV anime Hana Kimi production committee.”

This moment resonated strongly with viewers. Online reactions included comments praising the decision to include the tribute in the ending, expressing that seeing Nakajo’s artwork animated would have been an immeasurable joy for her, and sharing sorrow that she was unable to witness it herself. Many fans also noted the respect shown to Nakajo’s distinctive style and spirit while updating the series for a modern anime audience.

Source : ORICON NEWS