GIN NO SAJI

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ComedyGin no Saji 2
MANGA ComedyGin no Saji

REVIEWS

• 

  ReBuggy

  75/100
  "Silver Spoon isn't for everyone but if you have any sort of interest in farm life you'll love the series."

  As someone who grew up on a farm and who loved Fullmetal Alchemist, I was stoked when a show about an agricultural school written by FMA's mangaka Hiromu Arakawa began airing. And I was not disappointed. Let's get this out of the way: Fullmetal Alchemist is a brilliant fantasy series with cool magic, great action, and stakes that affect an entire world. Silver Spoon is none of those things. However, despite the two genres being so diametrically opposed, Arakawa is a masterful enough writer to pull it off.

  Silver Spoon (Gin no Saji) follows Yugo Hachiken as he enrolls in an agricultural high school in an attempt to distance himself from his family and in hopes that the academic course work would be easier. However, he quickly finds that agriculture is not as simple as he had initially assumed.

  Perhaps the strongest thing Silver Spoon has going for it is how grounded in reality it is. Arakawa herself grew up in agricultural parts of Hokkaido and draws herself as a dairy cow (did you spot the cameo in the first episode?), so she's telling a story that means a lot to her personally. I can confirm from personal experience that this series is what farm life is about. The difficulties farmers face, the ideals they hold, the paradoxes of loving animals you know will be slaughtered for food...everything presented in the series is an accurate portrayal of life for all sorts of farmers.

  That's not the only strength Silver Spoon has going for it, though. Arakawa shines at writing characters. Hachiken has the most obvious character arc in the first season as he struggles to figure out just what it is he wants from life, comes to realize that farm life is not what he thought it was, and struggles with his attachment to a piglet runt he dubs Pork Bowl. The arc with Pork Bowl is given even more weight in the anime than in the manga and is better for it. While Pork Bowl was just a piglet Hachiken formed an attachment to in the manga, the anime gives Hachiken scenes where he's actively trying to help Pork Bowl succeed--knowing that "success" in this case means "getting large enough to slaughter." Seeing Hachiken coming to grips with loving an animal but sending it off to become meat was for me the most powerful arc of the season, and because I (like Hachiken's classmates) have come to take that difficult process of letting go for granted, there were multiple times I was smiling in happiness while simultaneously crying tears of sadness.

  There are plenty of other worthwhile characters as well, though. Aki Mikage is the primary romantic interest, but she's more than just that. She wants to work with horses but feels trapped by an obligation to carry on the family farm. There's Shinnosuke Aikawa, who wants to become a vet but fears he doesn't have the stomach to accomplish his goal. There's Ichiro Komaba, a member of the baseball team who dreams of going pro to help his ailing family farm. And there's Tamako Inada, an incredibly ambitious young woman from a large farm who looks for profit in any cutthroat way she can. All have their quirks that lend themselves easily to lighthearted comedy, but none of them are defined by their quirks, making them all well-rounded characters.

  It may be my bias speaking, but I can't really find many flaws in Silver Spoon. I loved every second of it, and when the season was over I was left craving more. The biggest criticisms I can think of leveling against it are that it's hard to understand just why Hachiken hates his family so much and that...well, it's slice-of-life. If you're looking for drama or action, you're not going to find it here, and you're certainly not going to get what you want if you're expecting it to be another Fullmetal Alchemist.

  Admittedly, Silver Spoon isn't for everyone. If you don't like slice-of-life and have no interest in agriculture, there's a good chance it won't be your thing. If you're big on animal rights and think that meat is murder, Silver Spoon could very well offend you. But if you have any sort of connection to or interest in farm life, you'll love the series, and if you like slice-of-life and great characters, there's a good chance you should check it out. Even if the genre isn't usually your thing, give it a shot. The first episodes are a good indicator of the series as a whole, and if you don't like it initially, you can drop it fairly quickly. Great writing, great story, wonderful depiction of life. It's likely to get overlooked due to its premise--which is a tragedy--and just as likely to get compared to Fullmetal Alchemist, which is even worse because it's like comparing apples to oranges. Give the series a shot and let it stand on its own. Four stars.

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• 

  fullmetalwaifu

  90/100
  Respect what you eat! (no spoilers)

  I’d expect no less than this beautifully crafted story from the writer of Full Metal Alchemist.

  I’m not good at writing reviews but I did feel strongly enough that I wanted to convey a couple thoughts as this story really stuck with me. This has definitely become one of my favorite "Slice of Life’s" that I’ve watched so far. Working in the food industry, the content was already very familiar... but even so, it's left me with more compassion towards what I do.

  It’s a story that revolves around students attending an agricultural school and learning the ins and outs of farm life. Although at first that may sound a little dull, this show does anything but drag its feet. It serves a perfect balance of comedy and light drama which drives this story forward, filling it with an immense amount of heart. Even if you are unfamiliar or uninterested in what the core of the show is about, the true message deals with the reality and struggles of getting older and just being human in general. In that sense, it's extremely relatable and something that I think everyone can truly benefit from.

  Personally, it has helped me gain more insight on how much work is truly done in this industry before it even comes to my hands. It’s highly increased the compassion and respect I already had for the food that we eat… and the animals we eat it from. This would not be an easy show to watch for vegetarians, as it’s very transparent in how the meat industry works. But I will say, if you are at all curious as to its process, this would be a great little watch. It is a graceful approach to what really in the end is a ruthless truth. The trials you watch the MC go through, even though he knows the inevitable outcome, make you think very hard about how you would feel and what you would do in such situations.

  Most of the characters are explored really well, giving you a good sense of depth. You get nice back story on some of the heavy hitters and their families, which really helps you understand them and why they are the way they are. The relationships feel so natural in that it even invites you in, making you feel right at home with them. The only negative aspect that I will mention is that I felt the need for more background on the MC to help understand more of his grievances, but I’m sure that season 2 will dive more into that.

  Although it felt like sometimes the story wandered a bit— it actually makes perfect sense. What this show is really trying to say is that it's okay to not know all the answers and that there's always this never-ending search of what we are all trying to find in the meaning of life and in ourselves. At least that’s what I left with!

  I am so thankful for another season and can’t wait to jump into it when I’m ready. So, if you’re looking for something comical and light-hearted but also for something that will slightly challenge you and your feelings, this is a perfect fit.

  Thanks for listening to what I’m realizing is a less factual and way more personal review! :)

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• 

  SomeoneLikeTim

  85/100
  Silver Spoon: An Informative and highly enjoyable Slice of Life on Agriculture and Farming

  **Silver Spoon** comes from the author Hiromu Arakawa, of *Fullmetal Alchemist* fame. After creating such a widely successful and beloved battle shonen, Arakawa shifts gears to give us a Slice of Life on agricultural and farming life. In the show, we follow Yugo Hachiken (a city dweller) as he takes admission in Ezono High, an agricultural high school in rural Hokkaido. Alongside Hachiken, we learn about the different agricultural methods and the harsh realities of the food industry. Hachiken, as he tries to make sense of himself away from his family, he learns of the inconveniences and struggles of the agricultural life from his friends and their families. Throughout the semester, we are given a realistic outlook on farmers, their tough lives and the hereditary pressure that comes alongside this profession, all while also showing the fun of being in agriculture and farming. Learning to distinguish between food and pet is difficult, the viewers soon learn the struggle to maintain this balance through Hachiken's eyes, as he takes cares of animals meant to be livestock. The show makes an excellent use of dialogues, heavy yet never melodramatic; to point out that no one is right or wrong regarding their views on this matter. The effort people put into raising the livestock is also highlighted. Author's own childhood in a farming household helps her in writing a realistic piece of story, full of humor and heart. As someone who has witnessed farming at close quarters, I can assure that the show's facts on agriculture are very close to reality, and transcend the cultural barrier. Even though, the agriculture and farming are in the forefront, it's the characters and their lives that make the show such a delightful watch. The show presents a variety of characters with distinct personalities but all rooted in reality. Our protagonist Hachigen, starts out as an outsider not being able to understand anything happening around him or the significance of it all, and always freaking out while witnessing the fate of the farm animals. However, he grows as the show progresses. Even though at the start he tries to be on his own; he observes other people, worries about them, and tries to help them out. He learns of people's struggles, and this in turn changes his views on things. He, however, doesn't lose his core ideals but builds upon them. The show also sheds light on his own struggles, and his fight to better himself. Hachiken's interactions with other characters lead to some hilarious moments. The show also explores the supporting characters like Aki, Aikawa, Komaba and Tamako; all characters with distinct personalities, and stories of their own which we slowly learn about throughout the season. The difference in their ideals, views and upbringing gives the show a multidimensional outlook on things. Each and every character in this show is charming and likable, though we don't get to know everyone in season 1 itself. **Silver Spoon** has decent visuals. Arakawa's distinct artstyle is easily recognizable and gives the show a nice touch. The vast amount of land under Ezono High houses different agricultural facilities, all with distinct look. The show does a good job at showing the beauty of the Japanese countryside. And the faces characters make sometimes are absolutely hilarious. There are regular still shots, and questionable angles of cinematography but those are minor complaints. The OST is nothing special, but it helps to maintain the focus on the story itself. The opening theme is a catchy pop tune that will get stuck in one's head, and the ending theme closes out every episode with a tranquil atmosphere it manages to create. **Silver Spoon** may not be for everyone. If you are not into slice of life or agriculture at all, this may become a hard show to digest. However, don't let the genre or the obscure subject matter prevent you from giving it a fair chance. Through its use of excellent humor, relatable characters and dialogues, the show makes sure it is as much enjoyable as it is informative. No one needs avid knowledge of agriculture or the food industry to enjoy this show. There is not a single dull moment throughout the season, a true testament of excellent writing. Give it a shot, and you will be surprised by how honest and heartfelt this show is.
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