MAISON IKKOKU CD SINGLE MEMORIAL FILE

MAISON IKKOKU CD SINGLE MEMORIAL FILE

— by Roderick "Agitator" Lee

Disk 1

1. Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa (Hello! Sadness) [OP1]

Saitou Yuki

2. Ohikkoshi Wasuremono (Things Left Behind After Moving)

Saitou Yuki

Disk 2

1. Ashita hareru ka (Tomorrow Will Be Fine?) [ED1]

Kisugi Takao

2. Mou sukoshi tooku (Just A Little Farther)

Kisugi Takao

Disk 3

1. Ci-ne-ma [ED2]

Picasso

2. BGM - Kaerimichi II (On the Way Home)

Disk 4

1. Alone Again (Naturally) [OP, ep 24]

Gilbert O'Sullivan

2. Get Down [ED, ep 24]

Gilbert O'Sullivan

Disk 5

1. Yokan (Presentiment) [IS, ep 33]

Otonashi Kyoko*

2. Yume no Iriguchi e... (Into a Dream Entrance)

Otonashi Kyoko*

Disk 6

1. Fantasy [ED3]

Picasso

2. Nureta Hitomi no Picture (Picture of Drenched Eyes)

Picasso

Disk 7

1. Suki sa (I Love You) [OP2]

Anzen Chitai

2. Omoide ni Tsutsumarete (Wrapped in Memories)

Anzen Chitai

Disk 8

1. Sunny, Shiny Morning [OP3]

Kiyonori Matsuo

2. Younger Girl

Kiyonori Matsuo

Disk 9

1. Sayonara no Dessin (Sketch of a Goodbye) [ED4]

Picasso

2. Suna no Atelier

Picasso

Disk 10

1. Melody [IS, ep 77]

Otonashi Kyoko*

2. Tokimeki (Heart-throbbing)

Otonashi Kyoko*

Disk 11

1. Hidamari (A Sunny Spot) [OP4]

Murashita Kouzou

2. BGM - Kaze no Symphony (Wind's Symphony)

Disk 12

1. Begin the Night [ED5]

Picasso

2. Itoshisa ga Moeru (Tenderness Burns)

Picasso

Disk 13

1. Glass no Kiss (Kiss of Glass), [Movie ED]

Himenogi Rika

2. Namida no suzu to Kaze no Ito (Bell of Tears and Thread of Wind)

Himenogi Rika

*Shimaoto Sumi is credited as Otonashi Kyoko.

One of the great things about Kitty Animation Circle that makes them a fan favorite is their conscious decision to not let their titles go out of print. Similar to Disney's decision to re-release all their animated movies on a seven year cycle, Kitty periodically represses a new set of LD or CD sets, and more often than every seven years, even. With rights to such popular, long-running titles such as TOUCH, YAWARA!, URUSEI YATSURA, MAISON IKKOKU, and RANMA in its proverbial vaults, a visit to the Kitty library is an excellent chance to catch-up on some favorites of the past.
One of these prizes is the MAISON IKKOKU CD SINGLE MEMORIAL FILE, a thirteen single, double CD box of all the popular vocals from the series, including the full set of OP/EDs (Yes, Virginia, that includes the ridiculously elusive "Hidamari"). So, while similar CD prizes from other companies such as Futureland's singing heart² and even Pony Canyon's AA! MEGAMISAMA SOUNDTRACK VOL. 1 have long since vanished, MAISON IKKOKU fans are lucky to be able to still pick up this venerable CD single box with the original release date of 1988.
Truth be told, the "need" for this collection has dropped considerably since 1994's long awaited release of MAISON IKKOKU BEST SELECTION BY OTONASHI KYOKO, which features all but three of the OP/EDs and even has one of the seiyuu tracks that also appear in this CD single set. Not to mention there is also the eight CD MAISON IKKOKU PERFECT COLLECTION which has everything. (And since PERFECT COLLECTION is also a Kitty release, it is also still available.) So, this is pretty much a luxury, though it is still a compelling buy for "Hidamari" fans. (For some inexplicable reason, the final OP, "Hidamari," is available from only three sources, with availability anywhere between uncommon to rare: the 1992 MAISON IKKOKU MUSIC CALENDAR, PERFECT COLLECTION, and this CD SINGLE MEMORIAL.)
As luxuries go, there could be worse. Thirteen individual CD singles, twenty-six tracks in all: all five OPs, all six EDs, four seiyuu tracks by Shimamoto Sumi and credited as "Otonashi Kyoko," two BGM instrumentals, and one movie vocal, in all eighteen tracks from the series. Which leaves eight tracks unaccounted for. As these are CD singles, it is common practice for the second track to be a second non-anime vocal from the artist, and for eight of these thirteen CDs it is no exception. But, that is not bad because some of the "B-sides" hold their own.
Saitou Yuki's "Ohikkoshi Wasuremono" is a charming, light, and airy piece, which fits quite well as a companion to her better-known "Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa" (Hello! Sadness), the popular first OP, which lasted for over a third of the series run. Sticking with companion pieces to early series vocals, "Mou sukoshitooku" is an admirable guitar-driven ballad by Kisugi Takao; he is better known for the first ED "Ashita hareru ka" (Tomorrow will be Fine?). Listeners who are fond of Picasso's deliberate style will probably also take to "Nureta Hitomi no Picture" (Picture of Drenched Eyes), while those looking for a change can try out the up tempo stylings of "Itoshisa ga, Moeru," also by Picasso.
But enough of the extra tracks! After all, we bought this for MI music. With a series as long as MI, every fan has a favorite or two, so rather than concentrate on what some will no doubt consider the "wrong half" to concentrate on, we will just do the quick once over across the entire collection. But before we begin, this reviewer's preferences lean toward the cheery yet sad "Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa," the joyous OP3 "Sunny, Shiny Morning," the movie ED, "Glass no Kiss" (Kiss of Glass), and all four seiyuu tracks. So, beginning with the vocals, the slower paced ballads are ED1 "Ashita hareru ka," ED3 "Fantasy," ED4 "Sayonara no Dessin" (Sketch of a Goodbye), and ED5 (gee, do we see a trend here?) "Begin the Night," while the up tempo pieces are "Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa," ED2 "Ci-ne-ma," OP2 "Suki sa," "Sunny, Shiny Morning," and of course, "Hidamari," the likely reason some people will buy this collection. Some fans would just as soon bury the one-shot Gilbert O'Sullivan OP/EDs from episode 24 while others derive great enjoyment from them. Maybe it is because they are in English by English speakers; in any event, they are here and take up an entire single disc of their own. Kyoko has one ballad, "Yokan" (Presentiment), while her other three tracks are all more upbeat.
Rounding out the BGMs, there is some wonderful piano music in "Kaerimichi II" (On the Way Home) and "Kaze no Symphony" (Wind's Symphony) is a montage of assorted BGMs from throughout the series.
As with any box set, packaging is a key component. The singles come in two fold out padded folders, the first holding nine, the second holding four. Opposite the foam-encased disc trays are video stills in strip format of each of the eleven OP/EDs from the entire series plus the "Glass no Kiss" footage from the MAISON IKKOKU FINAL MOVIE. The accompanying song insert includes lyrics for all twenty-four vocals, along with artwork from the original singles covers and just assorted background art here and there. The front of the box is a wonderful watercolor of a pensive Kyoko holding a bouquet of roses while each of the individual discs themselves has the MAISON IKKOKU title on the top in hiragana and kanji and a full color image of Kyoko on the right in one of three facial expressions.
With a yen price of ¥13000, this is no more expensive (per disc) than any other anime CD single. Which makes it a bargain with the bonuses and more protective packaging. And if that is not a persuasive enough argument, well, there is always "Hidamari" to serve as that final hook.