One Week Friends

One Week Friends ( 一週間フレンズ) is a slice of life romance based on the manga of the same name by Hazuki Matcha.  The anime was broadcast in Japan in the spring if 2014 and ran for 12 episodes.

    Hase Yuki is a quiet and unassuming student who has feelings for the mysterious Fujimiya Kaori in his class.  Wanting to get closer to her even though she never interacts with anyone he decides to have lunch with her on the schools rooftop.  Fujimuya is at first gruff and put off by the outgoing Hase but his earnestness lets her open up a little.  At the end of the week though she is faced with telling this likable,  if persistent,  boy her secret which keeps her from making friends.  For some reason her memories reset at the end of each week and she can only remember things not dealing with her peers.  She remembers her family,  Her studies and her early childhood but everything else goes away with each Sunday night.  Surprised and determined even more Hase wants to do what he can to create memories of him that Fujimiya won't easily forget.

    This us a slow and very quiet series.  All of the characters are relaxed to the point they may really all be on downers.  The artwork is hazy and dream like, which fits the atmosphere of the show well.  While not bad the series really just did amble on with no real conflict or resolution.  But,  it ends with you wanting more...some sort if solid conclusion.  But,  with its faults I still enjoyed it.  This series is probably best dished out a little at a time though.  I think if I watched it in one big go,  instead of weekly,  I would have fallen asleep and not cared to finish it.  The story really could have benefited some more legitimate tension.  Instead it seems to amble on with small moments of drama popping up almost formulaically.  They should have taken a look at the serious dramatic tension in Asatte no Houkou for some pointers.

    The anime was simulcast in North America via Crunchyroll.  No word on any sort of DVD release.  The manga is not currently available outside of Japan.