Recap: Present

Hello again, and Merry Christmas everyone! As a special treat, I’m going to do a recap on something i’ve been wanting to for a long time; but never got a chance to. I will be looking at the slice-of-life series Ichigo Mashimaro; and it will be equal parts a gift to myself and you all this season. So, let’s all have fun and open up “Present;” true in every sense of its title.

The show opens with a light and bouncy title theme; by its own admission. Have a listen for yourself and see. 

We open on Miu, one of the girls in this quartet of school-age children; waking up her friend Chi with a snowball. I know it’s tradition in Japan; but why would she be barefoot on the roof? Her toes would be frozen in no time.

Also, their den mother; Nobue, uses the cold to simulate cigarette smoke. Little side note: while Nobue is 16 in the manga, she’s 20 here. This grants her a bit more leeway with things like this.

The title card is also enjoyably simple; much like a child’s writing.

Generally, the premise is built on finding humor in everyday life; such as when the girls would rather build a snowman than help Nobue shovel out the driveway. Ah, youth.

Everyone then goes inside to play dolls; as little girls often do, and Matsuri observes that it’s a “Riko-chan” doll; a take-off on the real-life brand Licca-Chan.

Over the course of their playtime; we see the premise of this episode start unfold: how will Matsuri receive her present if she no longer believes in Santa Claus?

It is here that Miu reveals how she learned the truth.

One year, she asked for a stoplight, and got three flashlights tied together.

Another time, she asked for a sumo wrestler and got a costume. Those are pretty fun.

The year after that, she asked for a spa and was given bath salts; until she was given a letter that explained everything. More on that later. 

So, as we enter the second half; Miu dresses up like Santa as Chi, Ana, and Nobue back her up as reindeer. Their objective: to leave a Harry Potter book for Matsuri and give her something to believe in.

They find she already has the book; but all the same, still keep her Christmas spirit alive and full of wonder.

As everyone heads home, Matsuri falls asleep with the book in her grasp; and she has accepted the belief even though she knows what I do: Santa Claus lives inside everyone that wants to embody his image of goodwill and generosity. My mother, my father, my brother, me and everyone else. That is the key reason why I decided to do this episode; as it manages to capture the feeling of being in this stage of life as a child; regardless of where you come from.

Time passes, and everyone heads back to school; including Nobue.

Also, there’s this strange running gag where their homeroom teacher sends a male student out in the hall for increasingly minor infractions; and it gets turned on its head in this last episode, with the teacher instead. I guess that he just doesn’t like that kid.

So, all the same, we close this episode and this series on Nobue having a smoke by the riverbank. Sorry about how short this recap is; but I think it’s ideal to take a breather this way, knowing what lies ahead.

“Present” is exactly that: a beautiful gift as the final episode of Ichigo Mashimaro in its initial run. The animation is beautiful, and the series’ relaxing vibes shine through in this lovely episode. It’s the ideal end to a great series. I simply cannot make clearer how much I enjoy it; so please go watch it if you haven’t already. 

After Christmas, however; is another story. Check back with me then as I bury the hatchet on one of my biggest disappointments ever: Pokémon The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV. See you space cowboy.