Tamako Market

Tamako Market
Tamako Market promotional image
たまこまーけっと (Tamako Māketto)
Genre	Comedy, Slice of life
Anime television series
Directed by	Naoko Yamada
Written by	Reiko Yoshida
Music by	Tomoko Kataoka
Studio	Kyoto Animation
Licensed by	NA Sentai Filmworks
Network	BS11, KBS, Sun TV, Tokyo MX, TV Aichi
Original run	January 10, 2013 – March 28, 2013
Episodes	12
Light novel
Written by	Mutsuki Ichinose
Illustrated by	Yukiko Horiguchi
Published by	Kyoto Animation
Published	April 8, 2013

Tamako Market (たまこまーけっと, Tamako Māketto) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Kyoto Animation and directed by Naoko Yamada. The series aired in Japan between January 10 and March 28, 2013. The anime has been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks.

Plot

Tamako Kitashirakawa is the eldest daughter of a family which runs the Tama-ya mochi shop in the Usagiyama Shopping District (うさぎ山商店街, Usagiyama Shōtengai). One day, Tamako encounters a strange talking bird named Dera Mochimazzwi who comes from a distant land searching for a bride for his country's prince. After becoming overweight from eating too much mochi, Dera ends up becoming a freeloader in Tamako's home. The series follows the everyday life of Tamako, her friends, family and neighbors, and this peculiar bird.

Characters

Main characters

Tamako Kitashirakawa (北白川 たまこ, Kitashirakawa Tamako)

Voiced by: Aya Suzaki

The titular character and the main protagonist of the series, Tamako is a first-year in high school whose family runs a mochi shop in their town's shopping district called Tama-ya. She enjoys her high school life and the baton club with her friends Kanna and Midori. She helps her family run the shop and invent new kinds of mochi. Her birthday is on New Year's Eve and is often forgotten due to the busy schedule, but Tamako devotes herself to helping in the shop. Tamako is nervous about public speaking, and has problems swimming. Tamako is shown to be rather slow in catching up with things, particularly regarding people's feelings. She is one of the few characters that does not know Mochizō has a crush on her, and she fails to pick up on her sister's crush. Tamako feeds Dera mochi on a regular basis, and she feeds him too much for his size, making him bloated and unable to fly properly.

Dera Mochimazzwi (デラ・モチマッヅィ)

Voiced by: Takumi Yamazaki

Dera is a bird that speaks Japanese, with a little bossy tone, that ends up staying at Tamako's house. He is a noble attendant for a royal court from a tropical island and was on journey to find a bride for its prince. However, after gaining an affinity for mochi, he has put on a lot of weight and thus cannot fly properly anymore, only being able to manage short distances before he runs out of breath. He is often just referred to as "Bird" (鳥, Tori) by Tamako's family, or simply "Dera-chan" (デラちゃん) by Tamako, as his surname sounds very similar to mochi mazui (もちまずい^?, lit. "bad tasting mochi"). Dera maintains that he is rather versed in the ways of love, sometimes giving Mochizō and Midori love advice on their respective crushes on Tamako. Dera is rather full of himself as well, which usually stems from a series of misunderstandings. He believes anyone that sneezes in his direction is in love with him, he himself having a crush on Shiori. His body contains a communication system used by the prince to communicate with him, although it only works when Dera is unconscious, thus he has no memories of any time the prince attempts to contact him. In his unconscious state, he can also be hooked up to video devices and used like a projector.

Midori Tokiwa (常盤 みどり, Tokiwa Midori)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaneko

Midori is Tamako's classmate and childhood friend, as well as captain of her school's Baton Club, which Tamako and Kanna are also members of. Her grandparents own and run a toy shop in the town's shopping district called Tokiwa-do. She later comes to terms that she has feelings for Tamako.

Kanna Makino (牧野 かんな, Makino Kanna)

Voiced by: Juri Nagatsuma

Kanna is a high school student in the same year as her friends, Tamako and Midori, and is a member of the baton club. She is the daughter of a carpenter who works in the same shopping district as Tamako and her family. A relaxed and laid back girl, Kanna does not care what anyone else thinks and is not easily swayed, however she does have a fear of heights and appears to have an allergy of birds. Kanna is often portrayed as rather eccentric, and usually wears a straight and expressionless face despite being fun and a good friend.

Shiori Asagiri (朝霧 史織, Asagiri Shiori)

Voiced by: Yurie Yamashita

Shiori is one of Tamako's classmates and a member of the badminton club. She is a knowledgeable and resourceful girl, with a serious, cool personality. However, it is shown that while she is quiet and often mistaken as distant, she is actually extremely shy and and later becomes good friends with Tamako. Dera has fallen for her, though she does not reciprocate his feelings.

Mochizō Ōji (大路 もち蔵, Ōji Mochizō)

Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru

Mochizō is Tamako's childhood friend whose family also runs a mochi shop called Ōji-ya or in the new name Ricecake Oh!Zee, a mochi shop located across from Tama-ya. Though their fathers are not on good terms due to business competition, he and Tamako are good friends. He is in love with Tamako, and has been in love with her for a few years. He is shown to be nervous with public speaking, despite telling Tamako to let him take over speaking in the shopping district meeting. His name comes from the fact that he was born on Mochi Day (October 10).

Choi Mochimazzwi (チョイ・モチマッヅィ)

Voiced by: Yuri Yamaoka

Choi is a fortune teller from the southern island that Dera comes from who is sent to check up on Dera and help him search for a bride for the Prince. She ends up staying with Tamako until Dera's communication function can be fixed. She believes that Tamako is the Prince's bride due to a mark on her neck. It is hinted that she has feelings for the Prince. Despite this, she is very diligent in her search for the Prince's bride.

Tamako's family

Anko Kitashirakawa (北白川 あんこ, Kitashirakawa Anko)

Voiced by: Rina Hidaka

Anko is Tamako's younger sister, who is in fourth grade. She is less practical than her older sister, and is a more fashion conscious girl. She often demands that she be called just "An", as she feels "Anko" is too childish. She is named after red bean paste.

Mamedai Kitashirakawa (北白川 豆大, Kitashirakawa Mamedai)

Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara

Mamedai is Tamako's father, who runs the family's mochi shop. He has a rivalry with Gohei Ōji, and they are often seen in front of their shops arguing, to which Tamako and Mochizō have to resolve. Tamako's father is a traditionalist, and does not care much for special mochi. He often mocks the sign of Gohei's shop, Ricecake Oh!Zee, commenting that it is ridiculous.

Fuku Kitashirakawa (北白川 福, Kitashirakawa Fuku)

Voiced by: Tomomichi Nishimura

Fuku is Tamako's grandfather, who lives with her family and helps run the mochi shop. He is rather laid back and lenient, especially towards Tamako and Anko, in contrast towards his son, who is much harsher on his two daughters. His and Mamedai's names together are a reference to mame daifuku.

Hinako Kitashirakawa (北白川 ひなこ, Kitashirakawa Hinako)

Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa

Tamako and Anko's mother who passed away prior to the story.

Usagiyama shopkeepers

Gohei Ōji (大路 吾平, Ōji Gohei)

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki

Gohei is Mochizō's father, who runs the Ōji-ya shop. While Tamako's father sees Mochizō as a spy whenever he enters his shop, Gohei is on friendly terms with Tamako, as they both greet each other normally whenever they meet. Tamako does not think that his shop's name is ridiculous, and she praises his new sign above the shop when it is installed. Gohei is highly inventive with his mochi, taking advantage of non-Japanese holidays such as Valentine's Day in order to make different types of special mochi. This is one of the main arguments he has with Tamako's father.

Michiko Ōji (大路 道子, Ōji Michiko)

Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino

Michiko is Mochizō's mother, who helps run the Ōji-ya shop.

Kaoru Hanase (花瀬 かおる, Hanase Kaoru)

Voiced by: Daisuke Ono

Kaoru is a florist at a flower shop in the Usagiyama shopping district. He is androgynous.

Kunio Yaobi (八百比 邦夫, Yaobi Kunio)

Voiced by: Kōji Tsujitani

The owner of the record store in the Usagiyama shopping district, who has a habit of putting on fitting records at appropriate times. He was once in a band with Mamedai.

Chōji Yumoto (湯本 長治, Yumoto Chōji)

Voiced by: Kyosei Tsukui

Chōji is Sayuri's father and the owner of the bathhouse in the Usagiyama shopping district.

Sayuri Yumoto (湯本 さゆり, Yumoto Sayuri)

Voiced by: Junko Iwao

Sayuri is the daughter of Chōji. She helps out at the bathhouse in the Usagiyama shopping district.

Other characters

Mecha Mochimazzwi (メチャ・モチマッヅィ)

Voiced by: Hiro Shimono

He is a prince from the southern island that Dera comes from. He communicates through a projector that comes out of Dera's eyes, which usually goes unanswered as Dera's projections only work when he's unconscious, thus having no memory of the communications.

Media

Anime

The Tamako Market anime television series is produced by Kyoto Animation and aired on Tokyo MX between January 10 and March 28, 2013. The series is directed by Naoko Yamada and the script is written by Reiko Yoshida. The art director is Ikuko Tamine and the character designs are provided by Yukiko Horiguchi. The sound director is Yota Tsuruoka and the music is composed by Tomoko Kataoka. Bonus "Dera's Bar" episodes are included with the Blu-ray Disc and DVD volumes, which began release from March 20, 2013. The opening and ending themes respectively are "Dramatic Market Ride" (ドラマチックマーケットライド, Doramachikku Māketto Raido) and "Neguse" (ねぐせ, Bedhead), which are both performed by Aya Suzaki under her character name Tamako Kitashirakawa. The anime has been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks and it is streamed on the Anime Network. It is also streamed in the United Kingdom on Anime on Demand.

Episode list

No.	Title	Original air date
1	"That Girl is the Cute Daughter of a Mochi Shop Owner" "Ano Ko wa Kawaii Mochiya no Musume" (あの娘はかわいいもち屋の娘)	January 10, 2013
While shopping for some flowers in her local market, Tamako Kitashirakawa, the daughter of a mochi shop owner, encounters a peculiar talking bird named Dera Mochimazzwi that decides to follow her home. As Tamako and her younger sister Anko go to the public baths later that evening, Dera has Tamako's childhood friend, Mochizō Ōji, take him to the baths as well. As New Year's Eve arrives, with Dera having put on weight after gaining an affection for mochi, Dera almost chokes on a mochi, prompting the neighborhood to help him out, overlooking Tamako's birthday.
2	"A Valentine's Day Blooming With Love" "Koi no Hanasaku Barentain" (恋の花咲くバレンタイン)	January 17, 2013
As Valentine's Day approaches, Tamako suggests the shopping district should hold a Valentine campaign. However, Tamako's father, Mamedai, is against the campaign, believing it to be too modernised. As Tamako and Mochizō start shooting a commercial for the shopping district, Tamako's friend, Midori Tokiwa, feels conflicted by feelings she starts having around Tamako. At the screening of the commercial, Dera manages to stand in for the projector by projecting the image through his eyes. When the commercial finishes, Dera shows another video, this time a video message from his home country. As Valentine's Day arrives, Midori comes to terms a little with her feelings.
3	"Hot for a Cool Girl" "Kūru na Ano Ko ni Atchitchi" (クールなあの子にあっちっち)	January 24, 2013
As a new school year starts, Tamako and her friend Kanna Makino ends up in the same class as badminton club member Shiori Asagiri. That morning, Dera has a run in with Shiori and falls in love with her. After Dera ends up getting lost, Shiori escorts her back to Tamako's house, where Tamako attempts to become friends with her. Due to coincidental situations with her family, Shiori soon ends up staying for dinner and joining Tamako to the baths. The next day, Shiori tries to work up the courage to thank Tamako for the other day, but has difficulties overcoming her shyness. As Shiori ends up helping her homeroom teacher to Tamako's house for a home visit, Tamako takes her to a coffee shop, where she is finally able to convey her feelings of gratitude. As the two become proper friends, Shiori gives her thanks to Dera for helping her out, though rejects his proposal of love. Afterwards, Tamako hears from Midori about how much courage it took for her to convey her feelings properly.
4	"A Small Love Blooms" "Chīsana Koi, Saichatta" (小さな恋、咲いちゃった)	January 31, 2013
Anko becomes disappointed that she cannot go a museum with her friends, including a boy from her class she likes, because the market is preparing for a festival. Luckily, her grandfather says she'll be able to go if she wakes up early and finishes up all her jobs. Meanwhile, Dera is cast as an ornament for the festival's shrine. As Anko prepares to go to the museum, the florist asks for her help in dressing up some children, foregoing the museum in favor of giving one of the girls her support. When the boys from her class arrives, Anko becomes embarrassed and shuts herself in the closet, although she eventually comes out when one of the boys, Yuzuki, brings her a souvenir from the museum.
5	"We Spent the Night Together" "Ichiya o Tomo ni Sugoshita ze" (一夜を共に過ごしたぜ)	February 7, 2013
As summer arrives, the girls go to the swimming pool to teach Tamako how to swim while Dera learns of Mochizō's crush on Tamako. Dera decides to accompany Mochizō as he and the others go on a school trip to the beach and help him with his love troubles. When Midori learns of this, she chooses to stand against him, although the heat between them soon calms down by the next day as the gang watch some fireworks.
6	"I Felt Chills Down My Spine Too" "Ore no Sesuji mo Kōtta ze" (俺の背筋も凍ったぜ)	February 14, 2013
Noting that not too many people come by the market during hot days, Tamako suggests they put on a haunted house to help cool people down. As Tamako, Midori and Kanna work on preparing the haunted house, Mamedai claims he saw some ghosts floating about at night, leading the shopkeepers to become paranoid, believing the market to be cursed. After a test run by Shirori and Dera, the haunted house starts gaining some attention whilst Shiori helps clear up some of the 'hauntings' the shopkeepers have been experiencing. The haunted house proves to be a huge success, drawing lots of customers to the market. At the wrap-up party, Kanna reveals she and Dera were behind the ghost sightings from before. As Dera falls over in shock, his eyes once again project a video from the foreign prince, informing everyone that someone named Choi is coming to the market.
7	"She Went to Be a Bride" "Ano Ko ga Oyome ni Itchatta" (あの子がお嫁に行っちゃった)	February 21, 2013
Choi Mochimazzwi, a fortune teller from Dera's homeland, comes to stay at Tamako's house, revealing that both she and Dera come from the island's royal family. When Choi becomes annoyed by Dera gaining weight and forgetting his mission to find a bride for the island's prince, he claims he is being held against his will, leading her to be distrustful of the good will Tamako and the shopkeepers show towards her. As Choi tells fortunes as a mean's of paying back everyone's kindness, shopkeeper Sayuri Yumoto reveals she is getting married, much to the dismay of tofu shop owner Tomio Shimizu, who had a crush on her. This leads Choi to think about her own unrequited feelings for the prince, leading to her getting a fever after passing out in the bath. After Tamako helps her overcome some of her homesickness, she becomes a bit more accepting of everyone's kindness. As she decides to stay until she is able to fix the communication system Dera has, she notices a peculiar scent coming off of Tamako.
8	"Don't Call Me A Chicken" "Niwatori dato wa Iwasenē" (ニワトリだとは言わせねぇ)	February 28, 2013
Deciding his obesity needs to be addressed, Tamako, Choi and the others decide to put Dera on a mochi-free diet until he loses enough weight to fit into a birdhouse Kanna made. In order to keep watch over Dera to make sure no one feeds him, Choi goes to school with Tamako and the others, where she joins in on classes and helps Dera get some much needed exercise, before going to a used clothes store. As Dera shows up the next day with a curiously slim body, Kanna and Midori give Choi a sweater they made for her.
9	"Singing a Love Song" "Utatchaunda, Koi no Uta" (歌っちゃうんだ、恋の歌)	March 7, 2013
As the Tamaya shop decides to put on a mochi pounding event for October 10, Mochi Day, Anko asks Tamako to set some daifuku aside for Yuzuki, the boy she has a crush on, but can't bring herself to face him in person. Asked by Tamako to help, Mochizō learns that Anko is depressed because Yuzuki is transferring to another school on Mochi Day. As Mochi Day arrives, Tamako gives Anko the encouragement to see Yuzuki off before he leaves. Receiving some fresh mochi Tamako gave Anko, Yuzuki tells her that they'll see each other again when his family next comes to Tamaya for some mochi. Meanwhile, Tamako comes across Mamedai playing a familiar song from her childhood. The record store owner, Kunio Yaobi, tells Tamako and the others that the song was written by Mamedai for her late mother, Hinako.
10	"A Flower Blooms on her Baton" "Ano Ko no Baton ni Hana ga Saku" (あの子のバトンに花が咲く)	March 14, 2013
With the school cultural festival approaching, the Baton Club manage to get a key timeslot for the main stage. However, Midori struggles to come up with some choreography for their performance, finding herself unable to admit it to Tamako and the others. As Midori becomes more stressed, leading to her catching a fever, Shiori mentions to Tamako and Kanna about Midori's worries. The next day, Tamako and the others visit Midori after hearing about her fever, she admits that she had been unable to come up with any choreography and is overcome with guilt. After Dera cheers her up by performing an amusing dance, Tamako, Kanna and Shiori help Midori come up with choreography, managing to come up with something come the day of the festival. As Choi comes to the school to give the club her support, she notices a particular mark on Tamako's neck, later announcing to Tamako that she is a candidate to become her prince's bride.
11	"Who Knew She'd be a Princess?" "Masaka Ano Ko ga Purinsesu" (まさかあの娘がプリンセス)	March 21, 2013
As word spreads about Tamako allegedly being a princess, Tamako herself is more focused on collecting enough loyalty points to receive a medal from the shopping district. After Tamako earns her medal, Choi manages to fix Dera's communication features and get in contact with the prince, Mecha, who exchanges some words with Tamako before Dera breaks down again. Whilst Tamako herself feels she's not really a princess, the neighbourhood have a meeting concerning Tamako, feeling she should probably go, although Tamako herself feels otherwise. The next morning, Tamako panics when she can't find her medal, only to be given it by Mecha himself.
12	"Another Year Ends" "Kotoshi mo Mata Kuretetta" (今年もまた暮れてった)	March 28, 2013
Upon Mecha's arrival, the whole shopping district's attention shifts towards him, while Tamako feels a little confused by everything; the empty shopping district begins to remind her of when her mother died. When asked by Dera about what she thinks of the whole bride business, Tamako talks about how much the district has meant to her over the years. Tamako rushes to turn down Mecha's proposal, only to learn that she isn't actually a candidate, as Choi has misunderstood things. After the girls see them off, Choi and Mecha head back to their home country, only to realize they have left Dera behind. Come New Year's, Dera attempts to head back home by hiding himself in a bouquet, only to wind up in a box Mochizō has ordered for Tamako's birthday and end up right back on Tamako's doorstep.

Bonus episodes

No.	Title	Original air date
1	"Dera's Bar 1" "Derazu Bā 1" (デラ's BAR 1)	March 20, 2013
Dera has trouble teaching Tamako and her friends about how to behave in a bar.
2	"Dera's Bar 2" "Derazu Bā 2" (デラ's BAR 2)	April 17, 2013
3	"Dera's Bar 3" "Derazu Bā 3" (デラ's BAR 3)	May 15, 2013

Light novel

A light novel titled Tamako Market, written by Mutsuki Ichinose and illustrated by Yukiko Horiguchi, was published by Kyoto Animation on April 8, 2013.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Tamako Market (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia