Chō Kuse ni Narisō (超くせになりそう, lit. "I'll Make a Habit of It") is a Japanese manga series written by An Yoshimura and illustrated by Nakano Yayoi. The series tells the story of an idol singer/martial artist and the chaos that results from her efforts to have a life and love beyond her singing career. An anime adaptation by Studio Kikan aired as part of the anthology program Eisei Anime Gekijō which was broadcast on NHK.

Chō Kuse ni Narisō
Cover art for the fourth and final volume of the Chō Kuse ni Narisō manga released in Japan
超くせになりそう
(Chō Kuse ni Narisō)
GenreRomantic comedy
Manga
Written byAn Yoshimura
Illustrated byYayoi Nakano
Published byKodansha
MagazineNakayoshi
DemographicShōjo
Original runJuly 1993January 1995
Volumes4
Anime television series
Directed byTetsuya Endo
Produced byYoshikazu Tochihira
Written byMeteor Shower
Music byHiroshi Sakamoto
StudioStudio Kikan
Original networkNHK
Original run 5 April 1994 3 January 1995
Episodes39

Synopsis

edit

Shiratori Nagisa is the heir to a judo training hall that has fallen on such hard times that their only pupils are animals from a nearby wildlife park. In a desperate bit to save her heritage, she reveals that she is going to go out into the world as an idol singer and find "strong people" to join her school. The first part of her plan succeeds beyond her wildest dreams: she is elevated to the status of Japan's top idol. Yet this dooms the second part of her plan, because her fame and schedule prevent her from finding the disciples she seeks.

So Nagisa horrifies her manager by chopping off her trademark pigtails and enrolling at one of the worst schools in Tokyo as a boy, under her given name of Ootori Nagisa. (Shiratori is a stage name). There, she runs into the toughest gang at the school, and after she soundly beats them, they (believing her to be a man) recruit her to help them confront a gang from a rival school. Unfortunately, when she sees the leader of the rival gang, a handsome boy named Nosaka-kun, she instantly falls madly in love with him. Before the fight can begin, Nagisa is whisked away to a record signing, where she encounters Nosaka again, who is so utterly smitten with Nagisa that he proposes marriage on the spot.

The next day, the disguised Nagisa fights an inconclusive duel with Nosaka that ends in a stalemate, and with Nosaka declaring her a worthy foe who he looks forward to fighting again. He later reveals to the female Nagisa that he too in on a quest to recruit disciples for a failing dojo, and is meeting with a similar lack of success. The next day, in their final confrontation, Nosaka discovers Nagisa's secret due to an ill-placed grab maneuver. Declaring he would rather love Nagisa than fight her, he agrees to keep her secret and they run off, with the school toughs and both their disapproving fathers in hot pursuit.

After that, Nagisa continues her double life, showing up at school some of the time when her manager cannot force her to attend to her idol responsibilities. Meanwhile, the world she lives in gets weirder and weirder, as more and more bizarre things happen in her proximity.

Characters

edit
Ootori/Shiratori Nagisa
Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura
Nagisa is the young, pink-pigtailed protagonist of the story. While she loves to sing and dance (and is very good as well) she says that she loves to "toss people around" more. Her strength and fighting ability are overwhelmingly large, and she uses them on both people and the wildlife she trains in her dojo. She is very ambitious and isn't afraid to go after what she wants.
Nosaka Akira
Voiced by: Nobutoshi Hayashi
Nagisa's love interest, confidante and secret fiancé. He is quite devoted but he is impulsive and protective to a fault, despite the fact that Nagisa is in less need of protection than anyone he has ever known.
Momoko Prisilla
Voiced by: Chieko Honda
A wealthy dilettante who is determined to become the greatest actress in the world and supplant Nagisa as the most popular idol in Japan (one of her more "rational" goals is to be more famous than Audrey Hepburn.) As part of this process, she is "building a repertoire" of roles she can assume. At least twice an episode, Momoko can be counted upon to show up at a random time, do something incredibly bizarre, and then leave, usually being driven off in her stretch limousine by the young man who adoringly follows her everywhere to the praises of a quartet of identical cheerleaders who might be robots. There are strong hints that she may have the power to literally manipulate and warp reality at will through her method acting.
Kamioka Ryuu
Voiced by: Akira Ishida
As Momoko's stooge, he participates in Momoko's little shows, often finding himself in harm's way as a result. Despite this, he is incredibly loyal to Momoko and does his best to learn from her and her acting.
Kumakichi
A large blue bear who is one of Nagisa's best friends from her dojo, who now lives with her in Tokyo and occasionally takes part in her act. Contrary to anime-fan expectations, Kumakichi actually is a bear and is usually incapable of speech.
Makoto Nakatake
Voiced by: Kouji Tsujitani
Nagisa's long-suffering manager who fears that her irresponsibility is going to cost him his job. He poses as a teenage boy to enroll with Nagisa at the school so he can keep her under observation, a task that usually proves futile. Even though he continues to remain in the idol agency's employ, he continues to worry about it to extreme lengths, even developing a song of his own called "The Worry Blues" as a running gag.
Tsunoda
The leader of the hoodlums at Nagisa's school, an ardent fan of Nagisa the idol singer, and a combination friend and antagonist for Nagisa the martial artist. He is bald, with a head shaped like a volcano that erupts on occasion, as a result of a childhood accident. Despite his rough appearance and speech, he is from a rich family and is surprisingly intelligent and resourceful. He is completely unable to decipher Nagisa's secret despite the fact that she does a poor job of impersonating a male. As a result of this, he completely misinterprets her relationship with his bitter rival Nosaka. Like Nosaka, he is very protective of Shiratori Nagisa and will attempt to charge to the rescue if he believes she is in danger.
Red Beetle
An international agency/conspiracy that keeps an iron grip on the market for idols on every nation on Earth except Japan. They frequently send rivals forth to break Nagisa's grip on the hearts of the Japanese public, who always fail despite Nagisa's lack of interest in defending her position on top.

Episodes

edit
No. Original title Original Title (Romaji) Subtitled title(s) Aired
01 誕生!戦うアイドル?! Tanjou! Tatakau Idol?! Tomodachi Fansubs:

Born! Fighting Idol?!

05/04/1994
02 決闘!恋のカミナリおとし Kettou! Koi no Kaminari Otoshi Tomodachi Fansubs:

Duel! Thunder of Love

12/04/1994
03 なぎさのデート! Nagisa no Date! Tomodachi Fansubs:

Nagisa's Date!

19/04/1994
04 まいりますわよ仇討ち! Mairimasuwayo Kataki Uchi! Tomodachi Fansubs:

You might as well give up! The revenge!

26/04/1994
05 その人は中学教師 Sono Hito wa Chuugaku Kyoushi Tomodachi Fansubs:

He is a teacher

03/05/1994[1]
06 美少女軍団はぐれ花 Bishojo Gundan wa Gure Hana Tomodachi Fansubs:

Pretty girl flower group

10/05/1994[1]
07 おねがい恋のキューウピッド! Onegai Koi no Cupid! Tomodachi Fansubs:

Please, Cupid of Love!

17/05/1994[1]
08 大きな桜の樹の下で Ookina Sakura no Ki no Shita de Tomodachi Fansubs:

Under the giant cherry tree

24/05/1994[1]
09 美少女軍団乱れ咲き Bishojo Gundan Midare Zaki Tomodachi Fansubs:

The beautiful girl team is here

31/05/1994[1]
10 激写!これがなぎさだ! Gekishiya! Kore ga Nagisa da! Tomodachi Fansubs:

Photo! This is Nagisa!

07/06/1994
11 アイドル・オブ・じゃぱん Idol・Of・Japan Tomodachi Fansubs:

Idol of Japan

14/06/1994
12 アイ・ラブ・ワニサン I・Love・Wanisan Tomodachi Fansubs:

I love alligators

28/06/1994
13 嗚呼、過ぎ去りし青春の日々 Aa, Sugi Sarishi Seishiyun no Hibi Tomodachi Fansubs:

Ah, my former youth

05/07/1994
14 ユカイ、ゆーかい、香港ギャング! Yukai, Yuukai, Honkon Gang! Tomodachi Fansubs:

Fun kidnap Hong Kong gang

12/07/1994
15 色つぽいのはお好き? Irotsupoi no wa Osuki? Tomodachi Fansubs:

Do you like sexy girls?

19/07/1994
16 めざせ!栄光のゴール Mezase! Eikou no Goal Tomodachi Fansubs:

Go for your goal

26/07/1994
17 ぼくのなぎさ、わたしのなぎさ Boku no Nagisa, Watashi no Nagisa Anonymous Russian Soldiers:

My Nagisa, No, MY Nagisa

02/08/1994[2]
18 祝開校!聖ジュリアナ学園 Shukukaikou! Sento Juliana Gakuen Anonymous Russian Soldiers:

Grand Opening! St. Juliana Academy

09/08/1994[2]
19 ついに出た!私はモモコ Tsuini Deta! Watashi wa Momoko Anonymous Russian Soldiers:

Better Late Than Never! I am Momoko!

16/08/1994[2]
20 GOGO!ゴールド Gogo! Gold Anonymous Russian Soldiers:

Go! Go! Gold!

23/08/1994[2]
21 出た!影武者、わたしはなぎさ? Deta! Kagemusha, Watashi wa Nagisa? SierraComix:

The Arrival! Doppelganger, am I Nagisa?

30/08/1994[2]
22 嵐の課外授業 Arashi no Kagaijyu Gyou SierraComix:

Lesson of The Storm

06/09/1994
23 泣いて下さいモモコ伝説 Naite Kudasai Momoko Densetsu SierraComix:

Don't Cry Momoko Legend

13/09/1994
24 スター誕生!俺は角田だ! Star Tanjou! Ore wa Tsunoda da! -- 20/09/1994
25 不思議の国のなぎさ Fushiki no Kuni no Nagisa SierraComix:

Nagisa in Wonderland

27/09/1994
26 花のお江戸のシンデレラ Hana no Oedo no Shinderera SierraComix:

Cinderella of the Creek of Flowers

04/10/1994
27 THEムービー・アイドルは もう死んでいる! The Movie・Idol wa Mou Shindeiru! SierraComix:

The Movie: The Idol is Already Dead!

11/10/1994
28 THEタコヤキ! The Takoyaki! SierraComix:

The Takoyaki!

18/10/1994
29 コアラマスク・リターンズ Koala Mask・Returns -- 25/10/1994
30 二人のなぎさ?! Futari no Nagisa?! -- 01/11/1994
31 愛は虹の彼方に Ai wa Niji no Kanata ni -- 08/11/1994
32 暗殺指令をあなたに Ansatsushirei o Anata ni -- 15/11/1994
33 風と共につぶれた(前編) Kaze to Tomo ni Tsubureta (Zenpen) -- 22/11/1994
34 風と共につぶれた(後編) Kaze to Tomo ni Tsubureta (Kouhen) -- 29/11/1994
35 ピーターパンシンドローム Peter Pan Syndrome -- 06/12/1994
36 超世界アイドル伝説 パートタイム1 Chousekai Idol Densetsu Part-time 1 -- 13/12/1994
37 超世界アイドル伝説 パートタイム2 Chousekai Idol Densetsu Part-time 2 -- 20/12/1994
38 超世界アイドル伝説 パートタイム3 Chousekai Idol Densetsu Part-time 3 -- 27/12/1994
39 ラストオブアイドル Last of Idol -- 03/01/1995

Music

edit

Opening

edit
Third Love
Sang by Junko Inoue
Lyrics by Ayuko Ishikawa
Composed by Hiroshi Sakamoto

Ending

edit
Ushinaenaino (I can't lose you)
Sang by Junko Inoue
Lyrics by Ayuko Ishikawa
Composed by Hiroshi Sakamoto

Song inserts

edit
Chō kuse ni narisō (I'll make a habit)
Sang by Chinami Nakamura
Lyrics by Tetsuya Endo
Composed by Hiroshi Sakamoto
Suki ni nattara saikyō (If You Love Me The Strongest)
Sang by Chinami Nakamura
Lyrics by Tetsuya Endo
Composed by Hiroshi Sakamoto
Nagisa no serenāde
Sang by Chinami Nakamura
Lyrics by Tetsuya Endo
Composed by Hiroshi Sakamoto
Yume no fūsen (Dream Balloons)
Sang by Chinami Nakamura
Lyrics by Tetsuya Endo
Composed by Hiroshi Sakamoto

Albums

All albums were released by King Records.

Chō Kuse Ni Narisō Shiratori Nagisa ON STAGE Released on December 21, 1994, KICA-223 BUY

Chō Kuse Ni Narisō Secret story Released on February 22, 1995, KICA-231 BUY

Translations

edit

As of writing, the anime has 5 notable translations out of Japanese. The outgoing languages being Catalan, Cantonese, Korean, and English.

These translations go by "L'ídol Nagisa: Com m'agrada, tot això!", 「偶像小英雌」,「하빗」 (Habit,) 「쏙 빠져들 것 같아」 and "I'll make a habit of it" respectively. The Catalan, Korean and Cantonese translations are dubs, while English has simply been subtitled. The Catalan dub was aired on K3 (Club Super3, now known as SX3) starting May 4, 2006.[3]

The dubbed translations are currently lost media, however all of their opening videos, and in the case of the Catalan dub many of its songs, have been archived by fans.

Physical releases

edit

Anime releases

edit

The anime was released to rent across 10 VHS volumes in groups of 2, starting July 22, 1994,[4] with Volumes 1 and 2. Claims of a Japanese Laserdisc release and a Catalan DVD release by Selecta Visión have been made, however there is no precedent for this. The earlier Korean dub 「하빗」 "Habit" has an exceedingly rare VHS release as well.

At an unknown time, Japanese tapes were also released for purchase, brandishing cases more suited to the series' artwork prints. These releases are exceedingly rare today - It's suspected they may have been mail-order only.

The Japanese VHS release was handled by Taki Corporation, later known as Odessa Entertainment.

Japanese VHS content distribution
No. Featured Content Release date Listed runtime Release ID Notes
1 Episodes 1-4 1994/07/22[5] 95 min. THC-1609
2 Episodes 5-8 1994/07/22[6] 95 min. THC-1610
3 VHS Rental Commercial

Episodes 9-12

1994/09/22[7] 95 min. THC-1612 The back artwork contains a misprint.

In the middle sample, a photo from episode 13 can be seen. This image appears to have swapped with volume 4.[8]

4 VHS Rental Commercial

Episodes 13-16

1994/09/22[9] 95 min. THC-1613 As with volume 3, there is a misprint.

The middle sample is from episode 9.[10]

5 Episodes 17-20 1994/11/25[11] 95 min. THC-1618
6 Episodes 21-24 1994/11/25[12] 95 min. THC-1619
7 Episodes 25-28 1995/02/03[13] 95 min. THC-1628
8 Episodes 29-32 1995/02/03[14] 95 min. THC-1629
9 Episodes 33-36 1995/04/07 95 min. THC-16331
10 Pilot Episode

Episodes 37-39

1995/04/07 82 min. THC-16341

Manga releases

edit

The manga was released exclusively in Japanese by Kodansha. Artwork by Nakano Yayoi, story by Yoshimura An. It remains mostly untranslated.

Content in each standalone release, sorted by year.[15]
Release year Magazine Series title Chapter Standlone Release
1992 Nakayoshi Deluxe かのこ桃組! -- くせになりそう
1992 Nakayoshi Deluxe お嬢様になりたい! -- くせになりそう
1992 Nakayoshi Deluxe アレルギーがとまらない! -- 超くせになりそう④
1993 Nakayoshi くせになりそう 1 くせになりそう
1993 Nakayoshi くせになりそう 2 くせになりそう
1993 Nakayoshi くせになりそう 3 くせになりそう
1993 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 1 超くせになりそう①
1993 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 2 超くせになりそう①
1993 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 3 超くせになりそう①
1993 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 4 超くせになりそう①
1993 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 5 超くせになりそう①
1993 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 6 超くせになりそう②
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 7 超くせになりそう②
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 8 超くせになりそう②
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 9 超くせになりそう②
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 10 超くせになりそう②
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 11 超くせになりそう③
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 12 超くせになりそう③
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 13 超くせになりそう③
1994 RunRun 超くせになりそう 番外編 超くせになりそう③
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 14 超くせになりそう③
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 15 超くせになりそう④
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 16 超くせになりそう④
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 17 超くせになりそう④
1994 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 18 超くせになりそう④
1995 Nakayoshi 超くせになりそう 19 超くせになりそう④

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e アニメージュ [Animage] (Magazine) (in Japanese). August 1994. p. 121.
  2. ^ a b c d e アニメージュ [Animage] (Magazine) (in Japanese). November 1994. p. 121.
  3. ^ "Cho Kuseninariso (TV) - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Video Commercial - Archived on VHS volumes 3 and 4.
  5. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 1". Amazon.co.jp. 22 July 1994. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 2". Amazon.co.jp. 22 July 1994. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 3". Amazon.co.jp. 22 September 1994. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  8. ^ "VHS Volume 3 scans". Archive.org. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 4". Amazon.co.jp. 22 September 1994. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "VHS Volume 4 scans". Archive.org. November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 5". Amazon.co.jp. 25 November 1994. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 6". Amazon.co.jp. 25 November 1994. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 7". Amazon.co.jp. 3 February 1995. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "Amazon Japan retail page, Volume 8". Amazon.co.jp. 3 February 1995. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Data sourced from なかの弥生アーカイブ
edit