"Pon's Way" is an original TV anime set in Onomichi, scheduled to air in January 2024. It depicts the daily lives of high school girls who use a former mahjong parlor as their playground. A comic book adaptation has been serialized ahead of the anime's broadcast, and the series is already garnering attention. This time, we'd like to introduce the charming and adorable characters that appear in the series! Please read it as a way to prepare before watching the anime!
What's the story about?
Topensha Nashiko is a high school girl living in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Having trouble finding a place to hang out with friends, Nashiko discovers that the former mahjong parlor run by her father is now vacant. Nashiko, along with her friends Kawahigashi Pai and Tokutomi Izumi, decide to turn the playground into a place where everyone can play. This story chronicles the everyday lives of Nashiko and her friends, as they enjoy tea, cooking, and even playing mahjong.
Jippensha Nashiko
This is the protagonist of the story. Her last name, pronounced "Jippensha," is the same as that of Jippensha Ikku, a famous writer from the late Edo period. She is a high school girl who speaks in Hiroshima dialect and has a cheerful and impulsive personality. She was struggling to find a place to hang out with her friends, and then she discovered that the former mahjong parlor her father used to run was now vacant. Seeing this as an opportunity, she decided to invite her friends over and turn it into a place where everyone could hang out. By the way, she's a complete beginner when it comes to mahjong.
Kawahigashipai
A high school girl who is Nashiko's childhood friend. She has a laid-back personality and loves cute things, but she also has a surprisingly active side, enjoying the outdoors. Nashiko invites her to visit the former mahjong parlor. She has some knowledge of mahjong and understands the basic rules. As childhood friends, she'll likely be the one to teach Nashiko how to play mahjong.
Tokutomi Izumi
A high school girl who is a friend of Nashiko and Pai, she began coming to the former mahjong parlor, their hangout spot, after being invited by Nashiko. She's a reliable person with a straightforward and straightforward personality. She's likely to be portrayed as a sensible character among the characters. She apparently learned mahjong at family gatherings, and will be teaching Nashiko how to play.
Hayashi Riece
She once visited the mahjong parlor run by Nashiko's father. She had a fondness for the parlor back then and hoped for its revival. She's a very ladylike young lady, just like her appearance and even employs a maid at home. Upon learning that Nashiko and her friends are gathering at the former mahjong parlor, she visits. While she appears to have been there before, it's unclear whether she knows the rules of mahjong.
Emi Haneru
Of all the characters, Emi is the one who is most serious about mahjong. She's what you'd call a hardcore mahjong player. She dresses in a punk-inspired style. After losing an online mahjong match, she learns of Nashiko and her friends' existence and visits their mahjong parlor hangout. Despite her cool personality, she's often teased by everyone, making her a beloved character.
Chonbo
This sparrow character is a mahjong spirit. He can speak human language, but only Nashiko can hear it, so those around him perceive him as an ordinary sparrow. His true identity and how he can speak are unknown, but he has apparently lived here since Nashiko's father ran the mahjong parlor.
Character Summary
The characters are all unique, creating a perfect slice-of-life atmosphere. Since there's no original work, there isn't much information about the characters yet, but that makes it fun to speculate about their personalities. If you're interested, check out the official website and find your favorite character! That's all for now. Thank you for reading.
