Yakunara Mug Cup Mo, which aired from April to June 2021, is a work that depicts high school girls who are obsessed with pottery. The second season, Yakunara Mug Cup Mo Niban Kiln, will start in October. This time, as a review before watching the new series, I would like to introduce the highlights of the first series with spoilers!
About the protagonist's mother
The mother of the protagonist, Toyokawa Himeno, is the famous potter "Tokikawa Himena" (deceased). However, Himeno herself did not know this fact at first. When Kukuri Mika heard Himeno's name during her self-introduction while half asleep, she misheard it as "Tokigawa Himena" and invited Himeno to join the pottery club. After talking about various things in the club room, Himeno learned that her mother was a great potter. This also became the trigger for Himeno to become absorbed in pottery.
The teacher's secret...?
Himeno, Kukuri, and Naoko witness their advisor, Koizumi Mami, talking to someone on the phone. Koizumi muttered "It might be over" on the phone and went somewhere. Curious about Koizumi's whereabouts, the three decide to follow her, wondering if she might have broken up with her boyfriend. They get on a train, cross a mountain, and are exhausted when Koizumi finds them. When they hear her, they discover that she's not talking about her boyfriend, but a friend from her school days. By "it's over," Koizumi means that there are things that can no longer be seen due to the season.
Firefly of Kita-Ogi
The thing that Koizumi was talking about that "can no longer be seen due to the season" was the fireflies of Kita-Ogi. Kita-Ogi is the name of a real town in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture. The glow of the fireflies flying after dark was so beautiful that Himeno and the others were moved.
About my mother's work
Himeno was asked by her advisor, Mami Koizumi, to help prepare a corner called the "Youth Pottery Corner" at the local history museum. On the way to the museum, Himeno discovered a monument made of pottery. Himeno felt a certain charm in the monument, as if she was drawn in. After that, when Himeno arrived at the local history museum, a city hall employee told her that the monument was a work created by Tokigawa Himena.
Reason for making the monument
Inside the local history museum, there was a document that explained why Tokigawa Himena made the monument. In the article, Himena said, "I wanted to teach her the color and voice of the wind." Himena's sensitive ideas and expressiveness once again made Himeno realize how amazing her mother was as a potter, and she was touched by them.
Memories of my father and mother
Himeno is thinking about a piece for the contest, but she can't come up with a good idea. When she consults her father, Tokishiro, Tokishiro brings out a bat from the storeroom. The bat was made by her mother, Himena, when she was in the baseball club in high school. Tokishiro was a substitute in the baseball team, but Himena made this bat to show her support after seeing him try his best. It is made of ceramic, so it is very heavy and fragile, but it is a precious memory for Tokishiro.
A kappa appeared! ?
Himeno and friends came to the river in Tajimi City after hearing that it was the season when eels could be caught in abundance. While they were catching eels, a kappa suddenly appeared. The kappa invited the curious Himeno and friends into the river, saying that they would come to the place where they live. When she dives and follows the kappa, she comes across a castle resembling the Dragon Palace and a mysterious world. Then, Himeno's grandmother appears when she was young, and songs and quizzes begin, making for a very exciting story.
A fantasy world! But actually...
Up until that point, it had been a slice-of-life anime, but suddenly, with the appearance of kappas and the Dragon Palace, it became more and more fantastical and extraordinary. However, it was all just a dream that Mika Kukuri had. It was the so-called "dream punchline." Kukuri was disappointed when she found out it was a dream.
Preparing for the Contest
Himeno was wondering what to make for the contest, but she came up with the idea of making a ceramic cushion. Himeno immediately tried making one, but the fragility and roughness unique to ceramics became a hindrance and it didn't go well. She tried to devise a shape to fit the buttocks of the person sitting on it, but realized that that alone was not enough.
How she got the hint
Himeno, who was to tie Kukuri Mika's hair, got a hint for her work while tying her braids. Himeno discovered that hair itself is soft, but when braided it becomes hard and strong, and wondered if this property could be applied to a ceramic cushion. She combined clay strings and paper strings and tied them like braids to form a cushion. The paper strings disappear when baked, but the clay strings remain as ceramic. She came up with the idea of filling the gaps with soft strings to make it easier to sit on.
What color should we make it?
The cushion was successfully baked, but Himeno was worried about what color to make it. There were many color options and Himeno was having trouble deciding which one to choose, so Naoko Naruse took her out for a walk. They arrived at a monument made by Himeno's mother. Himeno was attracted to the color of her mother's monument and decided to make the ceramic cushion the same color as her mother's monument. Touko tells Himeno that it will be difficult to create the same color, but Himeno is determined and continues to work steadily to create the color. In the end, she completes a ceramic cushion with a color similar to that of her mother's monument.
What was the result of the contest?
Himeno's work resulted in a participation prize. When the judges announced the results, her name was not called, and she looked a little disappointed. However, the judges' reactions in a separate room before the announcement were not bad at all, and she received an evaluation that will give us hope for the future (although Himeno herself did not see this).
What does the title mean?
What does the title "Yakinara Mug Cup Mo" mean? At the end of the final episode, episode 12, there is a scene where you can understand the meaning of the title. Himeno, who exhibited her work for the first time as a member of the pottery club, feels that she has taken her first steps as a potter. And Himeno, with her heart full of hope, says, "Maybe the next one will be a Yakinara Mug Cup." The meaning of the title "Yakinara Mug Cup Mo" becomes clear in the last scene.
Summary of spoilers and highlights of "Yakinara Mug Cup Mo"
Did you enjoy it? I've introduced the highlights of the first season of "Yakinara Mug Cup Mo" including spoilers. I think new characters and other new developments are waiting for you in the second season, so be sure to review the first season again before it airs!
