It’s always a sad day when I have to use that subject line with a series I love as much as Ramen Akaneko. Even when I have no expectations of a sequel announcement, as was the case here. Lesser shows getting second seasons just rubs salt in the wound but again – it’s more an old scar than anything else at this point. I’m used to it. None of that takes away from the intrinsic quality of the show in question (which was very high indeed).
I’m also used to shows in “that niche” being one and done. And not getting any comments to speak of – that’s par for the course. And there’s no question Red Cat Ramen squarely hits that bullseye. It probably comes as close as any series to bottling the magic of Shirokuma Cafe (a rare exception at four cours), which itself was pretty close to the Platonic ideal for the niche. I’m the target audience for this series and that’s an understatement, but it’s the kind that would find a bigger audience if more people were willing to give it a chance.
On the plus side, the finale does kick off with a Sabu chapter, and that’s always welcome. We start of with Tamako watching a gaming tournament (hilariously, she has a dog print on her wall) featuring a familiar competitor – Morituke Cat. He’s up against the powerhouse Red Tail crew fighting solo, and he puts up a formidable fight before the odds finally overcome him. As it turns out that team (as the commentators reported) had tried to recruit Sabu to join them. But not being much of a reader, the email sat unopened until Tamako brought the rumor to his attention.
It’s close between he and Sasaki – and I truly love the entire Akaneko staff – but Sabu is probably my favorite character. One’s cats are like children or a writer’s stories – you can’t say which is your favorite. But I have a huge soft spot for black cats, and Sabu is such a typical void with those astonished eyes and that personality always on the edge of chaos, yet easily reduced to a purring puddle by a targeted brushing. Everything he does makes me smile. In the end he did get that email, but he tells Tamako he’s have turned it down anyway, as he’s already with the team he wants to be a part of.
Next up we finally get the backstory chapter for Tamako that’s been teased throughout the entire series. Sort of, anyway. A couple of drunk salarymen stumble in (always an occupational hazard for ramen shops), one especially so. That’s annoying enough, but when he recognizes Tamako things get genuinely ugly. Her old boss (Mugami Tsugou) soon makes it very clear why that was a black company for Tamako, but her new family has her back. Hana is predictably incensed and tries her best to get Tamako to fire back. Which she finally does, and things have the potential to get really ugly until Krishna – unprompted and unhesitatingly – makes it very clear that the man’s presence is not welcome. The best part of all this is unquestionably Sabu and his feline way of saying goodbye to the dirtbag.
This exchange prompts Sasaki-san to declare that the time has come to make Tamako a full-time employee (with benefits, presumably). That’s Terada-san’s department, and he arranges a meeting with Tamako during the afternoon break to sign the paperwork. She’s worried that her becoming a nekozuki might threaten her employment, but he laughs that off. In response to her question about whether he’s formally on retainer, Terada shares a bit of the story of how he came to represent Akaneko. The lady who the original cart owner gave Sasaki to (and attempted to give Bunzou to) fell ill and died young, in her last days asking her lawyer – Terada – to make sure Sasaki got everything.
Sasaki caring for his owner all on his own totally tracks – he obviously tries to take care of everybody. It’s implied there were some pushback to Sasaki getting everything (which enabled him to buy the Ramen Akaneko brand). but Terada doesn’t go into detail. He’s the heart and soul of the place – the one who makes sure not just that the bills are paid and there’s noodle flour and green onions, but that everyone has what they need emotionally. And that seems to be what Tamako needed in her life after her scarring experience with turd-man for a boss.
I can really only find one flaw with this adaptation, and I’m sure most of you (I’m guessing that’s like 5 people) can guess what that is. The random bouts of CGI at inopportune moments were a distraction, but truthfully I think E& H production pretty much nailed everything else. I love ramen and I love cats ever more, and this series really gets why people do. It lets charm of the premise and characters sell itself and never pushes too hard. The feeling this sort of show gives you is something that anime seems able to deliver better than any other medium when it gets the alchemy just right. And Ramen Akaneko certainly does just that. Now if only it existed in real life.
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