Last week I noted the triadistic nature of Kowloon Generic Romance’s (superb) premiere. The world-building, the romance, and the sci-fi/mystery elements – any of them would have made for an interesting start on their own. This time we saw a much more singular focus, and it was on the third of those. That’s not to say we didn’t have sense of place and some good character moments with Kujirai and Kudou. But the theme here was the sense that something is seriously weird, and Kujirai Reiko is at the center of it.
Well, perhaps I should say Kujirai Reiko “are” at the center – but we’ll get to that. The Reiko we know is clearly troubled by her lack of memories – and equally, by the fact that it didn’t seem to trouble her before. She gets a call from one of her clients, Xiaohei (Suzushiro Sayumi) complaining of a booming racket from next door. As the conscientious real estate agent she goes off the check, and finds Yaomay-san (Koga Aoi) in the process of manufacturing some sort of stuffed animals. This meeting proves rather fortuitous for Reiko, as Yaomay winds up being the one she confides her confusion to (though it’s undeniably odd for her to do so with a total stranger).
The X factor (B factor?) here is the emergence of “Kujirai-B”. One might be tempted to say her existence as a distinct entity is a symbolic one. But the fact that she’s voiced by a different actor (Yamaguchi Yuriko) could suggest that there actually are two different women involved here. Kujirai-B is the same age, but “plays” older. She takes a distinctly sempai role with Hajime when he arrives at the agency as a newbie, showing him the ropes of Kowloon working life. She’s the one who’s devoted to eating lunch at the same restaurant every day, and he the one who laughs in disbelief. And she has pierced ears, which the Reiko we know – as noted by Hajime – does not.
Yaomay is either genuinely clueless about what’s going on or a very good actor. She becomes a gal pal and confidante to Kujirai-A. The food tourism vibe continues, as they go out for lemon chicken. Yaomay confides that she’s had multiple plastic surgeries done, which fascinates Reiko (who’s overly conscious of her crow’s feet, thanks to Hajime). They go to Goldfish Teahouse to ask about the photo, but the waiter who took it has suddenly quit. That’s especially notable as Hajime finds it strange and when he checks online, all traces of his existence seem to have vanished.
Again, we loop back to this question of nostalgia – and how it relates to love. Kujirai-B advises newbie-Kudou that the secret of success in Kowloon is being in love. At his puzzlement she adds, being in love with Kowloon – with the nostalgia of the place. He asks her if it isn’t foolhardy to fall in love with a place that’s scheduled to be torn down (as the real one was in the late 1980’s). She dismissively notes that they’ve been saying that for years. In fact it seems that many of the traits ascribed to Hajime in the first episode seem to be on display in Kujirai-B. That has me wonder if he hasn’t adopted them as a sort of tribute to her – or out of a sense of nostalgia for her.
Then another X factor enters the picture – Hebinuma Miyuki (Okiayu Ryoutarou), the head of the omnipresent pharma company that Kudou-san hates. They’ve opened a new clinic and offer free checkups, which Reiko,Yamoay, and Xiahei (who looks like a child but I think is just tiny) opt to avail themselves of. At this event they also offer “free” plastic surgery consultations (which one assumes is the point), and Reiko makes an appointment. At which time the doctor looks up “compatible” individuals online and makes a telling remark about the warmth of Reiko’s skin, and notes that wrinkles haven’t formed over time as they normally do. They’re like “grooves in the skin” he says – ones which have always been there. He then proceeds to deform in a very weird manner reflecting his name.
What does all this add up to? It’s hard to say. I would venture that the Hebinuma scene is supposed to suggest the possibility that Reiko is an android of some sort – obviously enough to make me think it’s a feint, but not assume it. It’s clear that Reiko is in love with Hajime, and Hajime seems to have been in love with and engaged to Kujirai. It’s a fascinating puzzle to be sure. On the whole I found this episode to be slightly less captivating than the incredibly captivating premiere, but that’s one high bar we’re talking about. I’m still worried about the whole ongoing series being adapted in 13 episodes, but Kowloon Generic Romance is certainly the standout of the season thus far.
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