is a Japanese comedy manga series by . It was originally serialized in the Sunday edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper from 1994 to 2012, while a revival, titled Atashin'chi SUPER, has been serialised in Aera magazine since December 2019. The manga centers around the daily life of the Tachibana family.
An anime adaptation by Shin-Ei Animation was broadcast on TV Asahi from April 19, 2002, to September 19, 2009. A second anime series, titled was broadcast on Animax from October 6, 2015, to April 5, 2016, in Japan, and was simulcast on Crunchyroll in certain countries. Select episodes of Atashin'chi and Shin Atashin'chi are available on the official YouTube channel with English subtitles. A third anime series, Atashin'chi Next has been running since June 5, 2024.
Overview The story revolves around the Tachibana family, which consists of the frugal and sometimes unintentionally careless mother, the taciturn father who goes at his own pace, the high school girl Mikan, who is plain, timid and a bit clumsy, and the younger brother Yuzuhiko (nicknamed Yuzupi or Yu-chan), a middle school student who is shy and unfamiliar with things like love, but is sensitive, logical, and has a steady personality. The brother and sister's names are based on the Citrus unshiu (mikan) and yuzu fruits. Many other characters who intersect the Tachibana's lives are depicted interacting with the family as well. When the series first began, the story was centered around the family, with Mikan and her mother at the center (the name, Atashin'chi, is written in such a way that is implied to be from Mikan's or her mother's perspective). However, as the series continued, episodes that weave together the relationships between each family member began to be depicted.
The stage of the story in the anime work is Tanashi, Nishitokyo, and the family lives in a three bedroom apartment on the fifth floor. Starting with Tanashi Station, which is the nearest station, Seibu Shinjuku Line, Seibu Bus, Kanto Bus, Hana Bus, a community bus in Nishi-Tokyo City, etc. are faithfully reproduced in the work (the 1994 time when it was written at the beginning is still Tanashi Station was the old station building).
Characters
The Tachibana family The family name, in earlier manga printings and in early TV episodes, was spelled using kanji as . However, when the series reached international acclaim, especially in China, the spelling changed to katakana as .
voiced by: Kenichi Ogata; Fujiko Takimoto (child, 1st season) A salaryman who works in Downtown Tokyo. He is the characteristic middle-aged Japanese working man who is a heavy beer drinker, smokes often, and frequents the pachinko parlors and loves baseball. However, he finds the time to be there for his family, and is often helpful on his Sundays off. He drives a blue hatchback coupe, but commutes to work by commuter train.
voiced by: Kumiko Watanabe A modern-day Japanese housewife, who arrogantly prides herself on a clean home, a balanced budget, and a frugal yet "tasty" dinner. Although at times she finds nifty tricks to multitask and consolidate household chores (like vacuuming the rug and waxing the wooden floor all at once), she is awfully clumsy and gets herself into sticky situations from losing control. Despite her hard work, she is also known for being somewhat lazy by taking copious afternoon naps, watching TV while eating senbei and skimping out on shopping and cooking on rainy days.
voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa A 17-year-old second-year high school student, and is the intended "main protagonist" of the series. (The "atashi" (me) in the title.) She goes to a public high school, which is a long, stressful commute away. It also doesn't require school uniforms. She is portrayed as an easy-going, relaxed girl who likes to have fun. Often very maiden-like, but other times very tomboyish, she goes through every day with something funny happening. Her western name is Megan Tahoma, Megan Hilda Tahoma.
voiced by: Daisuke Sakaguchi; Yuka Inokuchi (infants); Mariya Ise (child, 2nd season) A second-year junior high school student who is very studious and forward-thinking. He is innovative and his brain far exceeds his age. He tends to find solutions to the family's common mishaps. His western name is Yuzan Harold Tahoma.
Supporting characters
People related to Mikan
Mikan's closest friends
voiced by: Kaori Matoi (1st season); Yuko Iida (2nd season) Mikan's classmate. Her last name is , which leads to her common nickname "Shimi-chan". She is Mikan's high school friend who attended a different junior high school, but she is a close friend of Mikan. She is mature, has a good style, and respects Mikan no matter what. She enjoys reading palms, tarot card readings and spirituality. She often goes to different fortune tellers/card readers for fun but also to learn from them. Whenever she gives any advice or her thoughts on any matter to Mikan, she pretends to smoke a nonexistent cigarette, to which Mikan then gives her a nonexistent Ashtray. Shimi-chan prefers the innocent side of Mikan, deeming it as cute and childlike. As of now, Shimi-chan is the only character who knows Mikan has a crush on Iwaki-kun. Originally, Shimi-chan thought Mikan had a crush on Yoshioka, which led to a confrontation that resulted in Mikan telling Shimi-chan her feelings for Iwaki-kun.
voiced by: Yūsuke Numata Mikan's classmate from the same junior high school (Minami Junior High School). He has a slightly awkward and romantic personality. He and Mikan have been friends since junior high school, but have no romantic feelings for one another. Iwaki-kun and Yoshioka get along well together and talk about their similar interests. Sometimes Yoshioka likes to tease Mikan by making fun of her as a joke. In Shin Atashin'chi it was revealed that Yoshioka has a phobia of fish, more specifically a phobia of fishes' faces. Yoshioka finds it pleasing to correct Mikan's statements and finds the fact that Mikan doesn't know many trivial or philosophical facts unpleasing. So much so, that he just barges into Mikan's conversations just so that he can correct her and show his intelligence, which leads to Mikan being annoyed.
voiced by: Haruna Ikezawa Mikan's classmate whose real name is Yuka (from anime 1st season). She is usually quiet, but when she smiles and she hugs her belly without worrying about others. She has white skin and is envied by Mikan due to her maiden-like personality. She, Mikan, and Shimi-chan are often seen together in a trio.
voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa; Makoto Tsumura (child) Mikan's classmate, often nicknamed with a "-kun" at the end is a tall humble boy with a warm, big-hearted personality who doesn't use many words when he speaks. He is on good terms with Yoshioka. Once on his way home, he picked up a ballpoint pen that Mikan dropped on the bus, which caused Mikan to develop feelings for him. Since then, Mikan has fallen in love with him so much that she can't even stand in front of him, but Iwaki himself doesn't realize her feelings for him.
voiced by: Rie Tanaka Mikan's classmate. She has a sweet-hearted personality and is clumsy and forgetful at times. She is tall and gentle on the outside, a young maiden like beautiful girl. Lots of boys in Mikan's high school have fallen for her and would go to extreme lengths just to make her notice them. She doesn't realise why the boys are so kind to her and doesn't take their actions for granted. Despite being the most beautiful girl in school, she isn't all that intelligent and shows that by asking weird and self-explanatory questions to Mikan and Shimi-chan.
Bear Brigade Club
voiced by: Makiko Ohmoto A member of Teddy Bear Brigade Club. She is a rich daughter who lives in a mansion, but she does not put it on her nose, and she is rather disgusting in the upper class life, and she wants to live in a downtown area. She has teddy bears in her room, just like Mikan. She has a stylish mother wearing makeup in the house, and her uncle who manages a dandy father and villa.
voiced by: Harumi Asai A member of Teddy Bear Brigade Club. She is chubby and small eyes. She is gluttonous and greasy, and brought a voluminous hamburger and fried chicken during the break of the school festival.
voiced by:Yuki Kajita A member of Teddy Bear Brigade Club, she is on good terms with Asada, and they often act in pairs, such as chatting with each other. She always performing a duet with Mikan and shows off her harmonious singing voice. She basically agrees with everyone's opinion and goes out of control.
voiced by: Chiaki Morita A junior (first year high school student) who joined the club when Mikan and the others were in their second year of high school. She speaks with "ssu" at the end of her words. She looks chubby and has a shaved head with round glasses. At the teddy bear exhibition, she performed a breakdance while wearing a bear costume to attract customers, and the exhibition ended on a high note. She is the only one in Teddy Bear Brigade Club who has a boyfriend.
voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya A man in a relationship with Nitta, a very normal gentle-looking guy with glasses. He described the members of Bear Lab as "there are people who seem to have a strong prejudice", and described Mikan as the most beautiful woman in Bear Lab.
Mikan's classmates
voiced by: Masayo Kurata A girl with a laid-back, easy-going, and kind personality. She is Mikan's classmate. She is not named after her in the original work. He is good at praising her classmates, finding good points and honestly praising them.
voiced by: Yuri Shiratori She longs for a sailor suit, and she has been to school in a sailor suit under the influence of Miyajima-sensei's story of "What you can only do now."
voiced by: Takahiro Yoshimizu He has a rectangular face. Only appears on the anime.
voiced by: Mari Maruta She belongs to the tennis club. Only appears on the anime.
voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama His house is so close to the school that it takes less than two minutes. Only appears on the anime.
voiced by: Junko Minagawa She has a mature appearance and is rather beautiful. She likes Shimi-chan, but she doesn't like Mikan's childish behavior and remarks when she's with her.
voiced by: Chieko Atarashi Mikan's friend since elementary school.
According to Mikan, he is a "normal" boy, but her mother, who saw his photo, criticized him as "a face that will definitely cause problems for women in the future."
voiced by: Kōsuke Okano He has an indecisive personality. Mikan's mother praised him as "handsome enough to be an actor," but Mikan denies it. Only appears on anime.
voiced by: Takeharu Ōnishi Mikan's mother praised him for being handsome, but he has a long face that earned him the nickname "Moai." Only appears on anime.
voiced by: Masashi Kitamura He had a crush on Emiko, but it's one-sided love. Only appears on anime.
voiced by: Akemi Kanda Anime-only character. Her mother, whose hobby is baking bread, also appeared.
Mikan's teachers
voiced by: Ken Shiroyama; Kōichi Tōchika (young) Mikan's classic literature teacher. A teacher with white hair and glasses.During class, he often talks about his own experiences and thoughts (however, the students don't like that), and Mikan is often interested in the story.
voiced by: Shinichiro Ohta Mikan's homeroom teacher. In charge of world history. His students affectionately call him "Murakami-chan" behind his back.
voiced by: Yūko Nagashima→Kaoru Shimamura→Masako Katsuki Mikan's physical education teacher.
voiced by: Akiko Takeguchi The homeroom teacher of the class next to Mikan. In charge of mathematics in Mikan's class.
voiced by: Takashi Nagasako Mikan's art teacher. His nickname is "Satosen". His real name "Satō" was revealed in the second season.
voiced by: Kazuo Oka
voiced by: Hidenari Ugaki
voiced by: Hidenari Ugaki
voiced by: Nobuaki Sekine
voiced by: Yumi Tōma
voiced by: Show Hayami