Maison Ikkoku, an impossible remake?

In the Reiwa era, which began in 2019, we have seen a resurgence of the works of master Rumiko Takahashi. From the sequel to "Inuyasha" to the recent remake of "Urusei Yatsura" in anime format, Takahashi's stories are once again capturing the public's attention.

In addition, the remake of "Ranma 1/2" has generated a great stir. With this background, many are wondering if the acclaimed romance manga from the 80s, "Maison Ikkoku," could also receive a new animated adaptation.

"Maison Ikkoku" is a love story set in the old apartment building "Ikkoku-kan", which follows the lives of protagonist Yusaku Godai and administrator Kyoko Otonashi. The manga was adapted into a television series in 1986 and has had two live-action drama adaptations.

Although it is a work loved throughout generations, its remake in the Reiwa era presents several challenges. Today, some scenes that were accepted at the time may not be well received. "Maison Ikkoku" includes situations considered inappropriate today, such as spying on women and unwanted advances by the protagonist towards Kyoko while she was sleeping. These scenes, accepted during the time of their original publication, could be seen as too daring for modern readers and viewers.

Moreover, the outlook on love and marriage in the Showa era (1926-1989) differs significantly from today's. The idea that love and marriage are intrinsically linked, along with the preservation of purity until marriage, are concepts that are disappearing in contemporary narrative.

The setting of the story in the Showa era can also create a generational mismatch. Elements such as the lack of mobile phones and the reliance on a single phone in the administration house are details that might seem strange to younger audiences. These cultural and technological differences are central to the development of the plot and contribute to the atmosphere of "Maison Ikkoku".

Another interesting aspect is the influence of cars on the narrative. Godai's love rival, Shun Mitaka, drove a Nissan Silvia, an iconic car at the time as a "dating car". In the original animated adaptation, the Silvia was replaced by a Toyota Soarer, due to sponsorship from Toyota. In a possible remake, we could see a more modern car, such as a Lamborghini, to maintain the same impact.

However, these characteristics should not be considered defects, but rather charms of the work. Changing the original elements too much to suit modern sensibilities could detract from the essence of manga. If a new adaptation is made, you should try to be as faithful to the source material as possible.

A final point to consider is the distribution. Kyoko's voice, played by Sumi Shimamoto, is iconic. Changing voice actors, as has been done in recent remakes of other series, could generate controversy among fans.

"The remake of 'Urusei Yatsura' was also set in the Showa era, so no problem. In the pachinko version, the voices were done by other voice actors and it was better than doing it with the original actors who are no longer at their best."
"Nobody cares about that. The only important thing is how they will handle the smartphone."
"In fact, a live-action version might work better."
"It's not a battle anime, so there's no need for a remake. The original anime is perfect as it is and there's nothing to change."
"The character of the administrator has a personality that represents the worst characteristics of a woman, that's why I don't like her."
"It's an outdated play in which men have a lot of difficulty getting married while women don't have to do anything."
"When the word 'tsundere' became fashionable, many said that the administrator was an example of tsundere when they thought about it."
"'Ranma' is harder to adapt. ' Maison Ikkoku' can be seen if you accept that it is so."
"It is not necessary to make a new version, a digital remake would be enough. Although it was interesting overall, some parts were boring or unnecessary, so they could be removed."
"Maruko-chan is clearly set in the Showa era, and 'Sazae-san' still has a rotary phone. Those who would see 'Maison Ikkoku' are already of a certain age, so there is no problem."