Among the anime series I finished rewatching recently, one that particularly stood out was Ichigo Mashimaro (苺ましまろ). It aired back in 2005 and is based on the manga of the same name written by Barasui, which is still technically ongoing despite releasing new volumes very rarely. There are currently 9 volumes available.

The series follows the daily life of Nobue Itoh (16 years old in the manga and 20 in the anime), the eldest sister of the Itoh family, as she interacts with her little sister Chika and Chika's three friends: Miu Matsuoka, Ana Coppola, and Matsuri Sakuragi.

I never actually read the manga yet, although I plan to eventually, so this post focuses entirely on the characters and their behavior in the anime adaptation. I want to make this clear since I have heard that some characters look or behave differently in the manga, especially Nobue.

To summarize the series in a few words, I would call it a slice of life comedy. The focus is on the simple everyday experiences of the girls, each presented with a playful comedic tone. Every episode may have a few of these together.

One day the story might be about making a birthday gift together for Nobue. Another day it might follow the group as they try to study together. On another occasion they may just go for a small walk in the nearby park and decide to call Nobue to join them.

Each girl represents a familiar character trope. Chika is the serious and responsible one who often comes across as the true older sister compared to Nobue. Miu is the troublemaker who tries to stir chaos whenever possible and is especially attached to Nobue. Matsuri is shy and innocent, the type who will believe almost anything you tell her. Ana is the so-called fake foreigner since she was born in England, yet has forgotten most of her English after moving to Japan, something that frustrates her greatly.

The scene above is a perfect example of the daily hardships Chika faces because of her older sister. Poor girl. It really puts things into perspective when your older sister casually asks you for a loan so she can buy cigarettes. Ahah.

My favorite character is definitely Chika, because of how mature she acts and how she feels like the real protagonist much more than Nobue. Though I have to admit, most of the funny scenes come from Miu messing around with everyone else. 

I definitely recommend everyone to give this series a watch. It is light, cute, and consistently funny, something I am sure many people will enjoy.