The mystery novel series of Honuba Yonezawa, best known as Hyouka, finally gets an anime adaptation. Twenty years after its first publication, the story of Jogoro Kobato and Yuki Osanai in Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary will soon hit the small screens. The anime is officially announced with a teaser and key visual featuring its two protagonists and revealing its release window: July 2024.
The Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary preview begins by introducing Jogoro, a first-year student at Funato High School who dreams of having a normal life. It then features Yuki, Jogoro’s classmate, who has the same aspiration. While seemingly lost and looking for something in the school building, Jogoro reveals he has stopped using his wits but ends up guessing. The two spend time with each other, from watching the river to going home.
However, something surprised them after seeing a bitten strawberry cake. “No one can solve that mystery,” Jogoro says. As they try to answer their questions, they guess if the culprit is a wolf or a fox. But as citizens, they just want to be ordinary.
Alternatively, the anime released a key visual for Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary. In the poster, Jogoro and Yuki seemingly float on air while being surrounded by different sweets.
You can check the key visual below:
Who are the cast and staff of Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary?
So far, the anime has only released two cast members for Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary. Shuichiro Umeda and Hitsuji Hina lead the anime as Jogoro and Yuki, respectively. For the main staff, you can check the list below:
Director: Mamoru Kobe (The Perfect Insider, The Promised Neverland)
Series Composition: Toshiya Ohno (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2)
Character Design: Atsushi Saito (Love Live! Superstar!!)
Music: Takahiro Obata (The Promised Neverland)
What is Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary about?
Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary follows the story of Jogoro and Yuki. After having a bad experience due to a deduction activity called “wisdom work,” Jogoro is eager to become an ordinary citizen. To do that, he crafts a deal with his classmate Yuki. The two both want a high school life as simple civilians and live peacefully and normally. However, with the number of mysterious incidents and disasters happening in their school, it seems hard for them to fulfill their wish.
You can read the synopsis below:
Let’s help each other and aim to become perfect ordinary citizens. Kobato, who once had a bitter experience through deduction activities known as “wisdom work,” was determined to become an honest and humble citizen. He secretly formed a reciprocal relationship with his classmate, Osanai, who shared the same aspiration, planning to make their high school debut as ordinary citizens and lead peaceful days. However, for some reason, mysterious incidents and misfortunes keep coming one after another into their school lives. Will Kobato and Osanai be able to achieve peaceful days as ordinary citizens?
The anime is based on the Shoshimin Japanese novel series by Honobu Yonezawa, aka Hyouka. Tokyo Sogensha started its publication in December 2004, collecting four volumes as of January 2020. It was then adapted into manga with the title Shunki Gentei Ichigo Tart Jiken. It started its serialization in April 2007 in Square Enix’s Monthly GFantasy magazine and ended in December 2008.
Its second novel was also adapted into manga, titled Kaki Gentei Tropical Parfait Jiken, and was serialized in the same magazine from February 2010 to January 2011. After over a decade, an anime adaptation by Lapid Track was announced.
With its mystery and slice-of-life themes, fans of these genres are already looking forward to it. That said, we hope this one will deliver.
