I tell you what, Kujima Utaeba Ie Hororo is exactly what I need and want it to be. I just can’t satisfy this need through anything but anime (or manga). No media are better at persuading you to drop your logic barriers and just let the weirdness wash over you. It’s fun, it’s charming, it’s bittersweet, it’s funny. The music is great too, it must be said. Kakudou Manami is not a composer whose work I’ve seen in anime before but it totally fits here. I mean you can’t beat Kuricorder Quartet for this sort of series but this is darn good too.

As if all that weren’t enough, we opened with a storyline which echoed Futari Bus, my favorite of all the manga I’ve started in 2026. It’s about two middle-schooler osananajimi from a rural elementary school who split up when they entered junior high, because she went to a private school. That’s the case with Arata and Makoto (though these two don’t ride the bus). Makoto is the granddaughter of Mitsuki-san, and when she asks him if Arata came with when the family apologized he tells her “no, but Kujima did”. Well, Makoto had to see this – Grandpa had her at “giant penguin” (which is certainly how I describe them in my head).

Their encounter at the Kouda house is pretty hilarious. Makoto and Kujima immediately get off on the wrong foot – she may have been expecting giant penguin but not 200+ cm. Never mind talking – though Arata is not wrong in pointing out that some birds can talk. She’s also suspicious that this is some sort of scam at Arata’s expense – maybe a person in a suit – since Arata is in her mind a gullible sort. Arata tries to convince her by having Kujima speak Russian and auto-translating – which goes a bit wrong when Kujima says “You are an annoying person. You want me to break your glasses?”.

Desperate to keep the peace, Arata brokers a handshake, after which Makoto concocts a theory that Kujima is actually a seal (I don’t buy it). Also, Kujima is unfamiliar with this custom and has no idea it’s used for making up. They assumed it was an invitation to thumb wrestle, which is apparently something they and Arata do all the time. When the pair meet up again as Kujima is on the way to have Grandpa teach them shogi, this misunderstanding results in another round of bickering.

Underlying all this is that bittersweet element. The Kouda are a sad little family – not tragic, just sad. Suguru’s self-imposed exile has drained the joy out of the household. And Arata is clearly very lonely – he’s desperate for someone to play with, hang with, and just be with. It’s going to be rough for him when Kujima goes back to Russia (assuming that’s what happens) in five months, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now it’s photos – another relatively unknown concept for Kujima. They know what cameras are of course, but lament while looking at the Kouda albums that there are no pictures of when they were small (or are there?).

Arata is rather shocked (I would be too) when Kujima says they’re only three years old. But then, that means there’s still plenty of time for toddler photos. They do a shoot for Arata, then Arata snaps some selfies. Next up is Mom, who needs to prep herself first, and a game Dad. Finally Suguru – who Arata assumes will shoot the idea down altogether. But surprisingly Suguru agrees – though only for three minutes. He may have failed his exam but Suguru does learn – Kujima won’t take no for an answer. So it’s faster to just say yes and get it over with, but Kujima is dissatisfied given Suguru’s resolute refusal to smile.

All’s well that ends well – Kujima has their keepsakes, and Arata says he’s going to make them a photo album. There are even the first new brother photos in a long while. But Kujima’s family is Maxim, and that’s who they think of when looking at these pictures. I can’t shake the idea that Maxim sent Kujima away because he knew he wasn’t going to be around much longer, but that would require some blanks filled that the story hasn’t addressed yet. In any event this remains incredibly charming and fun, and this was certainly the best episode of the first three.