Last week was just a bit of a dip for Ojisan ha Kawaii Mono ga Osuki., I thought. Probably my least favorite episode so far, though still perfectly fine. This was perhaps my favorite of the series, though – really funny on all levels. It was the first ep that extensively focused on characters other than Mitsutaka, but it worked great because Masumi is extremely likable and Naruto’s frustrated cat fixation is one of the funniest threads we’ve seen.
In fact we haven’t seen much of Masumi lately, which has maybe dragged things down a little. His relationship with his uncle (who he definitely takes after) is incredibly sweet, really. I mean, how reassuring must it be for his sister to know she can leave her boy in this guy’s care for his first time living in the big city? We start off with Oji-san pondering over whether he can – and should – make a character bento for himself. Deciding he can pass it off as having been made by his nephew (what must the co-workers think of this kid) Oji-san goes for it.
The only problem is, he doesn’t know much about real cooking. Having already broadened himself by applying for the Pugtarou stage show ticket lottery, Mitsutaka decides to take a cooking class, having been promised by his neighbor – the teacher – that “lots of men have been coming lately”. The date he circles on the calendar – the 23rd – also happens to be Masumi’s birthday, which Uncle has forgotten. When he arrives at class it turns out he’s the only guy (yeah, saw that coming) and once again we see him as the object of relentless squeeing among every young lady in sight. I guess he just has the kavorka.
The theme of the class is muffins, hardly what Ojisan had in mind. Not to mention he’s distracted by all the cute character utensils. But he does manage to crank out some muffins in the end, which he spins into a birthday theme for Masumi (along with sushi – and beer, he’s now 20). Uncle is terrified his nephew will find this cringe, but just like everything else he grinds himself into flour over this is all in his head. Masumi (who may be the most non-judgmental person in Tokyo anyway) is thrilled to be feted in such a fashion.
Masumi then assumes the spotlight proper, as he runs into Naruto-san at the park. The latter has come toy in tow to try and woo the neighborhood kitty, but Masumi has already monopolized its obsessions. This is all perfectly innocent on his part – he just likes cats “the normal amount” – but Naruto is again crestfallen. He swallows his pride and asks the lad if there’s a trick to it, and Masumi is initially baffled. But then he remembers the jeans he’s wearing, which have a reputation as pussy (stop it) magnets. The only problem? They come from JU – based on GU, Uniqlo’s younger-themed, slightly shabbier sibling.
This is another of those “I feel seen” moments for me, as I too feel just a little awkward going into GU, which is always swarmed by zygotes. But it’s cheap and if I want to go, I go. But because Masumi is the nicest kid in the universe, he offers to take Naruto there and give him some cover as he shops for jeans. Let me just add, this whole “GU jeans attract cats” notion is in fact a real thing, though I was unaware of it until today. People believe it’s a thing, anyway. As thanks Naruto-san takes Masumi to a cat cafe, where the jeans sadly make no difference – but Masumi (that nicest kid in the universe thing) maneuvers a feline onto Naruto’s lap.
It’s kind of cool to see a series where niceness is really its own reward, unironically, and that’s a definite theme here both with Mitsutaka and Masumi. As for the former we finally return to him, and he’s now agonizing again over who he can ask to the Pugtarou stage show if he wins the tickets. Again, pure overthinking – just ask the kid, Man – but it only matters if he wins. Which in fact he does, as niceness once again gets rewarded (albeit more literally here). When push comes to shove I wonder if he actually will invite his ex-wife, though I blanch at the notion of how awkward that would make the whole thing for him.
