Hourou Musuko Specials

The full versions of episodes 10 and 11 that were previously edited together into episode 10 of the TV series.

Saori, nicknamed Saorin, is a girl who is a fifth grader in Shuuichi's class at the beginning of the series. From early on, she takes an interest in encouraging Shuuichi to cross-dress, even going so far as to buy her an expensive dress for her birthday which she later returns, much to her displeasure. Saori finds it difficult to associate well with most others, and as such has very few friends, though she becomes close friends with Shuuichi. She tends to tell others what is on her mind, disregarding how others may take what she says. As Saori grows up, she gradually becomes more standoffish and stoic; she even has bad relations with her teachers. Despite her self-centered attitude, she remains popular among the boys in her classes because of her physical attractiveness. She is a sensitive girl whose temper sometimes gets the better of her when reprimanding bullies that tease Shuuichi because of her femininity and cross-dressing. As she has feelings for her, Saori is often emotionally affected by circumstances involving Shuuichi. Due in part to this influence, Saori converts to Christianity to seek forgiveness for her previous actions, though she only attends mass when feeling guilty of her behavior.

Saori Chiba

Shuuichi, otherwise known by her nicknames Shuu and Nitorin, one of the two protagonists, is a young trans girl, who at the beginning of the series, is in the fifth grade of elementary school. Shuuichi is described as cute by many of the other characters, and is able to pass as a girl due to her feminine-looking face and physical build. Shuuichi enjoys wearing clothes which make her look cute, her friends, Yoshino Takatsuki and Saori Chiba, encourage her to dress and act femininely. As Shuuichi grows up, she becomes increasingly concerned about the changes her body is undergoing due to puberty such as the growing of body hair, her voice becoming deeper, and the onset of pimples.  Shuuichi does not show any outward interest in other activities akin to a child her age, such as playing any sports, and is usually seen doing indoor activities. Shuuichi enjoys and is skillful in baking sweet foods, though she is never shown cooking other more conventional foods. After starting an exchange diary with Takatsuki, Shuuichi becomes interested in writing stories, and even joins the drama club as a writer with Saori in junior high school after they co-write a rendition of Romeo and Juliet performed by members of their class.   Shuuichi has a very honest personality, which generally makes it easy for her to get along well with others. She tends to have an obedient, dutiful attitude, though as she grows up and enters puberty, she sometimes experiences outbursts of emotion which contrast her usual quiet nature. Shuuichi can be overly sensitive at times, and is often shown crying in front of others. Due to her personality, it is easier for her to associate with girls her age, and as such she has very few male friends.

Shuuichi Nitori

Yoshino, the other protagonist, is tall and masculine, and at the beginning of Hourou Musuko is a fifth grader in Shuuichi's class. Otherwise known as Takatsuki-kun by her classmates, she expresses a desire to be male and usually refrains from dressing in traditionally feminine clothes such as skirts or dresses, in spite of her mother's insistence on buying them for her. Shortly after meeting and becoming friends with Shuuichi, Yoshino cuts her hair to a very short, boyish style, giving her the appearance of a boy her age, especially when she dresses in a male school uniform. Like Shuuichi, Yoshino becomes increasingly concerned and resentful about her changing body due to puberty. She even goes so far as to buy a garment to flatten her chest so that she does not have to wear a bra.  While Yoshino would like to dress and act like a boy all the time, she usually abstains from doing anything overt which would draw attention to herself such as going to school in a male uniform once she begins junior high. However, she does on occasion dress in a male school uniform and goes to neighboring cities presenting as male, and during one such time enjoys the fact that she is hit on by an older woman. Yoshino wants to look "cool" if she can, wearing clothes which make her look less like a girl. When teased by others, Yoshino is prone to getting emotional, and is also known to get violent on occasion. Yoshino takes up an interest in basketball after entering junior high school, and joins the girls' basketball club with Chizuru Sarashina. In junior high, Yoshino grows her hair out after a comment by Saori, but later cuts it back again to a short, boyish style. Her family consists of her father, mother, older brother, and older sister.  Towards the end of the manga, Yoshino decides to take up modeling and grows her hair back out. She stops wanting to be a boy and feels some guilt over this towards Shuuichi, who unlike her still identifies as a girl. When the two meet again after a while of no contact she finds herself attracted but nothing comes of it due to Shuu already being in a relationship with Anna.

Yoshino Takatsuki

Makoto is a trans girl who makes her first appearance when she and Shuuichi are in sixth grade, though they are in different classes. Known as Mako-chan, though mostly only to Shuuichi, she too wishes to be accepted as a girl and shares Shuuichi's interest in cute outfits; it is this that spurs Makoto to become Shuuichi's close friend. Makoto realizes that due to her facial freckles and round glasses, she is not able to appear as cute as Shuuichi when assuming the appearance of her gender. Makoto wonders if her primary reason for wanting to be accepted as a girl is due to an attraction to men, something Shuuichi cannot relate to.   Makoto comes off as being mature for her age, and is able to think calmly and objectively while providing advice for her friends. She is a good listener, allowing her to get along well with both boys and girls her age, which often leads to her being an onlooker to what is going on in other characters' lives. She is an only child and her parents run a bakery.

Makoto Ariga

Shinpei Doi

A middle school teacher who looks an awful lot like Chiaki. He makes his come back in Hourou Musuko also as a teacher, has a wife and one child.

Kentaro Kaneda

Maiko

Fumiya is a boy one year older than Saori whom she first meets when she starts going to church. He takes an early interest in Saori, and he tries to get to know her better so as to become her boyfriend. Fumiya is a talkative boy whom Saori is easily annoyed by, especially when he brings her flowers from his parents' flower shop. After meeting ShÅ«ichi, Fumiya becomes jealous that Saori has an interest in him, especially when he is a cross-dresser, which Fumiya feels is gross. However, Fumiya lies to Saori and ShÅ«ichi, telling them he likes to cross-dress as well, in an effort to gain Saori's favor. This strategy backfires, as only ShÅ«ichi is interested in hearing more.

Fumiya Ninomiya

Hourou Musuko

Effeminate fifth grader Shuuichi Nitori is considered by most to be one of the prettiest girls in school, but much to her dismay, she is actually biologically male. Fortunately, Shuuichi has a childhood friend who has similar feelings of discomfort related to gender identity: the lanky tomboy Yoshino Takatsuki, who, though biologically female, does not identify as a girl. These two friends share a similar secret and find solace in one another; however, their lives become even more complicated when they must tread the unfamiliar waters of a new school, attempt to make new friends, and struggle to maintain old ones. Faced with nearly insurmountable odds, they must learn to deal with the harsh realities of growing up, transexuality, relationships, and acceptance.
Lauded as a decidedly serious take on gender identity and LGBT struggles, Takako Shimura's Hourou Musuko is about Shuuichi and Yoshino's attempts to discover their true selves as they enter puberty, make friends, fall in love, and face some very real and difficult choices.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Shuuichi Nitori is a 5th grade student who likes to bake and has always been something of a feminine boy. When he transfers to a new school, Shuuichi is mistaken for his 6th grade sister on his first day. Then he ends up sitting next to Yoshino Takatsuki, a tall, boyish girl who everyone calls "Takatsuki-kun." They both have secrets they can't let anyone know... (Source: Kotonoha) 
The series deals with issues such as transsexualism, gender identity, and the beginning of puberty.  (Source: Wikipedia)

Wandering Son Specials

Rank #4904 (Most Popular Anime)

Rank #1660 (Highest Rated Anime)

School Life

Drama

Episodes

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#1

Episode 1

#2

Episode 2

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Characters

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Saori Chiba

Shuuichi Nitori

Yoshino Takatsuki

Makoto Ariga

Shinpei Doi

Kentaro Kaneda

Maiko

Fumiya Ninomiya

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Franchises

#Anime

Hourou Musuko

#Manga

Hourou Musuko