The anime adaptation of Jun Mayuzuki’s seinen manga, “Kowloon Generic Romance,” has announced the addition of Sōma Saitō to its cast. Saitō will be voicing the character Xiaohei (Young Man). This announcement was made alongside the release of a “Looking Back” trailer that recaps the events of the first half of the series.
What is “Kowloon Generic Romance” About?
“Kowloon Generic Romance” is set in a futuristic Kowloon Walled City, a place where people who long for the old ways of life reside. The story revolves around the budding romance between two real estate agents, Reiko Kujirai and Hajime Kudo, who work in this nostalgic city.
As they spend more time together, Reiko develops feelings for Hajime. However, she discovers a photograph of him with his former fiancée, who bears a striking resemblance to her. This leads Reiko to the chilling realization that she has no memory of her past.
Plot Summary
In the distant future, Kowloon Walled City serves as a refuge for those who yearn for the Hong Kong of the past. Reiko Kujirai, a realtor, desires new and exciting experiences, while her coworker, Hajime Kudou, is drawn to the city’s nostalgia and dislikes anything modern. Despite their differing views, they often enjoy each other’s company.
One day, a prank leads to an unexpected advance from Hajime towards Reiko, followed by a swift apology. Baffled by his actions, Reiko begins to investigate, uncovering a past she has no memory of.
Sci-Fi and Romance Blend
The series blends romance and science fiction in a unique way. A technological development called “Generic Terra” allows people to create perfect duplicates of human memories, offering the potential for eternal life. However, this project is run by a pharmaceutical company with potentially nefarious intentions.
The Characters
Reiko Kujirai: A 32-year-old real estate agent who lives in Kowloon Walled City. Unaware that she was once engaged to Hajime Kudo and mentored him, she develops feelings for him, despite her memory loss.
Hajime Kudo: A 34-year-old real estate agent who transferred from the Japanese branch to work with Reiko. He appreciates Kowloon’s culture and cuisine. He knows about their past relationship but doesn’t mention it due to Reiko’s amnesia.
Xiaohei: A young woman who works part-time in various establishments in Kowloon. She is acquainted with both Reiko and Hajime. There are two versions of Xiaohei, one being a petite young woman and the other a young man working for Hebinuma.
Yaomay: A friend of Reiko who encourages her to make her own decisions and distinguish herself from the original Kujirai.
Miyuki Hebinuma: A charismatic young aesthetician and doctor who seems to know a great deal about Reiko. He is the son and heir of the wealthy Hebinuma Pharmaceuticals Group, which is developing the Generic Terra project.
Production Details
The anime is directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki at animation studio Arvo Animation. Jin Tanaka is in charge of series composition and scripts, Yuka Shibata is handling character designs, and Yuji Kaneko is the art director.
- Original creator: Jun Mayuzuki
- Director: Yoshiaki Iwasaki
- Series Composition/Scripts: Jin Tanaka
- Character Design: Yuka Shibata
- Art Director: Yuji Kaneko
- Animation Studio: Arvo Animation
Cast
The Japanese voice cast includes:
- Haruka Shiraishi as Reiko Kujirai
- Tomokazu Sugita as Hajime Kudō
- Aoi Koga as Yaomay
- Kengo Kawanishi as Yūlong
- Ryōtarō Okiayu as Miyuki Hebinuma
- Sayumi Suzushiro as Xiaohei
- Sōma Saitō as Xiaohei (Male)
- Taito Ban as Tao Gwen
- Yuriko Yamaguchi as Kujirai-B
The English dub cast includes:
- Lauren Landa as Reiko Kujirai
- Ben Balmaceda as Hajime Kudo
- Amber Lee Connors as Kujirai-B
- Anjali Kunapaneni as Yaomay
- Edward Mendoza as Tao Gwen
- Kayleigh McKee as Miyuki Hebinuma
- Risa Mei as Xiaohei
- Brent Mukai as Lee
Themes and Reception
“Kowloon Generic Romance” explores themes of memory, identity, and the clash between the past and the future. The series has been praised for its unique blend of romance and science fiction, as well as its mature characters and intriguing plot.
One of the appealing aspects of the anime is that it is not set in high school, which is a common setting for romance anime. Instead, it focuses on adult characters working in a unique and nostalgic environment.
The Allure of Kowloon Walled City
The setting of Kowloon Walled City adds a distinct atmosphere to the story. The city is depicted as a place brimming with nostalgia, where the past, present, and future converge. This creates a fascinating backdrop for the unfolding romance between Reiko and Hajime.
Where to Watch
“Kowloon Generic Romance” is currently streaming on Crunchyroll as part of the Spring 2025 anime simulcast lineup.
Additional Information
The original manga by Jun Mayuzuki has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump since November 2019. Yen Press publishes the English language version of the series.
