Anime fans who love a good romantic comedy are in for a treat with 365 Days to the Wedding. This charming series starts off with a unique premise that immediately captures viewers’ attention. In Season 1, Episode 1, we are introduced to the main characters, Tsumugi and Ritsu, who find themselves in a situation that has them pretending to be a couple. With a playful tone, this episode sets the stage for what promises to be an enjoyable story filled with humor, love, and unexpected twists.
Plot Summary
The first episode opens with a glimpse into the lives of Tsumugi and Ritsu, two co-workers at a travel agency who have a perfectly ordinary relationship—until external circumstances force them to reconsider their personal lives. Both of them are seemingly single and not particularly interested in getting married. However, their workplace faces a relocation crisis: employees who aren’t married may be sent to distant locations. Faced with the prospect of separation, Tsumugi and Ritsu make an unexpected decision—they agree to pretend they are engaged, giving them exactly 365 days to pull off the charade.
This setup forms the backbone of the show’s plot. It’s a light-hearted, playful concept, but one that explores deeper themes of companionship, societal expectations, and love that develops over time. Episode 1 does an excellent job of establishing the fake engagement and introducing the characters’ quirky personalities and their motivations.
Main Characters
- Tsumugi Oomori: Tsumugi is a responsible, somewhat introverted character who isn’t actively looking for love. However, her level-headedness and pragmatic outlook are what convince her that this fake engagement might just be the best solution for her and Ritsu. The episode highlights her kind, cautious nature, making her instantly relatable to the audience.
- Ritsu Maki: Ritsu is a charming yet somewhat aloof co-worker who, like Tsumugi, isn’t interested in romance. His calm demeanor balances out Tsumugi’s occasional anxiousness. Episode 1 introduces him as someone who goes with the flow, but also hints at hidden layers of warmth that will likely unfold as the series progresses.
Themes
Workplace Dynamics and Marriage Pressure: The show’s setup cleverly highlights the social pressures of marriage, particularly in the context of Japanese workplace culture. The relocation threat brings a sense of urgency, and the idea of pretending to be engaged to avoid job transfer is humorous but also indicative of how real-life situations sometimes push people into unexpected decisions.
Developing Romance: While Episode 1 doesn’t dive deep into romantic feelings just yet, it clearly sets up a slow-burn dynamic between Tsumugi and Ritsu. The idea of a romance growing from a fake engagement is nothing new, but 365 Days to the Wedding seems poised to handle this classic trope with a fresh and heartwarming approach.
Authenticity vs. Pretending: The series opens a conversation about the authenticity of relationships. As the characters pretend to be in love, the episode plants subtle hints that there may be more genuine feelings lurking beneath the surface. As the story progresses, viewers are likely to see how pretending to be together might lead Tsumugi and Ritsu to discover what they truly want in life and in love.
Visuals and Animation
The animation style is soft and pleasant, perfectly matching the tone of the show. The character designs are charming, with attention to detail in the backgrounds that bring their workplace and personal environments to life. There’s a warmth in the color palette that complements the story’s wholesome and lighthearted feel.
My Thoughts:
Already enjoying this anime. Not at all what I thought the plot would be! A workplace dilemma of who to send to Alaska for the new Anchorage office is at the heart, all puns intended of this series.
The company prefers to send a non married employee SK all the single employees devise a plan to marry each other to avoid going to Alaska. This is like 100 girlfriends meets the office so far.
It’s also got a bit of humor like the office too. The two main Characters that lie and say they are married have to backtrack and make it all see m legit before the boss finds out.
The first episode is really good and I highly recommend watching this series. Check it out for yourself and be sure to leave your thoughts below in the comments section.
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