Why Anai is Aggretsuko Season 2's Most TRAGIC Character [ANALYSIS]

[@BrotakuzaAnime]

The comments here have been incredible. Thanks for your insight and personal stories. We are ALL more than our jobs.

[@carmel9583]

Brotakuza Anime & Gaming Seeing your video and my plan to make the world instead of just my home country earn their freedom, Shukatsu’s are just people that I want to help

[@mlgwolvesmeep]

*giggling at the thumbnail* ANAL HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

[@fumomofumosarum5893]

Hi! I'm new here. Where are you from? You don't sound japanese : ) Have you married into japan as a gaijin?

[@Hakajin]

When I saw Anai watching the families at the festival, I thought it was gonna turn out that he was an adult orphan. That's the situation I'm in, and... Well, when it happened to me, I'd already been working in the same place for several years, so I didn't feel alone there, but... Well, I felt that even if Anai still had a family, he was on his own for the first time, and he did feel alone. I think he really did take Retsuko's admonishments the wrong way, and I think that's why. That's also why he responded to motherly Kabai. I knew about how much pressure exams and shit put on Japanese kids during their school years, but I wasn't familiar with shukatsu. Can't say it surprises me, though. I have this theory that casual anime/manga fandom will make you a weeb, but the deeper you get into it, the more you ease up on it, because you see more of how tough life is in Japan. I don't think I could hack it.

[@inkspectra6456]

♡

[@sweets_Cat88]

I just see Anai as a nervous kid who didn’t have the freedom to learn from mistakes and had to be a perfectionist out of PTSD.

[@lizardfishbird]

Sweets Vulcat as someone with PTSD and perfectionistic tendencies, I just see him as a jackass. Being mentally ill or afraid doesn’t give you the reason to behave like that

[@lizardfishbird]

Quote it’s r/woosh, not r/woosh. Original comment didn’t go over my head. I know what OP meant. Anai is still a dick

[@avocado3-in-182]

Paste Eater aight, with or without ptsd or ocd or any mental illness, why do you think Anai is a jerk on this show? Pretty sure he is just insecure, less than a dick?

[@eueguh9961]

@@lonelyspirit1370 iit wasnt a joke

[@eueguh9961]

@Quote wasnt a joke

[@flappletarts]

My opinion of Anai changed instantly when I first saw him cooking the ingredients for his bento. The alarm went off and it triggered his “work mode”. Something I can 100% relate to, and seeing that switch flipped really hit me in my core because I understand the personas we project here in the west in order to keep our jobs. This was a very nice and informative video!

[@elchicko1976]

Absolutely. First I thought he‘s just a selfish guy who can’t stand criticism very well. But as his alarmclock is ringing ... „🙊 Damn! ... 🙉 He‘s just scared!“ ... Exaggerated self-protection.

[@pastrymei]

Eos of Eos Same here!

[@loregoblin3854]

Anai is both a tragic case _and_ an annoying coworker. because like, his worry is that he's not doing well enough... kind of a "fake it til you make it" mindset, but even though he's made it, he doesn't feel like he can stop faking it. that's why he responds so well to someone instructing him in a kind, understanding manner the way Kabae does... he's worried that people will judge him for actually getting something wrong in the course of his normal training, and he'd rather they fear the repercussions of criticizing him, than criticize him in the first place. and deep down, he knows he isn't doing his fair share when it comes to actually helping Retsuko. because deep down, he really doesn't know how to be truly helpful yet, and he's 100% unwilling to admit that. but here's the thing. Retsuko navigated this process too... she got this job, and she's been surviving within this system. Anai could really look to Retsuko as a senpai of sorts... someone who's example he could learn from. we're so used to seeing Retsuko as a character with problems, that I think it's hard to recognize when she should be admired for the ways that she navigates them. Retsuko copes with her job by forming friendships with her coworkers, and commiserating over their shared frustrations. she's crafted a balance between her casual, genuine self, and her professional persona. Retsuko is likable because you can still be professional while also being authentic. and yeah, she might say stuff that, if played back out of context, doesn't sound too good... but she says things like that because she's expecting her words to be taken in good faith. she tries to communicate with people on a human level, and that level of openness just isn't present from Anai. he's not comfortable enough with his environment yet. he unsettles people because he himself is unsettled by this whole situation that he's in. Anai doesn't yet understand how people find small comforts in a work environment... his uptight attitude puts unnecessary stress on those around him to behave 110% perfectly, but if he cut people some slack, other people would definitely cut him slack too, and everyone could relax. there's a social give and take that Anai isn't properly engaging with, and that really does make him an annoying coworker! but still one that you can understand.

[@caro8164]

Also there's the bell ring effect, to me it symbolises school schedules and time restrictions, it tells the beginning and closure of the school day and once you hear it for the first time you'll be a student and you'll be expected to behave like so, until you hear it for the last time, which means you can loosen up and be your true self again. I find that very powerful in Anai's situation and even more with the insight this video provides

[@shokkazuluman]

Until he busted out that rap, I hated his guts. I felt bad for him and related to him when Gori said he was just a scared kid in the real world for the first time, but to me it didn't excuse how he treated people. But then, he started to lighten up. And I thought "Maybe he CAN grow up."

[@tyrant-den884]

he was basically trying to just not be treated like Retsuko was at the start of the show.

[@shokkazuluman]

@@tyrant-den884 Yeah. I realized that when he said "I have to protect myself" To which Retsuko responded "Why so you have to be so mean about it?" Which was the whole problem. But yeah, I do see where Anai is coming from and glad he went in the direction he did.

[@shannenlibres2365]

He's only like 22, of course he'll still grow up

[@azazeltheundyingdamienkali5700]

@@shokkazuluman I thought so, too, but, at the same time, I was also a bit intimidated by him! I couldn't help but think "Holy shit, this guy's intense! How's Retsuko gonna get out of this one?" And I was relieved to see Haida, Fenneko, Tsunoda, and even Ton get involved in this, because at least Retsuko wouldn't have to deal with Anai alone now.

[@gabriellacardosopaiva417]

He scared me as hell. I know it is comedy and it shouldn’t be taken serious, but lack of self control is dangerous and he screaming with Retsuko was so real terrified.

[@ryuumajin]

Another implication that how he reacts positively to Kabae's pampering is because he lacks of motherly compassion. ...but if anybody records him back altogether with his previous attitude like that as a revenge, I won't blame them.

[@RickyFSeiei]

I do wonder if japanese parents has high and perfect expectation of their own children. If so it explained the lack of mother figure in Anai"s life.

[@zashgekido5616]

I mean, at worst they just have him being a dick on camera

[@ryuumajin]

It is often becomes a theme that parents treat their child like an investment: an object that they could be proud of or to brag to other parents. Anai could be one of the example: lacking of mother's love.

[@xxzxzxzxx6974]

@Deserve Not Desire He IS a bad guy and a bully.

[@rowanwhy267]

Literal mood

[@GaijinGoombah]

I think another big chunk of Anai's character stems from something I think all modern societies are fighting with at this point. Anti-social behavior. That isn't to say I think what is said in this video is wrong. Far from. But I think there's also a generational problem being represented here. One thing I learned from my kids in my time in JET was that to be wrong in a public setting was one of the worst positions you can be in. It's a sociological thing about Japan. But tie that in with our growing dysfunction with younger folks avoiding a lot of personal contact and instead focusing communication on text-based tools. When we text or email, we have basically all the time in the world to think about what we are going to say. We have plenty of time to be careful and formulate our messages. When you talk on the phone or in person, you don't get that luxury. You have to be fast, responsive, and respectful. So compound the "millennial communication text trend" with Japan's sociological pressure to be correct, ON TOP OF one's need to speak with the correct form of keigo. Lordy THAT in itself is a NIGHTMARE to sort through. So while I do agree that Anai is definitely suffering from Japan's inhuman corporate system, I think there are a handful of generational triggers here. The turn of the century tendency to focus on text based communication on top of Japan's rigid social structure.

[@sheenawarecki92]

Another thing to note with the anti social behavior is that these kids are put through all of this rigorous stuff in the hopes if being a salaryman, from such an early age, they don't really get to have a lot of interactions with each other. I think they have less social experiences to learn from, so when they're thrust into the reality of working having a social aspect, they are totally unprepared, and dont know how to handle things. Anai and people like him at least in Japan or in similar context/cultures, probably never dealt with another kid saying something negative and learning how to deal with it or his peers or at least probably not as much. He probably did get a lot of crap from teachers ie those above him, and that lends itself to the ptsd idea, since he probably got attacked for failing tests or things a lot. So now anything negative even if its constructive and nicely delivered just sends him hurtling into rage mode. And most schools in Japan I've been told from friends dont really care about learning social things once you're past like elementary school, and its all about how well you can pass exams and get into the best junior/ high schools and cram schools etc

[@MinttMeringue]

These two things were what I thought were really parts of Anai's character- also, cool to see you here!

[@wakkaseta8351]

@@sheenawarecki92 *"they don't really get to have a lot of interactions with each other"* Why would they need to fraternize with the competition?

[@stephorozco8911]

I took a class that discussed the social trends of postmodern Japan, and one thing I found interesting is how many, many Japanese youth prefer Twitter over Facebook. The key thing is anonymity. Facebook moreorless requires that you upload an actual photo of yourself, while Twitter is more "free-spirited." In retrospect, that's why you see anime versions of Twitter all the time, as in Aggretsuko. It's a place where people can share their thoughts anonymously without repercussion.

[@Onsvaltti]

Well hello there, gaijin :O nice to spot you here.

[@beatrixthegreat1138]

I think his parents forced him to be an accountant and he should open a resteraunt.

[@DemonicRemption]

@beatrix the great Given that it's shown that he's one Hell of a cook, that would make sense.... Though that doesn't explain his implied refusal to grow up, unless opening a restaurant was a childhood dream, and he was that opening a restaurant was a childish dream and that he needed to "grow up..."

[@astrozombieandfitch5020]

I pitied Anai. People who take criticism that poorly and lash out at others like that do it out of insecurity and fear. Japanese work life sounds terrifying. I'm afraid enough of work in America, I could never hack it in Japan. There isn't enough Xanax in the world!

[@SaiyanGamer95]

From what I hear, in Japan, you live to work, rather than work to live. Work hours are stressful and demanding. However, that can also mean that it's not uncommon for workers to fall asleep while on the clock, which is perfectly acceptable. But as a whole, living life in Japan is a highly stressful endeavor; being closely tied to your family, having to worry about getting good grades early on, and even then, you have to worry about getting into a good college and landing a good job. And there's still the fact of getting married. While you aren't actually required to get married, there's this social stigma that comes with getting married. If you reach a certain age and you haven't been married, you're considered unattractive and you can kiss that dream of a husband/wife and kids goodbye.

[@ron4202]

SaiyanGamer95 Yeah, people would often say that Japan is this dream place where only happy and good things come from, every country has its ups and downs, that goes for the “perfect” Japan too!

[@Jake-pardo]

Derpy Derp that's why i pity my friends who ideal to live in Japan:/

[@leonardofarias8843]

@@ron4202 But Japan is also such a awesome indepedent clean place

[@ron4202]

Leonardo Farias Like I said, there are the ups and downs to a country

[@sarahpeterson9422]

Just because your pain is understandable, doesn't mean your behavior is acceptable. I honestly love this saying because it holds accountability for ourselves. Which is how I feel about Anai to be honest.

[@marquisehebbler9471]

Like honestly, I’m still not a fan of Anai since he never owned up to his mistakes. He might be popular now, but he never apologized and that’s not cool.

[@defaulted9485]

Yep, exactly the reason why first half of Season 2 Aggretsuko lacked conclusion. TBF, Anai taking Retsuko's workload was an indirect apology, but apology is always about admission of guilt. Anai just never admit that, which makes it feels slightly off despite the good writing that Rarecho did.

[@marquisehebbler9471]

@king vsn is it tho?

[@ahappilydrunkpuppy8961]

Im so glad youre saying that, not enough comments like your’s worry me. It isnt an excuse, he is an adult and he needs to learn how to take criticism constructively and not lash out at others. There is no justification.

[@dazai-6443]

Thanks for this comment, while I don't think Anai is a bad person, his actions were problematic to others, his problems are not an excuse to treat other people like that. All his co-workers went through the exact same, and all his co-workers are other humans (or animals lmao) with their own issues and problems, while I think it's important to have empathy for him, he also needs to think about how his actions affects others, it would have been nice if kabae told him that, at least. he's young but sadly he's also an adult, we can cut him some slack, but he needs to be held accountable to learn.

[@SaiyanGamer95]

This is one of the reasons why I really like Aggretsuko. While I don't live in Japan, nor have I ever, I know a few things about what living in Japan is like. This anime shows what living and working in Japan can be like, but taken is a massive extreme that I'm sure people living in Japan can still connect with. From harassment from co-workers or your boss to the crushing weight and societal expectations of getting married before you're considered "unattractive". While this is a comedy, it shows the issues living in Japan without shying away from it. Most anime are basically escapist stories (characters with wild hair, taking place in highschool, being the hero/savior, etc), but this may be one of the few (that I know of) that focuses on an adult in a real-life (for the most part) work environment, dealing with real-world struggles and stresses.

[@koichidignitythief7429]

what's even better is that it can still apply to anyone stuck in a job they don't like or have to overwork themselves. It certainly helps that the English dub changed a few things to fit in a western perspective. Compare Gorri's explanation of Anai between both dubs: They may say and mean different things but they still fit in context with what's going on.

[@SaiyanGamer95]

@@koichidignitythief7429 Yes, you are most certainly right. No doubt Aggretsuko was made with the Japanese audience in mind, there are many issues that also face those in the West as well.

[@nianderwallace4776]

I hate Anai but after watching this video just prove how small mind I am. I'm going to apologize him in writng.

[@alicedolly3683]

Wtf

[@alexiabenitez9627]

lol it's a joke. Like Anai he wants an answer in writing.

[@m.ivyluna4632]

paru paro They are making a joke Because he’s always asking for things in writing

[@wakkaseta8351]

Rule #1 of business: Always get it in writing.

[@Phoenixwizard77]

Make sure you finish it by the deadline. Lol

[@level43aipom28]

I like how that not even in the show they say that his behavior is okay yet still explains how he came to be like that. I hope that he'll eventually apologize to Retsuko and the rest of the accounting department. Thank you for this informative video it was very, well, informative!

[@Bepetoni]

I think that the fact he's now willing to cooperate and help out people that he harassed is a little bit better than apology. Action speaks louder than words, as they say.

[@dakotaadams3418]

Hes to proud for that , I think he'll just fade in with all the workers, but realistically due to his past mistakes the workers have a small amount of respect for him but are more cautious with him.

[@bluekitty8841]

Tbh, I understand Anai on some level. I'm lucky enough to be looking for a job in America, so I don't experience true Shuukatsu. All the same, I studied hard in middle and high school, am in debt because I studied at a nationally acclaimed college, and I still can't find a career. I feel like I've thrown my past and future away. I've already made an attempt on my life because of this. Seeing Anai in this light really makes me sympathize with him. I always kind of felt bad for him in a way, given how high strung he is. I knew there must be some kind of a problem. Seeing the work culture of Japan play into this... Not only do I feel bad for him, but I relate to him a lot more than I did first going into season 2.

[@sharktenko267]

Actually the issue in America isn't getting a job but holding a job Cause while yes it's harder to get fired in Japan, that leads to work productivity not being as high as it could be as someone who may have the skills but not the education gets passed up for someone who has the education but lacks the skills In America the best people for the job get the job plain and simple

[@wheavel99]

I've experience Shuukatsu in America and it lasted for approximately 2 years. It took me 2 years after graduating with my A.A. to land a job in my field, accounting. I'm glad I've got the job but it has been a very stressful and depressing journey.

[@BeautifulObscurity]

shark Tenko saying in America it’s “the best people for the job” is grossly inaccurate. It definitely varies industry to industry but often it’s not what you know but who you know, that’s why internships are almost mandatory to enter certain industries. Many industries also won’t even look at your resume if you didn’t go to a specific school or have specific training. There’s similarly a huge issue with many industries being oversaturated with fresh new graduates, and industries that would rather pay a less skilled worker less instead of hiring a college grad who will likely require higher pay. Tech jobs are quickly having this issue, where we have a lot of graduates in the field but not a lot of jobs for them, especially as programming becomes a more and more accessible skill. Just as one example, but really almost any industry that seems potentially lucrative can possibly get hit with the same set of issues. Let’s not pretend we live in a meritocracy here, or anywhere really.

[@alexburn4014]

@Hazel Tiberius Lee Damn do i feel that. Im stuck at a shitty retail store because i got so tired of doing these impossible hoop jumps when i just want a job i have experience in that can feed and house me without haven to get married or finding a roomate. A part of me still feels betrayed considering how hard i worked in college while strangers online like to remind people like me that "Maybe you should have chosen a paying career." WHAT paying job is that? The people who do get good jobs are either lucky or they know someone. It has nothing to do with skill or talent.

[@christinalittleton2242]

At first, (I only saw the clips) I asked myself "If Anai needed help, then why isn't he asking for it?" Then, that's when it hit me like Retsuko hitting those "death metal vocals"... I was like that in school. Before I went to vocational school, I was afraid to ask anyone for help even in math (mostly with algebra). The teachers, hell, even my guidance counselors knew that I was struggling and yet, they never did what Kabae did for Anai. Well, only one teacher was nice, but he was a World History teacher and I felt scared and awkward (also, I tend to stutter when someone puts me under the spotlight). To be honest, I wasn't really sure on what was different between those two environments, but I wasn't afraid to ask for help or to double-check my work.

[@harpiessnow]

It also didn't help that most of the help he was receiving was akin to, "it's just how it is, you will learn to deal with it." He didn't have a motherly figure, or a figure at all that pointed out the good in what he was doing while also offering criticism that did not come across as impersonal. One of the biggest rules, that I have learned, to give advise is to not only complement on the good, but to use that complement to lead into where they may be able to improve. Many people, especially nowadays, do not like being criticized without at least getting some affirmation on the job they are doing overall, like, "You did really well for handling your first phone call. It can be stressful to take them, and a good thing to do before every call is to take a few deep breaths to shake those jitters out. It's a great way for helping alleviate the stress!"

[@KELOPHE]

same im like this too

[@Bepetoni]

I don't think you can even consider him a bad guy after watching his entire arc - they clearly show us that Anai is just like a scared kid. But thanks for the culture insight. It's interesting, and I feel like I wouldn't go search for it if it weren't for you.

[@leonardofarias8843]

Being scared is not a justification try again

[@Bepetoni]

@@leonardofarias8843 Eh. It's just enough for me and I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I don't get angry at people being people if they're willing to improve.

[@xxzxzxzxx6974]

Yeah you can he has 0 excuse to be a bully like that. He also clearly needs to be put in aggressive psychotherapy.

[@AnonXer0]

@@xxzxzxzxx6974 I don't think the point was to justify. I think it was to understand and empathize why he is the way he is. To justify what makes a villain, or consider someone a bad guy is easy, and a morally black and white view. The point is, that Anai is simply a person with flaws like everyone else, and not some one-dimensional villain.

[@holicxhunter]

This was quite informative and most importantly respectful, thank you!

[@dr.absurd]

I only seen people saying they dislike Anai (or dislike him at first but then change their mind after he does yakisoba and shit), but I dunno, I actually liked Anai from the start. He felt very real somehow, I think many goes through the same emotions and have the same thoughts as he has (but they don't dare to send e-mails like that to others). Maybe it's that I felt that I could relate to Anai. I'm super sensitive, and if Retsuko would have said the same thing to me about the phone while being new to the job, I would like Anai also get hurt. I would feel like a loser for not being able to complete such a simple task, but I would feel even worse if I didn't get any more chances that day to improve at the phone calls. However, I wouldn't have sent creepy text messages, I would just have gone home and cried. It's that insecurity when you care too much about others opinions to let it get the best of you. There are so many haters and trolls online, but when you meet them in real life, most of them act as normal persons and has a different persona compared to their alterego online. Anai is really that person, infront of everyone he acts normal, but he feels that he can hide when he is behind his phone and therefore can "let out his true self with his true emotions". This really screams insecurity, and there are so many that act like this, like for example many members of the incel community. In real life they say nothing, but online they let out their insecurities yet also start hating on others. Anai just feels real to me.

[@Bepetoni]

Same here! Loved Anai's character from the start. He might've been a so-so person, but an interesting character nonetheless. And I know how anxious brain can mess with the words others say too, sending you into a spin of emotions. Except that Anai tries to bottle them up in public and lets it ferment for a day :s

[@dr.absurd]

@@Bepetoni Yes, I totally agree with you!

[@PancakemonsterFO4]

Rebecca W this reminds me on a summer camp I attempted two years ago where we had to organize our own little evening party. A girl (wich basically did most of the stuff on her own) took the job I signed up for wich absolutely drove me crazy. It ended with me roasting everyone in the room when a bunch of kids outside of our group showed up in hope for some scraps and I got literally kicked out. (I apologized later but I didn’t spoke to anyone for a day after the incident). Another incident I had (same summer camp, different group) was when we visited a restaurant after a city tour where we split up in sub groups. My group was the last one so we had to run to arrive in time wich made me fall over and hurt my knee so 2 of our members had to go to the van and get a wheelchair. Apparently I forgot to say thanks to one of them because when we finally showed up and one of them started to share his dip this bastard stepped in and refused to give it to me (mind you, the owner of the dip and the person who blocked me from getting it are NOT one of the same person). Trust me, I went absolutely ape on him.

[@lauralol9210]

Bro everything you have just said is me XDD I also thought retsuko was a bit hardcore when all that phone thing happened

[@leonardofarias8843]

@@dr.absurd So he's going to traumatize the people only trying to help him?

[@DigiBleach12]

Honestly I think Anai really is like you said has either PTSD or a really bad anxiety disorder at its best. He also got hired into a company that seems to be in a good place too so even lower chances of actually getting fired. But he really seems like he’s stressed out. And we even see in his apartment moving boxes so add to the stress of him also the stress of moving too probably didn’t help.

[@nogooglenonameforyousmith3540]

I feel like I'm the odd one out in the comments here, because I never warmed up to Anai at all and thought his redemption was... not good ("hey guys, I know I harrassed you all and made the office environment needlessly toxic af, but look the nice lady convinced me to make yakisoba and now I'm helpful 💖👌👍"). But while I'm not really a subscriber to placing headcanons over what a show never puts work into showing us for ourselves, this was a very informative video about Japanese work-culture! And heart-breaking. And a tempting theory to adopt, all-in-all.

[@FluffyIronGolems]

He is by far the most realistic visage of what its like to start a job st a young age... i know because he was me.

[@AmyLeeBasshunter]

Interesting. Doesn't make him any less creepy though.

[@rrtkddigimon0]

My dim initial sympathy for him was *deteriorated* by Anai himself. I think it was justified for him to ask about his performance, and I would have thought it "annoying but reasonable" if he kept sending dozens of emails asking about what the rest told him. But that's not what happens, *OH NO* He jumps to "I am giving you a deadline, I need your written *in writing* , you *can't* talk to me, it needs to be a written response, I will *shout* at you if you miss the deadline I unilaterally imposed... " And although I think Retsuko could have written "I simply decided to relief you of a task you seemed to struggle with, and decided to assign you more manageable tasks while you are still adapting to the work pace of the company," or something less formal but still saying "I gave you a breather until you got used to your job." And a part of me was just waiting for him to email someone who *doesn't care.* I thought he would email Ton and Ton would ask "Who do you *THINK* you are to come bossing *ME* around?" *BUT NO!* EVERYONE TREATED ANAI LIKE HE WAS DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS WITH HIS WELL WRITTEN EMAILS. I was WAITING for someone, maybe Tsubone, to just *RAM* him for being a useless newbie, and IGNORE his emails. *NOPE!* BECAUSE *EVERYBODY* KNOWS THE MOST *TERRIFYING* THING IN THIS PLANE OF EXISTENCE IS A GUY IN HIS 20S SENDING POLITE THREATS WITHOUT A SOUND BASE! SERIOUSLY! And he apparently isn't the president's son or cousin or anything, he's just a newbie who filed a Harassment complaint in his first week of work, and threatened to file who knows how many more in his first month of work. Seriously, you can read stories of people complaining *FOR YEARS* of workplace harassment to then either get fired, be transferred to a worse position, have to deal with people treating them like the kid who cried wolf,or just simply never being taken seriously and quitting their jobs. Meanwhile Anai *JUST* showed up in the company and gets taken seriously almost immediately over his power harassment complaint, takes 3 days off from work, people let him work less by just sitting around and checking his emails for ages, is allowed to scream at his superior for not meeting a not-work-related deadline, complains about missing learning opportunities but does not do the work he is offered, and when the director of his department says he is going to increase his workload he threatens to file *ANOTHER* complaint, and he makes the director of the department cry in fear. I hope my arguments make it clear that my problem is not his PTSD, as you called it, but how the show was condescending towards his aggressive behaviour. If his PTSD was him spamming emails and skipping work to cry because of how he understood Retsuko, I would have seen it. But people being afraid of him? I call him a Bigus Dickus; no tragedy here.

[@poisonpenfairy2844]

To have someone send accusatory emails like that while acting nice to your face and trying to record everything like they are trying to get evidence against you, it really messes with your head and you get afraid of saying anything lest your words be twisted again, and those unilateral deadlines create incredible stress (though I'd say that the email spamming is also a form of harassment). I'm not like Retsuko, when I see bullshit I call it out, but this...this is something else. If I hadn't lived it I wouldn't have believed it either. My ex-roommate started doing exactly this - twisting conversations via email in the kind of language that sounded like a lawsuit application, demanding I respond in writing, imposing unilateral deadlines. It causes a lot of anxiety and stress and you can't think straight, at least I couldn't, so when Retsuko gets that 2nd email and starts to go into her death metal phase, but then stops and says 'I'm scared' - that was so realistic for me, I felt like the show had reached into my life. (for context, that roommate owed me money and started making ridiculous but official sounding grievances as an excuse not to pay me back - she even tried to get a month of free rent on top of what she already owed me as 'compensation')

[@harpiessnow]

@@poisonpenfairy2844 It happens. There are people like Anai in the workplace as well. Typically, the Emails, Text, and Recordings thing is to back them up when shit finally hits the fan. If they are reprimanded for their work, they can point the finger at the other person, "Well, they were supposed to teach me the complexities of the job, but they haven't taught me anything that is needed, and I had to learn it all by myself! Here's some Emails and Recordings of this person who should be training me, talking badly about me, and saying I am useless. This is a hostile work environment!" A company will always side with explicit proof over word of mouth. I do this with my managers when they have me do something outside of the norm at work. I tell them to Email me this request along with the steps to do it, and I will do it. It protects me, should something happen that causes my employment to be threatened, and I can point at the Email and be like, "Well, they asked me to do this, this particular way. I wasn't sure what to do, as we were not properly trained on how to handle such a situation, but they told me to do this as such, and I did it as such." If they refuse to do this, then drop the ball and let it lay, because what they were telling you to do may be detrimental to your employment since they aren't willing to provide proof of advising you to do it.

[@tidus37]

If this happened to a member of my team and they were being abused by a turd like this, and I found out about it..."pack your shit and get out" paraphrasing.

[@ayapapaya5693]

He is pathetic as a character. Says he wants to improve by working more but complains when he is forced to work more.

[@Vivi-wb1pz]

PTSD from job hunting + imposter syndrome sounds about right. Anai seemed so nervous he overthinked about everything so he couldn't do simple tasks such as answering the phone, when Retsuko made a comment like "picking up a phone is adulting 101" she clearly didn't mean to criticize him, but he felt like she was and he overreacted. He decided to record everything and write it all down because then he'd have proof of harassment at the job as a way to protect himself from what he perceived as a harsh work environment. I've felt like this at my first job experience (didn't do what he did though). The show is pretty clear that he's panicking everyday, needing support but pushing others away. Glad he got better later.

[@MeganekkoMausuu]

I'm honestly having trouble feeling sorry for him - and it's not because I find him entitled. It's because his behavior toward Retsuko is incredibly abusive. He has her walking on eggshells, doing her best not to step out of whatever invisible line he's drawn on any given day, living in fear of his reprisals. Even though logically, I know she's the lead, and that Sanrio is unlikely to allow anything too awful on a show they own, I was still terrified for Retsuko throughout most of season 2. I was so afraid that at any second, he could snap, and hurt her badly. ...and on another note, can I say that I totally despise Retsuko's mother? Ugh. I'm kind of upset that the police *didn't* arrest her when it came out that she'd stolen and secretly made a copy of Retsuko's key.

[@xxzxzxzxx6974]

big SAME

[@lavenderrroses]

Omg YES. I can’t stand Retsuko’s mom.

[@lazergurka-smerlin6561]

I am pretty sure her mom *is* abusing her specifically infantilisation. Treating her like she can't do anything on her own and making decisions for her because she thinks that retsuko isn't capable of herself.

[@midnightartist43]

God I hate her mom She thinks that marriage is everything and when something doesn’t go her way she forces it to go her way even if she has too lie to her daughter and force her into dating. I can’t stand people who try to control there children just because they think “the parent is always right” when that isn’t always the case. That way of thinking is very flawed and has a lot of holes in that statement, it’s like saying “the customers is always right” when they could be an entitled bitch named Karen who’s trying to speak with the manager while her 5 year old little brat is crying and the 12 year old girl is trying to make her mom to just go home. It’s very stupid Ah shit, I’ve been watching too much r/insaneparents again. Sorry for the rant :/

[@sikisikiamimis]

@@midnightartist43 no you're right, her mother is toxic garbage, probably even worse than Anai i hope for god she won't be coming back in season 3

[@frolicinq]

I feel that he should still atone for his behavior. He caused a lot of harm to his fellow coworkers and that isnt okay, no matter what. Either way, this video really helped me understand Anai and opened my eyes to the hardships of Japan. Thank you for making this!! I really do sympathize with Anai now.

[@aaronlindsey2219]

I love Aggretsuko's overall tone of what it's like to truly grow up. It started out making a contrast between Retsuko's youth and unwillingness to get married, with her mother's incessant need for her daughter to meet with suitors. Then there's Anai, who represents the pressures associated with getting and keeping a stable job. By the end of the season, we've seen friends fight over complex life ideals, motivated characters dealing with heart-breaking break-ups because those ideals don't line up, and the heart-warming reminder that family can be one of the sweetest things a person can create/that it is worth growing up for. It's incredible that such a show has such a vision for what it is truly like to be a young adult. Those who work on it must have a lot of life experience and empathy towards the rising generation. (towards people like me)

[@personincommentsection2804]

I find anai likable in a weird way, I have a soft spot for characters that takes some work to open up to, it gives you more mysteries of what the character did and went through in the past.

[@1805movie]

In the words of Sean from _Good Will Hunting_ , *"When I look at you, I don't see an intelligent, confident man. I see a cocky, scared shit-less kid."*

[@ayanoyamada4475]

Hello, I'm an senior student of a university in Japan, and your analysis sounds very on-point. It's a quite a rare thing to do when you are not Japanese! There are quite a lot of KZbinrs that throws surface level analysis of Japanese society, so it was very refreshing. Great video! I had a very very stressful time this year because of shuukatsu, and also relate to Anai's reaction because in many cases I pressure myself to do things perfectly as well.

[@BrotakuzaAnime]

Thank you for your kind words and sharing your personal experience. I hope everything works out well for you in the future!

[@ayanoyamada4475]

BROTAKUZA Thank you!😆

[@PrunelleLeroux]

I agree, but I don’t see him as the sadest character. Restuko herself is the most tragic character

[@bluestormpony]

I disagree with that. Retsuko is. Normal. In the most normal way possible. But compaired to anai he life up till this point has been reletively easy going. Because she is from an older generation her skills line up better with whats asked of her. And generallu her parents were suportive. Or atleast encouraging

[@PrunelleLeroux]

Alfa fox Yes, I agree with that. Her life isn’t horrible. But, she litteraly have no passion, nothing important in her life ! Her only reason to live is.. nothing, she live without any meaning. At least, Anai isn’t nobody and had a passion with cooking.

[@lettylunasical4766]

@@PrunelleLeroux When she said her life was: work, internet, bed I related too much. Terrifying.

[@MizukiUkitake]

I don't watch the show, but before you even got into your explanation, while I was watching the clips in the background, I couldn't understand why people would hate him. He doesn't look like an ass to me, he looks afraid. It's a different kind of afraid from Haida. Haida is like... a tripped up kind of afraid. Anai looks like he's being crushed. Crushed mercilessly beneath the expectations he has for himself, the expectations of others, and the expectations he THINKS others have for him, and the only thing he can do is struggle to fight back against the crushing weight. It makes me sad. Seeing him with the phone recording made me feel sad for him, because I know that behavior is stemming from paranoia and an attempt to protect himself from what he thinks is a threat to everything he worked for. Nobody ever taught him how to sit down and talk, and that makes me very, very sad.

[@justsomegroupie4566]

This was actually really insightful. No wonder Kabae was the only one who could reach out to him. From all the trauma he faced in shuukatsu, being told he wasn’t good enough day after day, it helped him to have someone who had enough compassion to see his real gifts. And I originally thought it was weird when Gori said, “I wish I had given those guys some hope.” But now it all makes sense.

[@bigred6884]

I actually watched a few clips out of context first before watching the season and I instantly thought he was a douche, but that scene with washimi and gori put things in perspective as well as I noticed anais stuff in his apartment are left unpacked showing he hasn’t really settled in yet, also being wrapped in a blanket like it’s a security blanket whenever he has one of his freak outs. It really clear that anai just jumped into the adult world with no real idea on how to cope with it until kabae mommies him. Makes me feel for the guy honestly

[@BrotakuzaAnime]

I didn't really pay attention to the boxes in his apartment on the first watch. The guy is very lonely and seems quite lost.

[@bigred6884]

Yeah honestly reminds me of when I first moved out of my student housing apartment and in a bigger city, it was a really intimidating and lonely time

[@coffle1]

He's still a douche, just one with deeper problems than meets the eye. I can't say I don't hate him anymore though

[@chaoticduk7515]

As someone who works full time at a shitty job that doesn't appreciate my effort at all but loves to cook for others and can find genuine joy in it, Anai was instantly relatable and I was so, so happy to see that he found what makes his life work. At least for the short term.

[@SneakyPlu]

I got so stressed from Anai lol. I can’t imagine having to work with someone like that and not being able to talk as adults to eachother.

[@xxzxzxzxx6974]

It's terrible but eventually you can win a harassment case against a bully like Anai and then have a fat bank account.

[@SyrianSoaper]

You did a really good job on this video

[@LillyxTopaz]

I never warmed up to Anai. I didn't think his cooking really redeemed the things he did. Being abusive and cruel towards your coworkers particularly if they were trying to be helpful is inexcusable. He went for being horrible to tolerable and that's msotly because he vanished into the background after his arc. If anything this video made me relate to him less. I can almost understand his actions if he was absolutely terrified of being fired for making the smallest of mistakes. That's a true fear in America where most jobs are at will and you can be fired simply because your boss doesn't like your face and there's a million replacements waiting to take your spot. But knowing that was almost entirely impossible just makes him even worse of an individual, honestly.

[@yolobaggins4636]

This was very fascinating! I honestly didn't know about a lot of the statistics and even that mentality from over-working. It definitely helps me understand Anai a lot more! :O I think you definitely nailed it on the head with this analysis!

[@sakurabiskuit]

I'm probably the minority here, but Anai was my favorite character out of the ones introduced in this new season. Aside from PTSD, I think he might also have social anxiety, because he sucks on talking on the phone and only reveals his true self by text(as someone with social anxiety, those are things I can very much relate to), and depression, because anxiety and depression usually walk hand-in-hand, and avoiding people and not wanting to work are signs of it. So I liked him because I can relate to him to an extent and I enjoyed his character arc too.

[@tidus37]

As a manager/team lead that also happens to have major social anxiety...if Anai was on my team and approached our fellow team members with that behavior, that would be considered workplace harassment, intimidation and bullying and would not be tolerated. He would be shown the door if he were coached and refused to change behavior. Be accountable for your actions and how you conduct yourself in the workplace. When I first watched Anai, I was appalled and horrified. I thought "what if this happened to my guys who report to me?". Fellow team members need to be protected too.

[@deniseboldea1624]

From what I understand becoming a salary person is half the battle. Even after someone gets into that much sought after position they spend the rest of thier working life under the gun, the higher ups are such D-bags that a person can put in stellar performances for years but the one time they do make a mistake, they can find themselves out of a job. That goes on to an extent here in the States, but folks usually get a chance to redeem themselves. I've also heard that this policy has lead to an increase in stress related health issues for those poor folks. This is the first I'm hearing about the suicide epidemic amongst the young. It's sad and it makes me wonder if any of these companies have bothered to take a step back and revisit thier policies and practices in an attempt to stem the tide.

[@johnzkeePW]

4:28 Getting fired in Japan is unheard of, but they can make you quit, by lowering your salaries, by encouraging co-workers to ostracize you, and believe me, bullying in a Japanese workplace can be traumatic. They would even send you to a faraway prefecture. Just so you could run out of patience and quit yourself.

[@MangaBear]

That's honestly clever

[@ZigZagKangaroo]

I didn't really like Anai because I relate to him heavily. Even though in my country it isn't as extreme as in Japan. He started growing on me though.

[@alexa-hs5hm]

Anai is crazy damn

[@danieltaylor4912]

As an American, I feel like Anai comes off as a coddled university student. In America, the Universities have skewed far towards making university students comfortable. Not once when I was in school did anyone truly disagree with my ideas. I didn't really see his anxiety over answering the phone as a big deal. I've worked a lot of jobs, so when he blurted out everything he said in his introduction to the office by accident when he panicked on the phone, I related to him quite a lot. Introducing myself to a room full of strangers that I might be working with for the next 20 years sounds like the kind of thing I'd rehearse so I didn't make a fool out of myself. But the way he responds to Retsuko is what does it for me. I know not every university student behaves like that, or even more than a few, but the ones that do turn heads. There's a reason everyone jumped on the Trigglypuff video back in the day. It's not because everyone in universities acts like that - it's just that it's a distillation of what people don't like about modern universities, no matter how small the minority of students are actually like that. But, this is a perspective that I probably would have never gotten without someone sharing the Japanese perspective of where Anai might be coming from. It sounds a lot more reasonable like this. I had no idea that's what having a career was like in Japan - no wonder the guy is all over the place. I'd be a total basket case too if I went through what you described.

[@DeviouslyKITT]

Yeah see we in the west have a very different attitude and culture and its really interesting to see both perspectives. I saw that in Anai as well. He was a coddled little child who was used to getting things in a way that he could understand and manage. Then when he hits the real world and not everything is put on that silver platter for him, he freaks out. He's scared as some of the characters mention. Kabae coming out and 'coddling him' made him realize that he did know what he was doing, it was just the sudden cold splash that shocked him into a 'fight or flight' type mode. Once he settled and connected with a more maternal figure, he was capable. Now I think its interesting that in the East, specifically Japan, its a little more of a high strung attitude that didn't go away once he found a job. The constant work needed to get to where he's at, the long hours and days he probably worked at to find a job is exhaustive, but...I can't say I really pity him either way.

[@Tea_Noire]

LMAO universities don't coddle their students at all. I was a transfer student at a major uni in California and my first year as a transfer I was forced to stay in an expensive campus owned apartment crammed with 5 other random people I've never met that didn't have hot water or proper electrical wiring for 2/3rd of the school year, even in winter where nights would be around 50 degrees. A lot of tenants complained about it but the school didn't do anything until some of us threatened to reverse our bank transactions and get our $2800 semester rent payment back. There was also a major wildfire near the school and the air was so full of smoke and ash it looked like China on a bad day, but the school had the audacity to tell its students that the fire posed "No immediate threat" to its students while simultaneously advising us to get hazard smoke masks from the health center. Ridiculous. The schools only care about getting money. They dont give a shit about your mental health, wellbeing or just you to "coddle" you with basic amenities or safety, they just want your money.

[@DeviouslyKITT]

@@Tea_Noire I will agree that they only care about money, however one bad experience at a university does a generalization not make. You should see how they are here in the midwest. They coddle you

[@stephan14221]

Holy crap that is a really good analysis. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and views

[@Sasoriscarecrow]

Anai is actually my favorite character now. I relate to him so much as a fresh out of college person entering the work force. Putting up a "don't fuck with me" front feels necessary to deal with the expectations of the work place, even in the US. He's obviously exaggerated for comedy, but I was never frustrated by his actions...I get it.

[@fiyahspinnah]

You earned a sub with me. Your perspective is informing and unique. As an American that is always lived here, your words have resonated through me, through my experience with the show.

[@passionthevirgo]

I'm not sure how to feel about Anai when he was first introduced. Just seemed like someone who was hard to deal with, but I'm shocked that they actually let the character grow and evolve once he decided to open up and chill out. Now that I know why he is the way he is, I feel tragically sorry for the kid and anyone else living in Japan.

[@deathknelle3868]

I concur with your assessment. When I first saw Anai I felt sorry for him, I already knew the issues going in, before watching season 2 and before watching your video, and it just made me feel bad for him. I kept wondering how they would get through to him so that everyone could get along. I'm glad it worked out in the end.

[@olivebee9977]

I love this! I aspire to go into the field of psychology when I get my job, and this video is quite informative, I love how you analyse his behaviour.

[@LadyLeomon]

Sure, I'll buy that he's a newbie fresh outta college and under a butt-ton of pressure, I sympathised with him at first ...*BUT* all sympathy I had was tossed out the window when he started bullying/trolling Retsuko (and Haida to a lesser degree. Seriously, we all know Retsuko is a bit of a ditz who can barely cope with her own work, so Bacon Sammich-I mean Mr Ton dumping a new employee for her to train was hugely unfair, Retsi tried to help the kid ... and what did he do? He *BULLIED* her and *HARASSED* her via messaging and even recorded her! In my country that alone would land his sorry little butt in jail! But what happens? Firstly, not only was Fenneko no use during this mini-saga (seriously why didn't Fenneko defend Retsuko from this tool like she did from that dude on the date night?) but this little jerk got off scot-free! Cos he: A) Verbally and physically threatened Retsuko (cornering her in a fecking cupboard) B) harassed her relentlessly via messaging (why Retsuko didn't just block him is beyond me cos seriously she is NOT obligated to respond to him outside of work, Mr Ton can't bitch about it cos that was her personal time!) C) he actively tried *TO GET HER WRITTEN UP AND/OR FIRED!!!* D) when he and Retsuko were forced to work together by Talking Bacon he made no contribution to the stall whatsoever! But in the end this little dilemma was solved because Kabae (dammit I love her character but hate this episode) *mommied the little troll!* He terrorised Retsi for an entire mini-arc but one cooking montage plus another episode later she's suddenly friends with the same troll who harassed her?! Nope! Hate the character, I've never worked in an office environment though I have worked to deadlines, but I would have been fired if I did half of what this little SJW did to Retsuko! The little punk is so tightly wound he takes every little thing as a personal slight ... then after he stops acting like a little psycho he becomes a completely forgettable background character ... apart from him passing comment on her relationship with Tadano did he even *do* anything the rest of the Season? So, first moral of Anai's story: act like a psycho-cyber stalker, scare the hell outta female coworker and try to get her fired, but become a good guy after being mommied by older woman ... translation? Anai is a *freaking momma's boy* who needs an anime bonk on the head 😤😤😤 Second moral of the story: a cooking montage fixes everything and makes everyone friends! 😒😒😒 The little twerp would have died from fright if Retsuko had turned into AggRetsuko in the closet 😈😈😈 Sorry for ranting and thanks for sharing your thoughts, I just know what it's like to be bullied and I would *never* have befriended any of my tormentors as easily as Retsi did. Laters 💙=^_^=💙

[@bluestormpony]

Retsuko is kinda a shitty person. They all are. Its the system. But i can 100% see where anai is coming from. I dont agree with him but thats because i have a metric ton of experiance. And what retsuko did was wrong and very incompotent on her part. They were a bad match. As her venom and anais touchiness were doomed to set each other off Its funny for me to watch aggretsuko and realise id hate everyones guts. Especially the main 3. Ookami, resasuke, and anai i could get along with. And possibly maybe but most likely not fenneko.

[@xxzxzxzxx6974]

EXACTLY!

[@xxzxzxzxx6974]

@@bluestormpony if you think retsuko is a shitty person dude you got PROBLEMS

[@MoonLoonie69]

@@bluestormpony Wow, you have the problems if you think Retsuko of all people is shitty. 😒Go get help!!

[@marysunshine2311]

Honestly, I tend to view people like Anai as those who have trouble communicating with real life people. People like Anai tend to have social anxiety and phone anxiety, becoming afraid of all the uncertainties of live communication. It's comforting to communicate through email and text because if someone says something inappropriate or rude, you have the physical evidence of what they said. Plus there is the benefit of being able to say everything you want without being interrupted. But when it comes to live communication, you don't have those luxuries; unless you constantly record what's being said (like what Anai did) what others say disappears into thin air and can be misconstrued. And unless you're constantly telling people to let you finish, you can (and will at some point) be interrupted. While I understand Anai, I have no empathy for him. Learning how to use a phone and handle things face to face are important skills. You can't only rely on the insurance of emails and recordings to protect yourself, EVERYONE needs to learn social etiquette in their culture. And you can't do that hiding behind a screen.

[@bluestormpony]

While you are correct in the west. Mostly i disagree with you heavily. Its not that easy. But sure your thoughts line up with the standard. In japan its... different. The way workplace language works is very very different. One small slipup is treated like you just swore infront of a kindergarten class and the impossible intracacy is suffocating for all but the most socially. Uh talented

[@elbeluttig1993]

Thank you for making this video. I just started watching season 2 and so much as Anais character annoyed me I couldn't stop thinking that he had personal reasons why he was acting this way. I was trying to look it up but had no luck finding anything. This explains a lot . Thank you

[@juliannaotusajo9630]

From at first I thought he was an overly dramatic asshole who couldn't take criticism. But when I saw the Hippo (sorry don't remember her name) teach him how to do his job I realized that with learning people respond positively to encouragement and using your words in a way that makes someone not feel dumb or under appreciated helps with learning. Rather than saying "here let me do it" you should say "hey you are doing great so far and instead of this why don't we try this instead" ... there's a huge difference between the two.

[@horizonanadyomene]

honestly this is all a part of a bigger issue in japan. i'm in america so obviously we have our own issues with compassion, but here the effect can be sidestepped because the idea of individuality is championed. whether or not that's a good thing is absolutely up for debate, but when a culture tends to pressure people to fit into molds, these kinds of tragedies and traumas are unavoidable. ii was really pissed about his texts but as soon as i actually saw anai sitting in his room having an nuclear freaking meltdown i felt awful for him tbh it's insane how so many people all over the world are all bound by these crazy rules but we don't just like.... talk about them in normal life. can you imagine if everyone just openly discussed how mindbendingly terrible our societal constraints can be? we might actually change something

[@charcoalbunny]

I have a co-worker like him. I hate it. Understanding is one thing, but constantly adjusting because of the other's "needs" or "what this person went through" is another. It takes two to tango. Not all situations turn around like Anai's.

[@kaydenhagg6924]

I'm still job hunting and need to prepare for people like this tbh

[@chromiakocosmos8888]

I remember when I was ten and I wanted to go to school, get my own job, then my own place, and finally head off to collage. But life happened and I ended up getting getting F's for two years. All that hard work, all the pride I had for myself when I went to school, it all went down the drain. Having a lack of confidence sucks. Even though I deal with it differently, I understand Anai and it makes me happy seeing him more confident than before. I might be a lot older than I expected when those goals finally fledge, but it doesn't matter as long as I get there.

[@rfacproductions6552]

Anai should be an owner of a restaurant!!! It suits him as an excellent cook.

[@raylenn4444]

i'll be honest here. real talk. for most of my childhood, i've endured many things: -alchoolic father, -neglective mother, -a childhood friend committing suicide, -being verbally and physically abused by my classmates for years, -rape, -and many other traumatising events. i've suffered A LOT thanks to pepole around me and to society, and so one of my only places of refuge in theses tough times were japanese culture and anime. it held me together like some superglue of the mind and help me individualise myself and man up. BUT. as i grew up and learned of the unbearable life conditions in the world of working, not only in japan, but also in most developped countries such as -north america, japan,europe ,china,corea and so many more; i realised that this needed to stop. we HAVE to change our ways and ditch all that competitive and social pressure based model. because it kills pepole. too many of them. and for what? to keep "society"(a bunch of rich as fuck old assholes) going,at the expense of the pepole? screw that! a society that solwly but surely kills it's workers in unfair conditions to sustain a minor and pathetic elite don't deserve to exist. we need a reboot ,a change of our ways, or we'll be stuck in this hell and create lots and lots of monsters.

[@jtwatts7990]

Anai was my absolute favorite character from this show. He's the most relatable. I've seen a lot of myself in him. He's filled with anxiety and he's just a kid trying to navigate life. As someone in their early 20's I am well aware of the hardships of work and life. I've worked to the point Ive become a perfectionist and I refuse to make mistakes to the point Ive lashed out and have become exhausted beyond belief. And just like Anai, I've always been in my happy place the most when writing. So much so I hope to become an Author. I will personally defend Anai with every last strength because he's a tragic character that becomes relatable when you really dive into the psychology of the characters

[@bridgetdavis9752]

Thank you for your insights, I've learned so much. Well done!

[@kingsora7977]

At first his positive attitude reminded me of rock lee, but now I understand him

[@vivvy_0]

YES RIGHT! i thought that too x'D i guess that's why i instant liked him lol

[@MarceloJNader]

I think they both have the same VO actor

[@kingsora7977]

@@MarceloJNader anai: I am the hidden leaf village's green beast

[@mollytheyorkie-poo7514]

Ohh so that's why I thought he reminded me of another character lol. I love anai tbh

[@sebastianalejandrovielmaro5261]

Anai needs: 1) the bitchslaping of his life 2) a huge hearthy hug and a round of beers In that especific order, the first to learn to be considerate of others, the second to show him that you care and are there for him as long as he is willing to be there for the others

[@TsubikiKoya]

After the yakisoba stand episode, I really like Anai. I don't think he is intended to be a bad person, but a flawed person that improved after that event. His anxiety and hostility spoke to me in a lot of ways, because as a person with high levels of anxiety it is something I relate to. His anxiety is actually preventing him from being able to interpret the actions of other clearly, and he hides behind emails because it can be too overwhelming to confront people in person. The email thing probably seems really trivial to people without anxiety, but it's also something I completely understand. I am such an anxious person that I tend to be physically unable to talk coherently in a stressful situation. I generally prefer email and texting because it allows me to carefully think things out, where as a stressful situation will cause me to completely breakdown and cry uncontrolably which is definately something I'd like to avoid in a proffessional setting. I too would prefer to use emails for clarification and difficult topics so that I may remain calm and proffessional. Anxiety stems from fear, so when Anai said he was doing these thigns to protect himself, he most likely whole-heartedly believed it.

[@Schattenfaust2]

Someone's probably long since said this in these comments but the vibe I got was he was so terrified of Japanese workplace culture he was preemptively defending himself, possibly due to bad experiences he'd already had in school and during the job hunting process - appropriately, like how a badger will go full aggro on possible predators. It also explains his turnaround when Kabae helps him chill out and he starts getting to actually know his coworkers.

[@MicroBihon]

I have like relatives that work in Japan and the work ethics there is just.... depressing. This makes me think twice living there because of that.

[@bilbobaggins3984]

I have never been fired but it’s still a shock to hear that there’s a whole country where people hardly ever get fired. It’s great to actually hear all of this explained from someone who’s been on the track. Nice video.

[@catherinewalker2275]

I would've been more sympathetic if he hadn't been an abusive coworker. PTSD explains his behavior, but doesn't excuse it. It's also not Retsuko or anyone else's job to take care of his mental health. They're his coworkers, not therapists.

[@huetitle4070]

Thank you, this was really insightful. It makes sense that after a stressful childhood, he would respond the best to the mother-type.

[@kerkatexe666]

At the beggining i despised him, as i actually lived through a time of my life where one person tried to blackmail me on my every step of life, even if i actually did nothing to even start it. But then i saw that scene where he’s cooking at his place, and saw that kid in him. That he’s just actually scared and needs a motherly touch to adjust. And now he’s one of ny favs, and would love to see him making a development further

[@leai6427]

Did not see it this way during my first watch! Very insightful, thank you :)

[@abramthiessen8749]

I also found Anai relatable. He is still a jerk, but I can relate to his discomfort with talking to people. He just takes things too far. I could relate to both Anai and Retsuko in their conflict. I think that this kind of thing is what Aggretsuko excels at, having a cast of relatable characters with believable motivations. Except for the Yoga place owner. Who knows what his motivations are.

[@mpf23]

I really like Anai as a character and person. He's overbearing when angry, yes, but his craziness is what makes this season funny. I also like the justification of his behavior you've presented in this video. Excellent analysis! I love Aggretsuko for its capacity to show characters at their best and worst.

[@lauralol9210]

For some odd reason, I liked him since he first showed up and I think is mainly because I see myself projected in him (not in that hardcore way but I’m also scared about the same thing and sometimes I’m not very good at taking criticism), I don’t think he is a bad guy at all, in my opinion he just needs someone to guide him a little Also I think that the problem with him and his actions could have been easily confronted without being scared of him and avoiding him all the time, that is just going to make things worse. Thankfully the pink hippopotamus (I don’t remember her name) came to help :)

[@ahsophie09]

Anai reminded me of when I was trying to help a younger coworker in my old job. I only meant to help but he took my "help" in another direction. I was so frustrated but I wasn't able to see it his way. In short, the boss laid us both out. This video opened my eyes and seeing him in the second season of the show. I understand better now. Thank you.

[@MechanicWolf85]

America is one hell of a messy country But you know what? I'm glad that I can atlist slack off and enjoy my life a bit and not be stuck like a machine, Japan is really mess up

[@sharktenko267]

Yeah but good look keeping a job while slacked off

[@MasterPoppers]

With this essay in mind, I don't think it's coincidence that Anai and Tadano were presented in the same season.

[@nail-art-diversity]

I was honestly having anxiety attacks anytime Anai was shown with his eyes rolled back mostly because I think his aggressiveness reminded me of a situation where someone stole my mum's keys and car after attacking a person and the eye roll from whenever my little brother has had a seizure recently and I honestly was crying at one point

[@ven_uwu]

This video has shed even more light for Anai. When I first saw Retsuko seeing the email from anai, I expected him to say what tips and guidance he needs to learn but I never thought that he would show an insane way to threaten his senior co-workers. I wanted Anai to just fucking man up and accept the small criticism; but with the scene where Director Gori and Washimi talk about Anai, it made me understand more about why he is like that. I still want Anai to develop on his work ethics rather his personal beliefs since he has come to the point of reaching in Adulthood. My thoughts c:

[@KichiMiangra]

To be honest I figured that the issue had something to do with the pressures laid onto young people in Japanese society but I can say that I found the plot line with Anai to be the most frustrating story line of season 2 from the perspective of myself; a western viewer in her 20's. It felt like the moral to the story line was that one should be encouraging to new hires, which is good, I agree with this, but the way it's portrayed (Using the Hippo mom and how she handled it correctly) is that the correct way is to baby new hires (Her voice really didn't help at all though because she always sounds like she's talking to a baby). His reaction may have felt more warranted had Retsuko been a little more abrasive with him, not out of character levels, just a bit more. As someone who's worked bullshit jobs and has been put on training new people I know the feeling of having to teach someone who seemingly can't handle the simplest jobs (Like answering a telephone) no matter how many times you try to teach them. I currently work with someone who gives me high blood pressure because they can't even handle mopping while NOT walking on the floor they just mopped while doing it and I want to strangle him sometimes! Acting out would be bad and unprofessional though so I don't. Unfortunately we see Retsuko portrayed in a way where she's seemingly being as gentle as possible with him without infantilizing him only to have him severly overreact which makes it so hard to even like him. I would have loved to see the moral to be something about finding/making your own happiness even in your current life (I.E. Anai selling bentos at his salary job instead of opening a resturant or something, making you more reasonable job life connect with what makes you happy) But the only moral I get from it is 'Tone Policing'/Baby new people/Anai will set you on fire in your sleep I swear.

[@idahofur]

Thank you for explaining more about Japanese culture. I figured he was young and inexperienced at a lot of things (Experience real life.). I was waiting for the episode of him finding his flow. Once he found that. He backed off of everything. Also thanks to the Kabae. I noticed they all tried something different. Then we always have a chance he wouldn't find his flow. Sometimes that happens at certain jobs and you just go out and find another one.

[@21_315]

Anai is a cool dude

[@StarlitSwamp]

Thanks for your very interesting analysis of Anai's character ! I wasn't familiar with the different work ethics in Japan, so that bit of explanation about the harsh reality of shukatsu made the PTSD hypothesis very plausible. You know, I was prepared to really dislike Anai because he initially came across as an uptight, confrontational jerk, but I unexpectedly found myself empathizing with him over the great emotional stress he was under, though for other reasons pertaining to my personal situation. As someone on the autism spectrum, I've always struggled a lot in work environments, even though I had no difficulty learning the theory. Part of that is due to my reasoning process differing from the norm, causing me to focus mainly on details and fail to see the bigger picture. It often left me confused as to why a task must be done a certain way and how I was supposed to remember all the steps in the correct order, while everybody else seemed to just get it. Seeing Anai repeat the same mistake over and over when attempting to answer the phone reminds me of a time when I worked in an office and had the same problem. The person in charge of my training tried to show me how it was done several times, but it went in one ear and out the other because I still couldn't make sense of it, plus talking on the phone invariably made me panic and forget everything I was going to say. Like Retsuko, they eventually gave up and offered to do it in my place, but that didn't really help when I ended up losing yet another job. It's hard not to become a little defensive and paranoid when it seems as though your entire workplace thinks you're hopelessly incompetent, and yet you know you could do great if you just had a chance to understand how all the pieces fit together. I don't exactly have Anai's anger issues, but I can strongly relate to his anxiety, as I'm prone to tearful meltdowns when I feel antagonized. In those moments, my mind goes blank, which makes it impossible to express myself in a coherent manner. So if someone offends me, I need a while to process how I feel and why, and it's only once I've managed to organize my thoughts that I'm able to describe them accurately, preferably in written form detailing my point of view, lest I lose my composure in person. So Anai's series of long text messages struck another chord with me, especially when we got to see the contrast between the matter-of-fact wording of their content and the state of complete panic Anai was actually in as he wrote them. Difficulty reading people is another thing that can cause someone to be on-edge and frustrated. It kind of strikes me that Anai rarely seems to have a clue about how others are feeling and what is actually expected of him. Aside from that whole excessive urge to protect himself against potential abuse when he joined the company, he seemed genuinely taken aback when Retsuko explained that she had only taken over the phone duty in an effort to take some pressure off his shoulders. When Haida confronted him for letting Retsuko organize the event all by herself, Anai's point of view was that she didn't want him around and wouldn't involve him. Even after things started going much better for him, there was also the time when Retsuko's collegues were frantically trying to figure out how to welcome her back without alluding to the news article about her and Tadano, and then Anai just walked in and made them all cringe by saying exactly the wrong thing (prompting Kabae, of all people, to lament that "he doesn't know what to do"). I've often found myself in situations where I was supposed to take some kind of initiative (like helping someone without being asked), but I was completely oblivious of the correct thing to do and it falsely gave the impression that I didn't care. Countless times, something I said was interpreted as insensitive or inappropriate, even though, from my perspective, I was only being objective. So early on, I started masking my true personality a lot and walking on egg shells all the time, which effectively resulted in less offended reactions from people in general, but in crippling anxiety and exhaustion on my end. And still, the social awkwardness manifests and baffles somebody now and then. I'm no chef, but like Anai, I do have particular hobbies that I'm very passionate about and that people tell me I'm actually good at. The joy he finds in cooking, and the way his whole personality drastically changes then, resonates with me on an oddly deep level. All that being said, I don't think Anai was intended to represent an autistic worker, but as somebody who is, I identify with him more than with any other character on this show (including Resasuke, surprisingly).

[@extorchic]

Well he was...creepy, to say the least; but I gotta say, I kinda felt related to him. He reminded me of myself back when I started working as a teacher, I was quite defensive until I managed to act confidently around my bosses and co-workers. I guess it takes time to build that rapport. Now, it doesn't mean that his actions are automatically justified, I still think he overdid it dramatically. On the other hand, to me, Retsuko's attitude was unintentionally insensitive. Sure she was kindly trying to help, but failed to connect - I consider - because a) she was dealing with her own personal stuff b) she had been appointed to the task in an unpleasant context (kind of as a punishment or harrassment by Ton) and c) her own self-perspective as a subordinate, not only to Ton, but to her other seniors (such as the Komodo dragon lady whose name I can't remember, or even Gori and Washimi to some extent). Despite having been on the job for five years, she (sort of) still sees herself as a junior (at least to me), so she's unfit to handle her own juniors. Of course, Anai also did manage to harrow his superiors, but because this was out of defensiveness, the leading but tender touch that a mother (such as Kabae) can provide is what he felt more accostumed to (as he is fresh out of college, just starting to be independent). He of course also needed approval, as a way to start breaking the ice, I guess.

[@therapyfornerds6020]

Wow, thank you for bringing his character into a better perspective.

[@kellbellsparkles]

I always believed he was at least gifted and praised too much and not prepared for the real world but this is just depressing.

[@bluestormpony]

Praised to much hell the fuck no. The way he acts it sounds like he was never praised at all. He is all too used to being told he is inadequate. And when it seemed like it was happening again. He lost it

[@DenMotherArkala]

I always saw Anai as extremely anxious and in need of a gentle, guiding hand to help him get used to ‘adulting.’ It - adulting - is a lot more than they teach in cram schools and universities. He never developed those skills with the mad race of trying to land a salaried job. While I never condoned his actions and thought he was out of control, I also related to his extreme anxieties. My heart genuinely went out to him in a way, so I was so, so happy when Kabae became his Work Mom and opened the floodgates for him. 💝

[@Cotton_Candy.__]

0:12 Anai is my favorite character tho 😭😭

[@Rainbowthehedgehog]

I used to not like Anai at first cuz of how he was threatening Retsuko but after watching the scene where he's so calm cooking his lunch, made me realize it's like his safe place. And I will admit, that scene where he kept getting nervous at answering the phone was really relatable cuz I also had trouble doing that when I started working at the retail store I work at currently. He couldn't stand the pressure he was going through and he wanted to be reassigned that everything is gonna be okay. Kabae was very genuine and gave him the comfort and support he needed the whole time.

[@hayleyblanch5895]

i initially despised anai. he's everything i hate: a petulant, stroppy manchild who refuses to take accountability for his actions and acts threateningly to anyone who steps on his toes. when retsuko talked about him to washimi and gori, i was initially super annoyed with how the show was trying to send a message that anai's behaviour should be retsuko's responsibility. but this show kinda taught me a lesson. people like anai are difficult, but the main reason for my hatred was because i was afraid of people like him. i'm scared to be walking around on eggshells around people who are aggressive. but it never really occurred to me that anai, and people like him, are also scared. hell, they're terrified. and if the right person just shows them a bit of kindness, helps them come out of their shell, people like anai can find their place and be more tolerable people. it's reassuring to know that :')

[@idkwatoput4206]

You just completely changed my perspective on Anai.

[@KyProRen]

Whatever reasons you have on calling him "sympathetic" I still can't get over how he talked back to his boss and DIDN'T GET FIRED FOR IT!!! Seriously, am I the only one who had a problem with that? Talking back to your boss is against the rules of ANY work environment, even if you don't agree with the boss' methods. I know what you're thinking; "Didn't Retsuko insult her boss to his face?" ...well 'yeah', she did... but she did it while *everybody else was drunk* so nobody even remembers what she said to him that night so she got away with it. This guy on the other hand just got confrontational to almost everyone (even his superiors) which should've had him fired.

[@KyProRen]

@@tigrerojo9685 You're making that up.

[@rebeccabirch6130]

Coming from an American perspective, and having had coworkers like Anai here, the cultural context you provided was a gamechanger in how I looked at Anai. I initially saw him as... Well, I'm not 100% sure. I've worked with people similar, who have used the most asinine things as leverage against their coworkers, but never to the extreme level that Anai did. Not to mention it was always for reasons other than "protecting" themselves, as Anai says. I suppose I approached him by trying to fit him into the mold of an entitled kid trying to manipulate his fellow workers, but after seeing this and going back to watch a few of his scenes again, you're right, and my interpretation of him doesn't fit. It's so interesting to me how the cultural context really makes or breaks this- I wonder if there are any other characters suffering from this lack of contextual knowledge?

[@CaitlinKoi]

Fantastic video! That was very informative... But wow that's depressing. In terms of my opinion after hearing all of this, Anai is still an awful person. I somehow doubt Haida or Fenneko or Retsuko or any of the characters we know harassed their coworkers to even the smallest criticism, filed over dramatic complaints twisting the truth to their fragile ego, and being an unhelpful nuisance to every single coworker, even the boss, when they were starting out. All of the office workers conceivably went through the same brutal system. Anai is the one that came into the work force an insufferable, unhelpful, dipicable piece of shit that needed a mommy to cool him down. It's just a show, but I feel passionate about it becaus I've known "Anai's" in real life. A rough youth is no reason to be a reprehensible waste of pay roll.

[@N3RDYG0GGLES]

As someone with strong anxiety and who is on the autism spectrum, I actually got a strong autism/aspergers vibe from him to an extent. He displays many common (though not universal) traits like social anxiety, being easily stressed and not mixing well with others, the highly formal and rambly way he types out emails could even be considered it to an extent. There’s also his potential special interests in rap/techno music and cooking, and upon starting to be a nicer character he displays difficulty with understanding social conventions, especially in the driver’s license photo bit XD oh honey. Basically it’s interesting because at least in the west where there might be less of that type of student/worker you described, a lot of people in that situation end up so because they grew up struggling to cope with the busy world and aren’t always good at making friends even if they do well academically. We also have the added stress of potential workplace discrimination in which someone could easily become that high strung out of fear that the disabled workers would be the first to be fired. That being said I do agree as well with your video’s theory as it makes a hell of a lot of sense. At this point either could be true and it just makes me happy to see that Anai ended up in a better position and acting more likeable over time, because it’s good to have a character with those traits being liked even if they’re not stated to be neurodivergent in any way.

[@bluestormpony]

Eyup

[@lizardfishbird]

As someone with diagnosed PTSD, being mentally ill doesn’t give a person the right to make life miserable for others and treat them like shit. I can understand where he’s coming from, but that doesn’t make it okay

[@fishushu]

Truth is many people in Japan get to find their place in a sort of same road Anai is taking. Comig out of the years of school crunch is hard and expectations are extremely high even after the young adults are hired, so his PTSD would make sense. The way Anai starts to see a light by making and selling bentos to his coworkers is how many a number of youngsters make a little extra money and slowly find their place with what they want in life and what they truly like. I can see Anai some years ahead with a friend or two opening a small place of his own, just like many people find their way with writing books, drawing, singing etc, doing what they like on the side until they can get a hold of their own lives.

[@chaoticcranium]

It's interesting you say that people in Japan almost never get fired. In that case, its interesting to me, because Anai's highly defensive, paranoid behavior is even more understandable and almost (keyword ALMOST) justifiable in the white collar American workplace - where job security is nonexistent, and especially if you live in an at-will employment state. That very fact instills an inherent existential anxiety on the employee. When your very livelhood is subject to the whims and wills of capricious bosses, ever changing office politics, or seemingly random executive initiatives, rather than your own merit as an employee, can you even blame some of the tactics he's taking, like quoting office policies or even recording conversations (only with permission, though)? Sometimes, for the introverted and isolated, you have to become your own lawyer just to survive. Of course, Anai is in the wrong here because he is defensive and officious to the extreme, completely unreceptive to polite constructive criticism, and attacking people who are genuinely trying to reach out and help him, and just making everyone's lives harder. But at least I can understand and even relate to his mentality about it, even as a pawn of a corporate system on the other side of the globe.

[@weebsquit347]

To me Anai is a kid that made it to the job. All that hard work paid off, but even the job has it's problems, especially with the past he went through. He's in a brand new world, scared and feeling the pressure of fitting in, feeling like he doesn't belong anywhere. Who knows what happened to him to be overly cautious.