High Score Girl

Synopsis

In 1991, sixth grader Haruo Yaguchi is a total no hoper. He’s not smart, he’s not handsome, and to be honest he’s not even very nice. The only talent he has in life is that he’s insanely good at video games. However, even this small talent is about to be stripped away from him by an unexpected challenger. Akira Ono is his polar opposite - an elegant, wealthy girl from an elite family who is popular and gets good grades. Worst of all, she is even better than him at video games, beating him a record 30 times at Street Fighter II. Haruo is at a loss, he just can’t beat Akira at any game the arcade has to offer and she keeps following him around just to trounce him wherever he goes! Through their continued sparring the pair begin to develop something like a relationship…

Anime Adaptation

High Score Girl is adapted from the ‘90s themed manga written and illustrated by Rensuke Oshikiri and published in Monthly Big Gangan since 2010. An anime adaptation was announced in Monthly Big Gangan in December 2017 with the TV anime confirmed in March 2018. The first season began airing on July 13, 2018. The opening theme for the first season is “New Stranger” by sora tob sakana, with Etsuko Yakushimaru performing the ending theme "Hokago Distraction.”

Characters

Haruo Yaguchi (Voiced by: Kouhei Amasaki)

Birthday: June 1, 1979
Blood type: O
Haruo Yaguchi is a hopeless young boy who is not talented academically, not very attractive, and not really very nice. Calling himself “Beastly Fingers Haruo,” he’s committed himself to polishing his only real skill - playing video games. Travelling to the arcade every day, he continues to improve but meets his match in classmate Akira who is everything he is not.

Akira Ono (Voiced by: Sayumi Suzushiro)

Birthday: Oct. 10, 1979
Blood type: O
Daughter of an elite family, Akira Ono is beautiful, clever, and popular - the polar opposite of Haruo. She plays video games to escape her strict family environment and has developed exceptional skills. Akira never speaks and communicates solely through gestures and facial expressions. Despite their ongoing rivalry, she eventually bonds with Haruo through their shared love of gaming.

Koharu Hidaka (Voiced by: Yuki Hirose)

Birthday: April 4, 1979
Blood Type: A
A classmate of Haruo’s, Koharu Hidaka is a mild-mannered girl who idolizes Haruo’s free-spirited nature. She begins to break out of her shell after bonding with Haruo over the Neo Geo MVS installed outside her family’s store.

Kotaro Miyao (Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu)

Kotaro Miyao is Haruo’s best friend at school. He also likes arcades, but not as much as Haruo, and has more social skills, even becoming popular with the ladies and being quick to pick up on the romantic drama among his friends.

Genta Doi (Voiced by: Daiki Yamashita)

Genta Doi is a classmate of Haruo’s. He’s good looking, but somewhat intolerant and not popular with the girls.

Chihiro Onizuka (Voiced by: Daria Mido)

Chihiro Onizuka was Haruo’s classmate through elementary and middle school before going to the all-girls high school with Koharu.

Namie Yaguchi (Voiced by: Satomi Arai)

Namie Yaguchi is Haruo’s mother and is always supportive of her son even if sometimes strict. She’s quite petite and looks young though her real age is unclear.

Moemi Goda (Voiced by: Shizuka Ito)

Moemi Goda is Akira’s governess who instructs her in all the “feminine arts” in an effort to make sure she is worthy to inherit the Ono estate. An absolute authoritarian, Moemi is against any kind of fun which creates tension within the Ono family.

Ziiya (Voiced by: Cho)

Ziiya is the Ono family’s butler and is charged with looking after Akira, driving her to and from school and making sure she stays safe.

Makoto Ono (Voiced by: Chinatsu Akasaki)

Makoto Ono is Akira’s older sister. She loves Akira very much.

Teacher (Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita)

Haruo’s elementary school teacher. He is very excitable and quick to anger.

Mr. Numata (Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura)

Mr. Numata is Haruo’s middle school guidance counsellor. He looks like a character from a fighting game.

Ms. Tono (Voiced by: Kana Ueda)

Ms. Tono is Haruo’s middle school teacher. At first glance she has a kind of cool beauty, but…

Koharu’s Father (Voiced by: Taketora)

Koharu’s father owns a liquor store and has installed an arcade cabinet out front.

Broadcast Information

Japan

• Tokyo MX: Every Friday late night at 12:30 am starting July 13
• MBS: Every Friday late night at 2:55 am starting July 13
• ATV: Every Monday late night at 3:28 am starting July 23
• BS11: Every Friday late night at 12:30 am starting July 13

• Website (Japanese)
• Twitter (Japanese)

• Original Creator: Rensuke Oshikiri
• Director: Yoshinobu Yamakawa
• Series Composition: Tatsuhiko Urahata
• Character Designer: Mitsuru Kuwahata (SMDE)
• CG Director: Yusuke Suzuki (SMDE)
• Character Model Director: Eri Sekido (SMDE)
• Art Director: Akira Suzuki
• Color Designer: Miho Kumira
• Director of Photography: Shingo Fukuyo
• Editor: Kentaro Tsubone (Real-T)
• Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
• Music: Yoko Shimomura
• Sound Production: Magic Capsule
• CGI Production: Tomoyasu Sakakibara (SMDE)
• CGI: SMDE
• Animation Production: J.C.Staff
• Opening Theme: “New Stranger” by sora tob sakana
• Ending Theme: “Hokago Distraction” by Etsuko Yakushimaru