The sixth episode of the Ijiranaide anime, Nagatoro-san surprised his audience with clear references to classic Japanese RPG games (like Dragon Quest), as well as a very obvious nod to Super Mario Bros. But those aren’t the only references Nanashi ( 744), the author of the series, has included it in his manga (and therefore in the anime).
1. Hajime no Ippo
Nagatoro is a skilled practitioner of martial arts and contact sports. In one of her meetings with her senpai, she demonstrates her boxing prowess, emulating cartoons from the sports series Hajime no Ippo. She even the senpai joins in, using a technique from said series.
2. Junji Ito / Junji Inagawa
During the episode where Nagatoro’s friends participate in a haunted house attraction, Yoshi briefly mentions the name ‘Junji’. She refers to the acclaimed horror mangaka Junji Ito, well known for his twisted and terrifying stories. Although some point out that it is the actor Junji Inagawa, recognized for his roles in Japanese horror films.
3. Dragon Ball
When Nagatoro decides to train the senpai so that she has more resistance, they do a dynamic that seems to everyone to be the Fusion technique seen in Dragon Ball. Yoshi herself (who was passing by) thinks the same when she discovers them training together. In the anime, two shots show the senpai imagining a merger between Yoshi and Nagatoro (Yoshitoro? Nagashi?).
4. Shingeki no Kyojin
When the senpai decides to participate in the school festival to promote the art club, the president suddenly appears and intimidates the senpai. How much? She then to the point of imagining her as a titan that devours him, in the same way that she saw herself in Shingeki no Kyojin. In the manga, the senpai imagines Nagatoro and his friends as titans, who harass him when they discover that he can pull the year.
5. Dragon Quest
The popular Japanese RPG game that revolutionized the genre by featuring never-before-seen mechanics in its time is mentioned in Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san. And he seems to be senpai’s favorite.
6. One Piece
Senpai’s talents include his aptitude for drawing manga. And Nagatoro is his muse, something his friends find hilarious when they discover the manga that senpai draws. When they make fun of him, they subtly mention the One Piece series; under another name, of course.
7. Heavy clothing
This is a reference to a very typical element in various manga and shonen anime. The use of very heavy accessories (such as clothing) to increase the strength and speed of the wearer. This has been seen in Dragon Ball, Naruto, Prince of Tennis, and other series.
Social Media Author: [RonLaoHu]
