Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou.

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway

Aired: 2021-04-05

Status: FINISHED

Ratings: 70/100

Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life

Tags: Rehabilitation, Coming of Age, Age Gap, Bullying, Love Triangle, Konbini, Heterosexual, Work, Primarily Adult Cast, Tragedy, Female Harem, Cohabitation, Female Protagonist, Office, Estranged Family, Suicide, Office Lady, Ensemble Cast, Adoption, Tsundere, Rape, Gyaru, Nudity, Time Skip

Total Episodes: 13

Duration: 24 min

Studio: Dream Shift

Source: LIGHT_NOVEL

Format: TV

Season: SPRING

Release Year: 2021

Season No: 1

Director: Tomoya Kamijou

Watch:Twitter, Official Site, Crunchyroll, YouTube

Synopsis

On his way home from drinking his sorrows away after being rejected by his crush, the 26 year old salaryman, Yoshida, finds a high school girl named Sayu sitting on the side of the road. Yoshida is completely drunk out of his mind and ends up letting Sayu stay at his place overnight. Not having the heart to put Sayu out on the streets since she ran away from home, Yoshida allows her to stay at his place... And so began the awkward, irritable, and slightly heartwarming relationship between a runaway high school girl and a salaryman living together. (Source: Crunchyroll)

Trailer

Characters

Sayu Ogiwara

MAIN

Yoshida

MAIN

Asami Yuuki

SUPPORTING

Issa Ogiwara

SUPPORTING

Yuzuha Mishima

SUPPORTING

Sayu no Haha

SUPPORTING

Airi Gotou

SUPPORTING

Hashimoto

SUPPORTING

Kyouya Yaguchi

SUPPORTING

Endou

SUPPORTING

Yuiko Masaka

BACKGROUND

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway – A Heartfelt Exploration of Compassion and Redemption

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway (Japanese: Hige o Soru. Soshite Joshi Kōsei o Hirou), often shortened to Higehiro, is a 2021 anime adaptation of Shimesaba’s romantic drama light novel series, illustrated by booota. Produced by Project No.9, the 13-episode first season, which aired from April 5 to June 28, 2021, captivated audiences with its delicate handling of sensitive themes, nuanced character development, and a narrative that defies typical genre expectations. Far from a conventional romance or ecchi series, Higehiro Season 1 offers a poignant story about human connection, personal growth, and the complexities of caregiving in unconventional circumstances. This article dives into the essence of Higehiro Season 1, exploring its plot, characters, themes, and reception, while reflecting on its unique place in the anime landscape.

Plot Overview

The story follows Yoshida, a 26-year-old salaryman working at a major IT company in Tokyo. After mustering the courage to confess his feelings to his longtime crush and boss, Airi Gotou, Yoshida faces rejection, leading him to drown his sorrows in alcohol with his friend Hashimoto. On his drunken walk home, he encounters Sayu Ogiwara, a teenage girl sitting alone under a lamppost. Sayu, a runaway from Hokkaido, offers to sleep with Yoshida in exchange for a place to stay—a pattern she reveals has sustained her for six months. Despite his inebriated state, Yoshida rejects her advances but allows her to stay the night out of pity.

The next morning, a sobered-up Yoshida learns of Sayu’s troubling past: she has been trading sexual favors for shelter since fleeing her home. Unable to turn her out onto the streets, Yoshida allows her to stay in his apartment on the condition that she handles household chores like cooking and cleaning. What begins as a temporary arrangement evolves into a complex, platonic relationship as Yoshida becomes a guardian figure to Sayu, helping her regain her sense of self-worth and navigate her traumatic past. The season follows their evolving bond, Sayu’s journey toward healing, and the challenges posed by societal perceptions, Yoshida’s coworkers, and Sayu’s family.

Characters: Depth and Nuance

The strength of Higehiro lies in its well-crafted characters, who drive the narrative with their emotional complexity:

• Yoshida: A dedicated and kind-hearted salaryman, Yoshida is the moral anchor of the series. His decision to take in Sayu stems from empathy rather than ulterior motives, and his consistent rejection of her advances underscores his integrity. His own emotional struggles—dealing with rejection and workplace dynamics—make him relatable, while his protective nature toward Sayu casts him as a fatherly figure rather than a romantic interest. Voiced by Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese) and Alex Hom (English), Yoshida’s grounded personality resonates with viewers.
• Sayu Ogiwara: The runaway high school girl, Sayu is a deeply wounded character whose cheerful facade masks profound pain. Her backstory, revealed gradually, includes a traumatic home life and the suicide of her best friend, Yuuko, which her mother unfairly blames her for. Sayu’s survival tactics reflect her desperation, but her time with Yoshida helps her rediscover her agency and innocence. Kana Ichinose (Japanese) and Jill Harris (English) bring emotional depth to her performance.
• Supporting Cast: Characters like Airi Gotou (Yoshida’s mature boss), Yuzuha Mishima (his admiring coworker), Asami (Sayu’s bold friend), and Hashimoto (Yoshida’s supportive friend) enrich the story. Each character adds layers to the narrative, from workplace romance tensions to familial dynamics, creating a sense of community around Sayu.

Themes and Narrative Approach

Higehiro Season 1 tackles heavy themes with surprising sensitivity, distinguishing itself from other anime with similar premises. At its core, the series is about redemption, compassion, and defying societal norms. The dynamic between Yoshida and Sayu subverts expectations of a predatory or romantic relationship, instead focusing on a familial bond akin to a father and daughter or older brother and younger sister. The series explores:

• Healing from Trauma: Sayu’s past, marked by emotional abuse and exploitation, is handled with care. The anime doesn’t shy away from the grim reality of her survival tactics but emphasizes her journey toward reclaiming her dignity. Yoshida’s refusal to exploit her and his efforts to provide a safe space—buying her a futon, encouraging her to get a job—highlight a narrative of empowerment.
• Family of Choice: Rather than a traditional romance, Higehiro portrays a makeshift family. Yoshida, Gotou, Mishima, Asami, and Hashimoto collectively support Sayu, offering her the stability she lacked. This theme resonates in moments where Sayu learns to trust again, particularly through her friendship with Asami and Yoshida’s protective actions.
• Social Commentary: The series critiques societal issues, such as the fetishization of high school girls in Japan and the failures of systems (like family and law enforcement) to protect runaways. It also questions moral ambiguities—what is the “right” thing to do when a runaway has no safe home to return to? Yoshida’s decision to shelter Sayu, while legally questionable, is portrayed as a human response to her plight.

The anime’s tone balances drama and wholesomeness, though some viewers found this blend uneven, as it oscillates between lighthearted moments and heavy emotional beats. Unlike series like Fruits Basket, which separates its drama and comedy, Higehiro intertwines them, creating a unique but occasionally jarring experience.

Production and Reception

Animated by Project No.9, Higehiro boasts solid visuals and a fitting soundtrack. The art style captures the urban setting of Tokyo and the emotional nuances of the characters, though some critics noted that the camera occasionally lingers on Sayu in ways that feel at odds with the story’s intent. The voice acting, particularly in the Japanese and English dubs, is widely praised for conveying the characters’ emotional weight. The series streamed on Crunchyroll, with Muse Communication licensing it for South and Southeast Asia, and an English dub debuted on July 30, 2022.

Reception was polarized but largely positive. The series earned a 7.4/10 on IMDb and ranked 4th in the 2019 Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! bunkobon edition, with over 400,000 copies sold (including digital). Fans appreciated its heartfelt storytelling and Yoshida’s moral stance, with many praising its subversion of a potentially problematic premise. Critics, however, raised concerns about the age gap and the premise’s inherent risks, with some feeling it veered too close to a “schoolgirl grooming fantasy” despite Yoshida’s restraint. Others wished for a deeper exploration of adult life, comparing it to series like Usagi Drop or Barakamon.

Will There Be a Season 2?

As of June 2025, no second season has been confirmed. The light novel series concluded with five volumes in June 2021, and the anime covers most of this material. With the manga ongoing (ending in January 2025), there’s potential for new content, but a second season might require an original story, as the source material is largely exhausted. Viewer ratings and popularity suggest a 50-50 chance for continuation, but no official announcements have surfaced.

Final Thoughts

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway Season 1 is a compelling blend of drama, slice-of-life, and social commentary. It takes a risky premise and transforms it into a story about compassion, personal growth, and the power of chosen family. While not without flaws—its tonal shifts and occasional visual choices drew criticism—the series succeeds in delivering a narrative that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. For viewers seeking a character-driven story that challenges stereotypes and explores human kindness, Higehiro is a standout addition to the 2021 anime season. Available on Crunchyroll and other platforms, it’s a journey worth taking for those willing to embrace its complexities.

Where to Watch: Higehiro Season 1 is available on Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel, and JioHotstar (with ads). Check platforms like JustWatch for current streaming options.