History YMMV / Higehiro

** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons to ''Manga/{{Metamorphosis}}'', implying that she could have easily gone down a similar path of drugs, exploitation and abuse had it not been for Yoshida's intervention.[[/labelnote]]

** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons to ''Manga/Metamorphosis'', implying that she could have easily gone down a similar path of drugs, exploitation and abuse had it not been for Yoshida's intervention.[[/labelnote]]

** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons to a certain [[TearJerker tragic]] doujin, implying that she could have easily gone down a similar path of drugs, exploitation and abuse had it not been for Yoshida's intervention.[[/labelnote]]

* SpiritualSuccessor: Look closer, and ''Higehiro'' is basically the 1990 Romantic {{Dramedy}} Classic ''Film/PrettyWoman'' turned on its head. Like Vivian (played by Creator/JuliaRoberts), Sayu is a down on her luck girl fleeing from an abusive family who survives by selling her body; however, instead of her being saved by a wealthy millionaire like Vivian was by Edward (played by Creator/RichardGere) it is ''Sayu'' who is the wealthy UptownGirl who is saved by [[TheEveryman Yoshida, a financially average everyman hero]] who ''starts'' the story with an already-unflinching moral compass (unlike Edward who had to re-learn how to love from Vivian). And although Yoshida ''also'' teaches Sayu to see value in herself ''beyond'' her ability to sexually satisfy men, aside from the occasional brotherly embrace, ''never'' becomes intimate with her. Rather than making Sayu a woman in his idealized image like the PygmalionPlot that ''Film/PrettyWoman'' (and ''Film/MyFairLady'' that inspired it) was, Yoshida saves her by re-teaching her to be a happy child by ''reconciling'' with the past of her abusive family rather than leaving it behind, so she can grow up to be her own woman.
[[/labelnote]]

** The OP [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GMar6F_ovY "Omoide Shiritori"]] also counts.

** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons of a certain [[TearJerker tragic]] doujin .
%%* TheWoobie: Sayu herself.

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: More like Audience Alienating '''Title''', which in the lead up to release led a lot of people to think the series was a sleazy Hentai instead of the heartwarming drama it actually is.

** The ED [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCkpLP5h8gw&ab_channel=GAccelKun "Plastic Smile"]], sung by [[DoItYourselfThemeTune Mishima's]] [[Creator/KaoriIshihara voice actor]], is a catchy song for the series.

* TheWoobie: Sayu herself.

* DuelingWorks: With ''Koikimo'', another series about the relationship between a 17 year old {{Joshikousei}} and {{Salaryman}} ten years her senior, whose anime adaptation aired on the very same day.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The series has a polarising reputation in native Japan, with an even mix of watchers who are either receptive or repulsed by it. Reception in the West is more welcoming, with the anime adaptation being highly rated within the Spring 2021 lineup.

* TheWoobie: Sayu Herself.

** The OP [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GMar6F_ovY "Omoide Shiritori]] also counts.

** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons of a certain [[TearJerker tragic]] doujin .[[/labelnote]]

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The ED [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCkpLP5h8gw&ab_channel=GAccelKun "Plastic Smile"]], sung by [[DoItYourselfThemeTune Mishima's]] [[Creator/KaoriIshihara voice actor]], is a catchy song for the series.

** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons of a certain [[TearJerker tragic]] doujin .[[/labelnote]]
* ValuesDissonance: Partially subverted in regards to cultural differences. It’s fairly popular in the West, but the age gap between Yoshida and Sayu [[spoiler: and the ending that implies a budding romance between the two after Sayu graduates high school]] may still raise eyebrows. Oddly enough, it’s more controversial in Japan not because of the age gap, but because Yoshida is explicitly breaking the law by harboring Sayu, a minor, in his home.

** ValuesDissonance: Partially subverted in regards to cultural differences. It’s fairly popular in the West, but the age gap between Yoshida and Sayu [[spoiler: and the ending that implies a budding romance between the two after Sayu graduates high school]] may still raise eyebrows. Oddly enough, it’s more controversial in Japan not because of the age gap, but because Yoshida is explicitly breaking the law by harboring Sayu, a minor, in his home.

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** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons of a certain [[TearJerker tragic]] doujin .[[/labelnote]]

* IKnewIt: With how the opening shows a girl standing on a rooftop then cuts to a pair of glasses falling, many guessed that Sayu's trama was caused by [[spoiler: her friend committing suicide]].

* BaseBreakingCharacter:
** Sayu Ogiwara, big time. Some find her promiscuity disturbing while the rest find her as TheWoobie.
** Airi Gotou, on a minor note.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The ED [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCkpLP5h8gw&ab_channel=GAccelKun Plastic Smile]], sung by [[DoItYourselfThemeTune Mishima's]] [[Creator/KaoriIshihara voice actor]], is a catchy song for the series.

** 177013[[labelnote:Explanation]]Sayu's backstory instantly drew comparisons of a certain [[Tearjerker tragic]] doujin .[[/labelnote]]

** Airi Gotou, on a minor note.

** Sayu Ogiwara, Big Time.