Tsubasa Shiki, an overachieving but rather sheltered sixteen-year-old from Tokyo, has come to live with his grandmother in Hokkaido. Not quite appreciating how far apart towns are in the country, he gets off the taxi at the next town over from his destination, so he can see the sights around his home. But he is shocked when he learns the “next town“ is 3 hours walk away, which is an even bigger problem because it’s the middle of winter. While waiting for the bus, he meets and befriends a cheerful and outgoing Dosanko (born and raised in Hokkaido) gal named Minami Fuyuki, who is braving -8°C (17°F) weather in the standard gyaru outfit of short skirt and bare legs! Not only is the City Mouse Tsubasa in for a Fish out of Water experience, but with Minami he’s going to have his first adventure in young love.
Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! (Dosanko Gyaru wa Namaramenkoi) is a shonen romantic comedy manga by Kai Ikada. The manga started being released for free on Shōnen Jump+ in 2019. The English version followed a year later on Manga Plus.
An anime television series adaptation by co-produced by SILVER LINK. and Blade (on behalf of Pony Canyon) premiered on 9 January 2024 on TV Tokyo.
This manga provides examples of:
- Art Shift: For many big moments in the manga, especially Scenery Porn, the manga will switch from its normal black and white to full color.
- Ascended Extra: Erika Nitori is seen several times in early chapters in a voiceless role and in background shots barely in panel. Some 90 chapters later she's formaly introduced as Minami's lifelong best friend since kindergarten. Tsubasa doesn't even recognize her despite this and sharing a class with her.
- Big Damn Kiss: Minami lays one on Tsubasa in the middle of a snow covered park as the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve.
- Bland-Name Product:
- While local Hokkaido brands and specialties are specified by name, Sayuri's portable game console is still called a Witch.
- The boys in Tsubasa's school trip group talk about playing Smash Plus and MonFan.
- Creator Cameo: Opening theme singer Masayoshi Ōishi
and composer Sōnosuke Takao appear in Episode 11 where they perform the series' opening theme live in-universe. - Exposed to the Elements: A gyaru like Minami doesn't get bothered by the cold, despite wearing short skirts during the snowing winter.
- Fish out of Water: The premise. Take a sheltered boy from Tokyo and stick him in rural Hokkaido.
- Freudian Trio: The three main girls form one.
- Rena is the Superego.
- Sayuri is the Ego.
- Minami is the Id.
- Gamer Chick: Games are Sayuri's passion. She packs a Nintendo Switch equivalent on a class skiing trip.
- Gyaru Girl: Minami Fuyuki, the titular gal, dyes her hair blonde, wears short skirts in winter, and doesn't wear gloves so she can still use her phone.
- Love Epiphany: Sayuri realizes the depth of her own feelings for Tsubasa after realizing that he may have feelings for Minami. The realization brings her to tears.
- Mum Looks Like a Sister: As per trope name, Tsubasa first thinks Minami's mom is her older sister.
- My Beloved Smother: Tsubasa's mother tries to control every aspect of his life and behavior from birth. He starts getting away from this after he moves to Hokkaido, but he is ever fearful that he will be dragged back to Tokyo and be under her thumb again.
- Once an Episode: Each chapter begins with a small piece of trivia about Hokkaido's geography, history, or culture.
- Phoneaholic Teenager: Minami doesn't wear gloves in winter so she can still use her phone.
- Scenery Porn: One part Romantic Comedy, one part Hokkaido travelogue. As such we are treated to many examples of glorious artwork featuring various places in Hokkaido.
- Ski-Resort Episode: Episode 3 highlights the whole class spending a full day in a ski resort.
- Starving Student: Minami's university student cousin Kana self-describes herself as one. Although given that she owns her own car and motorcycle, she's probably exaggerating.
- Theme Naming: The main characters all seem to be named after the seasons of the year.
- Tsubasa's family name, Shiki (四季), translates to "four seasons".
- Minami's family name, Fuyuki (冬木), translates to "winter tree".
- Sayuri's family name, Akino (秋野), translates to "autumn field".
- Rena's family name, Natsukawa (夏川), translates to "summer river".
- Wham Episode: Chapter 100. Minami and Tsubasa officially become a romantic couple.
- You Must Be Cold: Flipping the usual dynamic, Minami offers Tsubasa a blanket during his first day of classes.
