The Dangers In My Heart anime is a realistic take on romantic relationships in Japan
The arrival of the Winter 2024 animated season marked the highly anticipated arrival of Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Season 2, better known as The Dangers In My Heart Season 2. With the airing of its first episodes, this series continues to captivate a wide audience in Japan.
Moreover, in the United States too, the series is popular and is still positioned in the top 3 most watched anime per week in January 2024. Let's analyze why this anime is so successful.
What is The Dangers In My Heart about now?
The Dangers In My Heart tells the story of Ichikawa, a middle school student with chuunibyou (a term for a teenager who has delusions of grandeur, a burning desire to distinguish himself, and who is convinced that he has hidden knowledge or secret powers), and Anna Yamada, a tall and beautiful teenager who works as a model and appears regularly on television. Despite a noticeable difference in height and personality, Yamada is madly in love with Ichikawa, and their relationship is marked by sweetness and complicity.
The realistic behavior and situations are such that we naturally become attached to the characters as their relationship evolves, according to Japanese fans.
The Golden Age of Romantic Anime
For a few years now, the Japanese animation industry seems to have grasped the potential of love stories to captivate fans. Almost all major manga focused on romance are adapted into anime, a trend I welcome with enthusiasm.
For Winter 2024 alone, there are at least 11 romantic series such as Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun Season 2, Tales of Wedding Rings, A Sign Of Affection, The Demon Prince of Momochi House, 7th Time Loop – The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life, Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!, The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil, Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp, Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!, Meitou Isekai no Yu Kaitakuki: Around 40 Onsen Mania no Tensei Saki wa, Nonbiri Onsen Tengoku deshita and Urusei Yatsura Season 2 to name a few. And I'm not even talking about the other shows in which there is romance.
Romance series are popular for several reasons
They allow viewers to support two people in their quest for love.
Love stories offer endless narrative possibilities.
They often focus on introverted characters, which makes them very approachable
. We identify more easily with characters looking for love because it's a daily life that is close to us.
They are conducive to comedy and slice of life, thus creating a feel good series.
They offer different types of fan service, both emotional and visual.
The Importance of Blood Type in Anime
An interesting aspect of The Dangers In My Heart is the emphasis on blood types, a popular belief in Japan. In one scene, Yamada asks Ichikawa to guess his blood type, a question that raises personality stereotypes.
In Japan, it is often thought that a person's blood type influences their personality. This belief, despite having no scientific basis, remains a fun part of popular culture, much like astrological signs in the West.
Without going into detail, here is the breakdown of the four blood types in Japan:
Type A: Responsible, organized, stubborn, and/or potty trained.
Type B: Passionate, imaginative, lives life at his own pace and KY (Kuuki ga Yomenai, e.g. bad at reading social situations). They are widely seen as selfish.
Type O: Optimistic, outgoing, flexible, usually a natural leader.
Type AB: Mysterious, curious and unpredictable. They are portrayed as having split personalities and do not show their true feelings.
Teenage Romantic Relationships in The Dangers In My Heart
The Dangers In My Heart offers a glimpse into teenage relationships in Japan, blending romance, personal development, and exploring the complex social interactions of this period of life that shapes the adult in the making. The anime brilliantly illustrates how young people navigate their relationships while discovering their own identity.
A subject that attracts the attention of the Japanese at a time when social relations are quite complex.
Male-female relationships in Japan are a real social issue: 60% of Japanese Gen Z are indifferent to the idea of remaining single for life
Whether you're following The Dangers In My Heart or you're just curious about how blood types can influence personalities, this anime is a fascinating window into teenage romantic relationships in Japan and the popular culture surrounding them.
The anime series The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 (Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Season 2) debuted on January 6, 2024 and has a total of 13 episodes in Japan.
© SAKURAI Norio / Akita Shoten / Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Project
