Student Days

Seishun Anime Zenshuu (translated as Animated Classics of Japanese Literature for its English release) is a 1986 anthology series that retold well-known stories from modern Japanese literature. It's very much in the mold of its contemporaries, the World Masterpiece Theater series. Most of the 34 episodes were standalone, although there were a few two- and three-parters. The show was licensed by Central Park Media, but the English version was left incomplete when CPM went bankrupt. Only twelve episodes were released on DVD:

• Episode 1: The Izu Dancer by Kawabata Yasunari. 
• Episodes 2,3: The Sound of Waves by Mishima Yukio.
• Episodes 7,8: Botchan by Souseki Natsume.
• Episode 10: The Dancing Girl by Ougai Mori.
• Episode 14: Growing Up by Higuchi Ichiyou.
• Episode 16: A Ghost Story by Lafcadio Hearn.
• Episode 20: Season of the Sun by Ishihara Shintarou.
• Episodes 25,26: The Harp of Burma by Takeyama Michio.
• Episode S1 (33): Student Days by Kume Masao.

This time, we're releasing the concluding episode in the CPM release, Student Days by Kume Masao. It is based on the short story "Notes of an Exam Taker" from the collection Student Days, published in 1918. The remaining story, The Harp of Burma, will be released in April, after the series translator returns and clears up a few points.

The story focuses on the intense competition to get into Daiichi Koutou Gakkou (First Higher School), usually shortened to Ichiko. It was an elite Meiji-era prep school that served as a gateway to Tokyo Imperial University. It was regarded as the most prestigious educational path in Japan. Kenkichi is an aspiring entrant who has already failed the test once. 

He has taken a room at his older sister's house to escape the distractions of Taisho-era Japan, but they find him anyway, particularly a beautiful young woman named Sumiko, his sister's cousin by marriage. 

Some of his friends have given up: Matsui has settled for a provincial school in Kanazawa,

and Sato has retreated into drinking and merrymaking. 

Then, Kenkichi learns that his younger brother Kenji intends to take the test, despite ill-health. 

On the fateful day of the exam... well, you'll see.

The voice cast includes:

• Nakao Ryuusei (Kenkichi) played the lead in Igano Kabamaru, King Falke in ACCA, Hephaestion in Alexander's Decision, and Freeza/Cooler in Dragon Ball. He also played Chou of Benten in Usagi-chan de Cue!, Roger Rogers in Plastic Little, Akio in Chameleon, Peat Cullen in AWOL Compression Remix, Yasuo in The Sound of Waves, and Puu in Captain Bal, all Orphan releases.
• Fujii Kayoko (Sumiko) played Saeko Yagami in Bio Armor Ryger, Linda in Kiko Senki Dragonar, Seiryuu in the Mashin Elyuuden Wataru properties, and Emary in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ.
• Kikuchi Masami (Kenji) starred as the male leads in the Tenchi Muyo, Aa! Megami-sama!, and Comic Party franchises. He played Murakami Mamoru in Magma Taishi, Iwayma Genzaburo in Princess Army, Terayama Suekichi in Asatte Dance, Makoto in Doukyuusei 2, Yukino Hiro in Houkago no Tinker Bell, Bunji in Growing Up, and Taira no Kiyomori the younger in Genji, Part 1, and he appeared in Fukuyama Gekijou, all Orphan releases. His "Magma Taishiiiii!" at the end of each preview is unmistakable.
• Ikeda Masako (Kenkichi's older sister) starred as Maetel in the Galaxy Express 999 franchise. She played Perrine's mother in Perrine Monogatari, the phoenix in the Hi no Tori movies, sister Nadoka in Ranma 1/2, Reiko in Ace wo NeraeI, and Nanzi in Eiyuu Banka Koushi-den, an Orphan release.
• Kan Tokumaru (Kenkichi's brother-in-law) played David Ryan in Silent Service, Miller in 2001 Ya Monogatari, Momochi in Black Lion, Kuroyasha in Karasu Tengu Kabuto, Nayuta's father in Nayuta, and Gan Ning in Sangokushi (1985). The last two are Orphan releases.
• Fujimoto Yuzuru (Principal) played Hiyoshi in both reasons of Moyashimon. He voiced the nameless Aoba gang boss in Kasei Yakyoku, the nameless police chief in Twinkle Nora Rock Me, Miyata Terukichi in The Sound of Waves, the Chief Priest in A Ghost Story, and Noah in Tezuka Osamu's Tales from the Old Testament, all Orphan releases
• Suzuoki Hirotaka (Sato) played Bright Noa in Mobile Suit Gundam, Huga Koijiro in Captain Tsubasa, Dragon Shiryu in Saint Seiya, Tenshinhan in Dragonball, Kuno in Ranma ½, Abriel Nei Debrusc Larth Kryb Debeus in the Crest of the Stars franchise, and Saito in Rurouni Kenshin. He appeared in Choujikuu Romanesque Samy: MISSING 99, Ginga Tansa 2100-nen: Border Planet, Sei Michaela Gakuen, and Chiisana Koi no Monogatari, all Orphan releases.
• Tatsuta Naoki (Matsui) played Oolong in the Dragonball franchise, the Cat Bus in My Neighbor Totoro, and Beta in New Dream Hunter Rem. He appeared in every GeGeGe no Kitarou series since 1985 and in Growing Up, One Pound Gospel, Amon Saga and Wolf Guy, all Orphan releases. 
• Otaki Shinya (Tanaka) played Beat in Scoopers. He appeared in Shibuya Honky Tonk, Aoki Honoo, Wolf Guy, Elf ,17, Hoshizora no Violin, Gakkou no Yuurei volume 1, Nessa no Wakusei, and Hi-Speed Jecy, all Orphan releases.
• Kitagawa Takurou (Examiner) played Green Dragon in Dragon Knight and Private Baba in The Harp of Burma. He played Yasuke in A Ghost Story, Hosoki in Meisou-Ou Border and appeared in Utsu no Miko, all Orphan releases.
• Ono Kenichi (Student) played Toujirou in Mikan Enikki, Shiro Shirota in Dai-Guard, Asurada in the Future GPX Cyber Formula franchise, and Touma in Dirty Pair Flash. He played Abe no Yasuna in Akuemon and Sugawara in Kindaichi movie 2, and he appeared in Heavy, AWOL Compression Remix, Bavi Stock, Seikima II Humane Society, Wolf Guy, Shibuya Honky Tonk, and Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, all Orphan releases.

The director, Matsushima Akiko, also directed other (VHS-only) episodes of the series.

One translation note: Daiichi Koutou Gakkou is a mouthful, and the characters always call it Ichiko. The original subs used Ichiko University, but it wasn't a university, it was a pre-university prep school. Likewise, First Higher School drives up line lengths inordinately, so where it won't cause confusion, I've shortened that simply to First,.

The original subtitles are from CPM's R1 release. Perevodildo translation checked. ninjacloud fixed the original timing. I edited and typeset. Paul Geromini and Nemesis QCed. The encoder for the series wishes to remain anonymous. CPM's mastering includes hardsubbed translations for some of the Japanese credits. They are incorrectly timed and don't line up with the Japanese credits, but as hardsubs, they can't be fixed.

Student Days is a contemporary look at Taisho-era society and its pressures for social advancement. It's rather glum, and the ending is seriously downbeat. You can get the show from the usual torrent site.