Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu
Where Does Thy Charm Lie, Nogizaka Haruka?
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu has gone past that dramatic arc that was episode 3, but still, I’m loving it. I’ve heard many people (guys and girls like) say that it makes them go “Kyaa~!” or “Awww” with each episode, and I couldn’t agree more. The big grin on my face every time I watch this series serves as the ultimate proof of that. Yuuto and Haruka’s rabu rabu is just too sweet and cute for words. It’s cliché, says the wise anime sages, but it’s good cliché fluff that actually breaks the stereotypical harem genre mold in which it was placed under.
First of all, unlike most spineless harem leads like Bakayuki and Bakoto, Yuuto is such a swell guy, the type whom girls would easily fall for, especially otakus like you and me who actually longs to end up with someone who at least accepts their otaku hobbies, no matter how ludicrous they seem to others. Where else have you seen a guy so brave as to talk to a girl’s yakuza-like father for the sake of defending her otaku hobbies (refer to episode 7)?! That’s Yuuto for you. Also, the supposedly ‘haremettes’ in this series divert from their usual role of (1) giving the lead guy a hard time choosing from among the girls flocking to him, or (2) providing challenges for the OTP to end up together. They even cheer Yuuto x Haruka on!
While Shiina is the closest thing to being Haruka’s rival, I do believe that Yuuto has set his eyes on Haruka right from the start, hence she serves only to fuel more Yuuto x Haruka raburabu. Given that the title features Haruka, it’s but right that she gets the happy ending, otherwise this would’ve been better named “Nogizaka Haruka no Yuutsu (The Melancholy of Nogizaka Haruka)” Sad to say that Shiina’s fate in love has already been sealed off even before the actual fight. No offence, Shiina worshippers 
The loli imouto Mika has also fallen for Yuuto (episode 8), which no longer comes a surprise given his Casanova-qualities. If Yuuto didn’t have glasses and was portrayed to be much more of a smexy bishie, no doubt he’d already be the school’s ultimate heartthrob.
Also, for a change, this series actually shows that not all high-school guys are perverts with boob and older women fetishes, because the sex appeal of the teacher / Yuuto’s sister’s housemate has no effect on them at all. They’re even disgusted by her flirtatious acts lol.
And since I miss doing a character-pimping post (also due to Stripey’s prodding :P), I thought I’d delve into the awesomeness of Haruka-sama and rave about how perfect she is for Yuuto. Foreword: I have nothing against Shiina, and like most people, I find her a good girl, for the lack of a better word. But deep in my heart I believe that Haruka and Yuuto are meant for each other~
Haruka is such a sweetheart. She’s a multi-talented super moe dojikko ojousama, and she’s an otaku. And that, in my opinion, is what sets her apart from most doormat characters like Belldandy and Aoi (of Ai Yori Aoshi). A girl who holds passion for something apart from wanting to serve her master the guy he loves speaks volumes about her sense of identity, dignity, and self-respect.
What’s more admirable about Haruka is that she never lost her otaku passion even after having been ostracized because of this peculiar hobby. After that bitter experience, she could’ve wallowed in self-pity and abandon her otaku hobbies all for the sake of pleasing the majority of society, but no she did not. She became a closet otaku because of people’s unfavorable view on this minority, but still, her steadfast love for anime/manga/etc. persisted on. She’s an Akiba-type and she’s damn proud of that.
And unlike other girls who search for their prince charming in the hopes that they will fill in whatever voids in their sucky life, Haruka was already happy and contented with her own little otaku world. At the back of her mind was that longing for a kindred spirit who will accept her for who she is, but before that fateful encounter happened, she was making the most out of her life, growing healthy in much about every aspect. Winning world-class piano competitions at that.
Haruka might seem like a weak heroine at first, given her really sweet nature, but she proved herself to be both moe and GAR with the feats she has shown us throughout the series. Initially portrayed to be the damsel in distress, protected by Yuuto, we see her transform into a protector who would readily fight for the sake of her friends and for what she believes is right. As we’ve seen in episode 7, she can even stand up against her scary father if need be. And with Yuuto’s GARness, much about every obstacle becomes surmountable.
Her trust in Yuuto is really admirable, exhibited in how she even helps out Shiina, without any traces of malice and jealousy. Then again this could also be because of her naiveness and denseness. She does feel envious at times, like in episode 5, when Yuuto saves Shiina from drowning, but the thoughts running in her mind back then was “It would be great if Yuuto will do that to me too~”, and not “damn Shiina, taking advantage of my Yuuto’s kindness!”. Hence, a few words of assurance from Yuuto was all it took to relieve her of that little sadness.
Haruka also redefines the meaning of being timid and shy. She’s a timid-aggressive type 
She does things oh so subtly, in the guise of friendly invitations and sweet little requests, and in the process she managed to get Yuuto all by herself throughout their dates. Not once have I seen Yuuto inviting Haruka out, it’s always Haruka asking Yuuto to accompany her somewhere. They’ve held hands, embraced, and Haruka is usually the one who made the first move. You go girl!! And remember what she said in episode 3, about Yuuto being the “only thing that she can’t hand over” to anyone? That certainly made me admire her more, as it proved that she’s not the type who’ll easily back down in a fight, especially for Yuuto!
And if there’s one greatest reason why I support Yuuto x Haruka rather than Yuuto x Shiina, it’s because of the simple fact that the bond between Yuuto and Haruka has far more depth than the ‘fateful-pantyshot-encounters bond’ that Shiina holds on to. Yuuto x Haruka goes way way back, as the flashbacks have shown us. I’m just happy that the couple I’m supporting in this anime is the OTP, unlike my horrible shipping experiences in the harem animes I’ve spent my pimping energies to T__T
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17 comments for “Where Does Thy Charm Lie, Nogizaka Haruka?”
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Ah. I’ve been trying to figure out forever why Haruka isn’t incredibly annoying like other pure-moe girls (without a single bad trait) are. It might be as simple as her being an otaku. She likes Yuuto, but she’s not a subservient girl who’s just willing to do everything for him. She has her own hobby, interests, and even a personality because of that.
And yes, Haruka x Yuuto make a great OTP. I don’t think I know what it is specifically about them that’s so wonderful (I think it’s the way they each support each other), but they just…fit.
“we see her transform into a protector who would readily fight for the sake of her friends and for what she believes is right”
and hurl jerks too! she really is strong! I am amazed in such a tiny body…
I haven’t been following this one (the first episode failed to grab me, though the opening was great), but I’ve been pleased to hear so many positive reports about it. Haruka sounds surprisingly well-adjusted for someone with such a ’secret’, but then perhaps that’s part of the show’s point.
I think this is the only harem/ecchi-ish anime that I’ve LOVE. :’p
Most are just totally concentrated on ECCHI, ECCHI, ROMANCE.
Haruka is more on ROMANCE, ROMANCE, ecchi. x’D
Since I’m one to dislike ecchi anime that doesn’t make sense.
I applause to this anime’s wonderfulness. :’D
It’s true too, that every episode just makes you grin or smile uncontrollably.
Also, I agree as well, that she’s NOT totally annoying to the point that I want to bang her face on something solid.
I love Haruka, she’s cute and her naive-ness totally makes me bend to her adorableness.
Yuuto isn’t annoying as those other main male characters we see in most ecchi anime’s. He may be a little pervy, but he always finds a way to stop himself from thinking that way…which is funny.
I dun hate Shiina either, but everything isn’t decided by fate after all. It’s your own will to decide which path you take.
And like you said, Yuuto has his eyes set for Haruka from the start.
So Yuuto x Haruka is my OTP too. ;p
I absolutely loved the opening. I’m also sure that there’s no doubt as to the triumph of Haruka. There’s an unspoken rule that when a character is part of the title of a series he or she will end up triumphant at the end no matter what.
This was what happened to Suzuka. I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen to this series. :v
I can’t really decide between Shiina and Haruka, even if Haruka is the obvious pairing choice.
And I don’t quite believe in “destined encounters” either
Love it, thought it was in the too sweet category at first (it might be). Its just because, like today I was cycling, and cramped up in my calf muscle, but my cousin didn’t come to my rescue, nor did we end up in some fetish BL scene on the breezy river roadside. I just amped up the testosterone, sweat harder, bit the tongue and pushed that last 10k faster; the GAR comes out.
Fortunately, one cannot be 100% GAR, and Haruka appeals to the softness I love in life, but also to the side that admires an individual who pursues a stronger, more assert version of oneself.
That what I see in Haruka, and she is win.
Graaaaaah everyone’s beating me to the “hey NHnH is kind of cool” post. That’s what I get for being lazy and not posting enough. :X
I have to agree with Fuyu in my sentiments that I really should hate Haruka, since moeblobs are hit and miss and otaku girls are not my thing (at least in animated form), but man, she breaks some meter somewhere, I swear, because she is just face-melting adorable.
I have to note that a lot of your points about why Haruka is awesome tend to hint at more than a touch of otaku pandering; like “Haruka does everything” is code for “sit back and let the girls come to you”. I don’t like this kind of thing, perhaps because I hate situations that feel wholly unrealistic and fantasy-creating, but, well, it’s done in a rather sweet way here, and Yuuto chips in his part, so I can’t complain too much.
Yuuto is a pretty cool guy anyway; I don’t think he’s made of awesome like everyone else (conspiciously, female bloggers :P), but he is definitely Harem Lead ++. That is, just a little better, but not completely free of his Harem Guy shackles.
Still, he’s a good role model, and perhaps realistic if anything else. (I think of the Shining Knight complex he has in the Comiket episode, for one.)
So yeah. Fluff. But awesome, moe, and heartwarming fluff.
@fuyumaiden: as Stripey has also said, Haruka’s charm is subtle. Much about everything that makes her moe is portrayed to be subtle, and that natural feel makes it all the more charming, compared to over-the-top moeblobs especially.
@EvilDevil: I was pleasantly surprised that she even knew karate! That was PURE WIN.
@IKnight: Haruka serves as a good role model for otakus because of that very aspect. She was portrayed to have a few weaknesses here and there, but it just makes her all the more moe.
@Wija-chan: if Yuuto wasn’t naughty, he’d be real stiff and boring and that wouldn’t be as much fun to watch anymore. I love it when he and Haruka gets all flustered
@Michael: but you’d have to admit, Shiina is putting up quite a good fight, at the very least
@C.I.: I’m usually drawn to the Shiina-type of girls (like Asuka of KimiKiss), but Haruka has captured my soul in ways unimaginable, and for that I declare her as THE ONE
@Ryan: what a story! hehe. We always need to strike a balance on things, and Nogizaka Haruka does wonders by reaching that inner sweet self in just about everyone.
@CCY: I mentioned more of my thoughts about Haruka’s charm in my reply to fuyumaiden, and all that contributes to the overall sweetness of Haruka’s character (just enough sweetness with a spice to boot).
I think I made Yuuto seem like a coward and somewhat spineless guy with what I mentioned about Haruka always making the first move. And as you’ve said, it’s kind of like a give and take kind of love aggressiveness we have here. Yuuto is a true gentleman and is not at all shy in proclaiming his love and support for Haruka. Sadly, Yuuto is also _too_ kind. He may not be trying to please all the girls in the series, but he does that… naturally. I agree that he is quite a role model, just be careful of being too kind I guess
The over-the-top drama in this series just make it more awesome and hearwarming… love it ^^
True. :’p Hehe.
I jumped on my chair whenever a moment like that comes out to the screen. I go fangirl mode! x’DD Haha!
Also.. I now have to go back to the part where you said you were going to delve into a character profile thing of Haruka.. I tuned out after you stopped talking about Shiina.. *sigh* /scroll up.
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is the only anime that can make me say “Aww..that’s so sweet” every time.
Yea, it’s cliche, but that’s a good thing.
I believe that the charm doesn’t lie in Haruka alone, but in every single thing in this anime.
And Haruka is LOVE.^_^
@mellow_bunny: well there’s the game, if anything
And don’t force yourself to read all the praises I gave… it’s totally biased and not something you’d really be happy with >.<
@Setsukyie: almost all the characters of Nogizaka Haruka are loveable in their own unique way. Shiina, despite being Haruka’s formidable rival, is a really sweet girl. I appreciate how she doesn’t take advantage of Yuuto’s kindness, shows her good heart, and makes room for more Haruka x Yuuto
OMG ur so right i think exactly the same (well except the part of searching a guy like yuuto lol) and of course YuutoxHaruka 4ever
@OnyxxSyaoran: deep in our heart we’re all searching for that special someone who’ll accept us for who we are, and that’s what I meant about Yuuto. Don’t be shy, and just admit it~ *nudge nudge*
I like this anime series, although my other friends were telling me that the OP is fail XD, just love the storyline and all!
@zenical: the OP sequence is great though