A life of mystery and misunderstanding can only stay afloat for so long
What They Say:
Finding balance between your home life and work life is key to survival. Unfortunately for Kakushi Goto, he can’t seem to get either of them right. Goto unknowingly becomes a harem anime protagonist in this week’s deceptively easy-going episode of Kakushigoto.
The Review
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Pinning down Kakushigoto’s genre is about as difficult as keeping your job a secret from your daughter. The opening sequence takes us back to the future, where Hime stands in her father’s abandoned manga studio. She realizes that the studio is oddly reminiscent of the house she grew up in. But all we’re left with is more questions, as the OP washes away the mysterious drama and we return to that comfortable groove of father-daughter slice of life… no wait, it’s more like a workplace comedy?… hold on a second, now it’s a harem romcom?!?!? Genre whiplash aside, this week’s episode continues to expand the world of Kakushigoto – with more characters, more endearing moments, and more layers of secrecy.
Surprisingly, Goto’s work-life segments are as informative of the industry as they are a biting parody. We learn about the benefits of going digital, finding reliable assistants and scouting international talent, all of which end poorly for Goto and his team. The banter between Goto and his assistants is easily the strongest comedic element of the show. And no matter how hard Goto tries to separate his job from his daughter, she’s always the center of his attention. It’s the bond between these two that makes it so easy for Kakushigoto to bridge the gap between daddy-daughter SOL and workplace comedy.
As for the incredibly impressionable Hime, she’s been convinced by a friend that she’s poor. Her house is small, they don’t have an automatic lock on their front door and there’s no concierge waiting for her (all very normal things that every household has, surely). And with no real understanding of what her father does for a living, she’s left to assume the worst. Goto is dumbfounded – he’s better off than the average salary-man and he can’t let his daughter know that. But pleasing her is his first priority, which leads to him hiring a new housekeeper as well as getting a fancy digital setup for his office. And once again, we’re given a pinch of information – Goto had his home specifically built the way it is. It’s old-style and doesn’t make use of how big the property is, but there seems to be a reason behind it. I called it genre whiplash earlier, but I think this show blends its various elements exceptionally well.
The second half of this episode sees Goto helping Hime prepare for the school sports festival. With all the families that’ll be in attendance, Goto’s paternal instincts kick in. Won’t Hime feel bad having only one parent there to cheer her on? Goto’s deep-thinking leads to a plethora of misunderstandings, and suddenly he’s gained a harem of women ready to fill-in that motherly role. But it seems Goto was very much overthinking it. After all, Hime said she would have preferred if it was only Goto cheering her on.
The episode ends on that wholesome, lighthearted note, but I can’t help but speculate a bit about Goto and Hime’s relationship. It’s clear from the future segments that Goto is no longer around when Hime turns 18 (his whereabouts and well-being are still unknown). But after observing their relationship some, I get the feeling that their separation might be due to a lack of understanding. Both of them are always looking out for each other’s best interest, but their assumptions have often been misguided. And seeing as Hime didn’t find out about Goto’s career until he was already gone makes me think they never had the chance to fully comprehend one another. Living a life of secrecy can only end poorly, so I’m not looking forward to seeing how things fall apart.
In Summary:
Kakushigoto once again has me scratching my head. It’s an enjoyable watch, with laughs and smiles abound, but the dramatic undertones leave me with feelings of dreadful anticipation. I don’t think I’m ready for what this show is going to do to my emotional well-being. The roller coaster is slowly ascending; there’s no going back now!
Grade: B
Streamed By: Funimation
