English Dub Review: The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting “First Friend”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Kirishima tries his hand at cooking with the help of Kanami so they can celebrate Yaeka’s birthday. Meanwhile, Sugihara and Takeuchi are playing in the park with Yaeka, and then Yaeka becomes friends with a little foreign girl named Sara. The next day, the new neighbors to the Sakuragi household come to visit and…

Now that Yaeka’s birthday is here, what could the dish that Kirishima prepared for Yaeka be?

Our Take:
Today may be Thanksgiving, but the yakuza family has something else to celebrate. This week’s episode has Kirishima and the family celebrating Yaeka’s birthday, although the shy yet adorable child doesn’t seem too happy about it. It’s then revealed that they couldn’t invite some of Yaeka’s friends to her party due to them being yakuza. What a surprise.
This problem escalates when Yaeka makes a new friend named Sara, who is also the Sakuragis’ next-door neighbor. The situation further showcases the family’s history with the yakuza and how it affects their everyday lifestyle, which is something I find interesting about the series. Even though the Sakuragi clan act as a family at home, people still see them as violent gangsters due to their reputation. So when the Sakuragi family winds up being neighbors with Sara and her father, Leon, they’re faced with the task of not showing their true colors to avoid any panic. That alone acts as one of the show’s conflicts outside of the competitive yakuza, which I hope we’ll see more of in the season’s second half.
“First Friend” offers both sides of the story that are equally hilarious and charming. One of them is when Kirishima learns how to cook with Kanami after struggling to figure out what to give Yaeka for her birthday. He eventually made Yaeka omurice, as it was Kirishima’s favorite birthday meal that his mother cooked for him. This moment reflects that gifts are more than just things you buy from the store. They’re also the stuff you remember during your own birthdays that you share with others. In Kirishima’s case, it’s his mother cooking omurice for him. So it showcases more of Kirishima’s sweeter side regarding his past, but it also offers a hilarious moment involving Kirishima accidentally cutting his fingers with a knife.
Then, there’s Yaeka, who made her first friend while at the park with Sugihara. Sara and her father, Leon, are the types of characters who are highly joyful and energetic about everything. They’re so enthusiastic that Leon is willing to be friendly neighbors with Kazuhiko. Although, Kazuhiko doesn’t seem to be too thrilled with the idea. These new characters raise some concern for me, as their hyperactive personalities can get close to being annoying sometimes. However, because of their adorable moments, I’m willing to save my judgment until their future appearances. Additionally, it showcases Yaeka feeling a bit happier than before now that she made a new friend.
“First Friend” caps off the series’ first half with another charismatic and amusing misadventure with the Sakuragi clan. Sara and Leon will definitely depend on people’s tolerance for lively characters. Besides that, the episode offers plenty of charming development for Kirishima and Yaeka, even when they’re separate. It would be interesting to see how the second half will turn out, especially since Kirishima’s former rival is out of prison and looking for revenge.