First Loves

"First Loves/Kakyuusei" is a Japanese anime series centered around high school romance, featuring several spin-offs and sequels. The earliest version is the 1995 four-episode light hentai OVA, "First Loves/Kakyuusei," also known as "My First Loves." This OVA focuses on the protagonist Kakeru and his relationships with four high school girls, each episode highlighting a different girl: the cute and friendly Urara, the neglected tennis girl Rie, the dog-owning painter Hikari, and the tough motorcycle girl. The story revolves around which girl Kakeru will ultimately choose. Following this, the series spawned "Elf version Kakyuusei OVA" (1997-1998) and "Kakyuusei TV series" (1999), which are not directly related to the original "First Loves." "First Loves" is known for its depiction of high school romance and relationships, laying the foundation for subsequent "Kakyuusei" series. Another significant work in this theme is the 2022 Netflix Japanese drama series "First Love Hatsukoi," starring Hikari Mitsushima and Takeru Satoh, which tells the story of a man and a woman who meet and fall in love in the late 90s, and who reunite after many years. The drama series is inspired by two Hikaru Utada songs, "First Love" and "Hatsukoi," and explores the profound impact of first love and how destiny reconnects people.