The act of keeping secrets is a natural form of human communication that has, for as long as verbal and written communication have existed, been utilized for both the benefit and detriment of those within our social circles. We do it to protect others from a painful truth, while others do it to foster malicious rumors beyond one's earshot. Many people also view keeping collective secrets as a necessity in order to keep others safe - the phrase "Loose Lips Sink Ships" exists for a reason.
We all do it, whether we realize it or not, and our innate desire to keep aspects about ourselves and others private has made for many quality forms of cinema - some which focus their entire plot around the concept of secrecy. The anime Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is one such example - a show that takes the common act of keeping secrets and makes it the catalyst for a most unexpected relationship.
On the face of it, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is exactly what the anime's advertising banner makes you think it'll be: a romance slice-of-life style show. And that's exactly what it is - another installment in a genre that includes enough anime to last you months, if not years. Now, with that in mind, the situation becomes very polarizing very quickly - you either despise the genre and won't want to watch it because of said copy-paste oversaturation, or you love the genre and will gladly watch it all the way through. I, personally, AM a fan of the genre, but I also believe that while Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu utilizes the same concept that hundreds of anime have already used, that doesn't automatically make it something not worth watching. Quite the contrary, in fact.
As previously mentioned, the driving theme behind Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu's plot is (crazily enough) secrecy. It's a trope that finds its way into all forms of cinema, but there's a reason why audiences enjoy it much. We all have/share secrets - there's that feeling of glee we feel when we know something of value that our peers do not. On the contrary though, when someone keeps a secret from us, we get anxious - our minds race at the thought of what could be hidden from us, and why. When audiences gain that omniscient perspective on what the characters may or may not know, it makes the story and overall viewing experience that much more enjoyable. ___Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu_ does exactly that__.
In this instance of cinematic secrecy, the titular Nogizaka Haruka is an incredibly wealthy, classy, and talented girl from high society who inadvertently lets slip her secret love of all things anime, manga, video games, etc. with Ayase Yuuto, an accepting young man whose social standing is drastically different from that of Haruka's. Rather than laughing at the duality of Haruka's royal standing and her childlike hobbies, Yuuto, rightly, doesn't ridicule Haruka like she had feared and the two become close. I personally loved how, in theory, a secret about something so minor became the catalyst and fuel for Haruka and Yuuto's relationship - one that started as friends and gradually became romantic. I found their relationship to be incredibly cute, and the difference between Yuuto's normal, humble life and Haruka's regal life of luxury made it that much better.
1. Music: 88/100 - I was not expecting the OP of this anime to go this hard, but I will gladly admit and repent for my preemptive judgement if it means I get to listen to とまどいビターチュン ("Tomadoi Bitter Tune") on repeat. The credits theme, ひとさしゆびクワイエット ("Pointer Finger QUIET") is catchy too, but if I had a choice, I would take the OP everytime - it slaps that much.
2. Plot: 64/100 - Here we go again. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu does not have a bad plot - I actually enjoyed it. With that being said, it's another romance slice-of-life. If I were to say this to someone who has never watched this anime before but understands the genre, I am fairly certain that they'd be able to get an idea as to what they'll experience before they even watch the first episode. With that being said, the major focus on secrecy and how it can make or break the relations we have with our peers and family members was interesting, and I believe it made the characters themselves more interesting as well.
3. Characters: 82/100 - The cast of Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu revolves around Haruka and Yuuto - that much is clear from the very beginning. However, I, personally, found that the large group of supporting characters did a wonderful job at providing support and backup for Haruka and Yuuto respectively (i.e., Mika, Hazuki, etc. supporting Haruka, and Ruko, Nobunaga, etc. supporting Yuuto). With that being said, the relationship between Haruka and Yuuto stole the show for me, personally. I absolutely loved watching their relationship and trust between each other grow the more and more Yuuto dedicated himself to protecting both Haruka and her secret. The final two episodes of the season sealed the deal - I won't spoil anything for those who haven't seen them.
4. Art & Animations: 74/100 - I'll be honest, the main reason I watched this anime was because of the artwork on its advertising banner on Crunchyroll. I understand that early 2000's anime artwork attracts a very mixed array of opinions within the community, which is why I rated it the way I did. I've gone on record as a person who prefers the artwork and animation styles from 80's and 90's anime, but some of that love can leak into early 2000's anime art as well. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is one such example.
__It's no secret that I enjoyed watching the first season of _Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu_ - it's an anime that casts the very relatable act of making and keeping secrets in an equally relatable spotlight. We all make secrets, we break them, and we secretly judge and critique others, whether intentionally or unintentionally. This anime shows how devastating it can be to have aspects of our private lives revealed to our family and peers, but it also emphasizes trust, tolerance, acceptance, and respect for others__. As Haruka and Yuuto demonstrate so well, sharing a secret with someone you trust can not only bring you closer together, but you may also learn a thing or two about your own personal interests.
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