Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 1 “Welcome to Torishirojima Island” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
In what for many may not be a notable season premiere, for those who enjoy slice of life dramas with a dash of eccentricity, “Summer Pockets” has you covered.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Episode 1 “Welcome to Torishirojima Island” Details
- Available On: Crunchyroll
- Public Release Date: April 7, 2025
- Director(s): Taichi Yoshizawa
- Writer(s): Keiichiro Daichi
Episode 1 “Welcome to Torishirojima Island” Recap (With Spoilers)
Reuniting With Family: Misaki, Hairi, Umi
With the death of his grandmother, a world traveler, a month ago, combined with summer break, Hairi decides to head to his grandmother’s home to help his aunt Misaki organize and figure out what to do with his grandmother’s things. There he meets his little cousin Umi and while they don’t bond in grief as a family, it is clear there are bonds being formed and strengthened as they talk, laugh, and live together.
The Girls Are Strange On Torishirojima Island: Hairi, Shiroha, Ao
But, Misaki doesn’t hold Hairi captive all day and night. He is able, and pushed to explore the island, even meet the locals. Ao is one he meets who, with her fox Inari, is an odd one who seems able to sleep anywhere. Alongside her, there is Shiroha, who practices swimming at night, and with Hairi having a history with swimming, which he isn’t open to sharing much in episode 1, it seems he has found someone to connect with – even if Shiroha might be a bit of a novice compared to him.
“Summer Pockets” Character Guide
New Cast and Characters
Misaki (Megumi Takamoto)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Misaki is Hairi’s aunt, who seems to have inherited his grandmother’s home and the work of going through her things and rediscovering who she was outside of their matriarch.
Hairi (Shoya Chiba)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Hairi is a young man who used to be busy all the time, presumably swimming, but something has happened to give him far more time to be with family and even take a vacation.
Umi (Aimi Tanaka)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Umi is Hairi’s little cousin who, despite her age, often ventures off on her own and returns for dinner.
Ao (Natsumi Takamori)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Ao is an odd girl who can often be seen with her fox pet when not randomly sleeping somewhere.
Shiroha (Konomi Kohara)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Shiroha is a local girl who is trying to learn to swim in the privacy of the night, but Hairi keeps showing up.
Review and Commentary
Highlights
Simple, Comical, Yet Compelling [82/100]
While there is a strong slice-of-life feel to “Summer Pockets,” that is one of its assets. Yes, girls like Ao are a bit weird, and Shiroha surely is eccentric, but it doesn’t feel like they are made to play up for laughs. They are just odd people, living on what appears to be a relatively safe island, so they don’t need to be highly aware of their environment or threats – they can just be.
And in many ways, it seems that is what Hairi needs. It isn’t clear if an injury, a loss, or what may have complicated his relationship to swimming, but just enough is given for you to wonder something about him, rather than see him as a medium to all the women established in his life.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [82/100]
I won’t pretend as if “Summer Pockets” presents itself as potentially the best show of the season, but it feels like it could sneak into many people’s top 10 list as they recount the various things they watched.
Additional Links
-
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 22 – Recap and Review
In what could be, should be, the end of Umi’s arc, there is a promise to potentially move beyond Takahara and deeper into the past.
-
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 21 – Recap and Review
As we get past Shiroha’s arc being remixed, the end of the summer approaches, and something might be wrong with Takahara or Umi.
-
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 20 – Recap and Review
Umi’s arc continues to be a bit of a struggle to watch, especially as it rehashes parts of Shiroha’s storyline, which we just saw.
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