8.524 minSeason 1 • Episode 12
LatestHigh-school student Handa Sei is well-liked and highly regarded. As the school cultural festival comes to a close, Handa's world opens up before him.
Set six years prior to the events of Barakamon, detailing the life of Seishuu Handa as a high school student—and a very interesting life it is. In Handa-kun, Seishuu Handa is admired by his peers as a calligraphy genius and given the utmost respect, but Handa-kun himself is under the mistaken impression that the deference and attention he receives from the other students is actually bullying. Handa just wants to live a quiet life, but hilarity ensues as one character after another challenges his position as the school idol, and somehow comes away as a fan all while Handa is horrified and clueless.
Writing
Comedic tension from dramatic irony that never gets old
Acting
Nobunaga Shimazaki's escalating panic as clueless Handa
Direction
Visual gags that sell Handa's paranoid delusions perfectly
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'misunderstanding' comedy trope (kanchigai) is huge in Japanese humor, but Handa-kun stretches it to absurd extremes.
This prequel actually aired AFTER Barakamon, so writers already knew exactly how Handa's social anxiety evolves—or doesn't.
JP
