Rec (manga)

Rec (stylized as REC) is a Japanese manga series by Q-Tarō Hanamizawa. It was serialized by Shogakukan's manga magazine Monthly Sunday Gene-X from November 2002 to March 2013, with its chapters collected in sixteen volumes. The story follows the relationship between Fumihiko Matsumaru, a salaryman, and Aka Onda, an aspiring voice actress. A nine-episode anime adaptation by Shaft aired between February and March 2006; an original video animation episode was also produced.

Plot

Fumihiko Matsumaru waits outside a movie theater for a date who does not arrive. As he prepares to discard the unused tickets, a young woman approaches and, speaking as if she were the tickets themselves, asks him not to waste them. Intrigued, he watches the film, Roman Holiday, with her. During the screening, he observes her quietly reciting the subtitles aloud.

Afterward, the girl explains she was practicing the dialogue, expressing a desire to emulate Audrey Hepburn. She introduces herself as Aka Onda, a twenty-year-old aspiring voice actress. They discover they live in the same neighborhood and part ways. Later that night, a fire alarms Matsumaru, and he finds Aka's apartment destroyed. With no other shelter available, he offers her a place to stay, which she accepts.

Matsumaru soon learns his proposed mascot, "Nekoki" (ねこキ), has been approved for a snack product called "Ha". Coincidentally, Aka is hired to provide the character's voice. To avoid any appearance of impropriety at their shared workplace, they agree to keep their living arrangement secret. Aka clarifies that their cohabitation is strictly practical and does not imply a romantic relationship, despite a prior moment of intimacy. Their daily life together becomes a complex negotiation of professional boundaries and deepening personal connection.

Characters

• Fumihiko Matsumaru (松丸 文彦)
• A 26-year-old salaryman who works in a snack company's marketing department, where his advertising proposals are seldom approved. His sole successful project is the Nekoki (ネコキ) mascot for the Ha snack. He shares a romantic relationship with coworker, Aka Onda, though his occasional inappropriate behavior or attention toward other women frequently causes friction between them.
• Aka Onda (恩田 赤)
• A 20-year-old aspiring voice actress who admires Audrey Hepburn, often quoting lines from her films. She voices the Nekoki (ネコキ) mascot for the Ha snack. While she initially insists their relationship is platonic, she and Matsumaru develop romantic feelings and begin a discreet relationship.
• Yoshioka (吉岡)
• Aka's manager-in-charge. She is sleeping with the company's president. She accidentally gets into two compromising situations with Matsumaru, and he has to spend some time calming Aka down when she sees them.
• Tanaka (田中)
• She is a colleague Matsumaru had a crush on before he made Aka his girlfriend. It is later revealed that she likes to destroy men, and attempts to make Matsumaru think he slept with her, and tell Aka. Her plan fails when Aka keeps her faith in him.
• Yoshio Hatakeda (畑田 良夫)
• Matsumaru's colleague, who is a fan of Aka.
• Hideyoshi Sekigahara (関ヶ原 秀吉)
• An eccentric movie director who recruits Aka for his newest movie, takes her to Hokkaido, which prompts Matsumaru to pursue her. It is revealed that he had no intentions aside from writing a new script, and helps to strengthen Aka's and Matsumaru's relationship.
• Kazushi Kubo (久保 一志)
• A popular actor nicknamed "Kushi" who lives next door to Matsumaru and Aka. He harbors romantic feelings for Aka, having known her since middle school. He befriends Matsumaru and deduces their secret romantic relationship. Although he orchestrates a situation intending to act on his feelings, he ultimately respects their bond and withdraws, pledging his continued friendship.
• Takagawara (高河原)
• Aka's previous manager who tried to control her personal life to maximize her popularity.
• Ao Onda (音田 青)
• A talented animator and Aka's younger sister. She initially harbors resentment towards her sister, which she extends to Aka's relationship with her coworker, Matsumaru. Ao makes several attempts to flirt with Matsumaru and create misunderstandings between the couple. After a period of reflection, she resolves her childhood grievances with Aka and abandons her romantic interest in Matsumaru, instead viewing him with a familial affection.
• Maki Koiwai (小岩井 まき)
• A voice actor who is a friend of Aka's. She is a huge fan of Kushi.
• Akari Yukiji (雪路 明理)
• Aka's other voice actor friend, she is best friends with Maki, and they are often seen together. She has to pretend to be Matsumaru's girlfriend when Kushi comes to their house.

Media

External links

• Anime official website