Prelude Maison Ikkoku: When the Cherry Blossoms Return in the Spring (1992): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1992, Prelude Maison Ikkoku: When the Cherry Blossoms Return in the Spring is a comedy, drama, animation and romance film directed by Shigeharu Shiba, running about 27 minutes.

What it’s about. Kyoko Otonashi is a 22-year-old widow. Six months have passed since the sudden death of her husband, Soichiro. In her resolve to move on, she has recently taken over the management of a boarding house owned by her father-in-law. She now finds herself reminiscing about the few seasons that she and Soichiro had together, and about the first time that she saw him: when he became her geology teacher during her final year of high school. This prequel is the third and final OVA released after the conclusion of MAISON IKKOKU, an animated series based on the manga by Rumiko Takahashi. The past events are retold through flashback sequences using scenes from the television series, with narration by Sumi Shimamoto as Kyoko.

Who’s in it. Prelude Maison Ikkoku: When the Cherry Blossoms Return in the Spring stars Sumi Shimamoto as Kyoko Otonashi (voice), Hideyuki Tanaka as Souichirō Otonashi (voice), Issei Futamata as Godai Yusaku (voice) and Ryuji Saikachi as Otonashi-rōjin (voice).

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Prelude Maison Ikkoku: When the Cherry Blossoms Return in the Spring has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Prelude Maison Ikkoku: When the Cherry Blossoms Return in the Spring page.

If you liked it. Fans of Prelude Maison Ikkoku: When the Cherry Blossoms Return in the Spring tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.