"Tokimeki Memorial" Reiwa-era Orientation: How Did That "Excitement" of the Past Look? We Asked New Students About "Tokimeki Memorial Emotional"
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/832/G083229/20251107017/
Writer: Naito Hasami | 2025/11/08 01:00 (UTC)
The landmark romantic simulation game, Tokimeki Memorial, debuted in 1994. Though it celebrated its 30th anniversary last year (2024), reflecting as one of the original players, I was struck by how vividly those feelings remain.
What truly made me re-realize this was KONAMI’s release of the Nintendo Switch title “Tokimeki Memorial ~forever with you~ Emotional.” The original Tokimeki Memorial returned to modern gaming platforms on May 8, 2025. Experiencing high school life alongside distinctive and charming girls, and confessing under the legendary tree—many people likely felt their hearts race recalling those three years of youth.
Of course, I’ve already re-enrolled, and this nostalgic yet fresh experience brought back vivid memories from my own high school days. Though 30 years have passed and some memories faded… when I began playing, nostalgia blended with the unexpected freshness of forgotten details, and before I knew it, I was completely engrossed once again.
And then, a thought struck me:
I can never truly return to the feelings of someone experiencing “Tokimeki Memorial” for the first time. That’s why I now want to hear those raw, brand-new impressions—those pure reactions—as if from a real new student.
Inspired by this idea, I decided to have my husband and daughter, both completely unfamiliar with Tokimeki Memorial, play this title. How would the “youth” of 30 years ago appear through the eyes of adults living in Reiwa era and a teenager? And could that timeless “excitement” still be felt across generations? We explored together.
The graphics and visual settings for Tokimeki Memorial Emotional come in two versions—original and newly redesigned. For this project, themed around experiencing “shimmering high school” as it was 30 years ago, we used the original artwork. Image Gallery No.002 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional”
Official website for Tokimeki Memorial ~forever with you~ Emotional
[Follow a New Student (Daughter) as She Plays “Tokimeki Memorial”!]
[New Students Playing Tokimeki Memorial for the First Time]
Husband S (43 years old): A gamer who plays everything from major titles to indie games, but has almost no experience with dating simulation games.
Daughter R (13 years old / 8th grade): An action shooter enthusiast and super sharpshooter. Has never played a romance simulation game before.
[Interviewer: The Current Student]
Author (47 years old): First experienced Tokimeki Memorial on the SFC version, proudly identifying myself as a “Shimmering High School student” ever since—over 25 years have passed. My favorite heroine is Kinue Kanae, but all heroines hold great value in my heart.
Author:
Welcome to private Shimmering High School! Congratulations on your enrollment today.
As an honor, I’ll be representing the current students and guiding you through orientation!
Husband S:
Wow, Mom’s really getting into this.
Author:
Well, I’m just excited that both of you are playing Tokimeki Memorial for the first time—so much so I couldn’t help but act like a senior. Today, I’ll be following R’s gameplay closely. S already played yesterday and accepted a confession from Kyougami Mirou.
Husband S:
Yeah. I was totally focused on Mirou-chan at first—but then more heroines kept showing up and paying attention to me, so keeping the relationship balance became quite challenging… Also surprised by how tough the sports festival events were. Still, I managed to reach my desired ending—really glad about that.
Daughter R:
Wait a second—this game is that complicated? What do you mean “sports festival” is hard? Isn’t this supposed to be a relaxed, sweet high school romance with your favorite girl?
Author:
So you imagined Tokimeki Memorial as something like that. Well, it’s best experienced firsthand!
[Daughter Enrolls at Shimmering High School]
(Watching the opening movie together)
Author:
Hokay! I hate you—first one to say it was me!
Daughter R:
…… (ignoring her mother’s singing). Hey, how old is this game?
Author:
About 30 years ago. You weren’t even born back then—you were barely a thought in existence. Your mom was actually a real high school student.
Daughter R:
So long ago… That’s hard for me to imagine. Hmm, I saw Ayasai Yukiyo-chan on the official website and thought she was really cute—so I’m going to try building a good relationship with her in this playthrough. Can I use kanji names? What about birthday?
Author:
There are some practical dates that help avoid conflicting events—but honestly, you don’t need to stress too much.
Daughter R:
Then I’ll enter my own birthday.
……Wait, the heroines actually call me by name!? And there’s even a choice of intonation styles? Plus, I can set unique nicknames individually—this is amazing! I’ll use my real name!
Author:
That’s the EVS (Emotional Voice System). It was introduced in Tokimeki Memorial 2, but wasn’t available in the original. However, it’s now beautifully added to this Nintendo Switch release. Isn’t it nice that heroines call your name?
(On the day of Shimmering High School’s entrance ceremony, meeting Kousuke and his classmate Ijyuu Rei.)
Daughter R:
I like how Rei-chan is portrayed as a rich but annoying character—kinda old-fashioned in a fun way! But wait… on the official artwork from your Tokimeki Memorial live event, she wore a dress. Here, she wears the regular pants-style school uniform. And wow, Kousuke’s obsession with girls is intense—I’m shocked. Who even is this guy?
Author:
(Wait—could it be that Reiwa-era new students already assume Ijyuu Rei might be female? That changes how we perceive her completely from a veteran student’s view… Wow, my inner monologue went way too long!)
Kousuke isn’t someone you’d see much in real life—or even in modern media, probably.
Daughter R:
Hey, Ayasai-chan isn’t here. The heroines don’t all have to be in the same class, right? How do I meet her and become friends?
Author:
Try increasing your trivia knowledge a bit. While there are exceptions, each heroine tends to respond positively when you’re set up as someone they’d naturally click with.
[Daughter Meets Ayasai Yukiyo]
(Transitioning to the protagonist’s home in the command screen)
Daughter R:
Whoa—this room really feels like a student’s room from back then. Mom, during your high school days, you listened to music on one of these big machines, right? And that thing on top—it must be a phone?
Author:
Yes, a cordless handset! With this, you could use the landline in another room. These became rare after mobile phones took over—(and even now, both the stereo and the handset feel “so large” to me… It’s really striking how different that era was.)
The iconic 1990s-era stereo—the symbol of student life back then. Looking at it again, I wonder if this one actually isn’t so bad? Image Gallery No.006 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional”
(Raising stats primarily through trivia knowledge)
Daughter R:
I want my character to vibe well with Ayasai-chan, so right now I’m focusing on trivia and keeping appearance and sports as secondary. But do I really need to study at all…? There are regular tests—kind of nervous about what school life will be like from here.
Author:
If your goal is just reaching the ending with Ayasai-chan, you’re absolutely fine. This gets into strategy in SLG terms: raising every stat too much triggers multiple heroine encounter conditions simultaneously. That means many girls start watching your every move—making the game significantly harder to navigate.
Daughter R:
Ohhh—I get it now. But I’m starting to figure out how to manage my weekly cycle. I’ll keep going this way!
[First Sports Festival]
Daughter R:
I’ll give my best at the sports festival! Maybe try the spoon relay—seems like the easiest one?
Author:
…Uh, yeah… that’s right…
Um, the controls are: use L and R to balance the ball, while rapidly pressing A to move.
Daughter R:
I thought the controls were easy, but this is way harder than it looks!
…Wait—this is impossible! Is there even anyone who can win this event?
Author:
Your character’s sports stat affects difficulty. It’s not impossible—but spoon relays and rolling ball races are inherently quite tough.
Daughter R:
You should’ve told me earlier~! Shiori-chan looks utterly shocked…
[Daughter Meets Ayasai Yukiyo]
Daughter R:
Kousuke introduced me to Ayasai-chan. She’s really cute, and her vibe is great!
Image Gallery No.009 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional” Image Gallery No.010 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional”
Author:
Already deep into dates—what a fun high school life!
Daughter R:
I wonder what kind of places Ayasai-chan likes for dates?
Author:
Ayasai’s key word is “trendy.” If it’s in style, she’ll enjoy even spots that aren’t normally her scene.
[Building Relationships with Ayasai-chan]
Daughter R:
I think I’ve gotten pretty close to Yukiyo already.
Author:
Huh—when did you start calling her “Yukiyo”?
Daughter R:
The game refers to her as “Ayasai,” but personally… we hang out and chat after school, so I call her affectionately. Lately, our lives have been full of fun things together—but my grades are still quite low compared to hers. Of course, since I haven’t raised the study stats much. The protagonist’s future path is making me a bit nervous.
Author:
You’re thinking realistically about practical issues—very mature!
Image Gallery No.012 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional” Image Gallery No.013 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional”
Daughter R:
Wait! Yukiyo’s face is turning red!?
S-so cute… Could she actually like me?
Image Gallery No.015 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional” Image Gallery No.016 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional”
[The Challenge of Maintaining Relationships]
Daughter R:
I met Yumi-chan, Kyougami’s younger sister, and Furiki Yukari. Recently, I’ve been getting invited to go home with other girls after school—sometimes even going together… Even though I’m not dating anyone, it makes me feel uneasy thinking about Yukiyo.
Author:
Now that’s becoming interesting!
Daughter R:
I called Kousuke and asked how the girls were rating me—I think Shiori-chan seems angry. I want to prioritize Yukiyo… but if I keep turning down invites, they might get upset. Balancing this is tough. I ended up going to the arcade with Yumi-chan too. It’s awkward going out with someone other than Yukiyo—but still, better to go on a date. I want to stay loyal to Yukiyo, but it’s just not working well.
Author:
Three years of high school… What should one do? So many worries never end! Haha!
Daughter R:
Uuuuuhhh—just watching from the sidelines again?
Image Gallery No.017 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional” Image Gallery No.018 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional”
[Under the Legendary Tree…]
After managing relationships with heroines like Mirou-chan, Shiori-chan, and Yumi-chan in this playthrough, we eventually reached the ending. Under the legendary tree stood Ayasai Yukiyo—and my daughter joyfully accepted her confession.
Daughter R:
Ah—this was so fun! I really fell for Yukiyo!
Author:
That’s wonderful. Now let’s have S join us too—I’d love to hear your thoughts as a new student experiencing the “youth of that era” portrayed in Tokimeki Memorial.
[Listening to the New Students After Their First Graduation Ceremony]
[What did you think about “Tokimeki Memorial”? What was your impression after playing?]
Author:
So, I’d like to hear from both of our new graduates—those experiencing this work for the first time. Let’s start with how you felt before playing. How and where did each of you discover Tokimeki Memorial? And what were your initial impressions?
Husband S:
Of course, it was a hot topic back when it launched—I saw articles and ads in game magazines and knew about it. But as an 8th-grade boy who loved action and RPGs, I thought “this isn’t really my kind of game.” Back then, all I wanted was adventure with swords and magic.
Author:
I see—R?
Daughter R:
Mom always said she liked Tokimeki Memorial, and you even went to a live event where voice actors appeared. So I knew the name. But since I mostly play action shooters, it felt like an unfamiliar genre for me. None of my friends play dating sims either, so I didn’t know much more. Still, I thought the graphics had this “Heisei retro” vibe and were super cute!
Author:
Uh, retro… Well, while it doesn’t quite feel like PlayStation or Sega Saturn territory, it is a 30-year-old game after all. S, how did you perceive the visuals of Tokimeki Memorial back then?
Husband S:
The cute graphics gave me a little jolt—maybe even made me blush. Honestly, if I had really wanted it back then, I probably would’ve been too shy to ask my parents to buy it.
Author:
I see. My first experience was on the SFC version—I was a high schooler myself at the time, and luckily had friends who liked Tokimeki Memorial too. Our experiences were completely different. Now, both of you have seen your chosen heroine’s ending—what stood out most?
Husband S:
I thought I’d focus on one girl, but actually having to maintain relationships with others—and not upset anyone—was surprising and fun. Seeing a bomb icon next to other girls’ names really made me anxious.
Author:
Exactly! That’s one of Tokimeki Memorial’s defining features—and a crucial part. While we now jokingly refer to this system as “bomb management game” or treat it comically, looking back now, I realize how realistic the portrayal of human relationships really is.
Daughter R:
What do you mean?
Author:
For example, if a classmate who’s kind to you treats other friends or classmates really poorly—wouldn’t that be disappointing? So the system where negative feelings spread when one bomb explodes feels quite natural in terms of human emotions.
Daughter R:
That makes sense. I couldn’t feel good about someone who’s nice only to me but rude to others.
Author:
Exactly—being “only devoted to me” isn’t the same as saying, “please ignore everyone else.” But since one effective way to balance affection is to go on dates with multiple girls or return home together, it’s completely different from real life. That gap between reality and game mechanics is actually what makes you chuckle.
Daughter R:
In real life, if someone kept dating lots of girls just to manage their feelings—well, that’d be a total disaster! (laughs) But that’s exactly where games shine with such fun elements.
Husband S:
(trying to follow the conversation) Uh… yeah…
Author:
Sorry—I got carried away. Let’s go back. R, what was your overall impression after playing?
Daughter R:
It felt fresh because it was my first time playing a simulation game where you choose commands to raise stats and build up your character. As I mentioned earlier—balancing relationships with all the girls, sometimes rejecting invitations for someone else’s sake, or deliberately going on dates—there’s so much calculation involved.
Author:
That’s exactly what makes this game both enjoyable and challenging!
[The Charm of Retro?]
Author:
Earlier, you said the graphics felt “retro and cute.” I’m curious—what specifically made you feel that Tokimeki Memorial had a sense of era? And since S is also a new student who lived through those times, his perception might differ from mine.
Daughter R:
It’s not just the visuals—it’s the title itself. “Tokimeki Memorial” feels like it carries an “Heisei” vibe to me.
Author:
What do you mean?
Daughter R:
Words like “tokimeki” and “memorial” have their own retro charm. Plus, how the heroines speak—they’re all gentle overall. My favorite Ayasai Yukiyo is a lively girl with some gyaru-like speech patterns—but she doesn’t overdo it; there’s something mature about her.
Author:
Wait—really? To me, back when it launched, Ayasai-chan seemed super casual and relaxed in how she spoke. But maybe today’s high schoolers don’t talk that way at all. The dialogue really reflects its time. Words keep evolving over time.
Daughter R:
Wasn’t the 30s era known for saying “naoi”?
Author:
“Naoi” was even older slang. Ayasai-chan wasn’t exactly on the cutting edge of that time, but she still didn’t say things like “super lucky.” That line has faded from use in today’s Reiwa era.
Daughter R:
I gave a birthday gift to Yukiyo—a “yogurt mushroom” in-game. Is that even real? It’s interesting—actual health food trends from back then appear inside the game, giving you such great atmosphere!
Author:
Yes—the fermented drink Kefir was popularly called “Yogurt Mushroom” in Japan at one point. Also, another gift appearing in the game is “Full Automatic Haboriki.” The actual product name doesn’t include “full automatic,” but it’s a fun detail.
Daughter R:
H-haboriki? What’s that for? Not food, right?
Author:
“Haboriki” combines the functions of a broom and a dustpan—attached to a vacuum cleaner so it can also suck up dirt…
Daughter R:
Wait—is something like this really popular in Heisei times? I get that useful gadgets become trendy… but that they’d be featured even in games feels strange yet fascinating.
Author:
It was handy for cleaning small areas—my family actually had one. It was sold on home shopping channels, and as a kid, I often imitated its commercials. Looking back now, it really was an odd trend.
Things like “Yogurt Mushroom” or the Haboriki—many people from the Tokimeki Memorial generation probably said, “I forgot all about these until playing again!” These nostalgic elements bring back memories and emotions. S, having lived through that era, what did you feel while playing?
Husband S:
The moment when you have to call someone on your home phone—it’s really striking how there was no other communication method available at the time. After school together, but if you parted ways—you could only call her house.
Author:
That little visual—seeing a glimpse of her family through the phone—was an emotional touch unique to that era before mobile phones became common. S, your chosen heroine Mirou-chan had such a contrast between her school and home personas—that’s also part of her charm.
Husband S:
Yeah, one thing I liked about Mirou-chan was that she wasn’t immediately fond of me (the protagonist). Just a regular classmate—very subtle relationship. That felt natural.
Author:
Wait—that’s considered “good”? Why?
Husband S:
Well, if a girl instantly falls for you from the start—I’d always wonder, “Is there something shady going on?” So I prefer when it starts off indifferent.
Author:
I see… (could there have been past experiences behind that?) The default affection level varies by heroine. For Mirou-chan—whose father confessed to her—her first impression of the protagonist was just “a reasonably good-looking guy” (you can’t meet her unless your appearance stat is high), so she wasn’t particularly fond at all.
Husband S:
Exactly—I felt that kind of neutral start was more natural and easier to accept.
Author:
I see. Maybe the developers intentionally varied difficulty by character, but it unintentionally reflects natural human relationships. I never thought about this before—but that’s precisely where its charm lies.
Speaking of relationship portrayal—when you invite someone to walk home together after class, there’s a famous line from Fujisaki Shiori: “If we go home together, friends will gossip and it’ll be embarrassing.” Back then, many people in my circle were actually hurt by such words. Some even said, “Shiori is too harsh.”
Daughter R:
Really? I never thought of her as cold. She doesn’t ignore anyone—she gives clear reasons for refusing. In fact, she seems very responsible.
Author:
Ah, yeah—when you really dislike someone, they’re completely ignored (laughs). That kind of thinking wasn’t common when I was a student. Honestly, I even wondered if she was too distant from her childhood friend. But upon reflection, in such sensitive years—and especially since Shiori naturally draws attention—it makes sense why people would react that way. The fact that she clearly explains herself shows sincerity.
Whether you interpret “going home together” as awkward or not may change depending on era, generation, or life stage. Teenagers might find it harsh—but when adults hear it now, we’re less bothered and think, “Ah yes—walking home with someone of the opposite sex is embarrassing… so understandable.” It’s also nice how you can empathize: even Shiori, who seems flawless, still has her own struggles. That makes her all the more endearing.
[Who’s your favorite heroine? What do you like about them?]
Author:
Next—any particular heroine stood out? Or is there a “favorite”?
Husband S:
Definitely Mirou-chan. As I said, she didn’t love me from the start—that’s great. She becomes really affectionate later, and her adult-like appearance also appeals to me. I find older, mature women very attractive…
Daughter R:
Hmm… So Dad likes that type?
Husband S:
Ugh—this is awkward talking about this in front of my daughter.
Author:
Mirou-chan is the same age as the protagonist but feels mature. Her casual wear—tight, bodycon styles like what older women wore back then—isn’t just showing off; she pulls it off with style. What about you, R?
Daughter R:
Of course, Yukiyo! She’s who I’d most want to be friends with. Doesn’t dwell on the past too much—always cheerful and positive. Her visuals are cute and exactly my taste. Maybe a bit too straightforward or free-spirited at times—but her honesty is endearing, not annoying. Plus, her seasonal fashion changes feel retro-cute. Honestly, Yukiyo looks good in anything.
Author:
You’re really passionate! Any memorable moments with them?
Daughter R:
When Yukiyo’s affection level rose and her cheeks turned red—that moment was electric. And during the sports festival, dancing the folk dance with her—my heart raced! Come to think of it, doing a folk dance at a school festival feels kind of retro. I’ve done “Maimu Maimu” in elementary class—but never at a sports day or festival. It’s almost like an event only found in games.
Author:
Now that you mention it—R, your school’s sports days never had a folk dance program! After checking, it seems such events are much rarer now than they were 30 years ago.
Daughter R:
Huh… Walking hand-in-hand with a boy one-on-one feels kind of awkward.
Author:
That was true for me too—these events left almost no impression. I didn’t even feel awkward, so the folk dance in Tokimeki Memorial is what I remember best.
Husband S:
I haven’t danced folk dances since elementary school—my school was all boys… I found Mirou-chan’s low grades surprising. A bit unexpected.
Author:
She focuses intensely on beauty and aesthetics—completely indifferent to test scores.
Husband S:
Yeah—that surprise made it fun. It breaks from the typical “perfect character” mold, giving her a unique personality. When I realized she stopped getting angry even when our meeting times didn’t match—it gave me a real jolt. Before, if you were late, she’d complain no matter what—but suddenly, she became much calmer.
Author:
That’s where the humanity shines—she’s not a perfect “type.” My favorite Kinue Kanae once performed dangerous human substance transfer experiments at cultural festivals—an outlandish girl unlike others. But there are also reliable girls who feel safe to be with, and quiet ones who struggle to speak up.
By the way—what happened to the koala and student whose heads and bodies swapped after that experiment? Image Gallery No.028 thumbnail / “Tokimeki Memorial” Reiwa-era orientation. How did that “excitement” look back then? Listening to a new student in “Tokimeki Memorial Emotional”
Of course, each character has their unique traits as designed—but there’s also a pulse of life beneath the exaggerated personalities. Even small details—unexpected voice tones, subtle animations—contribute to that sense of realism.
While chatting with both of you, I felt it deeply. Any other moments in the game where you thought “this feels oddly realistic”?
Daughter R:
When maintaining relationships becomes strained if you neglect others—it’s not intentional, but real-life dynamics emerge: someone might start liking you unexpectedly, or negative rumors spread when things go poorly.
Author:
In-game, you can’t see the specific gossip content—just that “someone got hurt.” You don’t want to know—but you still do?
Daughter R:
Uh… I really don’t care (laughs).
Author:
Speaking of rumors—when interacting with other heroines, the impact on affection varies by character. Some react strongly and quickly; others are more forgiving. That’s where individuality shines.
Is it because you’re not bothered by outsiders’ opinions when you like someone? Or do you also enjoy the protagonist’s awkwardness? You can’t ask them directly—so we’ll never know.
Husband S:
True—people react differently to others’ actions.
Author:
The ability to express personality through stat changes—it’s amazing how it makes you feel the character. Re-experiencing this, I truly appreciate just how clever and impressive Tokimeki Memorial is.
[After Playing…]
Author:
Now, finally—how was your overall experience playing Tokimeki Memorial?
Daughter R:
Maintaining affection with all the heroines over three years of high school is tough. Since it’s a game from long before I was born—it’s naturally different from my own perspective. But that difference actually made it feel fresh and fun.
Playing made me deeply attached to the heroines, and now I understand why Mom loved going to live events. If Ayasai Yukiyo existed in real life—I’d absolutely want her as a friend!
Husband S:
Over three years of high school, meeting girls—and if things go well, you get confessed to at the end. The effort pays off, and that’s when she becomes your favorite. It’s because you’ve shared so many experiences with her over time.
The romance of someone waiting after school, asking to walk home together—it felt deeply romantic. If I’d played Tokimeki Memorial 30 years ago, I might have gotten so obsessed I neglected studying. Maybe it was good that I’m meeting Mirou-chan now (laughs). This game became a real catalyst for remembering my own distant high school days.
Author:
In this game, romance is undoubtedly important—but even more so is the high school life experience itself. Romance deepens within that framework. So I feel that “how to live your youth” is the central theme of this game. S, reflecting on your own high school days—do you have any thoughts?
Husband S:
There’s definitely nostalgia. Preparing for regular tests, cultural festivals, sports fairs—and deciding your future path based on past academic performance. Real life had many such events.
Author:
Like bumping into a very mature-looking girl in the hallway and suddenly developing feelings?
Husband S:
No—none of that ever happened during my high school years…
Daughter R:
Haha—I think I had a valuable experience through Tokimeki Memorial. It was fun imagining, “What if I went to another school—would my life have been like this?” It feels like peeking into the life of someone attending co-ed school during Heisei era.
Author:
I often imagined playing it myself, thinking: “If only I’d gone to a school like Shimmering High and met such wonderful girls…” What an enjoyable high school experience! While real-life Heisei-era schools weren’t exactly like this, the atmosphere, trends, and social dynamics are clearly reflected.
Both of you have been focused on Mirou-chan or Ayasai Yukiyo—but there were other heroines who didn’t appear much or get deeply involved. Any others catching your attention?
Daughter R:
I’ve been listening to Dad talk about Mirou-chan—she’s really intriguing now. We even went on a date.
Husband S:
Furiki-san. Her slow speech style is oddly fascinating.
Daughter R:
Fujisaki Shiori and Ijyuu Rei too—I’m curious about them!
Author:
Each one becomes more interesting the more you know them. Maybe it was only as an adult that I truly appreciated Yumi-chan’s charm.
Daughter R:
She’s Kousuke’s younger sister, right? She’s so cute! We went on a date—she was really nice!
Author:
Exactly! These heroines who didn’t appear in the main story also have their own unique charm. I truly hope you meet them all yourself. I’d love to introduce each one individually—but nothing beats discovering them firsthand.
With that, today’s orientation for Shimmering High School new students concludes. Thank you both!
[After the Orientation]
This project began with my wish as a current student—to hear fresh, first-time impressions of Tokimeki Memorial. I expected some generational gap between today’s students and me—but watching them play and listening to their thoughts, I realized that even for someone from 30 years ago, a sense of nostalgia is deeply woven throughout.
It wasn’t “old-fashioned” in a negative way—it was a new kind of nostalgia. Watching the new generation enjoy the era’s atmosphere, daily life, and enduring charm of the heroines, I could truly feel their heartfelt immersion in this shimmering high school experience. Seeing that, I realized once again: there’s still timeless “shimmer” across generations—proving Tokimeki Memorial remains worth experiencing today.
Perhaps Shimmering High School exists within everyone’s heart. If someone is hesitating at its door, I’d encourage them to just open it. When the bell rings, your new youth will surely begin.
Official website for Tokimeki Memorial ~forever with you~ Emotional