Cozy and Queer: ‘Go for It, Nakamura-Kun!’ Episode 1 Review

“Love at first sight,” “puppy love,” “teen angst and longing.” All of these and more are apt and immediate descriptors for Syundei’s Go for it, Nakamura!, first published in Opera magazine in 2014. The manga follows Okuto Nakamura, a lovesick 15-year old high school freshman, and his crush, Aiki Hirose. There is just one tiny problem: Nakamura has never even spoken to Hirose, let alone made his feelings known. Shenanigans, as they want to do, ensue.

And many of them involve octopus. (Image via CrunchyRoll)

Let me start by saying boy love (BL) and slice-of-life are not my genre. I was interested in the challenge of approaching this work with a fresh eye, as a queer adult and anime fan. Experiencing not only this story, but any story of its kind, for the first time was a great turn from what I’m normally consuming and made for a very engaging first episode watch! Minor spoilers. Our story starts with Nakamura-kun in class, giving a monologue about having a crush on Hirose, his classmate. He then works up the nerve to ask Hirose out for coffee. . .

(Image via CrunchyRoll)

. . .in his head. Outwardly, Nakamura is awkward, terrified, and annoyed about it. Kobayashi Chiaki does a wonderful job voicing the character in three different planes: his outward, awkward self, his smooth and more confident fantasy self, and his disgruntled inner monologue. After what I’m learning is a “signature” awkward moment between Nakamura and his classmates, he goes home in complete despair over h…