Hi Score Girl

***Hi Score Girl*** or ***High Score Girl*** (ハイスコアガール,  Hai Sukoa Gāru, ***ハイスコアガール***?) is a Japanese manga and anime series originally created by Oshikiri Rensuke, the creator of Misu Misō.

## Synopsis

The year is 1991 and 6th grader Yaguchi Haruo only has video games to live for. He's not popular in school and he's neither handsome, funny, nice nor even friendly. The only thing he has going for him is that he is good at video games. One day at the local arcade, he plays Ōno Akira, a fellow classmate but who's popular, smart, pretty, and a rich girl that absolutely destroys him at *Street Fighter II*. Not only does he lose to her 30 times in a row, but he also can’t beat her at any game. Haruo can’t seem to shake Akira off as she follows him from arcade to arcade every day after school and beats him every time. As weird as it sounds, the odd couple begins a strange bond and friendship.

## Characters

### Main characters

Haruo Yaguchi (矢口 春雄, *Yaguchi Haruo*)
Voiced by: Kōhei Amasaki (Japanese); Johnny Yong Bosch (English)
A young man who is dismal in various facets of life: He's not academic, not athletic, and not very attractive. The only thing he's got going for him is an insane amount of mad gamer skills. He rules the arcade scene as "Beastly Fingers Haruo", until he meets his match during a fateful encounter with Akira Ono while playing *Street Fighter II*. Undeterred, he seeks to challenge and one day out play her, considering her his rival. While he starts off as a snarky brat with an ego bigger than any winning streak he could rack up in *Street Fighter*, he eventually grows out of it. However, he never abandons his dedication and love for gaming, which almost borders on unhealthy obsession. On the bright side, this pure passion for gaming is what leads him to finding some of his closest friends.
Akira Ono (大野 晶, *Ōno Akira*)
Voiced by: Sayumi Suzushiro (Japanese); Christine Marie Cabanos (English)
The daughter of the Ono zaibatsu, Akira is rich, popular, and multi-talented – the polar opposite of Haruo. However, in attempt to escape the strict educational regimen she faces at home, she sneaks away every so often to play in game centers where she showcases her exceptional gaming skills. She initially encounters Haruo during a match of *Street Fighter II*, and from then on bonds with him over their mutual love for gaming. She never talks, and communicates solely through gestures and facial expressions. She also appears as a guest support character in *Million Arthur: Arcana Blood*.
Koharu Hidaka (日高 小春, *Hidaka Koharu*)
Voiced by: Yūki Hirose (Japanese); Erika Harlacher (English)
A girl who was introduced as a junior high classmate of Haruo's before attending an all-girl high school with Onizuka, initially introverted and spending much of her time studying alone before spending time with Haruo after her family store acquired a Neo Geo MVS. She became a more sociable person with an interest in gaming after spending time, her natural instinct for fighting games making her a force to be reckoned with. After a fateful showdown at her and Haruo's usual stomping grounds and due to her jealous nature, she developed a bit of a sadistic side whenever Haruo's around. Her skills garnered the attention of the "Mizonokuchi Force" leader, Nikotama, who helped Koharu truly awaken her love for fighting games. She ends up becoming a middle school teacher in the sequel series *Hi Score Girl DASH*.
## Media

### Manga

Oshikiri launched the manga in Square Enix's *Monthly Big Gangan* on October 25, 2010, and ended its serialization on September 25, 2018 in the tenth 2018 issue of the magazine. The series has been published in ten *tankōbon* volumes, with the first volume released on February 25, 2012, and the tenth and final volume released on March 25, 2019. Square Enix Manga & Books licensed the manga in English, with the first volume released on February 25, 2020. The December 2019 issue of *Monthly Big Gangan* announced that a spinoff manga titled *Hi Score Girl DASH* focusing on Koharu Hidaka, now a middle school teacher, would be in the magazine's next issue on December 25.

### Anime

*Monthly Big Gangan* announced in December 2013 that an anime adaptation was green-lit. The anime adaptation was confirmed to be a television series animated by SMDE, with production by J.C. Staff, in March 2018, and aired from July 13 to September 28, 2018. It is directed by Yoshiki Yamakawa and written by Tatsuhiko Urahata, featuring character designs by Michiru Kuwabata, and music by Yoko Shimomura. The series' opening theme song "New Stranger" was performed by Sora tob sakana, while the series' ending theme song "Hōkago Distraction" was performed by Etsuko Yakushimaru. Netflix streamed the anime on December 24, 2018 with an English dub. The series received 3 OVA episodes titled *Extra Stage* that premiered on March 20, 2019.

A second, nine episode long season aired from October 25 to December 20, 2019, with the staff and cast reprising their roles. The second season's opening theme song "Flash" was performed by Sora tob sakana, while the second season's ending theme song "Unknown World Map" was performed by Etsuko Yakushimaru. Season 2 premiered on Netflix on April 9, 2020 outside of Japan and China.

## Reception

It was number two on the 2013 Takarajimasha's *Kono Manga ga Sugoi!* Top 20 Manga for Male Readers survey. It was also nominated for the 6th Manga Taishō and the 17th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. It was number nine in the 2013 Comic Natalie Grand Prize.

As of December 30, 2012, volume 3 has sold 59,016 copies and as of July 7, 2013, volume 4 has sold 103,734 copies.

## Legal issues

On August 5, 2014, Osaka District Police searched the offices of Square Enix, the publishers of *Hi Score Girl*, acting on an IP violation claim by SNK Playmore stating that the manga allegedly features over 100 instances of characters from *The King of Fighters*, *Samurai Shodown*, and other fighting games. In response, Square Enix voluntarily recalled all printed volumes and temporarily suspended publication of future volumes and digital sales. However, the manga continued its run in *Monthly Big Gangan*.

In August 2015, it was reported that Square Enix and SNK Playmore had reached a settlement, cancelling the lawsuit and enabling the manga to be sold again in different formats.

## External links

* Hi Score Girl - Big Gangan - Square Enix
* Anime official site
* Hi Score Girl at MBS
* Twitter
* MyAnimeList (manga)
* MyAnimeList (anime)