Dear Brother

Top Cast

Hiroko Kasahara as Nanako Misonô
Keiko Toda as Kaoru "Kaoru no Kimi" Orihara
Kenyu Horiuchi as Takashi Ichinomiya
Mami Koyama as Fukiko "Miya-sama" Ichinomiya
Masako Katsuki as Aya Misaki
Sakiko Tamagawa as Mariko Shinobu
Sumi Shimamoto as Rei "Hana no Saint-Just" Asaka
Tessyo Genda as Takehiko Henmi
Waka Kanda as Tomoko Arikura
Kotono Mitsuishi as N/A

Seasons

Season 1 (1991)

It’s Nanako’s first day at Seiran Academy, a prestigious all-girl’s high school famous for its exclusive and elegant “Sorority.” Only ten members will be accepted this year, and competition is fierce! Despite seeming fairly unremarkable on the surface, Nanako is selected as a member – instantly making her a target for her jealous and angry classmates. But the bullying doesn’t stop Nanako from forming friendships with the three most popular students, and even falling in love.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: The Magnificent Ones (1991-07-14)

Nanako has her first day at Seiran Academy.
Ep. 2: The Glass Slippers (1991-07-21)

Mariko looks out for Nanako before class, and shoves Tomoko out of the way when she finds Nanako. Fukiko comes to Nanako's class and announces three Sorority candidates.
Ep. 3: Nanako, Disqualified? (1991-07-28)

An insulting note is posted about Nanako's candidacy for the Sorority on the school bulletin board.
Ep. 4: The Music Box (1991-08-04)

Despite missing the selection party, Nanako has her interview, and humiliates herself.
Ep. 5: Thorns of Suspicion and Doubt (1991-08-11)

Nanako sees Kaoru stop Rei from taking some pills.
Ep. 6: Lost and Alone (1991-08-18)

The bullying continues. Nanako's gym uniform is stolen and cut to shreds, and Tomoko won't lend Nanako hers.
Ep. 7: The Darkness in the Clock Tower (1991-08-25)

Depressed from her classmates' bullying, Nanako goes to the school's clock tower to spend some time alone.
Ep. 8: I Want You (1991-09-01)

Mariko tries to warn Tomoko off Nanako again, but Kaoru comes by and stops her.
Ep. 9: Relapse, Broken Heart (1991-09-08)

Kaoru collapses from chest pains, so Nanako tries to fetch painkillers from Rei.
Ep. 10: Mariko... (1991-09-15)

Mariko refuses to eat anything until Nanako forgives her, but Nanako is giving her the silent treatment.
Ep. 11: Under the Elm Tree... (1991-09-22)

The Sorority members have a special study session at Fukiko's house.
Ep. 12: The Scar (1991-09-29)

Nanako calls Kaoru to help take care of Rei.
Ep. 13: A Tale of Double Suicide (1991-10-06)

Rei is well enough to go back to school. She confronts Fukiko, but is made docile with a few words.
Ep. 14: The Secret Door (1991-10-27)

Nanako desperately tries to escape from Rei, but fails.
Ep. 15: Fukiko, the Sea Rumbles (1991-11-03)

A Sorority member named Junko Nakaya fails one of her exams due to having been seriously ill, so Fukiko orders her to resign.
Ep. 16: Comeback (1991-11-10)

It is Kaoru's first basketball game since her illness, and she is determined to win.
Ep. 17: Postscript (1991-11-17)

Nanako realizes that she has fallen in love with Rei, but is too nervous to say anything.
Ep. 18: Into the Dream (1991-11-24)

After Nanako accidentally misses her bus stop, Rei takes her to the park.
Ep. 19: The Transient Game (1991-12-08)

Rei refuses to react after hearing Nanako's confession and begins to intentionally avoid her, breaking Nanako's heart.
Ep. 20: The Gardening Shears (1991-12-15)

Nanako and Tomoko decide to go to Takehiko's university fair.
Ep. 21: The University Festival (1991-12-22)

Nanako, Tomoko, and Mariko go the University Fair with Takehiko and Takashi, Fukiko's older brother.
Ep. 22: A Summer Day's Serenade (1991-12-29)

Mariko and Nanako are invited by Fukiko to her country house for the weekend to help her prepare for her birthday party.
Ep. 23: The Forbidden Gift (1992-01-12)

Home from the lake house, Fukiko and Rei visit Ms. Asaka's grave on the anniversary of her death, three years ago.
Ep. 24: Encore (1992-01-19)

Confused by the events of the party, Rei inquires of Takashi as to why the song upset Fukiko.
Ep. 25: The Scarlet Lipstick (1992-01-26)

Rei reminisces about the first time she met Fukiko, remembering how, even as a child, her pride had still been admirable.
Ep. 26: Proof: Snow for the Two of Us Alone (1992-02-02)

Rei reflects on that double suicide pact that she and Fukiko made shortly after Rei's mother committed suicide.
Ep. 27: Mariko's Incident of Bloodshed (1992-02-23)

Mariko's parents are divorcing and she is traumatized, spending the night at Nanako's home to try coping.
Ep. 28: The Christmas Candles (1992-03-01)

Everyone desperately looks for the missing Mariko, fearing for the worst.
Ep. 29: The Student Assembly (1992-03-08)

At the Student Assembly, Kaoru asks for the abolition of the Sorority.
Ep. 30: The Petition (1992-03-15)

Two Sorority members, Ogiwara and Komabayashi, persuade Aya's friends, Miyuki and Megumi, to steal and burn the petitions.
Ep. 31: The Bad Apple (1992-03-22)

The Sorority members are getting scared as the Petition gains movement and their own members begin signing it.
Ep. 32: Pride: The Last Meeting (1992-03-29)

Fukiko continues to pretend that nothing is wrong.
Ep. 33: Soaring (1992-04-05)

Rei dreams of her mother's death, in which Ms. Asaka reveals that Fukiko is her child as well.
Ep. 34: Ablution (1992-04-12)

Nanako waits for Rei to pick her up for their date, but soon, everyone finds out about Rei.
Ep. 35: The Shore of Dreams (1992-04-19)

The school attends Rei's funeral. Fukiko accepts all of the guests with dignity.
Ep. 36: Fireflies, Burning with Love... (1992-04-26)

Two weeks after Rei dies, it is the summer holidays.
Ep. 37: Merry-Go-Round (1992-05-03)

Kaoru tells Nanako that she broke up with Takehiko because of her illness and mastectomy, and that Nanako is really Takehiko's stepsister.
Ep. 38: Yes (1992-05-10)

Takehiko is about to leave for Germany, so Kaoru intends to leave him behind for good.
Ep. 39: A Lingering Fragrance (1992-05-17)

Fukiko has a hallucination where Rei encourages her to find true love.