Oregairu

Oregairu, short for Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru, is a Japanese light novel series written by Wataru Watari with illustrations by Ponkan8. It began as a web novel on the user-generated site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2010 and was later acquired by Dengeki Bunko, with the first light novel volume published in 2011. The series centers on Hikigaya Hachiman, a high school student whose cynical view of social life leads him to join the School Service Club along with Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama, where they address the problems of their classmates. The setting is the fictional Sobu High School in Japan.

Oregairu has been adapted into manga series and an anime television series. The anime, broadcast in three seasons, aired between 2013 and 2020 and helped broaden the series’ international audience. The narrative emphasizes realistic portrayals of teenage social dynamics, the tension between cynicism and sincerity, and themes of self-improvement, friendship, and the costs of helping others. The work has been praised for its sharp dialogue, character development, and nuanced examination of youth culture, while its tonal shifts and pacing have been points of critique. The franchise has also inspired spin-off light novels and other media, contributing to its enduring popularity within the light novel and anime communities.