TV-Series
Description
Kōta Hasegawa is a second-year high school student and the main protagonist of the series. He was raised by his grandmother, who gave him a Pompompurin plush toy when he was young. He treasured the doll deeply, but after his grandmother passed away, he sealed away the memories associated with it and hid his fondness for the character out of embarrassment. Initially, he is a reserved and somewhat self-conscious boy who keeps his love for cute things a secret, believing that it does not fit the image of a typical high school boy. His personality is often described as gentle and soothing, with a strong capacity for empathy; he is quick to notice the feelings of those around him and offers emotional support without hesitation. Despite his outward kindness, he struggles with insecurity and a lack of direction, especially regarding his own dreams, such as his quiet ambition to become a fashion designer.
His motivations shift over the course of the story. At first, he simply wants to avoid drawing attention to his interest in Sanrio characters, but after meeting his classmates Yuu Mizuno and Shunsuke Yoshino, who openly embrace their own fandom, he begins to question his own shame. The pivotal change comes when he confronts the grief of his grandmother’s death and allows himself to properly mourn and accept her loss. This emotional resolution enables him to affirm that he genuinely loves Pompompurin, though he still retains a trace of shyness as a normal teenage boy.
In the narrative, Hasegawa serves as the anchor around which the group of friends forms. His initial encounter with Yuu and Shunsuke, who are unapologetically themselves, sparks the chain of events that brings together the five main characters. He also acts as a grounding presence among the more eccentric members of the group, often trying to keep them from getting overexcited about limited-edition merchandise or Sanrio events. His key relationships include a close friendship with Yuu, whose confidence inspires him, and a mutual respect with the older, composed Seiichiro Minamoto. With Shunsuke, he shares a more cautious but loyal bond, and he gradually helps the younger Ryo Nishimiya become more comfortable with his own interests.
His most notable development is his journey from hiding a part of himself to openly embracing it, which mirrors the overarching theme of self-acceptance. He does not possess any supernatural abilities, but his emotional intelligence and reliability make him a natural mediator within the group. By the end of his arc, he has matured into someone who can both honor his grandmother’s memory and enjoy the friendships that grew from the very hobby he once tried to conceal.
His motivations shift over the course of the story. At first, he simply wants to avoid drawing attention to his interest in Sanrio characters, but after meeting his classmates Yuu Mizuno and Shunsuke Yoshino, who openly embrace their own fandom, he begins to question his own shame. The pivotal change comes when he confronts the grief of his grandmother’s death and allows himself to properly mourn and accept her loss. This emotional resolution enables him to affirm that he genuinely loves Pompompurin, though he still retains a trace of shyness as a normal teenage boy.
In the narrative, Hasegawa serves as the anchor around which the group of friends forms. His initial encounter with Yuu and Shunsuke, who are unapologetically themselves, sparks the chain of events that brings together the five main characters. He also acts as a grounding presence among the more eccentric members of the group, often trying to keep them from getting overexcited about limited-edition merchandise or Sanrio events. His key relationships include a close friendship with Yuu, whose confidence inspires him, and a mutual respect with the older, composed Seiichiro Minamoto. With Shunsuke, he shares a more cautious but loyal bond, and he gradually helps the younger Ryo Nishimiya become more comfortable with his own interests.
His most notable development is his journey from hiding a part of himself to openly embracing it, which mirrors the overarching theme of self-acceptance. He does not possess any supernatural abilities, but his emotional intelligence and reliability make him a natural mediator within the group. By the end of his arc, he has matured into someone who can both honor his grandmother’s memory and enjoy the friendships that grew from the very hobby he once tried to conceal.