S01E01: Two People Smoking Behind the Supermarket

Last Updated: THU Jul 9th, 2026 — NOTE: these guides have been written by Humans, not AIs.
All images © of their original ANIME right holders, used with the FAIR USE in mind. Suggestions to: reactguides@gmail.com

This EPISODE adapts and expands TWO MANGA chapters of VOL#1» Smoke#01 + Smoke#02

PART#1 - Intro - SASAKI+SUZUKI smoking

The anime starts with an original scene at Genki Trading —Sasaki’s awful workplace in the City. This sets the mood for his “supermarket escapism” theme: him, longing to watch Yamada’s smile at the end of the day.

INTERESTING DETAILS & FUN FACTS

» Sasaki has a portable ashtray, something that might remind us of something that happens later with “Tayama”.

» Suzuki (he wears a wedding ring BTW) mentions a smoking launge downstairs, that will be shown later… and on EP5, during June’s terrible heat wave.

» Their boss never gets to be named, and of course, his obsession with endless meetings will be a recurring theme all along.

» Sasaki takes another cigarette by “bumping up” the box from below, a sort of ritual for him that will be featured later on.

OPENING TRIVIA

The song “Fig Smoke” (Ichijiku Kemuri”) by Zutomayo replaces the previous version from the miniepisodes: “Kuzuri Nen” (Wolverine), also by Zutomayo.

Did you notice…?

OPENING FUN FACTS & TRIVIA

» Sasaki and other veteran customers buy so much of them, that Yamada has to be resupplying Rice crackers often!!!

PART#2 Genki Trading & back home

Sasaki tries his best and helps the newbies even. Such a heart of gold!

Did you notice…?

• The (ficticious) nearest train stop from the Supermarket S (and Sasaki’s home) is the Moromoro Station.

• This Konbini (convenience 24/7 store) is nowadays called simply “Super S” —BUT had another name in the past.

• Sasaki often buys fish meals when they are discounted at 50% (see at the opening also). You can tell because they have TWO discount stickers, one on top of another.

TRIVIA: the OKAKI Crackers

OKAKI, the best snack according to… SASAKI!🌾

These are crackers made of glutinous fried rice with a crunchy exterior & chewy interior. Typically seasoned & savory, they pair well with green tea or even beer 🍵🍺
Yamada first considers them a “granny snack”… will she like them though❓

EXTRA TRIVA: they are made by a fictitious company named Haruyoshi confectionaries.The name comes from a neighbourhood in Fukuoka, well-known for its dessert spots and stylish cafés.

AT THE MANGA, the FIRST Smoke really starts HERE --->

This first supermarket scene has been greatly expanded to show us all his shopping process.

The fidelity points Card (red with a white P) is another important detail within these first stories.

» He buys for a total of 883 yen, that’s only 5,5 dollars. Even if he came daily needlessly, we are talking about less than 200$ of extra expenses each month. Certainly not enough to lead him to bankruptcy…

NOTE: the ticket shows how he bought Okaki crackers (199¥) two beers (452¥), a discounted squid prepared dish (164¥) and paid for a plastic bag (3¥). Plus taxes (always). 🤑

Yamadas multiply in Sasaki’s imagination, much like the Matrix’s Agent Smith… hahahahahaha

• He thinks of gifting her favourite cashier a bag of OKAKI crackers, as a token of appreciation.
• Isn’t his revered Yamada is a bit of an obsession for him?
(See this rare frame on the outside of the Supermarket). He tries to control it, though.

PART3 - Next day, back at the Office and later

Again a late meeting —till midnight!!— to make Sasaki and his colleagues feel miserable!

» He is so angry that we hear a rare thought coming from the usually kind Sasaki: “I’ll kill him!” —no you can’t.

» NEW CHARACTER. This is the first time we see ONO, the oldest cashier in the Super.

» As it’s generally forbidden to smoke at the streets in Japan, the reaction of passers-by watching Sasaki with a cigarette is quite expected. It must be quite difficult to find a place to smoke in some areas, at times.

PART4 – Meeting Tayama

Everything starts with a “Hey Mister!” from this “mysterious” woman.

The “Behind the Supermarket” part of the title starts to make sense now. There are some crates or big boxes that serve as chairs, a vending machine and a big standing ashtray. A big rear door to enter the Super (with windows) and some pallet jack.

Not the most romantic setup, true… but our pair will make the most of this soulless place.

TAYAMA » her quirks and outfits

» “Tayama” is quite stylish and is always working on her looks & outfit, as we’ll observe along the series. It might be a great discussion theme if you feel like to talk about it on your content.

» She can be very straightforward, but somehow she is also embarrased of certain things. Pay attention to those two sides of her. 🎭

» Teasing and making fun of Sasaki… is also part of the appeal of inviting him to come smoke there.

» Tayama will talk about Yamada quite often. Discussing why does he admire her so much, is much of a pick-me-up topic, for obvious reasons. But will that conversation evolve into something else?

» ONLY ON THE MANGA [Extra Story 1]. At first Yamada talks with Ono about the possibility of Sasaki being a creep —as many others she met. So part of her conversation here relies on a strategy, to try to determine if he is (or not) a scumbag.

“Keep it classy, Sasaki-san!”

PART 5 - She's at the checkout

Why does Sasaki not recognize Yamada?

» He is quite naïf and believes her when she starts to talk about Yamada as another entirely different cashier. (He might have asked if they were sisters though).

» As Yamada, she talks in a different voice tone (more mellow), and does not usually open her eyes much.

» She also covers her piercings with bandages; her neck mole with the choker; and shortens her hair, arranged in a different style!

» Yes, he still should recognize her, but you know… this is what the story should be for now.

FUN FACT: the voice actress is of course the same for Tayama & Yamada. She has to work a “double shift”!

Oh how her voice tone and expression changes now!!!!

⚠️ —Here ends the first MINI-EPISODE (1) on the short version of the anime!
(Also this other half adapts the 2nd SMOKE of the MANGA).

EPISODE 2nd HALF - Part 6 On Genki Trading Smoking Launge 

On Genki Trading at their Smoking Lounge

Yes the boss favorite torture: meetings without end. Someone even “suggest” that someone ruins the meeting with some crazy breakdown —that’d not be Sasaki anyway.

Because Sasaki has his pick-me-up in mind! But Tayama has been teasing him for revering Cashier#2 Yamada!

What sound makes an automatic supermarket door?

MANGA FUN FACT: you might say “Fshoosh…?”

But for Jinushi (the mangaka) supermarket doors have a different ring to them. He states at the end of VOLUME 1: «I’M So Confident That The Sound For Those Supermarket Sliding Doors Is FWUMP, I’d Stake My Life On It.»

Part 7 - Again at the Supermarket and out

Again, buying Rice Crackers Sasaki?

An excuse to see Yamada again. Although this time he is a bit more embarrassed, thinking Yamada knows from Tayama he is a fan.

Also: what is with the 883¥ ticket total again… does he always buy the same things?
(Probably a mistake from the anime).

» Oh Yamada, let us buy here again!

She’s his saint, with full devotion…🕯️

«Please, allow us to feel worthy of your admiration, oh revered Yamada» 🙏
«And Tayama, lead us NOT into temptation…» 😈

Part 8 - Back at Genki Trading, late in the evening.

» The newbie who is she?

Apparently this “rookie” is the girl with short dark brown hair we see in the old Opening (miniepisodes), apologising. She is a graduate student that has recently entered the company. She will be a recurrent side character on Sasaki’s workplace, under his wing. (And someday, only someday, we will see her face and name revealed!)

Also: Sasaki thinks she is having a hard time, so he is doing his best to fix her spreadsheet… except, he reverts to the last saved version and has to stay late? (Suzuki just wants to get drunk later that night).

Part 9 - Supermarket and back again

At this late hour, Yamada is out, and Ono replaces her at checkout #2

Sasaki does not know much about the shifts, but he isn’t too late to meet Tayama again, is he?

‘Sup?

» Tayama talking for Yamada and viceversa… a common and mischievous practice that we’ll see often in the anime/manga

They are a huge hit among the old folks… but f you want to know if she really enjoys those, just pay attention to the next scenes!

Also some notes on that happens next:

» Yamada is feeling peckish after a whole shift, so she goes for the late snacking.
» Sasaki is starting to see her as the “subverting expectations girl”, falling for some kind of “charm” —different to that of Yamada.
» But Sasaki doesn’t usually get her other “subversive” (or rather insinuating) gestures, like giving him a taste of her cigarette.

MANGA panels:
» here Tayama uses the expression “stress-relief guy” talking to a sulking Sasaki.

» So she likes the fun time with Sasaki —and his admiration towards Yamada gets her spirits lifted, a true double “pick-me-up” thingy.

“So don’t sulk, and come by again Mr. Sasaki!”

LAST PART of the EPISODE

Suzuki also loves crackers!?

» You might whine all you want Suzuki, because you really don’t mind eating those again and again… right?
(Even taking some for your beloved wife Keiko and daughter, Megumi).

OKAKI for everyone, house invites! —or rather Sasaki.

» Again, Sasaki is happily surprised Yamada has been snacking the “mochi rice yummy crackers”.

» A mischievous Tayama must have shared them with her! 😈 😉

We love this chibi versions of the “two besties”!

Also this gives us a glimpse into Sasaki’s mind: how he perceives them as two different women with their different expressions, voices and accessories!!

When they talk about you, you always sneeze on an anime, remember?

Both Yamada first, then Sasaki, get mentioned by the other, resulting in the comical “anime cliché” of a sneeze.

So yes, some dense geezer out there is daydreaming about her…

END of the EPISODE #01 GUIDE

NEW ED.Song «Fiction» by IMASE

Interesting FUN FACT: on the poster at the wagon wall, the ad says: «A single slice of life»… PUN intended! 😝

OLD Ending TRIVIA#1
Who is with Yamada, while she eats her OKAKI crackers?

Solution: on the next GUIDE.
Next: EPISODE 2 will adapt manga chapters 3+4+6+5 (in that order, yeah)

Support us… so we can keep writing these guides each week.

🐧 FOLLOW us (For Free) on our Patreon and/or X profiles (Reactguides).

🪙 Tipping us a donation or subscribing as member of Buy me a Coffee!
(We’ll post the BEST IMAGES of EPISODE 1 in 4K quality there… for all members AND supporters)

Wait for the GUIDE of EP2: around JUL 16-17th 2026.