Contents
Introduction
In the 2023 anime summer season, we get a Meji era Cinderella story—with a supernatural twist.
Step away from your regular shonen series and immerse yourself in the heartwarming journey of a mistreated and despondent girl as she rediscovers the path to happiness. This poignant yet heart-wrenching series will surely tug at your heartstrings, and will make you rethink about the true meaning of happiness.
But will true happiness result from an arranged marriage? This is what Miyo Saimori, the protagonist of My Happy Marriage, is about to find out.
A Historical Fairy Tale
My Happy Marriage is a historical Cinderella-esque fairy tale that depicts the life of Miyo Saimori, the firstborn daughter of a prominent family known for their supernatural abilities. Yet despite belonging in the upper class, Miyo’s life was nothing more than that of a servant who has barely anything to eat and only wears an old, tattered kimono.
Miyo being treated as a servant by her own family.
Angered at being forcibly separated from Miyo’s father due to his arranged marriage with Miyo’s mother, her stepmother has continuously abused her while her half-sister Kaya keeps on getting spoiled. Miyo’s father, who was shown to care for her at first, has lost all his interest in her after it was discovered that she has no supernatural abilities whatsoever. And in a family who placed a huge importance on supernatural abilities, it only meant one thing: Miyo was considered worthless.
When Miyo was nineteen, she was betrothed to Kiyoka Kudou, a military commander and the head of the powerful Kudou family who was also known for rumors about being able to scare away potential fiancées within three days since their first meeting. She was sent away from the Saimori estate, and with all the rumors surrounding Kiyoka, Miyo was nervous that she will be sent away to the streets.
Kiyoka Kudou, Miyo’s fiancé.
Kudo Meets Miyo | My Happy Marriage | Netflix Philippines
Miyo meets Kiyoka for the first time.
Miyo ends up in a quaint cottage in the woods, where Kiyoka lives alone. While the humble abode doesn't match the status of the powerful Kudou family, Miyo finds it comforting. The only other resident, Kiyoka's servant Yurie, proves to be a friendly presence for the young girl. However, when it comes to Kiyoka himself, he shows little interest in Miyo, and her constant apologizing starts to get on his nerves. Things take a turn for the worse when Miyo cooks breakfast, which Kiyoka refuses to eat, fearing it may be poisoned. Despite understanding his caution, she feels miserable. Wondering if she can ever gain his trust, Miyo feels guilty and insecure about her place in his life.
Fortunately, Yurie, Kiyoka's respected servant, intervenes and convinces him to keep Miyo around. Unlike the entitled previous candidates, Miyo's friendly and respectful personality makes her a favorable match. As time passes, Kiyoka warms up to her, yet remains baffled by her lack of self-confidence. Meanwhile, Miyo lives in fear of revealing her lack of talent and worries about her uncertain future, torn between the peaceful sanctuary she found and the potential rejection that looms over her.
The Potential Conflict
Although My Happy Marriage primarily revolves around a love story, its worldbuilding holds significant importance. In a world undergoing profound technological advancements, supernatural abilities are becoming increasingly rare, making individuals possessing such powers highly valued and sought after.
Miyo's mother hails from the enigmatic Usuba Clan, known for possessing supernatural abilities that can influence the human psyche. Little is known about this secretive family, making it all the more puzzling why a woman from such a background would enter into an arranged marriage with someone from the Saimori family.
Sumi Saimori, Miyo’s mother.
Conversely, Miyo's half-sister, Kaya, becomes infatuated with Kiyoka at first sight and is resolved to call off her own engagement to Kouji Tatsuishi, Miyo's childhood friend, just to be betrothed to Kiyoka instead. As the Tatsuishi family's interest in Miyo's lineage grows, they too are determined to claim her as their own. Meanwhile, Kaya and her mother resort to extreme measures, even pressuring Miyo to sever her engagement with Kiyoka.
In the meantime, ever since leaving the Saimori estate, Miyo has been plagued by recurring nightmares. Kiyoka senses traces of an ability within her, but its origin remains a puzzle.
As the story unfolds, numerous questions will find answers, and many mysteries lie in wait,so you should hurry up and explore the light novels—the very source material! To dive deeper into the enchanting world, you can acquire the light novels here at ZenPlus.
Popularity and Numerous Adaptations
My Happy Marriage is one of the most popular romance series right now in Japan, and its success has led to numerous adaptations, such as a manga adaptation, a high-grossing live action film, a stage play, as well as a high quality and highly successful anime adaptation.
My Happy Marriage | Official Trailer #2 | Netflix
The trailer for the anime adaptation.
While the anime and manga adaptations have been loyal to the structure of events in the light novel, the movie has combined the events in the first two volumes of the light novel to create an even more thrilling and cohesive cinematic experience. Starring Mio Imada and Ren Meguro, the live action movie has debuted at No. 1 on its opening day, and has earned 654 million yen in its first three days.
映画『わたしの幸せな結婚』予告【3/17公開】
A trailer for the live action movie.
映画『わたしの幸せな結婚』公開後PV ～過酷な運命篇～【大ヒット上映中】
Another trailer for the live action movie, which features more of the conflicts that happened in the second volume of the light novels.
My Happy Marriage is a tale of hope, love, and fantasy that you will surely enjoy. It may have taken Miyo quite some time to achieve her own happiness, but seeing such a pure and innocent girl grow into a much more confident and happier version of herself is a treat that everyone should experience.
What do you think?
Will Kiyoka and Miyo ever get married?
Does Miyo really not have supernatural abilities?
Will the Saimori family ever face karma for what they did to Miyo?
Let us know in the comments or drop us a line on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)! We’d love to hear from you!
ZenPlus is your one-stop shop for all things Japanese. Check out our marketplace for manga volumes, cosplay, figures, and other merch from the My Happy Marriage franchise!
You can watch My Happy Marriage exclusively on Netflix.
About The Writer
Cristy is a freelance artist and writer who has been obsessed with anime and manga since childhood. Her love for these imaginative worlds fuels her creative endeavors, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
