Parents' Guide to

The Way of the Househusband

TV Netflix Anime 2021
The Way of the Househusband Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Amanda Dyer , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Japanese animated comedy has bloody imagery, swearing.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 10+

Light hearted comedy suitable for teens

I personally absolutely love this show, so I showed it to my 10 year old daughter. It's light-hearted, funny and the jokes are easy for mature/teens to understand. There is swearing in the English dub, we watched it in Japanese though and Japanese doesn't actually have profanity like English does, but the English subs translate the Japanese into swearing, so keep that in mind if you don't want swearing around your kids. It challenges gender roles, tatsu is never made fun of for being a house husband and the characters all appreciate his quirks.
age 12+

What's the Story?

A powerful yakuza member, formerly known as the "immortal Tatsu," has given up his life of crime to pursue a new noble career in THE WAY OF THE HOUSEHUSBAND. No longer fighting rival gangs, disposing of bodies, and making shady deals, Tatsu (Kenjirô Tsuda) now spends his days fighting wine stains, sorting recyclables, and finding good deals at the supermarket. Although Tatsu loves his new life, caring for his hardworking wife Miku (Shizuka Itô), he has yet to shake his intimidating yakuza demeanor.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (5 ):

This Japanese animated comedy based on a comic strip uses choppy movement and static shots as if the comic panels have been given some simple animation, a style that makes the series feel unfinished. Despite The Way of the Househusband's rigid animation style (which does have its own charm), the characters' overdramatic reactions and silly scenarios are fun and funny. It's also heartwarming to watch Tatsu discover new activities that he enjoys and new friends he makes in his community.

Although the show's humor is easy to follow, a certain level of knowledge of both Japanese culture and the yakuza are necessary in order to understand all the jokes. The violence is minor, but the level of profanity in the series isn't appropriate for younger viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about profiling. How much of the way the people in the community and the police treat Tatsu is because of how he looks? Why do you believe they act this way? How does this negatively affect Tatsu and his wife?

  • In The Way of the Househusband Tatsu has many hobbies that he does to stay creative and active. What activities do you do that are creative? What are some ways you and your family can stay active together?

  • Explore the idea of reform. How do the criminals in the series change their lives for the better? Is it possible for a former criminal to completely turn away from a life of crime? How do you practice forgiveness for past mistakes?

TV Details

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