Let’s make one thing clear: Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! is neither a boys’ love nor a yaoi series. Tagging this anime with either of those sub-categories only demeans both the progress and hard work that has been put into a show like this. In fact, I am shocked that it’s taken this long for an LGBTQ+ anime to deliver the quality that Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! seems to do with the greatest of ease. Whenever I sit and watch an episode, I have the urge to thrust my arms towards the TV and shout, “Was this so hard?!”

So why do I have such a reaction to Go For It, Nakamura-kun!!, and why do I believe it shouldn’t be given the BL/yaoi label? Well, to put it bluntly, it’s because it goes an incredibly normal route with its romantic comedy formula. But instead of a boy falling in love with a girl (or vice versa), it just so happens to have a guy in love with another guy. As a result, it makes this series a lot more accessible to people who normally wouldn’t watch an LGBTQ+ anime. Like what Will & Grace in the 1990s and Modern Family in the 2000s did, this anime tells a story that’s relatable to everyone rather than one singular demographic.

That story is about falling in love and hoping the other person has mutual feelings. The titular Nakamura (Chiaki Kobayashi) is smitten by his classmate Hirose (Yuki Sakakihara). However, Nakamura has extreme social anxiety, so merely speaking to anyone — let alone Hirose — is a challenge all in itself. But as the school days march on, and opportunities occur, Nakamura finds a way to get close to Hirose. Still, one question remains: can Nakamura win his crush’s heart?

Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! takes a familiar route with its storytelling. At first, Nakamura doesn’t even register on Hirose’s radar (or anyone else’s). As time goes on, he gets the chance to take to Hirose, be it about octopus trivia or his favorite band. However, it’s often a “one step forward, two steps back” situation with poor Nakamura, as his progress is interrupted by something embarrassing that pushes him back close to the starting line.

These moments help make the narrative all the more relatable. Whether you’re gay, bi, straight, or any other sexual orientation, how Nakamura acts and feels will make anyone watching this anime utter, “Yeah, I’ve been there.” Sure, the scenarios can be a tad over-exaggerated, but it helps make the more embarrassing situations of this anime more digestible. You may not want to admit it, but every person — even the most confident — has been like Nakamura once in a while.

And like in life, the powers that be may throw a bone to Nakamura when the time comes. A great example of this involves a school trip. What looks like another situation where Nakamura is separated from everyone, he soon finds himself exploring the city with Hirose, just the two of them. They chat, they bond, and they have a great time together. How it ends will make any viewer smile, as it gives the octopus-loving high schooler a much-needed win.

Not everything about Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! works. The addition of Matsumura (Kensho Ono) as a rival adds some awkward situations about both his and Nakamura’s obsession with Hirose. Sometimes, it leads to a good punchline, such as one involving a Christmas present. However, gags revolved around items once owned by Hirose may make some people raise an eyebrow or two.

Thankfully, there are so many other better stories told in this anime. It’s funny as hell that the fujoshi artist Hifumi (Fairouz Ai) somehow gets a crush on Nakamura, especially when she draws him and Hirose as good friends per his request. The school play episode gives our two leads the chance to share the stage, with Nakamura questioning his own sexuality when he sees Hirose’s sister being a great extra gag. Then there’s the occult club, with a haunted school narrative that feels like something you’d see in a classic anime.

This leads me to one of the best things about Go For It, Nakamura-kun!!: its animation. Studio Drive (Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister) perfectly crafts a style that’s akin to classic 1980s Showa rom-coms. The character designs, the color scheme, and the personalities all have this Rumiko Takahashi-like aesthetic that makes this anime look like a HD remastering of one of her older works. Add on to the fact that each episode ends with a different city pop jam (not to mention Yasuyuki Okamura & Kento Nakajima’s nostalgia-filled opener “Shunpatsuteki ni Koi Shiyo”), and you have an anime that you could travel back 40 years into the past, show it to a random Japanese person, and make them believe it’s something from their era!

I’ll repeat myself: Don’t call Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! a boys’ love or yaoi. It doesn’t deserve those labels. Instead, call it what it is: a super fun and truly funny rom-com that just so happens to have a gay lead. This is how you tell a proper LGBTQ+ story in the anime medium, one that entertains every viewer while giving a solid voice to a demographic that (sadly) still needs to remind people that they exist and should be treated as human. By the show’s end, even the most receptive person to these sorts of stories will find themselves shouting, “Go for it, Nakamura!”

Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! can be viewed on Crunchyroll, and has been licensed by Crunchyroll. Episodes 1-11 were observed for review. Promotional consideration provided by Crunchyroll.