Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san

Seirei Academy is a prestigious school attended by the very best students in Japan. Alisa Mikhailovna "Alya" Kujou, the half-Russian and half-Japanese treasurer of the school's student council, is known for her intelligence, stunning looks, and rigid personality. Contrasting her near-flawless persona, Alya's unmotivated classmate Masachika Kuze slacks off during lessons and seems to show no interest in her.

Initially irritated, Alya gradually becomes more intrigued by Masachika and starts expressing her affection for him in Russian. However, she is oblivious to his secret—he understands the language fluently! Due to a childhood friend who was temporarily staying in Japan, Masachika has been studying Russian in hopes of reuniting with her.

As the two spend more time together, the playful and eccentric relationship between them quickly deepens. In the meantime, both must learn to navigate their new growing feelings for one another.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kujou, Alisa Mikhailovna Main

Uesaka, Sumire Japanese

Kuze, Masachika Main

Amasaki, Kouhei Japanese

Suou, Yuki Supporting

Maruoka, Wakana Japanese

Kujou, Maria Mikhailovna Supporting

Fujii, Yukiyo Japanese

Kimishima, Ayano Supporting

Aizawa, Saya Japanese

Miyamae, Nonoa Supporting

Aoyama, Yoshino Japanese

Sarashina, Chisaki Supporting

Kawase, Maki Japanese

Taniyama, Sayaka Supporting

Hasegawa, Ikumi Japanese

Kujou, Akemi Supporting

Inoue, Kikuko Japanese

Kenzaki, Touya Supporting

Ishikawa, Kaito Japanese

Kobayashi, Ryou Producer

Kamata, Hajime Producer

Arai, Kousuke Producer

Hasegawa, Shunsuke Producer

Reviews

Nov 19, 2024

sgaze

Recommended

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
Rating: 7/10

Some shows hook you with their premise, others with their execution. For me, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian falls somewhere in between. With its charming blend of tsundere antics, cultural quirks, and slow-burn romance, it’s the kind of anime that feels like a guilty pleasure—but one you don’t actually feel that guilty about.

The Premise: A Quirky Twist on High School Romance
The story revolves around Alisa Mikhailovna “Alya” Kujo, a half-Russian high school girl who hides her true feelings behind cryptic comments in Russian. Our protagonist, Masachika Kuze, is her laid-back, somewhat clueless classmate who understands every ... word she says—but keeps it to himself.

This setup isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s unique enough to stand out in the overcrowded high school romance genre. It’s a dynamic that creates plenty of fun misunderstandings, heartfelt moments, and just enough tension to keep you invested.

Why It Worked for Me
Alya’s Personality: Alya is a classic tsundere, but the Russian twist gives her character a refreshing edge. Her sharp tongue, coupled with her vulnerable moments when she thinks no one understands her, makes her endearing rather than overbearing.
The Russian Factor: Let’s be real—anime with multilingual elements is rare, and the inclusion of Russian adds a unique flavor here. The show doesn’t overuse it; it’s sprinkled in just enough to highlight Alya’s personality and background. Plus, hearing those soft Russian phrases? Chef’s kiss.
Masachika’s Chill Energy: Unlike the dense male leads we’ve come to expect in romance anime, Masachika is surprisingly perceptive (at least when it comes to Alya). His decision to keep his understanding of Russian a secret makes him more interesting—there’s a quiet cleverness to him that balances Alya’s fiery energy.
The Slow Burn: The show thrives on subtlety. It doesn’t rush the romance, instead letting the relationship grow through small, meaningful interactions. Every glance, every playful jab, and every rare moment of vulnerability feels significant.
Where It Stumbled
Limited Scope: The story is very character-focused, which is great—but it doesn’t do much to expand beyond its central duo. The side characters exist, but they rarely get meaningful development or time to shine.
Repetitive Humor: While the banter between Alya and Masachika is fun, it does get a bit repetitive. The same teasing dynamic plays out in different settings, and after a while, you start wishing for a little more variety.
Missed Opportunities: Alya’s Russian heritage is a great hook, but it isn’t explored as deeply as it could be. I wanted to see more about how her cultural background affects her relationships or her perspective, but the anime keeps it mostly surface-level.
How It Felt Watching It
Watching this anime was like enjoying a warm cup of tea on a chilly evening. It’s not the most intense or memorable experience, but it’s comforting and sweet in its own way. Alya and Masachika’s interactions kept me smiling, and there were even moments that made me pause and go, “Okay, that’s cute.”

That said, it’s not the kind of show that leaves a lasting impression. It’s enjoyable in the moment, but once it’s over, you might not feel compelled to revisit it.

Why I Gave It a 7/10
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian gets a 7/10 from me because it’s good—but not great. It’s charming, it’s fun, and it has a unique twist, but it doesn’t quite push itself far enough to stand out as something truly special.

It’s the kind of anime I’d recommend to fans of lighthearted romance or anyone looking for a relaxing watch with just a touch of cultural flair. But if you’re expecting a deep dive into character development or an unforgettable love story, you might walk away feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely—if you’re in the mood for something cute, simple, and slightly off the beaten path. Alya’s sharp wit and Masachika’s quiet charm make for a delightful duo, and the sprinkling of Russian culture adds just enough novelty to keep things interesting.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Nov 17, 2024

yenbarn

Mixed Feelings

What's with the hype? The cute chemistry was the only thing that kept me motivated, to say the least. But plot and story? Garbage. So, it started out interesting but then it progressively gets worser and appailing. I get it, they're cute together but c'mon, they didn't have to spend a whole 12 episodes talking about the same topic over and over again... Although the concept of this "hides her feelings in russian" was creative at first, it got boring and cringe as fuck as the time goes on. I suggest yall to wait for s2 and skip this useless s1. This took me ... DAYS to finish, if it was really that good stuff I would've finished it within a day. After all that hard work of speed running, this anime NEVER answered any of the plot holes. At the end, if you really wanna watch it for the fanservices or animations, go for it, it might be worth, somehow. But, NEVER watch for the plot or story, or else there weren't be any point of watching this.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Nov 4, 2024

Ragodo

Not Recommended

First two eps of "Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san'', i thought this would be an interesting Romcom anime with good humour and rememberable characters. However, the more i watched, the more dissapointed i became.

The fact that Alya is russian doesn't affect the story as much as it could, rather it just complements a few repetitive humorous scenes. Most of the comedy scenes in this anime are quite forced, repititive and bland. Things that carry this anime is probably the constant reliance on incest jokes.

Character building in this anime is quite decent. Most characters are fine except the 2 MC. Alya doesn't have ... any unique personality, she's like a bunch of tsundere characters from every anime out there. That makes her completely pale compared to some other characters ( Yuki, Masha,... ). Her development is also very lackluster as she relies entirely on another bad MC - Masachika Kuze - He is an otaku, living a carefree life and then revealing that he is a genius. Yeah, and anime didn't go the whole hog and trying to show him as a real genius by having him solve all of Alya's problems which made Alya the worst girl in this show. This anime has many potentials (like the relation between Arya and Marsha, Masachika and his childhood friend..) but it missed.

Art and music are phenomenal, especially the EDs that are covers from old songs. But it cannot save this anime from being the most disappointment this year.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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