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Welcome to the NHK (NHK ni Youkouso), first broadcast in 2006, is a fantastic series that mockingly celebrates deviant cultures versus their “normal” counterparts in modern Japan. This bizarre celebration is presented through a narrative focusing primarily on the protagonist Sato Tatsuhiro, those around him, and the struggles they face—at the center of which is Sato’s concerning status of hikkikomori.

A hikkikomori is different from an otaku, a term you’re probably familiar with; the former is a person who refuses to work or spend much time outside the safety of their abode due to their inability to cope with society and pressure, consequently becoming more ... and more confined to their quarters and less connected with the world. Their abundance is becoming a real problem, and not just in Japan—in England, such individuals are called NEET’s (Neither Employed, Educated, or Trained).

For Sato, overcoming this status (which he blames on a conspiring organization known, oddly enough, as the NHK) is conducted by those around him: his endeavoring savior Misaki, his otaku neighbor Yamazaki, his enigmatic senpai Hitomi, and various others. These characters are incredibly dynamic, changing as Sato himself changes; you laugh with them, cry with them, and really get to ‘know’ them, an aspect many shows’ characters lack. This cast of Welcome to the NHK is truly what makes the show fantastic, along with its plot, a witty, darkly-comedic satire on aspects of Japan’s quirky culture and a touching, ‘slice-of-life’ chronicle of Sato’s struggle.

In the animation department, Gonzo gives us nothing special. The animation is nothing out-of-the-ordinary or anything avant-garde, background characters are simplified as usual, and there aren’t many high-octane action scenes which would require anything intense or careful. However, due to the nature of the show, such normalcy is acceptable.

The sound is another fantastic element of the show, though. The soundtrack (which I strongly suggest you give a listen) is a superb mix of minimal bluesy acoustic stuff, grungy J-rock, creepy minimalism, and progressive J-pop. All four opening and ending themes are great, my personal favorite being the second ending theme, "Modokashii Sekai no Ue de" by Yui Makino. The voice actors, for the most part, are spot on. Sato’s voice actor, Koizumi Yutaka, does a particularly fantastic job, which for me was reminiscent of Sugita Tomokazu, Kyon’s seiyuu in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

All in all, Welcome to the NHK is a solid anime definitely worth watching. It is certainly one of 2006’s best non-seinen titles, and a fantastic show to kick back with after a long day.