Episode 1: All Girls Dorm with Outdoor Bath: Hot Spring

Synopsis

Long ago when Keitaro was only 5 or so, he made a promise with a girl to go to Tokyo U. They believed that they would live happily ever after. He's now 20, he has forgotten everything about the girl except for the promise and because of that, he is still trying to get accepted into Tokyo U. for the third time. At school, his two friends Haitani and Shirai tell him about a girl who's #1 in the nation. After a not-too-pleasant encounter with her, he goes to Hinata Inn.

He gets an uncustomary welcome to say the least, but eventually takes the job of the manager while having the residents believe he's a Tokyo U. student. At first, Keitaro is uneasy with deception, but his aunt Haruka tells him that it's okay. However, one of the residents, Naru, overhears Haruka's and Keitaro's conversation and realizes she's seen him at the prep school and quickly figures out that he's not a Tokyo U. student. But despite this revelation, she helps him keep the secret.

Screenshots

Notes and Background Info

• The phrase "Sakura Saku (Cherry Blossoms Bloom)" is used when somebody passes the tests for college. Alternatively, "Sakura Chiru (Cherry Blossoms Fall)" means that somebody failed. The origin of these short phrases were from back when sending messages by telegraph was charged by the character. One can figure that's the reason they used it for the intro song.
• Tokyo University is equivalent of Harvard University (or Columbia or Cornell =) ) here in the US, being that it's the best school in the nation. In our (US) culture, it would be extremely awkward for two 5 year-olds in the US to say "when we group up, let's go to Harvard and we'll be happy" (I know my teachers would kicked me in the ass and told me to go outside and play some more), the Japanese culture along with many Asian cultures would not view it as strange. In fact, there are some schools such as the private Keio University which offer "elevator" ascension. That means, if you're smart enough to be accepted into their kindergarten class, you'll "escalate" up to middle, high school, and college without further testing. Needless to say, it's pretty tough to get into that elementary school.
• There actually is a city named "Hinata" in the Shizuoka Prefecture (CNN even has it's weather forecast). I believe this is the city where Love Hina is set in, but not 100% sure (here's a map).
• Hot-springs are quite common around Japan, and there's even a few in Shizuoka. Since I've never been in one myself (although it's tempting), I can't really explain there, but here's a good web site giving an intro on them.

Comparison to Manga Version

• The whole dream about being a student, playing tennis, and having a wedding doesn't happen until chapter 16.
• Shinobu is already a resident of the dorm from the start (she has an encounter with Keitaro running around after being discovered by Naru in the hot spring).
• Keitaro's two buddies don't appear until chapter 2 and Keitaro doesn't encounter nerdy Naru until that chapter, *after* the hot spring incident.
• Instead of squinting, Naru picks up a pair of glasses in the hot springs.
• Motoko does leave for the camp, but that's after being very acquainted with Keitaro in chapter 7.
• Naru finds out that Keitaro is not a Tokyo U. student when she tossed him a trick question asking him how the lobster dinners are at Tokyo U. Keitaro responds, when in fact, there are no such dinners there.