Tokyo School Life



Tokyo School Life is a romantic Visual Novel developed by M2 and published by Dogenzaka Lab in 2015.

John Smith (default name) has just arrived in Tokyo, Japan for an exchange student program. He can't wait to experience his favourite culture (and meet cute girls, of course). However, he finds out Japanese girls are not complete stereotypes. Now, integrated into his hosts' "family", with an idol Tsundere, a shy Otaku and a hard-working pacifist, John will enjoy life to the fullest and fall in love, even with great challenges facing him.


 * Any Torment You Can Walk Away From: Downplayed. When John spills tea all over Aoi by accident, she's the one apologizing, even saying it must be good to take "tea baths."
 * Blatant Lies: In Chapter 1, at a bookstore, John and Sakura both want the last copy of a Samurai Maiden manga. Sakura comes up with an excuse: her little sister, who's in a hospital and is a big fan, wants it very badly. (Sakura is obviously an otaku; her lie is so transparent, even her eyes are lying.) John is completely fooled and gives the book to her.
 * Call Back: John recalls his optimistic words from the beginning about his expectations in Japan, when pissed at being kicked out of the dormitory.
 * Captain Obvious: The game is meant to be an introduction to modern Japanese culture, but is targeted at otaku. The information, as presented by the John, is seen by them as obvious and juvenile
 * Crash Into Hello: Discussed by John in Chapter 1, then played straight with him and Karin. Later in school, he barely avoids crashing into Aoi, but spills tea all over her.
 * Engrish: Sometimes, the girls says stuff in very accented English.
 * Foreshadowing: In Chapter 1 John wonders if Karin, the girl he bumped into on the way to school, is a model.
 * My God, What Have I Done?: (Aoi Route) Aoi, after beating up some no-good hoodlums and causing a scene at the shrine festival. Discussed later on.
 * Shown Their Work: John and Sakura know a lot about 1800s Japanese history. Justified In-Universe: they are fans of Samurai Maiden, which takes place in that time period. Downplayed in Chapter 1: John says he got some info from 'Nuipedia'.
 * Utsuge: Sakura's route,
 * What If: (In-Universe) Samurai Maiden's premise is as follows: what if the samurai Saigou Takamori... was a girl?
 * Yamato Nadeshiko: John mentions this twice to Aoi and to Sakura. They get embarrassed by the comparison.