This Monster Wants to Eat Me Episode 4 Review & Analysis

In Episode 3, we learned that Shiori is able to see yokai—supernatural beings that normal humans shouldn’t be able to see. Episode 4 goes even further and reveals more about Miko’s true nature. In this article, I’ll recap Episode 4 and break down the elements of uniquely Japanese culture that appear in the story, from a Japanese viewer’s perspective.

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This Monster Wants to Eat Me Episode 4 review

Tensions rise as Shiori and Miko look ready to fight at any moment. However, Hinako suddenly shows up, and the battle never begins. Hinako and Miko leave school together and stop by a café on their way home.

Meanwhile, feeling suspicious of Miko’s identity, Shiori sneaks into the teachers’ office and checks the student registry. While Miko is hanging out with Hinako, Shiori shows up again. She tells Hinako to stay away from Miko, then pulls out the student list and asks Hinako whether Miko is really her friend.

Hinako has always believed Miko was a childhood friend. But when Shiori asks whether Hinako has ever visited Miko’s home or met her parents, Hinako realizes she can’t recall a single thing. Even so, Hinako refuses to accept the idea that Miko isn’t human.

Shiori explains that yokai can use magic to blend into the human world. She tells Hinako that this is how Miko has slipped into everyday life. Hinako tries to approach Miko—but suddenly an explosion goes off, smoke fills the area, and the surroundings become impossible to see. When the dust settles, Miko is standing there in her fox-yokai form.

At the end of Episode 4, a bonus segment called “Watatabe High School” begins. This is an adaptation of the bonus comic featured at the end of Volume 1 of the manga. In this short story, Miko teaches Hinako how to cook, and Hinako eventually learns to make lunch on her own.

Thoughts & Analysis

One detail visible in the student registry scene is that Miko’s name comes right after Hinako’s. This is because, in Japan, attendance numbers are assigned based on the hiragana order of surnames. “Yaotose” comes before “Yashiro” when written in hiragana. These attendance numbers are used more often in Japan than you’d expect—for example, a teacher might say, “Okay, number 15, answer this question,” during class.

Another standout point in Episode 4 is the inclusion of the bonus segment. The name “Watatabe High School” comes from the Japanese abbreviated title of This Monster Wants to Eat Me—“Watatabe.” The bonus story is based on the bonus chapter from Volume 1 of the manga.

The food shown—tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet)—is a very typical Japanese dish.

The square frying pan seen in the episode is specially made for tamagoyaki. It’s often slightly sweetened and is such a staple that many convenience-store bento boxes include it. That’s how common it is in Japanese lunch culture.

There’s also a scene where Hinako and Shiori eat together, and Shiori is eating a sweet roll filled with whipped cream. In Japan, these whipped-cream-filled breads are super common and can be found at pretty much any convenience store. Variations include whipped cream with custard, or whipped cream with anko (sweet red bean paste). Anko is the same ingredient used in the popular Japanese snack taiyaki, which is well-known even abroad. If you visit Japan, definitely give it a try.

Another detail fans may notice is the special ending (ED). The illustration of Miko holding an ice cream cone was actually drawn by her voice actress. In Japan, foxes are said to cry “kon kon,” which is why that phrase appears in the song lyrics.

I’d also like you to check out the full-size video uploaded on YouTube.

The strange character that appears midway is a mascot of Iyo City in Ehime Prefecture—the setting of the series.

Just like sports teams overseas have official mascots, Japan has mascots for prefectures and cities. If New York had an official city mascot, it would be the same idea. Anime set in real locations can generate significant economic impact in those areas.

Will next week’s episode keep the special ED, or return to the original one?
And more importantly—what will happen in the inevitable showdown between Miko and Shiori?

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