The BEST episodes of Chibi Maruko-chan season 1
Every episode of Chibi Maruko-chan season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Chibi Maruko-chan season 1!
Chibi Maruko-chan is a shōjo manga series by Momoko Sakura, later adapted into an anime TV series by Nippon Animation, which originally aired on Fuji Television from January 7, 1990 to September 27, 1992. The series depicts the simple, everyday life of a little girl nicknamed Maruko and her family in suburban mid-seventies Japan. The series is set in the former city of Shimizu, now part of Shizuoka City, birthplace of its author.
#1 - Maruko Goes to a Southern Island (Part 2)
Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 8/12/1990
Blue skies, wide seas, and Maruko is thrilled. She even becomes friends with Psady, and the week flies by in no time at all. After a sad farewell, Maruko returns to Japan and hands out souvenirs to the family…
#2 - Mother’s Day
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/13/1990
Mother’s Day is coming soon. Maruko wants to give her mom a present straight from the heart—but when she checks her piggy bank, she finds she only has 250 yen.
#3 - Citizens Tirelessly Prepared for Evacuation Drills / Maruko Gets Her Report Card
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/18/1990
With spring vacation just around the corner, Maruko and her friends are all wondering about their report cards. When she hears that some kids get rewards from their parents for good grades, Maruko can’t help feeling envious. She decides she ought to ask for something too.
#4 - The Phantom ‘Tsuchinoko Company’ / Maruko Loves Getting Ready for Field Trips
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/25/1990
When Tama-chan says she saw the legendary snake-like creature known as the tsuchinoko, everyone accuses her of lying. Maruko dramatically defends her—“The tsuchinoko is real!”—and moves the class to tears. But in truth, all she really wants is the reward money promised for finding one. So she and Tama-chan set off in search of it.
#5 - Maruko Appears in the School Play
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/27/1990
For the school arts festival, Maruko’s class is putting on The Old Man with the Wen. Roles are assigned by lottery, and Maruko ends up cast as the neighboring old man.
#6 - A Woeful Valentine’s Day / Hanawa Enters a Children’s Singing Contest
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/25/1990
Hanawa-kun is going to appear on a televised children’s singing contest. The whole class is buzzing with excitement, and Maruko and her friends decide they ought to go cheer him on in person.
#7 - Maruko Gets a Stomachache at School
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 6/24/1990
Maruko wakes up unusually early, sneaks food from the kitchen, and nearly ends up late anyway. Because she wolfs down food and then sprints full speed to school, her stomach starts hurting once she gets there.
#8 - Maruko Goes to a Southern Island (Part 1)
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 8/5/1990
Grandpa wins the top prize in a shopping district raffle. The prize is none other than “A Trip to a Southern Island.” By pure chance, no one else in the family can go, so lucky Maruko gets the spot. After a comical journey mixed in with a bunch of grown-ups, she finally arrives on the island.
#9 - Maruko Still Goes to School During Summer Vacation
Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 7/29/1990
Tomorrow is the school attendance day during summer break. Maruko, who has lately been sleeping until nearly noon, gets so worried about whether she’ll wake up on time that she can’t fall asleep at all…
#10 - The Bath at Maruko’s House Breaks / The Old Man’s Magic Cards
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 7/22/1990
The first school term ends today, and summer vacation begins tomorrow. Maruko drags home all her school things in one enormous bundle. On the way home, beneath a tree, an old man is selling something rather mysterious.
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#11 - Maruko Gets a New Umbrella / Maruko’s Summer Memories
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 7/15/1990
Fed up with the endless rainy season, Maruko is overjoyed when her mother buys her a brand-new umbrella that opens at the push of a button. But the very next day the weather turns beautifully sunny.
#12 - The Pool Opens
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 7/1/1990
Tomorrow is the first day of swimming class. Even though she can’t swim 25 meters to save her life, Maruko makes a huge fuss over wanting a new school swimsuit and eyedrops and all sorts of other things…
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#13 - Maruko’s Toothache / Oh, the Dreaded Physical Exam
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 6/17/1990
Tomorrow is the dreaded day of the school physical exam, which Maruko hates more than anything. Self-conscious about being short, she starts making utterly pointless efforts to grow even one extra centimeter.
#14 - A Great Flood Hits Maruko’s Town
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 6/10/1990
Maruko is disappointed that her precious Sunday is ruined by rain. But the rain only gets heavier and heavier—until, unbelievably, a flood warning is issued for the whole town.
#15 - Maruko Wants a Little Bird / Maruko Holds a Birthday Party
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/29/1990
Ever since seeing baby Java sparrows at her grandmother’s house in Shizuoka, Maruko has been completely smitten. Normally she gives up on things quickly, but this time she tries every trick in the book and finally gets one. While training it to perch on her hand so she can show it off to her friends…
#16 - Maruko Gets Appendicitis / Maruko Has Her Fortune Told
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/22/1990
Up until one minute earlier, Maruko’s day had been perfectly peaceful. Then her stomach suddenly starts hurting terribly. She tells the whole family, but no one believes her. Never has Maruko regretted her usual unserious face more than in that moment, as she struggles to make anyone understand just how much pain she’s in.
#17 - Maruo-kun Finally Runs in the Class Representative Election
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/15/1990
At the start of the new term, Maruo-kun enters the class representative race and is openly determined to beat Ebisu-kun. Meanwhile, Maruko is caught completely off guard when she’s unexpectedly nominated too.
#18 - The Longing for a Nosebleed / Home Alone Together
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/8/1990
Maruko is weirdly envious of a classmate who suddenly gets a nosebleed at school and becomes the center of attention. Being a healthy, energetic girl, Maruko herself has never had such a dramatic moment.
#19 - Maruko Goes on a Field Trip
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/1/1990
Today is field trip day. Even while grumbling that mountain climbing is exhausting, Maruko heads off with the others. On the bus she loses at word-chain and is forced to sing a song, which makes her sulk even more. But once they arrive at the mountain, her spirits begin to lift after all.
#20 - Everyone Goes Out for French Food / Maruko Hates Marathons
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/18/1990
Tomorrow is the school marathon. As Maruko trudges home with dread in every step, she finds her sister laid up in bed with a cold. Maruko, who wants nothing more than to avoid running, starts to wonder…
#21 - Maruko Learns to Ride a Bicycle
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/28/1990
All the neighborhood kids are crazy about bicycles, but Maruko can’t ride one. Swept along by the encouragement of Tama-chan and the others, she finds herself forced into bicycle practice—falling over, getting scraped up, and giving up again and again…
#22 - The Dreaded Open Class Day / The Oriental Boy of May
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/20/1990
Tomorrow is the day parents come observe class. Unfortunately, the lesson is math—Maruko’s worst subject. Feeling sure she won’t shine at all, she tells her mother she doesn’t need to come.
#23 - Maruko and Her Sister Have a Sibling Squabble / Maruko Still Feels Like It’s New Year’s
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/1990
Maruko gets into a fight with her big sister over the tiniest little thing. Determined to make her sister eat her words somehow, Maruko begins plotting her revenge…
#24 - Maruko and Friends Find a Puppy
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/11/1990
Maruko and her friends pick up a stray puppy. She begs her mother to let them keep it, but her plea is dismissed as just another one of “Maruko’s passing whims.” With no other choice, she asks around in class the next day for someone to adopt it, and class rep Maruo suggests the whole class raise it together.
#25 - Today Is Parent-Teacher Home Visit Day / Enter the Pompous Boy from the Class Pet Committee
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/21/1990
The moment Maruko’s family hears her teacher is coming for a home visit, the whole house erupts into chaos. A massive cleaning spree begins, though Maruko keeps doing the bare minimum. In the end, the teacher only chats briefly at the front door and leaves. Feeling cheeky, Maruko even sneaks a few bites of the snacks.