The Way of the Househusband: A Ridiculously Domestic Yakuza Epic
Imagine if a fearsome mob boss swapped guns for spatulas, intimidation for ironing. The Way of the Househusband is exactly that—a retired yakuza legend named Tatsu, once known as the “Immortal Dragon,” quits crime to master the fine arts of bento‑making, laundry folding, and stealthy grocery shopping. It premiered globally on Netflix as a Japanese original net animation produced by J.C. Staff from April 2021 to January 2023, based on Kōsuke Ōono’s hit manga serialized since early 2018.
Plot Overview (in gloriously mundane style)
Tatsu, with his hulking frame and terrifying aura, now wields a vacuum and battles dust bunnies. His wife, Miku, a career‑obsessed designer secretly obsessed with magical‑girl anime, leaves him at home to conquer the corporate world. Tatsu’s former underlings—Masa, Gin, Torajirō, Hibari Torii—keep popping in, drawn by his unmatched dedication to home tasks. Hilarious chaos ensues when yakuza rivals challenge his newfound domestic prowess: Torajirō runs a crepe truck now and can’t resist comparing notes on folding towels. Every episode pits Tatsu’s housework zeal against his reputation, in scenarios like PTA meetings, rap contests, baking classes, and bug wars with weeds in Episode 15. It’s episodic silliness with unexpected heart.
Characters & DC Douglas’s Triple Cameo
- Tatsu – the Immortal Dragon turned househusband, voiced in English by Jonah Scott.
- Miku – the efficient, design‑driven wife, voiced by Laura Post.
- Masa, Gin, Torajirō – ex‑yakuza associates, voiced by Andres Paul Ramacho, Laura Stahl, and Ben Pronsky respectively.
- Hibari Torii – ex‑boss now supermarket worker, voiced by Melissa Greenspan in English.
- DC Douglas – appears in the English dub as three delightfully minor but memorable roles: Ninjin (Episode 15), Shige (Episode 12), and Torii’s Husband (Episode 11).
The Creative Crew & Production
This animated wonder was directed by Chiaki Kon, written by Susumu Yamakawa, with music by Gin, and dazzling animation courtesy of J.C. Staff. The English dub was produced at VSI Los Angeles, with Kevin Hoffer directing Season 1 and Brandon Schuster Season 2, and script adaptors Jennifer Roberts (Season 1) and Michele Knotz (Season 2) weaving the dialogue into witty English dialogue.
A Spirited Review, Pythonic in Tone
If you’ve ever seen someone fold laundry like it’s a martial art, or navigate the perilous isle of discounted produce with the steely focus of a warrior, this is your show. Picture Tatsu confronting a stubborn spider—then calmly brewing tea while lecturing the pest on honor. It’s absurd, it’s charming, and every ex‑gangster jogs through routine chores with criminal precision.
The juxtaposition of Tatsu’s terrifying silhouette with pastel aprons and floral sponges is so brilliantly silly that it turns housekeeping into high drama. And then you realize you’re rooting for someone who can sterilize a bathroom quicker than he once eliminated a rival gang member. It’s bizarre, yes—and quietly beautiful in its depiction of role reversal, respect, and keeping a clean sink.
Cast Summary
- The Way of the Househusband English voiced by: Jonah Scott, Laura Post, Andres Paul Ramacho, Laura Stahl, Ben Pronsky, Melissa Greenspan, and D.C. Douglas in multiple roles.
- Japanese original voices include Kenjirō Tsuda as Tatsu, Shizuka Itō as Miku, Kazuyuki Okitsu as Masa, Yoshimasa Hosoya as Torajirō, and Atsuko Tanaka as Hibari Torii.
Why You Should Watch It
Because you want domestic tasks to feel epic, and existential dread to be replaced by detergent and cheerful spatula jingles. You want to see DC Douglas as an unexpected cameo artist popping up as Ninjin, Shige, and Torii’s Husband—three blink‑and‑you‑miss‑me gems of voice acting. You want to laugh at former yakuza embroiled in neighborhood bake‑offs and vegetable vendettas.
So queue it up, set your timers, and prepare to have your expectations about housework entirely subverted—in the most polite, polite yakuza style possible.
More about The Way of the Househusband on Wikipedia
