is the name of a dating simulation series by NEC Interchannel. An anime television series based on the series was later produced, titled Sentimental Journey. Three Japanese radio dramas based on the series, titled Sentimental Night, Kaettekita Sentimental Night, and Only Sentimental Night 2 were produced. A number of non-broadcast Japanese audio dramas have also been produced. Several dojin games have been made based on the characters, including the infamous Sentimental Shooting scrolling shooter, which combines a very engaging (and difficult) shoot 'em up with provocative imagery. Its nicknames amongst fans are typically Senchi or the contraction SenchiGura.
Following the 1994 hit success of Tokimeki Memorial, NEC Interchannel initiated a cooperation between Tabeta Toshio and the main staff of the Graduation series with game production house Marcus in an attempt to produce a "Tokimeki-like" game. While the six central characters were cast by Seiji Productions, the remaining six were considered unconventional for the time in that they were selected for public appeal. At the time, many of the staff and cast were unknown by the general public, which spurred a large media sales campaign designed to widen the game's exposure and establish it as a new brand. Advertisements and articles were placed in many magazines such as Dengeki G's Magazine as well as the TBS radio show Sentimental Night which aired in 1997. A unit entitled "SG girls" was formed and numerous events and concert were held. The promotion paid off, as sales of various related goods took off, the game received a positive reaction from fans, and copies became scarce.
In the Sentimental Journey anime, each episode is presented like an epilogue to the game scenario, focusing on one of the girls and telling a short romantic story. The common thread among the stories is the presence of a nondescript boy (possibly not even the same boy) who used to be a childhood crush or best friend, or just a short acquaintance, before moving away. This boy would have an influence over the girl's present life. The stories range widely from straightforward girl-gets-boy romance to friendships of various sorts and sometimes supernatural events.
Heroines
Voice actress: Urarako Suzuki
Akira met the protagonist when he walked in on her practicing the violin and encouraged her to put true feeling to her music. In the anime, she quits violin after placing second in a competition, but her piano accompanist pursues her and tries to win her back.
Voice actress: Asami Okamoto
Asuka wanted to date the protagonist, imagining herself to be the heroine of a popular romantic comedy film, but she fell ill on the day that they were supposed to go out and he moved away soon after. In the anime story, Asuka is a typical clumsy, underachieving high school girl who works part-time at a diner, until a talent scout named Tazaki, who is hoping to win a Koimari plate on a wager, chooses Asuka and trains her for a My Fair Lady beauty contest, working on her speech and mannerisms, including getting her to walk on a balance beam bridge over water. Asuka begins to show signs of maturity until the day of the contest where she doesn't show up. Tazaki's producer colleague says that Asuka heard on the radio that the protagonist might be in town so she waits in the theater for him all day. They conclude she made the right ladylike decision.
Voice actress: Chizu Yonemoto
The protagonist and Chie were charged with arranging the school festival, and together they managed to make the event one of the biggest in school history, but the protagonist moved away before Chie could sing the song she had composed for him. In the anime story, she is the lead singer in a local band where one of the guys she likes starts to distance himself from her and hangs out more and more with another woman. It turns out he wants to write love songs (something Chie has shielded herself from doing) and the woman is an agent for a record company.
Voice actress: Ai Maeda
Emiru was ostracized by her peers for her strange mannerisms, but the protagonist didn't mind and became friends with her. When he had to move, they made a time capsule promising each other that they would continue to be friends after they grew up. In the anime, she visits her old school which is in the process of being demolished but is soon haunted by the spirit attached to the school. She looks for the time capsule which is an old soda bottle with a letter she wrote with her love interest about meeting each other again. Meanwhile, the spirit of the school wants to possess her to keep its memory alive.