It’s another travel weekend (New Orleans, on business) so this and the next few posts are going to be shorter and perhaps later than normal. Gomen…
It’s a heck of an episode to talk about, too. Koi wa Ameagari no You ni would be a lot easier to sort my feelings about if it weren’t just so damn good – but it is. Having a great director and studio in Watanabe and Wit is certainly part of that – not only are the visuals stunning, but they’re delivered with a great sense of style. But it goes much deeper than that, because the writing here is really excellent. It has to be, to take a premise like this and make it so arresting.
We’ve seen Watanabe make an interesting choice with the last couple of episodes – which is to say, given us very sharply contrasting A and B-parts. In both cases there was more focus on Akira in the first half and Kondou-san in the second, but the difference was even more stark this week. That’s thanks to Kase Ryousuke (Maeno Tomoaki), the blonde chef who’s been mostly a background figure up to now. But he imposes himself on the story in a big way this week, and in doing so frames the main relationship in a strikingly new way.
The mechanics of this are pretty simple: Kase sees the doodle of Kondou-san that Akira makes in her textbook. He uses that to blackmail her into going out on a date with him if she wants him to keep it a secret, and she reluctantly agrees. But if you thought this was a case where he’d reveal himself to be a nice guy just a little smitten and looking out for her best interests, you’d be wrong. Kase gets his “date” through nefarious means, and he doesn’t improve his standing from there. Frankly, he comes off as a pretty huge douchebag.
A couple of things stand out to me here. The first is the incredibly stark contrast in tone between the date Akira goes on with Kase and the one with Kondou, despite the fact that they choose the exact same itinerary (even the same horror flick – was that the same salaryman in front of them?). Kase’s encounter is tense, strained, thoroughly distasteful – one can’t help be disgusted at the way a man in his 20’s imposes his unpleasantness on a 17 year-old girl. The date with Kondou-san is awkward but gentle – almost as giddy as Akira’s reaction when she’s thinking about it beforehand.
I love the way Watanabe-sensei uses this device, because it really does play up what must be acknowledged as an important point. In the end, there’s a huge difference between a nice guy and an A-hole, no matter what their ages are. Decent is decent and scum is scum, and age is a number. Maybe we’re presumptuous to dismiss the possibility of Kondou-Akira out of hand based on age – clearly she’s in love with him, and he’s certainly going to treat her better than almost any guy one could imagine. Why does this have to be a non-starter? Does it have to be?
The problem is, that’s when the logic circuits kick in, and we remember the things we’d like to forget. Like the fact that Kondou is Akira’s boss, and has a child. And perhaps even more important, that being with Akira makes him sad, not happy, because her beauty and energy is a constant reminder of things he’ll never be and never have again. I think, probably, that a romance here could just work from Akira’s perspective – but I don’t think Kondou could ever get there. The only 45 year-old men who could reconcile being in this sort of relationship are nowhere near as decent as Kondou is – it’s a catch-22 that I see as insurmountable. It would be nice to forget what we know and imagine these two might have a chance – but you’d have to be a naive teenager to really do that. Ironic, isn’t it.
Friendly Penguin
February 2, 2018 at 6:21 amAll around painful episode to watch, in the way I imagined it was envisioned to be.
Part A had me squirming in my seat throughout, and I’m somewhat frustrated at the lack of response to the kiss on the cheek that Kase made. Akira doesn’t seem too affected by it (and I honestly don’t think that’s a good thing) but I can’t help but feel violated on her behalf. Just goes to show how well crafted the scenes were to evoke such tension. I’m somewhat worried with how this development will resolve itself but I’m not looking forward to seeing the future interactions between the two either. A genuine change of heart or something of that sort, I hope.
Part B didn’t do much good for the heart either, even if it did relieve some of the tension with how cute the interactions between Akira and Kondou were. Kudos to Hirata-sensei for the restraint and prowess he shows in his voice acting, and just bringing across the melancholy so clearly. I suppose him having been 45 years old once before (and then some) helps but he so naturally conveys the character of someone fatigued with the responsibilities of midlife – the sense of age in the sighs and chuckles; the tangible weariness in his narrated thoughts – it makes Kondou’s coming to terms with this forbidden love as much a struggle for the viewer. I find Kondou’s thoughts expressed through Hirata-sensei’s acting one of the more attractive things I look forward to with each episode. And wow, if I were to use a word to describe the emotion of the entire situation, it would be Saudade (a new word I chanced upon recently, I wanted to share it!).
Also, thank you for all the effort that you place in your posts despite your busy schedule, Enzo! I’ve been quietly following your blog for awhile now, and have really enjoyed your thorough reviews of many different series and pondering over your thoughts. It’s been awhile since I’ve found something I’ve seen that moved me enough to comment anywhere, and I’ll admit that I use your blog as a means of deciding which series to watch (I fell in love with Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinju that way haha). Keep up the good work!
Guardian Enzo
February 2, 2018 at 10:46 amWell, that’s awfully kind of you to say. You stumped me on saudade- I had to look that one up! But it definitely fits the context.
Panino Manino
February 2, 2018 at 7:32 amSorry, but for me as a new viewer these are manga spoilers. Err on the side of caution, please.
-GE
DauntingOverlord
February 2, 2018 at 8:53 amAh, the classic “I won’t reveal any spoilers, but~”.
Panino Manino
February 2, 2018 at 4:50 pmI’m really sorry.
I forgot that you don’t need to explicitly tells what happens to spoil what happens…
Maybe I need to talk less about this anime.
Guardian Enzo
February 2, 2018 at 5:26 pmNo problem… Just talk about the anime and not the manga and you’ll be fine! Remember, any tangential info about characters or relationships in the future is still a spoiler in many eyes.
Yukie
February 2, 2018 at 9:05 amI’m blown away by how good this anime keeps getting, so much subtlety and detail in the animation! Also, I was seriously creeped out when Kase looked disappointed that Tachibana didn’t come to the date in her highschool uniform.
Yes the same dude watched the movie twice. xD
Dein
February 2, 2018 at 9:48 amI have to say that this episode left a more lackluster impression on me than the others, and it has less to do with the episode itself but more how it fits into the greater story. The main talking point about this show is, as always, the age gap. And it’s such a big and controversial topic that nothing else really gets touched upon. My problem is that all the “other stuff” sends a lot of strange messages, either by design or because those elements are deemed redundant.
For one, the show has an odd portrayal of men. We have the goofy schoolmate who can’t take a hint and almost gives off a stalker vibe in certain places. The 20-something overconfident douche who ticks all the boxes – blackmail, bad work ethic, manipulation, violent tendencies. And then there’s Tachibana’s absentee father. Oh, and there’s also the other chef who casually drops that he’s got a gambling problem.
In light of all that, we’re shown the only person who can be considered caring and decent, but the only way those traits can be attached to him is by making him a middle aged “loser” as the show itself frames it, beaten down and humbled by the hardships of life and still yerning for his youth.
Maybe I’m being too critical of the whole thing, but all that doesn’t seem like clumsy writing or oversight in any way. The show is simply too good for that. But if that’s the case, then what sort of message is it trying to send beyond it’s uncoforotable main premise?
Mudkip
February 3, 2018 at 4:31 amDefinitely feel you on that. Still not sure if this will end up as 2 people who heal one another with it ending as a platonic relationship.
Mayuf
February 2, 2018 at 3:07 pmThanks ^__^
Nayrael
February 3, 2018 at 12:33 pmThe itneresting thing is that the second date looks like Kondou taking Kase’s place, but actually out heroine is taking Kase’s place. She does all Kase did, and in the cinema they sitting positions are also symbolic. Of course, she is not an a-hole that Kase is, but it is sitll interesting to note.
Guardian Enzo
February 3, 2018 at 2:28 pmYes and no, I would argue. I mean, it was Kondou-san who chose the itinerary.
Daniel Wu
February 5, 2018 at 7:43 pmWatching this episode without any knowledge of original material raises a lot of alarm to me. I was expecting a romantic comedy, so I was thrown off with the appearance of this douchebag named Kase. What if he drugs her? What if he blackmails her into something more? My heart is not ready for this.
Ronbb
February 5, 2018 at 10:37 pmGreat episode…feeling painful after watching it. It’s painful to watch as things progressed in the first half, especially from a woman’s perspective, and it’s painful to watch as Kondo sorted out his emotions in the second half… This is not a simple romantic story…the writing dives deep into a person’s heart…and geez, Hirata-san is gooooood…
A couple of thoughts:
– Love the BGM…totally enhances the story.
– Yes, I think that’s the same salaryman wearing the same suit and sitting at the same seat…lol.