I’ve recently rewatched Byousoku 5cm since I was in the mood to do so. This rewatch has made me realised something. Thinking that Byousoku 5cm is tragic is naive. It’s not tragic at all.
寂しいですね
First, although they are seperated, they’re still in Japan. Even if you take the Shinkansen all the way from the northern tip down to the southern tip of Japan, it’s going to take only a maximum of two days. That, however, is extremely time-consuming and costly, so a much feasible option would be to take a flight. The longest domestic flight would only be 2-3 hours, and might even cost slightly cheaper than the train ride. If Takaki really desired to meet up with Akari, he would have worked part time while he studied, save up money and buy a ticket to visit his beloved during his school semester breaks.
Secondly, there’s technology present. If the story was set in the stone age, which I doubt would ever be possible, I would probably sympathize with the two. However, I don’t think they need any sympathy especially since there’s email and mobile phones, and they both have each other’s contacts. Want to talk to each other? Just call or email. Since they are in the same country, the handphone bills shouldn’t be overly expensive. Since they both converse in Japanese, there’s no language barrier, and they can converse conveniently and freely without much restrains. No such thing as taking a long time to reply due to the need to translate.
Lastly, all the sad stuff would not have occurred if Takaki had more courage and decided to throw away his pride, confessing his love to Akari even if it means embarrassing himself. If he did that, they could still continue a long-distance relationship. Heck, that’s more like a middle distance relationship, since they’re still in Japan. If many out there can have a long-distance relationship over continents, I don’t see why the two can’t have one in Japan.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Byousoku 5cm. If I did, I wouldn’t have bought the limited editon DVD. I’m just in a mood for ranting.
For those interested in the first point mentioned, check out these links.
Japan Guide (Domestic Air Travel)
Japan Guide (Train Travel)
I haven’t watched it, but I see your point. After all, it’s still the same country; I, too, have crossed around the country in bullet trains and can tell that it wouldn’t take that long.
Still, an interesting point nevertheless. I should watch the movie sometime if I can.
true that he brought it upon himself by not confessing first but i still feel pity for him. he missed his chance with her and thats pretty sad. what do you think would happen if after the ending segment with the train she was still there?
There’s the implication that they lost contact with each other during the letter writing days. You may want to rewatch the fast-forwarded scenes at the part of the show. They didn’t even progress to the handphone era. It’s a tragedy because here are 2 person who are perfect for each other but not meant to be together.
Btw, long distance relationship for attractive people is very hard. There are always worthy suitors everywhere and many girls with their need to feel secured in love are highly susceptible tenderness in proximity.
Sylon Beta > It’s definitely worth an hour of your time.
nix! > I doubt much would happen, since Akari’s already engaged.
Stripey > Crap, I just realised that I mixed up the first part of the story with the second part. That’s why I thought they were in the handphone era already. My apologies.
Still, they could call each other, since there’s always the phone. It doesn’t always have to be communication through letters.
If they really continued their relationship, it wouldn’t be as hard to maintain as compared to say, cross-continent relationships. Since they both know that they have strong feelings for each other, Takaki should have taken the initiative. But he didn’t. Then again, I don’t expect him to do that at his young age. I guess even people 5 years older than Takaki at the point of time wouldn’t even have the courage to take initiative.
Another thing to mention is how this reflects on how one’s decisions can lead on to how one’s life is. Who knows, if Takaki took the initiative and they were lucky enough to keep in contact, they could have been a married couple.
The first part, Oukashou, is based back in 1995, before the widespread of handphone usage I would say - Just before the pager era even, yet of course if it was based on a present setting, things might have been a little different.
But anyway, you must realize that Akari didn’t give her letter to Takaki at their final farewell just before Takaki got on board the train in Oukashou, which in my honest opinion, indicates that she does realize that they would not be able to continue such a relationship even if they had wanted to.
Also, Byousoku is a chain of short stories about their distance, and has always been the theme in Makoto Shinkai’s films. If it wasn’t a tragic film, people won’t be able to relate to it don’t you think?
Just follow me and visit the real life places in Byousoku, and you’ll probably realize then
I’m sure Takaki and Akari has had their own share of regrets, over not being assertive enough to do something for their relationship. The easiest (though a little cowardly) way to let go of these regrets would be just to surrender(?), and think that fate was against them, that they weren’t meant to be. Byousoku 5cm is made out to be tragic and bittersweet, so it took that route, as sad as that might have seemed.
Diatance created doubts and uncertainties in the two young hearts. After the letter-writings stopped, they were unable to ascertain how the other feels anymore, as can be seen when Takaki often writes emails in his phone but have not the courage to send it out. He was probably afraid if he made any wrong moves, it will ruffled the surface of a beautiful dream he believed in - a fear we all experience at some point in our lifetime. In the end, it’s not the physical distance that killed the relationship, but the distance created by time that came between their hearts.
Windbell > じゃあ、行こうか。
usagijen > I think that I’ve learnt a little about not wanting to live my life with any regrets after this rewatch.
prism > The couple are rather lucky to only have the distance in their hearts to overcome. Some people have both physical and physiological differences to overcome in a relationship, and the physical distance just makes it worse.
I am in Australia and I am desperate to know when the DVD of Byousoku 5CM will be released. If you have any info, please contact me by my email.
ry.oma.echizen@hotmail.com
Thanks.
Akai > I don’t think it’s really wise to place your email here, unless you want spam…
Anyway, http://www.amazon.com/Centimeters-Per-Second-Japan-Animation/dp/B000YKS2GA/ref=pd_sim_d_title_1
Out of view, out of mind? or how do you say?
Takkaki met that other girl and reminised about Akari that’s when he realized what he lost.
Honestly, I don’t know what this movie did to me. I find myself looking at life on a more emotional level. I’ve also been reminded of things that happened in the past, forcing me to relate to this somewhat.
I’ve never really had a serious girlfriend, (this can be attributed to the fact that I have been moving in and out of several schools due to divorce, remarriage, moving, etc..) though while reflecting I recalled a girl who I used to go to school with at an all-christian school. This was my second school and only for 1st through 4th grade. Small school, everyone knew each other. My parents divorced, I moved away.
I knew the phone numbers of a few of the kids there and even had them over for my birthday, but that was pretty much the last I saw of most of them. I never got the girls number either, but I do know her name still to this day. As if by fate I ran into her at a summer camp a few years later, though the camp was split boys/girls so I didn’t talk to her much. I felt as if I had the role of Kanae, as I never told her my feelings.
I still live relatively close to that school, only a few miles away and in a different city. Should I look her up? Would she remember me? I do faintly recall her telling me her father owned a steel company of some sort nearby, and it had their last name in big blue lettering on the huge sliding doors.
I guess what I’m getting at is, I’d rather have had someone to lose in the first place than never at all.
On top of all of that, I feel anxious and nervous about what the future holds. I know I have forgotten people, and even lost many friends. I’m afraid I’ll be alone for the majority of my adult life and on top of all of this I’m changing schools again at the end of this year; My senior year. I finally made a stake and got some great friends, but this new distance will kill all I’ve worked on. I’ve got a grand total of 2 ‘Best Friends’, though I don’t see them often lately. I met one by chance over 14 years ago and we still see each other now and then, and the other I met at a past highschool (Who is currently in a detention center for drugs, he made some seriously bad choices after i left and I was probably his only positive influence..) who shared my love for gaming and the like.
I can’t stand being all alone much longer.