Having said that, the third act of One More Side is where the most value in this novel comes from. Coupled with the fact that Takaki has never been a particularly likeable character to begin with, these sections just sour my opinion of him that much more. Even years later Takaki is still yearning for Akari in his life, but also can’t accept that he needs to move on. This stubbornness to deal with his own feelings spills over into the third act, which is narrated by both Takaki and Akari interchangeably. Now much older and with someone close to home who has feelings for him (feelings he avoids dealing with in any way), it’s frustrating to watch his refusal to move on in his life. While I can empathise with the fact that love is hard to get over, especially in a situation out of your control, Takaki was just a child when he fell for Akari. While the novel never touches on this subject itself, it’s clear from Takaki’s monologues that he is depressed, often wondering what the world would be like without him in it and what there is to push forward for. Seeing Takaki’s thoughts in One More Side is enlightening and shows how much the loss of Akari in his life affected him. In the film, we see this through the eyes of his friend, Kanae, who often talks about how Takaki is distant and looking to someplace far away for something out of reach. The second chapter of the book is swapped to Takaki’s perspective, showing his life through middle and high school. She’s without a doubt the best character in the book and so I’m glad that One More Side does such a good job of telling the story from her point of view. Life is easier together and the years spent with Takakai moulds Akari into the person she is today, more confident and capable than ever before. Takaki has learned how to instantly fit in without rocking the boat, something he advises and helps Akari with. Previous attempts to socialise have not gone well, especially coupled with her status as the ‘transfer student’. Akari has never fitted in at school, she’s a bookworm with no desire to join clubs or interact much with her fellow classmates. For One More Side, this has been swapped to Akari, which gives us a better look at her as a person and why she grows so close to Takaki so quickly. In the 5 Centimeters per Second film, the first arc is told from Takaki’s perspective. What comes after is an emotional and thoughtful look at first love, separation, and how it can shape your future as a whole. When Takaki’s family later reveals they, too, are moving away from Tokyo, Takaki makes an effort to visit Akari for the first and last time. They exchange letters that never contain their real feelings, just fragmented looks at their daily lives. With a huge distance between them and without the modern day convenience of email, the two slowly grow apart, not only in body but in spirit too. Although they have never confessed their feelings to one another, Takaki and Akari are inseparable all throughout elementary school but that abruptly comes to an end when Akari’s family decide to move away from Tokyo. The two met in elementary school, and both being victims of transferring from school to school because of their parent’s jobs, quickly bonded. Our story begins with Akari Shinohara reminiscing about her first love, Takaki Tono. If this is your first encounter with the story, then I encourage you to seek out Manga Entertainment’s recent Blu-ray release. Is it worth a read? Let’s find out!īefore we begin I would like to mention that this book is more of a companion piece to the movie than a way to experience 5 Centimeters per Second as a newcomer. Now, thanks to publisher Vertical, a new opportunity has arisen in the form of 5 Centimeters per Second – One More Side, a retelling of the story from the perspective of other characters. However, for me, 5 Centimeters per Second holds a special place in my heart for being my introduction to Shinkai’s work and I’m always looking for new ways to explore it. It’s probably fair to say that 5 Centimeters per Second isn’t the first film you think of if you hear the name Makoto Shinkai no doubt your mind will go to his blockbuster hit Your Name.
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