*I’m back!! Sorry for the absence. Work load suddenly increased and the timing wasn’t good. I’d forgotten that summer vacation means instead of tutoring I now have to keep the kids active and entertained. But I have promised to see this to the end and inshallah I will.
**If you appreciate this labor of love please star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it above 👆 and please don’t forget to press the like button at the end if you’re a subscriber. Just five more episodes to go! I’m planning to finish the 19th review by next week so make sure you subscribe to get it as soon as it’s uploaded. ***Updated September 2nd to add images. Disclaimer: All screen captures belong to the show’s respective owners. I am using them to promote this anime and will delete them if/when I am asked to do so. Spoiler Warning: this review contains spoilers up to the end of this episode.Prologue
This episode starts with Fujioka walking with Musa and Kakeru. He tells them that he is traveling the next day to China for “High Altitude Training”.
-We knew from their pristine uniforms and identical shoes that Rikudo University invests a lot in their team, but forking over money for training in another country? That’s too much. Maybe just for the captain, or Fujioka is likely paying for it himself.
Fujioka goes on to say that he wanted to “encourage Kiyose” before adding that he didn’t know where their “home base” was. He thanks the Kansei boys for escorting him.
-This is interesting. Does Fujioka not know Haiji’s phone number and so he couldn’t ask him where he lived? Or is he calling Haiji who isn’t responding because he’s in the hospital? I personally think it’s the former.
Kakeru’s mind is elsewhere. We see him recall the two who commented on wishing the Kansei members were all Japanese. Fujioka glances at him then gives a very discerning speech on why Kakeru should not heed their words: First, they’re the words of amateurs who think that having exchange students on the team is an unfair advantage. He points out that if that were true then having the Olympics would be pointless: “It’s only natural that there’s some difference in individual physical ability.”
-True.
He goes on to say that in spite of this sports are fair and impartial and that those who question its fairness do not know what it means “to compete in the same sport on the same stage.”
– I agree. But in this day and age I feel compelled to go off on a bit of a tangent: there have been (thankfully rare) instances of men with male DNA competing with women in sports and that is COMPLETELY UNFAIR. The reason sports have always been segregated is because pitting men (who by nature have a larger muscle mass) against women gives them an unfair advantage. Regardless of how people identify, this does not change their DNA nor their muscular and skeletal structure. Period.
Back to the show.
Fujioka then states that the second reason is “winning isn’t everything”. He asks rhetorically if it only matters that a Japanese person places first? As he speaks we are given a montage of what looks like a TV screen with a shot of two black and two white people holding on gold medals with delighted expressions on their faces and the words: “Men’s Relay- Spectacular Achievement”. The next scene we get is of newspapers being sold and the words: “New Japanese Record (spectacular achievements in track and field) written as the headline.
Finally, we get a shot of a results board where Fujioka’s name is placed at the top. I assume this is from the inter collegiate tournament which had been mentioned in a previous episode. He goes on to say that even if he wins a competition, if he feels that he lost to himself, he doesn’t consider it a win.
-Life tips: This is actually something I always tell my kids. Don’t compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to yourself. Like, if you’re good at a subject, then raise the bar and challenge yourself to do even better. Similarly, if you’re weak at a subject, don’t compare your performance to others and get all depressed when you realize you’re not as good as they are. Set your own (realistic) goals. Work towards them and celebrate your wins. Only you know how hard you’ve worked. If you tried hard and are unhappy with your score, continue your efforts but maybe try different study methods. But if you slacked off and still got a decent score, know that you could have gotten a better grade if you worked a little harder and aim for that. Just do your best. After you’ve given whatever endeavor you’re on enough time, if it’s still not good enough, there’s no shame in exploring a new path if you wish to do so.
Fujioka goes on to say that since times change at “dizzying speed, who is to say who is the best? Don’t we keep running because there are ideals and goals we value more than that?”
-I’ll be honest. This seems like it was an opportunity to pitch a moral. I know this, but I didn’t mind it. First off, because it didn’t feel preachy. Rather, it’s handled as an opportunity to explore running as a metaphorical concept. Not unlike how Haiji asked “what is running”, just restated in a different way. Fujioka here is basically saying he does not run to win. He wants to challenge himself.
Kakeru is flabbergasted at this concept. He would be, knowing the environment he used to be in, where running was only about winning. But I think he’s mostly shocked that Fujioka, despite being in a famous running college, isn’t overly concerned with winning.
Fujioka smiles at his wide-eyed expression and fondly says “You’ve gathered good members.”
“It’s his kind of team.”
This is the second time Fujioka said this. The first was when he told Kakeru“It’s an interesting team that Kiyose put together”.
Fujioka’s admiration for Haiji is crystal clear. And just when I’m wondering when we’ll get their backstory, Musa asks the question for me: “Are you and Haiji close?”
The Rikudo captain answers that they were team mates in high school. He adds that Haiji was supposed to have joined Rikudo’s university team as well.
Musa and Kakeru are shocked.
The morose piano of the somber “Seasons” track carries over to the next scene which starts with a shot of Haiji’s knees, his fists on his thighs, then to a doctor looking at a screen, where Haiji’s injured knee is shown.
No idea what I’m seeing, but it ain’t good.
And in case there’s any doubt, we’re shown Haiji’s almond eyes, wide as saucers in his distress, as the light from the computer screen reflects in them.
💔
-I always assumed Haiji’s injury was an ACL tear, hence the surgical scar. Now, we saw how hard Haiji landed on his injured knee during the qualifying race. We also saw how much pain he was in during the race. He probably reinjured his knee and was told not to run. Top commenter Bram had said that the anime is a bit different from what the injury was in the book, but as I’m reviewing this anime as a stand alone, I’m going with Bram’s initial comment on the injury as an advanced care paramedic: “I think that he’s made peace with the fact that he is actively destroying his graft. I think he knows that he shouldn’t be going as hard as he is on the knee at this stage, but this is his last chance for Hakone so he has to do it.”
– I agree. Also, this scene hurt. A lot. I mentioned this before but the entire premise of this show (and the book it’s based on) seems to have been the fact that Japan’s silver Bronze Medalist committed suicide after he was forced to retire due to an injury. And now we’re given foreshadowing that Haiji might not be able to run anymore, on the eve of the race he’s been working towards for four years. Way to raise my stress levels and keep viewers in suspense.
Act One:
After the intro, the episode starts with a superimposed text on what looks like a countryside “4 years earlier”.
– Finally! We get Haiji’s back story when he was a high school senior.
The building of a school has a sign which says “Congratulations track and field team”. A younger Fujioka and his team mates are warming up for practice, but his eyes are fixed on an uncharacteristically morose teenage Haiji who is standing aside, facing a man who is obviously their coach.
The next scene happens at sunset. Haiji and Fujioka look like they’re walking home from practice. The former tells the latter “Those fireflies you hate so much will be back soon.”
Fukioka answers, “I don’t hate them, there are just too many here.”
So Fukioka isn’t from Haiji’s hometown. He moved there recently, perhaps to enter Haiji’s school if it’s a famous running school?
Haiji tells him “This is our last year. Savor it.”
Fujioka stops walking and tells Haiji: “Let’s go together. To Rikudo. Then we can-”
Haiji interrupts to tell him, “It’s already been decided,” as he continues walking.
Fujioka is silent for a beat, then follows him to say in an encouraging tone “But you were recruited. The care they offer athletes is top class.”
Here Haiji stops walking. He tells Fujioka decisively “I’ve already spent two years with this leg. I know my body better than anyone else.”
Fujioka asks what the Coach said. Haiji responds, “Be patient.” And that it was “a lot of talking for him.”
– From this we know not only that the coach is a man of a few words, but also that Haiji knows him very well.
Haiji goes on to say, “I’m happy about this year, though. Last year I didn’t get to run with you once because of physical therapy.”
– Let’s put a time line on this. High school in Japan is three years. Haiji injured his leg at the end of his first year, spent all his second year doing physical therapy, then rejoined the team in his third year where he was finally able to participate in a race or two.
– Haiji’s emphasis “with you” affirms what we already know, these two were good friends. Their relationship and Fujioka’s concern contrasts starkly with the atmosphere in Kakeru’s high school team.
Kiyose then says “My athletic career may be over, but we-” before he is interrupted by an upset Fujioka.
“It’s not over!”
Haiji stops walking, again. Behind him, Fujioka firmly tells him to believe in himself. Here, Haiji’s indifferent façade cracks. His lips tremble for a second before he turns to look at Fujioka, a self-deprecating smile plastered on his face.
“I’m not that strong.”
The shock on the young Fujioka’s face will no doubt mirror the viewers. This broken Haiji is a stranger to us.
Haiji walks away as present Fujioka’s words overlap the scene as he tells Kakeru and Musa: “He should be telling you this himself. If he hasn’t told you yet, then he probably doesn’t think it’s the right time. I should not have said anything.”
-I understand Fujioka’s self-reproach here. His earlier monologue along with his overall demeanor makes him seem like an incredibly mature person who would lament his slight indiscretion. I think that when asked if he and Haiji are close, his mind automatically recalled just how intimate they were in high school, and the conversation that led to their parting of ways.
While mutual respect remains, it seems to me based on their interactions that the distance between them has been intentionally put in place by Haiji. Recall when Fujioka candidly told Haiji he’s jealous of the time the Kansei boys have spent with him. Haiji never replied. Also, Fujioka seems proud of his (past?) friendship with Haiji and always seeks him out whenever he sees him. It’s interesting to me that the opposite, however, is not true. I base this on how tight-lipped Haiji is regarding his relationship with the star runner. He never discussed it with his team beyond giving Kakeru his name as a rival to remember.
Title: And Then, Morning.
Fujioka is rubbing Nira’s stomach. I’m no dog owner but I do know they only show their bellies to those they feel comfortable with. It shows that Fujioka’s such a good guy even Nira (who he’s never seen before) has taken to. Though to be fair, Nira’s so friendly he probably likes everyone.
Kakeru comes out of the Aotake and tells Fujioka that Haiji isn’t home and isn’t answering his phone. At his apology Fujioka tells him in a positive note that the next he sees him will be the new year (i.e. Hakone). “Good luck to both of us” he asks Kakeru to relay this, handing over the bag of sweets he brought for the team.
In the next scene we have Haiji lamenting that he missed his ex-teammate’s visit as he and Kakeru walk to bath house (based on the bathing supplies he’s holding in his hands).
-I love Haiji’s seiyuu. He spoke the words in Haiji’s typical mild melodic tone, but the way he breathed them out displayed genuine regret. I do wonder, had he had seen Fujioka, what would they have talked about? Especially considering the probable recurrence of Haiji’s injury. I doubt he would have said anything, but I’m curious nonetheless. How do readers think that conversation would have went? Please let me know.
Haiji then asks Kakeru what they had talked about. Kakeru is tongue tied. Haiji clarifies he’s just wondering if they got along well. The awkward runner manages to say that “it was fine.”
-I think Haiji was curious about what, if anything, Fujioka revealed to Kakeru. The fact that he doesn’t press the awkward Kakeru for details is very much like him.
Kakeru then says that Fujioko’s views on running expanded his own horizons.
-Funny thing. As a mother I’m constantly giving my kids advice, only to have them parrot it back to me in awe when they happen to hear from another source, as if for the first time. Peers can have a greater influence. It’s kinda annoying but as long as they learn, it doesn’t matter who it’s from. I think the same thing happened here. Haiji’s been trying (subtly and not so much at times) to broaden Kakeru’s perspective. But Haiji’s ideas were so alien to KK at first, plus he didn’t even know Haiji (especially as a runner). I think he had a hard time assimilating them. With top runner Fujioka, the words carry a different weight, hence Kakeru’s acceptance of them. But I also think, only because of the time Kakeru has spent with Haiji, he can now comprehend what Fujioka said, what Haiji was trying to say all along.
It’s evident when he tells Haiji he now understands what he meant when he previously spoke about his ex-mate’s strength. At KK’s wistful tone Here Haiji stops walking to tell him earnestly “you can do it too. Be strong,” looking at Kakeru straight in the eyes. His seriousness seems to resonate with Kakeru who affirms that he will.
– It’s a bittersweet moment for us viewers because we know instinctively that Haji is basically telling Kakeru to reach heights he knows that he can’t.
-This scene was devoid of any background music. The choice punctuated the seriousness of the exchange. It also takes place near the vending machines where the two had their first conversation.
After the moment of levity, Haiji tells Kakeru with his usual light-heartedness that he once brought Fujioka over to the bathhouse and that his friend didn’t last ten seconds in the hot water. “In that regard, I’m stronger than him.”
Kakeru comments with a chuckle that the two “are close”.
– Are they? I wonder. Going to a bathhouse is a ritual that does denote a certain level of intimacy, but other things contradict this. I’m not even talking about the fact that Fujioka and Haiji call each other by their last names. They met in high school and even good friends might find it hard/weird to switch to a first name basis (from what I know about the culture, Japanese men can be very reserved).
So, yeah, not concerned about that. But the fact that Fujioka didn’t know where Haiji’s “base” was and (presumably) doesn’t even have his phone number doesn’t really make them seem all that close. If Fujioka had visited before, why didn’t Haiji bring him to the bathhouse and not Aotake? Was it a way to steer the conversation away from running?
Fujioka Kazuma
Fujioka’s a great character. A wonderful person really. It makes the current status of his friendship with Haiji regretful. I previously said that the distance between them was put in place by Haiji. I think that, while the two were indeed good friends, Haiji also saw them as rivals. His injury however removed all possibility of them ever competing since Haiji never seemed to regain his former ability. (Fujioka mentioned this previously). And while I don’t think this mattered to Fujioka it obviously mattered a great deal to Haiji. I think his choice of not attending the same Uni as his friend was because he couldn’t bear to run alongside him when he was no longer on par with him. He must have been very talented if the university scouted him despite his injury. Or could it have been that Fujioka had recommended him? If true, and if Haiji suspected it, I would think it would have backfired. Haiji doesn’t seem a particularly proud person, but as an athlete, he might have been hurt nonetheless. Also, not knowing if he will ever be able to justify his acceptance in such a prestigious place, or his teammates’ expectations, it might have been too big a burden for him to bear. Why else would he refuse the offer?
So, the two went their separate ways and it doesn’t seem like Haiji made any effort to keep in touch. It’s sad but the mature Fujioka would have understood what was happening even without Haiji telling him. I think this would explain his happiness at seeing Haiji race again. Haiji re-entering the running world would have made it possible for them to recover their friendship as well.
The next scene has the boys running in the “Ageo Marathon” which Haiji exposits is about as long as the individual sections of Hakone and would therefore be good practice for it. For once the Coach is present, though it seems it’s only to enjoy the snacks being sold by local vendors. He tells the boys holding a pack of Takoyaki to enjoy themselves.
Hana suddenly calls out and tells Haiji that the twins want to do the “mountains of Hakone” cheer. The two are caught off guard but at her insistence go along with it. The rest of the members realize that Hana’s giving the twins a chance to go back to normal, since they previously missed their opportunity to apologize to Haiji (after accusing him of duping them). Shindo remarks that it’s up to Haiji to come through.
At this Haiji asks the twins “You guys want to do it that badly?” which annoys the twins to no end.
Prince comments, “Kiyose Haiji doesn’t’ play along that easily”.
I don’t think Haiji’s actually being petty, just teasing them and having them take a bit of responsibility since Hana’s really helping them out here.
She even goes as far as to hold their hands in encouragement which seems to affect her more than the boys.
Blushing Hana. Oblivious twins.
The boys ask if she’s okay, she brushes them off and asks Haiji to do the cheer. He does, and hand in hand, the boys grudgingly go along with it. Seeing Hana raise the twins’ hands up in her own, Kakeru remarks “shouldn’t we have joined them?”
Yuki tells him “You’re pretty bad, too.”
“Huh?”
I think Yuki’s comment means he thought Kakeru wanted to barge in on the moment. But I rather think Kakeru just genuinely thought that it might have been better for the whole team to join in. It was one of the cute Kakeru’s “slow at everything but running” moments.
Or, and this is a bit farfetched, it might be that Kakeru saw Hana holding the twins’ hands and wanted to hold hers as well. I don’t think that is the case but it might be what Yuki thought, hence his comment.
During the race we see the twins speed ahead of Kakeru sticking out their tongues at him. But it’s done in good humor and shows us that the freshman trio have also gotten over their issues.
-Recall Kakeru had fought with the twins in defense of Haiji.
The team is stretching, cooling down after the race wieh Haiji is approached by the shady reporter whom they’ve previously avoided. He gives him a menacing grin.
Ugh. Begone you creep.
Act Two
King angrily throws a tabloid paper with the headlines “Sendai J High School Track Coach Claims incident with KK is in the past and refuses to speak.”
King angrily comments “if you weren’t going to talk don’t accept an interview request!” While Jouji points out that the initials along with the photos of the Kakeru and the coach, albeit with their eyes blacked out, reveals the identifies the people in question.
A sympathetic Musa tells Kakeru not to let it get to him.
-It’s heartwarming to see Kakeru’s teammates stand up for him. Especially King who is usually more aloof.
The scene switches to Coach Tazaki (in full formal dress) and Haiji with Shindo at the university chairman’s office, apologizing in dogeza for this scandal.
Scene switches again, this time to Kakeru receiving a call from “home” and his mom’s voice. She first asks him if he’s okay, telling him that she saw the magazine article, then adds that his dad is mad, before asking him again, “Are you sure you’re okay? She explains that “people in the country like to talk, put yourself in our shoes. Please.”
Kakeru says okay, trying to appease her in his usual monotone. She asks if he’s coming home for New Year’s, and when he says no her worried voice asks if he’s made some bad friends. Here Kakeru angrily reports that he’s running in Hakone before hanging up.
As he is standing outside the Aotake (probably for privacy), Yuki who is just returning home ends up hearing the rest of the conversation.
– It’s a reversal of the scene when Kakeru overheard Yuki on the phone with his own mom.
Yuki apologizes for inadvertently eavesdropping. Kakeru tells him that he doesn’t get along with his parents, to which Yuki replies “I forget to tell you before, but neither do I.”
-Well, yeah, we inferred as much at the time. His tone at the time didn’t denote an ideal relationship.
Yuki goes on to say that he hadn’t gone home once since starting university, so he hasn’t seen his folks in about 3 and a half years. He then qualifies “it’s not serious.” Just that his mom got remarried so it’s awkward for him because he doesn’t know his step dad. “I don’t know how close we’re supposed to be.” Yuki goes on to say “I don’t like close relationships, parents or otherwise. Everyone is alone. It’s stupid to try to understand others.”
-I remember this scene immediately made me head-canon Yuki as a mama’s boy. He’s obviously a type A personality type, and I imagine he always got perfect grades because he wanted to grow up and get successful quick to help out his single mom. For all he says of not wanting to be close, I think her marriage came as a shock to him because of how close he was to her. He wouldn’t have been able to understand why she’d need a husband if he thought they were happy and doing fine on their own.
-This would also explain his interest in Nico. If he grew up without a father, he might have subconsciously seen the mature mellow older Nico as an archetype of what a male role model would have been like. Perhaps not when it comes to his studies, but certainly personality wise. Hence, his insistence on wanting to know why Nico wanted to run with Haiji, and his surprise at never having known Nico ever ran track. For all his bravado, there are people that he can’t but help want to understand.
To his credit, Yuki admits this. He says, “But living here’s been throwing me off my pace.”
It’s not just with Nico. We’ve seen Yuki express concern and care for other dorm mates. Those whom he respects like Haiji and Shindo. And others like King when job hunting pressured him to detaching from the team.
Speaking of Shindo, in the next scene he tells the Kansei boys that the track team’s short distance members offered to be their water station staff. “It’s a first for all of us so I’m thinking we should make time next week to rehearse.”
– Nice to see the boys’ have not only gotten support from the university’s administration, but also fellow students.
-I didn’t understand this at the time but future episodes will show explain what they’re practicing for.
Haiji agrees then asks Shindo about the shopping center vendors. Shindo answers that he’s having them arrange transportation and lodging for the athletes.
-We’ve seen this for a while now but this scene is more continuity that Shindo has taken on more and more responsibilities on the team. Even before Haiji’s collapse, he was jogging at night wearing T-shirts to attract sponsors. After Haiji’s collapse it was the website, management, and now even organizing logistics of Hakone.
When he mentions forms that the team needs to submit King remarks “What would we do without Shindo?”
-King’s recognition here makes him very likable to me. Before he had a chip on his shoulder that seemed to make it hard for him to complement people. But I think out of everyone else in Aotake, he might feel closest to his Shindo who records his favorite shows for him.
Musa then laments that Shindo never accepts his offers for help.
– I can see it. Musa is a scholarship engineering student. Shindo wouldn’t want him to risk lowering his GPA by concentrating whatever free time he has outside of running on anything besides studying.
Shindo adds that he’s perfectly fine. He looks it too.
– Makes sense. Shindo grew up on a farm and woke up at the crack of dawn to make a trek to a faraway school. The earnest Shindo also probably helped out his family whenever he could so he must have great stamina.
Prince exposits that at least the article didn’t make a huge commotion. To which Haiji replies that it’s thanks to their “landlord” for reacting quickly and talking to the University about it and that “the school agreed to wait and see.”
-This made me chuckle. Even the deferent Haiji sees Tazaki more like a landlord than a coach.
-The school is not stupid. Their track team is running in a prestigious race probably in the first time since Tazaki was a real coach. So, I’m guessing decades. They’re not going to let something that happened when their star athlete was in high school jeopardize that.
-King remarks “that guy actually does his job”. Again, they all refer to the old man as their “landlord” and not “coach”. But, yeah, he really came through for the team.
Yuki and Kakeru show up with drinks and snacks and everyone goes to the twin’s room to celebrate.
Next is a montage with no speech, only music. We see the members having a Christmas party. A red faced and drunk Shindo uncharacteristically goes off on Nico (maybe for not cutting the cake properly?) he’s dragged away by a worried Musa.
A leering Yuki gives the riveted blushing twins some advice. Based on the pink overlay and their steaming heads it can only be lecherous in nature. Prince is passionately going over a manga panel with a confused (or uninvested, I can’t decide) Kakeru.
Prince is obviously reading Kimi Ni Todoke 😍
The scene switches to the team running, then soaking at the bathhouse. Then again to Kakeru ringing a shrine’s bell to bring in the New Year as Haiji takes his picture (for their website I gather). We see the twins being annoying as the boys throw coins as offerings in the shrine (temple?) they’re at before clapping in unison and praying (for victory no doubt). Haiji holds their team’s sash in his hands. A calendar tells us it’s the first day of the new year.
Guess who said what.
We then see the boys eating New Year’s zouni for breakfast in the kitchen. Haiji asks a question to which Musa offers a response. Haiji starts walking but we don’t know where he goes because the scene then switches to show us the outside of the Aotake in daylight, then it transitions to night time as one by one the lights in the rooms are turned off. Nira howling at the full moon ends the scene.
The next starts with a banner that says “Toyko-Hakone Round-Trip Ekiden Race” We see the inside of a large building where various runners are sitting on mats, stretching and waiting. A figure in a Kansei blue full length padded hooded cloak is running in place, warming up when off screen Haiji tells him “You’ll tire yourself out if you move too much.” The person removes his hood to reveal himself: Prince.
– This segment once again utilizes the show’s masterful signature storytelling where the scenes alternate between present and past. The technique combines exposition with action in a riveting manner. It starts when we are taken from the morning of the race to when Haiji was telling his team the sections he chose for them, back in the twins’ room at Aotake. When he announces that their starter will be Prince, the the bookworm asks if Haiji is throwing the race.
-No offense to Prince but this actually makes a lot of sense. Prince is the slowest so no matter how far behind the team gets in the beginning they’ll have the whole rest of the race to make it up.
Haiji, of course, doesn’t say this. He instead tells Prince that he can’t imagine anyone else running it and that Prince is “the only one who can stand there calmly that you seem almost oblivious even with all the attention on you.”
-Well, he’s not wrong. As long as he has a comic in his hands, fery little fazes Prince.
Haiji adds resolutely that “I made this line-up to win.”
Yuki is worried because there have been a lot of fast paced developments in recent years.
-I’m assuming his means for the starting runners and that this they might throw Prince off his pace.
Haiji responds “It’s possible this year will be slow-paced in response to that.”
-Either way, I think Prince is very good at knowing what it is he can and can’t do and won’t be affected by the speed of others.
Haiji goes on to say that if Prince falls behind they’ll get it back in section two, which Musa is running.
The scene again switches to real time where we see Musa warming his cold hands with his breath. He’s outdoors, in a different location from where we saw Prince, and wearing the same long coat with a beanie on his head, a serious look on his face.
The scene switches back to Haiji in the twins room where we see the reactions of the team when Haiji made the announcement. Musa’s soul seems to want to leave his body from the shock and pressure.
-If viewers will recall, this is an important section (based on the fact that it was previously run by elites like Fujioka and Iwanki). This explains Musa’s reaction.
Shino on the other hand looks proud and tells his best friend that he can do it. Musa recovers to argue that Kakeru should be running that section.
-I think we all thought so too, especially since Haiji had asked him about it previously.
Haiji smiles and asks Kakeru what he thinks. Their star runner exposits with a smile that Musa can run ten kilometers in about twenty-nine minutes, and that this is the same as the other runners.
– I appreciated this insight. We’ve seen that Musa’s amongst the fastest on the team (alongside the twins) but for viewers new to this world it’s important to know what his speed is in comparison to runners in other teams.
Kakeru then just gives me a proud mama moment when he says “more than that” Musa’s the most considerate and encouraging member towards his teammates. “I can’t imagine anyone else running it.” His words give the humble Musa confidence, despite his “Oh no!”
– Kakeru’s growth has been so gratifying to see. Personally I don’t see what personality has anything to do with times but I think what he’s saying here is that Musa deserves this spotlight. This coming from the kid who only ever cared about times is just so amazing.
Haji then announces that the next two courses will be run by Jota, then Jouji, whom we see in real time riding in a car driven by Haiji’s onsen buddy, whom is presumably taking them to their respective starting points.
– This is continuity to what Shindo said earlier that the shopping district vendors (i.e. their fan-club) are arranging their transportation.
The twins react happily to their assigned courses. Jouta reminds viewers “I love that course!” which we (and Haiji of course) noticed. They had been interested in it despite themselves even when they’d been fighting with Haiji.
Jouji is happy as well. He tells the others he’ll get them fish cakes from Ogawara (which I assume is his respective end point).
Musa is still lamenting his section “their sections seem more fun!” when Shindo tells him to accept his fate.
Yuki then says the same thing to Shindo when Haiji announces that Shindo be running section five.
-I think most of us guessed Shindo will run this section, seeing as that course is the steepest point of the course. Come to think of it, it’s been foreshadowed from the very beginning when Haiji was trying to bring him aboard the team.
Scene again switches back to the present. This time we’re at the Aotake where Yuki is climbing the stairs to the second floor. Haiji’s voice overlaps the scene as he says “Section six, Yuki.”
Present Yuki argues “that’s ridiculous.”
– I don’t know if it’s ridiculous or not but Haiji’s choice is interesting.
Thankfully, Haiji immediately explains that he carefully watched all their running for the past ten months, and that Yuki’s core strength and stable center of gravity are the best. “You’re the only one who can ride down Hakone.”
– Okay, considering that he practiced Kendo, that makes sense.
At this point is started getting a bit hard to focus on the past team meeting, because we’re back in the present where we see Yuki leaning over a brown-haired teammate wearing the green hanten (house coat). He’s laying down in a futon wearing a mask. His hair and mask cover his face so we don’t know who it is. But his red, sweating face tells us he has a fever.
Yuki tells the invalid “I’m sitting you up.” He does so, then asks him if he wants a drink.
Caring Yuki
-Side note: Masking was common in some Asian countries way before COVID. Some use it to help against pollen or pollution, while others would wear it whenever they got sick to decrease the risk of spreading their illness to others. We now know that their effectiveness is questionable, but the conscientiousness is admirable.
-At this point it was hard to keep track of what’s going on because I, (and I think most viewers) were panicking that Haiji will be running sick on top of being injured.
Back to the past team meeting, Haiji says that the seventh runner is Nico followed by King. Haji informs the two that their sections are important because the runners will start to scatter and that the older two members will find themselves running alone. Everyone will be racing to gain a seed in next year’s race. As he speaks his voice overlaps the present where we see King beating his hand against his chest (his nervous tell) in a car with Nico by his side.
The two look outside the window as Haiji’s voice tells them he knows they’ll be able to keep calm and maintain their pace. The scene switches back to the meeting in the twin’s room where a surprised King asks Haiji if he’s trying to earn a seed for next year.
Haiji affirms this, reiterating “that’s why these two sections are important.”
He then goes on to say that Kakeru will then be running the return half’s section two, (called section 9).
We switch to the present where we see aKakeru staring at something. Next to him, Musa, says “I don’t see Fujioka.”
We now see his line of sight: Iwanki and other runners for section two, but no Fujioka. Haiji’s voice overlaps the scene explaining that by last-minute registration, if Fujioka isn’t signed up for the first half, it means Rikudo Uni are saving him for the second half. That would then mean that Kakeru would have a chance to run the same section as Fujioka’s star.
Kakeru is excited by this possibility. Thanks to the switching of scenes from past to present, where Fujioka is nowhere in sight, we now know that it played out just like Haiji predicted.
-I also think that it was Haiji’s plan to have Kakeru run after two of the team’s slowest runners because that will give him a chance to recover any lost time. It’s just like how he placed Musa and the twins after Prince for the first day; very good strategy.
Haiji then says that for the last section he’ll be responsible for finishing the race. He gives no other explanation but tells Jota and Joji that he’ll show them the top. Then qualifies “We’ll experience it together. All of us.”
– I’ve probably said this before. I love all the characters but Haiji is my favorite. Knowing that he wasn’t running in any of the important sections disappointed me at first, but him finishing the race made me a bit happy as it seemed fitting for the person who initiated the entire endeavor. I also now realize that the reason Haiji would want to be last that he can oversee everyone else’s performance. We’ll see this play out in future episodes.
The next scene has us back in present time. We know this due to a super covering an image of the Hakone mountains telling us it is now January second. A news anchor’s voice states that the new year arrived “quietly.”
-The use of the anchor is very effective. It serves as a narration tool and reminds us that this race is so important it’s being televised all over Japan.
We see Prince in his blue overcoat reading manga, sitting on the floor where all the other starters are waiting. An organizer calls them off screen telling them to get ready. Haiji and the Coach Tazaki are with him. The same organizer requests that the coaches come to the “admin vehicle.” Before he leaves, Tazaki says “I can now die in piece. I will be watching from my box seat.”
-This statement tells me what I always suspected. Despite how hands off Tazaki seemed this whole time, he’s more invested in Haiji’s scheme than he let on. But I think that investment has more to do with Haiji than the actual race itself. Like the shopping district vendors, he knows how much this venture meant to the young man and I think is therefore glad to see him make it.
We see the runners line up at the starting line, huge crowds on either side of the track waving “Hakone Ekiden” flags. Runners are warming up and getting ready. It’s finally time. Prince takes off his coat. Haiji helps him, looking at the Kansei sash Prince is wearing. Haiji adjusts the sash for Prince like the mama bear he is. Aside from Prince thanking Haiji, they do not speak.
The “attendants” are told to step back. Haiji does so, letting us know that this is his current role. He smiles and nods encouragingly at Prince who smiles back. He seems calm. The anchor asks “Which university will write a new page in history?” The scene then switches to all the other Kansei runners with their attendants at their respective locations. Musa warms up as Kakeru looks (presumably) at a screen. King watches his phone to see that start of the race as Jouta attempts to warm himself. En route to his location, Jouji is asleep in a car. Next to him, Nico watches the start on his phone next to him.
The anchor continues his narration “Twenty-one runners will wrap themselves in a gust of wind as they run down Hakoniji road. Will that wind be a headwind or a tailwind? Who will be the first to return to Okanamichi?”
A gun signals the start of the race and we see the runners take off.
-All this happens on what looks like a television screen. It’s very orderly, like watching a normal news report. It’s also very detached and feels a bit alien to us since we’ve gotten so close to these boys. But this just makes the next scene all the more effective… and shocking.
The cheering of the crowds barely fades out when we are taken back to the Aotake we know and love so well, where someone drops on the floor, coughing and wheezing.
-He’s wearing Haiji’s hanten, but it can’t be Haiji, he’s at the race. So who is it?
Yuki drops on the floor next to him with a worried, “Hey!”
-Who is it? Who is it?!
We finally get a side profile. See the mole at the corner of a right eye.
Shindo.
-Oh, crap.
Conclusion:
This was a great episode but it was difficult to get through. It’s partly my fault because I’ve become rusty, but also due to the formatting. As much as I adore episodes that switch between past/present scenes (a trademark of this show which it excels in) it makes for hard reviewing.
But boy was it worth it. Besides being a riveting technique for storytelling, this time it intentionally makes it hard to keep up with all the characters. That and Haiji’s jacket contributed to the surprise that it was Shindo, actually, who was sick.
Sharper viewers may have noticed when the boys were having new year’s breakfast that Shindo was actually missing from the table.
Now we know what Haiji said to Musa during that montage. He was asking the best friend where Shindo was, to which Musa probably replied “Maybe still in bed,” which then led to Haiji going to check on him. I can only imagine his apprehension when he found him sick.
Such clever subtle, writing. Off screen action that gives credit to the viewers imagination. I absolutely love it. What a beginning to the race. And way to end the episode on a monster of a cliffhanger. We know that Shindo should be running that day. Even if he’s the last person, he does not look good ☹ Will he recover in time? We know that he will run it regardless. No way will he let his team down.
Now I’m not sure how to cover the last few episodes. I’m sure everyone has watched the show so you know that this rest of it continues in this same past/present format. If readers can give me hints on how you would like me to review the rest of it that would be super helpful.
Should I go on with the super detailed scene by scene lengthy format I’ve used until now? Or would you rather I just split the review into the most important events/conversations?
I know it might seem a bit late to consider switching styles at this point. But it might be worth it if readers aren’t as interested in the miniscule details I (perhaps mistakenly) presume they are. So would you rather reviews be short and sweet? Or long and detailed? Are you more interested in a critique of the writing and characterization? Or do you enjoy analysis of the direction and music as well?
By the way, this won’t just help me when it comes to this show, but others I may review in the future as well.
Thanks!
Rating: 9/10
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