Anime Nano

Hitohira - Stuttering and Blushing is the new Sexy >>

Hitohira is another hidden gem of a series. It attracted little attention, but produced solid episode after solid episode, with strong characters and meaningful development. It was not over-dramatic, but hit some dramatic high notes along the way: Mugi’s performance, Mugi’s despair. And it often seemed to go in unexpected directions that were closer to real life messiness than the neat magic that is typical of anime.The comic appears in a magazine that is mainly for young men, but it has given us the subtlety and emphasis on human relations of comics for girls or young women. The categories are continuing to break down. Hitohira shows what a good twelve-episode series can do. It concentrated on one person’s development over one year, and was able to develop meaningful secondary characters and their relationships along the way. It was perhaps less emotionally compelling than the shows I like best (Bokura ga Ita, for instance) but it had a magic of its own.The team that made Petopeto-san demonstrated that it can make a different type of show with the same delicate emotional touch and good animation, and in twelve episodes can tighten up the story so that it does not wander away from its main line.The voice-acting worked very well. Kawasumi Ayako as Nono was outstanding, as was Yukino Satsuki as Mirei. And Kimoto Orie made a strong impression in the main role of Mugi, with a strangely weak voice that had to change into a strangely strong voice at a moment's notice. I thought that Yabusaki Emi as Chitose made an impression, too. And Miyagawa Miho as Kayo was as strong here as she was as Sahara in PetoPeto-san. She deserves a starring role sometime soon.A summary of episode 12 begins here:Mugi’s voiceover says that she was able to speak out to Kayo because the others were there, so now she is okay alone and can wish Kayo well. Next we see Nono coming up the school stairwell and out the door onto the roof, where she sees Mugi and says: You're an actress, you have to express yourself more forthrightly. Mugi is in the hallway of the school and says that she has been there a year and it should be full of memories, but it just seems shabby and empty without the students. Soon the fragrance of cherry-blossoms will be here again. It will soon be time for graduation. What can I do for Nono?Chitose is in Kai and Mugi’s classroom. Kai says she shouldn’t just barge into other people’s classrooms. But what if my confession is rejected? says Chitose. I might not be able to come to school. What will be, will be, says, Kai. I guess I’ll come, she says, but I won’t see him. By the way, where’s Mugi? Kai doesn’t know. But aren’t you her support now? says Chitose. No, no, he stammers, it’s none of your business. Go back to your own classroom. Mugi is talking on the phone with Kayo, who is already overseas. Mugi says Nono and Katsuragi have gotten into college, but she doesn’t know about Risaki yet. She says that the drama club is having a party for the graduating seniors, and has invited all the members of the Drama Study Group. So it’s okay between the two clubs now? asks Kayo. I guess so, answers Mugi. At the party the next day, the new Drama Club president is speaking with Mirei, who has gotten into the college of her choice. Nono gets up and apologizes for splitting the Drama Club, due to her own selfishness. Everyone is shocked. The new vice-president and president say how great the performance of Primavera could have been with both Nono and Mirei acting. Mirei says they did a great job anyway. Nono says that since they forgive her, she can go on without regrets. Katsuragi is moved, perhaps to tears, and says he’s going to the toilet. Chitose seizes her opportunity and follows him out of the room. Mugi wishes her well.People wonder if Risaki got in to a college yet. Kai says not to call her since she hasn’t been accepted to any school yet. The drama club members are embarrassed that they organized this party without telling her, and don’t want it to get out. Mirei adds: She'd kill us. Outside the boys’ washroom, Chitose stammers out that she really loves Katsuragi. He apologizes, and says he loves Nono. Chitose says she knew that, and knew she couldn’t defeat Nono, but unrequited love is hard. She asks Katsuragi to do his quick-speaking trick, and says she can then go back to being the normal Chitose. He does, performing for her alone. Risaki bursts into the party and demands to know why they didn't tell her. Kai asks if she got in anywhere, but she hasn’t yet. What’s wrong with that? she says belligerently. Then Chitose and Katsuragi arrive. Chitose is all smiles and greets Risaki exuberantly and offers her a drink. Katsuragi goes over and congratulates the newly responsible members of the Drama Club. Mugi can’t tell if Chitose was accepted by Katsuragi or rejected.Walking out of the school behind Risaki and Mirei, Nono comments what a good person Risaki is, so bright and cheerful. Katsuragi says to her that there is someone he loves. Nono replies something I didn’t catch, and Katsuragi replies: so I’ve learned, over the past year. And they depart. Mugi, Kai and Chitose leave the Drama Club room and lock up. Kai asks Chitose how she is. She says she’s okay, that she might cry when she gets home, but she’s happy to have said how she felt, and now she can watch the graduation ceremony more easily. Alone in the art room, Kai says to himself: I can’t lose to her. I think he means not confess to Mugi, as Chitose did to Katsuragi. Mugi is out in the evening by the bridge, with pretty cherry petals occasionally sparkling around her. She thinks of Nono and Mirei, who have memories and regrets, but have to graduate and go on, and are able to leave their regrets behind them. She wonders what she can do for the seniors. She is determined to do something, however small, and not turn back into thet Asai Mugi who can do nothing. The next day, she leaves a pink note for Nono in Nono’s locker. On graduation day, it is snowing. Risaki says how nice it is to come to school without having class. Nono is surprised to find the note. In their classroom, Kai sees that Mugi is nervous, but she says it’s nothing., They go into the ceremony. As she sees Nono getting her diploma, she silently apologizes to her, saying she didn’t express herself well. Mirei is in the storeroom looking at the dress, which is the one she altered for Nono. Nono surprises her by coming in, saying that a meddlesome junior told her where she’d be. Nono says she wanted to act on stage with Mirei, and apologizes to Mirei. Mirei says she doesn’t regret altering the dress. Nono notices Mirei’s hand on her shoulder. Nono and Mugi are on the roof in the snow. Nono hands her back her letter and says she should be more forthright if she wants the leading role, that she shouldn’t keep making people worry about her. Mugi says she is determined not be the same old her. She says that the first time she saw the costume she was deeply moved, but that she came to realize it embodied Mirei and Nono’s feelings for each other. She gained a dream of her own. She brandishes the sign from over the door of the Drama Study Group and says she gained a beautiful dream from Nono. She remembers Nono telling her that on stage she can become a different self, and that she can move people. Mugi says the her that could do nothing found a dream that she can keep working at, a petal (hitohira) dream. She has something she wants to give to Nono. Nono responds, and they are surrounded in a swirl of beautiful petals. We see them in the theater, with Nono showing Mugi her performance as Primavera. Then we see them dancing together in a swirl of petals/snowflakes. Mugi says she finally realized that if she just wished, the great world would accept her. It’s just that Nono and Kayo and the others were a step ahead of her. Nono says it was good that she (Nono or Mugi?) came to this school and found acting, and that she will wait for her on the other side of the bridge. Mugi congratulates Nono on her graduation. As Nono and Risaki and the others are leaving, sent off by the Drama Club members, Mugi on the roof shouts down in her big voice: Thank you, Nono. Kai comes over to cover her from the snow with his umbrella, and she thanks him. Next, we are a few weeks ahead (or perhaps even a year), in full cherry-blossom season, after the beginning of a new school year. Kai is in the art room, doing what he does best: drawing. He looks down at Mugi, who is outside. A new student comes up and calls Mugi "sempai" (senior, in the sense of older than him), and invites her over to where the group will be picnicking among the cherry-blossoms. Mugi responds in a big, natural voice and runs over to join him and Chitose. The end.
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Episode: Hitohira Episode 12

Kurogane's Anime Blog

06/14/2007 12:10 PM UTC

Hitohira >>

Star Crossed Anime Blog

06/14/2007 08:00 AM UTC

Hitohira Review - 88/100 >>

Anime Blog ga Arimasu

06/09/2007 09:58 PM UTC

Hitohira. Subs, where, etc. >>

hashihime 橋姫

06/08/2007 01:00 AM UTC

Hitohira 11 >>

Mugi has to come to terms with Kayo's leaving, but she just can't. She has been so dependent on Kayo for the four years she has known her. At the same time, Chitose is deciding when to confess to Katsuragi. And the seniors -- Nono, Mirei, Risaki, and Katsuragi -- are preparing for exams and for graduation. Haw will all these threads come together?Mugi is looking at the photo of her and Kayo together and says: "I love Kayo's smiling face." Mugi is at her locker when Kayo arrives and says good morning. Mugi can hardly face her. The teacher tells the class that Kayo is going overseas to study photography.Title: "I love your smiling face."Mirei, Katsuragi and Risaki try to get Nono to help get Mugi out of her funk, but Nono says: Can't Kai do it? She says that if she were to do it, it would just be discharging a responsibility.When Kayo, Kai and Chitose ask Mugi to have lunch with them, as usual, Mugi flees. Kayo apologizes to Kai, who says it's not her fault, and even Mugi knows that. Chitose catchs up to Mugi and says she can't get away. Kayo will soon be gone, and she has to go back to being friendly with her. But Mugi is embarrassed that she hasn't been able to wish Kayo well. Chitose says she has decided that when Katsuragi has finished his exams, she will go and confess to him. She says she's very nervous about it,but that she would regret it a lot more if she never did it. Mugi says she just can;t go to Kayo. Chitose thinks: Kayo is really something, to have been able to stay friends with someone like this for four years.Kayo is looking through her photos of Mugi. Chitose comes in on Kai when he is drawing a picture of an improvised bomb. She says: It's true what they say, that artists are all idiots! She tells him she has something she wants his help with.Elsewhere, Mugi is walking down the hall toward the room she uses to hide from things. She sees the door is open and goes in to find Mirei with the dressed manikin there.Mugi asks if the costume is hers, and why it is in that room. Mirei says that she will go now, and adds that you can't cry someone whose leaving back again, it only prevents you from seeing them as they go.Kayo looks at the poster of Mugi and thinks she has begun her own path, and it was such a stimulus for her (Kai). She thinks back to when they were starting middle school, and she broke through with the shy Mugi to become her friend. Mugi remembers how much she loved Kayo's smiling face. At that time, Kayo told Mugi that she was moved by photos she saw in magazines and wheedled a camera from her father. It would be so great to take photos like that, she thinks. Mugi says Kayo will definitely be able to, and that Kayo's dream is her dream. Mugi remembers Kayo laughing as she snuck a photo of Mugi, and thinks how much she loves her smile. Mugi wonders why she can't support Kai so well now.In the classroom, Kai tells Mugi he has a book of photos from kayo for her, and that Chitose wants her to meet her in the theatre. Mugi goes there and starts leafing through the photos, thinking that Kayo must be angry with her, and realizing that she has not been thinking of Kayo, only herself. Then Chitose calls her up to where she is practicing on stage.Chitose says Mugi should say goodbye to Kayo from there. Mugi refuses and tries to run away, but Chitose catches her and says she hates her like this, that she should think back to how she was when she was on stage at the festival, that she became a different person under the lights. Mugi says she know she has to, but her feelings still just won't let her. Chitose keeps trying, but Kayo suddenly appears and asks her to please stop forcing Mugi.Offstage, Chitose is crying. Kai says she's a good person. Chitose says she alray loves someone else, it's no good praising her. Kai apologizes to Mugi for not telling her about the possibility earlier, and just springing it on her. Mugi says it's not her fault, it was her being so involved with acting that gave her no chance. She loves Kayo's photos and wanted to be her friend always, but was just thinking of herself and has been terrible to Kayo.Kayo says it's all right, that she understood. But Mugi says it isn't all right, that she's being comfroted and rescued again by Kayo and she has to get herself together and do it on her own. She tells Kayo go and do her best, and Kayo thanks her. Kai doesn't think they have accomplished anything, and leaves so as not to ge in the way. Chitose is weeping over a great final scene. Kayo points out that she and Mugi are sitting where Mugi did something that she couldn't do. She says she will send her lots of photos, and askes her to have more self-confidence. Mugi is happy to see Kayo smiling face again.Time has passed. Kayo has gone. The seniors' exams are over. "Now it's my turn," says Chitose. Nono, Risaki, and Katsuragi are in the hallway together. Risaki says Katsuragi is relaxed because he passed. He agrees, saying his ability has been recognized. Mugi comes up and formally thanks Nono, saying she has understood what she meant by the image of the "petal." She leaves, and Risaki says she guesses Nono's bitter medicine worked.Mugi goes to the room with the manikin in it and finds Mirei trying to get in, but the door is locked. Mugi says she'd like to see Mirei wearing it, but Mirei says it is Nono's, the costume she should have worn if her voice hadn't gone. Back home in bed, Mugi thinks of Mirei and how she feels about the costume and Nono. She debates telling Nono about the costume that Mirei had altered to fit Nono. Then she realizes that he feeling may be.... And looks at the date of the graduation ceremony on the wall.
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Episode: Hitohira Episode 11

hashihime 橋姫

06/01/2007 02:22 PM UTC

Hitohira 10 >>

This episode completely entranced me for the first few minutes, then began to drag. But when I watched it again to write this, the whole thing seemed meaningful. I long to see next week's episode, to see what Mugi does. In this show, which does not settle into the anime norms, that is not a foregone conclusion -- although I do expect it to be fairly positive, despite the negativity of this episode, where we feel as if we are spiraling back to the Mugi who can't do anything.In a private discussion, a teacher asks Kayo if she has decided. Kayo answers yes.Then we see Kayo coming into the classroom before school. Mugi, Kai,and Chitose are already there. Episode title: "Always together."Mugi's voiceover says that the Drama Study Group was disbanded after the school festival, and that it seemed as if they had been together for a long time. We see the Drama Club, which has elected its chair and vice-chair: Haruko (Ueda Kana) and Sachie. Mugi says everyone had returned to their own lives. We see Kayo with her camera, Kai drawing a picture of Mugi, and Mugi looking unsure. Mugi says the seniors were all busy preparing for the next steps in their educational careers. It was winter, and they had returned to being normal high school students. Mugi sees Nono in the hall and bows to her, but Nono keeps right on walking, with a smile on her face.We get a wonderful wintry grey image of the bridge, with snow beginning to fall. In class eating lunch, Chitose asks Mugi, Kai and Kayo if they have any plans for Christmas. Mugi says no. Kayo says she'd like to eat Christmas cake, and Kai agrees with that. Chitose says why not invite the seniors to a Christmas party. Kai says he doesn't want to spend even more time with his sister. Kayo says to Chitose she's just looking for a way to spend time with Katsuragi. She admits it, but declares that she will definitely confess to Katsuragi before he graduates. She says if it's a choice between taking action and not taking action, she will choose taking action. She doesn't want to regret not having tried. And the group all goes to invite the various seniors.Chitose runs up behind Katsuragi and hugs him. He doesn't know what is going on. Kai invites Risaki and she accepts, holding him in a headlock. Mugi goes up to Nono and can't get the words out. She finally does after she sees Nono and Mirei getting along so well, in their tsuntsun way, and Nono convinces Mirei they can both go, despite the fact they need to study.At the party on Christmas Eve (which may be that very day), Mirei asks Chitose what they are doing using the Drama Cub room, and Chitose answers that the new leaders of the club said it would be a day off. Nono congratulates Mirei on being such a serious chairman. As Mirei goes crazy, Katsuragi comments how much stress they have been under. As Nono pours tea for her, Mirei says how worried she is for the kids that succeeded her. Nono comforts her that she did well.Kayo keeps taking pictures and says what a good mood there is. Mugi complains that Kayo keeps catching her when she is not aware. Kayo says those are the best moments and they should catch as many memories as possible. Mugi tries to take the camera and shoot Kayo, but Kayo says why not have someone take a picture of them together, and Kai does.Chitose sees snow outside and they rush outside to play. Chitose's snowball misses Katsuragi and hits Nono, giving Katsuragi a chance to show sympathy for Nono again. Kayo asks Chitose if she's not going to confess, but Chitose says she will find an opportunity and refuses to admit defeat. Kayo comments to Mugi how spirited Chitose is, and asks if Mugi is going to keep acting. Mugi says no, that even though she enjoyed acting more than she expected and was sad when the club was disbanded, she doesn't think she's cut out for it. Kayo says what a shame that is, since acting helped Mugi change to become more active. Is that so? says Mugi. Yes, answers Kayo, so much so that I felt things would be okay even if I weren't here. Chitose hits Mugi with a snowball and Kayo leaps to Mugi's defense. Mirei, Risaki and Nono are pleased that the four youngsters get along so well, despite the fact that they are in different clubs.Kayo shows Mugi a set of pictures from the whole year. Mugi comments that all of Kayo's photos give a warm feeling, and says she really has talent. Chitose and Kai agree, and it makes Kayo happy. Mugi says she will let Kayo take any pictures she wants. She asks Kayo if she's going to take lessons outside of school in second year. Kayo ends up admitting she won't be going into second year with Mugi, but will be going overseas to study photography. Mugi is shocked and disoriented by the news.Next, we see Kai and Chitose waiting for Mugi at a temple on New Year's Day. They think back to Kayo asking them to look after Mugi when she is gone. Then they see Mugi arriving. Kai notices that she has changed her hair. Mugi admits it was to improve her mood. Chitose prays for herself and Katsuragi to be happy together, and for her acting to improve, and for the seniors to succeed in their studies. Mugi can't think what to ask for. In their fortunes for the coming year, Mugi gets great good fortune, Chitose lesser good fortune, and Kai great misfortune [note: I got this wrong in last week's preview]. Kai is disturbed, but Mugi says he can protect himself against misfortune by tying the fortune to the tree. Then she remembers Kayo telling her the same thing when she got a bad fortune the year before.Chitose asks Kai what he's doing during the winter vacation and he says just sleeping, that it's good to be at ease after being rushed into the Drama Study Group right after he entered school the previous spring. She asks Mugi what she plans to do now, and Mugi answers: nothing. Chitose says she and Kai should both join the Drama Club. Kai is noncommittal, and Mugi says she'll probably join no club. Don't you want to act? says Chitose. Mugi shakes her head. She guesses she'll just go back to being how she was when she entered school. Chitose says she's already changed, she knows because she's her rival, and she doesn't want to lose to her. That's why she prayed that her acting would improve, and why she will keep practicing hard. It would make her look stupid if Mugi quit now.Mugi dejectedly says: But.... Chitose changes tack and says she should at least follow her own desires, even if they don't involve acting. Mugi says she doesn't have any desires, since the only thing she wants is impossible.... She and Kayo had been together since the beginning of middle school, and she had caused Kayo lots of trouble by the way she is. She wanted to help Kayo when she was in greatest need, but she wasn't going to have the opportunity. She remembers Kayo saying that she decided when she saw Mugi on stage that she too would make that same extreme effort and see what she could do. And that's why she hoped Mugi could support her. But Mugi couldn't tell her she supported her, since her head was just full of her own loss. What kind of friend am I? says Mugi. Mugi, weeping, apologizes, and says that the sweet New Year's wine they had earlier must have made her a bit drunk. She runs off, saying she will see them at school.As she was walking out of the shrine area, Mugi heard Nono calling her. Nono was praying that she would get into university. Mugi is surprised that a good student with self-confidence, like Nono, would still pray. Nono says praying is for when you can think of no way to get what you want. They go and sit by the bridge. They comment on how amazing Kayo is, to be going after her dream. Mugi says that even after she has acted as the star in a play, and Kayo said she is more positive and optimistic, she doesn't feel as if she has changed.Nono says she was just playing herself, the petal (hitohira). She was a high school student who had hard times and attempted suicide.The three fairies made it possible for her love to come to fruition. When they were gone, she realized that there had been dear friends around her all the time, and came to enjoy life. Mugi weeps that she couldn't thank Kayo for what she had done. She just can't accept that she and Kayo won't always be together. Nono says: There is nothing that doesn't change, just as there is no play that doesn't end.Nono gestures at the bridge above them: Eventually, everyone will cross this bridge and go. Mugi: But I just can't smile and wish Kayo farewell. Nono: So you'll just always be that Mugi who can't do anything? You can't stop the person who gets up on stage, but you can support her. That's friendship.Mugi says angrily that Nono just doesn't understand what's between Kayo and her. But Nono says she understands, and embraces Mugi. And Mugi may even see the reflections of Mirei, Risaki and Katsuragi in Nono's eyes. Nono wraps her scarf around Mugi's neck and tells her not to catch cold. Mugi runs after her, calling after her, then she feels herself calling after Kayo and the others, pleading with them all not to go.
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Episode: Hitohira Episode 10

hashihime 橋姫

05/23/2007 08:30 PM UTC

Hitohira 09 >>

This may have been the best episode yet. It was beautifully directed, storyboarded, and animated, in my opinion. The music was used very well, and the camera angles and movement were lovely. And so was the emotional story.The episode director turns out to have been the director of four InuYasha movies, as well as of episodes of Oniisama-e and Samurai Deeper Kyo: Shinohara Toshiya. The storyboard was by Yabuki Tsutomu, director of the current shows Keitai Shoujo and Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku wo. Animation supervisor was Nagaya Yuriko, who has done other episodes of this show, as well as of PetoPeto-san, and did key animation on Bottle Fairy. The animation had a special sharpness this time, it seemed to me, while still not straying from the model.We pan over Kayo's photos of Mugi, Chitose, Nono, et al., displayed during the school festival. Mirei's voice says: Nono, is this the miracle you have left behind? Great power and great support come together in this time and place. Then we see the audience in the theatre, amazed by Mugi's big voice. Mirei's voice says it changed the whole mood in the theatre.Mugi's character says she hates the way she is, and invites the fairies to change it. We feel that Mugi herself is saying it, too. The other members of the Drama Club say to Chitose that now they realize what she meant. Mugi seems like another person.Title: I'll never forget this day!Mugi's character confesses to Kai's character on stage, and Kai's character surprises her by saying he's always felt the same toward her. And now that she is happy, the fairies disappear: only the unhappy can see them.Kai's character is called away, and Mugi has a soliloquy. She thanks the fairies. Even though she can't see them, she knows they're there. Kayo, in the audience, is crying over how well Mugi is acting. Mugi says that she's alive, that she enjoys it, that even though there will be hard times ahead, it's okay. It might have been an illusion, a "petal(hitohira)-dream," but she thanks them anyway. The fairies see many sad people in the world -- in the audience -- and prepare to go and help them. Finally, in the dark, you hear Risaki's voice saying: "Hey, you there...."They go offstage, and Risaki is happy they got through it. Then the applause begins. Kai says Mugi is great. Katsuragi says it's a big success. Risaki embraces Mugi. Mugi can hardly get her breath. Nono leads them out for a curtain call. Mugi is crying. Kayo and Chitose have tears in their eyes.Outside, the two drama clubs are collecting balls -- votes -- from the students. Kayo tells Mugi she was moved. Chitose says it was thrilling. Mirei tells Nono she should go to the hospital.Next, the student council president announces the counting of votes. Amazingly, she is played by Saitou Chiwa, who is great, but doesn't sound like Chiwa at all. Nono and Mirei pull balls from their club's voting boxes one at a time. In the end, Mirei has more. The Drama Study Group must disband.Kayo is taking pictures of the outside of the Drama Study Group's room while they are inside meeting for the last time. Risaki apologizes to Kai for dragging him in and thanks him for doing it. I think he complains about the criticism (hyou) she gave him, and she says yes, there was a panther (hyou) and briefly has on a panther costume.Katsuragi asks Nono if she's okay, and she says she will go to the hospital on the way home. Katsuragi says he's happy he was there. He recalls the day he found Nono sitting crying over not being able to act, and loaned her his handkerchief. He was also in the Drama Club, and she told him the whole story. It was he who suggested she make her own club. He was surprised when she really did, and when he half-heartedly offered to quit the Drama Club, too, she took it for granted that he would. Risaki admits that she left the Drama Club after a fight with Mirei over whether Nono should be allowed to act: "She should be able to do what she likes with her own body." Kai says that he wasn't interested in anything in particular, and thought acting would be fun.Mugi says that she has experiences so many different things in the six months since she entered school: laughing, crying, anger, having terrible things said to her, feeling very hurt -- but also such kindness. She really feels badly now. (Outside, the clean-up crew is tearing down her poster.) If she had practiced more diligently from the beginning, maybe.... Risaki tells her that they were always going to have to disband, and anyway she herself is graduating. But at least they went out in a blaze of glory. Nono, haltingly in her broken voice, says she is so glad she brought Mugi into the club. Weeping with gratitude now, Mugi says she is glad she joined the club, too.Kayo has been outside eavesdropping, and says how good it is that Mugi has made close frinds. Leaving, she meets Chitose, and says Mugi seems okay. Happy Chitose bounds down the stairs chanting Katsuragi's name, but stops around the corner when she sees the club sadly taking down their sign.Nono accepts the sign from Katsuragi, and formally declares the club disbanded, thanking them all for their work. Chitose is secretly weeping. The club members disappear, one by one. Mugi's voiceover says that it was only a "petal-dream" (a petal of dream? a dream of petals? maybe this refers to something fleeting, like cherry-blossoms) and says goodbye to the Drama Study Group.Preview: Mugi, Kai, and Chitose at a shrine on New Year's Day. They all get the best possible fortune-cards. Mugi says that although it was a happy Christmas party.... "Kayo-chan, why?" Title: "Always together."
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Episode: Hitohira Episode 9

hashihime 橋姫

05/16/2007 09:31 PM UTC

Hitohira 08 >>

We have reached the day of the performance. Mugi has to go on stage as the star. This week's episode is tenser and has a different rhythm than we are used to from this show. It doesn't flow in the same way. Everyone is close to their emotional edge.The episode starts with Mugi's voiceover: "The day of destiny."In the school courtyard, a member of the Drama Club is powerfully declaiming publicity for their play. Kai watches from a second-floor window, dressed in a waiter's outfit for the maid cafe their class is putting on as part of the school festival. Mugi is behind a curtain being helped by Kayo to change into her maid's outfit. She is embarrassed by the short skirt. Kayo asks Kai and he very much agrees that it looks good on her. "Good job!"Standing outside the classroom inviting customers to the maid cafe, Mugi thinks Kayo is getting into it too much. Kayo thinks Mugi has to put more into it. Some guys come by and think Mugi's cute, but Kai comes in and "protects" her from them. Everybody's amused at their obvious intimacy. Nono and Risaki come by, dressed as a tiger and a witch and drag Mugi and Kai off to watch the Drama Club's performance.Title: "You're not alone."In the theatre, Mirei and Chitose are on stage, acting a powerful scene of a woman shooting her younger sister. Mugi thinks Chitose is great. She thinks: "I am going to act on that stage?" When the applause starts, she feels frightened.Katsuragi has been sitting watching. The others stood because they were wearing costumes and might have bothered people. Katsuragi could be there for the whole thing because his class made an exhibit. The tiger and witch costumes are because Nono and Risaki's class were doing fancy dress. Nono asks Katsuragi what he thinks about the tiger costume and when he is equivocal, launches a "cat punch!" at him.The club is in the dressing room getting ready. Risaki comes in saying that there is a bigger audience than she expected, that the poster of Mugi drew them in. Mugi doesn't respond, and when Kai goes over to her they discover she has fainted sitting upright. Mugi apologizes for having no confidence. Risaki says: "Okay. Do you want to run away? It's very simple: just go out that door. But that would mean that even the pleasant memories of this past half year would be turned into painful memories.Nono says that if she gives it her all, she can turn even the painful memories into happy ones. Mugi thinks of all the things that have happened, good and bad. She says: "I don't wish that this half-year hadn't happened." And says she'll do her best. Kai says it's all right, that Mugi isn't alone. Katsuragi says that they have practiced together and Risaki says that if anything happens she'll be there. Risaki calls for them all to put their hands together, and Mugi thanks everyone.Then they realize Mirei has come in. "Why are you here," says Nono. "To increase the pressure," says Mirei. And the flames of conflict rise around Mirei and Nono. Katsuragi tries to calm them, saying that Mirei came out of concern. Mirei denies it.Katsuragi suggests they should think about what to do if Nono's voice goes away on stage. Risaki sugests they have to come up with filler, but the problem is what happens after that. Katsuragi suggests Nono should leave the stage. Nono refuses. Mirei says: "Nono, you're not a child. Making this play succeed is what's important." Mugi hesitantly but firmly says that Nono has worked so hard for this and shouldn't leave the stage, that they will somehow come up with ad libs. Kai agrees, and Katsuragi and Risaki give in. Risaki says that if Nono's voice goes, Nono will come up with gestures that will work. Mirei leaves, but Nono goes out to her, and after Mirei says something negative, Nono surprises her by saying; "Thank you."In the theatre before the performance, Chitose is with three other Drama Club members. They say Mugi seems like nothing special, but Chitose gets angry with them. They tell her to remember which club she's in. Mirei sees Kayo at the back of the hall, worrying about Mugi. Kayo tells her she worries what will happen if Mugi loses her confidence on stage. Mirei says that she should have confidence in her, that that's all they can do.The curtain opens, and Mugi is alone on stage, in the spotlight. Unfortunately, she speaks with a small, uncertain voice. The Drama Club members comment with some satisfaction on how nervous she seems, and Chitose gets angry with them again. Mugi wishes hard that her hands would stop shaking. Mugi's lines are to the effect that life has no meaning, and she collapses, having attempted suicide.In the next scene, Mugi's character awakens in bed, surpised that she is alive. Risaki and Katsuragi appear as fairies. Risaki says: "What's so bad about being alive?" Katsuragi: ""Life is wonderful." Risaki sits by Mugi and takes her hand, saying: "You're not alone." Mugi realizes with thankfulness that Risaki is trying to help her. Risaki says her name is Shuriya, points to Nono and says she is Mariye, and says that the one fluttering over there (Katsuragi) is Romano. He blows a kiss at her. Mugi is glad he is there, too. Risaki says they are just spirits there to help bring her to happiness. Mugi feels that things are okay, because they are all there.Katsuragi says it is strange that this human can see them and isn't scared of them at all. Mugi says her next line with a stronger voice, screaming and calling for help. Next, she expresses doubt that they are spirits, but Risaki shows her wings. Nono and Katsuragi are looking at a picture of the boy whom Mugi's character loved and wanted to kill herself over. Katsuragi says he looks like a good man -- but not as good as him. Mugi tries to get them to stop looking at the picture and they realize it is the person she loves. Mugi tries to grab at them, but her hand goes right through them. Katsuragi says she can see them but can't touch them. Together, they say that only unhappy people can see them, that they are the spirits who can carry unhappy people to happiness. Mugi says in a less hesitant voice that she has no friends, that she's worthless, that it doesn't matter if she lives or not.There is a long pause. Kai, offstage, and the others gradually realize that Nono has lost her voice. Nono slowly walks toward Mugi and comes up with a gesture, in place of words: she slaps Mugi. More long pause, as Mugi recovers from her shock. Mirei, in the audience, realizes what's happened. Mugi actually steps out of character and quietly asks Nono if she has lost her voice. Everyone is shocked, and Mirei says: "You fool." Mugi remembers that she said they would come up with ad libs, but she can't think of one. In the audience, Chitose is unhappy for Mugi, but thinks that she has to deal with anything that happens on stage as if it was intended.Risaki comes up with an ad lib, accusing Nono's character of getting angry too easily. Chitose and Mirei are impressed. Mugi is weeping, unable to think of anything. Risaki comes over and says, in character, that she shouldn't be worried, that they will show her how to be happy. Risaki is hoping desperately for Mugi to come up with something. Mugi's mind is totally blank.Nono walks across the stage, thinking: "Why couldn't this have happened in an hour, rather than right now?" Nono thinks of Mugi, who thought that if anyone might forget their lines, it would be her. She thinks of Risaki, who is so cheerful, but gets angry with her easily. Of Katsuragi, who can always come up with a line. Of Kai, who is always complaining, but who is obviously a kind person. And of Mugi, who is so worried about being in front of people, and gets so nervous she can't speak, completely unsuited to being an actor. But who is a good girl, so honest, and whom she dragged into acting. She has worked so hard and is now standing on stage. The four of them helped her stay on stage. She says to herself: "Mirei, I love acting. After coming to this school and acting with you, I wanted it to continue forever." Mirei is crying and gets up to leave. Then she hears Nono struggling to get out some words. It makes her feel even worse.On stage, Mugi thinks it is her fault that Nono is trying the impossible like this. She thinks it's up to them on stage -- up to her alone, at that moment -- to support Nono. She clenches her fist, takes a deep breath, and out comes that huge voice: "Okay, let's try it." Mirei is amazed. Chitose says: "Here it is!" Kayo is delighted. The actors on stage feel great now. Mugi goes on with the script, in a strong, voice and with definite gestures and expression. She really seems to be a different person: "I can't stand being like this. If you can change me with your power, go ahead and try."I was shocked by Mugi's big voice. So were many posters on 2channel. It doesn't sound like the same person at all. But I and most of them came around to really liking this episode. We are talking about a complete change of personality -- at least that is what Mugi is aiming for, when she has her determination with her. I am now very eager to see the ret of the play, and what happens afterward. Four more episodes to go.There were some lines in this episode that I didn't get, so I may add things after the Chinese sub comes out. But I think I'm representing things accurately, so I'll post this now.
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