Subculture Anime Blog

Kohane.

Summary:

When Watanuki meets Doumeki in the morning, he prepares to taunt him about what he discovered the previous night. When Watanuki mentions his childhood, however, Doumeki simply recalls the fact that he wore a girl’s kimono. His grandfather had stated that it would help children who had weak bodies. Watanuki is disappointed at the calm reaction Doumeki has, and he continues to be frustrated when a big deal isn’t made over this during lunch with Himawari. After Doumeki mentions when his grandfather passed away, an image of an older man and a young girl passes through Himawari’s mind. While observing Himawari, Watanuki remembers the conversation he had with Yuuko earlier. Yuuko had questioned what Watanuki liked about Himawari, and he simply replied that everything about her was wonderful. When Yuuko questioned if this was really true, however, Watanuki was only lost for words. When Himawari gets Watanuki’s attention back in the present time, she mentions the recent television program that has been airing. In it, a young girl is said to be able to see ghosts and spirits. Himawari states that she enjoys such stories, but she also believes that it would be hard to those who are able to see spirits.

While Watanuki and Himawari walk home together, they come across a beautiful sakura tree. When Watanuki sees a young girl under the tree, he cannot help but be drawn to her. He is quickly interrupted by the girl’s mother, however, who does not wish for Watanuki or anyone else to get close to her child. To Watanuki’s confusion, the mother assumes that he has seen the television program that her daughter has been on. Before the mother leaves with the young girl, Watanuki notices that the girl’s words do not seem to be reaching out to her mother. As the girl passes by Watanuki, she mentions that he is not someone that does not understand. In the aftermath, Himawari reveals that the girl was the one from the television program she discussed earlier. When Watanuki mentions his meeting of this girl to Yuuko later, she correctly guesses what the girl said to him. When Yuuko asks what he thinks of her, Watanuki is only able to reply that he felt as if she was close to him. Yuuko finally tells Watanuki that the girl’s powers are real, leaving it up to Watanuki to decide what would happen next.

The next day at school, Watanuki is only able to have lunch with Doumeki. He mentions his annoyance as usual, but his attitude changes when Doumeki mentions that he was able to see the sakura tree and girl through Watanuki’s eye the previous day. In shock, Watanuki wonders if Doumeki was able to see any of the other supernatural occurrences that have happened while he has had the eye. Watanuki is confused when Doumeki hasn’t seen any of the dreams or ayakashi, but Doumeki guesses that it must depend on how Watanuki feels at the time. Later, Watanuki is able to meet the young girl again in the rain. When the girl sees him, she mentions that she felt like she wanted to meet him again. She also mentions that they are close, further stating that Watanuki can see what is above the sakura tree. In it is a woman’s spirit; one that the girl describes as being attached to the sakura tree that she enjoys. People believe that they should exorcise the spirit for the tree’s sake, but in reality, it is only because of the spirit that the tree is still able to live and bloom. When Watanuki realizes that the girl is pondering thoughts that he has also had in the past, he suggests that they do what they can.

When Watanuki and the girl reach Doumeki’s shrine, they see that the spirit has moved to the sakura trees around the area. After solving this problem, Watanuki requests to have the girl’s name. She finally introduces herself as Kohane, written as “small flower” or “May 7″. When Watanuki introduces himself as well, the two realize that their names are close as well. Before Kohane leaves, Watanuki hands her his umbrella to use. With this, Kohane would be able to return it when they met again. When Watanuki requests to call Kohane “Kohane-chan”, she mentions that it has been a long time since she has been called by her name. Doumeki meets Watanuki shortly afterwards, preparing him something to drink inside. Doumeki reveals that he was able to see the spirit through Watanuki’s eye as well, promising to have something done about it. Watanuki then asks Doumeki what his parents called him as a child, revealing that he was also called by his first name in the past. He is only able to remain troubled that Kohane has not been called by her name in a long time, even though her mother is still there. When Kohane reaches home, her mother frustratingly wonders where her daughter has been. When she learns that she went to the sakura tree, she states that they could have gone together. However, Kohane states that they are not together. Her mother is only there. As Kohane’s mother gets in an argument over the phone, Kohane returns to her barren room and clutches onto the umbrella she received from Watanuki.

Preview: I hope you’re ready for some mahjong.

Impression:

First of all, sorry this is a bit late (not that this is an extremely odd occurrence for me or anything). I was busy moving back home after finals, and I didn’t really have the energy to write afterwards. It feels great to be done with my first year, and this probably means I’ll have more freedom to write for the next four months. Anyways, this episode combined a few chapters that featured Kohane into one. I certainly enjoyed most everything in the episode, but I do have to say that some things did not come off the same way I imagined them to be while reading the manga. Kohane, for one, just doesn’t seem to speak or act the way I thought she would. It just feels like the voice work for her is too lifeless, even if this is how it’s meant to be portrayed. But eh, it’s something minor that I’ll quickly get used to. Like most characters in xxxHolic, Kohane brings a really great and true to life theme to the series. Kohane struggles with the responsibilities she has because of her abilities, without being able to know the love she should be getting from her mother. Her almost lifeless state is something I’m sure all of you have seen before. I really loved Watanuki’s talk with Doumeki towards the end of the episode, reminding us that the two have both been without guardians for quite awhile.

As far as the visuals for this episode go, I will have to say that some of them were hit or miss for me. The scenes dealing with Kohane and the sakura tree obviously stood out the most. I’m not sure if not showing all of the spirit’s body worked for me, but some of the scenes with the sakura blossoms really hit base with me. And for a change of pace, it seems like a lot of extra material will be added to the anime just as they did in the first season. I have no problem with this, but it seems like this was one of the most despised things by other people during the first season. The way I see it, it would be impossible to adapt the xxxHolic anime without doing so; especially when looking at how the chapters are structured. And while on the topic of the manga to anime adaption, there have been a lot of people wondering if there would be any Tsubasa Chronicles crossovers. Not that it isn’t possible, but I don’t think Production IG will do it. For the same reason some things cannot be done while adapting chapters into episodes, I just don’t think the sudden TRC character appearances will work in the anime. Both anime adaptions can probably be done without crossovers until the end anyways. The next episode looks like it will deal with playing mahjong for certain reasons. I would say why, but that would be a spoiler!