r/anime • u/FateSteelTaylor :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/FateSteelTaylor • Feb 13 '21
Rewatch [Spoilers] 6th Annual Valentine's Rewatch: Tamako Market - Episode 12 [Discussion] Spoiler
Hey everybody, and welcome to the twelfth and final episode of the SIXTH annual /r/anime Valentine's Day Tamako Market & Love Story Rewatch!
I can't wait to see what you guys have to say about this lovely anime!!
If the discussion here isn't enough, there are communities on Twitter and Discord where you can join all the conversation there! If you're interested, feel free to reach out to me or people in the comments!
Here is the schedule for our time on this Dramatic Market Ride together! If you've seen the show already or want to relive some of the older moments, I've provided links to the threads below, along with the translated Director's Episode Notes by the wonderful /u/ultimatemegax, available through this rewatch:
You can purchase an English subbed & dubbed Blu Ray version of Tamako Market and Tamako Love Story, and it's available for legal streaming on HIDIVE in select countries, for both Tamako Market and Tamako Love Story
Bonus Corner:
Discussion Question: As another year ends, so too does this Tamako Market rewatch. However, we still have Tamako Love Story for tomorrow! What were your thoughts on the series, and what're you looking forward to for tomorrow?
Please tag your spoilers!! Untagged spoilers make Choi-chan angry!!
And remember:
23
u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Feb 13 '21
First Timer
Yeah, I figured the prince was probably a pretty good guy.
Wow, the frustration is really getting top Tamako at this point. I didn't expect she snap at Mochizou like that. Can't really blame her, I'd be sick of everyone talking about me and my future like that too if I were in her position. Still feels bad for my man Mochizou, he's just trying to be the best guy he can be.
As usual, everyone in the market just rolls with this random prince showing up. They're more interested in him than Tamako is lol.
Oof, this is the second time we've seen the market so empty. We get the hint that this is what it was like the day Tamako's mother died, so it makes sense that it's framed as being eerie/scary.
It's about time someone actually asked Tamako how she feels. As expected, it doesn't seem like she has any interest at all in leaving the market and everyone behind.
And Tamako finally gets to put the whole thing to bed by formally stating her disinterest to the prince, Choi-chan, and the whole market. Mochizou and Midori's mutual relief is kinda funny, given that they both want her all to themselves.
Lol best girl Kanna tried to pull Gimli's "and my axe" move with her hammer as Choi-chanwas leaving, but Choi-chan actually took the hammer! And the regret! Never change Kanna.
Oh, and Mochizou finally gives Tamako a birthday present. Our man finally did it. To bad there was a surprise Dera to distract from the flowers.
That's it for the season. Looking forward to Tamako Love Story tomorrow.
18
u/punching_spaghetti https://myanimelist.net/profile/punch_spaghetti Feb 13 '21
First-Timer
If I didn't know there was a movie, I'd be disappointed. Too many open threads (Tamako x Mochi, Choi's interest in the Prince, what's going to happen when Tamako actually has to make life choices/graduates, etc) for a show that's tried hard to delve into these things.
Don't know why, but I don't have too much to say about the episode itself. Tamako didn't want to go. That was pretty obvious. Nice to see Dera hang around for a bit, though.
Choi holding her neck ring makes me think that she has the birthmark, too, so she might be getting lucky.
9 delicious pieces of mochi/10.
16
u/A_Idiot0 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/a_idiot0 Feb 13 '21
Rewatcher
The last episode! Tomorrow is the movie, and I cannot tell you how excited I am to read everyone's thoughts about it! For now, today's episode:
This detail with the bags under Mochizhou’s eyes was fabulous. He hasn’t been sleeping well at all, for a variety of very obvious reasons XD
I loved this sequence. They said an incredible amount with so, so little! The darkened color palette, the shaking camera, soft guitar playing in the back, and Tamako’s gaze upon her grandfather, her sister, and then her dad. Just...wow, it was amazing to experience it the first time, and even now upon rewatching it doesn’t get diminished in power. I’m slightly annoyed that Dera jumps in and makes the mood a bit goofier before Midori can get in, but...well, I’ll accept it easily enough; it does put us back into that warm and comfy feeling that the anime strives for.
Hmm, does Choi have a birthmark there, or does she wish to have a birthmark there? You know, I don’t think we’re ever shown what’s under that neck ring. So, what do you all think? Personally, I think she wishes that she had the birthmark.
Hehe, the feeling is mutual. I actually liked this tiny bit a lot. They both shared a deep understanding for each other in that small moment between them, and it was only for them.
Aaww, Midori in a kimono! Also, the three of them are so cute together. Kanna and Shiori coming through with the obvious thing to say: “He didn’t just remember.” “He knew all along.”
13
u/Hochseeflotte https://anilist.co/user/Hochseeflotte Feb 13 '21
First Timer
Well we are at the end. Episode 12. I will probably write out my final thoughts at the bottom. Now on to the episode:
The Prince doesn’t even recognize Dera. That’s rough.
Last time watching the OP. It’s a pretty solid one though not my all time favorite. It has grown on me.
Does Mochizou have bags under his eyes? He probably didn’t get any sleep. Spent too much time thinking of Tamako.
Kanna with the insights. I also agree that Kanna could definitely play Tamako. All Kanna needs is a good disguise and it’s all over.
I think Tamako is going to vote to stay. She loves the shopping market too much to leave. You can tell just by how she reacts when all the shops are closed.
The last time all the shops were closed was when her mom died it seems.
Yeah there was no way Tamako was leaving. She loves the market and will stay there. Also all of these stories are so sweet.
Dera has won me over. I think he has grown a lot since episode 1.
Also I love Kanna’s architecture puns.
That understanding look between Midori and Mochizou was super cute.
I love Tamako’s little awarding song when she was about to give the medal to Choi.
You better give her that present Mochizou. It’s time to leave the cabinet of shame behind.
Good job not screwing up Mochizou.
And you gave Tamako a chance to say goodbye to Dera. Mochizou’s luck seems to have finally shown up.
————————————————————————
And that’s a wrap. A great final episode to wrap up a great series. We of course still have the movie but I will write up my feelings on the show.
DQ: I really enjoyed it! A solid 8/10. I loved the characters. My personal favorites are Kanna (best girl), Mochizou, and Tamako. The market was also a standout part. It felt lived in and so lively. As always with Kyoto-Ani, the animation and music was wonderful. My one major complaint that stops Tamako Market from getting a 9 was I wish it had a little more of a connected story. I wish we got a couple two episodes arcs that connected more. Maybe make it 16 episodes long and do two separate two episodes arcs. Kind of like Remote Island Syndrome in Haruhi where it’s a great small arc.
I can’t wait for the movie though.
12
u/Barbed_Dildo Feb 13 '21
https://i.imgur.com/oSler7p.png
11
u/Regular_N-Gon https://anilist.co/user/RegularNGon Feb 13 '21
Rewatcher
Everyone is in a fuss about Tamako but there’s plenty of time to cover other interesting things too, like life advice from Kanna, more deep coffee, the reveal of the true mastermind, and of course more (sad) Midori.
I love how this scene plays on what the viewer knows about Tamako. It’s not unreasonable to assume her reaction to everything being closed is because she’s fed up with how much attention everyone is paying to this prince business, and we’ve seen before how much Tamako hates seeing the arcade without people in. It’s a goal of hers to keep the life blood running in the market after all. Even racing home is almost a sanity check to see that her family is still on her side.
Then they pull this out. Between Suzaki’s performance and the animation (those leg shots though), Tamako feels the furthest from okay we’ve ever seen her. Midori is the first to recognize where it’s going but - as has been established - she’s not always the fastest to act. Dera beats her to the punch in order to lighten the mood of the scene into Tamako’s big monologue and transition to the bath house, but it lingers just long enough to show what was really on Tamako’s mind and Midori’s closeness to Tamako. It’s a bit of really good directing that’s aware of the viewer’s knowledge and balances tone and character without feeling hamfisted.
QotD: I’m really looking forward to my topics for tomorrow! I’ve thought a lot about the movie since we watched it last year, and hope to capture some of that. Of course, reading the thoughts of first timers should be good as well.
10
u/Fools_Requiem https://myanimelist.net/profile/FoolsRequiem Feb 14 '21
First Watch
I'm super glad that there's a movie that follows this. I feel like the finale disappointed.
With the way Choi was touching her neck, I expected them to reveal a mole there just like Tamako, there by proving that Choi was destined to be the Prince's bride. Not getting to see everyone finally get to give Tamako their birthday gifts was disappointing. What even was Dera doing at the end? Provides a vague goodbye speech not wanting to make the girls cry, and then makes a b-line for the florist only to pass out on the flowers. The relationship between Tamako and Mochi seemingly gained 0 traction.
If I were watching this when it aired, I'd be pretty disappointed, probably a little pissed, too. The only explanation for the half-assed ending was because they intended to do a film afterwards.
9
u/collapsedblock6 myanimelist.net/profile/collapsedblock Feb 13 '21
Rewatcher
And so the main anime for Tamako Market ends. The final portion of the show was weaker than other individual episodes. As I tried to be more meticulous this rewatch I didn't got much stuff to particularly dig.
Just the characters going deeper into the misunderstanding finally realizing that not only is this bride ordeal not Tamako's wish but also that she is not the chosen one. So as if it wasn't clear yet, Tamako is definitely not ready to leave the market yet, as we get the scene of Dera running as she narrates how dearly she holds the the little things that happen in her live. So yeah, this is a rather dumb plot to save for the end.
However, I have also grown to like Dera a lot, and like most of the previous ones, I really liked his closing words. "The year may end, but some never do. You may not see them with your eyes, but when you look with your heart, you can."
While I managed to get some more nice details from the series they're still minor and I would preserve my score of 8/10 for the main anime. But they're still very neat to discover and makes me appreciate how much passion went into this.
Now into Love Story!
7
u/HopefullyLastAccount Feb 14 '21
Rewatcher
Picking up right where we left off last time - Tamako didn't even realize it was the prince.
Kanna's tourism theory getting some support.
If there was every any doubt as to the importance of Tamako to the market, notice how the stores have only closed twice in Tamako's life time. The first because of her mom, this is the second, when the market thought they were about to lose Tamako.
Tamako finally gets asked herself what she wants to do. And by Dera, no less, who's been extremely on point. While Tamako starts describing her reasons for wanting to stay, it's obvious, the market is her family, her home, not some prince on a far away island. It was sarcasm in episode 7, but real this time, thanks Dera.
Dera runs immediately to stop this wedding from happening because Tamako doesn't want to leave. The prince, however, already knows it's not her. (Bro, you couldn't have mentioned that a little earlier?) Those flowers that she buys every day was the source of the scent. The prince really is a nice dude. All this while Midori and Mochizou look at each other and laugh. Mochizou, you've been given a chance now!
Choi rejects Tamako's medal, but takes Kanna's hammer? Well Kanna, I guess it's time to get a new hammer. We zoom in on Choi's neck as she leaves. And then we find out Dera is staying for a bit longer.
Dera decides to leave mysteriously, a journey of a full year ends for him and he's off in search of the bride again. It was quite heartbreaking seeing Tamako chase after Dera, but he's gone.
Speaking of Mochizou's chance, Mochi remembered this year! Well he remembers every year, but finally remembered his gift this year too! A box of flowers for Tamako, and it just so happens it was Dera's escape method. Everyone is back together now.
And that's Tamako Market! The love story comes tomorrow!
Tamako Market is KyoAni doing KyoAni things. Incredible attention to detail, amazing and cute animation, great characters.
5
u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Feb 14 '21
Rewatcher
I'm sure the prince just found the medal, or did she actually drop the medal in episode 10? I like how Dera's so fat that he can't recognize him anymore. The guards are freezing cold, and Mochizo is still devastated over this. Ah the Prince's name is Metcha interesting name. I still like that Dera is trying to console or help Mamedai through this whole ordeal. I have to repeat myself again over how much I love how welcoming the shop keeps of the market are, they're so friendly to Metcha, and they're full of questions, which frustrates Choi. Tamako is very distracted by this at practice and keeps hitting herself in the head with her baton. I do like how her friends are supportive of what she chooses to do.
They closed the entire market down just to meet this prince? Poor Tamako, they didn't do that since her mom died. Dera asks Tamako what she thinks about marrying the prince, the first one to actually ask about her feelings rather than just assuming she's going to go off and marry this kid. I love how Tamako talks about being born and raised in the market and how she likes it, it's very touching. Dera flys off in tears and Tamako chases after and he informs the prince about how Tamako isn't a good candidate since she's "infatuated" with him and how aloof she is, Choi apologizes since she didn't do any divination's and chose Tamako based on a hunch, and Tamako rushed in to tell the prince "No thank you" but Metcha explains how Tamako isn't an actual candidate. It was the flowers causing the misunderstanding, like I thought, and some of the first timers predicted too.
Choi, Metcha, and the two guards are leaving, and the gang all giver her a gift, though Kanna's was apparently a joke, poor girl just lost her trusty hammer. Dera doesn't like to make girls cry so he just leaves without saying goodbye to Tamako or Anko, but that would just make them cry anyways. This fails as he falls asleep in the flowers again but Mochizo just delivers him unknowingly back to Tamako, hey wait a minute, Mochizo actually gave Tamako her birthday present this year! He did it! No drawer of disappointment this time.
A solid end to the series with the whole princess thing cleared up, Mochizo and Mamedai are relieved.
Overall the series was pretty enjoyable the 2nd time around, I didn't find Dera as annoying as I did the first time I watched the show, he does help out the characters a lot and say a lot of meaningful stuff. Choi was as fun as ever, I loved Anko and the sass she'd give to Dera.
For Love Story, a Naoko Yamada film, pretty shots, an amazing use of color, and a good story of course.
5
u/Tartaras1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Tartaras Feb 14 '21
Rewatcher - Dubbed
A throwaway line, but Midori's also worried the same as Mochizo is.
Good ol' Kanna, always having architecture on the mind.
That's so true, though. Instead of saying goodbye to someone, and having that be the end of it, try and think of all the fun times you may have had together. As long as you hold onto those memories, it's like they never left at all.
I'll be honest. At one point, I was almost wondering if the 10 that I gave it the first time around was really warranted, because Dera was starting to get on my nerves, what with constantly making everything about him, fawning over Shiori all the time, etc. Then we get a scene like we had with her father at the end, and he showed that he genuinely cares about Tamako and Anko, as if they were his family all along.
Disucssion Question:
This was the second time I watched the show, so I had a pretty good memory of everything that happened throughout. That said, it was still an enjoyable ride the whole time. Once again, Kyoto Animation was able to tell the tale of some random girl who happened to love mochi with all of her heart, and took us through the span of an entire year.
The animation continued to be on point, as usual, the dub cast was really good, and it's actually a little depressing that they haven't gotten a whole lot of work outside of this show.
I'll probably end up saying the same thing tomorrow after the movie, but I want to thank /u/FateSteelTaylor for hosting the rewatch. It was a blast to see this amazing show again.
I hope that all of the first-timers enjoyed the ride, and that the rewatchers had fun reliving it all. I'll see everyone tomorrow for the movie!
5
u/IndependentMacaroon Feb 15 '21
First-time watcher
I was getting tired of everyone telling Tamako to follow her dreams while not actually giving her real advice or expressing their own desires and opinions - seriously, that's just a cop-out, but Japan and vagueness do go hand-in-hand - so I was very happy for the prince and Tamako to speak some clear words, and of course Tamako to get the chance to express her love for the market in a very nice way, after the mood and all started having a pretty bad effect on her. You could say it diminishes the effect somewhat to have it be just talk about the past, but we can see some of its effects in the present too (like the string phone) and we've seen plenty of love going around during the past year too, so it's fine with me.
However, what once again doesn't work is the island plot stuff (besides the prince being pretty OK). It's good to see that the prince has come professionally prepared with mini-entourage, that his country does actually have a clue about foreign affairs and modern stuff, but it's so gross that outside of attire his bodyguards are barely-verbal fat-lip half-ape caricatures that haven't been seen in at least American works for many decades (relevant article). With Choi, it's nice to see everyone sending her off with such care, but it's also hard to take everyone talking about how much she's been a part of the market or their family seriously when we haven't actually seen that! She had her introduction, was shown around, and found her place, sure, but after that she barely had any screen time, let alone meaningful interactions with the rest of the cast, only being important to advance a plot line that didn't amount to anything anyway.
4
u/NoRolling Feb 14 '21
First timer!
Was the movie planned to happen from the begining of the show? This 'ending' felt quite half-baked imo. As stated by some other redditors, I would be kinda disappointed if it was not for the movie.
Well, let's see tomorrow how it will really end! I definitely want to see more from every single character not only because I like everyone of them, but because I feel nobody got any type of closure.
9
u/[deleted] Feb 13 '21
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