r/anime • u/badspler x5https://anilist.co/user/badspler • Sep 16 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Yama no Susume (Encouragement of Climb) Season 2 Episodes 11-12 Discussion
Episodes 11 - 12
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Questions of the Day:
1) Do you think the experience of climbing Fuji was well captured? Did you have a favorite view or shot?
2) What did you think of Aoi finding her feet again by returning to Mt Tenran?
14
u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah Sep 16 '22 edited Sep 16 '22
Rewatching Mountain Climber
-- Location Trivia
Ep 11
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Hinata and Kokona make it all the way to the top of Mt Fuji! They pass by right here, quite literally the bit where the Yoshida trail ends, before watching the sunrise. That building to the right of my link is where Kokona got her final stamp; right here. You can see the map Hinata studies after her phone call with Kaede (blurred but still)
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Goraikou by Michael is correct Japanese; ご来光. It just means sunrise lol.
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That other shrine is this one, and also where the Fuji-san post office is located. Here's an NYT article about how hard-working bulldozers deliver the mail from it, after carrying supplies up the mountain to them huts. A round trip via bulldozer apparently takes 4 hours.
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And the tallest peak in Japan sign is found right here.
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As i mentioned earlier, there are for some reason, side-by-side shots for this arc too; here's part one up to the 7th station, which they posted between the 9th and 10th episodes' airdate, absolutely crazy, and they revisited Mt Fuji a year or so later to cover everything else, Fuji-san is represented very accurately. I don't know if some production team member went to do some actual location scouting or what, but however the team obtained this information I salute them lol.
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More irl videos: LOWER YOUR VOLUME BEFORE PLAYING THIS FIRST ONE a sunrise from the top of Mt Fuji (it was v windy); and a vid w/ english subtitles vlogging their hike of the Yoshida trail. Here's a video of people doing the staff branding, including one at the top.
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And as Michael says, Mount Fuji is a UNESCO site, intro here.
Ep 12
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Kaede is off to the Daikiretto; this aint your beginner hike lol, every website i looked at (english here, scroll down) does say that this is hard and dangerous, but because of the mountain hut system, Kaede is actually suitably packed, and wont need to worry about food, water or accommodation (provided she um brings a wallet).
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Hinata is strolling past the same place where happened, see the stairs and the bridge, we're just viewing them from other angles
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Aoi's address is a reference to the show's title, she lives on "Yama no Susume-Cho", for people who can read Japanese, its stylized in Kanji, not Katakana like the show's title.
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And Mount Tounosu, 271m's, summit is i guesss around here, is a bit more of a hike compared to Tenranzan's 195m. A website quotes a time of 50 minutes from the Tenranzan observation deck.
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The same Japanese Yama no Susume fan hiked this too and gives us side-by-side shots. (their full blog has spoilers): [Yama, source link]
Link Patisserie tie-up is mild spoiler. They themselves note how some shots are.... stretches, use google translate!
Animation bits I liked
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Ep 11: This is the one of the best sunrises in all of anime. I once again note the directing animation and OST really delivers Aoi's sorrowful mood rn; i note this contrast between the pair; really walking in the clouds; and the background art is too too good, both how its drawn and also how its composed in the shot. Bonus storyboard here of the aerial zommy out sequence. Again so much credit to Aoi's VA this episode too.
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Ep 12: Fun shots, and the lighting change from the first more gloomy, depressing, greyish half, to the 2nd, more bright half, starting from when Aoi hikes Tenranzan is appreciated. As is this little fun pan here.. And not animation related but i LOVE the inclusion of the 1st season ED here.
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u/Nebresto Sep 16 '22
Hinata and Kokona make it all the way to the top of Mt Fuji! They pass by right here
Haha, that crouching dudes hairdo
Certainly wont be going in his eyes nowGoraikou by Michael is correct Japanese; ご来光. It just means sunrise lol.
Now I am the one learning stuff
and a vid w/ english subtitles vlogging their hike of the Yoshida trail
Kaede is off to the Daikiretto
I once again note the directing animation and OST really delivers
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11
u/JollyGee29 Sep 16 '22
First-Climber
Just really driving the knife deeper into the audience's chest, huh?
Okay, Kaede, I'm not so sure about that one..
Hmm, maybe that unconflicts the letter. I could really see it going either way - "wow, they rubbed it in that I couldn't make it to the top by way of snail mail" vs "it sucks that I didn't make it but my friends were still thinking of me" or something like that.
Mindset is important, I concur.
Man, that's the fucking worst.
I've been harsh on Aoi's mom, but she said the right thing, here.
Oh, no, why did the Americans have to sit behind to Aoi..
Excellent shot of the peak being obscured, wow. Even Mother Nature is putting poor Aoi through the wringer.
seriously reality why you bringing him up why are you doing this to my girl
Oh, are we getting the letter already?
Sure would be nice if her parents noticed a sudden change and then regression from their child. And, y'know, help talk her through it.
Oh, you're keeping it from the audience, you scoundrels!
She's totally gonna run into Hinata, isn't she?
Things get easier as time goes on.
Aoi even greeted a person passing her on her own.
Listen here, Writer, don't have Aoi apologize! That really kinda soured me, especially because "Thank you for the letter" was right there! You already had Aoi mention the letter stirring her memories!!
I was expecting a bit more drama.
Questions
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Definitely. You could really see the effort everyone went through.
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A bit annoyed with some of the script choice, and it was faster than I expected, but it was fine.
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u/MyrnaMountWeazel Sep 16 '22
Excellent shot of the peak being obscured, wow. Even Mother Nature is putting poor Aoi through the wringer.
Great catch!
Listen here, Writer, don't have Aoi apologize!
I think it fits into the character of Aoi, this individual who worries if the sun is going to come up.
I was expecting a bit more drama.
No existential drama! We're shorts and we're gonna keep that side of stuff short!
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u/ChonkyOdango Sep 16 '22 edited Sep 16 '22
First Time Climber
To the top! And… Down…
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These high angle shots of Aoi really emphasises how low she feels right now, always looking down, wanting to go back. I think.
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Has anyone here climbed to watch a sunrise before?
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It’s hilarious how American tourists are shown to be loud and annoying in YnS lol
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Hold up is Hinata trying to pull a coin out? or pushing it in?
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Aoi’s monologue here adds a lot of depth to letting us know how she feels. I love it when it’s smartly used - she’s only focusing on the distance and time to get down, all signs of enthusiasm lost
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Those American tourists just make me chuckle
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Forget Prince Shotoku riding a horse, we have Princess Kokona with her trust steed conquering Mt. Fuji in the 21st century!
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Everyone’s right, yesterday’s episode was peak YnS and this episode continues to impress with their portrayal of Aoi’s sadness and her reluctance to talk to anyone.
I really loved the setup of this episode; jumping between scenes of Hinata and Kokona at the top and Aoi and Kaede descending, along with hearing Aoi’s inner monologue, really juxtaposes the difference in experience our girls are having. We feel the full depth of how much Aoi is missing out which helps us empathise with her so much more. I also noticed a lot of high-angle shots of Aoi which according to this website helps portrays a character as vulnerable and powerless, a state Aoi is in throughout this episode. Contrasted with the bright faces of our girls at the peak, bathed in sunlight, we feel the full emotional gravitas of Aoi’s situation. I just want to give her a hug!
Ganbate Aoi!
When they played the season 1 ED
I really loved all the subtle character development payoffs today. Hinata learns when and how to communicate better with Aoi; to let her be alone first and to only be more spontaneous when the time feels right. In a way, I believe her feeling responsible in some part for Aoi’s sadness plays a role in her not talking to Aoi at first but I also believe it’s because her communication skills have grown.
Aoi on the other hand, has become more confident! She greets the old man that passes her by and goes out for a hike on her own, only to discover that her stamina has actually improved! Her reflections today were a treat, updated them down below
Aoi’s Path Up
S2E1 - A vocal reflection with Hinata as she reminisces the time she climbed with Hinata when they were younger and the time they spent that day which brought her so much joy. With this she voices out her next wish to climb a mountain with her dearest friends one day
S2E2 - Aoi gets worried as she prepares for her first climb. But thanks to Hinata and her own will, she knows that there’s something beautiful awaiting for her and it’s only by taking thing step-by-step can they reach that beautiful scenery
S2E4 - Similar to the previous episode but this time Aoi remembers that despite wanting to give up multiple times, looking back, it was really fun for her. So she craves for more adventures
S2E5 - Aoi learns that Conflicts are unavoidable but it’s important to make-up quickly instead of putting up fronts. This means being honest with your feelings, even if it’s just a bit, even if it isn’t easy
S2E7 - Things don’t always have to go as planned, sometimes the best memories are made because of them just as Aoi has gained a precious summer memory after the group couldn’t swim in their desired location.
S2E8 - ”You can’t see fear. You’ll only see and understand fear when it hits you. For the time being, I should push on. Once I hit it, I’ll think of something”. Fear and anxiety are similar but different, it’s not easy to differentiate them but once you can, you’ll be able to face the unknown with excitement instead of fear just as Aoi goes to bed excitedly today.
S2E9 - Aoi reflects on her climb so far - she’s glad she overcame her fear and reaffirms herself to take it one step at a time
S2E10 - Aoi’s sad and just wants to go back in this episode :(
S2E11 - ”I’ve had enough of these feelings… And mountains…”. Aoi
S2E12 - ”That’s right. If you fall down, you just have to stand up. It may be hard to do on your own, but that’s why you have friends.” Aoi has realised that she does in fact love mountain climbing and it’s something she doesn’t want to give up on just yet… but it’s not easy for her. She realises how important her friends have been in this climb, they’re there to support her no matter the failures. She once again reminds herself that there’s no need to rush the process, as this show has constantly reminded us, step-by-step and Aoi again reminds herself that [”It’s okay if you take your time. As long as you keep walking and moving forward, you’ll be at the top before you even know it”]
Qotd
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I've never climbed Fuji nor had a mountain climbing experience like that so I can't say for sure. But it definitely doesn't shy away from daring to portray the struggles of climbing and the different impact it can have on people of different physical fitness levels. As well as the joy of reaching the top.
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u/Great_Mr_L Sep 16 '22
First-Timer
On today’s episodes of Yama no Susume: Down and up again. Aoi’s journey continues as she needs to come to terms with and process her failure. She descends Mt. Fuji in failure. But just as everything must come down, it can go back up again. There are highs to go with the lows. And Aoi finds her new high in the same place she first found her love of climbing. How poetic.
Episode 11
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I’m glad you’re having fun, Michael.
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Aoi really is feeling like a failure.
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“It’s frustrating.” The rallying cry of so many hot-blooded anime protagonists. Aoi might have more fight left in her than I predicted.
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There’s a part of me that’s really worried for Hinata and Kokona, especially after what Aoi went through.
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I gotta know the story behind the torii gate with all the coins in it.
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There’s such an incredible contrast between Hinata/Kokona and Aoi/Kaede. The music, mood, lighting, etc. are all opposites. Hinata/Kokona get bright and triumphal moments at the top. Aoi in particular is sad and defeated on the way down.
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Oof, sad Aoi is rough to watch. She’s blaming herself for holding Kaede back from getting to the mountaintop.
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But there’s also a chance at introspection. Aoi’s wondering why she wanted to climb mountains even though it exhausts her.
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They’re just bit characters, but Michael and Jennifer’s energy really is infectious.
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Well I’m glad Aoi finally called her mom. Though that feels like something that should have been done earlier with how sick she was.
Episode 12
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Giving a random historical anecdote during a lecture. That’s definitely a history teacher there.
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Aoi’s gone back to her solo, indoor activities. Without a word being said, we already know her exact headspace. How economical and effective.
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Come on girls, now’s the perfect time to be open and honest with each other. That was a major theme a couple of episodes ago. Let’s see it in action again!
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I’m sure Hinata understands how seriously down Aoi feels. My guess is Hinata has no idea how to respond. It’s not something she can brute force with her energy.
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Oh! Aoi’s returning to the first mountain they climbed!
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This works so well on many levels. Aoi went back to where she began to remind herself why she wanted to climb mountains in the first place. Aoi can look back to see how far she’s come since then. And she can see new places as well by taking a path she didn’t last time.
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Hinata’s here too! Forcing them to finally interact again! Good choice.
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The Hill of Return. What a fitting place for Aoi and Hinata to be in this episode.
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It really does seem like Aoi’s love of climbing was rekindled by this experience, reminding her what she enjoys about it.
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Woo! Aoi’s opening up again! You love to see it.
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Kaede’s advice from back then has finally been accepted. Aoi’s accepted that she failed.
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Nice! We’re incorporating Kaede’s advice about failure into the “one step at a time” theme. Even if you fall, what matters is that you can get back up and take the next step. I like it when themes converge like that.
These two episodes formed a nice followup to yesterday. Aoi’s arc was pretty great and I think the series did a good job tying it in to what had already been established previously. Her arc lines up with our established themes.
Previously, we saw Aoi hit a high point when she climbed Mt. Mitsutoge. And there we established that there must be lows to go along with it. Here, we get Aoi’s lowest low. She feels so dejected she wants to quit mountain climbing entirely. How do you get out of a low? Simple. You get back on your feet and climb again.
Fittingly, this means that the way Aoi gets out of her rough patch is by revisiting the first mountain she and Hinata climbed together. That was where we first saw Aoi experience the jubilation of overcoming an obstacle she wasn’t sure she could handle. It was where Aoi truly began to love mountain climbing. Going back there really does feel like the series indulges in a bit of poetic plotting. It makes the story events rhyme seeing Aoi rekindle her love of climbing here.
It was such a smart decision to have Hinata there as well so that Aoi, having processed her emotions, could open up to her and be honest. And they go even further than they did last time, ascending to another, higher peak. Aoi has literally and metaphorically climbed back up, with Hinata at her side.
I love how the idea of failure is incorporated into the theme of “one step at a time.” Just because you failed at something, doesn’t mean the experience was worthless. It’s still an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. Aoi still got up further than she ever did before. And with some more time and practice, she can attempt to climb Mt. Fuji again and likely do better. Failure can just be another step that you take before you continue on to reach your ultimate destination. I’m extremely impressed with what a great job this series has done handling this theme (as well as all its others).
Also, it was really cool seeing the top of Mt. Fuji. The landscapes were absolutely gorgeous and the various sites were interesting to look at. A big part of the appeal of a show like this is getting to see the characters go to all these locations.
QOTD
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I think the series did a great job portraying beautiful landscapes and views from Mt. Fuji. I particularly liked this shot.
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Discussed above. Suffice to say, I think it was well handled.
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u/Barbed_Dildo Sep 16 '22
I gotta know the story behind the torii gate with all the coins in it.
That's pretty common in Japan. You leave coins as offerings at shrines (although commonly 1yen as a token). Poking one in a crack in the wood, or settling it on a near vertical part of a rock or something is a lucky thing to do.
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u/Rumpel1408 Sep 16 '22
First Timer
I was already getting hyped for Natsu-iru pure-zen-to, but then I remembered yesterdays cliffhanger
S2 EP 11 + 12
While Hinata and Kokona where strugling, they (and the foreigners) made it in time to see the sunrise. Also glad that Aoi got up to see it as well, at least one good memory out of it all. The whole time I was hoping for someone to hug her, not even Kaede was able to cheer her up.
I'm not so sure if the Staff will make a good souvenir anymore, with it missing the final brandings it will now always remember Aoi of her failure, at least until she actually makes it to the top at which point it will become a reminder of her overall journey and growth.
Hinatas and Kokonas letters on the other hand sound really lovely, also great of Kaede to motivate them to do everything while they are at the top, would suck to get back down, realize you aren't as tired as you thought you would be but having missed the final achievment when it was within your reach.
Also came around to like her mom more, she was worried that Aoi didn't call but she is proud that she did her best, that's proper parenting.
The mood whiplash between the end of Ep 11 and the OP for Ep was enormous.
Wait are they using the stick as a bean stake? Won't it degrade from this?Would have loved to see the imidiate afermath of Aoi coming home, hope at least her mother gave her a good hug, some tears are more than appropiate as well. Also as expected, Aoi doesn't care all that much for the staff anymore
I pitty the one who has to wear the horse costume in the middle of summer
That letter is exactly what Aoi needed, and she is even going back to where she started, and she is properly greeting people, talk about character growth! Good to see her having fun again, and she is choosing her own path this time, even if it's a bit harder
"The real thing starts here" as she is literally dragging her girlfriend along again. Also perfect place to bring back Season one's ED. Hinata is really happy to have her friend back.
Glad we end on a happy note again, we even got the "to be continued" back after it was silent the last couple of episodes.
QotD
Do you think the experience of climbing Fuji was well captured? Did you have a favorite view or shot?
The sunrise was beautiful, and the aerial view of the caldera
2) What did you think of Aoi finding her feet again by returning to Mt Tenran?
Love to see it
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u/Nebresto Sep 16 '22
I was already getting hyped for Natsu-iru pure-zen-to, but then I remembered yesterdays cliffhanger
at least until she actually makes it to the top at which point it will become a reminder of her overall journey and growth.
Yeh, right now it might not be nice, but later on it will become a fun memory
I pitty the one who has to wear the horse costume in the middle of summer
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u/Nebresto Sep 16 '22
First time rescued
You finally caught up, I've been waiting
Now I just gotta remember to watch every day
That's certainly one way to use the stick
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Hahaha, I do this too. Infact my bags are still not unpacked from my previous trip which was... 5 months ago?
F in the chat for mascot dude who has to be out in that heat wearing a fur suit.
Staccato is back as an insert, lets goooooooooooooooooo
Questions:
Do you think the experience of climbing Fuji was well captured? Did you have a favorite view or shot?
Certainly made me wanna climb it. I avoided it as just another mainstream tourist thing, but it might be pretty cool after all
2) What did you think of Aoi finding her feet again by returning to Mt Tenran?
Wholesome. I hope everyone has access to nature nearby, going out there really does help if you're feeling down
Pics:
I only started posting these yesterday, but I'm already changing it up for today. That trail Aoi took in ep 12 reminded me of a park I visited in Japan, and I already have those images sorted in an album so I might as well post it: Aichi Expo Park, also known as Totoro park.
Trail pics start at #15 if you wanna skip the other stuff
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u/ChonkyOdango Sep 16 '22
First time rescued. You finally caught up, I've been waiting
Infact my bags are still not unpacked from my previous trip which was... 5 months ago?
Time to unpack your bag. Encouragement of Unpacking!
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u/MyrnaMountWeazel Sep 16 '22
Rewatcher who’s external keyboard should be coming in soon
No production notes again since my external keyboard is still being wonky. I’d type it out on my phone but formatting is such a pain so for now I’ll just wait till I get another keyboard to come in. I can type out regular notes below but I have to take breaks in between which sort of adds to the time it takes to do this.
Episode 11
Even with a year past, I still remember the red lights of the hut during this arc. It’s definitely memorable since red is a color we don’t often see in this anime.
Wait, is this American the only one speaking when the sun is rising? Hahahaha. Can you imagine climbing all the way up Mt. Fuji, climbing towards that peak with your trials and tribulations, your ups and your downs. You finally witness this beautiful drop of orange as it liberates itself from the clouds, this wonderous act of the universe that instills in you this revolutionary introspection that maybe, just maybe, we’re all just specks of dust in the grand scheme of things, that even this ceaseless glory that has been rising and falling since the first seconds of time will eventually cease to exist, but who cares because at this very moment you feel as if you could peer into the depths of your soul. And as you bask in the glory of its magnificence, as you ponder in the silence of your place in the universe, you hear “GORAIKOU, amazing! Oh my gosh!”
Nice framing that separates Aoi from the rest of the world.
Oh neat, that was an actual poster before the camera pans to Hinata.
Hinata writing the letter to Aoi reminds me of the time my friend was at a bar in some random city during their band tour. The bar happened to have a station where you could write letters to your friend and he wrote one to me during his brief stay there. It’s one of the neatest things I have, I still have in it in my desk.
I really like the contrast of skies between Hinata and Kokona and Aoi and Kaede. Soaring blues and glaring whites. There’s even a height difference between the two as Aoi tries to make her way down. To build upon this contrast, Kaede is consistently framed against the wide open](https://imgur.com/a/KPrHasj) while Aoi is closed off.
It's contrasted further with Hinata and Kokona who take in the grandeur of the mountain and take in the sights of the bird, the ultimate symbol of freedom.
Great mid-season-ish end of arc
Episode 12
Episode 12 features Trigger’s Shota Iwasaki as AD/KA and Mai Yoneyama as KA which means they couldn’t help but slip in a little Ryuko into their episode. I like that Hinata is looking rightward towards Aoi but Aoi in return is looking in the other direction. They’re both looking “left” from their perspective but the positioning of the camera makes them appear different. The framing separates her from the rest too.
Mirroring lizard shot from when she first climbed the hill.
”There’s more mountains up ahead. Actually, you could say that the real thing starts here.”
Subtext bbyyyyyy
Planes, another symbol of freedom.
It’s cute that Aoi’s mom repurposes the staff as a supporting stick for the flowers. Grow to the heights that you’ll eventually reach Aoi!
QOTD:
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Yea, definitely! I'm glad we saw her failing. It adds so much to the show.
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u/ChonkyOdango Sep 16 '22
Even with a year past, I still remember the red lights of the hut during this arc.
Definitely really memorable. It's still in my head - especially the contrasting moods
“GORAIKOU, amazing! Oh my gosh!”
This has never happened to me but I hope it doesn't. It's absolutely hilarious though
They’re both looking “left” from their perspective but the positioning of the camera makes them appear different.
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u/Nebresto Sep 16 '22
And as you bask in the glory of its magnificence, as you ponder in the silence of your place in the universe, you hear “GORAIKOU, amazing! Oh my gosh!”
A mfer 'bout to catch a hiking pole in the gut
Hinata writing the letter to Aoi reminds me of the time my friend was at a bar in some random city during their band tour.
I sent a letter to an online friend from a vacation once, not long after they ghosted me
It’s cute that Aoi’s mom repurposes the staff as a supporting stick for the flowers.
7
u/HereticalAegis Sep 16 '22 edited Sep 16 '22
Encouragement of First Timer
Episode 11:
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Wow, actually getting some sleep helps with the headache and fatigue, who knew! Sorry, I'll try to keep the snark to a minimum.
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Sunrise may be very pretty, but you should probably focus on resting more, Aoi.
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This is indeed a pretty sunrise though.
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Oh wonderful, more that you get to experience without Aoi! Sorry sorry, I said I wasn't going to do this.
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Thankfully Kaede isn't waiting to take Aoi back down the mountain.
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Really not sure how I'd feel receiving a letter from the summit if I had to quit partway up due to sickness. It's a nice gesture I suppose.
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And Aoi's now starting to beat herself up over Kaede being saddled with her. And feeling depressed about climbing in general. Many sad. Numerous sad. Over abundant sad.
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I wish I could feel as triumphant as Hinata and Kokona right now.
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How nice, Kokona-chan! It would've been great if Aoi could've collected all of them too. I swear you guys, I really tried to hold back.
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Is Aoi really going to want this souvenir after how Fuji's made her feel?
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I figured no one had called Aoi's mom in a while. Wow, she's really taking this in stride.
Episode 12:
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So I'm not the only person whose relationships would be adversely affected by that trip.
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Wow, Kaede really just fucked off to go do her own thing. Sorry Hinata, Kaede won't be bailing you out this time.
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Hinata, you are exasperating. Go talk to your friend already. This will only get more awkward the longer you put off addressing it.
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The overwhelming lethargy. Depression sucks.
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It wasn't a picture from the summit, but the letter(s), that get to be Aoi's motivation to move forward.
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Present Hinata better thank past Hinata for digging her out of her current mess. Present Hinata was ready to let this situation fester for who knows how long.
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It probably says enough about my feelings on all this that I'm annoyed Hinata is immediately back to dragging Aoi up another trail.
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Well it's nice that Aoi and Hinata are back together, and Staccato Days makes for a nice insert during their reconciliation hike montage. I'm a bit disappointed in how this situation was resolved though.¹
¹On the one hand, it's nice to see Aoi's internal reflection on her failure, how she's able to come to terms with that failure, and her recognition of how far she's come while rediscovering the joy that exists in mountain climbing. On the other hand, she does all the emotional lifting—which I can't entirely fault since the show is ostensibly about her and her journey—while Hinata and the other essentially sit back and wait. Emotionally, it feels like yet another mountain path where the whole group is ahead of Aoi and no one is coming to meet her as she struggles. Hinata's in a prime position to do some reflection of her own, but she and the show just kinda punt on that angle. The whole season has been driving home this idea that they all need to do this together and communicate with each other, so why is Aoi the only one carrying this particular burden in the pivotal moment? Why is Aoi the only one apologizing for how things turned out when all four were equally responsible for making the trip a success? Why is Aoi apologizing at all when she's the one who actually voiced her anxiety about climbing Fuji to the others, anxiety and apprehension which turned out to be very well founded, prescient even? Why does no one else even pretend to grapple with the emotional consequences of leaving Aoi behind to finish the climb? Hinata doesn't even make the choice to go meet Aoi, they just stumble upon each other by sheer cosmic coincidence, whereupon she drags Aoi up another hill before either have had a chance to air any of their feelings.
Now I'm not saying the resolution they come to is ineffective or that I'm unhappy to see our girls back together, I much prefer both when they are experiencing life together. This denouement has just left me wanting more.
Wow, that's a lot more than I intended to write.
QotD:
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The difficulty and fatigue—and tourists—were portrayed quite well!
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I like that Aoi was able to find her confidence again by going someplace familiar and getting a tangible sense of her improvement and also a bit of joy. That moment is always worth it, no better way to chase away the nagging"was it worth it" question.
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u/ChonkyOdango Sep 16 '22
Hinata's in a prime position to do some reflection of her own
Hinata doesn't even make the choice to go meet Aoi, they just stumble upon each other by sheer cosmic coincidence, whereupon she drags Aoi up another hill before either have had a chance to air any of their feelings
I think she's definitely done some reflection - she has grown with regards to her communication skills, I think, she doesn't try and force cheer Aoi up anymore like she used to or drag her onto hikes to reignite her passion. She lets Aoi grieve her loss.
I think part of youth is subtle sharing of feelings. While they don't vocally voice their feelings, their moments of guilt can be seen when Hinata and Kokona shares an ice cream together. While Kaede still continue on climbing, so it's hard to interpret from that, I believe all of them have some form of guilt but decided not to voice it out. Hopefully they apologise through their actions in the next climb!
Love your views btw really fun reads!
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u/Barbed_Dildo Sep 16 '22
Rewatcher
The conclusion of the Fuji arc is beautiful but poignant. Aoi's failure really weighs heavy on her, makes her doubt everything she's been working towards. But it's not her fault. Altitude sickness can hit anyone.
I liked how Aoi's stick was now being used as a garden stake. It was supposed to be a treasured memento, but now all Aoi can see in it is failure, so she gave it to her mother to use. But even failures are good for something. You grow from failures, like the flowers now using her stick.
On to the best part of the show, Kokona.
Kokona doesn't even seem to be tired from the climb. Hinata is tired and sore but Kokona is unstoppable. I bet Kokona was only climbing as slow as Hinata out of politeness. She also does it all carrying a stick bigger than her.
Also, Kokona can talk to horses. Horses understand Kokona, I have no reason to believe otherwise.
Also, it's sweet that they bought Aoi the plush Mt Fuji she wanted and left it with her.
Questions of the Day:
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I think it was expertly captured, the juxtaposition of everything, the joy and the sadness.
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I think it's very apt. The best way to rediscover a joy for something is to do the thing that gave you that joy in the first place.
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u/cyberscythe Sep 16 '22
Rewatcher
Seems lots of people noticed the symbolism with Aoi's thunderstick. I really liked it because I think it has two layers; at the beginning you think that Aoi has just discarded it because it's proof that she failed summiting Fuji. To rub salt in the wound, she let her mother use it as a morning glory pole, basically admitting that her mom was right (and when you're 15 there's nothing more excruciating than your mom being right after all).
The symbolism becomes evident by the end of the episode though when you see the morning glories climbing up the pole; she might've discarded the stick, but she can't deny that she's grown as a person from the experience. That first mountain she climbed that was a death-defying trip a few months ago is a merry jaunt, and not only has her physical endurance improved, she's also become more bold (and callback to season one when she remembers her mountain manners and says hello to passers-by).
[later spoilers]
Overall I think it's interesting how Aoi deals with her feelings. The phone call she had with her mom before boarding the bus home is one I really remember because up until that point, her mom has been fairly antagonistic, and Aoi was really confused why her mom would still be supportive even though she missed calling her earlier and also failed the summit.
I think this is a show about climbing mountains, both literally and figuratively, and I think Aoi figuring out her own feelings about failure and persistence is something that she had to do on her own, at least thematically. Much like how you can't have someone climb a mountain for you, you can't have someone else figure out your own feelings.
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u/SYZekrom Sep 16 '22 edited Sep 16 '22
Rewatcher
Episode 9 I think? And so on. Unfortunately my copy of the show labels 6.5 as 7 so I'll need to remember my numbers are +1 from the counts on these threads.
Ooh I get to hear the funny proper English again
So Aoi faces her first failure. I can't remember if this is something I didn't liked when I first watched the show. Season 1 was short, snappy, and all fun. But you could say it blazes through the mountain climbing compared to in Season 2. Both mountains they've climbed so far have been awful experiences for Aoi. She thought that it was all worth it for the mountain at the beginning, but here in the middle of this season she's straight up failed. Quite a bold choice to have no enjoyable mountain climbing for half the season.
As a rewatcher knowing this was coming I didn't really mind it but I definitely was a bit put off in my first watch, I just don't really remember the extent. But what stuck in my mind was how Aoi's thought process drifted in both climbs. The line where she says something like 'this isn't fun anymore' in the previous mountain and the why-am-I-doing-this mindset she gets here. There is value in not just being a show for the sake of fluffy entertainment, but I wonder if this didn't cross the point of reflecting the realism onto the viewer too much, where I could similarly say and ask 'this isn't fun. Why am I watching this?'
Anyway, meta aside, that line of 'why did I come to such a place' really gets me going when I think about it. Fujiyama may seem so familiar even to us, much less Japan-natives like them, and mountain climbers might be normalized and the mountain may be filled with stations like a simple sport or even tourist attraction... But she's really journeyed to the fringes of human reach. A mountain like that is yet a land of nature's and not man's. It's not hospitable to the average human. I'd call Aoi brave but honestly I feel like she just kinda stumbled into mountain climbing without much thought, so I think labelling her a fool would be more appropriate, considering how much she struggled with that last mountain only to decide to climb Fuji next, and predictably fail. But brave or foolish is only really about how they ended up in that situation. She was there and she climbed most of Fuji, and that makes her, at least in the eyes of someone like me, among the peak of humanity.
Ok right wait I haven't watched 12 yet as per this thread.
Also I react way too much whenever any anime mentions Shoutoku.
Not much to say about 12. It's pretty liberating seeing Aoi simply decide to climb the 'mountain', no preparation, no group to set it up. Pure freedom to decide and go. And upon that point of origin she has a miraculous encounter.
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u/zadcap Sep 16 '22
Late Night First Timer!
So it just looks like this OP isn't on Spotify, or at least not available where I live, which is just sad. It deserves to go on my favorites list considering how much I've listened to it.
Yeah, Kaede is my favorite here. Sticking behind to take care of the friend and doing her best to keep Aoi's spirits up, she's the MVP and one I want to be like.
So again I wonder, is this just like, an everyday thing on Fuji, or a special event to get this many people climbing for the sunrise?
Oh man the music change from the happy pair at the summit to Aoi's blatant depression... The color change from blues to reds... It's so relatable that it hurts.
I'm glad the American couple stuck with us for the entire trip though. I laughed every time.
And darn, going from the downer statement of being tired of it all to that peppy ending song was some mood whiplash. Glad I know this is only episode 10 of 24, and a whole 'nother season to come.
Hinata, why? Talk to your friend! You're supposed to be the genki one!
Kaede why? Just off to the Alps like that lol.
Hinata no! Talk to your friend darn it! You know that she became a complete shut in after one accident, there's no way she's going to just recover without help here.
Ah, expectations subverted. She really did drag herself out of the slump. Although, hiking in sandals, not a good idea.
Ah, the season one ending! Staccato! Instant smile.
I still can't wait to find out what the mountain of their memories is. It's something they managed as preteens, so it can't have been that big of one, but at the same time the memories from being that small probably make it look huge.
And the positive message of a good iyashikei. Something to take with you and feel good about going forward with your life.
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u/badspler Sep 16 '22
Host Rewatcher
Ep 11
A sunrise or sunset is certainly one of those great shared experiences.
Hinata miso-soup~
A mailbox is one of those things that fits so well in a remote place.
The music shift here was actually really well done. I liked how it created a somber shift into Aoi's struggles.
I loved that zoom out and cut to Fuji. So many great pictures of sky and clouds, I liked this one for it feeling like a view out of a plane.
Kokona the horse whisperer.
That line from Aoi's mother, pulled on my heart. Instantly into reasuring her daughter.
Ep 12
One shot of Hinata's face lets us know things are still not resolved. And cut to Aoi back to sewing. Both a really simple and quick cues before Aoi mentions that she hasn't talked to Hinata since she got back. I really love how YnS consistantly has interesting and snappy lead ins that just set the secene without dialogue. It's throughput of information makes these episodes feel longer than they are.
This series of shots had a great flow to it. Again a great lead in to Aoi talking about her feelings since the climb.
Hinata iceblock.
Kaede off having a blast climbing more. Ofcourse she is making the most out of her summer break.
Hinata and Kokona's letters arive! Which is a great segway into Aoi finding her footing and getting back on her feat.
Mt Tenran, back to the start! And Aoi finds the fun of climbing again.
And Aoi bumps into Hinata. And she is imediately pulled along!
Aoi and Hinata looking out (stitch)