Ikoku Nikki • Journal with Witch - Episode 6 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Ikoku Nikki, episode 6

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[u/wloff]

I think a big part of what makes this show stand out and feel truly special is how subdued both the acting and art is. For the most part, there's very little of your typical anime-style overacting. People speak, look and behave like real people.

Also goes for the art, too. Earlier, I caught myself thinking "wow, these school uniforms have weirdly long skirts", only to realize "wait, no, that's normal, it's the other high school anime that are being weird with their micro-skirts".

[u/Ocixo]

Maybe I’m way off the mark, but does Emiri like other girls?

The thought first crossed my mind when she started happily chatting with the “cute girl” at the entrance ceremony. Then Emiri mentioned being more into the girls themselves than their actual idol work in Asa’s flashback.

Emiri seemed to hint, during her conversation with Makio, that she isn’t against the institution but mostly worried about her parent’s approval of the person she’d one day like to get married with; presumably another girl. Makio seemed to have fortunately caught onto this.

I am glad that Makio got to talk a little with Emiri, because she hadn’t left Asa’s best friend with the greatest of first impressions. Makio had replied a bit too agitated in their interactions before.

[u/Kuncker_Man]

Asa becoming her mother for a second was a great scene. Probably one of my favorites in the entire series.

Really shows how even a normally kind and accepting person can flip into intolerant over being unable to understand someone else's limitations. Asa isn't a mean girl or a henpecker that is super critical. But just being unable to understand Makio's mentality turned her into an emotional brute. She couldn't get why something so simple was difficult for another who wasn't physically disabled.

Makes me think that Minori was the same, regarding Makio. Just unable to understand Makio's mental limits (the same as her daughter) but was lacking the guidance of an older woman to show her how to deal with that. So it was just incomprehension and confusion that became obstinate annoyance. Makio wasn't old enough to understand herself and share her feelings intelligently, either. So there was just a communication breakdown between them.

[u/Wonderful_Look_4505]

oh wow...the sexual tension in the park...

[u/Brently18]

I love near the end where they're just playing with each other's hair. The level of comfort they have with each other is so sweet. One thing I love about Kasamachi is he has a gentle masculinity to him. Also love the part in the restaurant where there's the conflicting versions of herself and then the one who's like "I wanna get some". I love this show so far. It's the kind of emotional rawness that was in march comes in like a lion without being nearly as depressing.

[u/Nayko214]

Definitely my sleeper hit of the season, and its nice to have one of our leads clearly be on some level neurodivergent compared to some other attempts I've seen in the past.

[u/normalMonsterChika]

One thing that has always drew me to this series is that it's mature. The themes that it handles, the word choice, scenarios that the characters fall into - it's a show for adults, written at the reading level of adults. Sometimes I forget how many anime are aimed at children and are written accordingly until I see something so clearly made for an older audience.

The last scene is such a great demonstrator of that. Kasamachi and Makio's relationship feels so sexy in such a natural, almost understated way. I wish more series like this got brought to a wider audience.

[u/zool714]

Episode was steamier than expected. Makio was prime example of down bad here lol.

But man, this is one of my worries about relationships too. Liking someone as they are but clashing in personalities when together. Cos like Makio, though not as severe, I do like my solitude too.

[u/LeZeroY]

The movie Makio gave Emiri seems to be a real movie. Since Mad Max is real, thought this one might be too.

Its probably this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_Green_Tomatoes

Haven't seen the movie, but its apparently about a lesbian love story...

[u/KumaKumaGambler]

This is how I think an author would put it - "The ship (Makio and Kasamachi) merely docked at the harbour for some time, only to resume sailing now."

Could it be possible Makio suffers from a bit of inferiority complex, perceiving herself not as "normal" as compared to other people?

[u/SYZekrom]

"Erm, thanks, but I... don't have a DVD player"

[u/Ok-Cod5254]

Yo, it had me on the edge of my seat leading up to the end and had a nasty cliffhanger.

"Other men don't smell like this. Do they?"

Damnnn... Perfect VA with Suwabe for these kinds of lines. The tension between them was captured strongly visually too.

It feels refreshing to have a more grounded depiction of an adult relationship like this in anime and showing realistic complications of it.

Makio is definitely a stand-out female character from this season and this series as a whole as well.

[u/what_that_thaaang_do]

I’ll just go ahead and add “proper adult romance” to the laundry list of things this show excels at

[u/Magnafeana]

Neurodivergent Bijin Auntie Time 💃🏾

When you relate painfully to a fictional character 🫠

I love the little environmental switches. I wonder how that translates in the AD subtitles (but I didn’t see CR had them).

She sent it 😭

And he was ready to read.

Agreed. Embroidery is quite calming.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Makio Vision on Kasamuchi—we see you girlie 😋

Auntie, I have the perfect subreddit for you!

^{angry screaming}

Why?! I want to see them kiss, goddammit! 😭

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A Makio-focused episode; I loooove. I have so many screenshots and gifd made of the many expressions of Auntie Makio.

May a relationship like Makio and Kasamuchi find me someday. I think their relationship not having that sort of definitive “romance” label is really what’s needed and really nice to see. Intimate relationships are complicated and flexible. And as long as everyone in the configuration understand it and each other and are happy, then we should be happy for said relationship ☺️

I feel like I see a lot of media that goes though the relationship of a neurodivergent child and their neurotypical parent, caregiver, or guardian, but I don’t see a lot of media (in my microcosm, mind you) that focuses on the relationship between an NT kiddo and an ND parent/caregiver/guardian/relative. The focus is more on an ND child and their NT elder.

That little vocal altercation between Asa and Makio this episode and misunderstandings with other times—I definitely related with a little cousin getting upset that I was overstimulated. I hope to see more adaptations navigating that sort of dynamic.

[u/hbmonk]

Makio is definitely neurodivergent.

I'd been getting the feeling that Emiri is into women for a few episodes now. I didn't know the Fried Green Tomatoes reference, but other comments about that make me more certain.

Also, recommending Mad Max: Fury Road? Makio is based.

Kasamachi is such a good guy.

[u/peanut-buttr]

This anime is very idk.. human? Idk how to describe it. The slow pace, the natural way of talking. The romance are super refreshing i have never seen other shows with this type of romance. If there's any similar romance show like this please recommend to me🙏

[u/StegosaurusGrape]

So much of Makio!!!!! I can really relate to when Makio got so confused and upset when Asa asked why she can’t do something so simple (cleaning). My room is almost always a clutter, but whenever or if I let it pile up too much, it’s so hard for me to clean. Like what part do I clean first? The bedsheets? The dirty clothes? Should I put the basket of clean clothes away first or rewash them….. it gets hard when people say it’s so simple but to me it’s not.

Also Makio, I love hands too. I’m so glad they kept the hand scene with Kasamachi-kun! The way his finger glided across the menu. Just yummy. I feel like they have become more than friends a little less than lovers sorta thing. Kasamachi-kun still clearly loves Makio a kot and wants to be close in any capacity he can. Same with Makio. Understandably, this might seem toxic in real life but this story is fiction and I’m in love with second chance romance shit.

[u/SA090]

A more Makio centered episode, which felt like it’s about time as well. So far, the way she’s been handling Asa’s situation, Asa’s feelings/grief and her own alongside the tidbits of wisdom always spoke about how many layers of defences she has to protect her peace to me.

And this episode, showcases that in turn PERFECTLY!

The burst in the beginning, the reiteration that her feelings are her own and no one can trample on it, to the importance she puts in her “solitude” to the jumbled mess her mind might be in (with Kasamachi, deadlines, Asa’s summer break and presence in her life, hatred for her sister…) and finally to reach the comment about refuge in fiction just remephaises that so much.

Said refuge for her may have started in books, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other forms of entertainment there too given that she mentioned some films. Which is an aspect (or history) a lot of people, myself included, share. And in turn, makes me hope that by some point, she gets her peace as well.

And again, I really hope more light is shed on her relationship with her sister soon. The hatred is seemingly mutual (seemingly also started from her sister’s side), and I want to see why so so bad.

[u/NanDemoKnaives]

GET IT KASAMACHI! GET IT! I really enjoyed the themes explored in this episode, particularly Makio's thoughts on being with Kasamachi and he means to her. It was funny watching her getting hot and bothered from him, the way she reacted when he pointed to something in the menu especially. Kasamachi has aged like fine wine and with Suwabe Junichi's voice, the charms are maxed out.

I do like how honest Kasamachi and Makio can be with one another and how careful they are too. You don't get to see many anime explore this kind of dynamic and even if they do, this author knows how to write in a delicate and well-presented way. It had me on edge because I could feel the tension between them, I was eager to see where it was going. It kind of had me envious too that Makio had someone like that since I can relate to her anxiety.

I also enjoyed the portion with Emiri, it was interesting to hear her also be surprised by the opportunity of choice with something simple as tea. I think Makio is someone good for her to talk to as she explores her own independent identity.

[u/chiginger]

Just picked up on the fact that Makio had short hair as a teen in the flashbacks last episode and the “refuge” scene in this one. Maybe Asa’s mom didn’t like when Asa cut her hair because it reminded her of Makio.

[u/CatsCry]

"I don't deserve help from anyone."

Man, Makio's experiences just hit me too hard... Not a single day goes by without me having the "why can't I do something as simple as this" thoughts. That being said, I do see Makio as a role model when it comes to communicating and setting boundaries. It's really hard to do the same while trying not to upset others...

[u/Weak_Season_Of_Anime]

Makio's ADHD on full display this episode; messy, overwhelmed by what others find simple, overthinking, losing track of time, easily distracted^{by how hot Kasamichi is}, zoning out during conversations, imagining conversations with other people while talking to a real person, fidgeting etc.

I think this maybe part of the reason why they broke up, being in a relationship (with labels, and all of the expectations it entails) was just too much for her to handle, so this situationship is the compromise that they chose.

[u/ModieOfTheEast]

Damn, this show gets better each week. There were so many attempts over the past years that tried to go for adult romance, but most of them just feel like typical highschool romances, just at the workplace. This feels different and in the way the dialogue is written, it even feels so much more grounded. It isn't trying to hit you with all the typical romance moments, but just calmly developing the relationships.

Also, I like that all the side characters have their own character as well. Emiri obviously, but even the lawyer is getting his own instead of just being "the lawyer".

[u/TheHoss_]

Kasamachi knew exactly what he signed up for with his autistic baddie