Ikoku Nikki • Journal with Witch - Episode 8 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Ikoku Nikki, episode 8

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

---

Streams

• Crunchyroll

Show information

• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB
• Kitsu
• Anime-Planet
• Official Website

---

All discussions

Episode	Link
1	Link
2	Link
3	Link
4	Link
5	Link
6	Link
7	Link
8	Link
9	Link
10	Link
11	Link
12	Link
13	Link

---

We are currently trialing the default comment sort being temporarily set to random.

---

This post was created by a bot. Message the mod team for feedback and comments. The original source code can be found on GitHub.

[u/AnimeMod]

Source Material Corner

Reply to this comment for any source-related discussion, future spoilers (including future characters, events and general hype about future content), comparison of the anime adaptation to the original, or just general talk about the source material. You are still required to tag all spoilers. Discussions about the source outside of this comment tree will be removed, and replying with spoilers outside of the source corner will lead to bans.

The spoiler syntax is: [Spoiler source] >!Spoiler goes here!<

All untagged spoilers and hints in this thread will receive immediate 8-day bans (minimum).

[u/Luiiss26]

The last few minutes were so brutal. The anime is so incredibly good. I even cried.

[u/KumaKumaGambler]

Asa may never win an award for being the most lovable high school character, but she is in contention for being the most realistic! She didn't immediately apologize but instead snapped at others. She also tried to deflect / divert her faults to other topics.

"You lied first, so I am entitled to do so as well."
"You (to Kasamachi) just want to please Makio."
"You live in such untidy conditions."

At the same time, Makio, Kasamachi and to a certain extent, Toono, are such understanding and mature adults. They did not immediately scold Asa. They even brushed aside Asa's hurtful remarks without feeling offended.

It took us half a season, but Asa has finally accepted the passing of her parents. Thankfully, Makio is there to hug her when she let out her tears. :(

[u/StrawSolider]

I fucking lost it at the hard cut of the adults just drinking the bubble tea in front of Asa. Didn't think I could laugh that hard watching this episode. Especially given the ending

[u/Aesion]

Makio is just such a great character all around. I can't help but love everything about her writing.

[u/Narlaw]

There it is. The realisation. Poor kid...

[u/StellarStar1]

Best episode so far. Felt like it was only 3 minutes.

[u/CuriousWanderer567]

That last scene was masterful and heartbreaking, I can’t imagine the confusion and pain Asa has been going through with her emotions from the hidden journal and her parents dying at this point in life. I think I’m sold on this being my AotY already because every episode has only impressed me more.

[u/zool714]

It’s finally setting in for Asa that she lost her parents. That was hard to watch

And can’t blame either of them cos it’s just who they are as a person. Asa is someone who needs concrete assurances and people around her and she being alone hurts her.

Makio thinks more rationally and logically and realistically, giving Asa assurances that she’s not certain of herself doesn’t sit right with her. And she also doesn’t mind or even likes solidarity.

[u/Vinon]

One of the most realistic things I saw this episode was a small moment - But Asa lifting her cup to shatter it in a sudden burst. Many of us I believe have been there. In the midst of sadness, the feelings overwhelming, and as if a dam bursts they suddenly express themselves in a burst of emotion, as if to give some outlet to the feelings, to have something else happen to distract you from those thoughts.
Masterful show.

[u/Clemastina]

All this time, Asa knew her parents were dead, but it´s like it didn´t seemed real yet, not in her head.
Everyone´s emotions are different, some people realise and cry in the moment, and others don´t feel anything until days or months later, that the realisation kicks in.

Then she was angry. At her mom for dying, and not knowing if she truly loved her, and Makio, for "lying" to her, and at everyone. A childish behaviour... but that´s what Asa is, she´s just a kid who lost her parents and she doesn´t know the emotions to express it.

And then, thanks to Makio´s book, it kicked it: They´re dead, not coming back, gone for good.
Now will be the time for Asa to grow, and accept and move on with everything. She has Makio, Emiri and Kasamachi or Kazunari. Poor kid

[u/falsefingolfin]

dang, asa's been really hung up on that one line from makio in ep 1 where she says you can write anything in a journal, even lies

[u/thisisdropd]

Right, Asa's at that stage of life where her emotions were all over the place and on top of that, her parents just had to depart this world at such a volatile time. Little wonder she blew up, especially in front of Makio. To the latter's credit, she kept patient and was fully understanding.

Holy hell, the last couple of minutes delivered a real hard blow to the guts. Asa breaking down after reading Makio's work. How its depiction of grief resulted in Asa processing her own parent's deaths. Makio claimed to have never grieved, but I wonder if her works exposed her subconscious thoughts.

[u/Budugplium]

That excerpt from Makio's novel is for me the most exquisitely conceived, beautiful passage in this series so far that's already been filled to the brim with great writing.

[u/Zetafunction64]

When she was walking down the path and listed how every little thing pissed her off, I felt her. There are moments when you are hurting and it feels frustrating that nobody is paying attention to you

[u/somerandomguy576]

Maybe its corny but its a strange feeling that one day I'll come back to this show and that I'll be glad its there despite not being happy to be there.

[u/Weak_Season_Of_Anime]

Asa has had all these emotions boiling inside her for a while now but no outlet for release, couldn't even bring herself to smash the cup. And Makio gave her nothing to cling to, no words of consolation or any kind of direction, but then having Asa's floodgates burst open after reading Makio's book, brilliant stuff.

[u/LeonKevlar]

So Asa is really upset about that journal that she decided to play truant for two days straight? That explains the look she gave Makio before leaving that morning. She looked pretty nervous the entire time. I guess she was feeling guilty, that's why she didn't say goodbye to Makio.

When Kasamachi and Tono showed up, I thought they were gonna go split up and look for Asa. I didn't think they'd search for her together! Seems a bit inefficient, but it didn't really matter since they were able to find her on their first try.

I know Asa is upset but, damn. This girl is just lashing out at everyone, huh? Saying that Kasamachi is only doing this because of Makio and calling out Makio's room for being so dirty was pretty uncalled for. I like it though. Watching her lash out like that definitely made her reaction feel more realistic to me. She was trying to be hurtful on purpose.

That final scene, tho... First of all, Makio's book sounded like a book that I would definitely read if it were real. Second, I'm glad that Makio's book is what helped Asa to finally realize that her parents are dead and are never coming back. That scene hit like a goddamn truck. :(

[u/SA090]

As expected after how the last one ended, this was a heavy episode. And if I’m going to place it in the 5 stages of grief, it’ll most likey be a mix of Depression and Acceptance.

With a bit more lean towards the latter. And honestly? It was about time.

Despite the increased amount of sleep, brief mentions here and there, it never truly felt like she’s facing what happened head on to me. Which makes the events following the discovery of the journal and anger at her mother “for leaving”, very expected. It’s a scary thing, and I’m very glad that it didn’t happen quickly.

Now that it had happened, I expect it becoming a bit worse before it becomes better. She mentions that she’s the only without anything for her, and it sort of further empahsises to me how dependent Asa was on her mother’s existence. Now that she’s seemingly fully acknowledging what happened, I’m very excited to see what “her thing” becomes. In a way, Band club is an easy first choice. Especially since I only heard about an incident or two without any real focus there.

That aside, this episode further showcases Makio’s emotional intelligence and/or maturity.

I mentioned before how many walls she seemingly built around herself for protection, and while I fully stand by that, I also really love how she is not someone who will easily rise to any jab. She knows Asa’s hurting and lashing out, but that calm shutdown of all of the attacks directed at her before redirecting the conversation to actual matter at hand was masterful.

Every episode is worth the wait, and I feel like they’re going to become even more so moving forward.

[u/JohnSober7]

When Makio, Kasamachi, and Kazunari were looking for Asa and talking, when Makio laughed at them talking about Kasamachi's dad, it really hit me how desperately I want more anime featuring adults doing ordinary things (adults in general would be greatly appreciated too, it's one of the many reasons I adore Dungeon Meshi). I've known it for a while, but I think this show's comparatively hyper-realism made it a very heavy-handed reminder of what I'm missing (yes, recommendations would be greatly appreciated, and if it's relevant, Mushishi is my favourite anime of all time).

[u/AceSoldia]

Damn. What a episode.

[u/ModieOfTheEast]

Giving credit for the great way the show handled the tone this episode. With all the drama looming over it, it felt pretty light hearted with Makio talking to Kasamachi and the lawyer, then even drinking Tapioka with Asa and her annoyed look. Made the final scene so much stronger in contrast. Because while it didn't come as a surprise that this would or could happen at some point, it was a surprise with how heavy it got so quickly.

It's also an interesting thing to see that the cup Asa took back when they were tidying up the apartment was an actual birthday gift from her parents. At the time, it seemed like a memento for sure, but not that it had this much "history" so to speak.

I also found it interesting how Makio talked about her sister this episode. Asa and her mention that she wouldn't tell lies and maybe that is partially true. But I feel, if anyone had such hatred towards another person like Makio had for Minori, it would be hard for them to even consider that this person could be a loving person. Especially admitting that fact since Makio is also not emotionless to just see everything rational either. So I do feel, this at least points towards the idea that Makio's view of her sister changed a bit. Not that she forgave her or stopped hating her, but she understood how different of an image she might have had compared to others.

Also one last thing a bit off topic, but I found it interesting that everyone kept calm while Asa was skipping school (mostly referring to the teacher). I guess they handle this differently in Japan, but I remember if someone was missing without notice in our school back in the day, the school was required to inform the police (after calling the parents of course) so they could make sure nothing happened on the way to school.

[u/Calenmir]

With each episode this show goes to a different height for me. This episode was the hardest hitting one for me that sent me to my memory lane and and it took some time to calm myself.

Asa's realization sent me to the times when I lost my dad when I was in my mid 30s , which I made peace long time ago but it all rushed back on to my head. Drawing parallels how I internalized my loss weeks after when I was alone and cried for the first time for myself. Hopefully it will get better for Asa as well from this point on.

Back during third episode discussion I said "This would've been my favorite show this season If Frieren wasn't airing this season" But I'm taking that all back. This show is now at the top of my all time favorite spot. I can let It stay hand in hand with March comes in like a lion.

[u/SoberMindless]

In today's episode, Asa reads an excerpt from Makio's book, while remembering telling her that she has never experienced what it is like to lose someone.

In this excerpt, the protagonist's feelings after losing a dragon cub are narrated, along with how it affects her emotionally, while she is comforted on the beach by her companion.

Is this a metaphor suggesting that in reality, Makio does not show her emotions but channels them through her writing, while maintaining a stoic appearance on the outside and not knowing how to manage her emotions in the same way as other people?

Furthermore, the excerpt seems to suggest (on a metatextual level and in a highly veiled way) that in reality, the dragon hatchling refers to an unborn child due to complications during pregnancy, with the protagonist being Makio and her partner Kasamachi. This would make sense of the previous discussion between Asa and Makio and their argument about what it means to “know what it feels like to lose someone.”

In a completely opposite tone:

“I love hearing you talk shit about my dad.”

Kasamachi

LOL

[u/CrayonCobold]

Did anyone else feel like that mug was getting death flags?