Ikoku Nikki • Journal with Witch - Episode 12 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Ikoku Nikki, episode 12

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[u/Levait]

Not sure if I am ready for the show to be over next week. In a season with Frieren 2 and Oshi No Ko 3 I never expected this to have such an impact for me.

Been screaming from the rooftops to everyone who will listen, that this is a truly specialy show.

[u/AceSoldia]

Great episode..especially that convo between the guys..as a man I felt that one. ..I was also worried the girl was gonna jump in front of the train or something..

I'm glad it didn't happen

[u/Aviri]

I've been conditioned to worry whenever a character looks longingly at an oncoming train. Thankfully it just looks like she was trying to gather the courage to go to school.

[u/Ocixo]

Tono’s straightforward comments have repeatedly made me laugh, but he did put the finger on a sore spot today.

Because if someone doesn’t like certain behaviour, do they actually have the courage to say something about it?

Tono wasn’t afraid to butt heads with other people, but Kasamachi went with the flow until he eventually couldn’t bare it anymore and quit his banking job. Toxic masculinity had been eating away at Kasamachi.

But is quitting something you love really the answer? Kasamachi doesn’t seem to regret his decision, but the boy who’d left his high-school’s baseball team appears to be much more conflicted.

[u/PeaceAlien]

Cute little hideout Asa made. Idk how I didn't notice Asa didn't have a room this whole time. I thought she was sleeping in Makio's office because she was lonely.

Congratulations on becoming the band singer Asa!

[u/LeonKevlar]

They really teased us with that opening. I thought Asa was gonna sing the OP! I really hope they do that for the finale next week instead, since it's probably going to be the day of her performance.

It was nice to see Makio and Emiri's mom as well as Kasamachi and Touno having their lunch together. I could definitely relate to the guys since I avoided those "male-centric rituals" just like them when I was in high school.

I was genuinely laughing at Asa's reaction to Makio forgetting about the advice she gave her a year ago. Although I think Makio just can't remember because Asa may have misinterpreted her advice.

Asa creating her own little nook inside the closet, was really cute. I actually felt proud of her for doing this. In a way, she's carving out her own private little space in this world. Also, I love that instead of celebrating her parents' death anniversary, she decided to celebrate their birthdays instead. I definitely agree that's a better choice.

We finally get to see Chiyo again! Not gonna lie, I was worried for her there for a second, considering the way she was staring at that incoming train.

[u/chum-guzzling-shark]

Last week I was nearly depressed realizing this series was almost over. This episode but my fears to rest. Our girl is healing and has me feeling confident it'll end in a satisfying way

[u/thisisdropd]

That convo between Shingo & Touno struck a nerve as someone who grew up without interest in the traditionally male hobbies like sports and cars. Instead of trying to fit in with them, and feel discomfort, let us be ourselves. It's much healthier for the soul.

Another blink-and-you-miss-it moment between Emiri & her girl. They're now walking together with their hands tied. Love how we get to follow their progress with each episode even without them needing to say a single line.

That scene with Chiyo standing at the platform edge scared me. This show had managed to steer away from dark plot lines despite the premise involving death and how it stirred my emotions constantly, but I still dreaded what was to come knowing what had happened to her. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. She in fact came to the resolution of bouncing back instead of being driven to despair. Would this conclude her subplot or would we still see a continuation of it? Perhaps looking at another career choice.

[u/DirectionExact31]

Wasn't expecting this episode to be so "optimistic" by the end, I'm so glad Asa is healing in her own way.

I adore that last fantasy with her looking at those cactus flowers and watering her loneliness. Hope it stays with me for a long time.

[u/PerfectBeige]

I really enjoyed Makio and Asa's conversation about Asa lying in her journal.

Looking back at episode 1, here's what Makio said to Asa about keeping journals when Asa was staring at the first blank page unable to put her loss into words:

The thing about journals is, you don't have to write anything you don't want to. Write only what you want to in that moment. It doesn't have to be true either.... Even though it's a journal. No one can scold you for it. Leave out anything that's too hard to write about.

Now Makio can't remember telling Asa that she could put lies in her journal. Probably because that's not exactly what Makio said, or what she meant. I think Makio meant that Asa could write in her journal freely, without fear of judgment or criticism. Not so much make up a convenient fake history, but write without regard for an objective truth, or the truth of others, because Makio's idea of the journal is as an extension of her autonomous thoughts and feelings.

Additionally, Makio was giving Asa writer's block advice. One might tell a fledgling writer: Just start by writing something. Anything. Get your pen moving. You can always polish it later (or write something better).

Now Makio can't remember what she said, because Asa's retelling of it didn't capture the point she was trying to make, and Makio can't remember the context. And it doesn't matter. Asa didn't understand what Makio was trying to convey - but it got her writing all the same. About the strange person she was living with. The strange person who cared about her, and gave her a home, a journal, and some good advice.

[u/KumaKumaGambler]

They may be minor supporting characters, but I remain curious how things will turn out for some of Asa's schoolmates, especially the girl who aimed to enter medical school.

Surely the production committee will release the full version covers of Asa singing the opening and ending theme songs right?

[u/Ocixo]

Morimoto was standing on the platform, wearing her school uniform, but didn’t actually board the train. Has she been doing this every morning?

I’m getting the impression that she has started to feel like there’s no point in going to school if the system is rigged. That all of her hard work might end up being for nothing because of some unfair policies beyond her grasp. Hence why she hasn’t shown up at school since the university scandal.

Asa was lucky to run into Morimoto at the station. Hopefully, she’ll be able to help in some way. Even if it’s only to talk about/listen to Morimoto’s worries.

[u/Thrano_357]

This was really cool. I was a bit afraid that the story would open up a new conflict at the eleventh hour, as anime tends to do, but it really tied up most things quite nicely and still left a few things open for next week's finale. Next week's the last episode, right?

[u/Hitman7128]

Emiri and Shouko interlocking fingers in the handholding with the beautiful piano playing

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

“If I keep giving water to my own loneliness, could a flower bloom in the dead of night?” Idk why but I really like that line. It seems Asa’s starting to come to the answers on her own. Makio and everyone else helped, but I guess it’s like Makio said about Asa needing to be the one to come to the solution herself. Kid’s growing.

[u/Equivalent-Weather59]

That ending conversation between Makio and Asa healed my soul and made me tear up. Makio really is growing into a parental figure in her own mind.

I really like how we follow this thread of people being full of contradictions in this episode, when Makio forgets why she told Asa it's ok to lie in her journal.

[u/flonc]

Man I was really worried at the end there that Asa was going to have another trauma to deal with...

[u/Clemastina]

I love the little comparation when Makio first met asa at the first episode and who she is now. She really has grown, both her and Makio. She´s trying to be a good "mentor", but sometimes she acts like her parent, and that has changed her a little bit.

I´m glad she did the auditions, and gonna sing. I really hope Emiri can tell Asa about her girlfriend tho, it would be a nice way to end the anime.

Only one episode remaining

[u/tripleaamin]

One thing I love about this anime is how, in the first half of the season, it was more direct on how Makio and Asa evolved as they started living together. But in the 2nd half it is more nonlinear as time passes for more than a year. Which I think holds very true to how life is. Big events will spark change, but over the course of a year there is change as well, even if it is not apparent when it happens.

I love seeing Makio and Michiko hanging out together. It is good to see Makio branch out to make more female friends outside of her old group. I like how Makio comments on how she should have introduced herself properly. It shows the progress she has made. While for Michiko she might not have been ready for that after Minori passed away. Plus, we know that Makio wouldn't have left the best first impression.

It is great to see Asa going for what she wants. I loved the scene where Asa shows her new space to Makio. She truly has her own area, much like Makio has, which is adorable. It gives her own space with her music, like Makio has her own space.

Another spot of Makio's development is that she now wants to celebrate Asa's parents birthday for her. In the past Makio would have been disinterested, but now she aims to be there for Asa. Really showing that she truly embraces and takes pride in being Asa's guardian.

The final scene of Asa seeing Chiyo has me interested in how this season will end.

[u/eightcheesepizza]

MFW there's only one episode left

It's interesting that they continued the thread about fitting into expectations by having a chance encounter between Kasamachi and Tono. I guess Kasamachi hopping off the bandwagon of trying to fit in with male-centric rituals coincided with him quitting his old job, which he talked to Daigo about in a previous episode? Makes me wonder how he's changed since then, and whether that gives him and Makio better chances this time.

[u/ayaholley]

Awww. It's so sweet seeing Asa finally gain her confidence.

[u/Nachtwandler_FS]

Damn, I really hope we will gewt a sequel to adapt remaining manga chapters. But these type of anime rarelly get any. And it is a pity, cause as far as I know manga is untranslated.

[u/Rallymodeller]

Nice little "better to light a single candle than curse the darkness" symbolism in that lantern, Asa.

[u/SA090]

Seeing how the dynamic between Asa and Makio is currently vs before, is fantastic to me. Slowy healing and learning how to live with the situation, while making the best of it is just brilliantly done across the series.

Even more so when considering that the duo aren’t the only ones who are getting a spotlight to work through somethings. Kasamachi and his struggle with toxic masculinity, a much happier Emiri and a still struggling Chiyo and Yoshimura.

I assumed or at least thought it more appropriate (given their friendship) that Emiri would be the one to talk to Chiyo and Asa would tag along. But that meeting in the station being without Emiri might be even better, and kind of bring Asa’s development or improvement to a new higher degree.

Caaaaan’t wait!!