The emotion and reviews of "Only Yesterday": Rediscovering the appeal of this classic anime

"Only Yesterday" - A journey through time

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

July 20, 1991 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toho

■ Eirin Number

113353

■Frequencies

119 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tono

■ Director

Takahata Isao

■ Production

Studio Ghibli

■Works

© 1991 Hotaru Okamoto, Yuko Tono, Studio Ghibli, NHK

■ Story

Taeko, who was born and raised in Tokyo, is 27 years old and one day visits her sister's husband's relatives in Yamagata during her summer vacation. On the night train to Yamagata, Taeko reminisces about her time as an elementary school student, when she grew up in Tokyo and dreamed of having a place in the countryside, and memories of her time as a fifth grader come flooding back to her. By leaving the hustle and bustle of the city and spending time in the nature-rich countryside of Yamagata, she comes to terms with her own past and grows as a person.

■Explanation

Only Yesterday is a Studio Ghibli film directed by Takahata Isao and based on the original story by Okamoto Hotaru and Tone Yuko. The original story has an elementary school student as its protagonist, but the film reconstructs it by adding an episode about Taeko, who has now grown to 27 years old. Miyazaki Hayao participated as a production producer and contributed greatly to the completion of the film. The film depicts themes of growth and self-discovery, leaving a deep impression on the audience.

■Cast

・Taeko/Miki Imai・Toshio/Toshiro Yanagiba・Taeko (5th grade)/Yoko Honna・Father/Masahiro Ito・Mother/Michie Terada・Hirota/Yuki Masuda・Nanako/Yorie Yamashita・Yaeko/Yuki Minowa・Grandmother/Tomoe Kitagawa

■ Main staff

・Scene design by Isao Takahata ・Chief animation directors by Yoshifumi Kondo, Katsuya Kondo, and Yoshiharu Sato ・Art director by Kazuo Oga ・Color design by Michiyo Yasuda ・Director of photography by Hisao Shirai

■ Main Characters

Taeko is a 27-year-old single woman who works for a top company in Tokyo. She was born and raised in Tokyo. She is tired of city life and longs for a life in the countryside.
・Toshio Taeko meets a young farmer in Yamagata. He is Taeko's brother-in-law's second cousin. His presence, living in harmony with nature, heals Taeko's heart.
・Taeko (5th grade)
A very ordinary fifth-grader girl. The youngest of three sisters. Despite living in the city, she yearns for the countryside.
·father
43 years old. An average office worker. He doesn't say much at home, perhaps to show his father's dignity, but he loves his family very much.
·mother
42 years old. A typical good wife and mother. She always respects her husband and manages the household. She values ​​family ties.
Hirota-kun is the ace of the class next door. He is handsome and good at sports. He was Taeko's childhood idol.
Nanako is the eldest daughter. 18 years old. A first year student at an art school. She has a quiet and sensible personality. She supports Taeko as her older sister.
Yaeko, the second daughter. 16 years old. A brilliant high school sophomore. Although she and Taeko are constantly at odds, their bond as sisters is strong.
Grandma: My maternal grandmother. 67 years old. She is usually quiet, but sometimes she scolds her grandchildren for their selfish behavior. She also acts as the family's mediator.

■ Theme songs and music

・Theme song ・Love is a flower, you are its seed ・Original lyrics by AMANDA Mc BROOM
・Original song composed by: AMANDA Mc BROOM
・Japanese lyrics: Isao Takahata ・Arrangement: Masaru Hoshi ・Singer: Harumi Miyako

■Detailed evaluation

Story and Themes

Only Yesterday is a story of growth and self-discovery of a woman named Taeko. She is a 27-year-old office worker born and raised in Tokyo who feels tired of city life. During her summer vacation, she visits the countryside of Yamagata, where she is confronted with her past. The film depicts her emotional journey, interspersed with memories of Taeko's childhood.

The theme of this work is growth and self-discovery. Taeko has lost sight of herself in her city life, but is able to rediscover herself through her life in the countryside. Her spiritual journey deeply moves the audience. The work also depicts themes such as family ties and coexistence with nature, providing many insights for us living in modern society.

character

Taeko is the central character of the film. Although she feels worn down by city life, she has the courage to face her past. Her process of growth and self-discovery deeply touches the audience. The characters of Toshio and his family also play important roles in supporting Taeko's emotional journey.

Toshio is a young farmer whom Taeko meets in Yamagata, and he is a soothing presence in her heart. His life in harmony with nature gives Taeko a new perspective. The family members are also unique characters, and play an important role in supporting Taeko's growth. In particular, the grandmother's presence symbolizes the family bond.

Visuals and Music

The visuals of Only Yesterday shine with the beauty and delicacy that only Studio Ghibli can offer. The rural landscapes and the hustle and bustle of the city are depicted realistically, drawing the audience into the world of the story. In particular, the scenes depicting Taeko's childhood memories are impressive with their beautiful colors and detailed depictions. The theme song, "Love is a Flower, You are the Seed," is also a beautiful song that symbolizes Taeko's emotional journey.

The music, sung by Miyako Harumi, touches the heart. Takahata Isao's Japanese translation of the lyrics also expresses Taeko's inner journey in a profound way. Hoshi Masaru's arrangement also plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The images and music come together to create a film that deeply moves the audience.

Director and staff

This film is a testament to Takahata Isao's skill as a director. He carefully depicts Taeko's emotional journey, deeply moving the audience. Takahata Isao also wrote the screenplay, delving deeply into the theme of the story. Miyazaki Hayao's participation as a production producer also plays an important role in enhancing the quality of the film.

The teamwork between animation directors Yoshifumi Kondo, Katsuya Kondo, and Yoshiharu Sato is also superb. Art director Kazuo Oga's beautiful backgrounds and color designer Michiyo Yasuda's delicate colors also enhance the film's appeal. Cinematographer Hisao Shirai's skills also play an important role in supporting the beauty of the images.

■ Recommendations and ratings

Reasons for recommendation

Only Yesterday is a beautiful film that depicts the themes of growth and self-discovery. Taeko's emotional journey will deeply move the audience. It also depicts themes such as family ties and coexistence with nature, providing many insights for those of us living in modern society. The visuals and music are beautiful, drawing the audience into the world of the story. Takahata Isao's skill as a director and the teamwork of the staff are also superb. This is a film that you should definitely see.

evaluation

Only Yesterday is highly regarded as a Studio Ghibli masterpiece. It has been praised for many elements, including its beautiful story about growth and self-discovery, its unique characters, its beautiful visuals and music, and Takahata Isao's skill as a director. Additionally, the themes of family ties and coexistence with nature provide many insights for those of us living in modern society. It has also been highly praised by audiences, and is a work beloved by many.

Related information

original work

Only Yesterday is based on a manga by Okamoto Hotaru and Tono Yuko. The original story has an elementary school student as its main character, but the film reconstructs it by adding an episode about Taeko, who has now grown to 27 years old. The themes and characters of the original work are utilized in the film.

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio that has produced many masterpieces. Only Yesterday is one of them, and it is a work that highlights the teamwork of Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. I would also recommend watching other works by Studio Ghibli.

Takahata Isao

Isao Takahata is a Japanese film director who has worked on many masterpieces for Studio Ghibli. Only Yesterday is one of them, and it is a work that shows off his skill as a director. I highly recommend watching his other works as well.

Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese film director who has worked on many masterpieces for Studio Ghibli. He participated in Only Yesterday as a production producer and played an important role in improving the quality of the film. I highly recommend watching his other works as well.

Harumi Miyako

Harumi Miyako is a Japanese singer who sings the theme song of Only Yesterday, "Love is a Flower, You Are the Seed." Her beautiful singing voice plays an important role in symbolizing Taeko's emotional journey. I highly recommend listening to her other songs as well.

Conclusion

Only Yesterday is a beautiful film that depicts the themes of growth and self-discovery. Taeko's emotional journey will deeply move the audience. It also depicts themes such as family ties and coexistence with nature, providing many insights for those of us living in modern society. The visuals and music are beautiful, drawing the audience into the world of the story. Takahata Isao's skill as a director and the teamwork of the staff are also superb. This is a film that you should definitely see.