"Touch CROSS ROAD: Wind's Destination" Review: Experience the moving crossroads once again

"Touch CROSS ROAD: Where the Wind Goes": Chasing the Wind of Youth

"Touch CROSS ROAD: Where the Wind Goes" is a TV anime series that was broadcast in 2001 as a sequel to Adachi Mitsuru's masterpiece "Touch." It is based on a manga and was broadcast on NTV from February 9, 2001 to the same day. It is short but dense with content, with only one episode and a running time of 93 minutes. It was directed by Nagaoka Akinori and produced by Group Tac, Toho, Shogakukan, NTV, and VAP, and the copyright is ©2001 Adachi Mitsuru/Nippon TV, Toho, Shogakukan, Group Tac, VAP.

story

Tatsuya came to Greentown, USA, alone as a player for the minor league team Emeralds, in order to find his own baseball. The Emeralds was a poor baseball team run by the baseball-loving Beaumont couple and their granddaughter Alice. The team was made up of unique players from all different backgrounds and with different ways of thinking, and Jose Fernandez, who wanted to make it to the majors at all costs, stood in Tatsuya's way as a strong rival. Meanwhile, Minami, who had graduated from rhythmic gymnastics and was looking for a new goal, began working part-time as an assistant to sports photographer Fujimura. She felt lonely without Tatsuya by her side and how important he was to her. She wanted to see Tatsuchan... With this feeling in her heart, a new story of Tatsuya and Minami begins.

Commentary

"Touch" is a masterpiece by Adachi Mitsuru that has a huge fanbase and depicts the fluctuating hearts of adolescent boys and girls in a refreshing way. This manga was made into a TV anime in the 1980s and became the biggest hit of the 1980s with an average audience rating of 25.6%. In December 1998, the sequel, the TV special "Touch Miss Lonely Yesterday: After That, You Are..." was broadcast on Nippon Television's "Friday Special Road Show", and in February 2001, its sequel "Touch CROSS ROAD: The Wind's Destination" was broadcast in the same time slot, both of which showed its enduring popularity with an average audience rating of 23%. In the fall of 2005, a live-action movie starring Nagasawa Masami, Saito Shota, and Saito Keita was released and well-received, proving the enduring popularity of "Touch". Why not take this opportunity to experience its charms once again?

cast

• Tatsuya Uesugi: Yuji Mitsuya
• Minami Asakura: Noriko Hidaka
• Nick Candy: Kobuhei Hayashiya
• Alice Vermont: Minami Takayama
• Jose Fernandez: Jurota Kosugi
• Bob Kahn: Kazuhiko Inoue
• Franklin Vermont: Kiyoshi Kobayashi
• Gina Vermont: Kazue Komiya
• In a pinch: Shigeru Chiba
• Takeshi Fujimura: Akio Otsuka
• Shohei Harada: The Galaxy

Main Staff

• Original story: Mitsuru Adachi
• General Director: Gisaburo Sugii
• Director: Akinori Nagaoka
• Assistant Directors: Masahito Otani, Tomoki Kobayashi, Hiroaki Shimura
• Screenplay: Tomoko Kaneharu, Gisaburo Sugii
• Chief animation director: Maeda Minoru
• Animation directors: Marisuke Eguchi, Haruhito Takada, Kazuhiko Tamura, Wataru Abe
• Storyboard: Akinori Nagaoka, Gisaburo Sugii, Osamu Kobayashi
• Chief Art Director: Katsuyoshi Kanemura
• Art director: Atsushi Ioki
• Director of photography: Shinichiro Tate
• Edited by: Masashi Furukawa
• Music: Hiroaki Serizawa
• Sound Director: Fusanobu Fujiyama
• Producers: Hiroshi Yamashita, Haruo Sai, Fumio Ueda, Mitsuru Oshima, Juji Taiki
• Animation Production: Group Tac
• Produced by Nippon Television Network Corporation, Toho Co., Ltd., Shogakukan, VAP, Group TAC

Main Characters

• Tatsuya Uesugi
• Minami Asakura
• Nick Candy
• Alice Vermont
• Jose Fernandez
• Bob Kahn
• Franklin Vermont
• Gina Vermont
• pinch
• Takeshi Fujimura
• Shohei Harada

Related Titles

• touch
• Touch Miss Lonely Yesterday Since then, you...

Theme songs and music

• ED1: Where the Wind Goes (Sung by Satoru Sakamoto)
• Insert song 1: Blue Door (sung by Satoru Sakamoto)
• Insert song 2: Youth (sung by Hinako Saeki)
• Insert song 3: Touch (sung by Hiroaki Serizawa)

Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Touch CROSS ROAD: The Wind's Journey" is a long-awaited sequel for fans of the original "Touch", and the story of Tatsuya and Minami, depicted from a new perspective, moved many viewers. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal, highlights, and recommended points of this work.

The appeal of the story

"Touch: Cross Road - Wind's Destination" depicts Tatsuya's attempt at baseball in the American minor leagues. It is a story of growth and challenge that goes one step further than the original teen drama. Tatsuya's struggles with the Emeralds, a poor baseball team, will move viewers. Minami's attempts to find a new goal are also depicted, and her growth is not to be missed. The distance between Tatsuya and Minami deepens the relationship between them, drawing viewers in.

Character Appeal

Tatsuya continues to show his growth from the original work. His life in America, his passion for baseball, and his feelings for Minami are depicted realistically. Minami's graduation from rhythmic gymnastics and her search for a new path are also moving. The new characters are also fascinating, and his rivalry with Jose Fernandez is one of the highlights. Alice Vermont's presence also adds depth to the story.

The appeal of video and music

The film's visuals are characterised by Group Tac's careful animation and beautiful background art. The depictions of American landscapes and baseball fields are realistic, drawing the viewer into the world of the story. Additionally, Hiroaki Serizawa's music is an important element in colouring Tatsuya and Minami's youth. In particular, the ending theme, "Where the Wind Goes", is a beautiful song that symbolises the theme of the story.

Recommended points

"Touch CROSS ROAD: The Wind's Destination" is recommended not only for fans of the original "Touch" but also for those who like youth dramas and sports anime. The story of Tatsuya and Minami's growth and challenges will surely inspire many viewers. In addition, the interactions and rivalries with new characters are also full of highlights. In addition, you can enjoy the beautiful visuals and music, so be sure to give it a watch.

Related information

"Touch CROSS ROAD: The Wind's Destination" can be enjoyed together with the original "Touch" and other sequels. In particular, "Touch Miss Lonely Yesterday: After That, You..." depicts the story of Tatsuya and Minami after that, and you can understand it more deeply by watching it together with this work. In addition, a live-action movie has also been released, so you can enjoy the world of the original from a different perspective.

Above is a detailed review and recommendation of "Touch CROSS ROAD: The Wind's Destination." Please enjoy the story of Tatsuya and Minami chasing the wind of youth.