"Barakamon" Review: A Story of Healing and Growth

"Barakamon" - A heartwarming island comedy

"Barakamon" is a TV anime series that aired in 2014, and is based on the manga of the same name by Yoshino Satsuki. The original work was published in "Gangan Online" (Square Enix), and is a heartwarming story about a young city-raised calligrapher's daily life on an island in the westernmost part of Japan. The anime aired for a total of 12 episodes from July 6 to September 28, 2014, and was available on many broadcasting stations, including Nippon Television. It was also streamed online, and could be enjoyed on various platforms, such as Nippon Television On Demand, Hulu, and d Anime Store.

story

The story of "Barakamon" depicts the growth of a young, handsome calligrapher, Handa Seishu, who begins living alone on an island at the western end of Japan as punishment for punching a leading figure in the calligraphy world. Handa, who grew up in the city and is a nervous man, is confronted by the free-spirited and unique islanders. As he is baptized into the unfamiliar countryside life, Handa is shown to grow little by little as a calligrapher and as a person. The work is a humorous depiction of daily life on the island, interwoven with heartwarming human drama.

cast

The cast of "Barakamon" includes Daisuke Ono as the protagonist, Seishuu Handa. Other notable voice actors include Ryoko Hara as Naru Kotoishi, Nozomi Furuki as Miwa Yamamura, Rumi Okubo as Tamako Arai, Kouki Uchiyama as Hiroshi Kido, Rina Endo as Hina Kubota, Seiya Kimura as Kenta, Megumi Han as Akihiko Arai, Nuki Suginoda as the village chief, Fumihiko Tachiki as the vice principal, Junichi Suwabe as Takao Kawato, and Yuki Kaji as Kosuke Kanzaki. These voice actors bring a vivid portrayal to the unique characters.

Main Staff

The main staff of "Barakamon" are director Masaki Tachibana, series composition and scriptwriter Pierre Sugiura, character design and chief animation director Majiro, calligrapher Hara Ungai, art director Hiroshi Kato and Izumi Hoki, color designer Hiromi Miyawaki, prop designer Nozomi Imamura, cinematographer Masaru Wakabayashi, editor Hitomi Sudo (REAL-T), sound director Kazuhiro Wakabayashi, music composer Kenji Kawai, and animation production by Kinema Citrus. These staff members work together to create the worldview of "Barakamon".

Main Characters

The main character of "Barakamon" is Seishu Handa, a young calligrapher born and raised in the city. He has a proud and stubborn personality, but in reality he is naive and absent-minded. For some reason, he starts living alone on an island at the western end of Japan. Other characters that appear are a lively first grader, Kotoishi Naru, who attends the island's branch school; Yamamura Miwa, a second year middle schooler who is a leader among the children on the island; Arai Tamako, Miwa's best friend who dreams of becoming a manga artist; Kido Hiroshi, a third year high schooler who is good at cooking; Kubota Hina, Naru's best friend who is shy; Kenta, a bully who attends the branch school; Arai Akihiko, Tama's younger brother and the most reliable person on the island; the head of the village who is the manager of the rented house where Handa lives, the vice principal of the branch school; Kawato Takao, Handa's only friend and art dealer; and Kanzaki Kosuke, an up-and-coming calligrapher and Handa fanatic.

subtitle

The subtitles for "Barakamon" are as follows: Episode 1 "Barakakodon", Episode 2 "Noisy", Episode 3 "One-man rice cake", Episode 4 "Shiman Ontsandon", Episode 5 "Eating too much", Episode 6 "Foreigner", Episode 7 "The sun rises", Episode 8 "Onde", Episode 9 "The pot is gone", Episode 10 "I'm here", Episode 11 "I'm in Tokyo", and Episode 12 "Come back, you're a good boy". Many of these subtitles are humorous depictions of daily life on the island, entertaining viewers.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme of "Barakamon" is "Rashisa" by SUPER BEAVER. The lyrics and music were written by Yanagisawa Ryota, and the arrangement was done by SUPER BEAVER. The ending theme is "Innocence" by NoisyCell. The music was composed by Ryo, the lyrics by Ryosuke and Ryo, and the arrangement was done by NoisyCell and PABLO aka WTF!?. These songs further enhance the worldview of "Barakamon".

The appeal of "Barakamon"

The appeal of "Barakamon" is, above all, its heartwarming story and its unique characters. The sight of a young city-raised calligrapher growing up in the unfamiliar countryside life is inspiring to viewers. Also, don't miss the way Handa changes little by little through his interactions with the island's residents. In particular, there are many humorous yet heartwarming scenes in his interactions with the children, such as Kotoishi Naru, Yamamura Miwa, and Arai Tamako, which will entertain viewers.

"Barakamon" is also a work that focuses on the Japanese culture of calligraphy. The way Handa expresses himself and grows through calligraphy is inspiring to viewers. Furthermore, the scenery and culture of the island are depicted realistically, allowing viewers to feel as if they are on the island themselves.

Evaluation of "Barakamon"

"Barakamon" has been highly praised since it was first broadcast, and has garnered a lot of support from viewers. In particular, the heartwarming story and unique characters have touched viewers' hearts. It has also been praised as a work that focuses on the Japanese culture of calligraphy, offering viewers a new perspective.

Furthermore, "Barakamon" has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the island's scenery and culture. Viewers can experience the sensation of being on the island themselves, and are drawn into the world of the work. These elements have made "Barakamon" a work beloved by many viewers.

Recommendation for "Barakamon"

"Barakamon" is a work that is appealing for its heartwarming story and unique characters. In particular, viewers are moved by the way a young calligrapher who grew up in the city grows up in the unfamiliar countryside life. It has also been praised as a work that focuses on the Japanese culture of calligraphy, offering viewers a new perspective. It has also been praised for its realistic portrayal of the island's scenery and culture, allowing viewers to experience the feeling that they are on the island themselves. These elements make "Barakamon" a work that is loved by many viewers. Please watch "Barakamon" and experience its charm.