Honey and Clover ep.22

September 21, 2005 | 14 Comments

I realised that it's been a while since I wrote anything but work has been busy lately and I always end up feeling tired afterwards. So please be patient if I'm late with the recaps. Anyway, this is a rather good episode that differs slightly from the manga. The manga actually includes a comedic subplot where Morita is kidnapped and being forced to work for Peter Lucas again. But since last week's episode didn't include that particular plot, this week's episode substitutes the story with a more serious look at Hagu's career choice. I actually has no preference one-way or the other although I'd imagine that this episode will be less somber had it included Morita's subplot. In general, however, the story stays focused on Takemoto's journey as he travels around Japan. The subplot involving an encounter between Yamada and Rika also remains intact here.

The episode begins with Takemoto explaining how it's been a week since he travelled with no purpose on his bicycle. Because he doesn't have a lot of money, he ends up having to buy most of the items that he needs at 100 Yen shop. To complicate matters, Takemoto finds out that he becomes hungry quite easily because he travels all day long. Because of this, he has to ensure that he consumes a lot of foods. Takemoto also encounters many other difficulties from finding a sheltered place to sleep on, to something as simple as asking for water supply from people that he meets along the way. As he does this, however, he gets to meet different types of people along the way. Some are kind and helpful, while others have the reverse reaction when he asks for a help.

This makes Takemoto realises how the house that a person has is often similar in tone to the owner themselves. As he passes by many houses, Takemoto also wonders what kind of a house he wants to be if he sees himself as one of these houses. After receiving a kindness from an old lady residing from a particular house, Takemoto decides that he wants to be that kind of a house. Meanwhile back in Tokyo, Yamada is seen showing her latest creation to Miwako. In the middle of their conversation, however, Miwako receives a phone call from Nomiya. Miwako immediately uses the opportunity to persuade Yamada to send a message for Nomiya by using her cellphone. Despite her initial reluctance, Yamada eventually agrees to leave a message after Miwako claims that Nomiya has been stressed out.

Yamada begins by simply telling Nomiya to do his best in Tottori even if his job might be hard. But when Miwako pressures her to say what she really wants to say, Yamada ends up admitting that she would have been happy if Nomiya had let her know that he was leaving to Tottori instead of sneaking around like the last time. Much to her surprise, however, Miwako ends up inputting her entire words into her cell phone and sending it to Nomiya. When Nomiya receives the message, his face suddenly turns red, much to Yamazaki's surprise. Elsewhere, Hagu is in a funk because her professors just scolded her. Apparently Hagu has decided to not enter an exhibition and refuse an offer to study abroad in Italia. I'm not too clear about this one but it seems she just wants to draw at her pace and then returns to the countryside.

Obviously her professors can't understand this decision. They can't comprehend why Hagu refuses the opportunity when all she has to do is to give it her best effort. They think she can't possibly achieve anything by staying in countryside and that she's just being lazy by wanting to return there. Shuuji, however, defended her and told the professors that Hagu simply wants to do her painting that is why she wants to return to the countryside. Later on, he also assures Hagu that despite what other people say, it is important that she chooses her own path. As Hagu made her decision, Morita watches from afar, seemingly unable to understand why she picked that path. Meanwhile, Takemoto realises that he's almost close to spending half of his saving. At this rate, he will have no choice but to return because he has no more money.

The situation causes Takemoto to question why he went on the journey to begin with and where he is going right now. He wonders what he can find if he continues like this and entertains the thought of going back home. However, he also realises that he's gone quite far and not ready to return yet. As he continues his journey, Takemoto narrates how he's seen many beautiful places ever since he left Tokyo. The fact that he goes to places such as Matsushima, by using a bike instead of by taking Shinkansen, makes him proud of himself just a little bit. Takemoto's journey eventually takes him to Buiganji (Zuiganji) Temple. Much to his disappointment, however, he finds the current admission price to be beyond his reach. So he can only admire the temple's design from afar.

Since he can't get in, Takemoto eventually decides to leave. However, before he can go too far, his bike's chain is broken so he has no choice but to go back to the temple. As he contemplates his bad luck, Takemoto randomly asks a white cat for advice. The cat looks as if he understands Takemoto's situation and later on appears as if he has a few things to say to Takemoto. Fast forward a few hours later, Takemoto is seen sleeping within the temple's outer area. A man is then seen approaching the location and finding a sleeping Takemoto. When Takemoto wakes up, he finds himself surrounded by a bunch of construction workers who are having their lunch together. Takemoto, who's hungry, can't stop his stomach from grumbling at the sight of the foods around him. This seems to annoy one of the workers.

Another worker called Shin, however, kindly gives Takemoto a portion of his Bento (lunch box). The guy who's annoyed at Takemoto immediately tells Shin not to give Takemoto the Bento that he's made himself. But Shin tells the other guy that the truth is the Bento that the other guy made is not edible. Upon hearing this, the other workers agree and immediately start to air their complaints, which range from the lack of variety in their dishes to curry that is too spicy for their taste. Shin then explains to Takemoto that they are actually carpenters specialised in temple and shrine restoration all around Japan. Once they completed a temple, they usually move to another town to restore another temple. Shin is actually the Site Foreman responsible for this temple. As Shin prepares his crew for the afternoon shift, Takemoto thanks him for the meal.

Takemoto also asks Shin if there is something that he can do later to help the guys since he can't go anywhere at this point. Takemoto thinks that even though he may not be much of a help, he has learned similar things back at the University. After getting the approval of the project leader, Shin decides to let Takemoto stay with them. Meanwhile back at the University, Hagu worries about Takemoto and wonders if he's lonely being on his own. Shuuji tells Hagu that Takemoto is probably lonely. Anyone will be in a similar situation. Shuuji admits that Takemoto reminds him of himself as he quietly mentions Harada's name and tells himself that he feels lonely. Speaking of Harada, back at Fujiwara's Design, Yamada gets to meet Harada's widow, Rika. Yamada becomes nervous and wonders about the sort of things she should say to Rika.

Predictably, the first thing that Yamada asks is the whereabouts of Mayama. When Rika informs her that Mayama has left, Yamada is relieved because she feels that she can't handle having him there as well. Her thoughts, however, are then diverted into another matter when Rika accidentally breaks the heel of her shoe. After helping Rika to fix the shoe, Yamada realises how much the shoe meant a lot to Rika. Later on, she finds out from Shuuji that Harada was the one who gave the shoe to Rika. This is why the shoe is an important item for Rika. A flashback to the time when Rika took Yamada back home reveals that Rika can't let go of the broken shoe and the memories that the item carries with it. Yamada remarks that back then, when Rika smiled a little bit, she looked like a flower drenched in rain.

Impression:

There are so many things to cover here so I'll just start by saying that the scene where Shuuji misses Harada made me miss the friends that I met in Japan. We had so much fun back then that I wish we had more time to be together. Anyway, moving on to Takemoto, I have to say that I really like the way this episode depicts his self-discovery journey. Despite the problems that he encountered, it looks like Takemoto has a lot of fun during the trip. I can understand what he meant when he said that he's proud of himself for getting to Matsushima by bike instead of Shinkansen. Although I never got the chance to go to Matsushima when I was in Central Japan, I did travel with my friends to various places using only a bike. I remember how proud we were that we managed to go all the way from Okazaki to Gamagori by bike when most people choose to take the local train. It took us 3 hours just to go there (one way) but it was worth it.

I am also impressed by the accuracy of the places that are depicted in this episode. For example, when Takemoto was entertaining the thought of going inside Zuiganji Temple, he is shocked to find the admission price to be 700 Yen (around 5 US Dollar). The admission price for the actual place is actually similar. I am also glad that Takemoto finally gets the break that he deserves. Shin seems to be a more mature version of Takemoto in the sense that he is kind and wise at the same time. He seems to recognise the potential in Takemoto and that's probably why he agrees to let Takemoto stay with the group. Moving on to other characters, I'd like to know what Hagu was thinking when she refuses the offer to showcase her artwork and to study overseas. This kind of offer only happens once in a lifetime so I could never understand it when someone who can obtain such offer actually refuses it.

In addition to this, there are many people out there who work hard to get this kind of offer and yet they never obtain it no matter how often they try. I wonder what Shuuji was thinking as he was being supportive to Hagu and her decision. He's always wanted such recognition and to see Hagu throwing it all away must not be easy. As for Yamada, it is nice that she finally develops other kind of emotion for Rika apart from jealousy. Although pity is probably the last thing that Rika wants from anyone, at least it's a step in another direction from jealousy as far as Yamada is concerned. Besides, it's hard not to feel sorry for Rika. I wonder if Yamada's words about Rika looking like a flower drenched in rain means that Rika looks like someone who's endured so much pain and sadness. Interestingly enough, just like Yamada can't move on from Mayama, Rika can't seem to move away from her memory of Harada.

Timeline:

At the start of this episode, Takemoto mentions that it's been a week since he left on his self-discover journey. Later on, Yamada also mentions that it's been 11 days since Takemoto left. If we count the last 2 days that were included in last week's episode, then it seems this episode happens within the span of 9 days after the previous episode.

© memento 2003