NANA ep.6

May 10, 2006 | 10 Comments

This is a rather unusual turn for the series. For some reason, this sixth episode ends up being a return to the first episode. In other words, this episode is basically similar to the first episode except for several additional scenes which did not make it in the first episode. There are probably two explanations for this. The first one, the rumour (scroll down and look for a news that's dated May 2nd) that Yazawa Ai was not happy with the cuts/alterations that were done in the first episode was true. And because of it, she demands that another episode is screened to fix these missing scenes. Or maybe the writers simply want to follow the narratives of the manga and the first episode is simply a taste of things to come, a teaser, one may say. Either way, in the end fans do get to see the episode in the order that they were presented in the manga.

The episode opens with Komatsu Nana (Hachi) quietly asking Nana if she remembers the first time they met. Since Hachi is superstitious, she believes that their meeting was fated and doesn't care if anyone laugh about her saying this. After the credit, Hachi is seen praying to God and other deities that the text message she's about to open is from someone that she knows. As a result, she's very happy when she opens it and finds a message from her boyfriend, Shoji, that the sakura is blooming and that he's been accepted into a university in Tokyo. Hachi is excited to read this and decides to quit her job and heads to Tokyo to see him this spring. Hachi then decides to call Shouji, who's in the middle of having party with Junko and Kyousuke in a bar. The guys, however, are surprised when Shouji tells them that Hachi is on her way to Tokyo. At the same time, Nana leaves a message for her parents, letting them know that she's going to Tokyo.

Hachi then goes to the train station and before boarding, she receives a text message from Shouji asking her when she'll arrive in Tokyo. Once she boards the train, however, Hachi realises that the carriage is packed with passangers. She notices an empty seat next to a punk look-alike girl but hesitates to approach her because a guitar is resting against that said chair. Somehow, as if it's a fate, the train starts to shake, causing Hachi to fall into the lap of the punk girl. Hachi immediately apologises and after some hesitation decides to ask if she can sit next to the girl. Much to her surprise, the girl smiles and tells her to sit down. Hachi immediately swoons over the punk girl, thinking to herself how beautiful and cool the other girl looks. The other girl eventually realises that she's been observed by Hachi so she asks Hachi if she's disturbed by her smoking. Hachi becomes embarassed and tells the other girl that she's okay with it.

The other girl then tells Hachi that it seems the train is not moving. Hachi becomes panic because she alreayd promised to meet Shoji at a certain time. She, however, has the idea of sending a message by text-messaging him. Upon seeing Hachi's quick dial finger, the other girl makes a remark that today's high school girls are so quick with that kind of thing. Hachi is surprised to hear this and tells the other girl that he's actually a 20 year old. The other girl immediately laugh upon hearing this and tells Hachi that she is also a 20 year old. Their conversation, however, is interrupted by a phone call from Hachi's boyfriend. Nana lets Shonji know that she'll probably be late arriving in Tokyo because the train has temporarily stopped. Through this phone conversation, the other girl finds out that Hachi's real name is actually Nana. After the phone conversation is over, Hachi tells the other girl that she's actually going to Tokyo to meet her boyfriend.

That boyfriend, Shoji, actually came from her hometown but he went to Tokyo one year earlier so he can get into an art school. Hachi didn't come with him back then because back then she didn't have any plan or money. However, the two promised each other that Hachi will move to Tokyo once Shoji gets into a university. The two then decide to have a drink together and the other girl lets Hachi know that her real name is also Nana. In the present day, Hachi narrates how back then she talked for 5 hours without knowing anything about the other Nana. Once the train arrives in Tokyo station, Hachi immediately runs towards her boyfriend upon spotting the guy. She, however, quickly realises that she's lost track of the other Nana and regrets the fact that she didn't get her cell phone number. Hachi, however, cheers up a bit when she sees the face of her old friends, Junko and Kyousuke. Inside the car, Hachi tells them that she's tired so they head straight into Shouji's apartment.

Hachi then tells herself that she feels safe to be with her friends again. She's glad to be in Tokyo with everyone again. Shouji explains that Junko and Kyousuke are living together now. Hachi is surprised to find out about this since she didn't have any idea before. She, however, is happy with the fact that she gets to live with Shoji and hopes that one day their time to be like Junko and Kyousuke will arrive. The next day, Hachi is horrified when she realises that she's overslept. Because of this she decides to clean up Shoji's apartment and cook for his boyfriend. Unfortunately for her, Shoji is not happy when he finds out that Hachi didn't go to look for an apartment or a job. Shoji also tells Hachi that she didn't come all the way to Tokyo to become a housewife when she points out that she couldn't do either of those because she spent her time cleaning up and cooking for her. Hachi becomes upset to hear this and yells at Shouji.

When Shouji goes to the bathroom, however, he realises that Hachi has indeed clean his apartment clean. Because of this, he returns to the room comforting the now crying Hachi by asking her if she wants to take a bath together with him. The next day, Hachi tells her story to Junko who laughs at her friend's misfortune. Last night's incident, however, makes Hachi realises that she can't live together with Shouji. Because of this, Hachi asks Junko to accompany her to look for a new apartment. Since Junko refuses, Hachi has no choice but to go looking for the apartment on her own. Unfortunately the real estate agent tells her that it'll be hard to find something under 50,000 Yen. On the real estate agent's suggestion, Hachi decides to look at an older apartment priced at 70,000 Yen. The apartment happens to be overlooking into a river and is numbered 707. Unknown to Hachi, however, there is already someone else interested in the apartment.

Impression:

So what have changed in this version from the one that was aired in episode one? Well, to begin with, the story decides to include more scenes containing Shouji and Junko. This is quite important for Shouji because it shows that his character is not a complete jerk and a half. For example, during the scene after dinner, in the original, Shouji didn't even bother to comfort Hachi. If this was seen by a first-time watcher, they'll probably assume that he's a jerk right off the bat. However, the additional scenes show that Shouji feels remorse for being harsh to Hachi and decides to make things up to her. The scene also adds a few Junko scenes but none of them are that important. They simply ensures that the story is delivered precisely like the manga version. Lastly, because the story ends up including so many details, it has to cut off the scene where Nana and Hachi finally meet each other again inside apartment 707. I suspect this will be shown during next week's episode since it's pretty short and will provide a better lead in to Nana and Hachi's new life together.

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