When Tomorrow Comes Today: Review on "Asatte no Houkou"

While most animes we get out of Japan, are either mecha series on world dominance or peace, or romantic harem-type comedies, either way an excess of the two is enough already. So it's good to see a series that sticks more to a good storyline without the excess sugar or overly rehashed formulas on world conquest, peace, or whatever. Asatte no Houkou (translated: “A Direction of the Day After Tomorrow”) is a slice-of-life anime on the interesting twist of fate that affects the lives of Iokawa Karada, an eleven year old girl, and Nogami Shouko, a young woman of twenty. The anime begins on a quiet sunny day, while Shouko is taking a stroll along the countryside she meets a young girl praying in front of a small shrine on the side of the road. Upon asking what is the girl praying for, the girl introduces herself and states that is a secret. Karada’s brother, Hiro(which she calls ‘Hiro-nii’ throughout the series), and Karada finds out that Shouko went to the same university her brother studied in while in the United States. Upon impulse, Karada invites Shouko to the beach on the coming Sunday. Shouko tries to refuse, but a hint from Hiro convinces her to come along.

On the day of the trip, they are joined by Karada’s classmate, Amino Tetsumasa, and his older sister, Touko. Through out the entire trip to the beach, Shouko stays aloof and doesn’t join in on much of the activities. Later on, Touko makes a passing joke at her about her relationship to Hiro. At which Shouko quickly denies, embarrassing the both of them. Doing some last-to-the-minute shopping before going home, Karada shows to Shouko a pair of white hair ribbons that Hiro bought for her. Shouko makes a snide remark at her which sends Karada running in tears. Later on, after sending Karada home, Hiro confronts Shouko about the incident, reveiling that they were more than friends in the US. Shouko slaps him in the face, this time she is the one running in tears.

She finds herself back at the shrine where she first met the two and meets Karada again, praying in front of the shrine. They stare at each other in the light of a full moon, a cloud passes, and in a instant, Karada becomes a grown woman of twenty and Shouko reverts to an eleven year old girl. Based on a manga series written by J-ta Yamada and published in Comic Blade Masamune in March 2005. It was adapted into a twelve episode series, directed by Sakurabi Katsushi, character design by Ito Ikuko, and produced by J.C. Staff. The series was aired in Japan on October 05, 2006.

I like the series cause it didn’take on a comedic stereotyped approach to the age-switch scenario. In most other anime series, the idea of an age-switch— or any other switch for that matter— would have been a one-episode with the usual formulated slapstick comedy. Asatte no Houkou takes more of a plausible and serious storyline approach, as Karada gets her wish; she realizes that although she is a grown woman physically, she is still a child with limitations to what she can do on her on. Shouko, on the other hand while reverted to a body of the child, maintaining an adult’s reasoning despite the change, comforts Karada as she breaks down and cries.

Despite the reflective tone of the series, and this being an anime, moments of comedy still occur. While going shopping, Shouko jealously realizes how big of a ‘bust’ size Karada has. A puzzled Hiro and Shouko wonder why Karada is still standing on a kids chair just to turn on the kitchen exhaust fan. And Hiro, despite knowing that is it still his little sister, gets embarrass when Karada leans towards him to remove a piece of lint off his shirt.

It is a journey of sorts for the two of them as they get to live with each other. Shouko realizes that despite Karada’s age, she doesn’t want to be treated as a kid and takes up adult responsibilities at home such as, buying the groceries, doing the laundry, and cooking. Karada starts to admire Shouko and becomes close to her.

A light anime drama that looks into the relationships of people and how despite the difference within ages, people can be either grown men and women on the outside, yet hold still a child’s heart on the inside, and vice versa. Asatte no Houkou is anime series that touches the heart without any mushy and sentimental clichés. A well-written anime with a good solid storyline, great character design, and a rustic sound score to match— you might even think adding the ending song ,“Sweet Home Song”, to your iPod or any music player gizmo you have. Asatte no Houkou is a gem of an anime series worth adding to ones DVD collection as a future classic.