Honey and Clover

It's normal to hear that people cry in movies. It's normal to tear and feel sad reading a book. But I think I just reached a state where it's totally abnormal.

I teared talking about a Japanese anime. It's weird.

During our gathering at Passion, I had quite a long chat with Jin about Honey and Clover. It's the best and most real storyline that I can relate to. I think most of us can really relate to the story actually. I didn't realise I was to into the anime and character until I started feeling sad talking about some of the scenes from the anime. My eyes filled up with water and I teared. I think if I didn't control myself, I could have cried!

Honey and Clover is a really good anime. It's funny, but serious when things have to be serious. Not everyone would enjoy this kind of anime, but for those who do, I think this would be one they would definitely recommend to others. For those who are watching ita... ahhh I guess you know what I'm talking about. Not really sure if you feel deeply for the anime as I do though.

Hagu was so young and innocent at heart at first. She's so dependant on Shu-chan, but as the story evolved, her character became stronger and more independent. She starts thinking about her future and the people around her... and I think that's when all the stress comes and that is when she looses her inspiration for her art work. Echo("What she needs now aren't stupid phrases like "What's wrong? I'll listen." Those won't reach her. She's gone to battle.");

Shu-chan (The sensei) is Hagu's caretaker. Througout the whole anime until the last few episodes I have really no comment on his character. To me, he seems to be like the adult version of Takemoto because when he sees Takemoto, he knows what he is going through and I think it was great that he gave Takemoto's artwork (the tower) a name. In the later few episodes, the sensei reveals some of his feelings and I felt that he is actually finally being not selfish by letting Hagu make her own decisions. All this while he kept her close to him for his own reasons until when he realise that is Hagu truely unhappy. I don’t think he knows how to handle this situation too. Hagu is just so fragile.

The main guy in Honey and Clover is Takemoto and his journey to self discovery. In this anime, I think he thinks the most about his life. He observes everyone, and collects information for his journey to self discovery without knowing it himself. I feel that he has learnt much with his conversations with Hagu, Sensei, Morita, and everyone. I think he learnt a great deal from Morita.... maybe that's because he realised that Hagu and Morita had a special bond and he would never understand. He thinks really deep, and reflects back on his actions.

*He opens the fridge* ...Echo("It's empty:); *thinks while he cycles* Echo ("Oh, that's right. This is the sound of emptiness.");

Morita is the most mysterious character in the anime. Somehow I feel that he doesn't need to study. He has his CIA kind of job and being a student is just a cover up. He's goofy but he takes note about his surroundings and can actually be dead serious when he wants to. He is another character that I would like to explore. I think he's very intelligent. As for his bond with Hagu, I think they have something special that no other can understand. That's because Hagu's dislike Morita in the beginning, but Hagu slowly realised that Morita was actually sensitive with her feelings, her wants and needs. I think Morita loves Hagu, but he is holding it back... for what reasons? I don't know...

Yamada is a sad case. She's stuck in a love situation where the person she loves (Mayama) loves another. I feel so much for her character. She tries to get on with life (lying to hersef) but find herself unable to avoid the obvious truth. Nomiya, Mayama's colleague who is going after her made her realised that Mayama can not be replaced. The best solution is to... I don't know, she has not figured it out yet. ....But I'm glad she has Morita's hand to hold.

Why is it that...
On TV and in magazines...
Love is fun and...is gleaming with colours of happiness.
My love is...
Why is it so...
Heavy and...
And unpleasant...

There's more to Nomiya too. He and the Ferris Wheel. Some how I feel there's a whole new story behind Nomiya and why he stand a far admiring the Ferris Wheel. Something tells me that he was hurt very deeply in his previous relationship and his situation was something like Yamada’s when he said ("No, it's okay. That's something that is better seen afar"); He was referring to the Ferris Wheel when Mayama asked him if he wanted to ride it. He rode it with Yamada in the end, but the ride turned out to be quite different that he has imagined.

Mayama loves Yamada, although he has no romantic feelings towards her. And not until the later episodes, Mayama was actually over protective of her. Only later when being told that if he is still the way he is, Yamada would never move on. For Yamada it's like I think she feels that she has hope, but Mayama's action has only got to do with friendship love. I guess the hardest part for Mayama is learning to let Yamada think for herself, and to let her go (to Nomiya) although he feels uncomfortable. (and I can sense a bit of jealousy going on because Mayama sees Nomiya as his rival\idol)

...you know what, you just have to watch the anime to understand and really feel what I feel. I can't believe I spent so much time typing all this out too! Oh mannnn... I'm such an otaku by doing this! ...OMG and it's almost 7am... I'm supposed to be sleeping already!!!!!! ...hm... maybe not, I think I'll wake my Dad up for dim sum.

Last quote from Honey and Clover, echo("God, to cry because you have something you want to do, and to cry because you can't find it, which is more painful? The only thing I can tell is, even with all the words I have now, all I feel is just endless.");

Note: This is my views as of Episode 22. I have not watched the remaining episodes yet. My views might change as the I watch the final 2 episode.