Only Yesterday
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This page is about the Japanese film. For the American book see Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday (Japanese おもひでぽろぽろ; Omohide Poro Poro meaning Memories Overflowing Like Tear Drops or literally Memories Drop Drop) is a film directed by critically acclaimed director Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies) and produced by Studio Ghibli. It was based on the manga with the same title by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone. It was released on July 20, 1991. The theme song was the song, THE ROSE by Amanda McBroom translated into Japanese song, Ai ha Hana, Kimi ha sono Tane(愛は花、君はその種子).
This film is very significant among progressive anime films in that it takes a genre that has been traditionally thought to be outside the realm of what should be animated, in this case a realistic daily life drama.
In spite of breaking away from animation and anime traditions, it was a surprise box office success attracting the josei audience the film was primarily aimed at.
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Storyline
Taeko is 27, unmarried, has lived her whole life in Tokyo and now works at a company there. She decides to take a trip to a relative of her elder sister-in-law's in the country to help with the safflower harvest and get away from city life. While traveling at night on a train to Yamagata, she remembers how in fifth grade she had dreamed of going on vacation to a small village. During her vacation she finds herself looking back at her time as a fifth grader in 1966. Things get complicated when her relatives notice that she is getting along nicely with her second cousin-in-law, Toisho. The film flips back and forth between the two time periods with nostalgia and beautiful country scenery as Taeko sorts out her flashbacks and tries to make some tough decisions about her future.
Characters
- Taeko (タエ子) - Miki Imai
- Toshio (トシオ) - Toshiro Yanagiba
- Taeko (as 5th grade student) - Yoko Honna
- Mother of Taeko - Michie Terada
- Father of Taeko - Masahiro Ito
- Grandmother of Taeko - Chie Kitagawa
Notes
The Takase district of Yamagata, Yamagata is the place where story takes place. TheTakase Station of the Senzan Line is featured prominently. Takase Station has since been rebuilt but the scenery around it remains mostly unchanged.
External links
- Only Yesterday// Nausicaa.net (http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/opp/) - a richly detailed fan site with reviews, commentary, and links to scrips and song lyricsja:おもひでぽろぽろ