Ikoku Nikki, episode 5
Alternative Names
Diary of a Strange Land, Different Country Diary, Entre les lignes, Foreign Country Diary, مذكرات من بلد آخر, บันทึกจากวิเทศ
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| Episode | Link |
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| 1 | Link |
| 2 | Link |
| 3 | Link |
| 4 | Link |
| 5 | Link |
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Nice subtle drama in this one - Makio told Asa that it was fine for her to do whatever she wanted, and Asa simply didn’t believe her. It wasn’t even as if she consciously decided that Makio wasn’t telling the truth - she just sort of automatically didn’t believe that Makio really meant what she said, because “she’s an adult.” That’s revealing.
Makio’s and Asa’s recollections of Minori started off notably different, and I expected that part of the central theme of this series was going to be them converging, but I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go - which of the two was more accurate and which was less. So far, it seems to be shifting more toward Makio. Asa appears to have seen many of the same qualities in Minori that Makio did - just not in the same context or with the same clarity. I expect it’s not going to shift entirely toward Makio though - that there are some things that she’s seeing through her own bias, and it’s just going to take more to get through to her.
Meanwhile, are Asa and Emiri growing apart? I can’t imagine that, but at the moment, that’s sort of how it looks…
Meanwhile, are Asa and Emiri growing apart? I can’t imagine that, but at the moment, that’s sort of how it looks…
That’s just part of growing up though. I don’t think there’s anyone I was friends with in middle school that I’m still in contact with.
Right - it just caught me a bit off guard because when Emiri was introduced then their fight was so heart-rendingly resolved, it made it look like the two of them were then going to remain inseparable, but now Emiri’s hanging with the cool kids and Asa’s not.
Particularly with this series, maybe that’s just how it’s going to play out because that’s how life really works, but still, it caught me off guard.
Man I would’ve been sweating bullets in Makio’s place there! For a moment I thought grandma or some other person was embezzling money and trying to make Makio take the fall for it! Thank goodness Asa fessed up right away. Speaking of which, it’s really funny to me that she decided joining a band club was so out-of-bounds that it wasn’t even worth asking but dropping 2 grand on a new laptop was okay. I wonder if that says anything about how her mother viewed spending money. Maybe this is a place where Asa actually had some freedom.
For a moment I thought grandma or some other person was embezzling money
Me too, though I gave grandma the benefit of the doubt and assumed it was some other relative. We’ve already seen that they’re a pretty selfish lot.
Speaking of which, it’s really funny to me that she decided joining a band club was so out-of-bounds that it wasn’t even worth asking but dropping 2 grand on a new laptop was okay. I wonder if that says anything about how her mother viewed spending money.
Both how she viewed spending money and how she viewed doing something “frivolous” like playing music (or writing novels).
And it’s notable too that Makio had already said that Asa could join whatever club she wanted, and Asa essentially just automatically assumed she didn’t really mean it.
Makio’s wounds from Minori are raw and plain to see, but I think Asa has very similar wounds that she’s not even really aware of yet. Her memories of her mom are slowly shifting and clarifying.
For a moment I thought grandma or some other person was embezzling money
Me too, though I gave grandma the benefit of the doubt and assumed it was some other relative.
Surely I can’t be the only one who immediately thought of Asa when we saw the unexpected withdrawal of money. I thought this is a common enough occurence, having seen my fair share of news articles of kids using their parent’s cards behind their back to spend on video games and such.
We’ve already seen that they’re a pretty selfish lot.
The only time we have really seen them being “selfish” was at the funeral. Even then, IMO they weren’t being especially selfish. It was just a realistic depiction of what happens IRL in this kind of situation.
In fact - hot take incoming - one can argue that the relatives aren’t the selfish one; Makio is.
The relatives know that it is irresponsible to take Asa in when they don’t have the capacity to truly care for her. The way Makio took Asa in was reactive and in the heat of the moment, out of her sense of justice for Asa without thinking deeply enough of the consequences. Now she’s paying for it in this episode.
(Personally I support Makio’s adoption of Asa; they are whom each of them need at their current stage in life.)
I dunno - I never even considered the possibility that it was Asa. Granted that kids do stuff like that, it seems entirely out of character for her.
For the relatives, “selfish” probably wasn’t quite the right term - “self-centered” would be better.
one can argue that the relatives aren’t the selfish one; Makio is
I disagree entirely.
The relatives know that it is irresponsible to take Asa in when they don’t have the capacity to truly care for her.
But I don’t think that’s what happened at all. They weren’t thinking about Asa - they were thinking about themselves. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not they could care for her - it was that caring for her would require making sacrifices, and none of them were willing to do that.
Makio, on the other hand, was thinking about Asa, and in fact was so focused on Asa that she didn’t stop to think about the sacrifices she was going to have to make at all. That all hit her later.
professional opinion: please see a therapist.
What. Why??
Reviewing your “takes” while ignoring the signs of both Kyōko’s and Minori’s apparent dismissals of both Asa’s & Makio’s feelings and inputs may mean three things you haven’t personally been diagnosed for in both NPD symptoms and/or traumas.
The fact Asa couldn’t believe Makio because Minori always lied and flippantly ignored Asa’s decisions, shows me that either you were abused by an NPD, or you really really need a therapist right now.
Either way, if it comes out you’re normal, no trauma, etc., that therapist can guide better see these signs of dismissals and neglect.
I sympathize with Makio greatly, because she doesn’t see that she distanced herself from both, because of NPD abuse. I 🙏 Kazunari Touno, the attorney, can recommended them all three therapists.
To suggest that I have a disorder is uncalled for.
My personal take aligns more closely with what others have already said
i.e. Makio is more selfless than the relatives:
she didn’t stop to think about the sacrifices she was going to have to make at all
The thing is,
- this is just my subjective opinion that is biased towards the protagonist, Makio
- this is such an obvious interpretation that makes for a simplistic narrative
Either, I don’t see the need to parrot other commenters by offering the same comment dressed-up differently.
IMO it is more meaningful to offer a more “objective”, “neutral” take (which is still subjective at the end of the day) that doesn’t automatically paint the relatives in a bad light while putting a halo over Makio.
There are too many symptoms of groupthink on social media already, Lemmy included. It’s important to consider other perspectives instead of just your own.
I specified two more things, that only a licensed therapist can diagnose. So in good wishes and health, seek it!
Regarding this anime adaptation, homo sapiens that grow emotional intelligence, have the capacity to show concerns for strangers and innocent alike. I would find it pretty normal to be selfless when a teenager has lost their support system.
Or do you think Asa deserves to be sent to an orphanage?
hot take incoming
I see where you are coming from. But having gone through raising two daughters myself, I would come to the exact same decision as Makio, even knowing perfectly well what hardships raising kids entails. Having family fall into foster care is unthinkable, even if it means that there is some personal sacrifice. I also don’t see Makio ever interpreting her current hardship as an error.
The show does a good job of making me to want to see the progression of Makio and Asa’s relationship (also how Asa’s mother changed after separating from Makio). I particularly liked the attorney in this episode. The Shingo-Makio pairing is ridiculously wholesome. Also, it definitely felt like they were planning to do a seamless ED transition.
Also, it definitely felt like they were planning to do a seamless ED transition.
So much so that the actual transition felt jarring.
Seeing your parents in a new light is an integral part of growing up. This show does a terrific job at depicting realistic human relationships.
Based on what Emiri said in the last two episodes and her reactions in this one, I’m making a guess that she is a lesbian.
The Bernese Mountain Dog!
I’m so happy with Asa’s club choice. I want to hear her sing.
Based on what Emiri said in the last two episodes and her reactions in this one, I’m making a guess that she is a lesbian.
What did she say last episode? I must’ve missed it.
I’m so happy with Asa’s club choice. I want to hear her sing.
But what if she becomes a bassist?!
What did she say last episode? I must’ve missed it.
She said that one of the girls was super cute right after entering the entrance ceremony hall. Like, why was it the first thing she noticed in the new environment? Sus.
You missed nothing, basically. I’m just picking up crumbs and putting them in a pile at the moment.
But what if she becomes a bassist?!
Nani?! Well, she did like that song’s bass part, but I think this is where the girl from the OP comes in.
🫂🫂 us himejoshi sparkling🤩 at these crumbs like starving snow fairies.👄👄
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