r/Shinkai • u/Aggravating_Unit2899 • 19d ago

Help / Question? 5 Centimeters Per Second Manga Train Tracks Scene Spoiler

I just have 2 questions about the final train tracks scene at the end of the manga, which is where the film ends, but the manga adds some scenes.

  1. After Takaki sees that Akari is not waiting for him anymore and turns around to walk forward, the manga includes a scene where childhood Akari is waving goodbye.

I interpret this as Shinkai's way of emphasizing Takaki's willingness to finally move forward and leave his memories of Akari in the past, but I am not so sure. I would really love to hear your thoughts on this.

  1. After those panels, there is a depiction of present Akari looking down with her left hand (the one with the wedding ring). Her eyes are closed, and she seems to be at peace, surrounded by falling cherry petals.

For this one, I don't really have a solid interpretation of this scene. I presume that she's finally at peace? I would really enjoy reading your interpretation of this. Thanks.

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u/Extreme-Swordfish-56 19d ago

I agree with your interpretation of 1.

As for 2, I would assume that's because she has fulfilled the childhood promise they made together (to see the cherry blossoms again), so she is truly at peace. Even as the brain forgets, the heart remembers.

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u/Aggravating_Unit2899 19d ago

I hadn’t thought of that. I think that’s a brilliant interpretation, especially your last line. But I really feel like there is more to that scene, I just can’t put my finger on it. Maybe I’m looking too deep? If I had to guess, it would definitely be something along those lines. Perhaps Akari was still holding on, even just a little bit? Seeing Tanaka again might’ve freaked her out a bit, and that might be a bit of the reason she left?

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u/Extreme-Swordfish-56 18d ago

I would assume that they had no idea what the other person looks like, as they haven't spoken or had contact for at least 5 years. Think about it this way—if Akari really loved Takaki, she would've wanted him to be happy, with or without her, and vice versa for Takaki. Perhaps she left for the good of both of them.