Welcome to Loneliness (A review of Welcome to the NHK!)
I am no otaku, but I’ve enjoyed watching Japanese animé ever since I was a young boy, and I’ve had my own share of imaginary ninja friends and devastating battle techniques (the names of which I’d have to scream at the top of my lungs before anyone saw results).
In my life, I have five consistent favorites, in this order, and I do not think the list they form below will ever change:
1. Slam Dunk
2. Welcome to the NHK!
3. Gurren Lagann
4. Nodame Cantabile
5. Sergeant Frog
Of the five, Welcome to the NHK! is undoubtedly the most gut-wrenchingly painful—and meaningful, perhaps—to watch. It is about the life of a man named Satou who lives alone as a hikikomori, the Japanese term for people with no educational-vocational training, who choose to live, whilst within the cities, separately from society-at-large. Think Henry Thoreau’s Walden, but in the worst, most twisted way possible. It is about his life, his view of the world, and a mysterious girl who shows up one day and tries to save him from himself.
It hits me hard on a personal level because I have, despite not ever being driven to near-insanity due to loneliness… yet, experienced years of being alone as an only child, and then with my father passing away, and in other countless instances, you get me. Its unique take on everything including psychology, philosophy (particularly solipsism and nihilism, blech), perversion (!), the day-to-day life of a recluse, and the meaning of life, really, are so touchingly rendered that I’m not even ashamed to say I’ve cried (make that teared up, so I don’t sound like too much of a softie) more than once watching it.
Outstanding. I recommend it for everyone (who isn’t readily swayed to suicidal thoughts).
Have a go (spoiler alert): In this scene, Satou faces his worst trial yet—his one and only friend leaving for good. In the ensuing battle with loss, he has another crazy fit (he has many throughout the series, don’t worry), and, thinking he is God, tries desperately to bring Yamazaki back. He can’t, and, as the chorus of the song goes (in the scene, it is the instrumental version playing, though):
Welcome to loneliness, loneliness, loneliness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4GENkGXsT0&feature=related
Notes
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sanmigueldj posted this
