For the part about Yae learning sign language, I realized that Tsunemi never learned sign language in the 8 years…
I think Tsunemi never learn to do sign language, and that's one of the reason why Harumichi hesitates about her (Tsunemi doesn't try to get along with her sister). In some part of Asia, when you marry into someone, you basically marry into the whole family. Thus, it's like what you say, Tsunemi wants to be part of Harumichi, while Yae wants to be a part of Harumichi's family, and this is what makes Yae is so special for Harumichi.
I really enjoyed this - a very satisfying ending!!I have a question - why did Harumichi leave and disappear? He…
I think his P.S letter in ep 9 is the answer for this. The first sentence of the letter is kimi ga genki de itekurete yokatta (I am glad you are living well). It signifies that Harumichi is actually, at first, just want to know whether Yae is ok or not (his guilt for causing the accident). But, as we all know, his desire for Yae grows stronger from their interaction, and he ,finally, decides to cross the line when Yae says she thinks ,somehow, she lost something important. (ep 6 kiss scene conversation).
The second sentence is moshimo itsuka mata aeta nara (if we someday can meet again). I think at this point Harumichi realized how shit his life has turned. He betrayed his current partner. In this drama his relationship with Tsunemi is represented with inko (a bird that represent karma and love). Thus, he decided to leave and let his destiny does its job. A kind of atonement and faith on destiny. (Remember his speech on Yuu’s wedding in ep 5 about how everything in life is all about fate and destiny)
The last sentence is kondo wa kimi no monogatari o kikasetekudasai (next time, let me hear your story). the significant word in this sentence is kondo. In english, kondo means this time, now, the other chance. But, in Japanese it has a nuance of changing the subject. In this context, changing the doer from Harumichi to Yae. (throughout the drama, Harumichi is actually portrayed as the one who does everything for their relationship: the chasing, those phone calls, the meeting)
In the drama, when kondo is spoken the scene also changes from Harumichi that go to see the Lilac tree to the scene when Yae leaves the tree. Lilac has two meaning: first love and beginning of love (It is on netflix jp ig post and these two words are highlighted). When Harumichi goes to the tree, the lilac means first love. When Yae leaves the tree, the lilac means beginning of love. Thus, it creates a full circle of love that signifies their destiny - fated love.
Where she went to say thank you , whats the purpose of that visit and why that bookmark was also in that time…
A train run in line, your ticket fare is decided by how many km you will ride. It's in 1997, there's no machine to easily detect your ticket through infrared like now. So, the train officer need to make sure that you ride what you purchase before you leave the station. Otherwise, you can ride 10 km with a 1 km ticket.
Where she went to say thank you , whats the purpose of that visit and why that bookmark was also in that time…
The ticket is Harumichi's ticket, but she only knows it when she reads Harumichi's letter.
If you rewatch ep 9, you can see that Yae actually knew that Harumichi was looking at her. It was very subtle and short. She just looked back at Harumichi and continued reading because she was shy.
After that, when Harumichi's caught riding without a ticket. She actually wanted to help, but decided not. You can see that she's reluctant to leave at first. I think she likes him, but decided that's not good to associate with a punk. (In Japan, a blond hair is closely associated with delinquent)
Several days later (mock up exam result in Japan is usually out after 3 days), when she found the ticket, she realized that the bookmark in her book is actually the blonde boy's ticket. I think she feel grateful and sorry for that. So, she followed the ticket to its origin at Appaushi station. She waited long, but she couldn't meet the blonde boy. Thus, she wrote the thank you at the blackboard while hoping that it would reach the blond boy.
I think the blonde boy really touched her heart at that moment, so she considered it as her treasure hoping that one day she can find him again and thank him. If you see the contain of her time capsule, it's actually all the best memories of her high school, unlike harumichi who just put his secret and adoration about Yae.
I think this ticket signifies the theme of the drama. Fated love, whatever happens, will still find its way.
I hope this will help future viewers to understand this beautiful drama. It's better to read this after you have…
The meaning of their name:
Harumichi means road to spring. Haru means spring, (道) michi: road. But, the kanji used in his name is actually hare (晴) which means to clear up. So his name can also be translated as clear the way.
Yae means to be great. Her name consists the kanji of ya (也): to be, and e (英): great
Tsunemi means always beautiful. It contains kanji for tsune (恒): always, constant and mi (美): beautiful. But Tsunemi emphasizes that her name actually comes from a fix constellation like andromeda and centaurus. Andromeda means chained woman, while centaurus is pointer stars.
If we try to connect their name, Tsunemi as a pointer star can't clear the way for Harumichi because she is chained. She is just there to be a helper, a pointer when Harumichi tries to find his way. Yae is the one for Harumichi, the one that make him great (this is the reason why Harumichi become a better person with Yae). And Harumichi is the one that clear the way for Yae so she can see her spring again (Helping her regains her memory and dream).
In ep 8, when Tsunemi finally says kekko ganbatta (I have tried my best), it's actually the moment when she releases herself. I think this is the reason why she stopped crying and laughed. She has finally released all of her burden, and moved on (Andromeda). When she pushed Harumichi out, Tsunemi becomes the pointer star for Harumichi (Centaurus).
I hope this will help future viewers to understand this beautiful drama. It's better to read this after you have finished watching.
I don't know whether it's a coincidence or not, but the timeline in this drama is tied to JAXA space program. I think this's also the reason why they put a lot of emphasizes on space.
20 April 1982: Harumichi is born.
9 - 12 - 1982: Yae is born
9 -12 - 1997: They meet for the first time.
April 1998: They meet again. (Start of high school)
4 - 7 - 1998: Nozomi is launched to space. (Nozomi is Japan mars orbiter. In Japanese nozomi means hope or wish. It has a nuance that someone needs to work for their wish)
9 - 12 - 1998: They start dating (Automatic release date)
Sometimes at the end of 1998: their first date. I think it’s after Armageddon release date on 12 December 1998.
PS: Titanic is very big in Japan. Though it’s released on 20 - 12 -2017, it’s still widespread in the summer 1998. So it’s normal for 2/3 tier city cinema to still have it in December. The interesting part is the titanic poster. It says: Unmei no Koi. Daremo sore o saku koto ga dekinai (Fated love, no one will be able to tear it apart). I think this is the summary of the drama
10 -3 - 1999: Utada Hikaru's first love album is released.
8 - 7 -2000: Harumichi decided to be a pilot.
11 - 3 - 2001: They graduated high school and buried their time capsule.
October 2001: Yae won beauty contest, and the first time she didn’t pick up Harumichi call.
30 - 11 - 2001: Yae got accepted for student exchange in Vancouver.
December 2001: Yae got the accident.
January 2002: Harumichi started to write a letter for Yae.
May 2002: Yae met doctor Kosaka.
2003 Mars viewing: the closest Mars came to Earth in 60,000 years
May 2003: We get the glimpse of Harumichi’s letter.
December 2003: Harumichi met Yae's mother. He felt betrayed after hearing Yae is pregnant and decided to forget Yae. The scene where he burns all of his letter signifies the moment when he becomes his old self again.
31 - 12 - 2003: Nozomi mission is terminated. Harumichi and Yae time as a couple is actually tied to the Nozomi mission (1998 - 2003).
Spring 2006: Harumichi finished his training in Komaki Air base. He decided to move from being a fighter pilot to support pilot. (It signifies that he has moved from Yae).
Sometimes in late 2006: Harumichi starts to have a casual sex. (Harumichi is airman first class based in Nara). I think the sex scene is too vulgar, but it is an important scene. It signifies the old Harumichi is back. At this point, Harumichi can easily ignore everything about Yae. He can continue his sex even after being asked about why he becomes a pilot. (Casual sex is normal in Japan. The average age of a girl loosing her virginity is 17,3)
Sometimes around 2007: Yuu married Bonji - Harumichi is still a scumbag. (ep 5)
November 2007: Yae divorced Kosaka.
2008: JAXA launched Kibou on 11 -3 - 2008 (hope, expectation, bright prospect) and Kizuna (bonds between people) on 23 - 2 - 2008 to space.
Around October 2008 - Harumichi sees Yae as a stewardess at the airport. I think Harumichi thought of this as a kind of sign of something (not a real Yae) because Yae that he knows should be a wife of a rich person. (He starts to reform himself). At this time Harumichi is a staff sergeant. He has just returned from Kuwait.
(I think it’s very interesting that Yuri Kanchiku chose 2008 (the year when JAXA launched Kibou and Kizuna to space) as the year when Harumichi decided to be a decent man again)
January 2010 - Harumichi meets Tsunemi. (Yae is already the no 1 person in his heart again - at the last session he asked whether a memory can be restored or not) Harumichi is a technical sergeant. He has just returned from Golan Height.
March 2010 - He asked Tsunemi out
11 - 9 -2010: JAXA launched Michibiki to space. Michibiki means guidance
Tsunemi means always beautiful. It contains kanji for tsune (恒): always, constant and mi (美): beautiful. But Tsunemi emphasizes that her name actually comes from a fix constellation like andromeda and centaurus. Andromeda means chained woman, while centaurus is pointer stars.
(I can’t believe that they choose to introduce Harumichi to his pointer stars in a year when guidance was launched to space)
March 2011 - Tsunemi demands a status from Harumichi during their sex. At this point, Yae is already no 1 again in Harumichi's heart, that's why Harumichi says he like Tsunemi, but he can't make her his number 1. So he asks for a break up if Tsunemi can't continue with their casual relationship (Harumichi says gomen, Tsunemi ga muri dattara, ore - Sorry, if this is impossible for Tsunemi, I). In the end, Tsunemi interrupted him, and insisted that he makes their relationship official.
I think the reason why Kanchiku Yuri put the vulgar sex scene in ep 5 is because she wants to make a comparison about Yae's position in Harumichi's heart.
In ep 5, Harumichi denies his love for Yae, so the sex scene is vulgar. It's the Harumichi before Yae: young, wild, and free. In ep 8, the sex scene is subtle. It signifies Harumichi after Yae: full of aspiration, considerate, compose.
11 March 2011: Harumichi takes a leave to recover his time capsule, but 3 11 happened and he rushed to Tsunemi to protect her because he remembers his trauma. (Harumichi's strong senses of wanting to protect someone). (I think without 3 11 he will never make it official)
On May 2012 Michibiki caught a photo of Annular Solar eclipse. Solar elipse is believe as an harbinger of turmoil and upset.
August 2012: Harumichi stops flying a plane and moves back to Hokkaido. Around this time, Tsunemi also learned about Yae. (PS: try to watch the airport scene, and Bonji scene)
At the airport scene, we can see that Harumichi is actually not happy that Tsunemi moves to Hokkaido. While at Bonji scene, we can see that Harumichi just say he likes Tsunemi and stops at that.
Bonji scene in ep 8 is also parallel to Yuu's scene in ep 1. In ep 1 when Yuu's ask about whether he still love Yae, Harumichi says no and try to change the conversation by making Airu happy. In ep 8, when Bonji ask whether he still loves Yae, he try to change the conversation by rushing Bonji to fix his car.
7 - 9 - 2018: NASA-JAXA Joint Statement on collaborative efforts for lunar exploration and beyond
2018 Mars viewing: In 2018, mars shine brighter and show more details in a backyard telescope than it has since 2003.
Around June 2018 - Harumichi sees Yae again for the first time (end of ep 1).
This time when his coworker Jin asks whether he's looking for his first love or not, he doesn't deny it. (I think he doesn't deny it because this time he is sure it is Yae. But, this time, he still can control himself, he turned down the first love volume).
July 2018 - Harumichi and Yae become intimate again, but still able to restraint themselves. (ep 4 - Mars viewing)
September 2018 - Harumichi regains his desire to be a Pilot (middle of ep 6) because of Yae's question. Something that Tsunemi can't do even though she has tried (ep 3).
At the last day of his rehab, after hearing that Yae always feel that she misses something, Harumichi is finally can’t control himself. (end of ep 6).
End of 2018 - Harumichi decided to leave Japan. At this point, he has regained his interest in plane again. He was reading a book about plane when Tsuzuru met him to give Uta’s stuff.
2023: They are finally together.
In 2023, JAXA will finally recruit an astronaut again. This is the first time that JAXA is recruiting astraunot since 2008. This astronaut is also expected to join NASA lunar landing (Result of 2018 collaboration).
(I think Harumichi and Yae’s reunion is tied to JAXA astronaut mission to moon).
Why does he leave at the end of ep 8 after she says she likes him? Is he afraid of causing her trauma if she remembers?…
I think his P.S letter in ep 9 is the answer for this. The first sentence of the letter is kimi ga genki de itekurete yokatta (I am glad you are living well). It signifies how Harumichi is actually, at first, just want to know whether Yae is ok or not (his guilt for causing the accident). But, as we all know, his desire for Yae grows stronger from their interaction, and he ,finally, decides to cross the line when Yae says she thinks ,somehow, she lost something important. (ep 6 kiss scene conversation).
The second sentence is moshimo itsuka mata aeta nara (if we someday can meet again). I think at this point Harumichi realized how shit his life has turned. He betrayed his current partner. In this drama his relationship with Tsunemi is represented with inko (a bird that represent karma and love). Thus, he decided to leave and let his destiny does its job. A kind of atonement and faith on destiny.
The last sentence is kondo wa kimi no monogatari o kikasetekudasai (this time, let me hear your story). the significant word in this sentence is kondo. Kondo means this time, now, in english, but in Japanese it has a nuance of changing the subject. In this context, changing the doer from Harumichi to Yae. (throughout the drama, Harumichi is actually portrayed as the one who does everything for their relationship: the chasing, those phone calls, the meeting)
In the drama, when kondo is spoken the scene also changes from Harumichi that go to see the Lilac tree to the scene when Yae leaves the tree. Lilac has two meaning first love and beginning of love (It is on netflix jp ig post and these two words are highlighted). When Harumichi goes to the tree, the lilac means first love. When Yae leaves the tree, the lilac means beginning of love. Thus, it creates a full circle of love that signifies their destiny - mutual love.
At the last part ep 9 when young Yae is waiting for the train.. Is she waiting for a person? And what it signifies?…
Yes, she is waiting for Harumichi. She found the ticket that Harumichi left on his book as a bookmark and followed it (the ticket is from Appaushi to Kitami). But, unfortunately, she only find it later after getting her mocked exam result. Thus, when she came to the station and waited for him, she couldn't find him.
The thank you note is for Harumichi , Yae didn't know Harumichi's name yet, but she realized the blonde boy that was caught riding without ticket during her exam was the boy that gave her the bookmark.
This ticket signifies how fated they are. Yae is actually looking for the blond guy, but she can't find the blond guy. However, 26 years later, after opening the time capsule she finds that the boy she was looking is actually Harumichi.
The train scene in ep 9 is paralleled to the laundry scene in ep 3. Ep 9 is their first encounter, ep 3 is their reunion.
The second sentence is moshimo itsuka mata aeta nara (if we someday can meet again). I think at this point Harumichi realized how shit his life has turned. He betrayed his current partner. In this drama his relationship with Tsunemi is represented with inko (a bird that represent karma and love). Thus, he decided to leave and let his destiny does its job. A kind of atonement and faith on destiny. (Remember his speech on Yuu’s wedding in ep 5 about how everything in life is all about fate and destiny)
The last sentence is kondo wa kimi no monogatari o kikasetekudasai (next time, let me hear your story). the significant word in this sentence is kondo. In english, kondo means this time, now, the other chance. But, in Japanese it has a nuance of changing the subject. In this context, changing the doer from Harumichi to Yae. (throughout the drama, Harumichi is actually portrayed as the one who does everything for their relationship: the chasing, those phone calls, the meeting)
In the drama, when kondo is spoken the scene also changes from Harumichi that go to see the Lilac tree to the scene when Yae leaves the tree. Lilac has two meaning: first love and beginning of love (It is on netflix jp ig post and these two words are highlighted). When Harumichi goes to the tree, the lilac means first love. When Yae leaves the tree, the lilac means beginning of love. Thus, it creates a full circle of love that signifies their destiny - fated love.
If you rewatch ep 9, you can see that Yae actually knew that Harumichi was looking at her. It was very subtle and short. She just looked back at Harumichi and continued reading because she was shy.
After that, when Harumichi's caught riding without a ticket. She actually wanted to help, but decided not. You can see that she's reluctant to leave at first. I think she likes him, but decided that's not good to associate with a punk. (In Japan, a blond hair is closely associated with delinquent)
Several days later (mock up exam result in Japan is usually out after 3 days), when she found the ticket, she realized that the bookmark in her book is actually the blonde boy's ticket. I think she feel grateful and sorry for that. So, she followed the ticket to its origin at Appaushi station. She waited long, but she couldn't meet the blonde boy. Thus, she wrote the thank you at the blackboard while hoping that it would reach the blond boy.
I think the blonde boy really touched her heart at that moment, so she considered it as her treasure hoping that one day she can find him again and thank him. If you see the contain of her time capsule, it's actually all the best memories of her high school, unlike harumichi who just put his secret and adoration about Yae.
I think this ticket signifies the theme of the drama. Fated love, whatever happens, will still find its way.
Harumichi means road to spring. Haru means spring, (道) michi: road. But, the kanji used in his name is actually hare (晴) which means to clear up. So his name can also be translated as clear the way.
Yae means to be great. Her name consists the kanji of ya (也): to be, and e (英): great
Tsunemi means always beautiful. It contains kanji for tsune (恒): always, constant and mi (美): beautiful. But Tsunemi emphasizes that her name actually comes from a fix constellation like andromeda and centaurus. Andromeda means chained woman, while centaurus is pointer stars.
If we try to connect their name, Tsunemi as a pointer star can't clear the way for Harumichi because she is chained. She is just there to be a helper, a pointer when Harumichi tries to find his way. Yae is the one for Harumichi, the one that make him great (this is the reason why Harumichi become a better person with Yae). And Harumichi is the one that clear the way for Yae so she can see her spring again (Helping her regains her memory and dream).
In ep 8, when Tsunemi finally says kekko ganbatta (I have tried my best), it's actually the moment when she releases herself. I think this is the reason why she stopped crying and laughed. She has finally released all of her burden, and moved on (Andromeda). When she pushed Harumichi out, Tsunemi becomes the pointer star for Harumichi (Centaurus).
I don't know whether it's a coincidence or not, but the timeline in this drama is tied to JAXA space program. I think this's also the reason why they put a lot of emphasizes on space.
20 April 1982: Harumichi is born.
9 - 12 - 1982: Yae is born
9 -12 - 1997: They meet for the first time.
April 1998: They meet again. (Start of high school)
4 - 7 - 1998: Nozomi is launched to space. (Nozomi is Japan mars orbiter. In Japanese nozomi means hope or wish. It has a nuance that someone needs to work for their wish)
9 - 12 - 1998: They start dating (Automatic release date)
Sometimes at the end of 1998: their first date. I think it’s after Armageddon release date on 12 December 1998.
PS: Titanic is very big in Japan. Though it’s released on 20 - 12 -2017, it’s still widespread in the summer 1998. So it’s normal for 2/3 tier city cinema to still have it in December. The interesting part is the titanic poster. It says: Unmei no Koi. Daremo sore o saku koto ga dekinai (Fated love, no one will be able to tear it apart). I think this is the summary of the drama
10 -3 - 1999: Utada Hikaru's first love album is released.
8 - 7 -2000: Harumichi decided to be a pilot.
11 - 3 - 2001: They graduated high school and buried their time capsule.
October 2001: Yae won beauty contest, and the first time she didn’t pick up Harumichi call.
30 - 11 - 2001: Yae got accepted for student exchange in Vancouver.
December 2001: Yae got the accident.
January 2002: Harumichi started to write a letter for Yae.
May 2002: Yae met doctor Kosaka.
2003 Mars viewing: the closest Mars came to Earth in 60,000 years
May 2003: We get the glimpse of Harumichi’s letter.
December 2003: Harumichi met Yae's mother. He felt betrayed after hearing Yae is pregnant and decided to forget Yae. The scene where he burns all of his letter signifies the moment when he becomes his old self again.
31 - 12 - 2003: Nozomi mission is terminated. Harumichi and Yae time as a couple is actually tied to the Nozomi mission (1998 - 2003).
Spring 2006: Harumichi finished his training in Komaki Air base. He decided to move from being a fighter pilot to support pilot. (It signifies that he has moved from Yae).
Sometimes in late 2006: Harumichi starts to have a casual sex. (Harumichi is airman first class based in Nara). I think the sex scene is too vulgar, but it is an important scene. It signifies the old Harumichi is back. At this point, Harumichi can easily ignore everything about Yae. He can continue his sex even after being asked about why he becomes a pilot. (Casual sex is normal in Japan. The average age of a girl loosing her virginity is 17,3)
Sometimes around 2007: Yuu married Bonji - Harumichi is still a scumbag. (ep 5)
November 2007: Yae divorced Kosaka.
2008: JAXA launched Kibou on 11 -3 - 2008 (hope, expectation, bright prospect) and Kizuna (bonds between people) on 23 - 2 - 2008 to space.
Around October 2008 - Harumichi sees Yae as a stewardess at the airport. I think Harumichi thought of this as a kind of sign of something (not a real Yae) because Yae that he knows should be a wife of a rich person. (He starts to reform himself). At this time Harumichi is a staff sergeant. He has just returned from Kuwait.
(I think it’s very interesting that Yuri Kanchiku chose 2008 (the year when JAXA launched Kibou and Kizuna to space) as the year when Harumichi decided to be a decent man again)
January 2010 - Harumichi meets Tsunemi. (Yae is already the no 1 person in his heart again - at the last session he asked whether a memory can be restored or not) Harumichi is a technical sergeant. He has just returned from Golan Height.
March 2010 - He asked Tsunemi out
11 - 9 -2010: JAXA launched Michibiki to space. Michibiki means guidance
Tsunemi means always beautiful. It contains kanji for tsune (恒): always, constant and mi (美): beautiful. But Tsunemi emphasizes that her name actually comes from a fix constellation like andromeda and centaurus. Andromeda means chained woman, while centaurus is pointer stars.
(I can’t believe that they choose to introduce Harumichi to his pointer stars in a year when guidance was launched to space)
March 2011 - Tsunemi demands a status from Harumichi during their sex. At this point, Yae is already no 1 again in Harumichi's heart, that's why Harumichi says he like Tsunemi, but he can't make her his number 1. So he asks for a break up if Tsunemi can't continue with their casual relationship (Harumichi says gomen, Tsunemi ga muri dattara, ore - Sorry, if this is impossible for Tsunemi, I). In the end, Tsunemi interrupted him, and insisted that he makes their relationship official.
I think the reason why Kanchiku Yuri put the vulgar sex scene in ep 5 is because she wants to make a comparison about Yae's position in Harumichi's heart.
In ep 5, Harumichi denies his love for Yae, so the sex scene is vulgar. It's the Harumichi before Yae: young, wild, and free. In ep 8, the sex scene is subtle. It signifies Harumichi after Yae: full of aspiration, considerate, compose.
11 March 2011: Harumichi takes a leave to recover his time capsule, but 3 11 happened and he rushed to Tsunemi to protect her because he remembers his trauma. (Harumichi's strong senses of wanting to protect someone). (I think without 3 11 he will never make it official)
On May 2012 Michibiki caught a photo of Annular Solar eclipse. Solar elipse is believe as an harbinger of turmoil and upset.
August 2012: Harumichi stops flying a plane and moves back to Hokkaido. Around this time, Tsunemi also learned about Yae. (PS: try to watch the airport scene, and Bonji scene)
At the airport scene, we can see that Harumichi is actually not happy that Tsunemi moves to Hokkaido. While at Bonji scene, we can see that Harumichi just say he likes Tsunemi and stops at that.
Bonji scene in ep 8 is also parallel to Yuu's scene in ep 1. In ep 1 when Yuu's ask about whether he still love Yae, Harumichi says no and try to change the conversation by making Airu happy. In ep 8, when Bonji ask whether he still loves Yae, he try to change the conversation by rushing Bonji to fix his car.
7 - 9 - 2018: NASA-JAXA Joint Statement on collaborative efforts for lunar exploration and beyond
2018 Mars viewing: In 2018, mars shine brighter and show more details in a backyard telescope than it has since 2003.
Around June 2018 - Harumichi sees Yae again for the first time (end of ep 1).
This time when his coworker Jin asks whether he's looking for his first love or not, he doesn't deny it. (I think he doesn't deny it because this time he is sure it is Yae. But, this time, he still can control himself, he turned down the first love volume).
July 2018 - Harumichi and Yae become intimate again, but still able to restraint themselves. (ep 4 - Mars viewing)
September 2018 - Harumichi regains his desire to be a Pilot (middle of ep 6) because of Yae's question. Something that Tsunemi can't do even though she has tried (ep 3).
At the last day of his rehab, after hearing that Yae always feel that she misses something, Harumichi is finally can’t control himself. (end of ep 6).
End of 2018 - Harumichi decided to leave Japan. At this point, he has regained his interest in plane again. He was reading a book about plane when Tsuzuru met him to give Uta’s stuff.
2023: They are finally together.
In 2023, JAXA will finally recruit an astronaut again. This is the first time that JAXA is recruiting astraunot since 2008. This astronaut is also expected to join NASA lunar landing (Result of 2018 collaboration).
(I think Harumichi and Yae’s reunion is tied to JAXA astronaut mission to moon).
The second sentence is moshimo itsuka mata aeta nara (if we someday can meet again). I think at this point Harumichi realized how shit his life has turned. He betrayed his current partner. In this drama his relationship with Tsunemi is represented with inko (a bird that represent karma and love). Thus, he decided to leave and let his destiny does its job. A kind of atonement and faith on destiny.
The last sentence is kondo wa kimi no monogatari o kikasetekudasai (this time, let me hear your story). the significant word in this sentence is kondo. Kondo means this time, now, in english, but in Japanese it has a nuance of changing the subject. In this context, changing the doer from Harumichi to Yae. (throughout the drama, Harumichi is actually portrayed as the one who does everything for their relationship: the chasing, those phone calls, the meeting)
In the drama, when kondo is spoken the scene also changes from Harumichi that go to see the Lilac tree to the scene when Yae leaves the tree. Lilac has two meaning first love and beginning of love (It is on netflix jp ig post and these two words are highlighted). When Harumichi goes to the tree, the lilac means first love. When Yae leaves the tree, the lilac means beginning of love. Thus, it creates a full circle of love that signifies their destiny - mutual love.
The thank you note is for Harumichi , Yae didn't know Harumichi's name yet, but she realized the blonde boy that was caught riding without ticket during her exam was the boy that gave her the bookmark.
This ticket signifies how fated they are. Yae is actually looking for the blond guy, but she can't find the blond guy. However, 26 years later, after opening the time capsule she finds that the boy she was looking is actually Harumichi.
The train scene in ep 9 is paralleled to the laundry scene in ep 3. Ep 9 is their first encounter, ep 3 is their reunion.