Hanamizuki Synopsis
Two young lovers, separated by distance and ambition, cling to their dreams and shared memories while life’s trials test the strength and endurance of their bond across years and oceans.
Crossing Paths
In 2005, Sae traveled back to her birthplace, Peggys Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada. On the bus, while gazing at a photograph, memories pulled her back to 1996. During a train journey to their respective college entrance exams, Sae and Kouhei met. A collision with a deer delayed the train, filling Sae with anxiety over being late. Desperation led them to seek help at a nearby house, where Sae spotted a truck with the keys inside. Suggesting they “borrow” it, she convinced Kouhei to drive her. Their journey was cut short when Kouhei attempted to overtake a slow vehicle, only to crash into a ditch. Brought to a police station, Sae faced disqualification from her exams.
Determination and Distance
Despite the setback, Sae worked tirelessly to gain admission into university. Kouhei stood by her side, though sadness clouded his support; her acceptance meant inevitable separation. When Sae earned a place at Waseda University in Tokyo, Kouhei, initially hesitant, was persuaded by friends to bid her farewell. They chased after her departing ferry, unfurling a banner that read, “Good Luck Sae!”
New Friends and Rising Tensions
At Waseda, Sae encountered Junichi Kitami, a senior who photographed children in third-world countries. Junichi helped her secure a night job teaching English and quickly became a close confidant. When Kouhei visited, jealousy flared at the sight of Sae and Junichi together. Their dinner ended abruptly when Kouhei, hurt and insecure, stormed out. On his way, he lost his carefully chosen gift for Sae in an altercation with delinquents. Eventually, Sae and Kouhei reconciled at her apartment, and he presented her with a miniature ship, symbolizing their journey apart yet connected.
Dreams Deferred
Four years passed. Sae, now facing the competitive Tokyo job market, struggled to find employment. Junichi proposed they move to New York together for new opportunities. Meanwhile, Kouhei learned that his family’s fishing boat faced repossession, forcing him to reconsider his own dreams. Plans to reunite with Sae were shattered when Kouhei’s father suffered a fatal heart attack during their boat’s final voyage.
Duty kept Kouhei rooted in Kushiro, caring for his mother and sister. Sae, unable to wait, left for New York, working alongside Junichi. Eventually, Junichi proposed marriage. Sae, returning to Japan for her friend Minami’s wedding, learned that Kouhei had married Ritsuko. Tension simmered when Sae and Kouhei crossed paths again.
Unspoken Longing
Kouhei and Sae met at a lighthouse, where Sae revealed her impending marriage. Despite the years and distance, feelings resurfaced. Their emotions overwhelmed them, culminating in an embrace outside Sae’s house. Yet, their respective commitments pulled them apart once again.
Kouhei returned home to find Ritsuko awaiting him with grim news—bankruptcy loomed. Though Kouhei resolved the financial crisis, he returned to an empty home and divorce papers left behind. Meanwhile, Sae learned through a news broadcast that Junichi had been killed while reporting in Iraq.
Missed Connections
Two years later, Sae revisited her hometown. Passing a shop window, she noticed the miniature ship Kouhei had once given her. Excited, she learned Kouhei’s ship had docked nearby. Rushing to the port, she narrowly missed seeing him.
Homecomings
By 2006, Sae returned to Japan, establishing a small school for children within her home. Under the blooming dogwood tree that had anchored so many memories, she encountered Kouhei once more. Smiling, she welcomed him back.
New Beginnings
In a post-credits scene, a small girl is seen gazing at the same dogwood tree. Her father, revealed to be Kouhei, lifts her into his arms. It becomes clear: Sae and Kouhei have married, started a family, and now live together in Sae’s childhood home, their lives intertwined after years of separation and longing.
