"Kimi no Na wa": A Beautiful Plot Reversal on a Strained Traditon

Your Name reminds us it’s okay to move on even if we never truly let go.

Kimi no Na wa or Your Name, is a movie about self-discovery and, above all else, the strong intimate connection two people who have never met can share.

(Spoiler Alert for those who haven't seen this movie)

Your Name has become a wildly popular film that is known for its magical visual design and story. The surreal, wondrous artwork crafted by the artists is juxtaposed by realistic, complex protagonists Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana. Director Makato Shinkai and his team developed the film as a fresh take on classic themes of love, youth, tradition and destiny from the perspectives of teenagers living in the modern day.

Your Name focuses on two complex characters and their intimate, although not sexual, relationship they have with one another. Taki, a teenage boy who lives in Tokyo, and Mitsuha, a teenage girl from rural Japan Itomori, wake up one day to discover they have switched bodies. Unlike other films that use the same premise, Taki and Mitsuha go back and forth, alternating between waking up in their own bodies or waking up in the other. It’s because of these situations that the two develop a friendship, which gradually blossoms into romantic feelings. Everything seems like it might work out for these lovestruck teens stuck in a weird, fantastical predicament.

Except they never “meet.” They never get to really hold each other. They’re bound to this faint memory of an intense emotion they shared with each other, but they can’t remember the other person’s name as time goes on. They can’t remember what the other person looks like. As much as they want to, they can’t be together.

The idea of a “red string of fate” is a tale or myth as old as time. It is a legend known in many cultures as the story of star crossed lovers conquering some obstacle to their love. Though it may feel as though the storyline of lovers who are almost supernaturally connected is overdone, new life was breathed into the ancient legend in "Your Name.” Until watching “Your Name” I had never seen a film so beautifully explore themes of the mesmerizing essence of youth and the power of destiny.

 The concept of fated love, or “red string of fate,” is nothing new, but “Your Name” refreshes this concept by creating an extremely unconventional universe. “Your Name” is built on the premise that protagonists Mitsuha and Taki are destined to be together, but are kept apart as Mitsuha lives in a 2013 timeline and Taki lives in 2016. Beyond the time discrepancy, the pair must find a way to turn back time to prevent a tragic comet striking the village of Itomori which will take Mitsuha's life along with others in the village before the two can learn each other’s names.

One of the most significant themes in “Your Name” is the progression from youth into maturity. Regardless of Mitsuha and Taki existing in entirely two different timelines, both characters accurately show the trials and tribulations of growing up — specifically, the idea of coming of age and realizing how our actions shape our futures. The most prevalent example of this theme in “Your Name” is the progression of Taki’s personality and how it affects Mitsuha. Taki begins the film as someone that is helpful and diligent in both his schoolwork and creative ventures, but can also be quick-tempered and reactive when faced with conflict.

Taki’s personality acts as a foil or contrary to Mitsuha’s more reserved and patient nature that we see prevails even in situations where she wants to speak up. When the two begin to swap bodies, Taki uses his sociable and more outgoing personality to help Mitsuha be more liked by her peers. Despite the wild nature of the story, it is these little moments like that interspersed throughout the film that truly immerse viewers in the strong theme of youth in this story. If you strip away all of the magic and mystery of the film, you see that Mitsuha and Taki are characters meant to encompass the universal feelings of youth and blossoming into the people we are destined to be.

The “red string of fate” plot line is based on the idea of love breaking all the boundaries and all the obstacles to unite the lovers at the opposite ends of the “string.” But the film’s theme of love is much more complex than the classic concept. Taki and Mitsuha quite literally have to change the universe in order to unite in the same timeline. The true heart of “Your Name” isn’t the romantic love between Taki and Mitsuha; it is the unyielding perseverance and patience to find each other throughout the film. The characters had never spoken prior to the body-swapping, but they are determined to find each other as they grow immersed in an inexplicable desire for the other. As the two switch bodies, they fall in love by learning about each other through experiencing each others’ lives. When Taki and Mitsuha initially fail to prevent the comet from striking Itomori, all of Taki’s memories of body-swapping with Mitsuha are erased and he is left feeling an unexplainable sense of loss. He finishes high school and searches for a job to fulfill the void inside. As the film arrives at its resolution when the two are finally united, an overwhelming peace fills Taki’s heart. The film culminates in the heart-stopping moment where they finally get to learn the names of their true loves.

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At the end of the movie, however, Taki and Mitsuha do end up finding each other. Their memories are returned and, as they embrace, they cry. It’s not from finally finding each other or realizing they can be with the person they love, it’s an emotional release. This longing, this constant ache they’ve carried with them like a haze that never went away, finally cleared. It’s the most intense, emotional experience in the world. In that exact moment, they’re frozen, gripped by this overpowering sense of longing they have for the future that could have been. Sitting in my room, watching it play out before me, I could feel myself getting emotional. I blinked hurriedly to stop any tears from escaping, not wanting to be that person, but it was the most effective use of longing I’ve ever seen in a movie. The look on Taki’s face when he believes he’s found the person he’s been longing after for five years is ubiquitous. 

Even though it can never be, or it feels like it can never be, you cling to it.This is what stuck with me after watching Your Name: the experience of longing. It’s a challenging emotion to deal or contend with. It’s a subtle yet sharp ache, like a dull headache on a rainy, gloomy day. It doesn’t take over your life, but it’s noticeable. Some days, it’s more noticeable than others. You want to chase the longing, but you also know you have to move on with your life. You create this stalemate for yourself and deal with the emotional throbbing that comes with longing.

Anyone who has ever had a crush, been in love, knows what longing is. It’s that moment when you hear a song that reminds you of that person and you feel that small tightness in your chest. It’s that moment a friend casually mentions they ran into said person and your heart flutters or skips a beat with the memories of when it was good. You long for those moments. You romanticize them. Even though it can never be, or it feels like it can never be, you cling to it.

Your Name is a sad movie. It has a happy ending and there are funny moments, but it’s sad. It’s heartbreaking. It’s absolutely devastating. It is a bittersweet experience with wholesomeness. It manages to achieve all of this because of how honest its characters are about not expecting anything. They’re content with the idea of living with a dull ache, just like many of us are. We move on. We try to forget. We continue living. Your Name ends on a happy note, but it's the decision of Taki and Mitsuah to persevere where the movie finds its real heart. It’s the emotional catharsis I wasn’t aware that I needed and it was a movie that made me appreciate the little twangs I get in my chest when I do hear that song.