Mokumokuren’s manga series comes alive in this Netflix adaptation, enticing viewers with its charming art style and topics of grief. A coming of age story that interweaves horror elements into its poignant subject matter, this episode delivers a gut punch of heartache and turmoil for our main character. Here is the first episode review of The Summer Hikaru Died.
Overview
The episode focuses on Yoshiki Tsujinaka (voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi) as he struggles to adjust to his friend returning. Hikaru (voiced by Shûichirô Umeda) had been missing for a week, but suddenly appeared with no memory of being gone. Yoshiki asks if he is the real Hikaru, to which Hikaru admits he took over the real Hikaru’s dying body in the mountains. Yoshiki copes with the replacement Hikaru and the knowledge that the Hikaru he knew was dead; letting the new Hikaru experience life as a human kid with the real Hikaru’s memories. However it doesn’t change the fact that, to Yoshiki, replacement HIkaru is nowhere close to the real Hikaru. Even so, Yoshiki asks the replacement Hikaru if he likes him, which Hikaru confirms. Yoshiki then asks for Hikaru to never leave him again.
Meanwhile, in the dead of night, townsfolk are investigating a suspicious murder just down the road. The village is in a panic with hushed talks of a ritual and Tanaka (voiced by Chikahiro Kobayashi), a specialized hunter, is called to assist with the investigation.
Final Thoughts
The Summer Hikaru Died isn’t at all what I was expecting. It showcases guilt and loss in ways that tugged at my heart from the first moment. Watching Yoshiki deal with mourning someone who is alive but not the same was heartbreaking, especially as he clearly uses this replacement Hikaru to deal with his grief. Additionally, I am intrigued to see how Tanaka’s character affects the story, as well as figure out the circumstances of the ritual the townsfolk were talking about. As much as I’d want for Yoshiki and Hikaru to have a happy ending, something tells me that Yoshiki will have to go through a significant amount of hardships in order to process his grief. And Hikaru will have to learn how to navigate his own emotions while being burdened with the thought that he’s not as human as he wants to be.
The Summer Hikaru Died anime is available to stream on Netflix. Additionally, the manga is available for purchase on Amazon and at Barnes and Nobles.
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