Ikkoku Nikki is a story which I have desired for a very long time, it scratches a deep deep itch. The story to tell of a character overcoming their hardships, not relying on time skips (save for the very end), instead taking the painstaking time to craft a deeply emotional tale written with intense care to its characters. I have wanted to witness a story about human characters taking the time to deal with whatever situation they find themselves in. How to deal with defeat? What are the methods to move on? What is the resolution? The author puts such care for the time and the dialogue, it represents a level of writing that goes beyond expectation.

Asa is, next to Oka Hiromi, probably the character I relate to the most in an anime. Asa deals with the death of her parents and the new challenges that come with moving into an unfamiliar environment without her caretakers. Furthermore, she must deal with a huge obstacle, the crushing loneliness. The way Asa describes her loneliness as a desert suddenly entered is so powerful, it is something I have felt and continue to feel even in times when I am most loved. Just as Asa was by Makio, not maybe through words, but through her actions. The disagreement she has with Makio and resolves at the end is an idea I share as well. That our actions, incrementally small as they can be, can reach out to someone and ultimately change the world. It does not have to be a grand action, it is as simple as one being who they want to be. That is the journey that Asa makes through the story and sings her way to the end, discovering herself with the help of Makio’s pessimistic maxim. I must stress the sheer fucking nuance written into Asa’s character by the author. The way she is written is so human like that never once in the story have I felt that any action she takes or feelings she feels do not make sense from an emotional or writing standpoint. When Asa is going through her trials, you feel for her and want to see her succeed, that I think is helped by the amazing writing.

Despite espousing pessimistic worldviews, Makio does not even agree with herself! In the final episode, before the performance of Asa, she tells the latter why she took her in, “I could not stand what was happening before me”. Framing it from the point of view that it wasn’t out of love for Asa but purely for herself. She feels the need to tell Asa that it is nigh impossible to change someone, efforts will ultimately fall flat and she needs to acknowledge this. But through her actions, it is clear Makio does not stay true to herself but in a benevolent way. She was there for Asa when she needed her most, she guided her through the loss of her parents and the formation of an identity. Her actions changed Asa. The contradiction between the two characters is beautiful, it brings about a stirring tale of two characters who disagree with one another but ultimately need the others companionship to change themselves. Changes they have long needed. I greatly admire Makio’s role in the story of Asa, indeed, there is no Ikkoku Nikki without her.

Opening and ending were bangers that I never skipped. I love it when anime’s incorporate the songs into the story and what better way to utilize them than to showcase the growth of the main character? Absolutely splendid decision by the studio adapting the manga.

Of one final note, I shall read the manga as I have heard the adaptation, as great as it is, still has much more to offer. If this level of quality is present in the anime, I wonder what could await me in the manga!