5 Centimet Trên Giây - One More Side

by Arata Kanoh (Adaptor), Makoto Shinkai, QC Trang (Translator)

Nếu coi tiểu thuyết 5 CENTIMET TRÊN GI Y là một bức tranh ghép hình, khắc họa chuyện đời, chuyện tình của Tono Takaki, thì 5 CENTIMET TRÊN GI Y ONE MORE SIDE giống như phần mở rộng và hoàn thiện của bức tranh ấy.

Những mảnh ghép vốn có được thay mới cả về nội dung và cách thể hiện. Những mảnh ghép ẩn được hé lộ đầy đủ và sáng tỏ. Bức tranh tổng thể vì thế mà toàn vẹn hơn, đa chiều hơn.

Được chắp bút bởi tác giả quen thuộc Kanoh Arata, 5 CENTIMET TRÊN GIÂY - ONE MORE SIDE sẽ đưa độc giả tiếp cận câu chuyện đượm buồn nhưng tuyệt đẹp của Shinkai Makoto một lần nữa, qua “một góc nhìn khác”.

Genres: Light Novel, Romance, Manga, Fiction, Anime, Literature, Slice Of Life

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2011

About the author

Japanese & Chinese: 加納新太
Chinese: 加纳新太

Reviews

[Ju Hong Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the novel. The story is very emotional and covers various themes of life that really connected with me. If you have ever watched the anime and read the manga, you will know that the main themes of the story is about moving on from your past connections (i.e. romance) and about how hard it is to maintain distance relationship. The main character goes through a of struggle of losing a relationship due to being apart from his first love and has a difficult time getting over it. The novel goes much more deeper than the anime and the manga where it emphasizes the psyche of the main characters such as what difficulties they face with their life. As the novel's subtitle "One More Side" implies, the novel shows another side of the story by showing different perspectives that the anime does not cover. The novel contains sections in the viewpoint of Akari which the anime and manga lacks. Unlike the anime and manga, the novel covers in much more depth of the troubles of being raised a life where you cannot call a place home due to your parents moving often and the challenges they face when transferring to a new school.

Slight spoilers:


The novel beautifully portrays the psychological challenges Akari faces. We find in the novel that Akari is a very shy person and lacks confidence in herself. She goes through a lot of psychological battles to get herself to attend school. Akari always felt that she would never be able to fit in with her peers, that no one would ever love and accept her. Through her interaction with the main character Takaki, she starts to gain confidence and grows as a person. The phrase "You will be alright" gave Akari an assurance that there was a person by her side which gave her first step to face the world.

In the second part, the novel also does a much better job in retelling the main female protagonist, Kanae, and the challenges she faced. I do admit that I was disappointed that the novel didn't cover Kanae after graduating from High School, which the manga covers. But the novel gave another aspect to Kanae that I never noticed when I was watching the anime and reading the manga. The novel shows that Kanae's troubles are not only about her love for Takaki but also facing the fear of not knowing what to do in life. I really related to Kanae in that she struggles to make decisions in life. It can be as petty as choosing what drink to buy from the convenience store to knowing what to do with your life. Living in an age where society and media gives off this idea that we need to have our life together to do well in our life. We are expected to know what career we should pursue and to have found a sense of purpose in life which wears down people like it did to Kanae. Not having a sense of direction in life and being compared made Kanae anxious about life.

The novel also goes in more depth of Takaki on what he thinks, how he thinks, and the struggles that he goes through. I kind of feel like Takaki is a philosopher and a poet. Takaki loves to think and you can see that through his dialogue with Akari and Kanae and through his frequent self-thinking. One part that struck me was the difficulty of putting ideas and dreams into words. Often times I find my ideas and dreams to be vague and formless and giving them a form really loses a lot of meaning to it. I guess this is normal in that communicating our feelings and ideas to others is a very difficult task, especially for those who are not articulate with their words. Takaki seems to have a difficult time conveying his feelings to others and ends up hurting them. One aspect that I never realize till I read the novel was that Takaki is very observant and is able to understand what his partners are feeling and thinking.

Another reason why I like the novel was that it made parts of the story that were confusing from the anime much clearer. In the anime, it isn't clear what those dreams he has are even for or how he met the various females he interact with. The novel also shows Akari when she is in university and her life after university as well.

On a side note, the question of whether one should watch the anime, or read the manga or the novel, I would say to read and watch all of them. Each medium covers a different depth and aspects of the story. I love the anime with its stunning visuals and music which conveyed the main theme very well. However, I found the manga gives you more understanding of Takaki's struggle of getting over his first love in much more detail and the fact that it featured Kanae when she becomes a working adult and her struggle to get over her first love as well. The novel showed an entirely new perspective of the story by featuring Akari's viewpoint, the psychological struggles that each character goes through. I also felt the story flows much more smoothly and not rushed compared to the manga and anime. I also feel that after going through the anime, manga, and the novel, I can form my own interpretation of the ending which is highly implied in the manga.

[S. Alberto ⁻⁷ (yearning) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cherry blossoms fall at a speed of five centimeters per second.
For every notch of a clock’s fastest hand, a cherry blossom falls two inches to the ground.
And what would be my speed in getting close to him?


Having the strength to tell people that they’re going to be okay—
that really is important.

A beautifully poignant light novel that delves deeper into the story originally presented in Shinkai's acclaimed anime film. The novel, divided into three interconnected segments, explores the lives of Takaki Tōno and Akari Shinohara, childhood friends who drift apart over the years due to physical and emotional distance.

Shinkai's writing captures the essence of longing and the pain of unfulfilled love with delicate precision. Each chapter is filled with vivid descriptions and introspective monologues that bring the characters' inner worlds to life. The prose is both melancholic and poetic, drawing readers into the quiet moments of the characters' lives and the passage of time that inexorably separates them.

What sets this light novel apart is its ability to provide a deeper understanding of the characters' thoughts and feelings, something that the film's visual storytelling could only hint at. It adds layers of complexity to Takaki and Akari, making their struggles with distance and growing up even more relatable and heart-wrenching. (Another note is I watched the film after reading this, and I had a weird experience where, if a scene had less dialogue in the book, I still knew exactly what each of the characters thought in that exact moment or the significance of the actions they took or how they reacted to each other, it was like seeing the script or quotes of the light novel superimposed onto the movies as like imaginary subtitles my brain decide to fill in because I knew the context entirely for all the characters, it was very neat and I feel if I hadn't read the book and just watched the movie I'd be grasping at straws or merely nothing trying to comprehend the 3 interconnected stories!)

However, it's important to note that the light novel's slow pacing and introspective nature might not appeal to everyone. The story's focus on everyday moments and internal dialogues means that there isn't a lot of action or dramatic plot twists (However I will say, the letters at the end messed me up really bad, no spoilers but being able to read them at the end when they're referenced alot throughout was the finishing blow for me to rate this higher!). Instead, it’s a contemplative journey about the fleeting nature of relationships and the impact of time on our lives.

[Novellina A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I read this year!
I never saw the anime and may be I have no expectation from the book.

Yet, I have a goosebumps while read it.
It was overwhelmingly beautiful, like a supernova, the emotions burst out in every segment and phase of each characters.

It is like the book I always looking for. The book that I want to write by myself. And it amusingly great, knowing someone write it but damn much better than me.

Love.love.love.

[Lanmreading]

Biết trước diễn biến thế nào rồi đọc vẫn hụt hẫng bức bối vch...

[inside_the_hard-boiled_wonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart 🥹. I can't remember the last time I cried while reading. This is the best book I've read so far in 2023. This book gave me the closure I needed after the confusion and all the questions I had from watching that beautiful, heartbreaking movie. I love how this gave me more insight on what happened between Akari and Takaki or maybe, more accurately, what happened within themselves and their individual experiences after that snowy night under the sakura tree that ultimately led to that ending. It makes so much more sense now 🥹🥹🥲😌. I think I just left little bits of my heart in these pages 💚💚.

[Eena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The anime film is still and I think will forever be my favourite Makoto Shinkai film and this book was good to fill in the gaps of the film. However, only the first part mattered to me, the middle part, I didn’t feel connected to it at all, and the final part just felt like it was made to sense of the final minutes of the film.

I think this one would have been better if the author stuck with the POV of Shinohara Akari. Still loved bits and pieces of it tho

[alpacaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a patch on the original/first novel. It's a different publisher and a different translator, which could be why. It's all a bit forced here, whereas the original work by Shinkai is just beautiful, and a nice read thanks to the translation.

I don't think this adds anything really. If you've read the original (Yen On) book, there's no point in this.

[Anthony Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in 2007, anime wunderkind Makoto Shinkai (Your Name, Weathering With You) released 5 Centimeters Per Second, a short movie (just over an hour long) comprised of 3 segments, which told the story of Akari and Takaki, a pair of outsiders joined by their developing love, and torn apart by distance (their parents keep moving because of their jobs). Coinciding with the theatrical release, a novel was dropped, as well as a manga adaptation. A few years later, a 'side story' novel was released, penned by Japanese novelist Arata Kanoh. These types of side stories are increasing in popularity and frequency, and they basically retell the same story through the eyes of one of the other characters.

Last year, Vertical dropped this fantastic translation (along with a beautiful cover by the incomparable VOFAN). This side story expands a great, great deal on the material in the movie, yielding a much more heartfelt, poignant experience. Let's take a peak at the summary, and then take it bit by bit:

"A contemporary classic, 5 Centimeters per Second won animator Makoto Shinkai international renown as a rare talent. Indeed, he just might be one of the most powerful bards of romantic longing and thwarted love working today in any medium. This official novelization narrates from the other side—for instance, from the point-of-view of the girl rather than the boy in the legendary first segment, “Cherry Blossoms”—to tell a story that is both deeply engaging for first-timers and astonishingly fresh for fans of the film.

The author of fantasy novels based on the Shining videogame series, Arata Kanoh is best known for his imaginative prose adaptations of the masterpieces of Japan’s hottest animator. Most recently, his take on Your Name was the #1 Kindle bestseller at Amazon Japan."

I want to put something out before I compare the three segments in the movie to those in the novel. I know that I am in a distinct minority here, but honestly, I'm not a big fan of Shinkai, based off of the few titles I've seen by him. They boast stunning visuals, smooth directing tricks, and beautiful character design; yet, they seem manufactured...telegraphed. Painfully heavy metaphors. A sense of self-love rather than genuine affection for the medium/story. It's like biting into a Godiva Easter bunny - decadent chocolate, intricate design...yet hollow inside. Now, don't get me wrong. I love sappy romance - missed opportunities, unrequited love; man, I eat that stuff up. However, Shinkai's technique just isn't for me. Again, just my opinion.

Also, it bears noting that I have not read the original novel which, one assumes, follows the POV's shown in the movie. Here's hoping that original novel finds a home in the States as well, one day.

The first segment of 5 CM is "Cherry Blossoms", and this is the story of Akari and Takaki as kids. The movie maps the period between meeting at a Tokyo elementary school, their bonding and burgeoning love for each other, up to their final meeting on that snowy night in Tochigi.

As mentioned, both of them were nomadic children due to their parents transferring often because of their jobs. They are both somewhat quiet, shy, and guarded - a marriage of natural personality and trained response to their ever-changing environments. They share a love of books - especially fantasy titles. They spend every moment together, cultivating a bond that goes deeper than words can describe.

There's something I want to say here which can be applied through every segment of the book - as much as I was not a huge fan of the movie, I absolutely loved this book. Finally, we get an in-depth look into the minds, hearts, and souls of Takaki and Akari - and what a bittersweet trip it is.

The side story aspect of this book allows for this first segment to be told from Akari's point of view - a recollection of sorts, prompted by her rediscovery of the undelivered letter she had written for Takaki, declaring her love for him. We get to see how the quiet, introverted girl is bounced around in her younger days; until a kind heart finally offered her comforting reassurance.

This first segment is hauntingly beautiful; effectively nailing the varied emotions of those tumultuous formative years.

The second segment is "Cosmonaut"; which, in the movie, chronicled the story of Kanae Sumida, an
earnest girl who carried a torch for Takaki from the moment she laid eyes on him after his move to Tanegashima. Therefore, in this novel adaptation, the segment recounts those times from Takaki's POV. This segment was a mixed-bag in the movie; a bit meandering; although the audience comes to sympathize with Kanae's pure emotions.

The novel bolsters this segment immensely as well. While in the movie, we just see Takaki as, well, not aloof, but definitely distant, a trip inside his head is very welcome. The cosmic scenes shown in the movie are explained as a persistent dream; a reminder of a portion of him which has been lost, which he is truly less than whole without. Meticulous care is also given to bringing the picturesque vistas of Tanegashima to vibrant life. Excellently done.

Finally, we come to the climactic segment of the story, "5 Centimeters per Second". This segment was criminally short in the movie adaptation; which makes the novel handling all the more appreciated. Here, we see snippets of Akari's time in college, her ascension working with a franchise bookseller, and, finally, her meeting the man whom she will eventually marry.

On the other hand, Takaki is still spinning his wheels, mired in a life of feeling incomplete. He's a successful programmer, but feels fettered and dissatisfied. He's been in a long-term relationship, but cannot give all of himself, as he still feels incomplete. There is a confluence of emotions as Akari realizes that she has something to return to Takaki; and Takaki, seeing the progress of a shuttle which launched during his time on Tanegashima, has an epiphany. This all leads to that moment.



In the novel, Takaki's emotion tailspin is heartbreaking; as you see how he is not only damaging himself, but also his long-suffering girlfriend. In the movie, you just see a few scenes before it cuts to the poorly-chosen song which frames the end montage.

And, to cap it all off, in the novel, you actually get to read the two infamous letters - the one Takaki wrote which was blown away in the wind at the station, and Akari's, which she discovered in an old sewing kit in her adulthood. You can choose for yourself whether that aspect was better found out, or left unsaid.

So, in summary, 5 Centimeters per Second: One More Side offers a richer, deeper, and, of course, more heart-wrenching of this story than the pretentious movie could ever have aspired to. Even if you have never seen the movie, I recommend this volume purely on its merits as an intriguing, genuine, love story.

You can read my full review of the light novel here:
https://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/2...

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4½ stars. I rounded down because of the melancholy I feel when going though any version of 5 Centimeters Per Second. This book is no exception to that. Still, if you are a fan of any version, this is worth picking up for the new points of view and seeing just what was going on with other characters through their eyes.

Not a tear-jerker for me, but still leaves me with that slightly bitter-taste that for some reason I have craved as long as I can remember. (Though I think the fully happy ending is even more my style as Shinkai's _your name_ is my favorite of his.)

Verdict: If you like 5 Centimeters Per Second you can't really go wrong giving this a read.

[Johan Kwok · Rating 3 out of 5]

I noticed that there were many landscape descriptions, maybe to mirror the movie's visuals. It's his style, I guess. It's a little hard to visualize everything in my mind, but it is good practice. It also made me appreciate nature, architecture, objects and their physical characteristics in real life. You know, taking a break from reading and looking around your surroundings. It isn't about conveying dramatic scenes or giving you the satisfaction of witty dialogue, but it can be cool too.

There are things that lose their importance once they take up the form of words? Maybe. But you let those things haunt you for a lifetime, Tohno.

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the manga but the novel is... no. It could've been a lot shorter, but honestly the book is pointless. It also might be because I'm older as well, but from what I gathered the adult parts took place in 2006-2007. At that point, they should've been able to find each other? I also don't think it's normal that you hang on to a childhood crush, that's unrealistic and unhealthy.

[Atanu Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this incredible take on the story from a different perspective than the movie. It serves as an extension to the movie in general, however the articulation of the emotions has mesmerized me till date. A hundred percent recommend to anyone who has experienced one of the best anime movies till date, please don't miss this one.

[Niklas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makato Shinkai: 5 centimeters per second
Eine Kirschblüte braucht durchschnittlich 5 Sekunden bis sie zu Boden fällt. Triviales Wissens, was sich Takaki und Akira in ihrer Mittelschulzeit ständig auf den Nachhauseweg von der Schule, um die Ohren hauen. Eine innige Freundschaft, die jedoch durch ein plötzlichen Umzug Akiras zu reißen droht. In der Aussichtslosigkeit ihrer Situation beschließen die beiden sich ein letztes mal zu treffen, um sich zu verabschieden, wobei ihn einiges über ihrer Beziehung klar wird. Eine erste Liebe die für beide nachhallen wird.


Eigentlich wollte ich das Buch gleich wieder weg legen, als es sich als Liebesroman entpuppte (ihr wisst ja wie ich dieses Genre liebe), was mir beim Kauf nicht bewusst war, da der Klappentext für mich etwas ganz anderes vermittelte. Doch als blanker Teenage, der sowieso sein ganzes Geld für Bücher raus warf, widerstrebte es mir ein Buch weg zu legen wovon ich nur 20 Seiten gelesen habe, aufgrund meiner eigenen Dummheit. Zudem hatte Makoto Shinkai mich mit Weathering with you auch nicht enttäuscht. Also begann ich zu lesen. Und eigentlich wusste ich eine Zeit lang nicht warum ich weiter lese und weiter lese bis das Buch auf einmal zu Ende war. Und ich musste mich darauf erstmal hinsetzten und kräftig grübeln und zwar nicht weil die Geschichte weltbewegend war, von Plottwist überladen und so spannend war das es mir den Atem raubte und ich um 2 Uhr Nachts unbemerkt an Atemnot gestorben wäre. Nein im Genteil. Irgendwie hatte es was in mir ausgelöst und melancholisch werden lassen. Das Buch hat paradoxerweise einen starken Eindruck hinterlassen. Im Nachhinein würde ich es nicht als Liebesroman einordnen. Eher als Drama was aber nicht dramatisch ist. Das Buch erzählt eine Geschichte über das Erwachsenwerden unterstützt von einer fantastischen Szenerie, die im Roman überwiegt im Zusammenspiel mit der Zerrissenheit des Hauptcharakters. Wie er zu sich findet und sich wieder verliert. Eine kurzzeitige Sicht einer Außenstehenden hat zusätzlich nochmal frischen Wind rein gebracht, was mir sehr gefallen hat. Und auch wenn mir das Ende zu unklar ist, war es trotzdem Denkwürdig und abgerundet.
Auf Grund meiner eigenen Verwirrung und Überraschung 4/5 Sternen, weil das Buch aus wenig viel gemacht hat.

[duc · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Centimet trên giây one more side - Nguyên tác : Shinkai Makoto
Tác giả : Kanoh Arata
Akari là một học sinh. Cô phải chuyển trường liên tục do công việc của ba mẹ. Cô cảm thấy sợ hãi việc chuyển trường. Bước vô môi trường mà các mối quan hệ đã được hình thành từ trước, cảm giác lạc lỏng. Một lần, cô chuyển đến Tokyo. Tại đây, trong lúc bản thân cảm thấy cô đơn một lần nữa thì cô đã gặp Takaki. Cậu đã mang sự lạc lỏng, cô đơn ra khỏi con người cô. Cả hai dần trở nên thân thiết sau khoảng thời gian gắn bó. Mọi thứ kết thúc khi cô lên cấp 2, cô lại phải chuyển nhà một lần nữa. Cả hai bắt đầu trao đổi với nhau qua thư từ. Một hôm, Takaki quyết định đến thăm Akari lần cuối trước khi cậu chuyển đến một nơi rất xa.
Đó là một ngày mùa đông lạnh lẻo. Chuyến tàu cậu đi bị dừng lại trong hàng giờ đồng hồ vì tuyết rơi rất dày. Khoảng thời gian tưởng chừng như vô tận, cả hai đều chờ. Cuối cùng tàu cũng đã lăn bánh và đến được nơi mà Akari sống. Cả hai cùng tâm sự với nhau sau một năm không gặp gỡ. Đây cũng chính là lần gặp cuối cùng của cả hai. Sáng hôm sau, Takaki quay về. Cả hai vẫn giữ những tấm thư mình đã viết mà chưa thể trao cho nhau.
Tiếp theo câu chuyện là đến với cuộc sống của Takaki và Akari mà trong tác phẩm chính tác giả không đề cập tới. Những ngày về sau, họ không còn liên lạc với nhau nữa. Cả hai đều đã có những công việc ổn định, một cuộc sống thoải mái.
Rồi mùa xuân đã đến. Khi đang đi dạo qua tán hoa anh đào, họ đã bước qua nhau tại một gác chắn tàu. Một cảm giác gì đó tan biến đi hết mọi thứ ập đến. Lúc mà cả hai quay đầu lại nhìn thì hai đoàn tàu ngược chiều chạy qua. Cuối cùng, Takaki mỉm cười, một cảm giác thật lạ...

[Matt Ely · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can enjoy the film without having read the novel, but I can't imagine enjoying the novel without the context of the film.

The book feels like it's designed to fill in many of the film's ambiguities, whether or not that's actually the case. The issue is that the ambiguities in the film are fine because they leave room for interpretation, but the heavy reliance on belabored descriptions of visuals in the novel show how much more clear this story can be in a visual format.

The last arc gave much more backstory, compared to the very short final arc of the film, but I am not sure it affected how a first-time viewer would interpret the film. In fact, Tohno's emotionless responses seemed so disconnected from who he was earlier in the book that it made his transition in the final section more unbelievable with the backstory than without it.

I also grew frustrated with how often the narration would refer vaguely to events while refuse to explain them, then going into wild, unnatural sounding detail on other elements that didn't require elucidation.

I liked elements of the story, certainly. There are particular images and reflections that benefit from being written out. But the book exists first, foremost, and perhaps exclusively for Shinkai completionists. I consider myself tangential to that group so I don't regret reading it, but I probably didn't need to. If anything, it makes me appreciate the film more for what it does independent of this context.

[htn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lần đầu xem 5 Centimet trên giây, quả thực mình chẳng ấn tượng gì cho lắm về bộ phim ấy cả. Tuy nhiên mình vẫn dành sự quan tâm nhất định vì nó gắn với những kỉ niệm đẹp khi mình còn nhỏ nên mình quyết định đọc sách. Hồi trước mình cứ nghĩ là Takaki quả là cậu trai lụy tình khủng khiếp. Mình cứ ngỡ là mọi giây phút cậu đều nghĩ đến Akari, hay lí do chia tay mấy cô gái khác và Mizuno cũng do Akari. Thế nhưng điều khiến mình bất ngờ là ngay cả trong thâm tâm Takaki chưa từng nhớ Akari sâu đậm đến thế. Có chăng chỉ là bóng hình thoáng qua (cậu chỉ nhắc tên của Akari một lần trong suy nghĩ)? Ngay từ đầu thứ ám ảnh Takaki đã là một cái gì đó rất mơ hồ, mông lung. Chính mình đọc xong cũng không dám chắc có phải Akari hay không. Có lẽ là một phần khuyết nào đó cậu đã đánh rơi trong chuyến tàu đêm của tuổi 13.
Tuy nhiên phải đánh giá là truyện không gây ấn tượng mạnh gì cho mình lắm. Mình trông đợi nhất là bức thư của Takaki và Akari nhưng sau khi đọc xong nó cũng chẳng đọng lại gì trong mình, dẫu biết chẳng nên trông chờ quá nhiều vào lá thư của hai đứa nhỏ nhưng cảm giác vẫn thất vọng một cách kì lạ.
Điều khiến mình hài lòng duy nhất là cả hai nhân vật đều đã tìm thấy hạnh phúc cho riêng mình. Có thể vẫn còn dư âm của quá khứ nhưng cũng chỉ là thoáng qua, không đến mức ám ảnh (đây là điều khiến mình day dứt và khó chịu khủng khiếp sau khi xem xong bản anime). Đối với mình, đây là một kết thúc đẹp! Vậy là ổn rồi.

[Aumi The · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice read before bedtime. If you've always wondered and pondered about Akari's and Takaki's POV of this 2007 movie, 5 Centimetres per Second one more side explains it all. This contemporary classic in book form offers narratives by Akari and Takaki that were never revealed in the movie.

It is a very sentimental story. I was eager to learn more about Akari and Takaki since I loved their pure, innocent interactions in the movie. I personally experienced events that occurred to me like them, such as switching schools. I used to dearly miss a special friend I made in my old school. I, too, have sat in public transportation for many hours through bleak snow just to meet that person. Makoto Shinkai's story reminded me of that time.

If I have to say what I dislike, it is Takaki's egoism. I grew to dislike his attitude towards others more and more as he grows into adulthood.

This story is about romance and what it means to live and move on when relationships don't work out. If you love Shinkai's stories, 5 Centimetres per Second one more side is a complement to a bittersweet ending. It is as refreshing as a cherry blossom-filled breeze and should be read immediately after the movie.

[Oanh Oanh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quyển này chỉ đơn thuần là thuật lại câu chuyện dưới góc nhìn của người khác mà thôi, chứ diễn biến thì mình thấy cũng chẳng khác gì quyển gốc cả. Tốt nhất là bạn đừng tốn thời gian vào đọc cuốn này làm gì. Mình cũng chỉ đọc cho biết, đọc xong lại ước gì mình chưa đọc vì nó vừa chán vừa tốn thời gian.

Sách của Makoto Shinkai hầu như đều theo mô típ nhân vật chính nhớ lại mối tình thời bé xíu của mình, rồi lại bắt đầu 1 tràng dông dài lê thê kể về cuộc sống chán ngắt buồn tẻ của nhân vật đến độ mình ngáp lên ngáp xuống hết quyển sách. Bìa sách đẹp ngất ngây con gà tây, nhưng nội dung bên trong thì như lời giảng của giáo viên dạy văn vậy =)))

Ngay từ chuyện Takaki và Akari biết yêu từ hồi lớp 5 lớp 6 rồi trao nhau nụ hôn là mình đã thấy hư cấu vcl. Takaki trốn bố mẹ đi tàu đến chỗ Akari, 2 đứa còn rất nhỏ, thế nhưng bố mẹ hai bên lại chẳng thấy tăm hơi đâu ra mắng chửi con hay lo lắng, vô lí thực sự. Chính những điều vô lí làm cho mấy cảnh lãng mạn như đứng dưới gốc anh đào trở nên trẩu vl, tình yêu của hai đứa con nít mặt búng ra sữa thì làm ăn gì :) ? Mới chỉ quen nhau trong khoảng thời gian khá ngắn rồi chia tay, trong thực tế thì sẽ chẳng có đứa trẻ nào ôm mộng mãi về bạn cũ khi đến thế giới mới, thậm chí còn bị bóng hình ai đó ám ảnh đến mười mấy năm sau. PHI LÝ HẾT SỨC!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first watched "5 Centimeters per Second" in the summer of 2017. As the credits rolled I just sat there looking at the screen wanting more. I did not know it yet but I would soon end up in a situation like the movie's main character when it comes to love lost. Fast forward a few years and I discover this book and after reading the first page I knew that this book would give me some of the more that I wanted. The book runs parallels to the movie. Where the first part of the movie is from the Takaki's point of view, the first part of the book is from Akari's point of view. Part two of the book we see Takiki's life on the island as in the movie we see Kanie watching Takaki. Lastly the final part of the movie delves further into the adult lives of the two main characters including more of Takaki's relationship with other women. The last chapter does good showing Takaki moving on from the emptiness in his heart and starting to live again. His positive attitude in these final moments make me believe that the epilogue of the manga ended even better than it already did.

[Abriel Lafiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are satisfied with the anime, then perhaps you might not find this book that outstanding. However, if you are curious about some lingering questions (such as the title itself), or simply other characters other than Takaki, the protagonist, then it won't disappoint you.

The writing is pretty solid in terms of expressing the characters' minds as well as the thematic background surrounding them. While I admit there’re some unexpected bumps out there, mostly regarding how some of the twists played out differently than what I deduced from the anime, compared to the grand scheme of thing, they’re nothing. It’s definitely worth spending 6 hours on this trip to the “other side” of 5cm/s.

In summary, “One more side” successfully fleshes out the characters as well as providing a more polishing approach to the conclusion (I'm sure you'll be surprised when you get there). If you wish to once again experience the "void" that the anime offered, give this one a shot.

[Seeker of Knowledge, may he never succeed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells the universal story of coming to understand love and relationships from adolescence to adulthood. In particular, the characters grappling with moving on from a childish, idealized romance, to healthy realistic adult relationships. Not diminishing the romanticized idea of young love the characters go through, but showing how each character respectively comes to reconcile the loss of that innocence with their approach to adulthood. One, allowing it to strengthen them, and the other, allowing it to eat away at him like a hole that can never be filled.

Below I originally wrote this review of the first segment. It all stands true for the first part of the book.

1. On Cherry Blossoms

With an exceptional first person prose that seamlessly flows between styles, you are carried along for the ride and the text becomes less descriptive, and more immerses you in the thoughts and emotions of Akari. Some fiction buffs may not love this style for being unrefined, but that's exactly what makes it special to me. You ever look back through your own diaries of journals? Many first person novels end up feeling like a resume, a refined memoir meant to clearly portray a sequence of events. This however, is more like discovering a long forgotten diary, and it's unrefined polish delivers the experience of your younger self to you in visceral encapsulation.

Through this, the expansion on Akari's character from the object of desire for Takaki, to the subject of young love deepens the experience of all iterations of this timeless story. In a way, I feel the movie, manga, and novel all support each other and deliver a more layered understanding of this masterpiece.

This adaptation reveals a side of Akari we only saw through Takaki's view in previous iterations. An intelligent, sincere, but anxious girl moving from childhood to adulthood. Her narration and experience puts me back in a place of my youth, where emotions were strong and felt impossible to control, and you start discovering hints at the secrets of the world. Confusing you before they come into view as part truths of a bigger whole.

In Akari, both the experience of youth and the realization of truths that usher one along towards eventual adulthood are exemplified. In the deep emotional passages, she takes a refreshingly philosophical tone at times, and serves as a true embodiment of what this experience was like for children like her and I growing up. Tinged with a mental darkness we thought peculiar to ourselves, long to realize that overcoming these challenges is an essential step in the building of character for us all.

With all this, this beautiful story is told. Although I've yet to read the following chapters, this book is worth it for this first segment alone.

[Lottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and being able to follow Akari and Takaki more in this novel than in the manga. I would definitely recommend you read the manga before reading this as it does introduce the characters, this book is more of an exploration of them and the emotions.
It was truly bittersweet, I loved and hated this book admittedly as it didn't have the end I wanted but in a way that would have made the characters development meaningless.
I believe it was beautifully written when it came to portraying emotions and even those that we can't explain.i enjoyed how this was explored in the point of view of each character and then from a third person nearing the end.
I was a little confused as there were about two or three instances when Akari is called Akane in the book.
I'm a sucker for Japanese highschool teen romance!

[Mèo Nuôi Râu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nói không phải chứ mình thấy bản phóng tác còn hay hơn nguyên tác. Hoặc cũng có thể do mình đã tiếp xúc với câu chuyện nguyên bản trước, còn tác phẩm này lại có một lợi thế là dựa vào cái nền có sẵn và cứ thế phát triển mạch truyện, đem đến nhiều cảm xúc hơn.

Ở One more side ta hiểu tâm lý nhân vật ở một phía khác vào từng thời điểm, có vài đoạn mình không thích lắm, đặc biệt là đoạn đặc tả cảm xúc của Tono dành cho Sumida. Mình đọc vào thấy "trôi" hơn nguyên tác và thấy cảm động hơn hẳn vào đoạn cuối.

Không đến 4 sao nhưng lúc nào từ 3.5 trở lên mình cũng làm tròn. Bản phóng tác do nhà văn viết ra nên câu chữ mượt mà hơn hẳn bản gốc, vốn là do đạo diễn phim chấp bút.

#meonuoirau #5cmsonemoreside #kanoharata

[Mai🥥 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’ll say it- this adaptation had so much more depth than the movie- but i’m so excited to go back and rewatch it with this additional perspective.

Hurt-Comfort-Hurt-Comfort, just like real life.
some parts were so realistic to adulthood compared to the romantic tendencies of childhood innocence that i needed to stop and take a deep breath. thankfully at the end i am left with a sigh of contentment, and feel comforting peace. in weird ways, this book really does teach you not to be afraid of the future, no matter what. it carries a message of hope that many of us need to hear, especially if you are close in age to the main characters.

Makoto Shinkai & Arata Kanoh-
you’ve done it again

it’s currently one am and this is not my finest review but it’s my honest word babble

[Richard Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday I had a dream... One of my favorite anime films.

Makoto Shinkai provided an expansion of Tohno's life after his last meeting with Akari. Aside from that, one of my favorite part was a conclusion for Kanae's story. I was happy she was able to confess to Tohno before he leave for Tokyo.

The novel differs from the film in terms of Tohno's obsession to Akari. On this novel, my perception is that he is more obsessed to solitude and overthinking that he cannot provide happiness to his partner.

Great story for Mizuno (the girl in the glasses in the movie).

The ending stays the same as the film-seeing him smile and moving on from something that has been dragging him down.

[Peter Marendeak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shinkai Makoto nagy kedvencem, viszont a könyv anime-eredetijét réges-rég láttam, és nem is tartottam a rendező legjobban sikerült művének, ezért kíváncsi voltam, ennyi idő után mennyire emlékszem a sztorira, és most hogyan hat rám.
Olvasás közben többször eszembe jutott a No Longer Human Osamu Dazaitól. Itt is az volt a benyomásom, hogy a szerző szinte végig az érzelmekre és érzékekre hatás, valamint a giccs határán táncol, és sajnos ezúttal többször elvéti a lépést. Kiválóan ért a magány, a fizikai- és lelki távolság és a vágyódás ábrázolásához, de mint az anime, egy kicsit ez is elment mellettem.

[Tuyet Lan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mình đã kì vọng hơn thế khi đọc tiêu đề truyện "One more side" - hẳn là sẽ đề cập đến các sự kiện ở tập 1 của truyện theo góc nhìn khác - kì vọng là góc nhìn của nhân vật nữ chính. Nhưng không, truyện đi vòng vèo một hồi rồi lại quay về những sự kiện cũ với góc nhìn cũ ở tập truyện trước - lại xoay quanh cuộc đời nhân vật nam chính.

Nếu ở tập 1 đơn giản là trần thuật lại các sự kiện ở thời thơ ấu, thanh niên và trưởng thành. Thì ở tập này tác giả đi sâu mô tả những diễn biến tâm lí, xúc cảm của nhân vật trong mỗi sự kiện ấy. Cái "one more side" ở đây được diễn giải là góc nhìn nội tâm sôi sục dưới lớp vỏ hành động lãng đãng và thờ ơ.

Mình thấy bộ đôi 5 cm/s này là bản xịn sò hơn bộ đôi Điềm tĩnh và nồng nhiệt. Hai bộ đôi truyện đều đề cập đến mối tình khắc cốt thời trẻ và cảm giác sống mà luôn thấy thiếu vắng ở hiện tại. 5 cm/s có các nhân vật sống động hơn, và đủ cuốn hút để mình đọc đến tận kết thúc. Cái kết mở ở tập 1 đã có sự khép lại đủ hợp lí. Những bứt rứt và đứt gãy tâm hồn đã được giải quyết. Các nhân vật đã có thể tự tin để sống với hiện tại và để hạnh phúc.

Nếu bạn đã trót mua tập 1 truyện này, thì nên mua cả tập 2 để ráp nối thành một bức tranh hoàn chỉnh - đẹp và có chiều sâu hơn.

[Reza · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an easy read; I started it just after reading the "5 centimeters per second". In this book characters aremuch more developed and more details of events have been given.

The narrative of events in each chapter are not sequential which might be good or bad, to the taste of the reader.

If someone new to the movie/book, I would suggest watching the movie + reading this book. Reading the first novel adds nothing to the readers experience.

[David Kreutler · Rating 5 out of 5]

two childhood lovers forced apart in their prime due to relocating both go on to live separate lives hoping to one day circle around back to eachother. thats it. they both separately live their lives and grow up to be two amazing people and never find their way back. an amazing read if you want to be depressed

[Alexander Prynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shinkai is one of my favourite filmmakers, and this is an adaptation of one of his best films.
The first two sections retell the first two episodes of the film, but from the opposite perspective. This gives a fascinating new look at the relationships and story and makes you rethink what its like to be on either side and how much you don't really know about what the other one is thinking.
The final section tells the story of the third episode from both perspectives, but with a lot more detail. There's new characters and it covers a wider time span. This is probably the most interesting section as it's got the most new content.

It's pretty well written and pretty well translated. If you enjoyed the film then you'll enjoy this. If you read this first you wont lose out on anything and then you'll be sure to love the film after.