Synopsis:
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(source: Wikipedia)
This three part yaoi story spans the war torn era when the Japanese turned from a Shogunate to Imperial rule and entered trade with the rest of the world (1862-1869). While the story unfolds historical dates and important figures are given while the characters give even more bits and pieces of this period during dialog.
Episode One: Edo Love Song starts in 1862, second year of the Bunkyuu Era, in Shinagawa Gotenyama during the Expulsion of Foreigners movement started by the Chōshū (Choushuu) clan of which Kusaka Touma is a member. Kusaka differs from his clan believing in peace and opening Japan up to foreigners where it can do trade and stand with equal footing on the world stage, the Open the Country movement. While trying to stop other Chōshū clan members from setting fire to the British Embassy, Kusaka is confronted by a Bakufu (Shogunate) samurai who helps he and a comrade, Aizawa, escape from the authorities.
Years later, while trying to find a school that will teach him English despite his clan's political stance, Kusaka once again meets the samurai who had saved his life. No longer in the employ of his Town Magistrate father, Akizuki Keiichirou goes to English school. Recognizing each other, Akizuki eventually offers to teach Kusaka English. Having been raised in an upper class home, Akizuki takes pleasure in learning more about the common class lifestyle that Kusaka has always led while they learn English in secret as their clans cannot see them together without creating conflict. Despite their precautions, one of the Chōshū sees them and Kusaka has to stop meeting with Akizuki.
Episode Two: Record of Ezo War starts with Kusaka thinking about cutting ties with his clan when the Head Administrator, Sufu Masanosuke, offers to send him to London to learn about the West. Before leaving, Kusaka meets with Akizuki one last time and tells him his feelings. Both Kusaka and Akizuki consummate their newly discovered relationship. While Kusaka is in England, Akizuki gains the leadership of his clan and its immediate association with the Shogun. After four years, Kusaka returns to Japan and receives a high ranking post in the Imperial army. It is during this time that Japan is in the midst of the greatest civil war Japan has known, the Boshin War, with Kusaka on the Satsuma-Chōshū (Imperial) side and Akizuki on the Bakufu (Shogunate) side. During one of the last battles, Kusaka finds Akizuki about to commit seppuku after having lost a leg to cannon fire. Upon being seen by one of his comrades aiding Aikizuki, Kusaka kills him, leaving his lover in some form of shock.
Episode Three: Tokyo Tragedy starts four years later with Kusaka working for the new government, wearing Western style clothes and living in a Western style home. In a private Japanese cottage behind the house, he keeps Akizuki in secret. Relations between the two lovers have broken down as Akizuki cannot stand being kept in hiding in comfort while his fellow Bakufu comrades suffer in prison, and wants to kill himself.
Eventually Aizawa, now an officer of the new law, discovers their relationship. He confronts Akizuki, leaving him with a tanto (short sword). A while later, it seems things between Kusaka and Akizuki are being patched up; yet a small group of police going through Kusaka's home, led by Aizawa, interrupts one of their moments. Kusaka runs back to the house, engages in a brief argument with his former comrade, and returns to the cottage only to find Akizuki missing and a suicide note on the futon pillow.
Akizuki pulls himself along the snow-covered ground, Aizawa's tanto in hand, stopping in front of a tree split into four trunks. After a brief reminiscing, he kills himself; Kusaka finds him a short while later. Opening the pouch around Akizuki's neck, he realizes that Akizuki was carrying around the shell of the cicada they saw about eight years earlier. Kusaka takes the tanto from Akizuki's hand and commits suicide as well.
I got a lot of time in my hands right now so I decided to clean my computer files and I discovered that I still haven't watched a lot of the videos I've downloaded.
One of which was Winter Cicada.
I already read the manga and I knew what would happen. But I never thought that hearing the voices of the actors (which was very good... I totally felt the emotions...) would make me be so into the OVA.
It was so....so... so.... GAH!!! I can't find the right words...!! Though I can say I cried so much.. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing..!! It was sadder compared to the other asian dramas I've watched... Sadder than 1 Liter of Tears even.. (which is kind of irrelevant except for the death part...but still..)
I can feel Akizuki's sadness and Kusaka's grief as they were parted. And the last part.... GOD!!! I bawled my eyes out!! I wanted to wail so much but then the people were asleep so I had to keep my voice down.. My eyes were puffy but i just kept on crying and crying....
It was so heartbreaking...
HEARTBREAKING DUDE!!! SOOOO HEARTBREAKING!!! I FELT THE HURT!! I FELT THE PAIN!!
*coughs*
Okay...
The love story was so overwhelming as well... Two people in love who tried to their best to nurture it. Only problem is, with the state of Japan during those times, they should have been enemies, not lovers... and especially that they were both men... Love doesn't choose anyways.
I love Akizuki so much!! He's the stern, polished and disciplined type of man but in the arms of Kusaka, he turned like jelly (hehehe... jelly..) and pushed his worries aside for him.
Kusaka on the other hand had to do the thing he hated the most in order to protect Akizuki, drawing his sword and soaked it with blood.
At that point Akizuki, still in love with Kusaka, hated himself for changing his lover and only wished to die in honor of his comrades, his samurai blood, and for Kusaka.
I mean really.... this OVA is so dramatic, romantic, tragic, and loving all in one... Various emotions can be felt.. If some of you haven't seen it yet... well... WATCH IT!!! Just be sure to have tissues prepared coz you don't want to soak your shirts (like I did...)
My favorite lines from the OVA were:
Akizuki: If it weren't this age, we also might have been able to be together..
Kusaka: I'm sure that age will come.... A day when we can be together, without being captive to our social status or clans..
Akizuki: Then, until that day comes.. I wish I could sleep like this cicada does..
Kusaka to Aizawa: "You restoration patriots fought to create a country that's convenient for you, the Bakushins fought to create a country in which they could survive, and I fought to protect him and create a world where I could live together with him!"
Kusaka holding the knife to himself: "Akizuki-san... Yes, you're right... Until that age comes, we can be like the cicada... and sleep...
