25 minSeason 5 • Episode 13
LatestAfter Sakura left everyone, they all receive a new message on their phones from an unknown sender. The next day the official newspaper club decides to try and start working on the articles for their graduation special, but after considering Sakura, they decide to take a different approach.
Junichi Asakura lives with his adoptive sister Nemu in the crescent-shaped island of Hatsune Jima, a place where cherry blossoms bloom throughout the year. In this island, people have mysterious powers and attributes. For example, Junichi has the power to see other people's dreams, and he was also taught by his grandmother to magically create sweets. One day, Junichi's cousin and childhood friend, Sakura Yoshino came back from America all of a sudden. To Junichi's surprise, she looks exactly the same as the girl that moved away six years ago, and hasn't aged one bit. And she came back to remind Junichi of their childhood promise... It is a bittersweet tale of magic, love, hidden desires, and unattainable dreams.
Production
Eternal cherry blossoms that hit harder than they have any right to
Writing
Visual novel roots mean CHOICES MATTER (except when they don't)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title references a musical term meaning 'from the beginning' — fitting for a story obsessed with returning to childhood promises. The visual novel spawned an entire multimedia empire including 5 anime seasons, multiple games, and enough drama CDs to fill a sakura tree.
Utamaru, the white cat mascot voiced by Haruko Momoi, became bizarrely iconic despite having no narrative function. He got his own merchandise line and internet memes. The 2000s were unhinged.
JP
