Regarding the perspective in 'Cosmonaut,' Episode 2 of '5 Centimeters per Second': Why did Makoto Shinkai tell it entirely from Kanae's point of view, and how would the story's tone and depth differ if told from Takaki's?

This is an exceptionally insightful question that strikes at the very core of 5 Centimeters Per Second's narrative structure. Makoto Shinkai's decision to adopt Kanae Sumida's perspective entirely for the second chapter, Cosmonaut, was nothing short of a stroke of genius. This choice not only avoided narrative repetition but also profoundly enriched the film's themes and emotional depth.

Had it been told from Takaki's perspective, the entire story would have become flat, monotonous, and stripped of its unique tragic beauty.

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Why Kanae Sumida's Perspective? – The Triumph of the "Observer"

Adopting Sumida's perspective offers at least four significant advantages:

1. Objectively Revealing Takaki's "Stagnation" and "Emptiness":

   • The Gaze of the "Other": Through Sumida's eyes, we no longer see Takaki's rich internal monologue, but rather a concrete, observable "actor." We see him always alone, always gazing into the distance, always distracted. Sumida's perspective acts like a mirror, objectively, even somewhat cruelly, reflecting the "absence" within Takaki's soul.
   • The Truth of "Kindness": The "kindness" Sumida perceives in Takaki is a polite yet distant kind. The truth of this "kindness" is only truly convincing and poignant when presented by someone (Sumida) who longs to be close to him but can never reach his heart. From Takaki's perspective, he would only tell us how much he misses Akari, and we would never learn how this longing "hurts" others in reality.

2. Constructing an Independent, Tragic Case Study of "Unrequited Love":

   • Cosmonaut itself is a complete and moving story. It tells of a girl who musters a lifetime's worth of courage for a secret crush, only to choose to give up with dignity upon facing reality. Sumida's surfing, her confusion, her struggles—all resonate deeply with countless viewers who have had similar experiences.
   • This story forms an intertextual relationship with the main narrative of Takaki and Akari: Sumida's feelings for Takaki mirror Takaki's feelings for Akari—both represent a futile effort to gaze upon distant stars (the cosmonaut/Akari). This profoundly deepens the film's themes of "missed connections" and "distance."

3. Using "Concrete" Imagery to Reveal "Abstract" Emotions:

   • The Surfing Metaphor: "Kindness alone isn't enough." Sumida learns from surfing that facing life's big waves (also symbolizing love) requires more than just kindness and waiting; it demands strength, timing, and unwavering courage. This metaphor perfectly annotates Takaki's "stagnation."
   • The Cosmonaut Imagery: The massive rocket hurtling at incredible speed towards the endless void, pursuing a target so distant it's invisible. This perfectly externalizes Takaki's inner state—his soul, like that cosmonaut, is on a solitary journey chasing a long-departed "Akari-star." This imagery, voiced by the observer Sumida, carries far more poetic power and impact than if spoken by Takaki himself.

4. Building Emotional Energy for the Third Chapter's "Climax":

   • The second chapter "distances" the audience from Takaki's inner world. We see his loneliness, sympathize with his situation, but are not completely immersed in his perspective. This restraint and use of negative space make the appearance of the adult Takaki's despondency and numbness in the third chapter all the more impactful. The audience naturally connects the innocence of the first chapter, the emptiness of the second, and the despair of the third, forming a complete emotional descent curve.

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What if it Were Told from Takaki's Perspective?

Had the second chapter been told from Takaki's perspective, the story's tone and depth would have been significantly diminished:

1. Narrative Repetition and Monotony:

   • The story would become Takaki's "soliloquy." We would hear him endlessly repeating the longing already expressed in the first chapter. This constant internal monologue would dilute the emotional intensity, causing audience fatigue rather than heartbreak.

2. Flattening of Character:

   • Takaki would become a mere "love-sick youth," losing his complexity. We wouldn't see his unintentional harm to those around him (Sumida), nor grasp how his "soul-displaced" loneliness is perceived externally. He would appear more like a self-pitying teenager than a tragic figure trapped by memories.

3. Loss of Key Symbols and Metaphors:

   • Crucial imagery like "surfing" and the "cosmonaut," if voiced by Takaki himself, would feel forced and contrived. It is precisely because they come from an observing, lovestruck girl that they feel so natural, pure, and powerful.

4. Diminished Emotional Impact:

   • The entire story would become a straight line from "longing for Akari" to "continuing to long for Akari." The current structure is "Takaki longs for Akari" -> "Sumida loves the Takaki who longs for Akari" -> "Adult Takaki is lost because of his longing." This multi-perspective structure clearly has far more layers and emotional tension.

Conclusion

Makoto Shinkai's choice of Sumida's perspective is an incredibly clever "strategic retreat." He temporarily steps away from the protagonist's inner world, yet from a broader dimension, he more profoundly depicts the protagonist's plight while simultaneously creating another equally heartbreaking parallel story.

This elevates 5 Centimeters Per Second beyond a simple first-love story, transforming it into a group portrait depicting the "universal loneliness and missed connections of adolescence." It is this exquisite narrative structure that etches that slow, relentless, and indelible scar into the hearts of countless viewers.