A deceptively sweet and straightforward story—especially in the context of other, more fantastical anime—Only Yesterday gently, but profoundly, explores questions of memory, identity, and purpose. Adapted from a 1982 manga, the story follows a single, 27-year-old office worker named Taeko who takes a vacation to visit friends and family in the countryside. With time to let her mind wander, Taeko drifts back to memories of when she was a slightly unusual 10-year-old, awkwardly negotiating a first crush, sibling rivalries, and the specter of puberty. Director Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya) delineates past and present by leaving the frames of Taeko’s memories unfinished, so that the blank edges bring to mind a watercolor still in progress. Meanwhile, the adult Taeko (delicately voiced by Miki Imai) registers as a delightfully odd duck—comfortable and confident in her singlehood, yet still gawky around other adults. When Taeko develops a natural rapport with a young farmer (Toshiro Yanagiba) while finding contentment in a temporary job picking safflower, your heart warms to think that this young woman—a bit of an outsider since childhood—may have finally found a place in the world that deserves her.
(7/4/2025)
