Barakamon: Exploring Calligraphy in Remote Small Town Gotou Island

“Your calligraphy is just like a copybook.”

The director of Calligraphy honestly told Handa, the grand champion, as he critiqued Handa's art which won the grand prize award during an art exhibition in Tokyo. Out of outrage and unacceptance over his workmanship, Handa punched the old man on the face causing the old man to fall down the floor.

Then, he was skirted off to a remote island named Gotou in Kyushu Prefecture to cool his head off.

A Tokyo born city guy, Handa Seishuu, the protagonist, arrived at the deserted airport in the far-off Kyushu island. The airport was clean of passengers except him who was waiting for the village chief to fetch him back to the village but was nowhere to be seen.

He spotted an old man driving an old automobile and got himself hitched to the village. The old man dropped him off by the seaside where Handa couldn’t admire the beauty of the sea.

Handa beyond surprised finding
Naru under the sink

Handa met the village chief and he was given the keys to his temporary residence, a secret base hangout of two teenage girls. As he checked around the house, he got himself a surprise upon finding a naughty five-year-old kid named Haru hiding under the sink. She didn’t want to leave the house and pestered Handa with her mischiefs.

Handa who wanted to be alone and preferred no company except his own to concentrate on his calligraphy was in for a surprise as he settled down in this simple but not-so-quiet neighborhood where people easily barged in to his house and let themselves be comfortable while displaying their local hospitality.

Barakamon is a twelve episode anime adaptation directed by Masaki Tachibana and produced by Diomedéa. It is based from the manga of Satsuki Yashino. A mini character illustration called Mijikamon was also made before each new episode lasting for less than two minutes. 

While the illustration of the character itself is seinen type and the local setting drawn in regular fashion, what is considered captivating about this anime is how the story is delivered and presented. Following a simple story line combined with comic scenes and conversation, the anime presented how life in an island is lived and enjoyed.

It started by introducing an accomplished yet introverted young artist caught in a calligraphic crisis where he has to find his own style and mature while trying to adapt in a community that he was not accustomed to. As he find his deeper self and seek his own style of calligraphy inside the island, Handa also learns the value of friendship he found among young kids, especially with Naru while teaching the teenagers his art of calligraphy and sharing his own philosophy in life. 

Handa Seishuu was voiced by Daisuke Ono. He did a wonderful job eliciting the gentle manly voice of Handa. Handa is a sheltered young man that grew up with a father who is also a calligrapher. As a child, he wasn’t easily sociable as his school life mainly concentrated on calligraphy and exhibits that he had to join. He is very focused when it comes to work but gets easily down whenever his work is criticized. He actually moped when he lost the grand champion title to someone new. Plus,he gets easily scared, too. As the anime progresses, Handa's personality changes along the way.

The anime is enlivened with Naru's presence, the boisterous young girl voiced over by Suzuko Hara. I like listening to her directly honest and very lively girlish voice. She is so cute to listen to. Naru Kotoishi has a very open personality. She speaks her mind without hesitation. She is my favorite character in this anime. Her simplicity and “only play” thinking veers Handa away from sulking when he is down. Her simple presence brings comfort and fun and in her little way, she gets more appreciated by the people around her, especially Handa.

Opening theme song "Rashisa" by Super Beaver delivered a laidback country feel that is shown in the anime. It's gentle and lively melody shares likeness to the opening themes of Chihayafuru. Ending theme "Innocence" by Noisy Cell also evoked the same laidback country music, slower but upbeat with a determined melody delivering its song about hope.

Join Handa with Naru as he get himself along with the people in this distant countryside and live among them, appreciating simple country living while growing deeper as a calligrapher. 

Do your best strokes in kanji, ciao!