This 1991 animated adaptation of the cartoons by Okamoto Hotaru and Tone Yuko has gone on to become a representative film of Takahata Isao’s. Taeko is a typical office lady and goes to Yamagata, her brother-in-law’s hometown, for her summer vacation. During her stay there, she meets Toshio, a young man who returned to the country for farming, and they become close to each other. And Taeko recalls her 5th grade days from elementary school. On the way back to Tokyo after the vacation, Taeko realizes what she truly wants. Takahata Isao focused on reality in this film. He portrayed the natural backdrop, a train station and the houses in Yamagata in an extremely realistic manner and paid a great deal of attention to drawing even the smallest parts—like the shape of lips—with the greatest care. Taeko’s memory has the “power of empathy” that reminds the vague memories that anyone would have from their childhood. This is why this film has been buzzed about over and over again. (KIM Ji-seok)