A story set in the mid-1800's about a young doctor who has been trained in Western-style medicine and a young samurai who is trying to live up to the old traditions of his class and culture. The story is actually based upon real people - the doctor, Ryo-an, was Tezuka's great grandfather.
During the Second Year of Ansei (1855) in Edo's Koishigawa are two young men, Manjiro Ibutani and Ryoan Tezuka. Ibutani is a low-ranking samurai who is a gifted swordsman and has a straightforward and strong sense of justice. Tezuka has a more carefree attitude. He has an eye for the ladies, but he is passionate about becoming a doctor. The two opposite characters come of age during the backdrop of the turbulent end of the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868 CE).
(Source: AnimeNfo)
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ZephSilver
The final death throes of the Tokugawa Period as seen through the eyes of a doctor and samurai. Ryoan Tezuka, a well-meaning and occasionally lecherous medical practitioner who's embraced the advancements of Western medicine, and Manjiro Ibutani, a staunch traditionalist indoctrinated in the way of the samurai, whose ascetic lifestyle and approach in upholding Japan's core values are placed in jeopardy as the world continues to march forward without him. A healer of life and one who takes it. A career path whose future prospects can only point towards exponential growth, while the other finds itself in a precarious predicament, where decades of peace havenot only dulled the blade of its forces but, in the face of the Industrial Revolution, which has not only disrupted the conservatism that defines the ethos of the land but outright threatens to replace it altogether, marks the beginning of the end for many ways of life as it had been known for centuries. It's a showcase of class struggle and personal beliefs set against the weight of a nation in transition; for the land of the rising sun, it would mean the last glimmering light of an old era as it sets to give rise to one better equipped for the uncertainties of the century ahead.
There's a patience and considered approach to Hidamari no Ki that feels last century, where most of its character interactions and narrative development occur at a pace befitting the material it's set in, where the period piece it's covering is made to be equally as important as the way they choose to let it unfurl. An art of storytelling that's mostly lost in the streaming era, where expedience takes precedence. It only makes sense then that this title is all but forgotten. So quaint that for many viewers, it may just be knocking at the door of antiquation. That being said, there's still a good deal that it has to offer, with its softer impressions reminiscent of World Masterpiece Theater content and means of conventional storytelling, which at this point has been mostly phased out to where, in hindsight, feels slightly unconventional when viewed through a modern lens, not only granting it a second wind but making it passively enjoyable, in a lazy Sunday kind of way. I'm not sure you can even market something like this today and expect, with any good reason, that it will be successful; however, that doesn't mean there isn't something here worth discussing. That something is less about what it chose to cover and more about how it does it.
Unlike most historical anime, many of its chronicled events tend to occur at the periphery of our characters' lives or, in some cases, absent from their direct involvement with it, largely due to the fact that these leads aren't major historical figures. There are only a handful of proceedings where they have hands-on involvement. And because it covers so many key incidents that occurred during this time, if someone were unaware of the specifics, it creates a baseline unpredictability with its narrative direction. Unlike narrative fiction, real life is often disorderly, lacking the poetics and theatricality of fictionalized drama. Of course, the show still relies on these storytelling tropes to weave in-between the spaces that are propped up by these significant landmark moments of history, but because these occurrences have already existed and can't be ignored, at best, its author Osamu Tezuka, could only reverse engineer the minutia surrounding each crest and trough of documented happenings. Long story less long, Hidamari no Ki can often be a slice-of-life thr(ch)ill ride.
On top of that, their plausible involvement never extended beyond what their professional placement or personal upbringing would allow. Significant historical events may alter the overall paths of their lives, but the day-to-day conflicts, ambitions, and small victories remain immediate and personal. For Ryoan, that meant dealing with the antipathy of Eastern medical practitioners whose unscrupulous political maneuvering and xenophobic stance towards vaccinations and other Western practices meant his physician father, Ryousen, and other like-minded pro-western medical activists having to navigate the inherent dangers presented by being outspoken at a time when American merchant ships that docked the shores were viewed by many as a corruptive force, threatening the preservation of the country's cultural purity. It also meant witnessing his metamorphosis from a more chipper, womanizing, wayward personality to someone who would acquire far more discipline and commitment to his craft when faced with the realities of his profession and what it means to be a doctor: to hold someone's life in your hands. As for Manjiro, the intrigue of his character arc and involvement with the story, besides the obviousness of cool-ass samurai action, is that, as a viewer, I sympathized with what ultimately drove his character. While both men stood as analogs for the show's themes of inevitable change in the face of stubborn, prideful stagnation, his story was unequivocally the more tragic of the two. His pride in his country and its culture wasn't based on bigotry but on pure intent. He can relate to the average Japanese of that time because he was one of them. As Hidamari no Ki, Tree in the Sun, stood as a metaphor for this long-lasting period of prosperity and pride for one of its most significant eras, Manjiro ostensibly came to represent its last hopes. A dying remnant that kept fighting, clinging on desperately. To preserve an era defined for its economic stability and relative peace for its citizenry. An era often romanticized, but understandably so. As we witness his growth and journey through the military ranks, the unavoidable changing of the guards, as already marked by history, means either surviving by severe compromise to his core beliefs or trying desperately to uphold a way unsustainable in an age of revolution.
This approach ensured that both lead men and their supporting cast remained endearing throughout, a rare, mostly-adult cast at that, which reflected in its sensibilities and handling of the content. Content that was so considered that some of its more impactful instances had little to do with the history around them and more with the quieter, "insignificant" moments, such as a family member passing away from old age or someone making a full recovery from an illness. And because almost all the characters in the series were adults, it opened the door to more meaningful topics. Commentary that's self-critical to its country, in a way many anime would advert from, not because it disparages outdated social customs, but because it presented it in a way normalized for its time. Sexwork accepted as a transactional exchange, like any other part of daily life, yet the glass ceiling placed upon its female participants meant limited career mobility; often, at best, becoming the den mother or, rarer still, head of their own pleasure quarters. The delicate political dance carried out between men with power, often full of pride, and allowed to carry swords—the outcome inevitable. You really feel like you're witnessing the passage of time between real people's lives. And in circumstances where a side character may not be as detailed, their stance is at least documented.
Hidamari no Ki tells a story of a Japan ravished by civil unrest and disease but also pauses and looks around long enough to appreciate the ephemeral beauty that has made the Edo period so iconic in pop culture's lexicon. It feels lived in, and with a steady hand, traces the various characters and locations it brings to life, making for a soothing, bittersweet story of decay. The Tree in the Sun, proud and graceful, comes to an end, but its heritage lives on.
PowerUpOrDie
Shortly after watching the mediocrity that is 'Angolmois' I see 'Hidamari No Ki'- and find just what I was looking for in a historical fiction anime. STORY Adapted from a manga written in the early 80's by the 'God of Manga' Osamu Tezuka, 'Hidamari No Ki' takes place during the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when Japan rapidly transitioned both politically and culturally from the medieval to the modern world. For an American example, you'd have to compare this era to the Civil War in the way it both defined and fundamentally changed the nation, and in the amount of weight it carries in the nationalconsciousness. It's a period that has inspired countless fictional works, and in some respects 'Hidamari No Ki' is just bit too much like those other works. Anyone who has seen films like 'The Last Samurai' or 'When the Last Sword is Drawn' will recognize the tropes and themes at work here, particularly the tension between between affection for the 'old' Japan despite its flaws and the necessity and benefits of a 'new' Japan. This anime trods a well-worn path that prevents from breaking out and becoming truly its own thing, but it's still a well written historical drama.
ART & SOUND
Sound is OK. The OP is a piano piece with a somber gravitas that excellently conveys the tone of the series and sounds a bit like something out of 'Princess Mononoke', but both ED's are a bit of a miss. They both have this upbeat, late 90's sound that's just a mood-breaker. The Japanese voice acting is solid. The art, oh the ART. *This* is why I love animation from the last years of the cel era, when the artform had reached its peak, right before being swept away by the modern tide of digital animation (which is strangely similar to the STORY of 'Hidamari No Ki', but I digress). As a point of comparison between two historical fiction series, how is that this series is 20 years older than 'Angolmois' and made with less advanced technology- but still looks better? The backgrounds are gorgeous and detailed, characters are well designed and animated, multiple types of lighting are used which significantly change the color palette. I'd put this series up there with 'Cowboy Bebop' and 'The Vision of Escaflowne' in terms of just how good it looks.
CHARACTERS
In the evolution of a species it is not the strongest or fastest or largest members who have the best chance to survive, but those who are best able to adapt. This is a theme among all the characters- those stuck in a feudal era mindset don't do well in Japan's rapid transition. Sometimes it's gratifying and sometimes it's tragic but it's always consistent. The main characters do have a somewhat shopworn main 'schtick' - the carefree rule-breaker who needs to grow up a bit vs the uptight and overly serious stickler who needs to let loose a bit- but they do it well. Ibuya Manjiro is particularly compelling as we watch a genuinely good and upright man struggle between his convictions and a world that values those convictions less and less- will he find a way to make a honorable compromise with the modern world, or follow the traditional way of the samurai to the end? The character writing isn't perfect, there are one or two characters who are built-up but then quietly fade from the story with no real conclusion to their arcs. But 'Hidamari No Ki' still has solid, well-constructed characters.
OVERALL
A soundly written (if not *entirely* original) historical drama coupled with excellent animation. Historical fiction fans need to put this one on their shortlist of titles to watch.
fatedblizzard
Review: 7/10 - Definitely Worth Watching I originally decided to watch this series due to it being written by Osamu Tezuka (Creator of series such as Astro Boy, Hi no Tori, and Black Jack). I have not read the manga, so this review is completely ignorant of the original source material and is only my opinions based upon watching this series. I ended up enjoying this series quite a bit; even though so far their isn't any positive reviews on here. A large part of why this series isn't being shown the love it deserves is due to it only recently being subtitled by the community. Story- 8:
The plot revolves around two friends, one who is a samurai and retainer; while the other is an established western doctor. This takes place in the days of the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Approx. 1850). Although the the main characters Ryouan, and Manjiro are fictional, the story-line tells historical events properly and accurately involving the time period. The story can be summarized into two main points for the most part: 1. A feud between western and eastern doctor ideologies apparent to the time period and 2. Various struggles within the clans involving the samurai Manjiro.
Art - 6:
There is nothing spectacular about the art, the series aired around 2000 so the art/visuals may look a little older. However this fact doesn't ruin the overall enjoyment factor.
Character - 8 :
The two main characters are Manjiro (Samurai) and Ryouan (Doctor). They both have enjoyable features that distinguish them apart. Manjiro is a straight-forward, honest person who is often too honest for his own good. While Ryouan, is seen messing around with numerous females such as at brothels; and is the type you are to take less seriously.
I recommend giving this show a watch; if you are able to come upon it.
