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A thread on the authenticity of Kiriyama Rei’s struggles in Sangatsu no Lion Season 1
(S1 spoilers only) #3nL
(S1 spoilers only) #3nL
Life can be unfair. Due to a variety of circumstances, people don’t always have the liberty to choose what they want to do, and live off their talents for the sake of survival.
Sometimes, you gotta do whatever you’re good at, even if it doesn’t make you happy. #3nL
Sometimes, you gotta do whatever you’re good at, even if it doesn’t make you happy. #3nL
I think Sangatsu gets that idea across very well with Rei. Due to his parents passing away when he was a child, he is forced to choose a path based on his talent, rather than what he wants, a common occurrence in reality. #3nL
The path he’s forced to take isn’t an easy one either; like many people in real life, he chases a profession practically chosen by his family, and faces a lot of pressure to live up to his adoptive father’s expectations. #3nL
Although he’s under more pressure than the usual person, he’s facing struggles that many of us do in real life, like doing stuff out of necessity rather than happiness & the pressure of expectations around you. #3nL
It’s not hard to imagine that the fact that your life feels out of your own control can get to you, and this manifests in Rei as depression. Depression makes people even more unsociable, which adds to his list of troubles. #3nL
We see these struggles depicted realistically as he grows up, but the struggle I love & resonate the most with is his fight with depression, and how realistically it’s put on display. #3nL
One thing I love about this series’ depiction of depression is the aspect of stagnation.
Rei’s acceptance of stagnation is done brilliantly and accurately depicts what somebody would see in someone suffering from depression. #3nL
Rei’s acceptance of stagnation is done brilliantly and accurately depicts what somebody would see in someone suffering from depression. #3nL
Speaking from experience, there are times where you reach something in life, but you have no vision of the future ahead. No goals or wishes, just a desire to stay right where you are.
Rei’s become a pro-shogi player, but there’s no desire to become something more. #3nL
Rei’s become a pro-shogi player, but there’s no desire to become something more. #3nL
He’s reached something, but he’s ok with where he is; he’s reached a point where he can comfortably survive, but doesn’t go beyond that. The mere goal of surviving can be enough for someone depressed, and Umino does well in getting this across through Rei. #3nL
In addition to that, when your goal is strictly to maintain the status quo, you don’t really care about going above it, which is shown through Rei not caring much about a win. It’s just maintaining what he has; that’s all there is to it. #3nL
But when that status quo is threatened, like a loss for Rei, feelings of negativity and pressure come crashing down. You don’t feel happiness with a positive achievement, but hell rains down on you when there’s a negative.
Speaking from experience, this is so so accurate. #3nL
Speaking from experience, this is so so accurate. #3nL
So if he feels nothing when he wins, and doesn’t enjoy shogi, what keeps him going? The basic human need to survive. When we have nothing, the only thing driving us is the subconscious need to secure a future for ourselves. #3nL
Umino personifies this need as a beast.
I think Rei’s a really good example of what we as humans will do to survive regardless of the circumstances. The only thing driving Rei through this depressive slump is the need to survive. #3nL
I think Rei’s a really good example of what we as humans will do to survive regardless of the circumstances. The only thing driving Rei through this depressive slump is the need to survive. #3nL
Umino also does well in showing you how feelings of self-hatred can manifest themselves when you feel someone nearby has the qualities that you lack. Nikaidou has all the social skills and passion for shogi that Rei lacks, which Rei’s painfully aware of. #3nL
Through my own experiences, I see how well and intricately written Rei’s struggles are, and I just wanted to share that a little bit.
That’s just one aspect to one character in the show, there are many others that have an incredibly human feel to them.
Sangatsu GOAT #3nL
That’s just one aspect to one character in the show, there are many others that have an incredibly human feel to them.
Sangatsu GOAT #3nL
