5 Centimeters per Second
Episode 1
Hey...
It's five centimeters per second.
What is it?
The speed of falling cherry blossom petals is five centimeters per second.
Yeah?
You know so many things, Akari.
Hey, they look like snowflakes.
You think so?
Hey.
Wait up.
Akari.
Takaki.
I wish we could see the cherry blossom together next spring.
Cherry-Blossom Story
Dear Takaki Tono, how have you been during these months?
This place I'm living now,
we have much more comfortable summer.
However, I find myself missing the humid summer of Tokyo.
Melting-hot pavements, shimmering skyscrapers,
and the freezing-cold air-conditioning on trains.
The last time I saw you was at the elementary school graduation.
It's been half a year since then.
Hey, Takaki,
do you still remember me?
Dear Takaki,
I was so happy to get your reply.
It's autumn already and the leaves are turning red beautifully.
I had to pull out a sweater from my closet yesterday.
Takaki.
Hi.
Reading a love letter?
Oh, no it's not.
-Sorry I couldn't help you. -No problem.
I heard that you're moving away.
At the end of the school year.
-Move to where? -Kagoshima. Dad's being transferred.
I'll miss you.
I've been busy with school so I'm writing this on the train.
I had my hair cut the other day.
It's so short that my ears show. You wouldn't recognize me.
-I'm home. -Hi, Mom.
You too must be changing gradually.
Dear Takaki, how are you in these cold days?
We've already had some snow here.
Every time it snows, I have to bundle myself up to go out.
I'm sure it hasn't snowed in Tokyo yet.
I always check Tokyo's weather even though I don't live there anymore.
I wish it'd rain.
It'd be hard in the gym too.
Guys, have you ever been to Tochigi?
Where?
-Tochigi. -Never.
Know how to get there?
I don't know... On the bullet train?
It must be far away.
-Back to practice! -Right away!
I was surprised to hear that you are moving away from Tokyo.
Since we were kids we were both used to move.
TrainSchedule
But Kagoshima is so far away. It's a big move.
This time you're moving far away.
I can't just jump on a train and see you.
I already miss you just to imagine you will be so far.
I just hope that you'll be fine wherever you are.
Dear Takaki.
I'm so happy we'll see each other on March 4th.
It'll be exactly a year since we last met.
It's funny but I feel nervous.
There's a tall cherry tree in our neighborhood.
When the spring comes,
the petals will fall at five centimeters per second.
How I wish the spring would
come along with you on that day.
March 4th, itinerary.
Meet Akari at 7 pm.
Takaki.
Club's begun.
Yeah...
I won't be coming today.
Getting ready?
Yeah. For the move.
It is so nice of you coming all the way to my town.
Be sure to have a safe trip. It's a long journey.
As we planned I'll meet you at 7 at the station.
On March 4th, it started to snow in the afternoon.
Look over there, Takaki.
It's Chobi the cat.
This is the one that's always here.
He's alone today.
Where's your friend? Aren't you lonely?
How do you like the book?
I like it. I've read 4 billion years of evolution.
-Which chapter? -The Anomalocaris.
-The Cambrian. -The Cambrian.
I love the Hallucigenias. They look like this.
Oh, nice try...
What's your favorite?
The Opabinia.
The one with five eyes?
As I look back, Akari and I resembled in many ways.
One year after I'd moved to Tokyo,
Akari joined in my class.
We weren't physically fit so
we preferred to be in the library.
We got close to each other naturally.
And it caused our classmates to tease us.
But it didn't matter much to us because of the friendship we had.
Takaki and Akari, just married!
For some reason, I just assumed that we'd be going to
the same junior high.
That we'd be always together.
Shinjuku terminal station.
Be careful of the gap when you step off the train.
I had never come to Shinjuku alone.
Any point beyond there would be unknown to me.
My heart was pounding.
I was going to meet Akari.
How did it go with that guy?
-Which one? -The Nishi-High boy.
He's gross.
We'll soon arrive at Musashi Urawa station.
There'll be a four-minute stop at Musashi Urawa.
Passengers heading to Omiya, please change to the express line.
This is Akari Shinohara.
Can I speak to Takaki please?
It's Akari.
You're moving?
But you've been accepted at Nishi Junior High.
I'll go to a school in Tochigi.
I'm sorry.
There's nothing for you to apologize for.
I asked if I live in my aunt's place in Tokyo.
But everybody objected because I'm too young.
Alright. Don't tell me anymore.
That's enough.
Sorry.
I held the receiver tight against my ear.
I could feel her pain directly through the phone.
But I didn't know what to do.
The terminal station was filled with the commuters heading home.
Every shoe was soaked with snow and dirt.
The air
was cold with the odor of wet concrete.
The next train bound for Tochigi is delayed
by eight minutes due to weather conditions.
Until that time, it never came to my mind
that the train could be delayed.
Suddenly anxiety grabbed me.
Due to snow, this train is ten minutes behind schedule.
Once the train passed the Omiya terminal,
there were very few buildings in sight.
The next stop is Kuki.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
This train will stop here 10 minutes as part of the rescheduling.
We apologize for the delay. We'll keep you updated.
Sorry, sir.
This train will stop here 10 minutes as part of the rescheduling.
This is Nogi.
This train will stop here 10 minutes
as part of the rescheduling.
We apologize for the delay.
The stations seemed unbelievably far apart.
And each stop seemed to take an unbelievably long time too.
Nogi
Oyama
Iwafune
The unfamiliar wilderness covered by snow outside the window,
and time passing slowly, and the stomachache caused by hunger,
all of which made me feel insecure.
It's already past 7.
She must've started being concerned about me by now.
To Akari
On the day that Akari called me
she must have been more anxious than I.
But I couldn't reassure her.
I was deeply ashamed of myself.
♪ On graduation day We must part with dear friends ♪
Well.
This is good-bye.
I received the first letter from her six months later.
During the summer,
I read it over and over that I got it by heart.
I wrote her a letter
that had taken me two weeks to complete.
There are just so many things that I wanted to tell her.
So many things to share with her.
Thank you for your understanding.
The train will now resume service.
This is Oyama.
Passengers for the bullet train change here.
Meet Akari at 7 pm.
All trains on the Ryomo Line
are delayed due to snow.
All I could do was
to get to the station where she was waiting for me.
The local service is arriving at platform 8.
Please don't stand too close to the edge.
Due to the heavy snow,
trains are temporarily out of service.
We are currently unable to determine when we can continue service.
I repeat,
due to the heavy snow, trains are temporarily out of service.
We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
Dear Takaki, how are you?
I've been busy with school so I'm writing this on the train.
Whenever I read her letters I pictured her alone.
For the next two hours the train
stayed in the middle of nowhere.
Every minute dragged by.
Each moment felt heavy with obvious evil intent.
I could feel the time slowly creep over me.
All I could do then was
brace myself and grit my teeth to force back my tears.
Akari.
Please don't wait.
Please...
I wish you had gone home already.
Iwafune
The local service is arriving at platform 3.
The train will not depart immediately due to the heavy snow.
Akari.
This is good.
It's just regular tea.
I've never had this kind before.
I'm sure you have.
-Are you sure? -Of course!
I made this for you. I can't guarantee how it tastes.
Have some if you want.
Thank you.
I'm very hungry.
How is it?
I've never had anything so delicious before.
You are exaggerating.
I'm serious.
It's just because you're hungry.
You think?
I'm sure it is.
I'll have some too.
When will you move?
Next week.
So you'll soon be in Kagoshima...
-It's so far away. -It is.
Today I learned Tochigi is quite far, too.
It is. You can't go home now.
We have to close up. There're no more trains.
Sorry.
Take care, it's snowing heavily.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
Can you see the tree?
The cherry tree?
Yes, it's the one I wrote about.
Hey...
They look like snowflakes.
They do.
At that moment,
everything seemed to become clear about the eternity, the spirits and the souls.
I felt as though I'd shared all my experiences with her.
And the next moment,
I became unbearably sad.
I felt desperately sad because I didn't know
what to do with the affinity I felt with Akari.
Or how to maintain those sentiments.
At that moment I understood that we'd never be together.
The weight of our lives ahead,
the uncertainty of our future hung over us.
Soon,
my misgivings began to dissipate.
It melted away with Akari's soft lips on mine.
After that,
we spent the night in a tiny shack by a field.
Wrapped up in an old blanket, we talked for a long time.
Until we finally fell asleep.
The next morning as train services resumed,
we said good-bye on the platform.
I...
Takaki...
I think you'll be...
You will be okay. I know you will be.
Thank you.
Take care of yourself.
I'll write to you. I'll call!
I didn't even mention the letter I lost.
Because after we'd kissed...
To Takaki Tono
...it seemed like the whole world had completely changed.
I had a strong desire to have enough power to protect her.
That was all I could think about.
As I gazed absently out the window.
Episode 2
Cosmonaut
-Going to the beach later, Kanae? -How about you, sis?
-Sure. Don't forget to study too. -I won't.
Ready.
Good morning, Kanae.
Hello, Takaki. You're early again.
You too. Did you go to the beach?
Sure did.
You're practicing hard.
Yeah, it's going okay.
See you later.
Later.
It's time to decide on your career path.
Get this to me by Monday.
Think it over with your parents.
Future prospects questionnaire
Sasaki will apply to a university in Tokyo.
I'll only be able to get into a junior college.
How about you, Kanae?
I don't know.
Will you get a job?
Maybe.
You never get bothered about anything.
Except Takaki Tono.
I bet he has a girl back in Tokyo.
He does not!
Having a bad day again?
I can't figure out what's going wrong.
Don't look for reasons, you'll be fine next time.
You're so easygoing, sis.
What's the big rush?
I can never tell him...
Thanks a lot.
I'll ride you home.
Oh, no thank you. I'll take my scooter.
Going home, Kanae?
Yes. You too?
Let's go together.
If I'd had a tail like a dog,
it would have shown my happiness so obviously by wagging so hard.
How lucky I wasn't a dog.
What an idiot I was to think like this!
Anyway,
the ride back home with him made me so happy.
Right from the beginning Takaki seemed somehow different from others.
I'm Takaki Tono.
I'm used to moving but I'm not used to this island yet.
We were in the 8th grade. I fell in love with him at first sight.
I studied hard to get into the same high school as him.
The more I see him, the more I love him.
It's been painful.
I was scared but happy.
My feelings are always out of control.
Same thing again?
It's so good.
You always take time to choose.
-I'll wait outside. -Okay.
I'll have this.
90 yen.
-Here. -Come again.
Hi, there. What did you get?
I ended up with the usual.
Takaki's often writing e-mails.
I couldn't help wishing that he was writing to me.
Every time I saw it.
Cubbie, I'm home.
Have you been a good boy, Cubbie?
The Nokyo Gas station is on Sunday duty this week.
Kanae Sumida of class 3-1.
Report to Mr. Ito in the counseling room.
Hey, that's your girl.
It's not like that.
Future prospects questionnaire
You are the last to turn this in.
I'm sorry.
Why's it so difficult to decide? Just make up your mind.
What did your sister advise you to do?
Well...
If it's that hard to decide, just try some junior college.
But...
My sister has nothing to do with this matter.
I can't even surf,
even though I nagged my sister to teach me.
I can't even get close to someone I like.
I can't do anything right.
Come again.
Thanks. Bye.
When Takaki's nearby,
I get this tight sensation in my chest.
Takaki.
Kanae, how did you know I was here?
I saw your scooter, so I stopped by. Do I bother you?
No! I'm glad you came.
I didn't see you at the parking lot.
I know.
Takaki is so nice
that it makes me want to cry.
Are you thinking of going to college?
Yeah, the one in Tokyo.
Tokyo. I thought so.
Why?
You look like you're on your way out of here.
How about you?
I don't even know what I'm going to do tomorrow.
I guess nobody does.
You don't either?
Naturally.
But you seem to know exactly what you are doing.
No. I get lost all the time.
I'm just doing what I can. That's all.
Are you...?
Really.
Future prospects questionnaire
Paper plane?
Yes.
National Space Development Agency of Japan
Incredible.
It's towed at five kilometers per hour
to the launch facility.
Really.
We'll get to see the first launch this year.
It's going to the furthest point in the solar system.
Taking many years.
I want you to give Kanae advice on her future.
She'll be alright. She's not a kid anymore.
I was just like her at her age.
Listen Cubbie, Takaki's not sure about his future either.
He's just like me.
It must be
the journey lonelier than anyone can imagine.
Cutting through the darkness,
without even encountering an atom.
Flying blindly to clear the mystery of the Universe.
To that end how far should we go...?
And how far can we go...?
I dreamt I was with a girl on a planet.
Save message?
No.
I wonder when I started writing messages that I never send.
Have you decided on a career yet?
Not yet. But it's clear to me now.
I'll just do what I can.
As typhoons passed by the island,
it became cooler little by little.
The wind that blows across the sugarcane field
got cooler and the air crispier.
The outlines of the clouds got softer.
School kids on scooters were wearing jackets now.
On a October day, warm with the residue of summer,
I rode a wave for the first time in six months.
Tonight's forecast is clear with winds of 29 km per hour.
Yamada told Sasaki that he likes her.
Unbelievable.
Did something good happen to you, Kanae?
With Takaki?
-Did you tell him? -Did you tell him?
I will today, for sure.
I'll tell Takaki how I feel.
I got lucky and surfed well.
If I miss this chance, I'll never be able to tell him.
Kanae.
Takaki.
-Going home? -Yes.
Good. Why don't we go together?
Oh, have you decided already?
What's wrong?
Don't be so...
What?
Nothing.
It's nothing.
Won't it start up?
Something's wrong.
No good?
Looks like the spark plug is dead. Was this your sister's?
Yes, a hand-me-down.
-Did you have trouble accelerating? -I guess.
Let's leave it here and pick it up later.
I'll walk with you.
I can walk by myself. Go on without me.
I don't mind walking.
Besides, I feel like walking.
Takaki.
Please...
What's wrong?
Sorry, it's nothing.
Sorry.
Kanae.
Please,
don't be nice to me anymore.
Desperately reaching for the sky,
that massive object shooting up,
looking into the far distance and beyond.
I understood why Takaki was different from the rest of us.
I realized that
he was always looking at something far away.
He can't even see me.
With that realization I couldn't tell him that I loved him.
Takaki is certainly nice.
He's nice indeed.
But he's always looking
past me. At something far beyond me.
I guess my wishes will never come true.
I know that.
But I still won't stop
loving him. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
I fell asleep crying
thinking about Takaki.
Episode 3
I felt strongly that
she'd look at me if I turned round at that moment.
The last train to Tokyo station is arriving.
Why don't you stay for New Year?
I want to but I have a lot to do.
That's right. Cook something nice for him.
I will.
Call us anytime you need to, Akari.
Don't worry. I'll see you again at the wedding next month.
You'd better go. It's cold.
I dreamt about my childhood last night.
When he and I were young.
I guess it's because of the old letter I found yesterday.
To Takaki Tono
You've got mail.
Takaki, it's been a while.
I wondered if I should contact you or not.
Message sent
-Risa. -Yes?
The meeting.
Coming.
Even if I do nothing, sorrow gathers around me.
It is everywhere. On my sheets, toothbrush.
And on my cell-phone, too.
I still love you.
That's what she wrote. The girl I've been with for 3 years.
She wrote, "We must have exchanged 1000 e-mails.
But our hearts only got closer by one centimeter."
For the last few years,
I've been reaching out without knowing what I was aiming for.
I don't know what obsessed me to be so driven.
I buried myself in my work.
I could feel my heart was dying little by little.
One morning,
I noticed that my beliefs didn't matter to me anymore.
I knew I couldn't go on anymore.
So I quit my job.
♪ How much more pain should I endure? Before I can see you ♪
♪ One more time I pray for the seasons to stand still ♪
I had a dream last night.
A dream of a long-lost past.
We were still 13 in the dream.
We were standing in a field covered with snow.
We could only see a few lights in the distance.
On the snow-covered ground, there were only our footsteps.
We believed that--
We would see the cherry blossom fall together.
Without any doubt--
We both believed so.
♪ Everywhere I am I look for you ♪
5 centimeters per second
♪ I look on platforms And in windows from alleys ♪
♪ Knowing I'll never find you there ♪
♪ If my wish comes true I'd go straight to you ♪
♪ I'd do everything I ever wanted to do ♪
♪ I'd hold you with all the power I have gained in my life ♪
♪ Anybody can help me Forget my loneliness ♪
♪ But it has to be you Because the stars are so bright ♪
♪ One more time I pray for the seasons to stand still ♪
♪ One more time ♪
♪ I want to go back To those carefree days ♪
♪ Everywhere I am I'm always looking for you ♪
♪ At the intersection In my dreams every night ♪
♪ Knowing I'd never find you there ♪
♪ If I could perform a miracle I would show you how ♪
♪ I am different now On this new morning ♪
♪ I'd tell you I love you Though I never could before ♪
♪ Memories spin round and round ♪
♪ I can't even hear my heartbeat In the silence ♪
♪ Everywhere I go ♪
♪ I look for you ♪
♪ Every morning In the town of Sakuragi-cho ♪
♪ Knowing I'd never find you there ♪
♪ If my wish comes true ♪
♪ I'd go straight to you ♪
♪ I'd do everything I'd ever wanted ♪
♪ I'd hold you with all the power I have gained in my life ♪
♪ Everywhere I look I always look for signs of you ♪
♪ Even in newspaper columns ♪
♪ Though I know I won't find you there ♪
♪ If I could perform a miracle I would show you how ♪
♪ I am different now On this new morning ♪
♪ I'd say I love you Though I never could before ♪
♪ Everywhere I look I always look for your smile ♪
♪ At the crossing Waiting for the trains to pass ♪
♪ Knowing I'll never find you there ♪
♪ If I were born again ♪
♪ I'd come to you ♪
♪ For there's nothing I want in this world ♪
♪ Besides your love Nothing else matters ♪
VOICE CAST
Takaki TONO: Kenji MIZUHASHI
Akari SHINOHARA: Yoshimi KONDO / Ayaka ONOUE
Kanae SUMIDA: Satomi HANAMURA
STAFF
Storyboard / Original Character Design: Makoto SHINKAI
Key Animation Director / Character Design: Takayo NISHIMURA
Background Art Director: Makoto SHINKAI
Background Art: Takumi TANJI / Akiko MAJIMA
Coloring: Makoto SHINKAI
Camera / Edit: Makoto SHINKAI
Sound Director: Makoto SHINKAI
Voice Director: Yuji MITSUYA
Music: TENMON
Arranger: Toshio OKAZAWA
Main Theme Song "One more time, One more chance"
written and performed by Masayoshi YAMAZAKI
Production: Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films
Producer: Noritaka KAWAGUCHI
All rights reserved by: Shinkai Creative
CoMix Wave CoMix Wave Films
Director / Orignial Story / Screenplay: Makoto SHINKAI
THE END