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Rei Kiriyama and the Images of Isolation (Sangatsu No Lion): A Thread
Sangatsu is the in-depth and personal exploration of the mind of Rei Kiriyama. Rei is a discouraged and despondent person who doesn't live life. He survives, he eats and sleeps but, that's it. His troubled past and unhealthy lifestyle causes him to be socially detached and fall
into depressive states. This emotional anxiety, severe lack of motivation and social disconnect culminates in this deep sense of complete isolation and loneliness. Shaft excellently visualizes this loneliness through specific motifs and metaphors that emphasizes the melancholy.
Water is the primary motif seen in the show, specifically seen in OP 1. It efficiently visualizes the angst and chaos in Rei's mind. This oppressive sense of suffocation and drowning, being unable to live life to the fullest. Sinking lower, down to the abyss of depression.
The environmental imagery in Sangatsu is another motif that adds depth and emotional connection to Rei's character. The utilization of wind adds emotional turbulence and violence to certain shots, which parallels Rei's state of mind. Also, one of the more prevalent elements is
the way Rei is framed in the setting of the story. Scenes of Rei walking home, to the shogi hall etc. have him alone with shots of the sky and lonely buildings, emphasizing that sense of isolation. Other shots infuse Shaft's signature style to illustrate Rei's emptiness directly
Another visual metaphor seen is the tonal juxtaposition of the show and how that impacts the visuals. Sangatsu is a balance of a light-hearted family comedy and an honest, emotionally-driven drama. This dichotomy changes the visual style of some scenes which is specifically seen
through the juxtaposition between the Kawamotos' house and Rei's apartment. The Kawamotos' home is usually seen with more vibrant and energetic colours and it's described as a kotatsu. Warm and comfortable, Rei can finally breath and rise out of the suffocating water. But, when
he leaves, the polarity is so much stronger. The apartment's barren and desolate state deeply contrasts the high-spirited Kawamoto house and it is where Rei is dragged back down into the deep waters of anxiety and depression. His only belonging, his shogi table in the middle of
the apartment, along with strewn notes and other garbage is a symbolic shot of his relationship with the sport. An important part of his life and what motivates him to keep going but also, a constant reminder of the misery the sport has caused him.
Through the visuals alone, Sangatsu creates such an emotional connection with the viewer and consistently assists the story, characters and themes through metaphors and motifs. There is such a relatablity to me and the way Shaft masterfully created this show still astonishes me.
