English Dub Review: Dagashi Kashi “Homerun Bar, Fireworks Festival, and…”

Prepare to cry and learn ice cream trivia.

Overview (Spoilers Below)

The fireworks festival is coming up, and Saya wants to make sure Kokonotsu invites Hotaru along for the festivities, the prospect of which has Koko all hot and bothered. He’s just about to go find her, when of course, she’s already out front, deliberating which “Home run” ice cream bar she wants to eat. With a calculating gaze, she chooses the one and goes on one of her charming lectures about the history of home run bars and how they give out prizes if you’re lucky enough to pick a bar with a winning popsicle stick.

Their lighthearted ice cream banter soon gets a bit more intense, as Koko gussies up and asks Hotaru if she’d like to come see the fireworks with him. The awkward teenage tension is valuable, with Hotaru enamored at the prospect of spending time with just the two of them. So they’re off, but because they miss the bus, Koko has to have Hotaru hitch a ride on the back of his bike. Meanwhile, Saya and Tou are waiting for them at the festival, with Saya visibly bummed that Koko hasn’t arrived yet.

Koko pedals as fast he can to try and make it to the fireworks festival, but underneath the surface, he’s panicking. He didn’t tell Hotaru that they were going to the fireworks as a group and not just the two of them, and the poor boy can’t understand why he would lie about such a thing. Hotaru, sensing Koko’s distress, jumps off the back of the bike and asks that they take a break from the journey.

Later, the sun has set. Hotaru and Koko stare out at the sea, enjoying the beautiful summer’s evening. Its a rare moment of intimacy between the two, as Hotaru remarks on how much fun she’s had this summer and how much she’s enjoyed her time with Koko. The romantic tension sets in. Koko, unable to stand it anymore, tries to confess to Hotaru, but is interrupted by a poorly timed firework exploding over the ocean. The two are enraptured by the splendor of the fireworks; Hotaru smiles and gives Koko the popsicle stick from her home run bar earlier. Just as things are settling down, Hotaru jumps Koko, grabs him by the collar, stares deep into his eyes, and commands him to keep the stick, so that she doesn’t lose it. Koko’s heart nearly jumps out of his chest, thinking that Hotaru was about to kiss him. (Who wouldn’t) Staring off into the fireworks, Hotaru asks Koko a favor: to ask Saya and Tou for forgiveness for keeping Koko all to herself this evening. With her trademark coy smile, she walks off into the night.

The next day, Hotaru is nowhere to be found, which Koko things are just because of the rain. But as the days go by, Hotaru’s absence is more and more a realization that she’s left town. The weather changes and Koko realize he may never see her again.

Later, Koko is at Saya’s cafe, and Saya notes that she hasn’t seen Hotaru in a while, and asks if she’s no longer in town. A sullen Kokonotsu replies that he’s not sure. As he walks home, the harsh setting of the sun upon his back, he thinks to himself that summer is almost over, and winter is nearly here.

Our Take:

Dagashi Kashi has only ever been a cute, funny little character comedy emitting the faintest of blips on my anime radar. I’ve always enjoyed it for what it is, but never expected it to find its way into the depths of my romantic heart. Here is an excellent story of love lost; of tension, passion and a bit of tragedy in the absence of someone who makes life worth living. In only 11 odd minutes, this episode has astounded me with its good writing, scene building, and sincere expression of a young man’s conflicted self in the face of his special person. Well done, Dagashi Kashi, now if you’ll excuse me, I need a tissue.

Score
9/10