English Dub Review: Konohana Kitan “The Spring Rain Brings With It”

Spring rain in November?

Overview:

This time, we are introduced to a porcelain doll rumored to be possessed. Her name, despite the doll protesting it, is given the name Okiku.

After being introduced to everyone, Sakura decides to give the poorly animated doll a haircut that goes further than South. Satsuki eventually takes the reins on the beautification of Okiku with help from others at the Inn.

During the course of the episode, we find that the doll wasn’t so much possessed but given life because of why she was made. We are given a glimpse of her sordid past, and one can’t help but feel for the animated doll.

While delivering Onigiri to a guest named Miss Iori, Yuzu is asked to stay and sing. It also seemed a way for the guest to relieve a little bit of loneliness. Like Satsuki, though, she feels it necessary to compete with her sisters on some level.

Our Take:

The way the episode started, I thought the focus would be on the “possessed” doll. It turns out shared emotions are what this ended up being about. I was pleasantly surprised by the episode. It was well-written and reminded me of older anime with a similar tone.