What They Say:
The girls finally arrive at the Mt. Fuji Fifth Station. After a hearty lunch, they begin their climb. The path is nice and easy at first, but it’s still a long way to the top of Japan’s highest mountain… less
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
The show did some good stuff in dealing with the anxiety that Aoi was feeling towards the upcoming climb, which is definitely natural and expected. With the girls going for a much larger and more difficult climb than the small things they’ve done so far, and one that involves being a lot more aware and prepared for what’s to come, you have to like that they all reveal different levels of being anxious about it, but also the excitement and anticipation about what’s to come. Particularly after Hinata’s father talked about his own experience and really got them even more interested in what’s to come.
As they get closer to really beginning the true journey, we get some decent little tidbits about the various stations that exist on the mountain and how it works and operates in terms of difficulty. We also get a good look at the tourist side of the place and the various ways you can climb the mountain as they want everyone to be able to do it, which is really good to see. It’s definitely interesting to see the tourist side of the mountain here with all that it offers, from food to souvenirs to climbing materials that people may have forgotten or had damaged for whatever reason on the journey there. And, of course, the wide area where people begin warming up for the journey ahead. It’s got a busy but pleasant atmosphere about it that’s really fun tio see.
With several routes to take, the girls are taking the Yoshida route and detail their plan for the climb, the stations they’ll see and the rest period they intend to take along the way as they adjust to the elevation. The friendship aspect of this is, of course, a bit part of things and it’s good to see the way they’re all so excited and happy. As the climb becomes a little more challenging, that means supporting each other well as they move to the higher elevations and cope with it. This is, of course, the main theme of the show, but it’s really wonderful how they reinforce it almost regularly without it feeling like you’re being beaten over the head with it.
In Summary:
The climb begins and it works really well here with what it does. By focusing a lot initially on the way the mountain is set up in terms of routes, stations and then even more with the touristy side along the base with all that it offers, you get a fully realized place that the girls inhabit before they begin their climb. So it feels all the more real as we get them moving up and have the great views from their positions. The challenges are just starting and we’re also getting a feel for that through Aoi, which is no surprise, but in the end it’s all about the progress and camaraderie as they continue their ascent. This series continues to be utterly charming.
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Sony KDL70R550A 70″ LED 1080P HDTV, Apple TV via HDMI set to 1080p, Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver and Panasonic SB-TP20S Multi-Channel Speaker System With 100-Watt Subwoofer.
