“In the Cold War era of an alternate history, the Soviet Union has taken control of the northern island of Japan and cut it off from the rest of the country. Just south across the strait, a boy named Hiroki is fascinated by the mysterious tower the Soviets have constructed on the unreachable island, and he and his friend Takuya decide to build a plane that will take them over to see it. As they work, a girl named Sayuri becomes a part of their lives and the promise to one day fly to the tower. But when she disappears without a trace, their promise I left unfulfilled-possibly forever.” (Yen Press)
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Exploring the delicacy and wonder of the ‘informative years', Arata Kanoh builds a wonderful testament to the work of Makoto Shinkai with a novel adaptation that speaks to the emotional profundity of the source material. As a result, “The Placed Promised In Our Early Days” allows for an introspective look into its subjects that give the book a unique identity. This is best explored in the theme of obsession with the ‘tower' that frames their childhood desires to learn more about the world. As both Takuya and Hiroki's perceptions of the landmark change with their life spent away from each other, it exists as a defining feature that frames their friendship and desires. Consequently, Kanoh gives a great depth to this fascination that turns from wonderment to resentment.
Overall, the prose of Kanoh has a nice flow in balancing thoughtful self reflections and the character interactions. Kanoh's words have a weight to them can capture the importance of how the small things in life can leave a strong lasting impact on us. Undeniably, the book thrives as a cathartic experience for anyone who has ever felt the burdens that can come with youth. Thankfully, this strength outweighs the one hindrance in when comparing to the source.
In comparison to the anime work of Shinkai, the subsequent novel adaptation offers a mixed experience. Specifically, Shinkai's work in anime has become known for a lyrical flow that allows the emotional impact to remain consistent when touching on more fantastical elements. Sadly, this transition is stark in the novel and lacks the visual flow afforded to the anime. It is unfortunate that the flow of emotional narrative feels uprooted when exploring these elements, but it does not trump the expressive style of Kanoh that is the main focus of the release.
The book itself comes in hardcover with a removable dust jacket with the pages themselves carry a nice off-white color that gives the impression of age. As a result, the book extends its sentimental narrative into its presentation which makes it feel lived in, one that has had multiple reads. Yen Press definitely put consideration into presentation, with the only hindrance coming from small text which would be the main reason to choose digital over physical (if readers struggle with finer print).
“The Placed Promised In Our Early Days” does not quite capture the same consistent poetic flow of a Shinkai production, but does offer a deeper emotional journey into its subjects. For those who fell in love with the work of Makoto Shinkai, his mastery of balancing romanticism and tragedy, the novels' ability to expand on these sentiments will make “The Place Promised In Our Early Days” a cherished addition to any collection.
