[Commentary] Why Kazuya Didn't Give up on Chizuru's Dream
Hi! Are you enjoying Kanokari? I'm Korakuone, the self-proclaimed number one Kazuya fan in Japan. This is the first time I'm going to talk about Kazuya.
As the second season of the anime reached its final episode, many viewers may have felt his "growth" and "change" when they saw Kazuya proposing crowdfunding to Chizuru in order to make her dream come true. After that, there was probably not a reader who was not moved by Kazuya's efforts to cheer up Chizuru after Sayuri's death.
Kazuya, who at first was showing his lame and whiny face because of his lingering feelings for Mami, has now changed to the point of making a movie for Chizuru's dream. He finally became more like a main character. He is so cool. Because of this transformation, some people say that Kanokari is a story about Kazuya Kinoshita's "growth".
But wait! Wait a minute!
Then, can you explain what changed in Kazuya after he met Chizuru? Can you explain what specifically "grew" in him?
Through experience and training, people are able to do more, think differently, gain self-confidence, and find goals. That is what people call "growth. For example, Sumi-chan started renting a girlfriend to overcome her shyness. At first, she was too nervous to even greet people, but Kazuya and Chizuru encouraged her and she gradually became able to smile at customers, hold hands, and do other "girlfriend-like" things. For example, in Dragon Ball, whenever a strong enemy appeared, Goku trained and devised ways to fight and became stronger. This is "growth.
No one will be able to answer what "growth" Kazuya has achieved. This is because Kazuya is not growing.
Kazuya has not "grown" since that day when he rented Chizuru Mizuhara for the first time. Even after the encouraging date, he is still extremely depressed if he thinks the person he loves hates him, he is not confident in himself, and he is not able to say what he wants to say. It is not as if he has acquired any special abilities through the rental. The character of Kazuya Kinoshita itself has not changed.
So what has changed since he met Chizuru? I would like to talk about that this time. That is the real reason why Kazuya was even able to make a movie for Chizuru.
Why Kazuya Didn't Give up on Chizuru's Dream
Why was Kazuya even able to make a movie for Chizuru? The answer is simple. It is because he fell in love with Chizuru Mizuhara
◆I'M SORRY, BUT. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME RENT YOU ONE MORE TIME!? (2)
After Kazuya introduced his rental girlfriend Chizuru to his family as his real girlfriend, he even threatens her halfway and asks her to be his girlfriend again. From Chizuru's point of view, this is a big nuisance. At first glance, he appears to be self-centered and a bum who can't correct his lies. He would not look like someone who would even make a movie for someone else in the future.
But if you look at this and say Kazuya is selfish, then you don't know what he is. Kazuya is already a very kind person at this time. There is just a limit to the kindness he can give and the target of his kindness is not Chizuru but his family.
◆AND GOD HAS ONLY ONE DREAM... FOR ME TO FIND A NICE GIRL BEFORE SHE PASSES. (1)
AND GOD HAS ONLY ONE DREAM...
FOR ME TO FIND A NICE GIRL BEFORE SHE PASSES.
When Kazuya first met Chizuru, she was just a rental girlfriend, a stranger to him. She is not an important person. On the other hand, his family is very important to him. Especially important is his grandmother Nagomi. She has taken care of Kazuya since he was a little boy and even runs the store. It is Grandma Nagomi's dream that one day her grandson Kazuya will have a wonderful girlfriend, and Kazuya couldn't help but lie to her because he wanted to see her happy. The reason why he was able to bow down to Chizuru and ask for her help so much was because he did not want to see Grandma Nagomi disappointed when he revealed the lie to her.
Certainly, it is wrong to keep lying and threatening Chizuru. Kazuya himself knows that (that's why he apologizes and thanks Chizuru every time). Still, his motive for going to such lengths is nothing more than "kindness" toward those he cares about.
Through their relationship as rental girlfriend and customer, Kazuya gradually gets to know Chizuru Mizuhara. He is attracted to Chizuru Mizuhara, who does not give up on him as a scum and pathetic person, and who puts his family and his own feelings first more than anyone else.
◆Kazuya jumps into the sea to save Chizuru. (14)
When Kazuya finds out that Chizuru has drowned in the sea, he does the complete opposite of what he has done before. He jumps into the sea, even if he's ignoring his promise to Mami, whom he loves very much. Kazuya, who had given Chizuru a lot of trouble when they first met, is able to do so much for her simply because Chizuru had already become an important person to him by this time (Chapter 15).
◆Awareness of love. (16)
The next day, Kazuya realizes that this feeling is "love" (Chapter 16).
◆IT'S YOU... I WANT YOU! (49)
Kazuya then sees Chizuru persuading Mami to face him (Chapters 49-50), is moved when he sees Chizuru shining on stage (Chapters 51-52), and learns that Chizuru has a dream to show Sayuri how she looks on the screen (Chapter 61). Through these events, he becomes increasingly attracted to Chizuru, who is kind and determined to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.
Before Kazuya knows it, Chizuru has become the best "girlfriend" for Kazuya, who is very talented, works hard every day toward her dream, is dazzling and cool, scolds him for his bad behavior, and puts him and his family first.
◆AND YET... AT THE TIME LIKE THIS, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP THEM. (98)
AND YET... AT THE TIME LIKE THIS,
THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP THEM.
When Kazuya learns that Grandmother Sayuri has little time left to live, he worries about Chizuru, who has lost her beloved family and will be left all alone (Chapter 98). He looks around for a way to make her dreams come true. It is not because Kazuya Kinoshita's character has changed or grown in any way that he is able to care for her so much. It is simply because he loves Chizuru Mizuhara and does not want to see her sad when her dream does not come true after all her efforts.
Kazuya has always been portrayed as someone who can believe in dreams and aspirations like a fool (Chapter 13, from the Kibe talk) and who can work hard to protect what is important to him. The only thing that has changed is that Chizuru Mizuhara has become important to Kazuya. Although he may be pathetic and unsure of himself, Kazuya Kinoshita is by nature a kind, straight-forward, and wonderful person.
So, that's how I explained about Kazuya. Well, as a Kazuya fan, I can't help but see only the good parts of him, and I think I don't care about his bad parts. So forgive me for that lol.
It sounds good to say that it is a story of "growth," but I dared to deny it and wrote this article because I didn't want you to put Kazuya's drama away with such a simple word. Kanokari is not a drama in which Kazuya meets Chizuru and "matures" mentally or in terms of his abilities. It is a drama in which Kazuya falls in true love, tries his best for the girl, and finally achieves happiness. I want you to notice how his love for Chizuru grows, how he cares for her, and the inner drama of his heart until he decides to confess his feelings to her.
See you in my next post!