OVERLAY REPORT

The main character of Studio Ghibli’s **"Only Yesterday" (1991)** is **Taeko Okajima**. The film follows her as a 27-year-old unmarried office worker in 1982 who takes a vacation to the countryside of Yamagata to help with the safflower harvest. During her journey, she is "haunted" by memories of her 10-year-old self in 1966, leading to a dual narrative that explores her growth and self-discovery. Her most memorable lines reflect the film's themes of nostalgia, the struggle of maturation, and the search for an authentic life. ### 1. The Chrysalis Metaphor > **"To be a butterfly, a caterpillar has to become a chrysalis first, even if it never, for a moment, wanted to become one."** **Context:** This is arguably the most famous quote from the film. Adult Taeko realizes that her 10-year-old self is accompanying her on this trip because she is once again in a transitional phase. She compares the awkward, often painful process of growing up to the pupa stage of a butterfly—a necessary but uncomfortable period of stagnation before a transformation. ### 2. The Fractions and the "Why" of Life > **"Even now, dividing fractions is difficult."** **Context:** In a deep conversation with Toshio (a local farmer), Taeko reflects on a childhood memory where she failed a math test because she couldn't understand the logic of dividing fractions (specifically why you "flip" the second fraction). This line is a metaphor for her adult life; while others simply "flipped the fraction" and moved on, Taeko struggled because she needed to understand the *reasoning* behind things. It highlights her introspective and sometimes overly cautious nature. ### 3. Finding a "New Way to Fly" > **"Perhaps my fifth-grade self is trying to tell me to try to find a new way to fly."** **Context:** After reminiscing about her first "crush" and the feeling of being light enough to fly home, adult Taeko realizes she has been "flapping her wings" in Tokyo without actually going anywhere. This line marks her realization that she needs to change her life's trajectory to find true fulfillment, eventually leading her to choose the countryside over the city. ### 4. The "Weather" Conversation > **Hirota:** "Rainy days, cloudy days, or sunny days? Which do you like?" > **Young Taeko:** "Cloudy days." > **Hirota:** "Me too!" **Context:** This occurs during a memory of her childhood interaction with Hirota, a boy from a rival baseball team. It is a pivotal, heart-fluttering moment of connection. For Taeko, the realization that someone else shared her seemingly "boring" preference for cloudy days made her feel seen and understood. The scene ends with her literally "walking on air" and floating over the sunset in a dreamlike sequence. ### 5. On Being a "Good Girl" > **"I'm just pretending to be a good girl."** **Context:** Taeko confesses to Toshio that she often feels like a fraud. This line captures the internal conflict of many adults who feel they are still just children playing a part to satisfy societal or familial expectations. It shows her vulnerability and her desire to finally stop "pretending" and start living for herself. ### 6. The Philosophy of Persistence > **"If today’s no good, you’ll have tomorrow. If tomorrow’s no good, you’ll have the next day."** **Context:** This line is a recurring sentiment (often associated with the film's broader philosophy) about the patience required for personal growth. It emphasizes that healing and finding one's place in the world is not an overnight event, but a series of small, persistent steps.