The first protagonist of Garden of Words is Takao Akizuki, a 15 year old guy with all the marks of the normal Highschool student. However he dreams of becoming a shoe maker. For a Japanese student, this is an unusual career choice, right? That is partly why Takao is not very dedicated to school. We actually meet Takao when he decides to go to a peaceful place to sketch shoes instead of attending class.

At first we are tempted to believe Takao is rebellious and spoiled, but as the movie progresses, we notice a pattern. When Takao wants something, he goes after it. He practices shoe making in a patient but constant way. This is reflected in his room, which, although tiny, has a corner dedicated to sketches and tools. Also, in the school scenes, Takao is observant of his surroundings and peers. In short, the guy is a serious teenager.

So, when Takao reaches the garden where he plans to sketch shoes, he finds a woman sitting in a covered bench while it rains. Yukari Yukino (the name of the woman) is drinking beer and eating chocolate while wearing formal wear. This is at the time when adults are supposed to work, so the encounter is a little bit odd. Besides that, Yukari recites some peculiar words before leaving the place with a whimsical smile. Just what was that?

If you have never been in love, you might not know that such feelings can be awakened all of a sudden. There is no rational explanation for it. Apparently, Takao found Yukari charming enough to be curious about her. The rainy atmosphere must have helped a little, right? You have noticed that vision is not very clear when it rains, right? In sum, Yukari is a fascinating mystery for Takao, who becomes determined to know about her identity.

Actually, the garden where Takao and Yukari meet is a real Japanese style garden. It is called Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and it is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The traditional style of such gardens is structured in a way that most of “the outside” environment is hidden from view. Makoto Shinkai stated that the production team filmed real life scenes in the garden as reference for the movie backgrounds. That is how the garden also becomes a character that links the couple together. Thus, Takao and Yukari have the perfect hideout in lush surroundings.

Nope, we don’t have passionate kisses. We don’t even have much of touching in Garden of Words. What we get is daily life actions and a few key conversations. Words are very important in this story, especially when Takao finds the ancient poem that answers Yukari’s cryptic words. And how about when he tells her that he wants to make shoes for her? As a craftsman, this is the epitome of Takao’s love symbolism. Everything Yukari and Takao say to each other rings as natural and pure as the rain that falls around them.

The big part of the Garden of Words is that two individuals who apparently have nothing in common, find harmony in each others company. We can see both are at different crossroads. Takao is on his final years in high school, a time when he has to decide which career to pursue. We can only imagine how much experience Takao has in love matters, because apparently, Yukari is his first love. Thus, as a craftsman, his efforts in making a pair of shoes worthy of Yukari can be interpreted as a coming of age action. This is Takao’s entrance into adulthood.

As for Yukari, she has been bullied at her work place and is so depressed that she cannot find the will to move forward with her life. When we see Yukari’s apartment the first time, we notice it is a mess. But as Yukari’s encounters with Takao at the park become more frequent, we notice a little bit of order entering in her life. It even reaches a point where, when Takao visits her apartment, it is neat enough for them to cook and pass some time together.

Going back a little bit with the story, when Takao finds out that she is a literature teacher at his school, he is shocked at first. But when another student makes malicious comments about Yukari, Takao stands up for her. This is a stark contrast with the verbal support she receives from a fellow teacher by telephone. The only person we see openly defending Yukari, is none other than Takao. This also shows that he is maturing thanks to her.

Nevertheless, the climax of their time together is when Takao confesses to her and she rejects him. He leaves Yukari’s apartment but she runs to reach him. Then, in the middle of the storm, Takao recriminates Yukari for her cowardry and lack of openness. Yukari accepts that her attitude was wrong and that Takao showed her that. After that… no more rain. Takao and Yukari now fully understand each other. They helped each other to mature!

So everything is nice and well in this movie until this point, right? Well, in the end we see Yukari transfer to another school, where she continues her teaching career. Takao barely pass his university entrance exams but keeps making shoes. The couple keeps in touch with each other through the winter. By spring, Takao finishes a pair of shoes for Yukino and leaves it at the garden, while he vows to go to look for her someday.

The end for the story was fitting, as Garden of Words can be interpreted in several ways. People who are more oriented towards society values might be tempted to say this was a fleeting love story, a nice coming of age that would be left as a warm memory. Meanwhile, people who believe love conquers all would like to toy with the idea that Takao and Yukari eventually got together. Either way, most fans would be pleased, as they can create their own ending.