The Garden of Words

Why Watch The Garden of Words

While the play is meant to be a romantic one, the strongest theme here is of ‘lonely sadness’. Makoto Shinkai, shows how the characters, in spite of their wide age difference, are able to bond, demonstrating how adults often feel no more mature than teenagers. Using the rain, Japanese poetry and shoes as motifs, the story follows the pair’s meetings in a Japanese garden, where their mutual need for emotional support blossoms into a subtle romance. They teach each other to “walk”, to be able to fit into society and grow, on their own.
Alexandra Rutter and Whole Hog Theatre continue to produce stereotype defying, anime-to- stage productions. Like the rest of their productions, The Garden of Words will involve a variety of puppetry, movement and projection art and is performed in English, with occasional Japanese.

The Story

Takao Akizuki, an aspiring 15-year-old shoemaker, and Yukari Yukino, a mysterious 27-year-old woman keep running into each other at the local garden, on rainy mornings. Takao, skipping school to work on new shoe designs while Yukari is avoiding work due to personal problems in her professional life. The relationship that they build revolves around the concept of having to “fit” into society, transitioning from largely receiving from society to being expected to give to society, and the struggles that come with it. The trouble begins when Takao learns of Yukari’s identity.

Good For

Teen and Adult Audiences | Fans of the Original Movie | Lovers of Romantic and Coming-of-Age plays