Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora with the subtitle looking up at the half-moon (半分の月がのぼる空, also known as "Hantsuki"; literally meaning The rising half-moon in the sky) is the title of a romance series written by Japanese author Tsumugu Hashimoto centering around two kids of 17 in the hospital and the love they begin to share.
| Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora | |
| File:Hanbunlogo.gif Hantsuki logo | |
| Genre | Romance |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Tsumugu Hashimoto |
| Anime | |
| Directed by | Yukihiro Matsushita |
| Studio | Group TAC |
| Manga | |
| Written by | B.Tarou |
| Published by | Media Works |
Hantsuki is presented in several different media types. It first began as a seinen novel series that were first serialized in Dengeki HP. Later, an anime was adapted from the novels which first aired in Japan on the WOWOW television network on January 12 2006 and finished with a total of six episodes. Also, a manga series began with the first volume being released on February 27 2006. Finally, a drama CD was released with the 34th volume of Dengeki HP. Finally, a live action drama of the series was done by TV Tokyo and ran from Oct-Dec 2006.Official Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora Live Action Drama Site
The story is based in Ise-shi, Mie Prefecture as evidenced by the "Welcome to Ise" sign shown on the opening movie to the anime.
Plot
Template:Spoiler The story of Hantsuki focuses on the budding relationship between Yūichi Ezaki and Rika Akiba. Both teens are hospitalized in Yūichi's home town hospital for their respective conditions. Yūichi has hepatitis A which can be cured with rest, while Rika has problems with a weak heart valve that can only be cured with a risky operation. These teens would then fall in love while they spend time with one another.
Characters
Hospital patients
- Yūichi Ezaki
- A 17 year-old, second year, high school student who is hospitalized for hepatitis A. He notices a beautiful girl, Rika, in the east wing of the hospital (reserved for patients with serious conditions) and is later encouraged by the nurse, Akiko, to befriend her. Yuuichi got Rika angry with him when he didn't read Rika's favorite book but Rika said she would forgive him if Yuuichi did whatever she said. Eager to gain that forgiveness, he agrees. As they spend time together, Yuuichi falls in love with Rika and willing to risk it all just to be with her.
- Rika Akiba
- Rika is a 17 year-old girl, but has been hospitalized throughout most of her life due to a problem with a weak heart valve that also affected her father and ultimately killed him. Due to this prolonged hospitalization, she has not been able to make friends easily and spends a lot of her time reading books by her favorite author, Akutagawa Ryunosuke. She also seems to like Yuuichi but hasn't really said anything on the matter. She also has a close relationship with Dr. Natsume which is a source of tension in her relationship with Yuuichi.
- Yoshizou Tada
- A perverted old man who has an enormous pornography collection that he amassed during his stay in the hospital. He advises Yuuichi to go after Rika if he loves her because he will regret it if he doesn't. Tada then says he was stupid and lived a life of painful regret because he did not go after the person that he loved. Upon his death, he left his porno collection to Yuuichi.
Hospital staff
- Akiko Tanizaki
- The nurse that tends to Yuuichi. She's a tough woman who won't hesitate to hit Yuuichi or make fun of him when he deserves it but she has her tender moments and she truly cares about her patients. She particularly cares about the relationship between Yuuichi and Rika because she understands that Rika might not have much time to live any more.
- Goro Natsume
- The doctor that is in charge of Rika's care. He used to take care of her at another hospital but was transferred to the one in Yuuichi's town. Rika then transferred to the same hospital so that he could still be her physician. He harbors some feelings for Rika and he tries to sabotage Rika and Yuuichi's relationship claiming its for fun. In reality, Natsume is doing this out of his own experience with his wife who died from a similar condition to that of Rika and possibly doesn't want Yuuichi to go through the same thing.
Yūichi's friends
- Tsukasa Sekoguchi
- He comes to visit him occasionally and helps him with secret missions that will help Yuuichi's relationship with Rika. During these missions, he wears a Zebra Mask to hide his identity and give him a sense of strength.
- Tamotsu Yamanishi
- He visits Yuuichi when he finds out about his inheritance of the porno collection. This ultimately gets Yuuichi in trouble with Rika.
- Miyuki Mizutani
- She's the one who loans the school uniform to Rika and takes her around the school. She has a crush on Yuuichi.
Media
Hantsuki has spanned a range of different media types, first starting out as a novel series which was later adapted into an anime. After that, a manga series began and finally a drama CD was released.
Novel
A novel by Tsumugu Takahashi was first serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Dengeki HP. It is planned to finish with six volumes in total to match with the six episodes in the anime.
This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (January 2007) |
The following are summaries of the novel volumes thus far. They have been kindly translated by eggplant of AnimeSuki.com forums and are used here with his permission.
- Volume 1
- I became hospitalized all of a sudden. It's sort of like an early winter break for me. One of the patients is Rika, a girl the same age as myself. She is selfish, acting as if she were a queen. However, her selfishness was out of necessity. Rika would occasionally clam up. She would silently gaze at Battery Mountain. Even if I were near here her, she would completely ignore me. Will I be able to reach out towards her one day? Can I be able to take her to the place she yearns for?
- Volume 2
- Something outrageous has taken place. Something frightening. Rika has discovered The Ezaki collection! The friendship that Rika and I shared broke down in an instant in a totally classic fashion. Rika was full of rage, to the point where she not only refused to listen to my excuse, but also run away from me whenever she saw my face. Not only that, my efforts to reconcile with her would all backfire. At about the same time, a new doctor was stationed to the hospital. Dr. Natsume was not only handsome, but he was also Rika's chief physician.
- Volume 3
- After learning of Rika's serious illness, I simply could not smile anymore. However, that's also why I choose to force a smile; for Rika's sake. In order for Rika to smile as well. Eventually, Rika told me that she wanted me to take a photograph. Not only that, she also wanted to go to school. In order to realize Rika's wishes, I brought my father's keepsake camera, borrowed a sailor uniform from my childhood friend, and headed out to school with everybody. To experience school life for one day. Rika really enjoyed it. Her smile was priceless. However, happy days weren't meant to continue forever.
- Volume 4
- Rika's surgery was done. I was bewildered at the words of Dr. Natsume immediately after the operation. And awaiting me were the days of everyday life. Days much too mundane and senseless to assess. The bewilderment was to change in the shape of a reality check. "Don't ever see Rika again. You're a nuisance". On the other hand, Natsume, the one delivered the statement, has been avoiding me ever since. On the night that I went out on a wild spree out of frustration, he disclosed his past to Akiko-san. It was a night where the emotions of one who lost something, and one on the verge of losing something, clashed.
- Volume 5
- Tranquil days were to transpire for Rika and I. Ordinary days that were finally attained after overcoming dilemma, uncertainty, and agony. Days which brought along the warmth, which mattered the most. From now on, we'll live shoulder to shoulder. On one such day, Nastume took me out of the hospital. Our destination was Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, the place where both Rika and Nastume spent time in. What waited for me there was ****. Concurrently, due to Yamanishi's lame conspiracy, Tsukasa and Miyuki were heading towards dire straits.
- Volume 6
- Rika was released from the hospital at last, and now attending the same school as I am. The day has finally come for us to spend a legitimate school life. Going to school together, sharing the same school field, walking home together. Buying things such as Nanakoshi Panjuu (Caveat: something like smaller size version of anpan, a sweet bun with bean paste fillings). Just an ordinary day of life, nothing special, but it is the destination that we reached after such a long walk. Yes, our place to live is not in a hospital. The important thing is to live a normal life in a normal place. "We will live in this small town side by side"
Anime
The Hantsuki anime first aired in Japan on January 12 2006 and had a total of six episodes in length.
Episodes
| Screenshot | Title | Original airdate | # |
|---|---|---|---|
Music
- Theme songs
- Opening song
- Aoi Koufuku
- Vocals by nobuko
- Lyrics/Composition by macado
- Ending song
- Kioku no Kakera
- Vocals by nobuko
- Lyrics/Compositions by macado
- Original soundtrack
Manga
A manga by B.Tarou that is based on the novel is currently being serialized in Japanese manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao!, and the first volume was released on February 27 2006.
Drama CD
A drama CD was later created based on the series which was packaged with Dengeki HP volume 34.