The Wind Rises 2013

In 1916, a youthful Jiro Horikoshi’s passion for flight was thwarted by his nearsightedness, but his imagination soared as he gazed at aviation magazines and conjured up vivid dreams of soaring through the skies alongside his idol, Italian aircraft designer Giovanni Battista Caproni. Their conversations, however, revealed that Caproni had never actually taken to the air himself, emphasizing the importance of designing planes rather than flying them. Seven years later, Jiro’s aspirations remained strong as he pursued a degree in aeronautical engineering at Tokyo Imperial University, his mind whetted by the real-life Caproni Ca.60’s tragic failure. During a trip home to visit family, Jiro encountered a young girl named Nahoko Satomi, accompanied by her devoted maid Kinu. The sudden and devastating Great Kantō earthquake struck, leaving Kinu with a broken leg, and Jiro assisted Nahoko in carrying her back to her family home, their paths diverging without the exchange of names.

Fast-forwarding to 1925, Jiro graduated from university alongside his close friend Kiro Honjo, both securing employment at aircraft manufacturer Mitsubishi amidst the Great Depression. Their initial assignment was to perfect a fighter plane, the Mitsubishi 1MF9, for the Imperial Army, but a catastrophic test run left it in tatters and deemed unsuitable. Undeterred, Mitsubishi dispatched Jiro and Honjo to the Weimar Republic in 1929 to obtain a production license for a Junkers G.38 aircraft, intending to create a bomber capable of rivaling its Western counterparts. However, their hopes were swiftly dashed as Hugo Junkers’ team refused to part with complete plans due to the watchful eye of the Sicherheitspolizei. Returning to Japan, Jiro was met with discouragement from his peers regarding Japan’s lagging aeronautics technology, while Honjo remained in Germany, eventually developing the Mitsubishi G4M.

The early months of 1932 saw Jiro promoted to chief designer for a prestigious fighter plane competition sponsored by the Imperial Navy. His design, the Mitsubishi 1MF10, underwent rigorous testing but ultimately failed to impress, leaving him disheartened. Seeking solace in a summer retreat at Karuizawa, Jiro was reunited with an adult Nahoko, who had been searching for him since their initial meeting. As they rekindled their connection, aided by a sympathetic German tourist named Hans Castorp, Jiro learned of the dire situation unfolding in Germany: Hugo Junkers had been detained by the authorities for resisting Nazism’s growing influence, and Hitler’s ominous plans threatened to engulf Europe once more. Seizing the opportunity to warn Japan, Castorp cautioned Jiro against aligning himself with Nazi Germany, knowing that their shared fate was intertwined. As he fled arrest from the Special Higher Police, his words echoed in Jiro’s mind: the threat of war loomed large, and it was imperative to act swiftly to prevent another devastating conflict.

As the once-promising future for Nahoko (Nahoko) hangs precariously in the balance, diagnosed with tuberculosis, Jiro’s ardent desire to marry her is met with a mixture of caution and compassion from her father. However, Nahoko’s resilience in the face of adversity compels her to delay their union until she has fully recovered, opting instead to retreat to the safety of her family’s home. Meanwhile, Jiro finds himself in a precarious predicament as he seeks refuge at his supervisor Kurokawa’s abode, where he labors over a new fighter aircraft project for the Imperial Navy.

As Nahoko’s condition worsens, marked by a pulmonary hemorrhage, Jiro’s anxiety reaches a fever pitch. He briefly departs to tend to her needs, only to be drawn back into his work on the Mitsubishi A5M prototype. Despite the ominous warnings from Kurokawa’s wife and Jiro’s own sister Kayo, a physician, who foresees a tragic outcome for their union due to the incurable nature of Nahoko’s affliction, the couple savors every fleeting moment together.

In a poignant turn of events, Jiro is summoned to test his new aircraft prototype. Meanwhile, Nahoko, aware that her time is short, leaves behind farewell letters and slips away from the house in a desperate bid to return to the sanatorium. The gust of wind at the test site serves as a poignant reminder of Nahoko’s passing, leaving Jiro distraught.

As the years pass, Japan surrenders in World War II, and Jiro is left to confront the regret that his creations were utilized for war. It is then that he finds solace in the gentle guidance of Caproni, who reminds him that his dream of building beautiful aircraft has been realized despite the tumultuous circumstances. Nahoko’s spirit also appears, urging Jiro to continue living and cherishing their brief time together.

In a hauntingly beautiful conclusion, as Nahoko’s spirit departs, Jiro and Caproni walk together into the realm of their shared dreams, forever bound by the memories of their love and the fleeting moments they shared.