Whisper of the Heart 1996

Shizuku Tsukishima, a 14-year-old student at Mukaihara Junior High School, thrives on her passion for creative writing alongside her best friend, Yūko Harada. Living in Tokyo with her parents, Asako and Seiya, and her older sister, Shiho, she explores her literary inclinations. One ordinary evening, while browsing through checkout cards in her library books, Shizuku stumbles upon a recurring name: Seiji Amasawa.

Soon, she finds herself annoyed by a boy who teases her about a series of original lyrics known as “Concrete Roads,” which she had penned inspired by the classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” After a serendipitous encounter with a cat on a train, Shizuku follows it to an enchanting antique shop owned by Shirō Nishi. Here, her spirits soar as she discovers a cat statuette affectionately known as The Baron, leading her to believe she has found “a place where stories begin.”

In another visit, Shizuku meets the boy at the antique shop once more. He shows her his workshop, revealing his artistic journey to become a master luthier. Eager to hear him play the violin, she gathers the courage to ask him, but only under the condition that she sings along. They joyfully perform “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” only for Shizuku to learn that the boy is none other than Seiji, Nishi’s grandson. With this revelation, a beautiful friendship blossoms between them.

Seiji confesses his admiration for Shizuku’s creative prowess, sharing that he frequently checked out books hoping she might take notice of him. Shortly thereafter, he departs for a two-month study in Cremona, Italy, to learn under a master violin maker. Inspired by his journey, Shizuku resolves to dedicate herself to writing during his absence. With Nishi’s endorsement, she plans to craft a narrative involving The Baron, while promising him to be the first to read her work.

As she immerses herself in her creation, Shizuku envisions herself as the protagonist, The Baron as the hero searching for his lost love, Louise, and the train cat, a neighborhood stray known variously as “Moon” and “Muta,” as the antagonist. However, her commitment to her writing leads to late-night sessions, causing her school grades to slip. This change creates friction between her and her family, and the resultant pressure intensifies her anxiety.

Upon completion of her story, Nishi provides his unfiltered feedback, prompting a cathartic release of emotions for Shizuku, as the burden of the past months melts away. He comforts her with a poignant tale about the origins of The Baron. As a young man pursuing his education in Germany, Nishi encountered the love of his life, Louise. He recounted how a wartime separation led to the two cat statues being torn apart, and although he could buy The Baron, he needed Louise’s agreement to hold on to its female counterpart.

Realizing her desire to improve and embark on a high school adventure, Shizuku informs her mother of her plans to resume studying for her entrance exams. The next morning, she awakens to find Seiji outside on his bicycle, having returned unexpectedly a day early. Seiji expresses his intentions to study in Cremona yet again after finishing high school in Tokyo.

Together, they embark on a bike ride to a scenic lookout where they bask in the beauty of the sunrise. Here, Seiji tenderly professes his love for Shizuku and proposes they marry in the future, a notion she embraces with joy.