Camping, creating makeshift candy, learning about sea fireflies, and running from armies of rats – a lot happened in these two episodes as Yoko and Airi continued their adventures. While these two episodes were both enjoyable for me, they did also solidify the idea that viewers shouldn’t take this series too seriously, nor should we expect to get any explanation of the apocalypse that took place.
As for the first point, Yoko’s “discovery” about her “secret powers” was waved off as a joke in episode 6. You can believe it or not, at this point, and it doesn’t seem to matter either way. As for the second point, it became evident that Airi probably already knows the truth about the apocalypse and has no reason to explain to audiences. Yoko might already know, too. The point is that viewers are not privy to any concrete truths about the end of modern civilization right now, and we’re already halfway through.
While I wish I could count on good and interesting world-building and sci-fi from this series, I think that’s not really what the series is about. It’s about the adventures and life experiences of Yoko and Airi as well as their deep attachment to each other. I hope we eventually learn more about Airi, since we know she’s mechanical and not “human.” Yet, she’s obviously capable of human intellect and emotion, so I consider her a person. Anyway, let’s take a look at Touring After The Apocalypse episodes 5 and 6.
Episode 5: Nagareyama, Tone River Canal, Kisarazu
Episode Rating: 7/10
It was another adventuresome episode packed with interesting experiences for Yoko and Airi. First, they got caught in the mud while passing through the wetlands, which had taken over parts of the roadways. Once they were clear and clean of the marsh, the girls made toffee using only sugar and baking soda over a campfire. Even the burned ones tasted delicious. For those who like camping, this episode was especially great, because it reminds viewers how to pitch a tent. It was a good review and made me want to try it again myself (I haven’t been camping in years though).
Yoko suggested they return to the shelter after their visit to Umihotaru, which was their next major destination. However, Airi expressed her feeling that traveling was better than living in the shelter. Yoko seemed to agree. She loved adventuring. The only reason she wanted to return to the shelter temporarily would be to do maintenance on the Serrow. The two girls agreed to continue traveling indefinitely for now.
Interestingly, while Airi was thinking, we saw flashbacks of her learning about the world through recent events, such as the run-in with Ichiro and the discovery of the AI DJ in Akihabara. I wonder what she was thinking. Airi is almost certainly an android and seems to have a database of knowledge programmed into her mind. She might already know everything about the apocalypse, but simply has no reason to divulge it. I think she’s interested in gaining experiences, which is why she likes traveling.
It became more apparent in this episode that our characters might know what happened to the world. And we, the viewers, may never know, because that’s not really what the show is about. Anyway, there was a scene were Yoko saw the full moon and underwent a psychological experience as she gazed at it. Neither she nor Airi remarked on the fact that that the moon had severe damage not seen in our world today. Maybe there was an asteroid or nuclear missile that grazed it. If that asteroid hit Earth, it could end civilization. But it’s also possible I’m reading too much into it and the damage on the left side is just a weird but natural moon crater.
Regardless, Yoko got a bad feeling from that night and couldn’t sleep. Leading up to Yoko’s experience with the full moon, the wind had died down and the fish in the dark river had started jumping out of the water for no apparent reason. These strange occurences – combined with the way the moon appeared larger due to an optical illusion – made Yoko feel a sense of wonder and fear. She said that it must be a bad omen. In other notes, it was funny when Airi got slapped by a giant fish and then caught it.
Whether or not it was an omen, the girls were unlucky the next day. Due to the heavy winds, a piece of debris flew in and punctured the front tire of the Serrow. However, Yoko was a good mechanic and patched it up in a jiffy. After that, a rainstorm began. It steadily intensified as Yoko and Airi stubbornly drove on through it on their way to Umihotaru. Before long, the “rainstorm” had become more like a system of several small hurricanes. Lightning flashed dangerously close and huge waves of seawater threatened to wash the Serrow and its riders clean off the roadways.
Yoko had been very confident, even singing earlier that the wind and rain could stop them. She was also thrilled to see the storm cyclones up close as the tempest raged. But by the time the girls finally arrived in Umihotaru and got inside a building, Yoko was exhasuted and relieved it was over. She embraced Airi while confessing how scared she had been and how she wanted to be less reckless. However, reckless or not, what Yoko and Airi just went through was an amazing life experience. They agreed on that.
The episode ends with Yoko and Airi chilling in front of a campfire. It’s heartwarming how close they are and how much they care for each other. Yoko said she hoped this was the end of her bad premonition, but even as she uttered those words, a huge group of animals were nesting in the nearby parking area. I guess we were supposed to think this was a scary way to end the episode, with the creatures opening their red eyes ominously in the pitch dark. But I think bats and rats and such are cute and I’d love to see giant ones even if they were intimidating. Anwyay, that’s all for episode 5.
Episode 6: Umihotaru
Episode Rating: 7/10
The creatures in the dark that I thought were bats were actually rats. After Yoko had another vivid dream about exploring the area with Onee-chan, she led Airi to an area away from camp to try to show her what had been a good view in the dream. Instead, all they found was an army of maddened rats that wanted to eat them. Swarms of rats do not actually attack people, but this is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world and we have no idea what these animals have been exposed to or how their behavior may have changed. Yoko and Airi were right to protect themselves and shoot at the oncoming rats.
Despite Airi’s effectiveness at picking off leading rats with a slingshot and coins, the swarm was getting ever bigger and closer. Thanks to a reckless stunt from Yoko, the girls fell over on their way back to the Serrow and dropped their torch. It ignited some gasoline, which made the whole area dangerous, since there were old gas vehicles around. Yoko and Airi narrowly escaped the huge explosion that resulted. They were sent flying and only anime logic kept them from being seriously burned or otherwise injured. At least the rats were dealt with, torched to death or blown away in the inferno.
As the girls lie outside in the rain, calming down from the danger, Yoko stated that she now understood her “bad premonition.” It was her senses trying to remind her of the dangers and unpredictability of this world. That was a serious moment, but it was closely followed by a wholesome and beautiful one. Those who know a little Japanese might have noticed “Umihotaru” means “Sea Firefly.” It’s called this because there are tiny creatures in the Tokyo Bay that are bioluminescent and light up at night under some circumstances. Yoko and Airi got to see the waves glowing blue with the light of the “sea fireflies.” (Scientific name: Vargula hilgendorfii.)
(Side note: That is fucking amazing! I had no idea that you could see so many little pretty bioluminescent creatures in any one place. I also didn’t know they appeared so blue. Apparently, it’s rare to see lots of them flowing at the same time, though small patches of them in the summer are commonly seen. I would love to see the sea fireflies in the Tokyo Bay before I die. One can dream.)
Suddenly, after Yoko tried to take a picture with the old smartphone, a notification popped up saying there was a message from Onee-chan. At the same time, Airi temporarily shut down, proving for sure that she’s an android with a mechanical mind who can “shut down” like a computer when something is wrong. Airi’s unresponsiveness sent Yoko into a panic, but Airi woke up seconds later and brushed it off as nothing. Luckily, the message from Onee-chan explained the situation.
According to the message, a new glitch had been detected in the programming of Airi’s model. It would cause occasional freeze-ups and restarts. In order to fix Airi, the girls need to head to “the research center,” as directed by Onee-chan. The location is in Tsukuba, which I believe is northeast of the girls’ current position. According to a travel website, Tsukuba is unofficially known as the science and research center of Japan. I’m learning quite a lot about Japanese geography and facts about Japanese cities from this anime. That’s another reason I’m enjoying it.
(Side note: The part where Airi fell over at Yoko’s touch gave me flashbacks to Plastic Memories. That’s the anime where the cute, deadpan android girl is nearing the end of her mechanical mind’s lifespan. It’s terribly sad, though I still like it for personal reasons. Still, let’s keep the dark and sad stories away from Yoko and Airi. I sure hope this series doesn’t pull any bullshit about the end of Airi’s life.)
The next day, Yoko explained her dreams and weird experiences to Airi by saying that she had hidden superpowers. (Specifically, she said she had the ability to phase through space and time in her dreams.) It all played out like a joke. Airi’s response was to say that Yoko needs to get herself checked, with the implication that she was saying insane things. The thing is, Yoko’s explanation is perfectly valid in a sci-fi anime. It could be 100% true. Was it just a joke, or is this actually the series telling us that Yoko is slipping between fragments of time in her dreams? We might not ever know in this kind of series, since that’s not what it’s truly “about.”
I just have one final thought. Why do Yoko and Airi call the smartphone “Touringram”? I mean, I guess because it’s the basis of their tour, but, do they just not know the word smartphone? Is the smartphone a forgotten relic in this age? Anyway, that’s all for today.
~Thanks for Reading~
Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants
Anime Rants 