How Summer Ghost Reminds Us Of Life’s Beauty Amidst Struggles
On Pushing Forward Amidst Absurdity
INTRODUCTION & PLOT
Tomoya, Ryou, and Aoi meet to test a local legend.
They light fireworks in an open field, hoping it will call the summer ghost — a spirit believed to answer one’s most pressing questions.
When the ghost Ayane appears, she reveals that only those near death can see her.
Tomoya becomes increasingly obsessed with Ayane, and as he uncovers her story, he soon learns why she appears to him.
In the beginning, Ayane states that Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryō are united by “their closeness to death and a desire to understand it further.”
This is most apparent with Tomoya as he falls into depression because his mother’s wishes for him are disconnected from his dreams.
As he feels hopeless, Tomoya wonders if death might liberate him from his misery.
Here lies the poignant inquiry on what makes life worth living.
