Yesterday marked the 17th anniversary of the release of 5 Centimeters Per Second, a masterpiece by the genius director Makoto Shinkai. This work laid the foundation for Shinkai’s career, showcasing his lyrical filmmaking style centered on themes of love, as well as the emotions, dreams, and aspirations of youth.
To celebrate this milestone, the “wizard of sorrows” shared an alternate poster illustration, distinct from the one used 17 years ago (the illustration on the right).
What stands out to you? It’s the cherry blossom tree taking center stage in the poster. This “alternate” poster also carries a meaning vastly different from the original.
The Original Poster
First, let’s look at the original poster. The scene feels shrouded in gloom, painted with “cold” color tones—a hazy sky giving way to a deep, impenetrable night. It’s as if Takaki is chasing Akari’s fleeting figure in vain. She’s left him behind. Loneliness seeps into every corner of the frame, leaving nothing but an empty, colorless world. That indescribable “sorrow” hits you square in the face when you gaze at the first poster.
The Second Poster
The alternate second poster, however, delivers an entirely different message. The cherry blossom tree stands proudly at its heart.
In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms in full bloom are a traditional symbol of new beginnings, a fresh life brimming with optimism. This poster reflects that beautifully: the space around the cherry blossom tree glows with warm, rosy hues—a stark contrast to the “cold” tones dominating the rest of the image.
We can interpret this as Akari nearing the cherry blossom tree—or, in other words, finding her new beginning, a life unshackled from a painful past. Takaki, though lost on a frigid path, follows in her footsteps. Yet, in time, he too will reach that final destination—the cherry blossom tree—to start anew, free from the lingering pain of a past love. That “beautiful” romance now exists only in memory.
“The season of cherry blossoms blooming is approaching once again,” Makoto Shinkai wrote.
