Understanding Studio Ghibli’s Underrated Classic ‘Ocean Waves’ (2024)

“I’ve found that growing up means being honest. About what I want. What I need. What I feel. Who I am.” — Epiphany

Studio Ghibli’s Ocean Waves, or I Can Hear the Sea (海がきこえる), opens with college student Taku Morisaki standing on a Tokyo train platform. He notices a familiar girl across the tracks and tries to get a better look, but before he can, her train arrives, and she vanishes as it departs.

Back at his dormitory, Taku packs for a trip. While retrieving a document, a photograph of a girl falls out. He pauses, staring at the picture for a moment, before leaving it behind. Later, as his plane takes off, Taku begins to recall his complicated relationships with his close friend Yutaka Matsuno and the transfer student Rikako Muto.

When a Trip Got Cancelled a Friendship Began

Taku and Yutaka’s friendship began in middle school, in their hometown of Kochi. Even though they were never in the same class, they found common ground when the school canceled a much-awaited trip to Kyoto. While most students did not agree with the decision, Taku and Yutaka were the only ones who stood up and protested until the end.

When they got a chance to voice their opinions, Taku wrote a simple note saying the decision didn’t make sense. Yutaka’s response was more detailed, mentioning that even years later, he would still believe that the cancellation was a mistake. Taku found it admirable that Yutaka was already so certain about his future self. This moment might have been small and ordinary, but it was significant. Their shared experience of standing firm on their beliefs became the foundation of their friendship, which grew even stronger as they moved into high school together.

First Impressions

During their junior year, Taku was busy with his summer job when Yutaka suddenly called, asking him to meet at school. When they met, Yutaka introduced him to Rikako, a new transfer student from Tokyo, and hinted at his interest in her. This made Taku uneasy. He admired Yutaka’s wisdom and was caught off guard that he wanted to discuss something as seemingly trivial as a crush. Taku couldn’t help but feel irritated, thinking Rikako was just another girl who cared more about appearances and wouldn’t appreciate Yutaka’s real value.

As the new term began, Rikako found it hard to fit in. Her impressive skills in sports and academics made her stand out. Boys, including Taku, noticed her, but the girls gossiped and whispered. Rikako also seemed uninterested in making friends and often looked lonely.

Taku’s parents revealed that Rikako’s mother had brought her to Kochi, likely because of a divorce. Taku tried to stay detached, but when his mom suggested being kind to Rikako, he couldn’t help but agree, knowing she was probably going through a tough time.

Later, Yutaka excitedly told Taku he had visited Rikako while she was sick. This was when Taku realized how serious Yutaka’s feelings were. At this point, Taku had no idea that his real troubles were just about to start.

Lies on the Last Day in Hawaii

On the last day of their school trip to Hawaii, Taku stayed behind at the hotel, feeling unwell, while his classmates enjoyed the beach. Unexpectedly, Rikako approached him in the lounge and revealed that she had lost her pocket money. After a brief chat, Rikako asked if she could borrow some money and admitted Yutaka told her about his part-time job. Although he was hesitant, Taku agreed to help. Rikako thanked him but insisted that they keep this a secret.

Not long after Rikako left with the money, Yutaka showed up. Despite Rikako’s request, Taku couldn’t resist telling Yutaka what happened. He was too surprised that Rikako knew so much about him through Yutaka. Yutaka ended up lending Rikako money too. When Rikako discovered this, she became annoyed that Taku had broken their secret, and Taku felt irritated by her reaction. To deal with his mixed emotions, he bought a candid photo of Rikako, hoping it might help him make peace with his feelings.

When the new term started, Taku and Rikako ended up in the same class but Rikako still hadn’t returned the money. Taku noticed that Rikako had finally made a friend: their classmate, Yumi Kohama. One day, Yumi called Taku, sounding distressed. She explained that she and Rikako were supposed to go to Osaka for a concert, but Rikako had suddenly decided to go to Tokyo to see her father instead. Yumi also claimed that Taku had funded the trip. Realizing that Rikako had lied about losing her pocket money in Hawaii, Taku rushed to the airport, feeling responsible and wanting to help set things right.

A Troubling Trip to Tokyo

Yumi refused to lie to her parents, and Taku couldn’t let Rikako go to Tokyo alone, so he decided to accompany her. At the same time, he couldn’t believe he was getting entangled with Rikako again.

When they reached the apartment, Rikako introduced Taku to her father as her boyfriend. Taku played along. While Rikako went inside with her father, Taku waited in the lobby and noticed a woman leaving the apartment. Soon after, Rikako’s father returned, handed back the money Rikako had borrowed, and gave Taku the address of the hotel where he had booked a room for him. Taku’s sympathy for Rikako deepened after directly witnessing a bit of her family situation.

Once settled in the hotel room, Taku called his family to inform them of his unexpected stay in Tokyo. Suddenly, someone knocked on his door. It was Rikako, looking quite downcast. She burst into the room and collapsed in Taku’s arms, crying. Though taken aback, Taku comforted her.

Once Rikako calmed down, she shared her frustrations: her father was going on vacation with a “lady friend,” and her room’s wallpaper had been changed to green — a color she loathed. Taku, trying to be sympathetic, agreed that green was a terrible choice for a room. Rikako felt let down by her family, especially since she had sided with her father in his conflict with her mother. Exhausted, she fell asleep on Taku’s bed, leaving Taku with no choice but to sleep in the bathtub, feeling inconvenienced.

The next morning, Rikako rudely woke Taku from his uncomfortable sleep, insisting he leave the room so she could get ready to meet someone. As she prepared, Taku wandered the streets of Tokyo. The present him realizes that Rikako’s efforts to bounce back amidst her personal struggles had made him feel more at ease in Tokyo and influenced his desire to attend college there. She had that kind of effect on him, which was a bit strange considering she had mostly caused him trouble. But perhaps he just cared about her more than he realized.

Returning to the hotel, Taku found Rikako dressed up and ready to meet a high school acquaintance. He chose to rest while Rikako went down to the coffee shop. But not long after, the telephone rang. It was Rikako, asking him to come down. Taku wondered what it could be this time and followed Rikako’s request.

At the coffee shop, Taku met Rikako’s ex-boyfriend, Okada, who was now dating Rikako’s friend. Rikako introduced Taku as her boyfriend, and Taku endured an awkward conversation about high school gossip and Rikako’s family situation. He felt disappointed and decided to leave. He thought that in Kochi, Rikako had acted so tough, but now in Tokyo, she was wasting her time fawning over a guy.

After some time, Rikako returned to Taku’s room and confessed that she had been trying to make Okada jealous. Though perhaps it was Taku who ended up feeling that way. However, she realized that Okada only cared about himself. Rikako then said goodbye to Taku, deciding to stay with her aunt, and suggested they meet the next day for their flight back to Kochi. She mentioned that the Tokyo trip hadn’t been much fun, and as she left, Taku sensed a hint of maturity in her realizations.

Gossip, Guilt, and Grudges

Taku and Yutaka had a chance to catch up after the break. Yutaka, reeling from terrible final exam results, shared his plan to attend a summer cram school in Osaka. Then, much to Taku’s surprise, Yutaka asked if it was true that Taku and Rikako had taken a trip together during the vacation. Although Taku was a bit shy about it, he confirmed the trip but wondered how Yutaka knew. Yutaka revealed that the rumor was all over the school, and students likely thought something was going on between Taku and Rikako. Taku shrugged off the gossip but clarified that their trip was just a visit to Rikako’s father in Tokyo.

Yutaka said he had already confirmed about the trip from Rikako herself. She admitted they stayed in a hotel together and then snapped at Yutaka, asking why it mattered to him. In response, Yutaka confessed his love for Rikako. Caught off guard, Rikako reacted rudely, saying she hated Kochi, the Kochi dialect, and that Yutaka’s confession made her sick.

Taku, enraged upon hearing about Rikako’s severe rejection of Yutaka, stormed off to confront her. As he demanded they talk, other students, aware of the rumors, eagerly watched the scene unfold. Although Taku had previously claimed not to care about the gossip, he now blamed Rikako for it and accused her of stirring up trouble.

Taku’s anger here was more about his own conflicted feelings for Rikako and his guilt over Yutaka’s rejection and exam results. Even though he truly cared for Yutaka, Taku’s strong reaction was a way of suppressing his feelings for Rikako. He was trying to hold on to his initial disapproval of her to reassure himself of his loyalty to his friend. At the time, he was unaware of his own internal conflict.

Rikako, annoyed by Taku’s confrontation and self-denial, slapped him. Taku slapped her back, causing shock among their classmates. Rikako then sarcastically questioned if he was satisfied with being such a “loyal friend” before leaving.

After the confrontation, Rikako withdrew further but saw her grades improve. As the school fair approached, she refused to participate in class activities, angering her classmates, especially the girls, who felt she was neglecting her responsibilities to focus on her grades. They decided to confront her about it.

The Rift Between Friends

As Taku prepared to dispose of the class’ fair materials, he overheard the confrontation led by Akiko Shimizu. The girls’ disappointment was understandable, but they were also driven by jealousy. They envied her academic success and the attention she received from boys. They even accused her of showing interest in a boy another girl liked.

Wounded by their criticisms, Rikako lashed out, expressing her disillusionment with class unity and her feeling that no one genuinely cared about her. Rikako’s unlikable behavior also stems from her struggle to be honest, unable to cope properly with her painful circumstances. Instead of properly expressing her needs, she vents her anger, acts rudely, and manipulates others. While her actions were neither right nor justifiable, they were the only way she knew to protect herself at the time.

Meanwhile, Taku, despite knowing about Rikako’s struggles, tried so hard to stay out of trouble this time. After the girls left, Taku appeared nonchalant. Rikako saw him and was surprised; she asked how long he had been there. Taku claimed he was merely throwing things away and praised Rikako on her strength, even noting that she had made one girl cry. This was a thoughtless remark and insensitive to Rikako’s pain. Upset, Rikako slapped Taku and called him the worst.

Yutaka saw Rikako crying and confronted Taku. Taku downplayed the situation, saying he did nothing because the girls would have told him to leave. Frustrated with Taku, Yutaka punched him in the face. Taku fell into the trash as Yutaka walked away. Yutaka must be annoyed knowing deep down that his friend likes the girl he likes and is just denying it in the most silly way. After that, Yutaka and Taku never spoke again.

Ocean Waves

Back in the present, Taku has finally arrived in Kochi. He recalls that Yutaka is studying in Kyoto, while Rikako is attending college in Kochi. To Taku’s surprise, Yutaka picks him up from the airport and offers him a ride. During the drive, they catch up on each other’s lives, discussing their college experiences and adjustments.

When they reach Taku’s house, Yutaka apologizes for punching him. Taku responds that it’s no longer a big deal and suggests they take a walk together, as it has been a while. As they watch the sunset over the ocean, Yutaka opens up about the reason he punched Taku — he knew Taku liked Rikako and was angry that Taku was holding himself back. Taku smiles with relief, feeling that their friendship has been mended. Yutaka’s acceptance of the matter helps Taku finally find the courage to be honest about his own feelings.

This scene marks a pivotal moment in the story. The sunset highlights the closure of old conflicts; and as they look out at the vast view, the ocean and the horizon reflect their growth and their broader perspective on life, relationships, and themselves. They have matured, learning to admit, and address difficult realities and relationships with a deeper understanding.

The night of the high school reunion, the main reason Taku returned home, finally arrives. Though Rikako doesn’t attend, all the high school talk and nostalgia prompt Taku to reflect more on his feelings for her. The class discusses their new, more mature college lives — how different everything is now compared to high school and how their perspectives have changed since then. Some even confess old crushes, like Tadashi Yamao, who admits he has always liked Yumi.

Akiko Shimizu speaks with Yutaka, mentioning that Rikako now regrets what she said when he confessed his feelings. Yutaka is surprised to hear this. Later, after Taku helps a very drunk Tadashi, he compliments Akiko on how great she looks. She responds by saying Rikako has always been pretty but is even more beautiful now. Akiko reveals that she ran into Rikako the day before and told her about the reunion, but Rikako probably went home to Tokyo instead. Taku thinks about the girl he saw at the train station. Akiko then admits that she never liked Rikako back then, but seeing her again makes her nostalgic. She realizes that her world was too small back then, which is why she was so focused on her dislike for Rikako. And Rikako probably feels the same way.

Yumi eventually arrives and joins the party just before it ends. Afterward, Yumi, Taku, Yutaka, Akiko, and Tadashi walk together to Kochi Castle. Yumi shares that she recently saw Rikako, who told her there’s someone in Tokyo she wants to see — a person who “likes to sleep in bathtubs.” Taku realizes Rikako is talking about him, which makes him smile. Yutaka seems to know it too.

As they admire the castle, Taku thinks of Rikako. He always thought lighting up Kochi Castle was a waste of electricity, but now he wishes she could be there to see it beside him. He reflects on all the things he wants to say to her, realizing how much of their past was filled with fights, misunderstandings, and petty disagreements. He’s determined to approach things differently this time.

Back in Tokyo, Taku finds himself at the train station again, as if his journey is about to come full circle. To his surprise, he sees Rikako on the opposite platform. This time, he’s certain it’s her and rushes to her side as the train arrives. Fortunately, Rikako notices him and waits. Taku arrives just as the train leaves, worried he’s missed her again — until he turns and sees Rikako still there, greeting him with a gentle smile. Relieved, Taku’s eyes smile back as he finally stands face to face with her, thinking…

“And that’s when I knew, I have always been crazy about her.”

Taku finally admits his feelings to himself and now plans to extend that honesty to the girl he likes. The movie ends here with an atmosphere of two people finally opening up and being vulnerable to someone they’ve held back from for a long time.

Unlike their schoolmates who only noticed Rikako’s arrogance back in high school, Taku observed her sadness and understood there must be a reason behind it — her struggle with family issues. However, he couldn’t fully admit to himself how much he cared for her, partly due to his lack of self-awareness and the fact that his best friend also liked Rikako. But things are different now. There are also hints that Rikako has changed and wants to be better — she regrets how she rejected Yutaka and is eager to meet Taku again, likely to express her true feelings and see if he feels the same.

Taku and Rikako both harbor unspoken feelings and want to resolve them. Their character development and growth unfold subtly, maintaining the idyllic yet realistic ambiance of the movie. Their love story shows that sometimes people need to separate and grow individually before they can be right for each other. It also conveys how recognizing past experiences can help make sense of one’s feelings.

Ocean Waves is, in many ways, one of the simplest Ghibli films. It feels like an exposition of the everyday life of young people, yet this simplicity becomes its strength. The film effectively captures the real complexities of adolescence and the nature of human connections during those formative years. Growing up can be confusing, emotional, clumsy, and turbulent, but it can also be adventurous, exciting, and transformative. Just as the ocean is constantly changing with tides and waves, it symbolizes the characters’ personal growth and the inevitable changes that come with growing up.

This honest depiction is what makes the film special.