After the Rain Review: A Controversial Drama with an Adequate Ending

Rating:

2 / 4 Mochi

Introduction

After the Rain (Koi wa Ameagari no You ni) is a 2018 slice-of-life anime based on Jun Mayuzuki’s manga. Produced by Wit Studio, it explores loneliness, emotional healing, and rediscovery through the lens of an uncomfortable age-gap fascination. Though its premise may challenge viewer comfort, the series ultimately delivers a mature, thoughtful resolution that elevates the story. 

Plot Summary

The story centers on Akira Tachibana, a high school student and former track athlete recovering from an injury. Emotionally adrift, she begins working part-time at a restaurant, where she becomes fixated upon her manager, Masami Kondou, a 45-year-old man burdened by his own regrets. The show follows their tentative connection while each grapples with stagnation: Akira hesitates to rehabilitate her running career, and Kondou fears re-entering the literary world he once loved. 

While the anime teases romantic tension, it surprises by resisting easy resolutions. Instead, it focuses on personal growth. Akira rediscovers her athletic ambition, and Kondou reconnects with his dream of writing. Their emotional bond acts as a catalyst—not a destination.

Themes and Genre

As a romantic slice-of-life anime, After the Rain explores:

• Loneliness and emotional isolation

• Personal rediscovery and healing

• Unconventional romance that doesn’t follow typical tropes

• The importance of letting go and choosing self-growth over comfort

ATR’s most redeeming quality is its final arc. While much of the series delicately tiptoes around its age-gap tension, the ending wisely rejects a romantic payoff. Instead, both characters find the courage to move forward separately, guided by their own inspiration—a rare instance of emotional maturity in anime that feels grounded and sincere.

Character Analysis

Akira Tachibana

Akira is a quiet, emotionally reserved teenager whose identity is closely tied to running. After an ankle injury, she doesn’t lose the ability to run—she retreats when her path demands resilience.[brief explanation?] Flashbacks show how natural and joyful running once felt for her, suggesting she gave it up not because of injury, but because facing adversity was new and uncomfortable. The series leaves unclear whether this was her first real challenge or if she simply expected ease.

Instead of confronting her loss of interest, Akira fixates on Kondou, her older manager, using him as a distraction from self-reflection. Idolizing him is safer than facing her own discomfort. In doing so, she also distances herself from Haruka, her childhood friend and track teammate, who never stopped training despite lacking Akira’s natural ease. 

By the end, Akira chooses to return to running, suggesting growth and renewed direction—but the emotional journey to get there feels only partially explored.

Masami Kondou

Kondou’s gentle humor and midlife regret are relatable. He provides Akira with kind mentorship, but his passivity allows the girl’s infatuation to linger unchecked. His greatest growth comes when he supports Akira’s return to athletics, choosing mentorship and emotional distance over flattering closeness.

Haruka Kiyan (childhood friend)

Despite lacking Akira’s natural ease with running, Haruka never stops working hard to train and compete, demonstrating persistence and emotional resilience. Akira’s withdrawal feels like a silent betrayal—did she believe their friendship existed only on the track? 

Animation and Sound

Wit Studio delivers soft, watercolor-like backgrounds and rain imagery that echo the show's emotional atmosphere. The subtle expressions, pacing, and symbolic use of weather reinforce the themes of transience and renewal.

The soundtrack, composed by Ryo Yoshimata, complements the story with gentle piano melodies and soft orchestral pieces. Together, the visuals and music elevate the anime’s quieter moments.

Final Verdict

After the Rain is an anime of contradictions—gorgeous and thoughtful, yet often vague and emotionally detached. However, it finds redemption in its ending, where both main characters choose self-betterment over romance. By doing so, the show avoids sensationalism and embraces emotional honesty.

While not for everyone, it will resonate with those interested in anime about healing, character growth, and emotional restraint.

Pros:

• Lush, atmospheric animation

• Mature, non-romantic ending with strong emotional payoff

• Themes of personal rediscovery and emotional healing

Cons:

• Pacing can feel slow and emotionally distant

• Some discomfort around age-gap premise

• Underdeveloped character arcs until the final episodes

FAQs

Is After the Rain anime controversial?

Yes, the story’s age-gap dynamic may unsettle some viewers. However, the anime handles the relationship with restraint, focusing on mutual healing rather than romance.

Who should watch After the Rain?

• Fans of emotionally introspective anime

• Viewers who enjoy anime about personal growth and emotional healing

• Those drawn to artistic animation and subtle storytelling

  
  

What makes After the Rain worth watching?

Despite early concerns, the anime redeems itself with a thoughtful, character-driven conclusion. Its message—that growth sometimes means walking away—is satisfying and rare in romance anime.