Kino passes down a tale from her master this week (perhaps another tradition in this world), as Kino’s Journey takes us to na historic nation with an historic recount of an historic event. After a meal reminds her of her master (whom she seems to be seeking), Kino tells Hermes about how the old woman—then young—and her apprentice made an escape from a crooked country by grabbing the upper hand and forcing them to surrender on their terms. It’s a fun episode, one that’s more light-hearted than others, and if I’m being honest, features a pair that’s more endearing than Kino and Hermes.
The setup is really nice. In Kino-esque fashion, the master decides that instead of trying to sneak out, an effort she deems as impossible in this police-controlled nation that’s on high alert after the master breaks out her apprentice, the two will go to the top of the nation’s old clock tower and drive the police force crazy by sniping at them. They frustrate the police and then strike fear into their hearts. Eventually, the crooked police chief not only offers to let them go, but also pays them a sum to leave.
When Kino visits the town, she hears a very different tale from an old man, who not only advances a narrative that memorializes the two as heroes of justice, rather than travelers who freed themselves and took money from the nation as payment for their crimes, but also gives the authoritarian government a better image by stating that they saw the error in their ways and reformed, rather than admitting they were embarrassed and defeated. The grandfather feels no shame in advancing these lies, built upon a revolution that occurred during his lifetime and which, it’s indicated, he had first hand knowledge of. He lies to Kino and Hermes. He lies to his granddaughter.
Hermes tells Kino that he thinks this “positive” thinking is a good thing. Kino isn’t sure, but is willing to consider that possibility—after all, the nation is much kinder and better place to be than it once was, both for travelers and for its residents.
That leads to today’s question. Sometimes, the hurt of the past can paralyze, keeping us from moving forward. And even if it’s not that traumatic, it can still frustrate us, anger us, sadden us, and ultimately keep us from happiness. And we also know that there is power in positive thinking and how it can improve our health and well-being. That being said, is it okay to look fondly on our own history when may it’s not as great as we remember it being, so that we can live better now?
Is it okay to move forward with a sanguine view of the past?
As always, we want to hear your thoughts below. Please leave a comment and let us know your answer to this week’s question.
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You can stream Kino’s Journey on Crunchyroll.