this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2026
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24
[Episode] Journal with Witch • Ikoku Nikki - Episode 4 discussion (s4.anilist.co)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by rikka@ani.social to c/anime@ani.social
18 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Ikoku Nikki, episode 4

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Alternative NamesDiary of a Strange Land, Different Country Diary, Entre les lignes, Foreign Country Diary, مذكرات من بلد آخر, บันทึกจากวิเทศ

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[–] Rottcodd@ani.social 8 points 1 week ago

I'm extremely introverted, and realized somewhere along the way that while I got the concept of loneliness, I couldn't even quite imagine what it actually felt like.

I only very rarely try to explain that to people, and I've never before seen it explained, or even really mentioned, by anyone else. Until Makio.

And I love that Asa understood and appreciated that Makio didn't really understand her loneliness, but broadly sympathized anyway.

Part of what we have here is two extremely sensitive people who both live behind similarly strong but otherwise very different walls.

It amazes me how good this is.

[–] Crank@ani.social 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Another great episode. I wish we had more stories like this, where you can see that the author respects his viewers intelligence, where characters feel real, and there's no cheap drama that tries to coerce you to feel emotional while forsaking any subtlety. This is like a breath of fresh air

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Similarly enjoying this fresh series dealing with depression, ASD, loneliness, trauma, PTSD, cope, anxiety, introversion, and more importantly communication.

[–] Crank@ani.social 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Did you use ChatGPT to write that comment?

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Why would I use slop to hallucinate resources‽

[–] Crank@ani.social 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Well, you certainly made it look like a clanker output. All the signs are there: enumeration, lots of links to some random-ass websites that are supposed to explain some basic terms nobody needs explaining, emphasizing something at the end of the statement. This is how clankers write

[–] mo_lave@reddthat.com 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Comments like these get in my nerves. God forbid I can't write grammatically-correct and concisely-formatted anything because AI is trained on human work that is precisely that. Funnily enough, I have that reflex to move on if they're written like that... but I have to consider that maybe, the format is very digestible to my reading comprehension.

I understand if you disagree. I just feel like I'm in a tiny tiny minority with this opinion, and therefore, I'm judged for holding the wrong opinion.

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 3 points 1 week ago

Also, maybe someone is ESL and runs his replies through a translator because they're not confident enough in their English proficiency. Attacking someone because of that is just the same mindless and blind anti AI gatekeeping that's the current group-think.

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 1 points 1 week ago

I feel like I had to for this wonderful series, since I do not know what are this community’s knowledge of psychology and the exemplifications we have been shown in 4 episodes alone. So I decided to cover all my bases, and expand on them.

Hi, I also have ASD. So please be patient, as English is not my native language.

[–] wietach@ani.social 6 points 1 week ago

The portrayal of frustration and irritability from noise overstimulation was too real. I feel for Makio. New living conditions are hard for both Makio and Asa, though in completely different ways.

What's wonderful about Makio is that she recognizes Asa is a child, who needs support, and actually tries to be considerate of her. She isn't perfect for the job, and she knows it, but not any adult would've been able to handle similar situation in such a mature way.

[–] Endmaker@ani.social 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It appears that Makio is starting to realise that sister didn't actually look down on her aspirations. The cut to that look on her face during that scene is just chef's kiss.

[–] Unboxious@ani.social 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's also possible her sister did look down on her aspirations, and then grew up later.

[–] Endmaker@ani.social 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

While the sister-grew-up approach is possible, IMO the alternative is more compelling as it offers growth for the current Makio.

Also, this kind of development is a common scenario. In a previous episode, Daigo left a note for Makio (or is it the other way round? can't recall) and didn't think much of it, but it meant so much to the receiver. Makio's situation with her sister may be essentially the same thing, but in a negative way.

What Makio's sister said sounded like a quip that siblings usually say. It's an off-hand remark with the intent of teasing Makio, but Makio ended up taking it to heart.

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It depends. Makio has been repeatedly been shown to space out and even hallucinate Minori’s provocations. I am aware Makio suffered trauma and PTSD from continued abuse by Minori. And given how superficial were the furenal goers, I have to lean in that Minori had a severe case of NPD. I am not sure how Minori was abused to the extent she lashed out to Makio, but signs of NPD abuse even Asa recollected in this episode, esp. when she recalled the scenarios her mother would do to ignore her emotional needs.

[–] Endmaker@ani.social 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I appreciate the discussion but

Minori had a severe case of NPD

is a huge stretch ngl. Reality is usually not so extreme, and this anime has been very realistic thus far.

Regardless, we should be seeing Makio's sister / Asa's mother (Minori is her name huh?) fleshed out over the rest of the episodes. Would be interesting to find out what she is like beyond Makio's perspective.

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I recommend you rewatch all 4 episodes from Asa’s perspective. Child neglect, and the loneliness she feels, were contributing factors of Minori’s lack of sympathy NPDs are unable to exhibit.

This last episode, Asa clearly recollected her mother emotionally neglected her feelings. Unlike Makio who consoled her at the end. Makio acknowledged her feelings of wanting to standout, even if both mean different things to them: Makio here means as an artist, not Asa’s need to socially connect with peers.

[–] ReluctantlyZen@ani.social 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Idk, it doesn't sound like teasing to me. A constant feed of judgemental remarks will make you dislike, if not hate, someone. They didn't really seem like quips, especially if you follow it up with "what? don't you have anything to say?" when you notice the other person isn't laughing and actually looks quite angry. That's bully behaviour. If my brothers did that, I'd hate them too.

Makio's sister may have loved Makio and didn't look down on her (though I don't really get the latter from this), but if that's how she's showing it, then it doesn't matter.

[–] NineSwords@ani.social 2 points 1 week ago

Hope she gets some WX1000 for Christmas.