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The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 1 h 23 m · Japanese
Echo score 72
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Directed by
Tomohisa Taguchi
Starring
Shelley Calene-Black, Tasuku Hatanaka, Rikiya Koyama, Oji Suzuka, Seiran Kobayashi, Arisa Komiya

Within the enigmatic Urashima Tunnel, hope demands a steep price – the sacrifice of heartbeats. Kaoru, struggling with inner turmoil, and the imaginative Anzu venture into the tunnel's depths, seeking to unravel its mysteries. Their journey reveals that fulfilling their most cherished desires may carry a devastating cost, forcing them to confront the painful realities of loss and longing.

Animation Drama Fantasy Mystery Romance Sci-Fi Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Character relationship map
  4. 4 Where & when it takes place
  5. 5 Themes & meaning (3)
  6. 6 Character & meaning questions
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Every angle
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3 main characters · contains spoilers

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Kaoru Touno (Oji Suzuka)

    Kaoru is a shy and introspective high school student deeply affected by his family dynamics, particularly the loss of his sister. His character evolves as he navigates emotional turmoil and discovers inner strength through his relationship with Anzu. Driven by love and nostalgia, Kaoru's journey emphasizes the importance of confronting the past to move forward.

    • 😔 Sadness
    • 💬 Communication
    • 🌱 Growth

  • Anzu Hanashiro (Patricia Duran)

    Anzu is an enigmatic transfer student from Tokyo grappling with her own sense of abandonment and artistic ambition. She presents a tough exterior but harbors deep vulnerabilities and desires. Anzu's character reflects resilience as she learns to confront her fears and pursue her dreams, alongside her growing bond with Kaoru.

    • 🎭 Resilience
    • 🎨 Creativity
    • 💔 Heartbreak

  • Koharu Kawasaki (Arisa Komiya)

    Koharu is the school’s mean girl, embodying the harsh social dynamics faced by Anzu after her arrival. Initially antagonistic, her character serves as a foil to Anzu’s resilience, illustrating the challenges of acceptance in a new environment. Her evolution throughout the story highlights the complexities of teenage relationships.

    • 😠 Bullying
    • 👩‍🎓 School Life
    • 🥊 Conflict

Last updated: October 21, 2026 at 17:18

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3 characters · 4 connections · contains spoilers

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Character Relationship Map

Who is connected to whom in The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes: family, love, friendships, rivalries and hidden ties, colour-coded. Pick a character to see their side of the story, or a connection to see what brings two characters together.

How much of the story to show
KTKaoru TounoOji SuzukaKFKaoru's fatherKKaren

Last updated: October 21, 2026 at 17:18

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Setting

Where and When Does The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Take Place?

The setting of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present Day

The movie takes place in the present day, reflecting contemporary issues faced by today’s youth, such as familial expectations, emotional isolation, and the pursuit of dreams. This timeframe showcases the impact of nostalgia and the urgency of forming meaningful relationships amidst life's challenges.

Location

Kasaki Station, Urashima Tunnel

Kasaki Station is a quaint train station in a rural area of Japan, characterized by its serene setting and frequent rainy weather. It marks the intersection of two lives, where personal histories begin to intertwine. The Urashima Tunnel, a mythical location, possesses the unique ability to distort time, allowing characters to explore deep emotional connections and unresolved desires.

  • 🌧️ Scenic
  • 🏞️ Historic

Last updated: October 21, 2026 at 17:18

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3 major themes

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Time

    The theme of time plays a pivotal role in the narrative, explored through the Urashima Tunnel's ability to manipulate temporal experiences. Characters confront their pasts as they navigate the tunnel's mysteries, emphasizing the importance of seizing the moment and the consequences of time lost. Their journey reflects a broader commentary on how time influences personal growth and relationships.

  • Loss

    Loss is a recurring theme, intertwining the characters' backstories with their present struggles. Kaoru's grief over his sister's death shapes his emotional journey, while Anzu grapples with her familial void. Both characters seek to overcome their pain, ultimately learning that embracing love can lead to healing and personal fulfillment.

  • Dreams

    The pursuit of dreams is central to Anzu's character and her struggle to become a manga artist. Throughout the story, aspirations are reflected in their conversations and actions, showcasing how dreams can be hindered by external pressures and internal fears. The characters’ development revolves around the importance of adapting and reclaiming lost ambitions.

Last updated: October 21, 2026 at 17:18

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Character & theme questions

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story takes place in rural Japan, primarily at Kasaki Station, a quiet train station known for its serene atmosphere and frequent rain. The central location is the Urashima Tunnel, a mythical passage that exists near this rural setting and has the power to distort time.

  • kasaki station
  • urashima tunnel
  • rural japan
  • setting
Q2

What is the Urashima Tunnel?

The Urashima Tunnel is a legendary tunnel near Kasaki Station with supernatural properties, it can manipulate time itself. Those who enter can potentially undo past regrets, but the tunnel extracts a heavy price: every use costs precious heartbeats, symbolizing the trade-off between desire and existence.

  • urashima tunnel
  • time distortion
  • mythical tunnel
  • wishes
Q3

When does the movie take place?

The movie is set in the present day, reflecting contemporary issues faced by today's youth including familial expectations, emotional isolation, and the pursuit of dreams. This modern setting grounds the fantasy elements in relatable, current struggles.

  • present day
  • contemporary
  • modern setting
  • youth
Q4

What does the Time theme represent?

Time is a central theme explored through the Urashima Tunnel's ability to manipulate temporal experiences. Characters confront their pasts and learn that seizing the present moment is vital, time lost cannot be reclaimed. The theme emphasizes how time shapes personal growth and relationships.

  • time
  • temporal
  • past
  • present
  • personal growth
Q5

What role does Loss play in the story?

Loss is a recurring theme that shapes both main characters. Kaoru grapples with grief over his sister's death, while Anzu deals with her own sense of familial abandonment. Their journey shows that overcoming pain requires embracing love, leading to healing and fulfillment despite the weight of loss.

  • loss
  • grief
  • death
  • sister
  • family
  • healing
Q6

How are Dreams explored in the movie?

Dreams, particularly Anzu's aspiration to become a manga artist, drive much of the narrative. The story explores how external pressures and internal fears can hinder ambitions, while also showing the importance of adapting and reclaiming lost dreams. Characters must balance their desires with reality.

  • dreams
  • manga artist
  • aspirations
  • ambitions
  • goals
Q7

Who is Kaoru Touno?

Kaoru is a shy, introspective high school student dealing with deep emotional turmoil following his sister's death. His character arc involves confronting his grief and discovering inner strength through his relationship with Anzu. He is driven by love, nostalgia, and the need to face his past to move forward.

  • kaoru
  • protagonist
  • grief
  • high school student
  • sister
Q8

Who is Anzu Hanashiro?

Anzu is an enigmatic transfer student from Tokyo who appears tough but harbors deep vulnerabilities. Abandoned and isolated, she channels her pain into artistic ambition, wanting to become a manga artist. Her character learns to confront her fears and pursue her dreams while forming a meaningful bond with Kaoru.

  • anzu
  • transfer student
  • tokyo
  • manga artist
  • artistic
Q9

What is Koharu Kawasaki's role in the story?

Koharu is the school's mean girl who embodies the harsh social dynamics Anzu faces after transferring. Initially antagonistic toward Anzu, she serves as a foil to Anzu's resilience. Her character evolution highlights the complexities of teenage relationships and the challenge of acceptance in a new environment.

  • koharu
  • antagonist
  • mean girl
  • social dynamics
  • bullying
Q10

What is the overall tone of the movie?

The film has a predominantly bittersweet tone, blending hopeful romance and magical elements with the melancholic weight of past loss and sacrifice. While themes of family trauma and unfulfilled dreams carry serious emotional weight, a persistent thread of love and hope prevents it from becoming overwhelmingly bleak.

  • tone
  • bittersweet
  • emotional
  • romance
  • melancholy
  • hopeful

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Bittersweet Magical Realism and First Love Movies like The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes

Young love blossoms alongside mysterious phenomena that come with a heavy emotional cost. If you enjoyed the mix of tender romance, magical discovery, and poignant sacrifice in The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, you'll find similar stories here. These movies often feature young protagonists navigating first love and a mysterious phenomenon, exploring themes of memory, loss, and the bittersweet cost of dreams.

  • melancholic
  • yearning
  • dreamlike
  • contemplative
  • atmospheric
  • romantic
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern typically involves protagonists discovering a supernatural element—a hidden place, an object, or an ability—that offers a solution to their deepest longing. Their journey is one of exploration and growing affection, but the initial wonder is gradually tempered by the realization that using the magic exacts a significant price, forcing them to confront difficult choices between desire and reality.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique blend of a hopeful, romantic core with a melancholic, magical-realist atmosphere. They share a steady, character-driven pace, a medium emotional weight, and a central theme of love intertwined with loss or sacrifice, creating a consistently bittersweet and contemplative vibe.

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2019
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2012
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2022
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Movies About Processing Grief and Memory like The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes

Characters process profound loss while navigating a world distorted by memory and time. Discover films that share the contemplative and melancholic exploration of grief found in The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes. These stories focus on characters dealing with loss, often using elements of fantasy or drama to symbolize their emotional journey through memory, time, and the pain of saying goodbye.

  • melancholic
  • contemplative
  • atmospheric
  • nostalgic
  • yearning
  • emotional
  • Tone: melancholic, contemplative, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories unfold through a steady, reflective pace, allowing space for the character's internal turmoil. The plot is often catalyzed by an event or location that forces a confrontation with the past. The central journey is not about a physical goal but an emotional one: understanding, accepting, and learning to live with a life-altering loss, often resulting in a conclusion that is healing yet fundamentally changed.

Why they belong together: The grouping is defined by a shared focus on the emotional process of grief. They prioritize mood and internal conflict over fast-paced action, featuring a melancholic tone, steady pacing, and a narrative that uses its setting and plot elements as direct metaphors for the character's psychological state.

The Dust Factory movie poster

The Dust Factory

2004
Balance, Not Symmetry movie poster

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2019
All That We Love movie poster

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2021
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We Are Boats

2018
From Time to Time movie poster

From Time to Time

2009
A Distant Neighborhood movie poster

A Distant Neighborhood

2010
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey movie poster

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

2025

Every angle

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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