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

Timeline

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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 (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. The Rainy Meeting at Kasaki Station

    In a downpour at Kasaki Station, shy high school student Kaoru Touno meets Anzu Hanashiro, a transfer student from Tokyo. As Kaoru shares his umbrella with her, Anzu opens up about her life lacking parental presence, hinting at deeper emotional complexities ahead.

    Where
    Kasaki Station

  2. Anzu's Arrival at School

    The next day, Anzu arrives at Kaoru's school, where her presence is met with mixed reactions. Despite attempts from her classmates to welcome her, she struggles to fit in, particularly after being targeted by the mean girl Koharu Kawasaki.

    Where
    Kaoru's School

  3. Confrontation with Koharu

    Koharu mocks Anzu by stealing her manga, provoking a swift and aggressive response. Anzu retaliates by punching Koharu, establishing her resistance but also isolating herself further from her peers.

    Where
    Kaoru's School

  4. Kaoru's Family Turmoil

    At home, Kaoru endures his father's wrath, who unjustly blames him for the family's unraveling after the loss of Kaoru's sister, Karen. This emotional turmoil drives Kaoru to seek refuge outside, leading him to the legendary Urashima Tunnel.

    Where
    Kaoru's Home

  5. Exploring the Urashima Tunnel

    Once inside the Urashima Tunnel, Kaoru discovers its peculiar property: time passes differently. A mere hour inside the tunnel equates to a week outside, giving them a unique opportunity to explore their desires and rhythm of time.

    Where
    Urashima Tunnel

  6. A Pact of Desires

    Reuniting after his tunnel adventure, Kaoru and Anzu establish a pact to pursue their innermost desires. Each visit to the tunnel serves to deepen their bond, revealing Anzu's fears and Kaoru's wish to resurrect his sister.

    Where
    Urashima Tunnel

  7. Discovering Lost Dreams

    During their exploration, Kaoru and Anzu find mysterious papers that reveal Anzu’s abandoned manga, highlighting her forgotten potential. This discovery ignites Kaoru's determination to help Anzu reclaim her lost dreams of becoming a manga artist.

    Where
    Urashima Tunnel

  8. Summer Festival Date

    After enjoying a wonderful date at a summer festival, Kaoru returns home only to discover his father has remarried and introduced a new stepmother. This shocking news creates unease, prompting Kaoru to ask Anzu to postpone their final journey to the tunnel.

    Where
    Kaoru's Home

  9. Anzu's Desperation

    Worried about Kaoru’s abrupt disappearance, Anzu rushes back to the tunnel. There, she finds a poignant message from Kaoru, revealing the tunnel's true nature and encouraging her to follow her dreams while accepting his own path.

    Where
    Urashima Tunnel

  10. Reunion with Karen

    Inside the tunnel, Kaoru experiences a surreal reunion with his sister Karen following her tragic passing. Their bittersweet encounter emphasizes the themes of love and unresolved grief, leading him to a significant realization about his feelings for Anzu.

    Where
    Urashima Tunnel

  11. Eight Years of Reflection

    Eight years later, Anzu stands at Kasaki Station, feeling bittersweet about her past and her dreams of being a manga artist. Nostalgically thinking of Kaoru, she realizes her aspirations have dimmed due to life's challenges, further complicating her emotional state.

    Where
    Kasaki Station

  12. A Message from Kaoru

    Just as sorrow envelops Anzu, she receives a hopeful message from Kaoru, hinting at a new beginning. This prompts her to embark on a journey, filled with determination to reunite with him and revive her dreams together.

  13. Kaoru's Leap into the Tunnel

    In a twist of fate, Kaoru accidentally falls back into the tunnel, leading to a moment where time seems to come to a stop. Within the darkness, he feels Anzu’s warm presence reignite his consciousness, reminding him of their bond.

    Where
    Urashima Tunnel

  14. The Poetic Reunion

    In a beautifully poetic moment, Kaoru and Anzu share a kiss inside the tunnel, symbolizing the intertwining of their fates. This transcendent encounter transforms both of them, marking the culmination of their journeys and struggles.

    Where
    Urashima Tunnel

  15. Transcending Time

    Emerging from the tunnel, Kaoru steps into the light after 13 years and 102 days since their initial meeting. Forever changed by their experiences, he and Anzu are ready to face the future together, forever altered by the serendipitous encounter that began their journey.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 17:45

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Timeline questions answered

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

How does the Urashima Tunnel's time manipulation work?

The Urashima Tunnel distorts time in a specific way: one hour spent inside the tunnel equals one week in the real world. This allowed Kaoru and Anzu to explore the tunnel repeatedly while only brief time passed outside, but it also meant they had to be extremely careful about their timing inside.

Foreshadowing: The tunnel's time-bending nature is hinted at when Kaoru first enters alone and discovers the dramatic time difference.

  • urashima tunnel
  • time dilation
  • time travel
  • hour
  • week
  • tunnel rules
Q2

What happened to Kaoru's sister Karen?

Kaoru's sister Karen has passed away, though the exact circumstances are not detailed in the summary. Her death haunts Kaoru throughout the film, and his father wrongly blames Kaoru for the family's tragedy, holding him accountable for the loss.

Foreshadowing: Kaoru's father's unjust blame foreshadows the emotional burden Kaoru carries throughout the story.

  • karen
  • kaoru sister
  • death
  • family loss
  • blame
Q3

Why does Kaoru want to bring his sister back from the dead?

Kaoru carries deep guilt over his sister's death, exacerbated by his father's constant blame. His greatest wish is to resurrect Karen, believing it would restore his broken family and absolve his guilt.

Foreshadowing: The emotional weight of Karen's loss is established early through Kaoru's family turmoil.

  • resurrection
  • wish
  • guilt
  • sister
  • family
  • death
Q4

What does the tunnel actually do if it doesn't grant wishes?

The tunnel does not grant wishes in the traditional sense. Instead, it allows people to confront and address what they have lost. Kaoru discovers this truth and realizes the tunnel cannot bring his sister back, but can help him process his grief and find closure.

Foreshadowing: This revelation comes through Kaoru's message to Anzu, explaining the tunnel's true nature.

  • tunnel truth
  • wishes
  • loss
  • confrontation
  • closure
Q5

Why does Anzu want to become a manga artist?

Anzu had a childhood dream of becoming a famous manga artist, but her father dismissed her work without consideration. The abandoned manga they find in the tunnel represents her forgotten potential, which Kaoru encourages her to reclaim.

Foreshadowing: The discovery of Anzu's hidden manga reveals her suppressed artistic ambitions.

  • manga
  • artist
  • dream
  • ambition
  • anzu
  • father rejection
Q6

What message does Kaoru leave for Anzu in the tunnel?

Kaoru leaves a message explaining that the tunnel offers no wishes but instead helps people face what they've lost. He encourages Anzu to pursue her manga dreams and accept that he must find his own way forward, revealing his acceptance of grief.

Foreshadowing: This message marks a turning point where both characters must choose their paths.

  • message
  • letter
  • encouragement
  • manga dreams
  • tunnel truth
Q7

Why does Kaoru's father blame him for his sister's death?

Kaoru's father directs his grief and anger at Kaoru, unfairly holding him responsible for the family's breakdown after Karen's death. This unjust blame creates Kaoru's deep emotional turmoil and drives him to seek the tunnel's help.

Foreshadowing: This family conflict is established early when Kaoru's father explodes in rage.

  • father
  • blame
  • family conflict
  • karen
  • guilt
  • abuse
Q8

How long does Kaoru spend in the tunnel before emerging?

When Kaoru falls back into the tunnel and reunites with Anzu, he emerges 13 years and 102 days after his initial descent. This massive time jump occurs during their transcendent reunion and kiss inside the tunnel.

Foreshadowing: The time manipulation was established early with the hour-to-week ratio.

  • time jump
  • 13 years
  • emergence
  • tunnel
  • kiss
  • reunion
Q9

What happens to Anzu eight years after meeting Kaoru?

Eight years later, Anzu has become a moderately successful manga artist, but her passion has faded due to bitterness and fatigue from the years of longing. She stands at Kasaki Station thinking of Kaoru and her failed tunnel attempt, until she receives his message giving her hope.

Foreshadowing: The epilogue reveals how their separation affected Anzu's artistic journey.

  • eight years
  • manga artist
  • success
  • bitterness
  • waiting
  • station
Q10

How do Kaoru and Anzu finally reunite in the tunnel?

When Kaoru accidentally falls back into the tunnel, time halts and darkness surrounds him. Anzu's warm presence reignites his consciousness, and they share a poetic kiss that intertwines their fates. This moment allows Kaoru to emerge from the tunnel transformed.

Foreshadowing: Their connection has been building throughout their tunnel explorations.

  • kiss
  • reunion
  • tunnel
  • fate
  • consciousness
  • emergence
Q11

What is Anzu's true desire in the tunnel?

While Anzu initially seems focused on her manga career, her true desire revealed in the tunnel is to be with Kaoru. She confesses this heartbreak when she believes he is leaving, showing that her emotional connection outweighs her professional ambitions.

Foreshadowing: Their growing bond throughout the story leads to this confession.

  • true desire
  • love
  • confession
  • anzu
  • kaoru
  • relationship
Q12

Why does Kaoru's father introduce a stepmother?

After Kaoru and Anzu's summer festival date, Kaoru returns home to discover his father has remarried and introduced a new stepmother into their lives. This new presence represents another change in Kaoru's family dynamic and adds to his desire to escape his difficult home situation.

Foreshadowing: This event prompts Kaoru to ask Anzu to delay their final tunnel journey.

  • stepmother
  • father
  • remarriage
  • family
  • home
  • change

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
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  • 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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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.

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Every angle

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