Tsubasa Yamaguchi wrote and illustrated the manga series that served as the basis for Netflix’s “Blue Period,” a wholly Shounen TV animation. The novel becomes a coming-of-age tale showing the protagonist’s inner conflict and his family’s financial troubles up close.
As the story progresses, we learn more about the character of Yatora Yaguchi, a popular and capable high school student who is searching for meaning and purpose in his life.
Then he comes upon art and understands it’s the final piece of the puzzle he’s been searching for. So what happened at the end of Blue Period episode 1? Find out in this spoiler-filled guide. WARNING: This section contains plot spoilers.
Episode 1 of the Blue Period (Season 1) Review
We meet Yatra and his companions Utashima, Sumida, and Koigakubo in the first episode, titled ‘Awakening to the Joy of Painting.’
They enjoy one other’s company while they eat, drink, and smoke while watching soccer. Yatra appears to be a highly outgoing person who spends little time learning.
As a result, when he achieves high exam scores, his peers believe he is gifted. However, he informs them that he is a diligent worker in reality.
However, he appears uninterested in everything. Yatra is lost in his thoughts. He engages in various activities, such as studying and socializing with his peers, because they all fit into a larger pattern.
A picture created by one of Yatora’s seniors is discovered while visiting the art class to retrieve a pack of cigarettes he had unintentionally left behind.
It has a tremendous effect on him. He makes friends with art club member Ryuuji Ayukawa. At first, their connection is tense, but things start to look up as they get to know one another.
In the last moments of Blue Period Episode 1, Yatra makes a career decision.
Yatra intends to pursue a career in the arts shortly. His family’s financial situation, on the other hand, does not permit him to attend a private school.
As a result, he’ll have to attend a public school regardless of his preferences. Sadly, there is only one school that offers a painting degree: Tokyo University of the Arts. Unfortunately, this school has Japan’s lowest acceptance rate.
The choice hasn’t come easily to him. Because he comes from a working-class background and is well aware of his predicament, he is initially dubious about pursuing an artistic profession.
Because it is rooted in reality, the starving artist is a common literary and cinematic cliche. Only a small percentage of artists go on to have a successful career. In addition, he even wonders if he has the talent to succeed as an artist.
Yatra’s art teacher, Masako Saeki, assures him that his concern about financial stability is neither unique nor troublesome by relating stories about Picasso and how commercially minded the brilliant painter was.
In addition, senior artist Maru Mori, whose work he admired, teaches him the importance of experience and wisdom above pure skill. Together with Yatora’s personal experience while painting his Shibuya-inspired vision, all of these factors sway his decision-making.
Yatra is filled with excitement as he brings the blue Shibuya to the drawing paper to convey his inner views. Thanks to it, that piece of art also helps him feel closer to his pals than he ever has before.
For the first time, he believes he can communicate with them. In telling Saeki about his intentions, he receives both encouragement and a clear explanation of his challenges in following his desire. She makes him know that from this point on, it’s going to be a tough road.
In any case, the essential thing here is that Yatra has made the decision and is willing to accept the risk. When someone works hard at something they enjoy, they are unstoppable, as Saeki explains to him.