On her walk back home in an evening downpour, Fuji, a young woman, finds a peculiar dog, You, abandoned in the rain. Charmed by You’s eccentricity and kindness after they offer her an umbrella, Fuji takes You in and navigates their new relationship as pet and owner. In episode 1, Fuji adjusts to her new role as caretaker and does her best to check off the necessary to-dos: buy the proper pet food, take You to the vet, and clean You with a nice, soothing bath.
While it may not have been the most thunderous introduction, the first episode of With You and the Rain elevates what could’ve been a mundane plot through its key attention to detail, as well as its balance of serenity and melancholy. Fuji and You’s adventures carry a lighthearted ridiculousness, fueled by how easily they both acclimate to their off-kilter partnership. You is fully literate and also insistent that they are a dog, despite their tanuki-shaped figure (down to the leaf!) — and Fuji barely questions it, taking it all in stride even when other characters try to point out You’s oddities.
Amidst this steady atmosphere, the story gives small nods to some of the hardships occurring in Fuji’s life. She immediately hangs up when she calls her (drunk?) father on accident, instead dialing up her younger brother and relying on him for advice. She wavers when You asks her (using their notebook and tilted handwriting), What is your job?, holding a pregnant pause before answering that she’s a novelist. While for much of the episode Fuji moves calmly through each situation, in these passing moments we witness small ripples of instability and insecurity.
Despite the introduction of these problems, the overall coziness never dissipates. Whether these small ripples will eventually cause Fuji to spill over, we won’t know until later, but the first episode has laid the groundwork for more complexity to unfold.
The show excels not just in these details hinting at turmoil but also in its subtle expression of Fuji’s growing endearment for You. When Fuji goes to the convenience store to choose what kind of pet food to buy, a worker bounds over and tells her which type they get for their uchi no ko, a common Japanese term of endearment for pets that means “our child.” Fuji takes this information in, and a few scenes later, the words casually roll off her tongue as she apologizes to a man in the park after You runs loose: Sorry, that’s my child.
These scenes don’t happen back to back, nor is Fuji’s line emphasized in any way — I only noticed it on my second watch. But that’s exactly why this choice feels so significant. Fuji’s nurture comes with so much ease, and if not ease, with intention. For someone who undertook such a big responsibility on a whim, Fuji remains steadfast about being a caretaker and strives to kindle a meaningful friendship with her new companion. Amidst the rain, Fuji’s sincerity shines through, and in just one episode, she’s become an admirable protagonist that I’m curious to continue parsing the inner thoughts of.
Finally, I absolutely love the myriad of water sounds incorporated within these 22 minutes. It’s not just the ASMR from the pouring rain, but also the quiet shushing of the showerhead, the small waves of Fuji wading in the bath, the dnks of a shishi-odoshi in place of You’s dialogue. Just as You’s dog-impersonating antics are a nod to how tanuki shapeshift in Japanese folklore, the soundscape adds another level of complexity, incorporating the water motif in a way that is uniquely Japanese.
As the season progresses, I’m curious as to how far the show will stretch its water symbolism. Will it continue to take on new meaning with more heavy downpours entering Fuji and You’s lives? Or is the rain merely symbolic of our duo’s first encounter? Whatever the direction, I am excited to bear witness to the rest of this heartfelt relationship.
With You and the Rain is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
