The Wind Rises 2013

In the year 1918, a young man named Jiro Horikoshi harbors aspirations of becoming a pilot. However, his hopes are dashed when he discovers that his nearsightedness renders him unable to fly. Inspired by a magazine article, he begins to dream vividly of soaring through the skies with his idol, the Italian aircraft designer Giovanni Battista Caproni. In these dreams, Caproni reveals a profound insight: although he has never piloted a plane himself, he believes that creating aircraft is far more significant than flying them. Fast forward five years later, after witnessing the unfortunate failure of the real Caproni Ca.60, Jiro finds himself enrolled as an aeronautical engineering student at Tokyo Imperial University. During a trip home to visit family, he meets a young girl named Nahoko Satomi, who is accompanied by her maid Kinu. Their meeting takes a chaotic turn when the Great Kantō earthquake strikes, resulting in Kinu sustaining a broken leg. Jiro steps in to assist Nahoko in bringing Kinu back to her family home, leaving this first encounter without even learning each other’s names.

The year is 1925, and Jiro graduates alongside his friend Kiro Honjo. Both men secure positions at the aircraft manufacturer Mitsubishi during the turbulent times of the Great Depression. They are tasked with developing a fighter plane, the Mitsubishi 1MF9, for the Imperial Army. However, during testing, the plane tragically breaks apart in midair and is promptly rejected. In a strategic pivot, Mitsubishi sends Jiro and Honjo to the Weimar Republic in 1929 to acquire a production license for the Junkers G.38 aircraft, with intentions to manufacture a bomber. Despite being welcomed by Hugo Junkers, the pair faces obstacles in obtaining the complete plans due to interventions from the Sicherheitspolizei. Disheartened by Japan’s technological lag in aeronautics, Jiro decides to return home, while Honjo stays behind and eventually contributes to the design of the Mitsubishi G4M.

In early 1932, Jiro achieves the position of chief designer for a competition to create a fighter plane sponsored by the Imperial Navy. Unfortunately, his design, the Mitsubishi 1MF10, fails the testing phase in 1933 and faces rejection once again. Seeking solace, he retreats to a summer resort in Karuizawa, where he fortuitously reunites with an older Nahoko, who has been searching for him since their initial encounter. Their connection quickly blossoms into romance, with the aid of a German tourist named Hans Castorp. Castorp, critical of Nazi Germany, discreetly informs Jiro of the serious situation regarding Adolf Hitler’s regime and reassures him about the looming threat of another world war, this time potentially with Japan as an ally. He ultimately has to flee from the Special Higher Police.

Devastating news strikes when Nahoko is diagnosed with tuberculosis. This prompts Jiro to seek her father’s permission to marry her, leading to a heartfelt engagement. However, Nahoko expresses a wish to wait until she fully recovers before marrying. She returns to her family home, and with Jiro needing to remain hidden due to his connection with Castorp, he takes refuge at his supervisor Kurokawa’s residence while working on a new fighter project for the Imperial Navy. Jiro’s commitment to Nahoko leads him to her side after a pulmonary hemorrhage, but after a brief visit, Nahoko decides to check into a mountain sanatorium for her treatment. Unable to cope with separation, she makes a return to Jiro’s side. With her father’s blessing, Kurokawa and his wife assist in a private marriage ceremony, allowing the couple to stay together. Jiro’s sister, Kayo, who is a doctor, warns him of the tragic fate that awaits them, as tuberculosis remains incurable. Despite Nahoko’s deteriorating condition, they cherish their precious moments together.

As Jiro prepares for the test flight of his newest prototype, the Mitsubishi Ka-14, Nahoko, keenly aware of her impending demise, writes farewell letters to Jiro, her family, and friends. In a desperate attempt to return to the sanatorium, she discreetly leaves the house. At the test site, Jiro becomes distracted during what should be a triumphant moment, as a sudden gust of wind hints at Nahoko’s passing.

By 1945, in the aftermath of Japan’s defeat in World War II, Jiro finds himself once again in the realm of dreams, seeking guidance from Caproni. He expresses regret that his magnificent aircraft were utilized for warfare. Caproni reassures him, stating that despite this tragedy, Jiro’s envisioned dream of creating beautiful flying machines was ultimately realized with his masterpiece—the A6M ‘Zero’ fighter. In a poignant moment, Nahoko’s spirit appears to him, encouraging her husband to embrace life ahead. As her spirit fades, Jiro and Caproni walk together into a shared kingdom of dreams, united by their passion for aviation.