Hana ni Somu

Haruto is the son of the head priest at the Hibiragi shrine. Kano, the daughter of a tatami maker who lives nearby, starts practicing kyudo after being moved by the sight of Haruto and another boy drawing a bow. A tragic incident separates them, but they reunite years later. The narrative explores the evolving relationship between Kano and Haruto, who maintain a careful balance in their interactions, neither drawing too near nor drifting apart. It portrays the quiet emotional complexities of adolescence with a sense of restrained tension. The work received the Grand Prize of the 21st Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2017.