What Is The Ending Of Nana Manga?

I read this a long time ago as Hachi's memoir. In that interpretation, the ending of the story is wherever the narrator chooses to stop writing it, and for her that is a point of extreme pain which she doesn't want to go into in any more detail, but also a point which is rather mundane and of no interest to her. The dream sequence at the end of the story is, of course, the narrator. She's looking back on her past self and her past, reliving it all over again, but in order to create this perfect romantic image of her past self and her lost love, Nana, the story of their life together has to end at the point of greatest longing on the part of the narrator's past self. The grown-up Sachiko is a perpetual ghost, stuck in this moment of her life and forever editing and rehashing her youth with Nana.

I was thinking of this today, too. Anime and manga are two different mediums with different strengths. One of the biggest differences is how clues are hidden for the reader/viewer. In the manga, for example, there are tons of hidden clues in the background that you would completely miss in an anime (i.e. a drawing or symbol in the background or a shadowy figure far away). Also, in terms of comedy, the manga draws these out in VERY exaggerated chibi drawings and reactions which look SOOOO out of place compared to the rest of the serious tone of the manga. However, the anime treats these same scenes in a much more integrated way, often not drawing them out as much and therefore not having as big of an effect in terms of the contrasting rhythm to the rest of the series.

The final episodes refrrame the series as a tragic drama which was presented as a thriller from the beginning. Nana finally reached her revised goal for saving the students, but it was at the cost of her innocence and her chance for a normal life. Although the students whom she saved in the end may never fully understand or forgive her for her actions, she got what she wanted. Her goal for saving them was reached in a strategic way, not emotionally satisfying. It really explores the consequences for someone who has to do terrible things for noble reasons. She’s not a hero. She’s a secret that students may never even know existed. She’s a spy. And the ending really reinforces this show’s despairing, hopeful worldview. There’s no easy solution or denouement. In fact, it’s just the reverse of that. The ending is very difficult, but at the same time it is hopeful. One girl’s soul has been lost for this ending. But maybe in the end there will be a better future for her and for others.

For me, one of the biggest assets to the series is the extreme depth given to all of the characters and how they experience life on this crazy rollercoaster with us. Needless to say, the attempt to try to uncover further meaning as well as speculated alternate storylines have brought forth many captivating Nana fan theories. As was stated previously, many believe that the relationship between the two Nanas (Osaki & Komatsu, or simply ‘Hachi’) will shape up in unique ways as they each attempt to fulfill their separate quests for life. Some speculate that perhaps the two dream-chasers are meant to search for stability with each other and debate what will happen if each of them ends up living alternate lives. Maybe their relationship will symbolize hope, and the chase for both of their lives and ambition. The fate of Ren can also lead to interesting discussions within the ‘Nana’ fan community. Many of them wonder whether Nana Osaki would have grown up as much as she did if Ren hadn’t died, and how her life would have been different. It’s possible that Ren could have brought Nana back down to earth, or maybe he would have fueled her darker ambitions. Nana Osaki’s emotional reactions to Ren’s death are felt throughout the story and spark conversations regarding how loss affects people to such great extent. There are also many great theories related to the timeframe of the novel and the relations of its characters. It’s said that the novel presents a non-linear timeframe of its characters, therefore they are distant from reality. The theories of the fans are also split around the issue of whether the characters are pursuing their dreams or just illusions. Does the reality of the characters blend with their fantasies? Are they trying to fulfill their destiny? These are the kinds of questions that fans have to answer while discussing the series and they have numerous interpretations. But, the largest amount of interpretations for every event that is taking place in the series, weave together within the story line of ‘Nana’ and expose the merits of an excellent story writer. For this reason, there are plenty of discussion themes within the series for everyone. Each of the stories mirroring human relations and their aspirations, allow viewers to relate to them, inspire discussion and teach a lesson, thereby, enabling the series to remain one of the great and classic works of Japanese pop culture, even to this day.

Just read it. Describing the story and giving away the plot points doesn’t do it justice. The artwork, the panel structure and the silent moments all contribute to an amazing reading experience. Although you might know the basic plot points by now, the execution of the story is what makes it so special. Take a day off, read the final storyline from start to end and experience it for yourself.

Note that this is not a Shonen Jump title. This is an extremely grim, adult oriented story published in an ero-manga site, so naturally the ending is extreme, provocative and does not allow for any type of sentimentalism. The transformation of Saki into a corpse, the ultimate object, is the completion of her dehumanization and thus this is the ‘true ending’ of her story. A harsh commentary on the matter at hand, wrapped up in an extremely exploitative narrative. But within its own boundaries the ending is perfectly consistent and final. There is no sequel, no “what if” side story written by the author. The story says what it wants to say and then ends brutally.

The ending of the story fittingly showcases the thematic ideas of secrecy and duality. For most of the story, their relationship was secretly hidden in their own little world of private interaction and the ending definitively solidifies that hidden world as their entire reality. Shedding their false public images completely, the two finally come out of the closet as their true selves. Mirrors, windows and reflections become frequent plot devices in the final chapters in order to reinforce the idea of two separate people finally uniting as one. The ending could have been a simple and unsatisfying plot point, but instead, it is the culmination of all of the series’ themes, full of closure and thought in a very cohesive package despite being mostly strange and unsettling.

What does Sora’s fashion look like in the final chapters of her story? For graduation and afterward, she’s depicted in a variety of outfits, most of them neat but casual, as opposed to at all time trying to hide who she is. This fashion reveals so much about her development as a person. And it’s all done silently by the artist, which is amazing.

This ending by Takehiro Hiroyuki is really something. The end doesn’t have to include some dramatic explosion or last minute upgrade. Hao simply realizes that maybe he doesn’t have to destroy humanity after all. This is low-key brilliant. As the story follows Yoh, the world is saved by his laid back attitude. Originally a manga focused on spiritual growth as opposed to battle, this ending really fits. It was a complete surprise to me when I first read the manga.

I have already recommended this series to friends under the heading of “wait for the payoff.” The ending is the payoff for all of the moments of shyness, for all of the missed opportunities, for all of the tender service that constitutes so much of the lives of the characters. You grow patiently with them and then harvest the fruit of their labors.