The term 'downtown' actually comes from Japanese subculture, describing a melancholic atmosphere that lingers after something emotionally heavy happens. It's not just sadness – it's more like the grey zone between resignation and quiet despair, often depicted in artsy anime like 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' where characters carry invisible burdens.
Western fans might compare it to 'emo' or 'goth' aesthetics, but those are more about outward expression. Downturn is subtler – the way background music fades into minor chords, or how a character's eyes lose focus when remembering painful things. Think of those rain scenes in 'Blade Runner', but stretched into a whole mood that colors everything.
What makes it uniquely Japanese is the cultural context of 'mono no aware' – appreciating the beauty in transience. Western media tends to resolve emotional arcs, while downturn works linger in that unresolved space where healing hasn't begun yet.