The long-awaited anime adaptation of "Grandpa and Grandma Rejuvenate" is set to air this year in 2024, but how much do you know about its main characters, Shozo and Ine? The series has gained explosive popularity on social media, so many people have only seen the trending episodes, and many may not be familiar with the overall story or the details of the main characters, Shozo and Ine. So, in this article, we'd like to introduce Shozo and Ine, the main characters of "Grandpa and Grandma Rejuvenate." The two characters are quite unique, with backgrounds that are unique to the past and settings that are typical of elderly people. Fans who are already excited about the anime adaptation can use this article to learn more about the two characters.
Saito Shozo
Saito Shozo is one of the main characters in this work and the husband of the other main character, Ine. At the beginning of the story, he appears extremely old and unattractive, but after a strange turn of events, he is rejuvenated and begins to live a more vibrant life than ever before. He is one of the most popular characters in this work, so be sure to keep an eye on him.
Even his relatives fell in love with him
In stark contrast to his appearance as an old man, Shozo's younger self is a handsome, salt-faced man popular with modern people, captivating many female characters in the series. His striking looks are especially highly praised by his daughter-in-law and grandchildren, making him a grandfather who even his relatives fell in love with. Incidentally, some have pointed out that it's strange for him to have pale skin despite working as a farmer, but since the amount of sunlight in the Tohoku region where Shozo lives is not that intense, it actually makes sense that he has radiant pale skin while working as a farmer.
His family side
He's not just handsome in appearance; his devotion to his family, always thinking about them, is also what makes him handsome. Many older people still believe that women should do the housework, so it's rare to see a grandfather like Shozo who can look at women with an open mind.
A Past of Financial Struggles
Although Shozo is a kind-hearted and handsome man, he apparently struggled financially in his youth. He was unable to attend high school due to financial difficulties, had to start working early on, and had many other hardships that prevented him from enjoying himself to the fullest in his youth. Therefore, his rejuvenation can be seen as a way of making up for the hardships he endured in his youth.
His sense of fashion...
He seems like a perfect man in every way, but his sense of fashion is quite old-fashioned, typical of men of his age. He seems unable to keep up with the latest fashion trends, as he sometimes ends up looking like Tora-san even when wearing what he thought was fashionable. However, some people believe that his lack of fashion sense is actually endearing and appealing, so you could say that his lack of fashion sense is part of his personality.
Saito Ine
Saito Ine is the other main character of this work and appears as the wife of the previously mentioned protagonist, Shozo. When she first appears, Ine looks like an ordinary old lady, but like her husband, Shozo, a strange incident causes her to rejuvenate and return to her former beauty.
Former Lady
Not only is she beautiful, but she also possesses a refined appearance. This is due to the fact that she was once the daughter of Tokyo's nobility. Originally born into a wealthy family, she lived a comfortable life, but one day her family fell into decline, and she moved from Tokyo to the area where Shozo lives. As a result, her personality was originally quite harsh, as befits a daughter of the nobility, and I believe she is a character whose personality has changed significantly between the present and the past.
Ine's approach was unusual for the time
When Shozo and Ine were younger, arranged marriages were common, and marriages based on love were extremely rare. Even in those days, Ine approached Shozo herself and they ended up getting married. While love marriages were extremely rare at the time, a woman's approach was even rarer. This past experience suggests that Ine had extraordinary feelings for Shozo.
He's been feeling unwell lately
Although Ine had a special connection with Shozo, she had recently been suffering from poor health due to the effects of aging. She continued to visit the hospital, but there was no improvement. There was talk of transferring her to a larger hospital. However, she finally rejuvenated herself and her health improved.
The Challenging Days of Raising Children
Although Shozo and Ine were a rare couple for the time, their married life was far from easy. Shozo's family was originally poor, which forced him to work hard. Another factor was that they had children soon after marriage and were overwhelmed with child-rearing. At the time, child-rearing equipment was less advanced than it is today, so even raising a child was a difficult task.
Making a Living as Farmers
Despite their busy schedules, the couple made a living as farmers and raised two children. Harvesting is sometimes affected by the weather, and the physical labor required a great deal of effort, making it no easy job. However, the couple supported each other and carried out the difficult work to make a living.
A Honeymoon Promise That Wasn't Kept
The couple had promised to go on a honeymoon soon after their marriage, but due to their busy lifestyles, they ended up not being able to keep that promise. Now that their children have left home and their bodies are back to their youthful years, they decided that this was their chance to go on a honeymoon. Partway through the film, fulfilling their unfulfilled honeymoon promise becomes one of their goals, so be sure to keep an eye on their honeymoon.
Two People Thinking About Death
This work, which focuses on the elderly, also features many depictions of human death. In this work, rejuvenation does not extend the lifespan of the two characters; rather, they are rejuvenated by the time they have left. Therefore, even though they are young, death is very close to them, and it is touched upon as an important theme in the work. Be sure to pay attention to how the two characters come to terms with their own feelings.
Enjoying the days they missed
With their remaining time, the two take action to recapture the happiness they once had. This is the general story of a romance anime with a complex plot unlike any other, so I hope you enjoy this unique aspect of the series.
The Mysterious Power of the Hourglass
The two are rejuvenated by the power of the mysterious hourglass. The existence of this hourglass is extremely important to both Shozo and Ine, so be sure to pay attention not only to their personalities and interactions in this work, but also to the role the hourglass plays as they switch between rejuvenated and aging bodies.
It's also possible to age
One notable feature of the hourglass is that it allows the characters to move back and forth between two timelines: rejuvenation and aging. Therefore, when the two characters encounter the hourglass in their dreams, they can choose to either return to their original bodies or become younger by turning it over or leaving it as it is.
Life Is Not Infinite
If you could turn an hourglass at will, the sand would never fall out, and many people would think that they could live forever. However, the hourglass is designed so that the sand gradually leaks out, so no matter how many times you turn it, the sand will eventually run out. In this work, Shozo and Ine's lives are not infinite.
Spending Their Remaining Time
The two will spend their remaining time rejuvenating and aging. For them, the hourglass is a device that allows them to freely change their appearance, as well as visualize their remaining lifespan. It's important to remember that the hourglass has two distinct functions.
Pay Attention to Their Newlywed-Like Relationship
One thing to pay particular attention to in this film's relationship is how, despite being a long-time married couple, they react like newlyweds. Since they've been together for years, they shouldn't be nervous around each other, but when they suddenly become younger, they probably don't know how to interact with each other. The contrast between these two, who have been married for decades but still react like they're on their second day together, is fascinating, so be sure to pay attention.
A long-awaited romance? ?
This work depicts the two characters as if they were falling in love again, which is a distinctive feature of the series. Sometimes, the timing of their rejuvenation and aging is out of sync, making the relationship seem more like that of a grandfather and daughter, which is another interesting aspect of this work.
Pay Attention to the Romance from the Past
This series also offers a glimpse into the romantic experiences of these two characters that are rarely seen in modern society. Attitudes toward love differ greatly between the present and the past, and I think one way to enjoy this contrast is to enjoy it. Because anime series often focus on modern romance, it's especially meaningful to have an anime series that offers a glimpse into Japan's past views on love.
Pay Attention to the Gap Between Their Grandchildren
As such, the values of the two characters are left behind by the Showa era, and from a modern perspective, there are many things that modern children find jarring. It's Shozo and Ine's grandchildren who speak for us modern children. The grandchildren are characters close in age to us viewers, making them easy to relate to. In this work, please also pay attention to how Shozo and Ine appear to their grandchildren.
Enjoying Modern Entertainment
In particular, Shozo and Ine are taken by their grandchildren to enjoy a variety of modern entertainment. If you live in Tokyo, Shozo and Ine visit many familiar locations, so be sure to keep an eye on the show. As a pure love story, this is also a must-watch for the young couple as they enjoy modern entertainment.
Expect a refreshing twist
While the depiction of a young couple having fun in Tokyo is a common theme in many works, it's rare to see an older person enjoying modern entertainment. This is the only work that allows you to enjoy modern entertainment from the perspective of an older person, so be sure to keep an eye on Shozo and Ine as they have fun in this modern city.
Summary
What did you think? This time, we've introduced Shozo and Ine, who appear in "Grandpa and Grandma Rejuvenate." This work depicts the relationship between Shozo and Ine, and is a high-quality romance piece. But that's not all. The series also features a number of unique and interesting episodes that can be drawn from the theme of "elderly people becoming younger," including an episode themed on death, which is unique to a work depicting elderly people, and an episode that explores the gap between Shozo and Ine, whose sensibilities are completely different from those of their modern-day grandchildren. The premise is interesting to begin with, and anyone who thinks "that sounds interesting" when they hear about the story will enjoy it. Fans who have become interested in the series after reading this article should definitely give the anime a watch.
