Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

The World of Kanako

 The World of Kanako
type
TVTItem
 The World of Kanako
label
The World of Kanako
 The World of Kanako
page
TheWorldOfKanako
 The World of Kanako
comment
The World of Kanako (original title Kawaki, translates to "thirst") is a 2014 Japanese movie by Tetsuya Nakashima, based on the best-selling novel Hateshinaki Kawaki by Fukamachi Akio (first published 2005).Fujishima Akikazu is an alcoholic, violent, dysfunctional ex-cop who does not care about much anymore and seems to only procrastinate his death. But one day, his daughter Kanako, a beautiful girl and one of the best students at school, leaves all personal belongings behind in her room and goes missing.After a talk with his wife, Akikazu starts a desperate search for Kanako using any means, in the hope of getting his "ideal" family back in place (although the very reason the family broke up was because of his problematic personality and violent behavior). Following the tracks of her past and present (that involved her so-called friends like Ogata or the unnamed narrator), and talks to her classmates (like Nagano and Emi), he starts to get to know his daughter and learns that she has a mysterious secret life.As he enters a world of despair, guilt, dark secrets, manipulation he finds out that there's a lot more than meets the eye. Can he find his daughter, and get back his perfect happy family he has dreamed of after all these years or will he be crushed by this awful world too?Note: This is a very spoiler-heavy movie with many plot-twists and surprises. Only uncover them if you really believe you can handle them.All character tropes go to the character page!
 The World of Kanako
fetched
2024-03-10T02:47:06Z
 The World of Kanako
parsed
2024-03-10T02:47:06Z
 The World of Kanako
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The World of Kanako / int_12dd1d4c
type
Rape as Drama
 The World of Kanako / int_12dd1d4c
comment
Rape as Drama: After having been heavily manipulated by Kanako, the narrator is gang-raped by the prostitution ring in a very dramatic event. Shortly afterwards he is killed.
 The World of Kanako / int_12dd1d4c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_12dd1d4c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_12dd1d4c
 The World of Kanako / int_183b52
type
Kafka Komedy
 The World of Kanako / int_183b52
comment
Kafka Komedy: The narrator is put through hell just for the fun of it because he's weak to almost absurd levels. Kanako shows him that she wants to help him but it turns out that she is responsible for everything.
 The World of Kanako / int_183b52
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_183b52
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_183b52
 The World of Kanako / int_19fc58a2
type
A Lighter Shade of Black
 The World of Kanako / int_19fc58a2
comment
A Lighter Shade of Black: The things Akikazu does go far beyond what you would call an Anti-Hero. While Akikazu's actions cannot be morally justified in any way, he's still upset by the deeds other characters do (usually just For the Evulz). He turns worse however so that the story becomes Evil vs. Evil.
 The World of Kanako / int_19fc58a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_19fc58a2
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_19fc58a2
 The World of Kanako / int_21d70919
type
Crapsack World
 The World of Kanako / int_21d70919
comment
Crapsack World: This movie leaves no survivors. Everyone in this world is either violent, brutal, corrupt, egoistic, manipulative or has a dark secret and the people who are good are ruthlessly bullied, manipulated or beaten up. Whoever tries to find a way out of this is completely without a chance.
 The World of Kanako / int_21d70919
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_21d70919
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_21d70919
 The World of Kanako / int_2e9641d7
type
Flashback Echo
 The World of Kanako / int_2e9641d7
comment
Flashback Echo: After the narrator has gone through hell he meets Kanako in a hotel room where he confronts her but gets laughed at and finally killed. This flashback is inserted when Akikazu enters this very hotel room (in a way that resembles the aforementioned scene) and thinks he's talking to his daughter Kanako (who is not there).
 The World of Kanako / int_2e9641d7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_2e9641d7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_2e9641d7
 The World of Kanako / int_372bc105
type
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism
 The World of Kanako / int_372bc105
comment
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: On the far end of the cynic side. In this movie the world is exclusively populated by complete assholes and scumbags who all have only the very worst things in mind and the few good people out there are either mercilessly corrupted, betrayed, bullied, manipulated or forced into isolation and it's ridiculously impossible to break out of this circle. What Akikazu does can't be morally justified in any way but still is consequent, as this movie takes place in a world that destroys anybody and crushes every dream. As this reviewer points out, the line between good and evil doesn't mean very much in this movie but rather the line between those who can manipulate effectively and those who have to subordinate themselves is everything that counts. The only bright things in this film are the bright lights and colors, the fast editing, the many flash cuts and one constantly smiling character, that give it an artificial and hard to grasp atmosphere.
 The World of Kanako / int_372bc105
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_372bc105
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_372bc105
 The World of Kanako / int_3d4d3dc9
type
Humans Are Bastards
 The World of Kanako / int_3d4d3dc9
comment
Humans Are Bastards: Almost every character is a monster and this movie shows no way out. The bullies, Aikawa, Matsunaga and Kanako of all people act just For the Evulz. Akikazu shows strong traits of this too but he's still disgusted by the other characters' actions.
 The World of Kanako / int_3d4d3dc9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_3d4d3dc9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_3d4d3dc9
 The World of Kanako / int_42215dce
type
Ambiguous Ending
 The World of Kanako / int_42215dce
comment
Ambiguous Ending: When the truth is finally revealed (Kanako was killed by her teacher and buried in a windy snowfield), Akikazu still has serious doubts about this and forces the teacher to dig Kanako up but she can't remember where she lies. The movie immediately ends and we never find out if this will be successful or not.
 The World of Kanako / int_42215dce
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_42215dce
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_42215dce
 The World of Kanako / int_5313c266
type
Bookends
 The World of Kanako / int_5313c266
comment
Book Ends: The first image of the movie is a windy snowfield. This will also be the last location we see.
 The World of Kanako / int_5313c266
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_5313c266
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_5313c266
 The World of Kanako / int_53c9fc92
type
Flashback
 The World of Kanako / int_53c9fc92
comment
Flashback: The movie tells all of the events from 2009 to 2013 in quite long flashbacks.
 The World of Kanako / int_53c9fc92
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_53c9fc92
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_53c9fc92
 The World of Kanako / int_55180ce
type
Snow Means Death
 The World of Kanako / int_55180ce
comment
Snow Means Death: In the very end of the film, Akikazu reaches a windy snowfield together with Kanako's teacher, who claims to have killed Kanako and buried her here. Akikazu wants to find her corpse but Kanako's teacher can't remember where she lies.
 The World of Kanako / int_55180ce
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_55180ce
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_55180ce
 The World of Kanako / int_57cd63e6
type
Art-Style Dissonance
 The World of Kanako / int_57cd63e6
comment
Art-Style Dissonance: Although the story of this movie is infested with cynicism, there are still a lot of bright lights and colors, flash cuts and fast-paced editing that give the movie a unique atmosphere, especially during Kanako's appearances and the narrator's Mushroom Samba. Also there's a Perpetual Smiler.
 The World of Kanako / int_57cd63e6
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_57cd63e6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_57cd63e6
 The World of Kanako / int_59907e4f
type
Police Are Useless
 The World of Kanako / int_59907e4f
comment
Police Are Useless: While Akikazu, Asai and Aikawa stand out as they are highly sociopathic and/or incompetent, there's much more to it: When Ogata and the narrator are bullied, the police are nowhere to be seen and do not care in the slightest.
 The World of Kanako / int_59907e4f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_59907e4f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_59907e4f
 The World of Kanako / int_5ce7dbb9
type
Central Theme
 The World of Kanako / int_5ce7dbb9
comment
Central Theme: Manipulation. Almost every character gets manipulated in this film at some point or is a manipulator himself. The question of good and evil is not really important in this film, only who is the one who manipulates successfully. See also Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism. Parental Neglect: All of the problems around Akikazu's family and especially Kanako seem to have roots in Akikazu not taking his responsibility as father.
 The World of Kanako / int_5ce7dbb9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_5ce7dbb9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_5ce7dbb9
 The World of Kanako / int_66c58f09
type
Starts with a Suicide
 The World of Kanako / int_66c58f09
comment
Starts with a Suicide: After about ten minutes in we see the suicide of Ogata (Kanako's first boyfriend), who jumps from the roof after he has been bullied for a long time by the Matsunaga Gang. Nobody seems to take much notice of this.
 The World of Kanako / int_66c58f09
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_66c58f09
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_66c58f09
 The World of Kanako / int_80b5924
type
Left Hanging
 The World of Kanako / int_80b5924
comment
Left Hanging: The movie ends in the snowfield where Kanako is said to be buried and Akikazu has no clue about where exactly. The last thing we see is how he's still determined to find her or what is left of her in the snowfield. If this plan succeeds is left unresolved, but the odds are strongly against him.
 The World of Kanako / int_80b5924
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_80b5924
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_80b5924
 The World of Kanako / int_820ac3c5
type
Dysfunction Junction
 The World of Kanako / int_820ac3c5
comment
Dysfunction Junction: Really every character is messed up in this movie: Aikawa is an alcoholic and violent cop, the other cops are corrupt, Matsunaga and the other bullies lack any kind of empathy and Kanako is a manipulative bitch with even less empathy.
 The World of Kanako / int_820ac3c5
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_820ac3c5
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_820ac3c5
 The World of Kanako / int_8b6e8d7
type
Anachronic Order
 The World of Kanako / int_8b6e8d7
comment
Anachronic Order: The movie is told out of chronological order with a lot of flashbacks. There are basically four timelines that are interwoven (the film starts with timeline 3 and follows timeline 4 for the rest of the film to constantly make flashbacks to timeline 1 and 2 to reveal the truth): Summer of 2009 (flashbacks): Ogata commits suicide. The narrator gets bullied and gets to know Kanako who helps him to get away from them. He soon falls in love with her. Unspecified time (presumably 2009-2011, flashbacks): The narrator goes through a cycle of hell and meets Kanako in a hotel room where he finds his fate. December of 2012: Akikazu catches his wife cheating and they break up. Akikazu's life goes downhill. August of 2013 to Christmas of 2013 (most of the story takes place here): Kanako dies by the hands of her teacher and goes missing and murders occur. Akikazu starts his search, collects some information and gets caught by the Yakuza. In the finale he reaches a snowfield to meet his fate.
 The World of Kanako / int_8b6e8d7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_8b6e8d7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_8b6e8d7
 The World of Kanako / int_912b24c4
type
Art Shift
 The World of Kanako / int_912b24c4
comment
Art Shift: There are some scenes that use drawings and/or visual effects like when the narrator jumps into the water or goes on the party.
 The World of Kanako / int_912b24c4
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_912b24c4
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_912b24c4
 The World of Kanako / int_9e1b9a0e
type
Camera Fiend
 The World of Kanako / int_9e1b9a0e
comment
Camera Fiend: There is one guy at the party where the narrator goes to, who constantly takes pictures (at least 100 of them). He turns out to be one of the murder victims from the start.
 The World of Kanako / int_9e1b9a0e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_9e1b9a0e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_9e1b9a0e
 The World of Kanako / int_a19135a6
type
Mind Control
 The World of Kanako / int_a19135a6
comment
Manipulation. Almost every character gets manipulated in this film at some point or is a manipulator himself. The question of good and evil is not really important in this film, only who is the one who manipulates successfully. See also Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism.
 The World of Kanako / int_a19135a6
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_a19135a6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_a19135a6
 The World of Kanako / int_a2e887be
type
Secondary Character Title
 The World of Kanako / int_a2e887be
comment
Secondary Character Title: Although Kanako is a very important character, Akikazu is still the main protagonist.
 The World of Kanako / int_a2e887be
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_a2e887be
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_a2e887be
 The World of Kanako / int_a54534a0
type
Parental Neglect
 The World of Kanako / int_a54534a0
comment
Parental Neglect: All of the problems around Akikazu's family and especially Kanako seem to have roots in Akikazu not taking his responsibility as father.
 The World of Kanako / int_a54534a0
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_a54534a0
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_a54534a0
 The World of Kanako / int_aac2244a
type
EvilVsEvil
 The World of Kanako / int_aac2244a
comment
Evil vs. Evil: While Akikazu started out as very bad character, after he rapes Detective Aikawa's wife he must at least temporarily count as a villain. This trope comes mostly into play when he fights Detective Aikawa later on, who is super-evil too. He later turns a little bit better but not much.
 The World of Kanako / int_aac2244a
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_aac2244a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_aac2244a
 The World of Kanako / int_adfd3165
type
For the Evulz
 The World of Kanako / int_adfd3165
comment
For the Evulz: The bullies, Matsunaga, Aikawa and of course Kanako torture and torment (usually weaker) people just because they can.
 The World of Kanako / int_adfd3165
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_adfd3165
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_adfd3165
 The World of Kanako / int_aed65980
type
All for Nothing
 The World of Kanako / int_aed65980
comment
All for Nothing: In the very end, after being beaten, shot and kidnapped by the Yakuza (and after dealing out a lot of punishment too), Akikazu still cannot find Kanako. As far as we know, she's dead and buried in the snow but he refuses to accept this and keeps searching for her.
 The World of Kanako / int_aed65980
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_aed65980
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_aed65980
 The World of Kanako / int_b11ac9f5
type
Abusive Parents
 The World of Kanako / int_b11ac9f5
comment
Abusive Parents: It’s implied Akikazu was as abusive to Kanako in her youth as he was with this wife. Either way, his spectacularly terrible parenting leads to a bit of a Freudian Excuse for Kanako’s behavior.
 The World of Kanako / int_b11ac9f5
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_b11ac9f5
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_b11ac9f5
 The World of Kanako / int_bdddc73e
type
Yakuza
 The World of Kanako / int_bdddc73e
comment
Yakuza: At one point, Akikazu gets abducted by the Yakuza. They are looking for Kanako too because she and Matsunaga have been causing lots of trouble with their blackmailings of child molesters. When Akikazu tries to talk his way out of this, they give him the name of sociopathic cop Detective Aikawa, who Akikazu believes to be his only lead on Kanako.
 The World of Kanako / int_bdddc73e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_bdddc73e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_bdddc73e
 The World of Kanako / int_bf9f3b9
type
Suicide Dare
 The World of Kanako / int_bf9f3b9
comment
Suicide Dare: The narrator's bullies openly tells him to commit suicide while beating him up on the roof.
 The World of Kanako / int_bf9f3b9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_bf9f3b9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_bf9f3b9
 The World of Kanako / int_c06ec675
type
Gang of Bullies
 The World of Kanako / int_c06ec675
comment
Gang of Bullies: The Matsunaga Gang consists of Matsunaga and 2-3 of his friends. They bully Ogata until he commits suicide. Afterwards another gang of bullies tortures the nameless narrator who only survives their treatment because he is manipulated by his love Kanako. Kanako lets the Matsunaga Gang beat up those bullies and the narrator becomes more popular.
 The World of Kanako / int_c06ec675
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_c06ec675
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_c06ec675
 The World of Kanako / int_c83f40d8
type
Bystander Syndrome
 The World of Kanako / int_c83f40d8
comment
Bystander Syndrome: Two characters are bullied throughout the film (Ogata and the narrator) and none of the other students come to help them. Neither do any teachers or officials. When Ogata jumps from the roof, his blood is splattering all around and no one seems to notice.
 The World of Kanako / int_c83f40d8
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_c83f40d8
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_c83f40d8
 The World of Kanako / int_dbca2c99
type
Red Herring
 The World of Kanako / int_dbca2c99
comment
Red Herring: The story with the three killed people in the beginning doesn't really lead anywhere. While Kanako and Matsunaga had to do something with them, it's rather there to get Akikazu on the wrong track.
 The World of Kanako / int_dbca2c99
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_dbca2c99
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_dbca2c99
 The World of Kanako / int_e543a655
type
Light Is Not Good
 The World of Kanako / int_e543a655
comment
Light Is Not Good: On a meta level, the movie uses a lot of flash cuts, bright lights and light images but portrays an insufferable Crapsack World.
 The World of Kanako / int_e543a655
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_e543a655
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_e543a655
 The World of Kanako / int_eb8856
type
The X of Y
 The World of Kanako / int_eb8856
comment
The X of Y: The World of Kanako. International title only. The Japanese title means "thirst".
 The World of Kanako / int_eb8856
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_eb8856
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_eb8856
 The World of Kanako / int_f88f2449
type
Downer Beginning
 The World of Kanako / int_f88f2449
comment
Downer Beginning: The start of the movie is very dark in many ways: Akikazu finds out that his wife has a lover and he loses his job after a violent outburst. Three bloody murders are detected. The narrator gives a saddening speech about how helpless his situation is. Ogata commits suicide and nobody takes notice.
 The World of Kanako / int_f88f2449
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_f88f2449
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_f88f2449
 The World of Kanako / int_f909b16b
type
Dark Secret
 The World of Kanako / int_f909b16b
comment
Dark Secret: Kanako has one. Check the character page for details.
 The World of Kanako / int_f909b16b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_f909b16b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_f909b16b
 The World of Kanako / int_name
type
ItemName
 The World of Kanako / int_name
comment
 The World of Kanako / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 The World of Kanako / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The World of Kanako / int_name
 The World of Kanako / int_name
itemName
The World of Kanako

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
All of the Other Reindeer / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Art-Style Dissonance / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Being Human Sucks / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Dark Secret / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Despair Speech / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Down the Rabbit Hole / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Films of 2010–2014 / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Gang of Bullies / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Humans Are Bastards / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
I Regret Nothing / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Kick Them While They Are Down / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Mushroom Samba / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Ordinary High-School Student / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Perpetual Smiler / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Psychological Thriller / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Rabid Cop / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Rape Leads to Insanity / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Ridiculously Photogenic / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Snow Means Death / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Sociopathic Hero / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Starts with a Suicide / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The Corrupter / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The Corruptible / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The Social Darwinist / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
The X of Y / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Unscrupulous Hero / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Yakuza / int_2bddcd9f
 The World of Kanako
hasFeature
Yank the Dog's Chain / int_2bddcd9f
 theworldofkanako
sameAs
The World of Kanako