The conclusion of Your Name brings an emotional and visually stunning resolution to the film’s story, but its time travel elements can be quite puzzling. The plot revolves around Taki and Mitsuha, two high school students who share a powerful bond despite never having met before.
Rather than following a straightforward structure, Your Name presents its events in a non-linear fashion. Even with its intricate handling of time travel, the movie won audiences over with its heartfelt portrayal of a connection so strong it transcends time and space.
When memories fade, but the heart never forgets (Photo: Your Name/CoMix Wave Films)Achieving worldwide success, Your Name grossed $382 million at the box office (according to Box Office Mojo), placing it among the top animated films, including Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli.
Spanning events from 2013 to 2021, the film initially introduces Taki and Mitsuha’s unusual ability to switch bodies, though the reasons behind this phenomenon remain unknown until later in the story.
Beyond the body-swapping premise, grasping the conclusion of Your Name requires a deeper understanding of the two timelines at play. Why Didn’t Taki Recognize Mitsuha in Tokyo?
Mitsuha’s experience with time differs from Taki’s.
Mitsuha’s life ended in 2013. As revealed in Your Name, Mitsuha tragically lost her life in 2013 when Comet Tiamat fractured upon entering Earth’s atmosphere and struck the town of Itomori.
From Mitsuha’s perspective, this catastrophe occurred after she had already switched bodies with Taki multiple times and attempted to visit him in Tokyo. However, for Taki, Itomori’s destruction took place three years before he ever experienced body-swapping with Mitsuha.
This explains why Taki initially paid no attention to news about the comet. The shocking realization that Mitsuha had been dead for three years by the time he learned about Itomori’s fate completely altered his understanding of their connection.
How Did Taki Restart the Body Swap After Mitsuha’s Death?
Teachings from Mitsuha’s grandmother played a crucial role
With Mitsuha and the entire town of Itomori gone, their body-swapping abruptly ended. At this point in the story, the film’s soundtrack falls into silence, emphasizing the gravity of what has happened.
As time caught up with Taki, all the messages Mitsuha had sent him disappeared from his phone, as though they had never existed. Faced with the reality that Mitsuha and the town had perished, Taki found renewed hope by recalling something Mitsuha’s grandmother had taught her about the flow of time.
His determination led him back into Mitsuha’s body. Although uncertain whether his plan would succeed, Taki journeyed to the sacred cave where Mitsuha’s kuchikamizake had been stored for years. By drinking it, the profound link between them—symbolized by the red thread of fate—was reignited.
This act enabled Taki to wake up in Mitsuha’s body once again, setting the stage for a pivotal moment in their story. In a twist reminiscent of classic sci-fi time travel films, he returned to 2013, arriving at a time after Mitsuha had cut her hair but before the comet struck.
Why Didn’t Taki Write His Name on Mitsuha’s Hand?
The body-swapping process had its limitations
Despite their undeniable bond, Your Name makes it clear that neither Taki nor Mitsuha could retain memories of their experiences for long. This memory loss seemed to be an inherent part of the body-switching phenomenon.
Even Mitsuha’s grandmother, who had similar dreams in her youth, struggled to recall the details of her own experiences. Taki, fully aware that they would soon forget one another, suggested they write their names on each other’s hands as a way to hold on to their connection.
Instead of his name, Taki chose to write, “I love you.” Rather than simply leaving his name, Taki inscribed “I love you” on Mitsuha’s hand. This decision held profound meaning in Your Name’s final moments, serving as a powerful expression of his feelings.
Even if Mitsuha forgot everything else, those words would remain with her. Had he only written his name, she might not have remembered why it was important. But by declaring his love, Taki ensured she would still feel the depth of their connection, even as their memories faded.
How Was Itomori Saved in Your Name?
Knowing the town’s fate allowed Taki to take action
Waking up in Mitsuha’s body on the very day the comet was set to strike, Taki made every effort to warn the town’s residents. However, his initial attempts proved unsuccessful. Nevertheless, with the help of Sayaka and Katsuhiko, he put a plan into motion to evacuate as many people as possible.
After the “magic hour” passed, Mitsuha regained control of her body, and like many classic time travel films, she understood exactly what was about to happen. In Your Name’s conclusion, Mitsuha completed the plan by persuading her father, the town’s mayor, to order an evacuation.
Did Taki and Mitsuha End Up Together?
Despite their memory loss, fate led them back to each other. With Mitsuha and Itomori’s residents safe, neither she nor Taki retained any memory of one another. Fast forward eight years after the comet’s impact, and Mitsuha is living in Tokyo, fulfilling the dream she had always longed for.
For Taki, five years had passed since he last visited Itomori, though he no longer knew why he had gone there in the first place. Destiny remained a central theme of Your Name, and it played out once again when Taki and Mitsuha unknowingly crossed paths in Tokyo.
Their deep, unspoken connection resurfaced when they paused upon passing each other. Despite having no conscious recollection of one another, they instinctively felt an inexplicable bond.
This moment paralleled elements seen in The Adam Project, where characters are inexplicably drawn to one another despite lost memories. As Taki and Mitsuha introduced themselves on the staircase, it was clear that they had been searching for each other all along.
This emotional moment gave audiences hope that their love story was far from over. Though their past experiences had faded from memory, the conclusion of Your Name suggested that their journey together was beginning anew.
The Deeper Meaning Behind Your Name’s Ending
The 2016 film delves into themes of fate and human connection. The conclusion of Your Name delivers an emotionally rewarding resolution, blending both bittersweet and uplifting elements.
A breathtaking journey through time, destiny, and love (Photo: Your Name/CoMix Wave Films)Director Makoto Shinkai’s 2016 masterpiece gained widespread acclaim for its remarkable storytelling, filled with layers of meaning. The film’s final moments bring together multiple themes in a way that resonates deeply with viewers.
One of the most prominent themes is the discussion of fate, destiny, and the extent to which individuals can influence their future.
From the moment Taki and Mitsuha began swapping bodies, their lives became intertwined. While this connection formed the basis of the romance, it also raised the question of whether fate is predetermined or if people have the power to change their path.
Taki’s actions in saving Itomori exemplify this idea. Initially, from his point of view, Mitsuha’s fate had already been sealed. The comet had destroyed the town, and history had taken its course. However, through his determination, he was able to rewrite the past and rescue the town’s residents.
His ability to alter what seemed like an unavoidable tragedy reinforces the idea that even when the future appears fixed, choices and actions can still create a different outcome.
At the same time, Your Name does not completely dismiss the idea of fate. The way Taki and Mitsuha crossed paths in Tokyo, years after their extraordinary experience, is a testament to destiny at work.
The film’s final moments suggest that while people have agency in shaping their futures, certain connections are meant to happen. A major takeaway from the film is the profound nature of human connections. Even after forgetting everything about each other, Taki and Mitsuha were still inexplicably drawn together.
This reflects how deeply intertwined human lives can be, even when people are unaware of the connections they share. Your Name’s ending beautifully highlights this, reminding audiences of the invisible threads that link people together, even when they seem like strangers.
