Sakura Learns About Friendship
Wind Breaker shows the value of companionship
Happy Friday, my fellow anime lovers!
How has your week been? Did you get to spend time with friends? Strong friendships can bring a sense of security and peace of mind, no matter what stage of life you are in. Today, I want to share about the importance of having companions to be by your side—particularly those who have your best interests at heart. Let’s start by being reminded of how even Jesus had close friends:
“And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” - Mark 14:32-34 (ESV)
If you’ve ever been isolated, in a time of life when you haven’t had close friends nearby, you understand the value of warm friendships. The protagonist of Wind Breaker, Haruka Sakura, learns just this. Due to his odd appearance and rampant temper, he has come to accept his life with no one by his side, that is until he meets Hajime Umemiya. Though he runs a school of ruffians and has a happy-go-lucky attitude, Umemiya runs a tight ship. Sakura is fascinated by how the captain achieved his success; he ultimately realizes that reaching the top can only be achieved with the support of friends. Sakura slowly tries to drop his tough guy act and begins to make friends.
Jesus understood greatly how much encouragement having companions around can bring. Not only does Jesus speak about the depths of love in the greatest friendships, but he also demonstrated the importance of having friends by his side in critical moments, such as at the Garden of Gethsemane. Whether it was his inner circle of the larger group of 12, the Bible records that in most instances, Jesus was ministering together with friends—not on his own.
We were meant to be in a community and to grow in relation to one another. It is a gift when we discover and form close bonds, and can then find support or support others as we experience life together. Let us be like Jesus and embrace friendships, learning as Sakura did, the importance of treasuring the ones who treasure us.
Weekly Mission: I encourage you this week to reach out to an old friend that you haven't spoken to in a while. Show interest in the friends you have and love them as fellow brothers and sisters.
Memory Verse: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)
BtT in Review
Wait, we’re supposed to judge others? What does that mean? And how? Mike looks to Iruka-sensei and untangles this web in the latest episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast. Here’s a snippet:
On “Anime Trivia” for the same episode, Mike asks, “In the anime Shaman King, what is the name of Yoh’s fiancée?” Let us know in the replies to this Substack post! And please subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others.
On Reader’s Corner, we drop reviews on some of the latest and greatest (and sometimes not-so-great) manga, manhwa, and light novel releases, such as the newest volumes of Gazing at the Star Next Door and The Eminence in Shadow in this week’s column.
On Fanart Friday last week, it was all about promotion! We posted flyers for an After-School Tea Time concert and TikTok ads by everyone’s favorite grifter, Reigen Arataka.
Have a wonderful weekend, friends, and God bless!