“A Silent Voice”

(2016)

Characters

 Shouko Nishimiya
 Shoya Ishida

Plot: When a grade school student with impaired hearing is bullied mercilessly, she transfers to
another school. Years later, one of her former tormentors sets out to make amends.
Setting: Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Main Conflict: Conflict with the Self

Shoya Ishida, an elementary school student, was a wild child who used the cruelest
methods to combat boredom. Shouko Nishimiya, a deaf student, transfers into his class, and
Shouya and the rest of his classmates cruelly bully her for amusement. He is singled out and held
accountable for everything that happened to her, though, after her mother alerts the school.
Shouko leaving the school has left Shoya at the mercy of his classmates. He is heartlessly
ostracized all throughout elementary and middle school, while teachers turn a blind eye.
Now in his third year of high school, Shoya is still troubled by his wrongdoings as a
young boy. Instead of him being the bully, he has become the target of bullying amongst his
classmates. His personality changed from being extroverted and outgoing to introverted and
silent. Sincerely regretting his actions in the past, he sets out on a journey of redemption: to meet
Shouko once more and make amends.
Shoya had been thinking about killing himself, but he didn’t go through with it. After his
failed suicide attempt, the boy decided to go and meet Shouko. Shouko gets scared of him and
tries to run away, but Shoya chases after her and uses sign language to ask her if she wants to
become friends. Their journey towards making amends begins here. Shoya faces various
challenges along the way, and a conflict with past friends arises. Shoya saves Shouko from a
suicide attempt at the cost of he himself falling and being hospitalized. He wakes up from his
coma, and properly apologizes to Shouko for all the things he has done during their childhood.
Shoya realizes that he was completely wrong about what he thought of his friends, and finally is
able to notice all the people. A heavy burden in his heart has finally been lifted.