***  PART IV     SYMBOLISM IN KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD  ***


KOR is full of symbols; many times the slightest and most subtle details 
seem to imply things of greater importances.  Here are a few of the more
prominent ones, written by (under coercion :-) Quincy S. Huoh.


1) The walk around the fountain, TV episode #7  

Madoka and Kyosuke walk together, but Kyosuke splits off and is diverted,
walking the other way around the fountain.  He realizes he's distancing 
himself from Madoka, so runs back to her.  Meanwhile, Hikaru doesn't even 
see them together and walks around the fountain the other way.  If it wasn't 
for Madoka, Kyosuke would have walked the other way around the fountain and 
run into Hikaru. (i.e. he would be with her, instead of Madoka).  
Representative of their relationship.


2) The sandcastle, TV episode #19

This represents the wall Madoka builds around her true self.  Kyosuke 
literally bumps into Madoka, causing her to smash part of the castle wall.
The water then slowly erodes it, and by the end of the day, while Kyosuke and 
Madoka are sitting near the fire, the castle's completely washed away.  The 
more time Madoka spends with Kyosuke alone on the island, the more her tough
shell melts away, until at the very end, Madoka reveals her true feelings
to him.


3) The sparkling river, notably in TV episode #27

A reference to the name "Ayukawa", and it's meaning.  See the FAQ section
#32 for more information.


4) The use of colors and grey

When Madoka's in school, acting cold and aloof to most people, she wears
drab grey.  Her normal clothing, during summer or on weekends, is much more
colorful.  Red, white, pink; note the red flower shirt she's wearing when
she first meets Kyosuke.  Red is her "color."  Red straw hat, red earring
(Hurricane Akane OAV), red bathing suit (TV episode #19), etc.  In more 
general terms, school's restrictive and confining...when summer comes around, 
everyone can relax and be themselves, and truly have fun.  The grey and 
drabness of school contrasted to the red and colorfulnes of the "everlasting 
summer."  On a related topic, the Salvia plant, or sages, have flowers
commonly colored lavender, blue, or scarlet red, depending on the species.
While in many Western cultures the color "red" can connote promiscuity
or "lewd" behavior (red light district, the "Scarlet Letter," etc.) in
many Asian cultures the color represents happiness or good luck.  Note that
in the "Kouhaku Utagassen," a famous Japanese New Year singing program 
involving many top professional singers, the men wear white, while the
ladies wear red.


5) "I was a Fish, I was a Cat."

Two scenes in particular are very representative of the triangle 
relationship.  The first involves Hikaru, Madoka, and Goldfish Kyosuke
at the goldfish catching tank.  Among the references include Hikaru
likening the fish to Kyosuke, because the way it runs away from her
"is cute."  Parallelling real life, the two girls vie to catch the 
fish (Kyosuke).  Hikaru has seemingly trapped Kyosuke, only to see him
"escape" and end up with Madoka.  Later, seeing how sad Hikaru is, Madoka
"gives up" the fish (Kyosuke) to Hikaru.  In TV episode # 15, this is
exactly what Madoka does in real life.  

The second scene involves the girls competing with each other to see
who gets to keep the cat (Kyosuke).  Unsure where to go, Kyosuke is
grabbed by a possessive Hikaru.  When Madoka feels she's lost him,
she turns away and cries.  Hikaru then accuses her of cheating after
Madoka grabs the cat back.  This sequence of events forshadows the
events in the movie, where Madoka cries, and Hikaru again accuses her
of being unfair.


6) The Oranges - KOR Movie 

(This has been used by some people as evidence that Quincy has indeed
gone off the deep end. :-)

Hikaru brings Madoka 4 oranges in a particular scene.  The four oranges
represent Hikaru, Madoka, Yusaku (3 make up the base), and the fourth
orange on top represents Kyosuke.  Kyosuke was a late addition to the
group, and so the original trio make up the base.  Hikaru comments that
oranges are best eaten fresh, a seemingly innocent remark that symbolically
states that Madoka best "take" Kyosuke before it's too late (he's lost
to Hikaru).  Agreeing, Madoka tells Hikaru she's going to eat one, and
grabs the top orange (Kyosuke).  Hikaru tells her to go right ahead.  
Symbolically, and in reality, Hikara has at that point no idea that she's
about to lose Kyosuke to Madoka.  Because Madoka forces the issue, the
group breaks up.  Madoka grabs the top orange, breaking apart the pyramid.


7) The symbolism of a red ribbon and the Red Straw Hat, in several episodes.
                  
A red ribbon between two people symbolically represents a link or a
"fated" interaction between the two.  The Red Straw Hat is a type of
red ribbon, for it represents the link between Madoka and Kyosuke.  In
both TV episode # 22 and # 30, red ribbons are literally used to show
links between couples.  See the FAQ section #13-14 for more infomation.


8) KOR Movie

Not exactly symbols per say, the movie contains several "references"
to the TV series.  The airship appearing in one scene is a reference
to a line in the song "Summer Mirage," the ED for the first third
of the series.  Kyosuke and Hikaru's relationship begins with a 
"lemon kiss" and starts to end with a "coconut kiss."  



=====
If the day ever comes, the                   Yeah, I love him, enough 
man next to her would be...                  to be his bride someday.
	  -- Kasuga Kyosuke                           -- Ayukawa Madoka 


*****
A Guide to Kimagure Orange Road

Version 1.0
July 7, 1994
Tanabata

Version 1.1
September 10, 1994
[mostly typographically changes, and a few additions and changes:
 #65 elaborated, #76 and #77, new additions]

Version 1.2
October 18, 1994
[Changes to #38, slight additions/modifications to some others.]

Version 1.3
January 14, 1995
[Revised all references to age and time in FAQ, 
 modified #16, #19, and #74, added #78 and #79]