Anime Review: Run with the Wind
Laz Laz
Do you like running?___Run with the Wind recommend
4 min read
·
1 day ago
Before we start
This article is based on the anime version of Run with the Wind. It contains minor spoilers. If you don’t want the story revealed, I recommend watching the anime first before reading further.
Run with the Wind is a Great Show
Today I want to share with you a sports-themed anime: Run with the Wind (風が強く吹いている).
The series originates from a light novel by Japanese writer Shion Miura (三浦 しをん), set against the stage of the Hakone Ekiden (Hakone relay marathon). It has since been adapted into comics, radio dramas, stage plays, movies, and an anime. In this article, I’ll focus on the anime adaptation.
The Story
One night, Kakeru Kurahara (蔵原 走) was running through the city as if fleeing. Suddenly, a bicycle appeared beside him. A stranger asked: “Do you like running?”
This man was Haiji Kiyose (清瀬 灰二). Guided by Haiji, Kakeru arrived at an old apartment where nine other male college students lived. Since Kakeru had nowhere else to go, Haiji invited him to stay.
However, this was actually Haiji’s trap — his plan to form a ten-man team for the Hakone relay marathon. And so, Kakeru unwillingly became “the 10th member.”
Under Haiji’s relentless persuasion, the old apartment became their starting point. Together, the ten men began training for the marathon.
The Heart That Wants to Cheer for Them
Why did I choose this anime? Honestly, it was simply because of good reviews. I only knew it was about running and started watching casually, without expectations. But the more I watched, the more serious I became.
Here are some stages of my changing feelings:
1. An Absurd Beginning
The story begins with Haiji and Kakeru meeting by chance. Haiji lures Kakeru into living at the apartment with nine others, though none of them realize they’re stepping into his plan.
At dinner one evening, Haiji suddenly announced: “All ten of us will run the Hakone Ekiden.”
Like the characters, I was shocked. “What is he thinking? This is too crazy! No one agreed to this!”
Compared to other sports anime I’ve seen (Haikyu!!, Free!, Major), where teammates usually gather because of shared dreams, Run with the Wind felt different. Its message was more like: “It doesn’t matter who you are — since you’re here, let’s run together.”
This beginning felt selfish, but also refreshing. And as someone who dislikes exercise myself, it made me feel closer to the characters.
2. From Misunderstanding to Desire
At first, only Kakeru and Haiji had any background in track and field. The others were amateurs, with at most some casual sports experience. In short, it was an outsider team. Even Kakeru doubted the idea.
Still, Haiji had the confidence to persuade everyone. Though self-centered and somewhat manipulative, he succeeded. The anime shows, in detail, how each member moved from resistance to acceptance, revealing their own visions or regrets.
The turning point for group awareness was their first record race.
A quick note: To qualify for the Hakone Ekiden, each runner must meet a strict standard — running 5 km under 16:30 or 10 km under 34:00. For ordinary people, this is extremely tough.
Before the race, training was just “following Haiji.” But after facing reality, everyone’s competitive spirit was lit:
“The excitement and unease of entering a new world.”
“Am I just an ordinary person?”
“Is this all I can do?”
“Why does everyone only care about results?”
These doubts are familiar inner demons. Often, people cope with such feelings through self-deprecation. Yet, through this self-mockery, they began questioning the true meaning of running.
For the first time, they confronted the concept of strength.
In competitive sports, speed and time are usually the focus. But does running really mean only that? At first, I thought: “Isn’t that the whole point?” But then I asked myself: “If you run slowly, does that mean you shouldn’t run at all?” The answer felt more complicated.
Whatever the case, they all resolved to prove themselves. And as a viewer, I also began paying closer attention to their changes.
3. The Power of Selfishness
What does it mean to be strong? The anime never gives a direct answer. Instead, each character develops their own form of strength — driven by their selfish reasons:
Running out of hope for a new life
Running to discover a new self
Running because of circumstance
Running after once giving up but finding it again
It’s fascinating: they were initially gathered by Haiji’s selfishness, but eventually each found their own. By the time of the Hakone Ekiden, every runner had their personal reason. And as a viewer, I too grew selfish — I wanted them to win.
Higher Forms of Selfishness
In psychology, the autonomy element of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) also reflects a higher-level selfishness. When people act from genuine choice, their actions become more effective.
Similarly, Nietzsche’s concept of the will to power suggests that humans are always striving for strength, accumulating it, releasing it, and then pursuing it again. This endless cycle is also a kind of selfish drive.
Both perspectives highlight the same core: strength isn’t only about speed or results, but about the reasons we choose for ourselves.
So in the anime, rather than just “hot-blooded competition,” it raises a deeper question: Are speed and power really everything?
Conclusion
Compared to many sports anime, Run with the Wind does more than show fiery passion. It asks:
Is speed and power truly all that matters?
In Kakeru’s story, this question is explored deeply. He ran fast, but couldn’t see his teammates’ efforts. Always being at the front, he never looked back. This blinded him to others’ struggles.
So in competitive sports, is speed and time really the most important thing? Personally, I think it’s worth reflecting on.
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Posted Oct 6, 2025
Review of the anime 'Run with the Wind' focusing on its themes and character development.
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Sep 27, 2025 - Oct 5, 2025
