Takopi's Original Sin is a story that completely changed my viewpoint and perspective on communication. It tells the story of an alien who comes from a faraway land, where everybody is innocent, cheerful, and carefree. It is a metaphor of the carefree life that we had in our past, the times in our childhood when the biggest problem was whether or not you ran the fastest mile in school, or if you had won the previous handball game during recess. Simpler times when you didn't feel bogged down by grades, expectations, and the future.
This is reflected in the alien named Takopi's world. There is no sense of time, at least how we see it as linear. They have the power to go back in time and undo mistakes and regrets. Takopi believes that their people were tasked to bring joy to the people of Earth, and he is sent down to Earth to complete that mission. He meets two characters, Marina and Shizuka. Two characters that are so connected yet so different. The two share such a complex relationship, with such an intricate history, something that Takopi never knew about. To him, all he could see was that Shizuka was relentlessly picked on and bullied by Marina.
Takopi tries to help, offering Shizuka extraterrestrial technology, the ability to fly, and the ability to do things that she would have never believed possible. However, none of those things help. Shizuka ignores Takopi's efforts and stays silent while enduring Marina's torment. The audience is made to loathe Marina's actions, making them wonder why she would do such a heartless thing. It turns out that the reason why Marina hated Shizuka so much, could not stand looking at her, and continued to hurt and harass her was that Shizuka's mother had caused Marina to lose her family, for her family to become fragmented and scattered.
Both of them were only in the third grade, both experiencing neglect from their families, both sharing similar conflicts but different stories. Takopi realized that there was no amount of fun, friends, or magic that could stop Marina from hating Shizuka. The only thing that needed to happen was for them to communicate, for them to voice their concerns, shout their frustrations, and articulate the pain they felt. By finally opening up to one another, Shizuka and Marina realized that both of them were only products of neglect. They shared a bond so strong that they had never expected. Through communicating, the two grew close because one of the most important ways to take the first steps to heal conflicts and pent-up hardships is to have someone who can understand. Someone who can communicate.
For me, the message of Takopi's Original Sin completely changed my life. Just like Shizuka, I felt alone, afraid, and isolated from my classmates. I felt different. Watching my peers smile, laugh, and play, I felt as though I faced complications, inconveniences, and problems that they had no idea about. However, this really is not the case. Everybody, underneath the smiles, has hardships and anxieties they face. I felt I needed to keep my situation under the rug, like a secret identity that can never be revealed. However, by communicating, you learn that although some might face slightly different problems from you, the underlying emotions they feel are shared.
You don't need magic, spaceships, or the ability to fly to begin facing the problems in your life. Honest communication can be one important first step. Finding a trusted person or community that understands can remind you that you are not alone, and professional support may also be important. Takopi's original sin was his inability to empathize. He believed that the best way to fix a fire was by showering it with flowers.
In our lives, we hold many hardships and anxieties that you might feel have no solution. You might feel that these burdens must be carried alone, and that it was something you had to struggle through independently. However, whatever problem you might be facing, whether it be pressure about success, injury, family, or the future, somebody in the world may understand part of what you are facing. Communicating and sharing your story, when it feels safe, can be one path toward support. You never know, one day, somebody who is facing the same hardship as you might stumble across your story and learn how you dealt with it, what you felt, and smile knowing that they weren't alone in the battle.
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Resources & Support
If this story resonated with you, the following organizations provide support for students experiencing bullying, isolation, emotional hardship, mental health challenges, or difficulties communicating what they are going through.
Broad Shoulders Initiative is not a crisis service, medical provider, or therapy provider. If support feels urgent, please contact emergency services, a trusted adult, a school counselor, or a licensed professional.