The Wind Rises (Series)

Jirou Horikoshi dreams of building airplanes, though his poor eyesight prevents him from flying them. Determined, he leaves his hometown to study aeronautical engineering at Tokyo Imperial University, inspired by his idol, Italian aircraft designer Giovanni Battista Caproni. His path intertwines with history when the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 devastates Tokyo, where he helps a young girl named Naoko Satomi and her family. As Japan endures decades of turmoil—economic hardship, political unrest, and the march toward war—Jirou pursues his vision of crafting beautiful planes. His career leads him to develop the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a fighter aircraft that will become infamous in World War II. Alongside professional challenges, Jirou faces the personal trials of love and loss, especially through his deepening relationship with Naoko. Haunted by the duality of his ambition—the elegance of flight against the destructive reality of war—Jirou wrestles with the moral consequences of his work. His journey becomes a meditation on creativity, sacrifice, and the cost of chasing an ideal. In the end, he must confront the question that defines his life: what price is worth paying for the pursuit of a dream?