“Okko’s Inn” directed by Kitaro Kosaka

“Okko’s Inn” directed by Kitaro Kosaka, based on the children’s novel series written by Hiroko Reijō

“Okko’s Inn” is a 2018 anime film on Netflix directed by Kitaro Kosaka, based on a series of children’s novels written by Hiroko Reijō and illustrated by Asami. The title character, Okko, loses both of her parents in a car accident within the first five minutes of the film. She is sent to live with her grandmother, who runs an inn in a town known for its hot springs. She immediately begins to help her grandmother at the inn and attends a new school. However, she’s not able to take the time she needs to process losing her parents, and eventually she must confront the loss and grief.

Spiritual Guides Arrive

Death continues to surround Okko as the ghost of an energetic boy, Uribo, introduces himself and talks of his past life. He was her grandmother’s best friend who died soon after her grandmother’s family moved decades ago. He helps Okko as she works at the inn and encourages her to be a great help to her grandmother.

Okko meets the ghost, Uribo, who was her grandmother’s childhood best friend.

She soon meets a man who is grieving the recent loss of his wife. His son refuses to eat or drink and becomes sick. However, Okko welcomes the pair to the inn and does her best to please them. The son reveals that he’s tired of people feeling sorry for him once they learn about his mother’s death. Okko becomes frustrated with him and tells him that her parents also recently died. She yells at him, telling him she’s trying her best because she knows everyone is worried about her. However, once she sees the boy cry, she decides to do whatever she can to cheer him up.

Another child ghost, Miyo, the daughter of the owners of a rival inn, joins Okko and Uribo. Then a bell demon is released accidentally when Okko rings an old bell belonging to her deceased grandfather, and the demon joins the crew that helps Okko complete all of her chores at the inn. The three spiritual creatures don’t haunt Okko or frighten her; instead, they give Okko strength and companionship.

Soon, another guest arrives: a young woman fortune teller, who invites Okko shopping. But when Okko rides in a car, she shows signs of trauma that she’d been able to conceal previously. With the fortune teller and her ghosts’ help, she is able to calm down and enjoy the car ride.

Reliving the Tragedy

Throughout the film, Okko relives moments with her parents and sees how they’d react to current situations if they were alive. She misses them terribly, and her three companions respond to her pain by appearing whenever she needs help or feels alone. However, as she grows into her role as an innkeeper and time passes, she doesn’t see the ghosts as clearly as she once did. The bell demon tells her the time will come for her ghosts to pass on to heaven and leave her.

The climax of the film features a family who arrives at the inn soon after the father has been released from the hospital. He’s under strict orders regarding his activity and diet. Okko, just as with every other guest, does everything she can to serve this family and finds ways to prepare delicious meals for the father despite his restrictions. The family reveals the nature of the father’s hospital stay, and he tells Okko of the car accident he caused, which Okko and the audience realize killed her parents.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Okko runs out on the family, but she can’t find her ghosts, though they are sobbing right next to her. They can no longer reach her as she must now confront the pain and loss on her own in order to move forward. In the end, she is able to forgive the man and welcome the family to continue to stay at her inn. Just as the hot springs welcome all and heal all, she believes her family’s inn must do the same.

Death Is Not to Be Feared

“Okko’s Inn” is a colorful film, which is a beautiful delight to watch with children of any age. The story helps children not to fear death. Those we love may be lost to us, but the film shows children that the wishes and hopes of our family live on in us. It also teaches everyone that grief has to be felt in order for true healing to begin. The film ends with Okko fulfilling her mother’s wish of dancing in the festival as a burst of flowers, a symbol of rebirth and renewal, which transitions the viewer to the final credits. Families can watch Okko release her past and loss as she looks to a future of helping many more people find healing.