Shoko's Home

Lore & Background

The Nishimiya home is where Shōko lives with her mother Yaeko, her younger sister Yuzuru, and her grandmother Ito. Yaeko disapproves of her daughters being around Shōya Ishida due to his past bullying of Shōko. Yuzuru initially opposes Shōya being near Shōko, but later bonds with him when she runs away from home after an argument with Shōko and stays at Shōya's house. The grandmother Ito passes away during the film, after which Shōya takes Shōko and Yuzuru to the countryside to cheer them up. It is at this home that Shōko prepares to jump from her balcony during a fireworks festival, an act Shōya stops by falling into the river below, rendering him comatose. After Shōya awakens, he finds Shōko weeping at the bridge and apologizes, asking her to help him keep living.

In Their Own Story

The Nishimiya home is where Shōko returns after school, where her mother and grandmother care for her. It is the site of Shōko's failed confession to Shōya, when she gives him a gift and verbally confesses her feelings, but runs off upset when he mishears her. After the grandmother's death, Shōya takes the sisters to the countryside from this home. The most dramatic event occurs when Shōko leaves early from a fireworks festival, ostensibly to finish homework, but instead prepares to jump from her balcony. Shōya follows, retrieves Yuzuru's camera, and stops Shōko, falling into the river below. He is rescued by former friends Kazuki Shimada and Keisuke Hirose, but his injuries render him comatose.

Reader's Guide

The Nishimiya home is central to understanding Shōko's life outside of school. It is where her mother Yaeko expresses disapproval of Shōya, and where Yuzuru initially opposes his presence. The home becomes a place of bonding when Yuzuru runs away and stays with Shōya, but also of tragedy when the grandmother passes away. The balcony of this home is the site of Shōko's suicide attempt, which Shōya prevents at great personal cost. After Shōya's coma and recovery, he meets Shōko at the bridge, not at the home, to apologize and ask for her help in living. The home ultimately represents the family's protective but strained dynamic, shaped by Shōko's deafness and the bullying she endured.

Did You Know?

• The Nishimiya home is where Shōko's grandmother Ito lived with the family until her death during the film.
• Shōko's mother Yaeko disapproves of her daughters being around Shōya because of his past bullying.
• Yuzuru runs away from home after an argument with Shōko and stays at Shōya's house, where they begin to bond.
• Shōko attempts suicide by jumping from her balcony at the Nishimiya home during a fireworks festival.
• After Shōya stops Shōko's suicide attempt, he falls into the river and is rendered comatose, later rescued by Kazuki Shimada and Keisuke Hirose.