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5/25/24
This story actually goes by two different names.
The name listed here is the name for the manga adaptation of the light novel, "Three Days of Happiness."
While both titles point out what happens in the story, I think the latter aligns better with the overall message of the book.
While we could sit here and argue whether the light novel or the manga is better until the sun extinguishes, I think it's ultimately a moot point.
Regardless of how you choose to read it, I think that this is a story that everybody should read at least once in their lives.
I believe the messages it provides are that life changing!
The story follows the life of Kusunoki, a guy who feels empty, purposeless, and deeply dissatisfied with his life (a sentiment I'm sure many of us can relate to on some level).
The narritive takes a turn early on when Kusunoki hears word of and later seeks out and finds a shop that buys time, health, and lifespan in exchange for cash.
Kusunoki takes the deal, selling off thirty years of his remaining lifespan, leaving him with only three months left to live.
As you may expect, anyone this close to death that's also aware of their demise may become desparate and try to do some... unethical things.
Because of this possibility, whenever anyone who sells their lifespan has less than a year to live, they get assigned an observer that stays with and watches over them.
In the event they try any funny ideas, the observer will immediately contact the headquarters, and their life gets terminated on the spot.
Otherwise, they can spend their remaining days doing whatever they choose to do, just with an observer keeping them company.
Kusunoki's observer is a woman named Miyagi, who was also the same women he first encountered when he initially sold his lifespan.
The rest of the story, to criminally oversummarize it, revoles around Kusunoki going on a personal journey to fix his past mistakes, to do the things he's always dreamed of doing, and discovering what it truly means to be happy.
I read this manga about two months ago, and by the time I was finished, I was completely speechless.
Trying to hold back my tears was the equivalent of trying to stop a faucet with your fingers.
I had to pause a few times throughout the story to let some of the moments and the messages really sink in.
Since this is a relatively short story (about a 1-3 hour read depending on your reading speed), I read the whole thing in one session, and I thorougly enjoyed the story from beginning to end!
The main theme the story touches on, the one that stood out to me the most, and singlehandedly changed my worldview overnight, was its take on nihilism.
Nihilism more often than not gets a bad rep because people take what it means at face value, but don't bother attempting to understand what it really means.
For those unaware, nihilism (specifically existential nihilism) is the belief that life has no objective meaning or purpose.
When people hear this definition, they immediately think "well that's a depressing mindset" or something similar, and just leave it at that.
What most fail to realize is that nihilism can be just as positive as it can negative.
Nihilism doesn't necessarily equate to a sense of despair or giving up on life.
For some, including myself, and the perspective of nihilism that the story views it through, is that nihilism can be a truly liberating concept.
It can free us from societal expectations and pressures, and allow us to define our own values and create meaning in our lives.
Some may hear this and think that they can go out and do whatever they want to, be it illicit or not, without having to worry about it since "nothing matters."
While that's true on paper, in reality, there are and always will be consequences for every action you take or don't take.
Here's a better way to look at it: We all have a passion, be it unconventional or not.
Depending on what that passion is, some people may never pursue them, as that activity isn't what makes a "normal" person happy.
However, when you view life as meaningless, and thus no longer care what others think, you're free to pursue whatever you truly desire and what truly makes you happy.
Nobody else can decide what your life is worth or whether you've lived a good one, because there are no objective measures of such things.
Only you yourself can decide.
So, what? What are we supposed to do with this information?
It depends on who you are and how you interpret it.
For me, it completely changed how I look at the world.
It encouraged me to stop worrying so much about a past that no longer exists, and a future that doesn't exist yet.
I try to be mindful about living and finding fulfillment in the present moment, focusing on my personal relationships and pursuits that I find meaningful.
I'm free to pursue my deepest desires without fear of judgment or societal constriants.
It confirmed my existing notion that I am the master of my own fate!
Overall, Three Days of Happiness was the most beautiful and most impactful story that I've ever had the pleasure of reading!
If this story ever got a movie adaptation, I would go watch it in a heartbeat!
I dare say that a movie adaptation of this story could rival A Silent Voice's movie adaptation, depending on how well it's made.
I'm also thankful that I found and read this story while I'm still relatively young.
I've never felt so free to live my life on my own terms, and decide what matters most to me and going after it!
At the end of the day, while some may disagree, I feel like the true nature of us as people is that we don't all value life as just contributions to society, but rather deep down, a lot of us just want the nihilistic happiness that this way of thinking can bring.
If you're interested in learning more about nihilism, especially the positive aspects of this philosophy, I highly recommend Einzelgänger's video on the topic.
If you have an open mind and are willing to challenge your existing worldview, it just might change your life for the better! :)