

Quite often in a promise is made to go see the ocean. Just as often these
promises can not/ no longer be achieved due to some events occurring.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rrTTi.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rrTTi.png)

Is there some symbolism at play here? Leading to a character always having to
dramatically fail at going to the ocean together? Or something different all
together


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2016-09-05T16:50:17.847
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question
tropes symbolism
Why are there so many tragic ocean promises?


It has something to do with the term Mother Ocean, the fact that Japanese
islands are made of several volcanoes linked together, their work ethics and
custom.

**Mother Ocean**

Mother Ocean is a term used to refer to the fact that all lives on earth
starts from the sea/ocean as described in [Nagi no
Asukara](https://myanimelist.net/anime/16067/Nagi_no_Asukara). Even after
leaving the sea and becoming land creature, the ocean still provides
nourishment and food for them, thus it can be said that Mother Ocean is a
symbolics of love. A love that knows no bound even when betrayed and left
behind. An eternal love that is ready to accept when one repent and return to
it as is the case with Miuna.

Thus, it can be said that a promise to see the ocean is a promise of love. The
fact that the promise was broken and in some cases tragically, is a symbolics
for a love that would never come true.

**Japanese Islands, Work Ethics & Custom**

See the following map.

[![Japanese
map](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wgE3U.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wgE3U.jpg)

Most of Japanese lands are mountainous terrain. People live on these
mountains. In the olden times, these terrain makes traveling hard, thus not
many mountain people travel to see the sea. In the modern day this would be
due to their tight schedule making them unable to take vacation to the sea. I
think it is already a common knowledge that Japan has a [crazy tight work
schedule](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2991505/Japanese-
workers-soon-FORCED-holidays-Government-consider-making-illegal-five-days-
year-bid-combat-overwork.html). People rarely use their paid visit. That is
part of their work ethics. Also, [most Japanese visits ocean only during
summer](http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29429742). It's an old custom.

Thus, while Japan has plenty of beaches, and given the distance and the
availability of public transports it should be relatively easy to access,
going to the beach is not something Japanese people easily do unless they
already live by the sea. This means that going to the sea can be counted as a
luxury for the Japanese.


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answer