Naghol – Jumping into the river to become an adult

Have you noticed that in anime, various characters jump off a bridge into a river to overcome something, let go of sadness, or become an adult? In this article, we will talk a little about this tale of jumping into the river fully clothed.

Searching for any information on this subject did not yield any results, but I don’t believe it’s just a cliché of anime. Various Japanese stories show teenagers in school uniforms jumping into the river and getting wet.

My research also led to a ritual called Naghol from a rather unknown island. Japanese people may also end up celebrating by swimming in a cold river or jumping off a bridge on Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age Day).

Why do anime characters jump into the river?

Perhaps these events and legends of children jumping into the river from a bridge happen because of the large number of rivers that flow through all the cities in Japan. Anime depicts this thousands of times with characters on the banks of urban rivers.

In the 1960s, the government invested in various infrastructure and beautification projects for the city, and rivers with their sloped banks along with a trail sidewalk spread throughout Japan.

When we don’t see two characters talking on the riverbank, we see them entering the water fully clothed or simply jumping off a bridge, as happens in Shigatsu wa kimi no uso.

This scene also occurs in Koe no Katachi, non non biyori, and recently in Nande Koko ni Sensei ga. It was exactly because of the scene I saw in Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso that I wanted to write this article.

Naghol – Jumping from a Tower to Become an Adult

Naghol is a cultural tradition practiced by the inhabitants of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. It is known as “tower jumping” and is performed as a tribute to ancestors.

In the tradition, men build tall towers out of wood and jump from them with a vine rope tied to their legs. They fall freely, at an incredible speed, to the ground. This is considered an act of courage and bravery, and it is performed to honor ancestors and celebrate the harvest.

Naghol is an ancient tradition and is seen as an important part of the culture of Pentecost Island. Although it can be dangerous, it is a joyful and lively celebration that is very important to the island’s inhabitants.

Do Japanese People Also Jump into the River from a Bridge?

The mayor of Osaka warned football fans not to jump off the bridge in Dōtonbori just because the football team won the game. There have been occasions when 500 people jumped at once into the river due to a victory.

Jumping into the river is somewhat of a Japanese tradition that even they do not fully understand. Since childhood, school students probably hear rumors and legends that jumping into the river fully clothed makes them an adult or helps them overcome problems.

These tales and scenes in anime end up influencing some children who have jumped into the river for no reason, putting their lives at risk and leaving their parents very worried.

It was difficult to find any information about this cliché in anime or legends, as when searching for jumping into the river from a bridge in Japanese, I only found information related to accidents and suicides.

The fact is that I have observed various times scenes of characters jumping off a bridge into the river, fully clothed and all. Have you also seen this scene in other movies and anime? If you remember, don’t forget to comment and share the article.