Who Is Meiko "Menma" Honma?

Meiko Honma (本間 芽衣子, Honma Meiko), universally called Menma (めんま), is the central character of AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day (あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。, Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.). She is the ghost of a young girl who drowned in childhood, appearing only to her former friend Jinta "Jintan" Yadomi, and asking him to grant a wish she cannot remember — in order to finally pass on.

Menma's Japanese Name

Her full name is 本間 芽衣子 (Honma Meiko):

  • 本間 (Honma) — "between the books" or more commonly read as a place-name surname. 本 (hon) means "book" or "origin/root," and 間 (ma/aida) means "space" or "between." The surname has a grounded, rooted quality — ironic for a character who exists between worlds.
  • 芽衣子 (Meiko) — "sprout," "clothing," "child." 芽 (me) means "bud" or "sprout," 衣 (i) means "clothes" or "garment," and 子 (ko) means "child." The name evokes something young, fragile, and still growing — Menma is forever the child she was when she died.
  • Menma (めんま) — her nickname, given to her by Jintan as a child, is simply a playful distortion of Meiko. It became so defining that her friends never stopped using it, even after her death.

Menma's Character & Wish

Menma appears to Jintan as she looked at the time of her death — eternally childlike, cheerful, and gentle. She has no memory of the wish she needs granted, only a feeling that she must stay until it's done. Her presence forces Jintan to reconnect with their childhood friend group (the Super Peace Busters), each of whom has been dealing with her death in their own broken way.

  • Eternal innocence: Menma never aged past childhood. She remains purely kind, without resentment, even for the friend whose careless words may have led to her accident.
  • Only visible to Jintan: The other friends struggle to believe Jintan when he says Menma is with them — creating grief, jealousy, and old guilt rising to the surface.
  • The wish: Menma's wish is ultimately about her mother's grief, not her own peace. She wants those she left behind to be okay — a fundamentally selfless final act.
  • The firefly: Menma is associated with fireflies and summer — light that glows briefly in the dark before disappearing.

Chichibu: The Real Town Behind AnoHana

AnoHana is set almost entirely in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture — and the production team used real locations with remarkable accuracy. Visiting Chichibu is one of the most complete anime pilgrimage experiences in Japan, because the town itself is so small and unchanged that nearly every scene is recognizable on foot.

Real-Life Chichibu Locations

Seibu Chichibu Station (西武秩父駅)

The arrival point for most visitors, and the station closest to the anime's setting. The town radiates outward from here on foot or by bicycle. Many pilgrimage maps are available at the tourist information office inside the station building.

The "Secret Base" Bridge (Ryumon Bridge / 竜門橋)

The stone arch bridge near the river where the Super Peace Busters used to play as children is based on a real bridge in the Chichibu area. The river gorge, the stone steps, and the surrounding trees are faithfully reproduced. This is the spiritual center of the series — where childhood ended and where the story seeks closure.

Chichibu Shrine (秩父神社)

Chichibu Shrine is one of the three great Kanto shrines and appears in the anime as the backdrop for the summer festival scenes — including the emotional finale. The shrine's architecture, the approach road lined with lanterns, and the festival atmosphere are all drawn directly from the real Chichibu Yomatsuri (Night Festival), held every December.

  • Chichibu Night Festival: Held December 2-3 annually. One of Japan's three great float festivals. If you visit in early December, experiencing the real event that inspired AnoHana's climax is extraordinary.

Jizodo (地蔵堂)

A small roadside Jizo statue shrine near the river is featured in the anime as a quiet, spiritual spot near the children's play area. Small Jizo statues represent protection of children in Japanese folk religion — deeply fitting for a story about a child who died too soon.

Visiting Tips: Chichibu Pilgrimage

  • Access: Take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro to Seibu-Chichibu (about 80 minutes by Limited Express "Laview"). The Laview's glass panorama windows offer beautiful mountain views on arrival.
  • On foot: The main AnoHana locations are within 2-3km of each other. A bicycle rental from the station makes it easy to cover everything in half a day.
  • AnoHana pilgrimage map: The Chichibu tourist office distributes official pilgrimage maps in Japanese. Fan-made English versions are available online and worth printing before you go.
  • Best season: Late spring (May–June) for the lush greenery that defines the anime's visual tone, or summer for the firefly-and-festival atmosphere.
  • Combine with nature: Chichibu has excellent hiking — Mitsumine Shrine on the mountain is a 40-minute bus ride and offers stunning highland scenery completely different from the town.