Iām NaOH [Naoh]. This is a Wind Breaker (Nii Satoru) centric blog, in which I mainly post meta/analyses about it. My favorite characters are Suo, Nirei, and Sakura Rakta, Rakta, and Rakta. Maybe Bacchus too.
Iām not very active on social media nor do I have a consistent posting schedule anymore, but I try my best to keep up with things.
I seldom block, but if you are blocked it means I dislike the content you post, or I donāt like you at all. Donāt take it personally.
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#wbk analysis: Contains all of my Wind Breaker analyses. Most of these contain manga spoilers, and are tagged as such (with #wbk spoilers).
#naohs soapbox: Responses to asks Iāve received.
#naoh yaps: Random thoughts from me (which is either general yap about Wind Breaker or related to my blog).
DISCLAIMER: I am not fluent in Japanese. If I made any mistakes in this analysis or missed additional information, please let me know!
To this day, Chapter 50 might just be one of Wind Breakerās most important chapters. It not only shows us a more unrestrained side to the enigmatic Suo, but gives us more insight into his (and Sakuraās) mentality, with the chapter containing one singular instance of Suo introspecting.Ā
Granted, it is to put himself below Sakura (which is quite sad, given that his internal monologue mainly consists of him simply commenting on the situation around him). However, this specific line is quite interesting, because it sounds very similar to what Ito says to his wife at the end of Chapter 66.Ā
Itās important to examine the context that leads up to these moments first. Suo and Ito realize that they are āno matchā for Sakura and Yui when their perception of a person they deeply care for differs from their expectations. Both Suo and Ito know Sakura and Yui respectively well, with ItoYui being married for decades (though Ito remorse of being unaware about Yuiās true feelings) and Suo being able to decipher/understand Sakuraās psyche and feelings. These realizations about the other party do come as a surprise to Ito/Suoāand given their somewhat insecure nature, they put Yui/Sakura above them.Ā
With Sakura, Suo expects him to get mad over Nirei/their classmates losing to KEEL, but the former tells the overtly emotional Suo that not only do they have bigger fish to fry, but he delegates the blame onto himself. Suoās line here can have many interpretationsāfrom it showcasing Suoās sheer admiration towards Sakuraās character, to even Suo possibly harboring envy for Sakuraābut itās evident that Sakuraās reaction in KEEL subverts Suoās careful expectations.Ā
And with Yui, Ito finds out that his wife had always loved him as much as he loved her; only, Yui was always aware of her husbandās doubts about her love. Notably, itās Suo that proposes this explanation, before Tsubaki corroborates his claim.Ā
Back to the line itself: these quotes might not sound similar in the English translation. But both of them are near-identical in the original Japanese.
Ito says ćę¬å½ć«ęµććŖććć (hontoni kanawanai yo), while Suo says ćā¦ę¬å½ć«åćÆęµććŖććŖā¦ć (ā¦honto ni kimi ni wa kanawanai naā¦). [EDIT: Iām aware Suoās ćęµć is written in Hiragana instead of Kanji; however Iāve decided not to include this aspect in my analysis because itās most likely a stylistic choice. If it does carry another meaning, then I simply lack the adequate information about Suoās character to draw any meaningful conclusion.]
ę¬å½ means āreallyā(with the ć« conjunction connecting it with the next phrase) and ęµććŖć (kanawanai) means āNo match forā or āCannot beat/compete [with]ā. Disregarding the slight differences, these two lines mean the exact same thing: I really am no match for you.Ā
However, both lines do have their nuances. The ęµććŖćć Ito says has the ć (yo) sentence-ending particle. ć is typically used for emphasis in a sentence. It also marks the sentence as āinformativeā (ie. Ito finding that he is no match for his wife is new information to not only him, but the audience too). ć can also carry a more genial nuance to a sentence; showing that Ito is happy at this realization (the voice acting in the anime also carries this tone). Itoās line also omits any pronouns, making the statement one-note and succinct; in a way, Ito is able to accept this and move on with a smile.Ā
With Suo, he says åć«ćÆęµććŖććŖ. The ćŖ(na) sentence-ending particle is used in comparison; ćŖ can have multiple connotations but I suspect that it mainly marks this sentence as introspective in nature. Another usage I think fits the most is āto seek confirmationā. Suo sees his inability to compete with Sakura not as a 100% given. ćŖ can also carry a sense of wonder, which can emphasize Suoās uncertainty in his feelings (a way to translate it into English would be āI am really no match for you, huhā¦ā). Overall, ćŖ adds a certain emotional nuance to a sentence (similar to ć, only ćŖ is more emotionally overt).Ā
Suo also starts this phrase with åć«ćÆ (I am). Japanese likes to eliminate the subject in its sentences sometimes (as seen with Itoās version). However, the presence of āyouā here indicates that Suo is directly addressing Sakura. You could interpret the sentence as words Suo wants to say to Sakura, but ultimately cannot; instead keeping the thought in his mind.Ā Ā
The wording of this quote overall is different in not only the English manga translation but the animeās English sub and dub (which is fair considering the context to both scenes are very different; but āI am no match for youā is a rather uncommon phrase especially in Wind Breaker) so it makes sense why this connection isnāt obvious at first.Ā
Given that Suo and Sakuraās relationship shares such an explicit parallel with a married couple, I suppose it makes sense why they were drawn getting married in a formal Chinese marriage setting in the fifth volume bonusā¦? All the other arts have Sakura and co. in normal attire, what did Nii Satoru mean by thisā¦ā¦
The Volume 5 bonus is still funny to me 2+ years later because why did Nii Satoru marry off the most emotionally repressed guys in this series way before their relationship had substantial meat to it
They called me crazy for saying Suo is a traitor whoās part of a faction opposing Furin and theyāll call me crazy AGAIN for saying Bacchus is an insurgent of that same faction
Yes and no? If thatās the case, itād probably be someone working under Bacchus because you do need the collaboration of a large amount of people for an (hypothetical) insurgency group. Bacchusā position as an officer could also be a liability if he was Endoās direct informant, so I suppose it would be a āthrough the grapevineā thing via his subordinates.
Thinking about Bacchusā name again (because when am I not) and his character may harbor the theme of duality. Dionysus is quite a complex god; not only is he mixed (having an immortal father and mortal mother), what he reigns over is very polarizing. He is mainly known for being the god of wine, as well as fertility, agriculture, and festivityābut madness, ritual insanity and (religious) ecstasy. Which dovetails it with wineāgetting drunk off alcohol can be liberating, however it can also turn you mad. From a Nietzschean perspective, Dionysus also represents the more primitive and savage nature of humans (that isnāt acknowledged forthright), such as violence or sexual indulgence. But of course, all of this can be safely explored through the realm of stories/fiction, ie. theater (which is another thing Dionysus is a god of). And Dionysus has a few books and a very notable play written about him. Maybe Bacchus (the WBK character) has a darker side to him thatās hidden under the surface?
Much like Sunfeiās name having two different pronunciations in two languages (Suo Hayato and Sufang Sunfei) yet having the same definition, Bacchusā name is also dual in nature. Bacchus is the Roman equivalent of the Greek God Dionysus, and vice versa as both of them reign over wine and the same aspects of nature that happen to oppose each other.
These panels still intrigue me immensely. We all know of the common phrase āa knowing lookā, but here Rakta and Bacchus seem to come to a mutual understanding despite looking away from each other. I think that despite both of their differences and squabbles, their views will naturally sync somehow. Or they trust each other so much that they donāt need to look at each other for any sort of confirmation.
Sakura clutching at himself whenever he thinks of Suo is quite interesting. Foremost it is a signifier that heās frustrated, but it may also be emphatic of Sakuraās inability to reach Suo. Itās like he wants to grab Suo, but since he is no longer present in Sakuraās life the latter can only grab at whatās more accessible: his own body parts. His own inability to hold Suo.
Which is funny, because the one time Sakura has made physical contact with Suo was when he stopped him during KEEL. In which Sakuraās grip on Suo tightened while he was talking about his own shortcomings, even though Suo was stationary in his grasp at that point. Suo wasnāt struggling to break free either, but Sakura still squeezed him while preaching that āgetting pissed off wonāt helpā for no reason??? When Sakura meets Suo again, heās going to hold onto him so tight that Suo will never be able leave Sakuraās side again (delusional)
Seeing that one guy calling the runaway kid a āhamari baccheā is just so funny to me. I donāt know a lick of Hindi (Iām from the South) but I sure know what their swear words are
Itās vitally important that people remember that no matter how many followers someone has on here theyāre still literally just some person with a blog and not, like, The Authority on anything.
Been thinking about how communication plays a big role in Windbreakerā¦
Like, communication, and/or the lack of it, is significant to any story, but itās specifically a central theme both in the text and subtext of Windbreaker. Whether itās through intense brawls, group meals, sharing interests, or even flower languages, the series shows that there are many different ways to communicate with others.
Itās not uncommon for coming of age stories to explore these topics since kids, teens, and young adults are all still developing the tools necessary to properly understand and communicate with others. This is why all the characters in Windbreaker, regardless of upbringing, are going through that learning process too (though at different stages of fluency).
However, with how particularly significant this is in Windbreakerās narrative, itās not surprising that Sakura is our protagonist. Due to being shunned all of his life, he enters Makochi without even having a basic foundation to communicate with others. His isolation from others has caused him to develop his own language, which means other people struggle to understand him, and his lack of social experience means that he canāt understand other people either.
Heās essentially a foreigner in his own land, which is likely why he brightened up significantly when he initially thought Suo was a foreigner during his introduction. Though, despite the obvious teasing, it may not have been entirely incorrect.
For most of Windbreaker up until this latest manga arc, Suo has been a significant character because of his role as interpreter. When other people donāt understand Sakura, Suo translates for him in a way that they can comprehend. This is shown as early as his first appearance when his (deliberate) actions towards Sakura in the Furin classroom help ease the tension between Sakura and his classmates. Looking at how they act when Sakura first enters the room versus a few minutes later is like a night and day difference, and itās all thanks to Suo lightheartedly introducing Sakura to the class.
He also helps interpret what other people are saying to Sakura. In most major emotional scenes in the story, Suo is usually there to easily summarize the main points to Sakura in a way that is easy for him to internalize and recall. Itās significant that Suo is often the one to bookend the emotional monologues of other characters to Sakura, and that Sakura seems to finally grapple with it properly once Suo gives that explanation
Overall, throughout most of the narrative, Sakura is largely able to grow and develop the communication skills he didnāt have before because he had Suo to act as his interpreter. But, despite his attempts to remain a passive participant, Suo isnāt an unbiased translator. The reason he is so good at being Sakuraās interpreter is because he shares Sakuraās language and is thus also a āforeigner.ā This makes itself known during what is arguably Suoās most significant early scene besides his introduction: his fight with Kanuma.
Up until this point in the story, Sakura has been suspicious and dismissive of Suo. Although he can tell that Suo is strong, he doesnāt try engaging with him significantly despite Suo placing himself in his orbit. In the moments that he does, it is with the legitimate belief that Suo may want to antagonize him.
But, when Suo tells Sakura that he was inspired by Sakura and wants to give it his all right before the Kanuma fight, Sakura immediately changes. He asks Nirei questions about Suo, he focuses on Suoās battle, and he eventually tells Suo that he wants to have a proper battle with him, which in this series essentially means that he wants to learn more about him and get closer to him. And, though Suo characteristically deflects and doesnāt engage Sakura, the event is enough to convince Sakura to accept Suo into his budding group. He drops his suspicions, and takes Suoās antics as playful rather than dangerous.
Itās such a significant early turning point for them that itās the clearest memory Sakura has of Suo when the memories wash over him after learning about what he did to Nirei during the latest arc. And itās because itās one of the few times (and the first time) we see beyond the passive mask Suo wears.
Before that moment, Suo was just acting as an interpreter. A bridge between the class and Sakura. But, in that moment, Sakura and the audience see the human, the boy, that lives under that smile. A boy who was amazed by his new classmate and friend. A boy who was so angry that someone was mistreating others that he humiliated them in front of everyone. And he did it in a way that, whether consciously or unconsciously, was in a language that Sakura could understand. He can understand wanting to pummel a smug bastard into the ground. Sakura saw that ānastyā personality and was relieved and intrigued.
Their similar languages and thinking is also why Sakura often takes Suoās explanations without question while Nirei is more likely to push back. Nireiās unique perspective to the trio means that he is often the one to challenge their viewpoint the most.
Though Sakura now knew there was more to Suo, he both didnāt feel the need to push deeper or even had the tools to do so. But, as the story has progressed, heās been slowly gaining the ability to properly communicate with people on his own, which is why Suoās arc has occurred at just the right time.
Suo leaving Furin means that Sakura looses the training wheels that he has had up until this point. He now has to use the skills he has learned on his own, and he has done really well so far. Despite the hurt he felt after Suoās departure, he took the time to listen to Nireiās perspective and decided to make the effort to try to find Suo. And, when everyone was struggling to find him, he also took the initiative to ask everyone including Endo. These are all things that Sakura would not have done at the start of the series, which shows just how far heās come.
Of course, the main test of these new skills will be trying to break through to Suo, especially since Suo knows him so well and shares a similar ālanguage.ā But as Suo himself has said, Sakura is the type of person who can do anything he puts his mind to. Hopefully, whatever happens, Sakura will help Suo to finally begin communicating and growing alongside the rest of the group, rather than simply being Sakuraās interpreter.
