Analysis on Sesshoumaru and Rin’s relationship
Sesshoumaru and Rin’s relationship to almost all in the Japanese fandom as romantic when Rin comes of age for that time period. Not only do those fans see them as what Americans call it a “Canon” couple but they are well aware of poly-amorous relationships widely accepted back in that time and era. Like how Inu no Taishou (Touga-Ou) had two wives. Where Sesshoumaru’s mother was well aware of the human wife and was unphased nor appeared to be jealous. Only hinting Sesshoumaru’s taste in humans (about Rin) like his father with Izayoi.
Western Culture VS Eastern Culture
Atleast 20% of the American fandom in my group while it was closed (that means members only) voted SessKagura when I ran the poll in 2019. It was 64 votes and Sesshoumaru romantic with adult Rin had 126 votes.
In a Fanpop poll SessRin had 61% and SessKagura had 39%
While I ran the poll again in 2020 as public and shared it across multiple Western fan groups which is less genuine data I had to check each profile to ensure the votes were genuine (haters tend to happen in any given anime coupling) They are able to vote even though they weren’t members. This time I specifically labeled it “Romantic” or “Parental”. The results within just a few hours were what I had expected. The romantic portion still surpasses the parental choice.
American Fandom VS Japanese Fandom
The American fandom majority is mostly accepting of Rin being with Sesshoumaru of age. However, the fraction that is more towards him being parental is far more than what the Eastern fandom thinks.
Two administrators of a 13,000 plus members group called Sinosphere (Eastern culture) have both spoken to me about the differences in views.
One stated (Esther Xiao) “I have never heard of this issue ever until I joined the American fandom. I’ve known about the gift that Rin recieves at the end of the series as an act of courting.”
The second admin Hiroyuki said the Japanese viewed Sesshoumaru and Rin easily as a couple of when of age. Courting being much differently than Western and the fact of it’s time period.
“Contemporary courtship in Japan is more subtle than dating in the United States. The blossoming of a relationship from friendship to marriage can take years. The relationship begins as friendship, with dates taking place only in public places, typically with groups of friends present. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. The next stage is dating only as a couple, which is done discreetly. Women typically withhold displays of extreme affection and proclamations of love until she deems her suitor is sincere. When the relationship enters the stage of magkasintahan, which means the status of boyfriend and girlfriend, the couple typically makes an announcement to friends and family members, with the suitor asking for parental permission to pursue the relationship.
The man typically brings gifts when visiting the family.”
Source: https://datingtips.match.com/courtship-japan-13196896.html
Sesshoumaru stops by to visit Rin and Kaede, often giving her gifts. The kimonos are gifts representing courtship. Kaede’s is Rin’s family
An extra unaired episode was released on an audio CD only in Japan when you pre-ordered the Final Act. Where Sesshoumaru proposes to Rin. It takes place right after the Final Act’s last episode and it’s called “The Day After Tomorrow”
Rin, are you finding life in the village okay?
No one is bullying you, right?
Are you wearing the kimono that I gave you last time?
If you ever find yourself in danger, sad or depressed, no matter when, as long as you call this Sesshomaru, I will instantly run to your side.
Even if we are far from one another, as long as you call my name, I will immediately fly to you. If not shouting, you can whistle loudly or silently.
There is no distance between us, our hearts are tied together. The power of trust will win over any fear. And that affection between us is also what makes our hearts more abundant and enriched.
Therefore, you can just be yourself right now. There is enough time for me to look forward in you finding your feelings for me. Prior to this, take care of yourself……
To Westerners, Canon was a term invented by the Bible.
“a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine” To Westerners nothing else is canon except Manga.
In Japan, including the Dragon Ball Z timeline and continuity - Westerners argue that anything in their perspective that is canon is law and real/what happens. The creator of the series himself, Akira Toriyama never used these terms when it came to GT, in fact anything Westerners argued “Canon”. Akira Toriyama would state that it would be apart of a side story.
“If you are able, along with me, to enjoy watching the original Dragon Ball’s grand side-story Dragon Ball GT, you will be pleased.”
Source: https://www.kanzenshuu.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5411
Still very much considered genuine by the Japanese just in a different continuity.
In Japan, Canon is not a term used. If something happens in an anime series it still happens regardless separate reality or not based on storyline. Unless a creator decides to make something in the future that erases the event from a timeline.
Even when Akira Toriyama was re-desigining Broly to fit into the Super series, here’s what he had to say -
“I went ahead and watched the movies from back then, and I felt this could be quite interesting once I rearrange some things. I got right to work trying my hand at a story that incorporates him into the Dragon Ball Super series.”
Source: https://comicbook.com/anime/2018/07/09/dragon-ball-super-movie-broly-canon-akira-toriyama-anime/
Star Wars Canon arguments…
Here’s where American perspective on Canon fails. If a creator sells of the rights for anyone to use their character in an agreement they are allowed to twist the perspective on story reality. Disney bought the rights to Star Wars and the creator has absolutely no say whatsoever. Disney decides what is “Canon” and what isn’t. That is why Americanized “Canon” is solely based on perspective.
Let’s be real here, if something is officially licensed and approved it is still apart of continuity in one way or another no matter how you slice it.
Westerners and Easterners see the world differently
Source (Thanks Mod Esther for supplying)
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7882-westerners-and-easterners-see-the-world-differently/
“There is plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that Western and East Asian people have contrasting world-views,” explains Richard Nisbett, who carried out the study. “Americans break things down analytically, focusing on putting objects into categories and working out what rules they should obey,” he says.
By contrast, East Asians have a more holistic philosophy, looking at objects in relation to the whole. “Figuratively, Americans see things in black and white, while East Asians see more shades of grey,” says Nisbett. “We wanted to devise an experiment to see if that translated to a literal difference in what they actually see.”
The researchers tracked the eye-movements of two groups of students while they looked at photographs. One group contained American-born graduates of European descent and the other was comprised of Chinese-born graduate students who came to the US after their undergraduate degrees
Each picture showed a striking central image placed in a realistic background, such as a tiger in a jungle. They found that the American students spent longer looking at the central object, while the Chinese students’ eyes tended to dart around, taking in the context"
By rules that some Westerners are raised to follow when it comes to Sesshoumaru and Rin: If you save someone at a young age they are automatically considered your child regardless by blood. Rin was only with Sesshoumaru for one year and with Kaede for three years.
They are also not thinking of the Japanese culture or time period.
Nisbett hopes that his work will change the way the cultures view each other. “Understanding that there is a real difference in the way people think should form the basis of respect.”
Respecting the time period and Japan’s culture. Kagome teaches us that in the series.
In the series Miroku proposes to many young girls even Koharu when she was age 11 in Chapter 147 and Episode 41. But she comes back as a 14 year old.
At first Sango and Kagome were mad thinking Miroku was perverted with her when she was 11. But he tells them that nothing happened between them. They believed him. Sango was also furiously jealous of Koharu!
Kagome states “Things were way different back then.” Stating her respect for the time period and culture.
Ayame was the same age as Rin when Kouga proposed to her when she was 8 years old. She grew up, and they got married.
InuYasha is 200 and Kagome was 15. She became 18 then they married.
Rumiko Takahashi’s Fire Tripper - There’s time traveling back in forth from Feudal Japan to Modern Era. The boy Shu was brought in with her family and the girl was sent back in time with him where he thinks that’s his little sister. Then as she’s older she’s back in time once more, he wants to make her his wife then realizes she must be his little sister. But she says they aren’t because they are not related by blood. They get married. Pretty much an the same type of pairing.
As you know Rin is 8 years old when she is first introduced into the series. 3 years go by and she is 11. Had been living with Kaede for 3 years since Naraku had been defeated. InuYasha states that it’s up to her to decide on "what she wants” in the final chapter.
In the proposal Sesshoumaru states that there is enough time for her to decide.
Age of consent in Japan is 13
https://www.ageofconsent.net/world/japan
Back then once you hit puberty that was your adulthood. The world was a much more dangerous place and you had to mature, fast.
The audio episode is officially licensed and produced by the same staff that made the anime but that isn’t the only supporting evidence we have that it’s accepted by not only the creator and producers.
We actually have the official Adult Rin design.
The character designer and animator for the InuYasha series posted these official artworks of Adult Rin and Sesshoumaru
Rumiko Takahashi wrote strict rules to the animators to follow for each character on what you can/cannot do with them. One of them being, Kagome’s skirt must always be covering her underwear.
When you work for a company and produce things you must represent the characters properly so you are not sued. There are rules Rumiko Takahashi gave the animators to properly represent her characters.
To the Japanese, and many Easterners. Sesshoumaru and Rin, InuYasha and Kagome, Ayame and Kouga maturing together - Falling in love with eachother is not an issue.
To a fraction of Westerners it’s led to hate and dis-respect to the time period and Japanese culture. However, even if you don’t like it - Shouldn’t mean you should disrespect one another over it.
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