May

21, she/her, asexual, proship DNI Media analysis is my favorite activity Huge fan of Kento Nagayama & Lucien Dodge I fw live action BajiFuyu, BajiTora & MaiTora

[manymangomochis]

Introduction post

Minors please do not dm me! I primarily interact with the Tokyo Revengers fandom. Therefore: if I see you talking weird about children (which is the majority of the cast in the story, mind you), I will just block you. I am also respectfully rather uninterested in “x OC” / “x reader” / “x y/n” / self-shipping / yumeshipping content unless I know you personally. Thank you.

Hello. This is my first time using tumblr! I am very shy online but I am also very passionate when it comes to talking about my interests — particularly with Tokyo Revengers and specifically with its live action continuity, though I recently got my hands on the Valhalla arc 2022 stage play DVD and 2025 musical Blu-Ray.

“Okay but how did you find manage to find (insert thing here)” SHHHHHHHH. WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO KNOW, BUCKY BOY/j. (jk I'm not stingy when it comes to sharing my resources; and the answer is lots of dedication and autism lmao)

I write a lot, and my ao3 can be found here. I am constantly working on projects even if they don’t get posted. I am currently writing a Baji essay (sitting at 19k words) since he’s my favorite character, but my other favorites include Kazutora, Mikey, Koko, and Inupi; though I haven’t talked about InuKoko for a while.

My personal favorite pairings are MaiTakeHina and InuKoko in the animanga and BajiFuyu, BajiTora, and MaiTora in the live action (bc I do believe the two continuities are different enough from each other to be distinguished, esp in the context of Baji&Chifuyu), but I fw any pairings that make sense to me.

My historical list of all-time favorite characters besides Baji and Kazutora include:

Kyouka Izumi (Bungou Stray Dogs)

Garou (One Punch Man)

Akaza (Demon Slayer)

Mahito (JJK)

Mai Zenin (JJK)

Yujin Kamoshima (Double manga & 2022 show adaptation)

Kaoru Hitachiin (Ouran Highschool Host Club)

Chishiya Shuntarou (Alice in Borderland)

Envy (FMA:B)

Edward Elric (FMA:2003)

I talk a ton to my cfs on Instagram, so if ur wondering how I’m spamming so much about Kento Nagayama, TR, etc., within such a short time frame it’s because I’m pretty much transferring all my thoughts from there on my private highlights over here.

It may take me a while to get used to talking to people, but I love to have discussions about character analysis and listen to other people’s thoughts, opinions and interpretations.

I found out that I can sort things on my blog via different tags so that’s fun!! I plan to put “manymango posting” for specific stuff I’ve made so they don’t get mixed in with the reblogs; along with tagging other categories for the other topics that I talk about frequently so I can find them more easily.

[solarsaurus-rex]

emma and baji living the most insane lives i can't believe they're not leading characters whose voices tell their own stories. why tf do we get takemitchy he's not relevant. HE DOESN'T EVEN GO HERE

[manymangomochis]

THIS IS SO TRUE. I wish that the author just did more with Emma ngl bc the things that are happening around her are insane. We get a little bit of insight into the way she thinks with how she doesn’t understand why the people around her are always so insistent on physically fighting all the time as a form of conflict resolution, but the only real times where we get meaningful elaboration on her character outside of her sexualization in s1 (in which. Wtf was that.) and her role as Draken’s love interest was right before she dies so that the male main characters can be sad over her loss — which is honestly such a shame since there’s so much potential for interesting story telling.

Like how did you feel when Baji died? Despite the fact they were childhood friends, we’re never allowed to see how she feels or how she fits in within the narrative of the Valhalla arc. What were her thoughts when Baji left Toman? Did she dismiss it as a temporary issue? Was she worried about the whole situation with Kazutora and Mikey’s conflict? What were her feelings on Kazutora being responsible for the death of her older brother? Was she even allowed to know what was going on at all?; considering how it seems like the other people in her life (namely Draken) are excluding her bc they’re supposedly “issues that don’t involve her?” What was her reaction when she found out that Baji killed himself?

—and that’s not even covering her relationship with Izana, which is already somewhat touched upon in the anime but could have been used as interesting foreshadowing for Izana as a character. (Though I’d like to point out that it doesn’t seem like Wakui really has many things thoroughly planned out besides meeting future bullet points with his storytelling).

I could go on and on but it genuinely doesn’t seem like the author really knows what to do with her!, when imo she really should have been in more focus within the narrative.

As for Baji… I could go on forever and ever about my thoughts Baji lmao, so I won’t out of concern for concision. He just has so much going on and I can talk about it for literal actual hours.

TLDR it just feels like Takemichi as a protagonist feels like he’s surrounded by a ton of other characters that are way more interesting than he is (😭😭) . It’s genuinely deadass like that one Alvin & the Chipmunks meme bro like:

Anyways tldr, more Emma. More Baji. More Emma and Baji interacting with each other. Please and thank you.

[manymangomochis]

Kento Nagayama doodles of Baji and Yujin I did with my finger over Instagram stories from a while back. I’m a huge fan of drawing his hooked nose and prominent Cupid’s bow. In tandem with each other it just creates a mix of facial features that’s interesting to look at. Idk I just think it’s really interesting how the director chose an actor for Baji with such prominent, pointed features.

—and ofc for the Double manga he just looks exactly like the character it’s actually crazy, but what’s actually crazy is me watching 12+ other works that this man has been in over the past couple of months just because of how much I loved his performance of my favorite character

[manymangomochis]

Among other things, one of the reasons I found the ending of Tokyo Revengers to be relatively disappointing was because it didn’t feel like Wakui was doing anything original with Kazutora in regards to where he would end up as an adult.

Of course, there’s nothing really wrong with Kazutora once again ending up at the pet shop with Chifuyu, and now Baji. However, it felt like (to me) that the reason why he ended up becoming an employee at Chifuyu’s pet shop in the Bonten timeline was more so out of respect for Baji’s memory, and maybe the fact that he would have had a difficult time finding work since he’s an ex-convict, and Chifuyu was just able to lend that hand to him.

I remembered seeing someone on Twitter somewhere saying that their headcanon was that Kazutora would have been more fitting as a police officer due to his strong sense of justice and etc., and though I agree that Kazutora is fundamentally oriented around the idea of justice as a character, (after all, his whole arc essentially goes from seeking twisted vengeance for himself to justify a fragile mindset where he’s never at fault, to finding justice for Mikey and ending the corruption in Toman), for some reason the idea of him becoming a cop just didn’t sit right with me? Probably because these kids themselves (including Kazutora) are running around in a gang.

And idk. Imo, even though they’re living in a perfect timeline where nothing bad ever happened — somehow. I’m glaring daggers right at the back of the author’s head. Shinichirou, Baji and everyone else who died should have stayed dead; that’s all I’m abt to say — it would be odd to establish a character that has canonically had repeated run-in’s with the law in the story itself to just become part of that system. Smth smth police brutality smth smth.

(Even in the timeline where he does end up working with the police force, he and Chifuyu are still operating as an independent entity from them; tldr he still doesn’t end up as a cop.)

It’s my own personal headcanon that Kazutora would become something along the lines of a social worker for troubled children; because not only does he know first hand what it’s like to grow up vulnerable in an abusive environment, it’s also a career that would still preserve that sense of justice that’s so integral to who he is as a person.

I know that’s already similar enough to what Izana has going on as a director for an NPO for underprivileged orphans, but I just wish Wakui was more creative with the ending if he just decided to retcon everything that’s ever happened ever. And with Baji’s hair as an adult. Actually, I wish that there wasn’t an overwrite with the timelines at all because it’s so antithetical to Tokyo Revengers’ inherent themes as a story of permanent consequences, but if I start talking about that then we’re just gonna be here all day.

Thanku for coming to my tedtalk.

[tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang]

Them back then vs them now ♡

[manymangomochis]

Baji & Mikey childhood friendism… my Shayla’s…

[sakislilfreak]

Songs I associate with TR characters and ships!

(part 3,as promised!)

Kisaki

"Distorted love" Showtaro Morikubo

This one might be cheating bc it's literally his character song,but I couldn't leave it out! It's too good!

"Lost ones weeping" Will Stetson cover

Kind of for vibes,but also bc yk,he's a genius?

"Aishite, aishite, aishite"

Kind of a cliche choice,but I like it,okay?! It can be interpreted as both being about a golden child,and as a yandere-esq song, both fit him. (I hc he's a golden child to get his neglectful parents attention)

"crime and punishment" Sheena Ringo

Vibes, plus the vocals just sound very angry and desperate.

"Love is blind" Sheena Ringo

Feels like unrequited love.

"Double suicide" Sheena Ringo

Just. Just look at the lyrics.

"Hey, why won’t you even look at me? Why? I’m sure you’d say,

“I can’t bear to look directly at you.” Figures. So, Tell me,

Who is it? Who turned me into this kind of woman?

Hey, I’ve been waiting—waiting for you to come waiting for you to come after me, all this time.

We’ve finally met, and yet you won’t even hold me? Just for a moment? Ah,

My life’s a mess, and it’s all your fault.

You don’t get it, do you? What even is happiness? What does it look like?

It’s such a hassle. Should I spill my brains and guts out for you to see?

Take a good look at this woman, dyed through to the marrow of her bones.

I love you, I adore you—I’ll give you everything. No, wait—I hate you, I despise you,

Give it all back to me right now. But it’s too late. Oh, what a tragedy.

You’re the reason for it all, everything.

I understand it now—happiness, misfortune, it all fades away moment by moment.

These hands, cold yet warm, have tasted it all.

I think there’s nothing left beyond this.

My hatefully beloved, this painful yet comforting farewell. Those days gone by—

I want to end it all, my life still clinging to them.

I’m fading away. I’m a solitary monk."

It's literally him.

"neighbor" mother mother

"do you feel used?

Well,I would too,I would too

And would you use me like I did you?

Oh,you would too."

"new magic wand" Tyler the creator

This one's getting a nearly full analysis.

"I saw a photo, you looked joyous

My eyes are green, I eat my veggies

I need to get her out the picture

She's really fuckin' up my frame

She's not developed like we are"

About how he feels he needs to get rid of Takemichi, about how he's not really who she wants.

"My brother said I'm on the spectrum

Don't call me selfish, I hate sharin'

This 60-40 isn't workin'

I want a hundred of your time, you're mine"

"Please don't leave me now

Please don't leave me now (Don't leave)

Please don't leave me now

Please don't leave me now (Don't leave)

Please don't leave me now (Don't leave)

(Like magic, like magic, like magic, gone)

Please don't leave me now (I can make her leave)

(New magic, new magic, new magic wand)"

Almost desperate, begging,he doesn't want to be alone more than anything.

"I wanna be found, passenger in your car (Don't leave)

You wanna be mean, mixed signals, don't park (I can make her leave)

She's gonna be dead, I just got a magic wand (Don't leave)

We can finally be together"

Basically "if you die,I want to be found next to you" & "you're ignoring me. That's fine. I'll kill him so you can't."

"You roll the dice, hit a seven, sure you right

Beginner's luck, you not my first, who gives a fuck?

Your other one evaporate, we celebrate

You under oath, now pick a side and if you don't

(Run, run, run, run)

I'll pick you both

(Run, run, run, run)

It's not a joke, murder she wrote"

Basically, it's him thinking that she's only with Takemichi out of luck,& ultimately,if she doesn't choose him, he'll kill both of them.

"take one look in the mirror, implications so clear

I live life with no fear, except for the idea

That one day you won't be here"

Again,he's terrified of being alone,and I think he puts his worth into other people.

"I will not fetch the ball

Eyes are green, I eat my vegetables

It has nothin' to do with that broad

But if it did, guarantee she'd be gone, well"

Basically "it has nothing to do with jealousy. I'm not jealous of Takemichi."

"I got a plan, 'bout to walk in the pen

If you can't understand, I'm a hawk in the gym

Eyes on the prize, got weight on my chest

That I need to get off, or I ain't talkin' to them

Can't be in the picture if it got no frame

Gon' let the world know 'cause I ain't got no shame

Blow the whole spot up, 'cause I ain't–"

His plan,or fantasy,to kill Takemichi.

"I wanna share last names, I wanna be your number one

Not the other one, keep it on the low

I'm in my right mind, keep it on a high

Janis Joplin spillin' feelings, now I'm out here moppin' 'em

Four on the floor, pack up your bags, we hit the store

Grab our supplies, no need for masks, bust through the door

Get the job done like retirement, I admit you look concerned

New magic wand"

Ultimately,I feel he just wants to be loved. He wants it so bad it's killing him. Yet he can't understand how to get it,and how this plan won't work.

"happy together" the turtles

"I can't see me loving nobody but you"

Enough said.

"Bernadette" IAMX

A song about (to me!) isolating yourself & your partner. C'mon.

"One way or another" Blondie

A stalker song. Self explanatory.

"Tonight you belong to me" patience & prudence

Again,I feel like this one's about how he feels he has to "own" what he loves.

"No surprises" Radiohead

This feels like a monologue for after he dies, maybe while looking at the life Takemichi and Hina build together.

"such a pretty house and such a pretty garden."

This hurts me

"the main character" will wood

About how he sees himself as the hero.

"Second boys will be first choice" the brobecks

"second boys will be first choice to somebody better than you."

"boy number two,there is someone for you,just forget her and walk away."

Hankisa

"using you" mars argo

Because Kisaki is literally using Hanma.

"Exit music (for a film)" Radiohead

Feels like Hanma commits suicide after Kisaki's death, basically Hanma being spiteful from the grave.

"we hope that you choke,that you choke."

"He's my man" luvcat

Hanma's perspective.

"he's my man, we're hand in hand,to hell and back,and I love him like nobody else can. He's my man,I've been damned."

"From the gallows" IDKHBTFM

Bad TL Hankisa, basically about how Hanma does everything for Kisaki's enjoyment.

"you're beautiful,and evil too, sinister and vile. For you,I'd die,or kill myself,which ever makes you smile."

"Social climb" IDKHBTFM

Again,this is bad TL Hankisa,from Hanma's perspective.

"SIXFT" IDKHBTFM

Also bad TL Hankisa. About how Hanma's trailed along beside Kisaki all this time and waited.

"I want you" Mitski

From Hanma's perspective,after Kisaki's death.

"your best American girl" Mitski

About how Hanma believes Kisaki is his purpose,and then how he regrets letting him go so far, resulting in his death.

"if I could,I'd be your little spoon, and kiss your finger forever more.

But big spoon, you've got so much to do,

And I have nothing ahead of me."

"you're the one, you're all I've ever wanted,I think I'll regret this."

"anyplace, anytime,anyhow" matt maltese

From Hanma's perspective.

"anytime, anyplace, anyhow

You're allowed to treat me like a piece of meat.

I don't care if it's been a year, or if it's been sixteen."

Aaaah,I hope you guys enjoyed!!!

[manymangomochis]

Interesting stuff to chew on for the Kisaki playlist. OP has a lot of interesting suggestions.

[sakislilfreak]

More songs I associate with TR characters & ships!

(part 2 bc @manymangomochis inspired me lol)

KazuFuyu

(SPECIFICALLY THE TL WHERE CHIFUYU PICKS HIM UP WHEN KAZUTORA'S RELEASED FROM PRISON!)

"Do I wanna know?" Hozier cover

This,to me,is like,them getting to know each other after being separated for so long & gradually falling for each other. (I really like KazuFuyu in this TL 🙏)

"Useless" I Know Leopard

Feels like Kazu's inner monologue, about all the things his father said to him, & how he thinks he's unworthy of love.

"505" Arctic monkeys

Vibes,kinda

"I wanna be yours" Arctic monkeys

Kind of self explanatory, basically the two of them realizing they're in love.

"I love you so" the walters

About both Kazu & Chifuyu's feelings about Baji.

"Black hole fantasy" The crane wives

My no 1 crying song. This one feels like,again,Kazu feeling unworthy of love,and also being scared to mess up what he has with Chifuyu.

"beautiful boy" John Lennon

I feel like Chifuyu would hum or try to sing this to Kazutora bc he knows he feels unworthy. Augh soft, supportive Chifu you have my heart.

"My love mine all mine" Mitski

Obligatory Mitski song. About the both of them just... loving each other.

"Somethin' stupid" Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra

Hear me out,this feels like a very nervous Kazu blurting out that he loves Chifuyu whilst on a date.

"Always forever" Cults

Self explanatory

"You an me, always forever"

"Oleander" Mother Mother

Except it's not in a toxic lens,but in a "Chifuyu keeps Kazu stable" way.

"Curses" crane wives

Vibes,kinda

"Sparks" coldplay

Omlllll. A warm & cozy song. I can see them listening to this while eating breakfast.

KokoNui

"Please, please, please, let me get what I want" the smiths

Feels like Koko praying, pleading he'd be able to be with Inui.

"Yellow" Coldplay

Self explanatory.

"for you I'd bleed myself dry"

"Drunk walk home" Mitski

"FUCK YOU AND YOUR MONEY.

I'm tired of your money."

&

"you know I wore this dress for you.

These killer heels for you."

C'mon it's so insanely KokoNui coded.

"Everybody loves somebody"

Idk man I just associate a lot of older songs with them.

"Hey lover" the daughters of eve

Like the last one,I associate old songs with them.

"I guess" Mitski

About how they don't know how to live without each other after being such a big part of the others lives.

"Washing machine heart" Mitski

About how Inui knows Koko sees him as Akane.

"Sienna" the marias

"please tell me not to go.

I'll always be yours."

"Somebody that I used to know" gotye

Self explanatory.

I'll write more later! my phone is dying atm 😭

[manymangomochis]

Reblogging this for "Drunk Walk Home" by Mitski specifically for the "fuck you and your money" part; immediately adding that one and "Sienna" by the Marias onto my playlist. I haven't listened to "Black Hole Fantasy" by the Crane Wives or "Useless" by Leopard but I'm definitely adding them to my queue to check those out.

[sakislilfreak]

Songs I associate with TR characters/ships:

Koko & Inupi:

Andrew in drag:

Why?: this song is literally them??? Are you kidding me?

“So stick him in a dress and he's the only boy I'd shag.

The only boy I'd anything is Andrew in drag.”

Why didn't you stop me?:

Why?: you knew a Mitski song would be here. It reminds me of how Koko literally switched gangs to save Inupi. Except Inupi did try and stop him from leaving but whatever. That's it.

“You know me better than I do,so why didn't you stop me?”

Twilight:

Why?: from Inupi’s pov. He knows Koko wants Akane,but Koko cares about him,too.

“because you love her

and you still love me

If I could be her

But I'm not her,and she's not me.”

Goodbye my danish sweetheart by Mitski:

Why?: read the lyrics. Just. Just fucking Google them.

Kisaki & Hanma:

I've got an entire playlist for them but whatever.

(Also this is mostly angsty shit. I'm sorry 🙏 so many sad songs make me think of them)

I bet on losing dogs:

Why?: yeah I'm starting with a Mitski song. Y'all have to suffer with me. I'm sorry .I see this song from Hanma’s pov after Kisaki passes. As if he doesn't mind being with Kisaki,even if they lose in the end.

“i bet on losing dogs

I know they're losing,and I'll pay for my place by the ring

Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down

I'll be there on their side

I'm losing by their side”

I don't smoke:

Why?: this song made me hc that Kisaki hates smoking. But he does it when he misses Hanma.

“i don't smoke

Except for when I'm missing you-”

And Hanma smokes the most when he's with Kisaki. Why? Bc he knows Kisaki hates it. Also because he burns better (or brighter? What I'm trying to say is that he feels most alive) when he's with Kisaki. Also also the lyrics relate (to me) about Kisaki talking about Hina and Hanma listening.

“And I don't smoke

Except for after I've held you,baby

Being with you

Makes the flame burn good”

-

“So if you need to be mean

Be mean to me

I can take it and put it inside of me

If your hands need to break

More than trinkets in your room

You can lean on my arm

As you break my heart”

Creep:

Why?: I know I'm a basic ass bitch for putting Radiohead and Mitski on here- I swear I listen to more than that-

Anyhow this song feels like Kisaki’s inner monologue about Hina and himself.

“i don't care if it hurts,I wanna have control

I want a perfect body,I want a perfect soul

I want you to notice when I'm not around

So fuckin’ special,

I wish I was special

But I'm a creep,I'm a weirdo

What the hell am I doing here?

I don't belong here”

-

“She's running out the door

She's running out

She run,run,run,run

Run

Whatever make you happy, whatever you want

You're so fuckin' special,

I wish I was special”

Anyway I'm hurting myself just thinking about this. They make me ill y'all.

[manymangomochis]

I also unironically have “creep” by Radiohead for my Takemichi playlist lmaooo, lowkey it’s a really versatile song choice

[sakislilfreak]

THE Kokonui song

[sakislilfreak]

"Once more to see you" by Mitski makes me think of Bonten Mikey & Takemichi. Or just. Maitake in general. The idea of Mikey thinking he has to hide what he has with Takemichi to keep him safe??? Oough.

[manymangomochis]

Additionally I’d like to add “why didn’t you stop me” and “if I leave” ooooooooooo it lowkey hurts

[just-sp-in-inginthevoid]

Tokrev × Textposts

[sakislilfreak]

Ok but for real Baji with the song "Be nice to me" by the front bottoms is so fitting. Fuck it I'm giving my interpretation.

"I got boulders on my shoulders

Collar bones no begin to crack

There is very little left of me and it's never coming back"

His feelings on his guilt for Shinichiro's death & Kazutora's incarceration.

"There are certain things you ask of me

And there are certain things I'll lack

The beginning, we were winning

But now I'm just making up facts"

About how,when toman was first formed, everything was fine and carefree,but now the burden is crushing & how he's trying to do what's best for them despite it,even if it means lying and pretending to betray them.

"What's it matter anymore?

If you believe the lies I tell"

About how he lied to toman about being their enemy.

"There's no meaning to the words

But we still sing these songs well

If we all left it alone

I'm sure it'll work itself out fine

We keep playing with the numbers

We are running out of time

We are running, we are running"

About Toman, about keeping those in the gang out of danger,and that he feels he's running out of time to do that.

"But you're a killer and I'm your best friend

Think it's unfair, your situation"

About Kazutora. (God they break my heart)

"You say I'm changing

Sorry I didn't know I had to stay the same

Can we talk about this later?

Your voice is driving me, driving me insane"

To Chifuyu when he's pushing him away, speaking harshly, trying to sell his act that he's really betraying toman.

"I try to write you poems, but the words they don't make sense

The hand tries to grip the pencil, but the fingers are too tense"

About how he wrote letters to Kazutora while he was incarcerated,and about how he's not the best at writing.

"I try to show emotion, but my eyes won't seem to wet"

About him compartmentalizing & trying to take all this grief on his own.

"I'd love to tell you stories, but I can't remember how they went"

About his childhood with Mikey & Emma,or about all the things he did with Kazutora.

"You're a flashlight in a dark room or the loneliest black out

You were all we had left after it all was filtered out

I'm turning you on in a dark room right before we both pass out

I'll turn you on when I need you, but the batteries ran out

They ran out"

About his friendship with Kazutora and what they shared.

"You're a werewolf and I'm a full moon

And all your very worst enemies will be gone soon

I think you're changing

Don't worry, you don't gotta stay the same

Can we talk about this later?

Your voice is driving me, driving me insane"

About the bloody Halloween. To me, it sounds like Baji trying to comfort Kazutora. This time his voice is gentle.

"Driving me insane x8"

Absolutely Kazutora coping with the aftermath of the bloody Halloween.

Anyways yeah,thanks for reading,I had thoughts.

[gold-pavilion]

Toman and Buddhism + Tenjiku and Taoism

Another post to cover references in Tokyo Revengers! 

This time, I'll be covering the links to two religions to be found in two gangs in the series, reference by reference, with the according explanation of each. 

Some of these may be already known, I know one of them sure is (the whole buddhist manji confusion thing yeah yeah) but still, for the sake of a tidy compilation and of providing more detail, I'll go through them too. Some others are a lot less noticed, like Tenjiku's lean towards Tao, so it'll be best to lay down eeeeeeverything I've caught during my time enjoying this series. Plus, I'm pretty excited to get some of those less-known facts out here!!

Warning though, it's lengthy.

Let's start with Tokyo Manji Gang:

- Firstly, the gang's name and how it's written.

Despite Mikey suggesting the name as a short form of Tokyo Manjiro Gang, putting himself front and center, the kanji that ended up forming the name of Tokyo Manji Gang show that it went in a different direction of meaning. The manji used for the middle part ended up not being the same one from the name Manjiro, but a manji written as 卍. Aloud it's read the same way (many, many, many kanji are homophones), but has a different meaning.

卍 (manji) is an extremely common buddhist symbol (not even limited to japanese buddhism, but in hinduism and other aligned east-asian religions too), which represents the path of Buddha and the endless cycle of rebirth through samsara; the pursuit of leading a more spiritually balanced existence until the soul can reach enlightenment. In other words, it's nothing but deeply buddhist.

(To answer a common question around it: can it be called a swastika? Yes. The symbol in general, with each of the million variations that have popped up in different cultures, can be called a swastika as a broad term. There are a fuckton of swastikas. They mean a fuckton of different things. The tilt and the direction in which this one "spins" makes it different from other swastikas though, and it's always best to be precise and call this one manji.)

Moving on,

- Reunion spot.

The Musashi Shrine (based, but not exactly taken from any of the real-life shrines and temples of similar name in Tokyo, as far as I know) is a shinto-buddhist temple. And, apparently, a place where the founders hung out from time to time, but I'll add to that later!!

It's cute to me that the Toman members seem to use the temple very respectfully. They always meet in it at night waaay after it's closed (daytime meetings have always taken place in different locations, never the temple during visiting hours), they've never once set foot even near the oratory/sanctum/other buildings, never been seen bringing the motorcycles anywhere they shouldn't, and the one time a character was seen using the public temizuya (the little stone fountain where visitors purify their hands and mouth), he was proper about it in terms of pouring water into his hand to rinse his mouth with, not getting the ladle or the rest of the water dirty, as one should always do. 

A fun fact: in Google Maps, buddhist temples are marked with the manji symbol!

- Gang's manifesto.

Embroidered on the chest of the gang uniform, you can see the text  天上天下唯我独尊 ("Above the earth and below the heavens, I alone shall be honored"), which is the gang's manifesto or motto. Sounds just like something Mikey would choose, yeah.

That phrase is also of buddhist origin; famously, the words spoken by Buddha Gautama Siddharta (bear in mind that buddhism isn't a religion with one god or anything like that, anyone enlightened can become a Buddha and many figures have been granted that status, but Gautama is the first and main one, the creator of the doctrine) when he was born. To be honest, this is very much interpretative, but I've come to get the impression that it's not so much a power or ego statement, but rather an expression of cultivating and honoring yourself…? It's absolutely up to personal reading and I'm absolutely not an expert. But those are certainly THE Buddha's words.

- Ceremonial sash.

Another part of their uniform that bears a slight reference: the sash worn by the commander, vice-commander, captains and vice-captains during important fights.

These are tasuki, sashes originally worn by shinto-buddhist priests during ceremonies, in order to keep long sleeves and such in place. However, eventually, they also began being worn by samurai and all sorts of warriors, 'cause of their convenience. In modern times, they even started being used by just about anybody who wears traditional clothing but also does manual work and needs the sleeves out of the way. So it can be concluded that, over time, they stopped being strongly linked to religious practicers. In fact, even biker gangs in general ended up adopting the use of tasuki! Not for their religious origins, but for the warrior part; a bōsōzoku gang member wearing one would look very prepared and determined for a fight.

That's why overall, Tokyo Manji Gang having them is only a relative reference; they could be paying homage to their reference religion, as they could be only honoring gang traditions.

- Additional notes about the leader.

I feel it's important to add up all these little factors of Mikey's choosing, with other little details about him as a person that kinda make it all make sense.

If I say "Mikey seems to be religious, to an extent", I understand this can carry a bunch of tricky connotations. Japanese religion isn't exercised the same way it is in other places, someone being religious SURE AS HECK doesn't mean the same things it means in the christian west. Shinto-buddhism is so commonplace in Japan, most people partake in all kinds of religious practices without even thinking of them as strictly religious, such as new year's celebrations, casual prayer during shrine visits, purchasing and giving charms and such. Religion is integrated in life in a lot of extremely chill ways.

And we can observe a lot of things about Mikey that put him quite above the average in terms of his relationship with local tradition and religion. His house is a huge traditional-style family home, his family is hinted to be active in religious practice (remember Emma's appearances during the Christmas Showdown arc? How she mentioned that their family does a lot of temple visits, and even she considered it weird at that time of the year?), he's much more prone to wearing traditional clothing than his peers, his motif in extra clothing designs is the lion-dog (temple guardians; statues of these can often be found in them), his personal beliefs around death and relationship to the dead run deeper than others' to the point they find him disturbing when he talks about Shinichiro or Baji still being with him... many little things that aren't that deep on their own, of course, but when added up they paint a pretty coherent picture of the guy.

And so, it does make a lot of sense that, even from childhood, a temple was a regular place for Mikey to hang out with his friends, leading to the birth of Toman in one. And it makes a lot of sense that he made all those little choices about the way the gang would be styled. In my opinion, it's likely that those things just all came natural to him because they're a part of his background and worldview. Of course, how actively religious he is, how much he believes in the things he happens to know and how much exactly he might know about buddhism are all up to headcanoning and interpretation. Personally, I'm just a roleplayer that takes it as a relevant part of his character.

- Following a Buddha?

A little out-of-TR-universe element that I love to bring up, 'cause it's just hilarious and cool as hell, is the creation of this statue:

This part of the 2022 Tokyo Revengers exhibition straight up imitates the famous Reclining Buddha in the Wat Pho temple, Thailand. 

The ENORMOUS statue depicts the moment Buddha reaches nirvana, and his enlightened soul is at rest. The golden Mikey statue that imitates it very much intentionally likens him to a Buddha; funny to note that the exhibition staff even prayed to the statue, as you can read in the tweet itself.

What does this mean about Mikey's character? Well, this isn't within text in Tokyo Revengers, just a little outside factor, so I wouldn't take it too literally or too seriously, but it's interesting nonetheless. Personally, I see it as a hint that Mikey was supposed to be on his own little quest to enlightenment, or had the potential to be. Grappling with morality without having a natural sense of what's right, wrong, too much or enough is a major thing with his character. I can also imagine it might just be meant to represent the godlike view others have of him, the guidance they sought from him. Take it as you will! 

The important thing is just that it exists, to confirm that there is an intentional connection of some type between the Buddha and Mikey.

Thaaaaat concludes the Toman and Buddhism section of this post.

Whew!! That was a whole lot.

The Tenjiku and Taoism section coming now is shorter, but I'm sure it contains interesting and less-known things (at least, I've never seen anybody talk about these)!

So let's see, Tao references in Tenjiku:

- Gang name.

Tenjiku is a now-obsolete word that translated directly to "heaven", while simultaneously being the japanese word for the country India (as taken from the chinese pronunciation, Tianzhu).

In modern times, it can be found mostly in ancient literature, the most prominent example being Journey to the West. Given that Kakucho and Izana mentioned this book and seemed to have knowledge of it as kids, we can conclude that's where they got the name of their gang from.

Why would they use the word for India to name their kingdom? What does this have to do with Tao? I'll get into that properly now:

- Kakucho, Izana & Journey to the West.

Journey to the West is one of the four great chinese classic novels (along with Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Outlaws of the Marsh, and Dream of the Red Chamber) which are enormous, ENORMOUS influences on east-asian literature and fiction in general. Journey to the West, itself, is considered the most popular east-asian literary work overall; of course, being super well-known in Japan, too. (To give my favorite funny example of just how omnipresent it is, y'know Dragon Ball? Hit anime series Dragon Ball? Unabashedly based on Journey to the West, which was to thank for most of its initial local popularity.)

It's the story of the buddhist monk Tang Sanzang, who travels to Tenjiku, to India, to that certain heavenly kingdom, to obtain sacred texts for Buddha Gautama Siddharta (the guy I described as THE Buddha in the Tokyo Manji Gang section above). The quest doubles as a search and exercise of enlightenment, as Tang Sanzang is aided by three protectors that are atoning for their sins and learning from him. The main guardian and arguably the true protagonist of the book is Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, a fighter "so strong he could carry a mountain on each shoulder, and still dash as fast as a meteor". It's a huge, epic, 100-chapter monster of a book, in which each chapter is already a fantastic and entertaining anecdote about the characters or what happens in their travels, but also a long spiritual journey that pretty much serves to subtly teach the principles of Tao (term that can be translated to "the path", chinese religion and philosophy). 

A tangent: let me just show you how large it is (and why I haven't been able to finish it, 'cause I cannot take this brick of a book anywhere lmaoooo).

(Cover says Journey to the West: The Adventures of the Monkey King. It's in spanish.)

My guess is that Izana and Kakucho studied about it or read some chapters in school, 'cause dang, there's no way they read all of this at that age?!?! BUT ANYWAY.

While there's obviously quite some buddhist influence in the story, most of what it works with throughout is rooted in chinese folklore and Taoism. The edition of the book I have even begins with extensive notes and introductory explanations about Tao, as its themes of harmony with the universe, self-cultivation, internal alchemy, its main ethics and values, etc etc etc are the basis from which the book is built up. The characters very actively engage with Tao. Sun Wukong is an ardent student of Tao who obtains a bunch of powers through it, for one.

I've gone into this much into detail because Kakucho and Izana make it pretty explicit that, to them, Izana is like monk Tang Sanzang leading to Tenjiku, and Kakucho is like his guardian of unmatched strength, Sun Wukong.

In the end of Journey to the West, it's both Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong that accomplish their goal and also obtain enlightenment, finally ascending to buddhahood. Had Izana and Kakucho's journey with Tenjiku reached their original destination (not "to become a criminal syndicate that controls Japan" but "to build a kingdom where everyone without a home could exist"), had it been like Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong's pilgrimage… they would've learned true balance and they would've found the necessary enlightenment.

Again, I find this little connection with characters that could've been on a quest towards buddhahood, but as far as things went in the main TR timelines, all failed.

- Uniform & logo.

Finally, something lighter and quicker to add, haha.

There are symbols and references that are so so so widespread that they become more of an aesthetic detail than a symbol with meaning, in the eyes of the general public. The yin-yang is one of those symbols that just… appears in a lot of places, fashionably, and one kinda gets used to seeing it without thinking much about it. Sometimes it's not meant to stand for much more than a decorative detail, yes, that definitely happens, but sometimes it's very much a thoughtful choice. With Tenjiku, given its connection to Taoism, I'm gonna treat the yin-yang as a meaningful choice.

So! On the back of the uniform we have a yin-yang, Taoist symbol that represents the balance of the two complementary and opposing forces of the universe (note: it's not a good vs evil type of thing, as tends to happen with western black-white dualism, but rather… the fact that reality needs to be composed of push and pull to get anywhere, hard and soft things with their own function, sun and shade. A common comparison is how a mountain will have a sunny side and a shady side when looked at in a certain moment, but the sun and shade will switch over at another time of day, in a needed cycle). Other features of the uniform are a mao collar instead of a more common style for gang jackets, and an intense red color, the main auspicious and prosperous color in chinese culture. These last two little features could easily be coincidental, but when paired with the yin-yang, I feel like it's intended to lean towards chinese aesthetics.

And with that, 

I end this reference post!

Did you learn anything you didn't know? Did you enjoy learning it? Any thoughts? I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, SO FEEL FREE TO DROP BY MY ASKBOX with any comments or questions or such!!

[manymangomochis]

Looking for song recommendations for certain TR characters / dynamics (along with some of my own playlists I would love to share)

SPOILERS FOR ANIME-ONLY'S REGARDING SOME DETAILS LATER DOWN IN THE MANGA.

I’ve already posted something like this previously explaining my logic regarding my top ten choices for my Kazutora playlist, but I essentially wanted to create an overview post listing down all the choices I have for different TR playlists that I’ve made. Though, not including the exact reasoning bc it’ll actually go on forever lmao, and this one already turned out to be pretty long. So, strap in lmao

Additionally, I am specifically looking for song suggestions about:

Baji

Kazutora (heavy on him since I'm trying to find more editing kinds of songs)

Mikey

BajiTora

BajiFuyu

MaiTora

BajiMai (platonic/romantic I don’t really mind)

However, I am also deeply interested in hearing if other people have suggestions specifically for:

Chifuyu

Mitsuya

Draken

Kisaki

—because either I don’t have playlists of them (Draken & Mitsuya), or they’re not very long (Chifuyu & Kisaki) and I have trouble coming up with ideas.

To clarify, I am probably going to include other playlists I’m proud of (cough Izana cough InuKoko/Kokonui cough), but I am not looking for any suggestions about dynamics or characters that are not explicitly mentioned on this post.

I recently figured out that you can color code flavor text (context: I’m new to tumblr); so:

Red: my top picks out of the entire playlist; will probably try to keep it 3-4 each.

Pink: incredibly hyperspecific song choices that I’m extremely proud of for finding and would highly recommend bc of how much they remind me of these characters

Orange: generally fitting song choices

Green: ngl I just put it there for the vibe

For sake of simplicity, I will only incorporate links to lyric videos with the red text. Anyways I just wanted to share these and listen to other people’s suggestions since I’m always looking for new music. It also informs me how different people can also interpret different characters from me, which I find interesting.

Baji (including my live action playlist. Do not get me started on Kento Nagayama’s performance of the character I will literally never stfu. Note, this one is actually much longer bc I split my bjfy&bjtr ones under separate categories for simplicity; same for my Kazutora ones):

Rebel Heart - Arcane (number one song pick for Baji ever)

A Pearl - Mitski (number two song pick for Baji ever in the context of Baji as the speaker, Chifuyu as the person being spoken to, and Kazutora being "a war" just trust me on this one, guys; I have edits planned).

P. U. N. K. Girl - Heavenly (will probably be included on the BajiMai(/p) playlist as well but this is gen my top third pick for Baji)

STARTAFIGHT - Joey Valence & Brae (I couldn't find a lyric video for this one, but I loveeeeee this song to live action Baji in specific; I swear Baji & Kazutora are the only ones with four links each bc they’re my favorites lmao)

Take Me Away - Freaky Friday Soundtrack

You're Gonna Go Far, Kid - The Offspring

Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris

I Can't Handle Change - Roar

Judas - Lady Gaga

Wrecking Ball - Mother Mother

House of Memories - Panic! At the Disco

Starboy - The Weeknd

House of Wolves - My Chemical Romance

Masquerade - siouxxie

Chop Suey - System of a Down (honestly with this one, it's the second half of the song that really really makes me think of Baji, but due to the first half… I’m deliberating between pink and orange with this one.)

How Deep Is Your Love - originally by Calvin Harris & Disciples; cover by Mitski (I actually have a bjtr/bjfy edit posted to this one bc the lyrics immediately reminded me of the live action iteration of his character)

Watch Yo Step - Joey Valence & Brae

HOOLIGANG - Joey Valence & Brae

Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish

Madonna tachi no Lullaby - Hiromi Iwasaki (I actually included this one more so because it's one of the openings from Baji's favorite show "Kayo Suspense Gekijyo" / "Tuesday Suspense Theater" rather than using it to desc him as a character)

spy? - WHOKILLEDXIX

Mama - My Chemical Romance

Boys Will Be Bugs - cavetown

Drunk Dazed - Enhypen (100% included for the vibe but I remember in late 2022 I saw a pretty cool Baji edit to the song. Though, it either got lost in my five million TR folders on instagram or the person deleted it:( because I can't find it, anyways I made my own except with live action Baji bc that shit was cool asf & smth smth one of the top rules of fandom, if u can't find it make it urself.)

Not Strong Enough - boygenius

Kazutora (including live action playlist; looking for more recs for edit songs):

Bellyache - Billie Eilish (The Kazutora song ever)

Traitor - Daughtry (literally Kazutora line for line)

Becky - Be Your Own Pet (my partner actually made an edit as a gift for me a while back, which I have posted here since they don't have a tumblr)

Killer in the Mirror - Set It Off (this song is so good within the context of Kazutora & his overall paranoid mindset.)

Down In It - Nine Inch Nails

Aishiteitanoni - Maretu

my boy - Billie Eilish

Where's My Juul?? - Full Tac ft. Lil Mariko (live action; I mostly included this one because it's funny and it captures the way that Kazutora tends to blame other people for his problems pretty well)

Hot N Cold - Katy Perry

Saccharine - Violent Vira

Girly Secret - Girly Girl Productions

Kill Bill - SZA (listennn I believe the most common conception of this song would be Kazutora towards BajiFuyu, but hear me out. “New girlfriend” = Mikey since Kazutora tries killing both him & Baji, and he canonically exhibits possessiveness over Baji when it comes to Mikey specifically, whereas he's never explicitly shown to feel threatened when it comes to Chifuyu.)

Bumble Bees Are Out - Jack Stauber

Beautiful Princess Disorder - milkypossom

Goodbye - Bo Burnham (I like imagining this one to Kazutora in the Bad Toman timeline where Takemichi gets arrested; also due to that one line “am I right back where I started 14 years ago” bc quite literally in the timeline 14 years ago was when Shinichirou’s manslaughter occurred.)

Suffocation - Crystal Castles

Mikey (but it becomes increasingly obvious that I really love the Kanto Manji iteration of his character; looking for recs):

Full Disclosure (feat. Zach Callison) - Steven Universe (RRRRGH MY TOP PICK FOR THE MIKEY SONG EVER!!)

Why Didn't You Stop Me - Mitski (number two top pick ever; specifically in reference to Manila Mikey)

If I Leave - Mitski (number three pick. The whole reason why I'm making this post ngl)

For the First Time in Forever (Reprise) - Frozen soundtrack ft. Kristen Bell & Idina Menzel (I'm ngl to u guys I saw this one on a Tiktok shitpost for KMG Mikey breaking Takemichi’s arm and that shit made me laugh)

Baby Hotline - Jack Stauber (based on that one official art w/ Manila Mikey & Takemichi each looking at a cellphone)

いますぐ輪廻（Retry Now) - NAKISO feat. Hatsune Miku

Soldier, Poet, King - The Oh Hellos

Nightmare - Set It Off (Bonten Mikey)

Numb - MARINA

TV - Billie Eilish (Bonten Mikey)

Cure for Me - AURORA (specifically for KMG Mikey)

Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots

Viva La Vida - Coldplay

Valley of the Dolls - MARINA (KMG Mikey; I will literally go insane)

A Sadness Runs Through Him - The Hoosiers

Arcade - Duncan Laurence

listen before i go - Billie Eilish (Bonten Mikey)

Explode! - Mother Mother (specifically in terms of the way that Mikey tends to suppress his emotions to the point where they blow up in his face)

Somewhere Only We Know - Keane (Manila Mikey)

Save Your Tears - The Weeknd

Rolling in the Deep - Adele

icantbelieveiletyougetaway - aldn

Renegade (We Never Run) - Arcane s2 soundtrack; Stefflon Don, Raja Kumari ft. Jarina de Marco (I mostly imagine this one to Mikey’s general dynamic with Draken.)

BajiTora:

Alibi - Sevdaliza ft. Pabllo Vittar & Yseult (The BajiTora song ever)

The Bird Song - Noah Floersch & Em Beihold (I'm changing my mind this is the BajiTora song ever. Essentially this song is about a relationship between two people that's doomed to fail because one is always doomed to hurt (the arrow), and the other is doomed to get hurt (the bird).)

Fight for Me - Aliceband (incredibly proud of finding this one; I like imagining live action BajiTora to it)

Join Me In Death - HIM

Aishiteitanoni - Maretu (I'm attempting to refrain from putting repeated choices for the same characters but in my defense, it’s a song abt someone stabbing their loved one bc the singer believes they betrayed them. It was too good not to)

Twinnem - Coi Leray

Burning Pile - Mother Mother

Partners in Crime - Set It Off (this one is more of one regarding a hypothetical situation imagining Baji & Kazutora rather than orienting around character analysis; I actually visualize Baji as the higher/female voice bc of the doubt expressed in their lines)

It's Alright - Mother Mother

Devil Town - cavetown

Feel Better - Penelope Scott

Dark Paradise - Lana Del Rey

I LOVE YOU HOE - Odetari x 9lives

No More ?'s - Eazy-E

BajiFuyu (looking for more Chifuyu specific recs outside of his dynamic with Baji. The main problem is that my brain is just incredibly Baji-pilled. Almost like. Too Baji-pilled (/lh)):

Break Your Heart - Taios Cruz feat. Ludacris (live action; yes I included this one twice on my Baji playlist lmao sorry)

Fight for Me - Heather's Musical (yes this is different from the other one and yes I am planning to make an edit / mini lyric video of this one; very aptly describes Baji and Chifuyu's first meeting)

I Don't Smoke - Mitski

Francis Forever - Mitski

Meet You at the Graveyard - Cleffy

Just Take My Wallet - Jack Stauber

Let Down - Radiohead

Maybe This Time - Cabaret Musical (I like thinking about this one not just in the context of Chifuyu's somewhat unrequited dynamic with Baji, but also Bad Toman Timeline Executive Takemichi. “Maybe this time, I’ll be lucky” and the brutal irony is that Chifuyu in that TL is never lucky.)

Andrew In Drag - The Magnetic Fields

Backburner - NIKI

Arms Tonite - Mother Mother

Shut Up My Mom's Calling - Hotel Ugly (live action)

Bad Romance - Lady Gaga (live action)

Toxic - Britney Spears (live action)

It's Over Isn't It - Steven Universe (I also have a short Chifuyu playlist with "Strong In The Real Way" from the Steven Universe soundtrack that's of him and Takemichi; I’d love more TakeFuyu recs)

BajiMai(/p) (I have this one named "Baji & Mikey Childhood Friendism" on my playlist):

P. U. N. K. Girl - Heavenly (tagging this one again bc I love this song)

Beaches - Beabadoobee (mostly in reference to the beach flashback. I adore how much they love each other)

Ghosting - Mother Mother (visions of Baji’s ghost haunting Mikey along with the song’s Halloween motifs say what)

Last Valentines - Pink Pantheress (this one I have an edit to, which I will tag here)

i love you - Billie Eilish

Вишенка - ssshhhiiittt! (pronounced "Vyshenka" which ostensibly means "cherry" as in "cherry on top"; I found this one on a really cool edit on instagram which I will link here. The meaning of the Russian lyrics is super cool)

The Ghost of You - My Chemical Romance

everything i wanted - Billie Eilish (hypothetical “what if Bonten Mikey saw Baji’s ghost after an attempt” hurt/comfort scenario.)

I Love You So - The Walters

Like Him - Tyler the Creator

Cancer - My Chemical Romance

Christmas Kids - Roar

Star - Mitski (I actually have another edit posted to this one lmao, which I will link here. It’s one of my older ones)

MaiTora (me when I’m lowkey in rarepair hell; I need to find more discussion revolving around them like. Rn.):

Eventually - Tame Impala (ts fits them to a T; I love listening to this song and thinking about them)

i always kinda knew you'd be the death of me - Artemas

Scars - The Crane Wives (I've mentioned this on a previous post, but this one was actually recommended to me by a friend that doesn’t like Kazutora very much. Nonetheless they knew that he’s one of my favorites and this song is such a good fit for him.)

Crazy Girls - TOOPOOR

Nowhere to Run - Stegosaurus Rex

Backstabber - Kesha

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Set It Off feat. William Beckett

Destroy Me x Mother Mary (remix) - Mr. Kitty (my first ever attempt at an edit was with this song. Idk if I’ll ever post it bc it’s rough around the edges, but if I remake it I definitely will)

Enemy - Imagine Dragons

People You Know - Selena Gomez

ARE WE STILL FRIENDS - Tyler the Creator

Dead To Me - KALI UCHIS

Saccharine - Jazmin Bean (marked green bc I think the bridge and the ending verses fit but the rest of the song isn't an exact match for their dynamic)

no children - the mountain goats

Annoying Ass Bitch - TopHer (mostly included for the shits and giggles I'm ngl)

i don't wanna cry - nowayback + kurffew

Snakes - Arcane Soundtrack; Pvris, Miyavi

Kisaki (looking for more recs on this one):

Die in a Fire (FNAF 3) - The Living Tombstone ft. EileMonty & Orko (100% his relationship with Takemichi I'm ngl)

Discord - The Living Tombstone

Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles (mainly in reference to how Mikey kicks Kisaki out of Toman, but also the part where he gets run over. Get it… hit the road…)

Smoke and Mirrors - LittleJayneyCakes (encapsulates Kisaki's obsessiveness towards Hina)

Are You Satisfied - MARINA

If I Killed Someone For You - Alec Benjamin (another song in reference to his obsession with Hina in regards to how much he changes himself so that, in his eyes, she would love him.)

Don't Mess With Me - Temposhark

Stalker's Tango - Autoheart

Devil in Disguise - Marino

Brighter - Hazbin Hotel ft. Christian Borle (summarizes Kisaki’s underhanded methods with his ambition; that one line where Vox gets the TV smashed over his head = the part where Kisaki gets run over by a truck.)

Aishite Aishite Aishite - Kikuo

Izana:

Tell Me - Scrooge: A Christmas Carol ft. Luke Evans (Really captures Izana's vitriolic nature about inflicting suffering on other people when he is suffering, along with the winter elements that come with the movie)

Open Up Your Eyes - My Little Pony: the Movie feat. Emily Blunt (Izana talking to Mikey)

Change - Steven Universe the Movie feat. Zach Callison (Mikey talking to Izana)

Nothing Left to Lose - Rapunzel series ft. Jeremy Jordan & Eden Espinosa (hypothetical of Shinichirou's ghost talking to Izana before he goes through with the plan to kill Emma; very interesting in the context of Shinichirou also killing the homeless man to get the time-leaping power)

Fish in a Birdcage - Fish in a Birdcage

You are a Worthless Child - Kikuo

It's Alright - Mother Mother

NEW MAGIC WAND - Tyler the Creator feat. Santigold & Jessy Wilson

you should see me in a crown - Billie Eilish

Crack Baby - Mitski

A Million Dreams - The Greatest Showman (when I tell you I found this one and wept like a baby lmao)

Nobody - Mitski

Gravity - Hazbin Hotel (a fitting song for Kazutora but an especially fitting choice for Izana)

I Have Questions - Camila Cabello (Izana about Shinichirou)

Reflections - The Neighborhood

You Get Me So High - The Neighborhood

Wires - The Neighborhood (hear me out. Muchou about Izana)

Someone to Stay - Vancouver Sleep Clinic

Wrong Side Out - Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 ft. CG5 (specifically about Izana's aim to make Mikey fall into the darkness in the Manila Timeline)

InuKoko / Kokonui (I haven't thought of them in a hot minute but I'm pretty proud of this one; looking for more recs):

Hold It Down (The FifthGuys Remix) - Swisha T, PRZNT & B-Mike (if i could get more people to listen to a song about Koko&Inupi pairing it would be this one, hands down; followed by my second pick—)

Dead Inside - Younger Hunger (one of THE Koko&Inupi songs ever)

8 - Billie Eilish (I need more people on this song for them tbh)

Do I Wanna Know - Arctic Monkeys

What's the Prob Dog? (Let Me Think About It) - WISEKIDS

Somethin' Stupid - Frank Sinatra

My Way of Life - Frank Sinatra

Mamma Mia - HUGEL feat. Amber Van Day

Nostalgia - Mother Mother (more in line with Inupi specifically rather than with his exact dynamic with Koko, but I think this one aptly describes the way that he hangs on so tightly to Black Dragon’s and their legacy due to the first gen giving him a place to belong when he needed one.)

JOYRIDE - Kesha

WILDFLOWER - Billie Eilish

This December - Ricky Montgomery

Selfish - Madison Beer

Washing Machine Heart - Mitski (classic Kokonui song)

Heather - Conan Gray (another classic)

Sailor Song - Gigi Perez

Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons

In Your Eyes - The Weeknd

Casual - Chappell Roan

Gucci Gucci - Kreayshawn

Die For You - The Weeknd

But yes if there are interesting song recommendations to be shared please do not be shy! I do need to listen to more songs other than scraping whatever I can find from off-brand TikTok (instagram). I am very curious on other people’s choices, and I’m always down to share more of mine if they pique other’s interest.

Additionally, if there are suggestions, may I also politely request a list of specific songs (along with the reasoning why they fit certain characters/dynamics)?, because I get very overwhelmed when looking at links to entire playlists. It’s 100% a me thing but I’d prefer to look up songs one at a time and know why people chose them.

Thank you very much.

[manymangomochis]

Obsessed with fictional characters that believe themselves to be worse than they really are because the people they love keep on getting hurt due to situations that are realistically outside of their control, thus they blame themselves/ascribe agency to contexts in which they had none, and actively demonize themselves to push others (specifically the people that care about them) away for one reason or another. Bonus points if one of the relationships they happen to hold close to them is codependent to an unhealthy extreme, where the other person’s wellbeing/survival directly determines their will to live.

Yes I am talking about Baji Tokyo Revengers, Mizi Alien Stage and Kyouka Bungou Stray Dogs.

Thank you for coming to my tedtalk.

[aw3somepossom]

So idk if I know ball or if I’m just making something out of nothing. I haven’t full finished jjk nor am I caught up but I do know a bit of what happens

But I’ve noticed in the new jjk intro this image of Mai

And I immediately thought of the painting Ophelia

And I thought it so interesting since in hamlet Ophelia is a character that doesn’t have control over her own life, always being told what to do by the men around her. Which could be correlated to the zenin clan and their treatment of the woman in the clan. Spoiler alert even tho I feel like most people know this in hamlet Ophelia dies with this painting above showing before she dies which some people say was her only time experiencing freedom but later found dead in the water with the reader not knowing if it was an accident or intentional ( tho manyyyyy people believe it was intentional) but I think this could all be a reflection of Mai’s character

Xoxo, an overthinker

[manymangomochis]

Dumb photo dump of old memes I made that I found while cleaning out my storage lmao

[kuroshinju2ng]

My recently commission!

Kazutora live action by Nijiro Murakami 😁

[manymangomochis]

MORE LIVE ACTION KAZUTORA ART!! Oh my god I love him I adore him.