How the Japanese fans themselves interpret 'those Lust arc scenes ™ '
The debate around whether or not Ichigo is referring to Orihime both before and during his Perfect Hollowfication in The Lust has reared its ugly head…yet again.
This is so bizarre to observe as someone who’s been part of the Japanese speaking Bleach fandom for several years during its run. I have never seen any Japanese fan dispute the fact that the subject was solely Orihime. Nor have I ever seen this particular scene being mentioned in any context other than “Ichigo reacting to Orihime’s voice/cries for help.”
To put it simply, the context is so obvious that this isn’t even a debate in Japan lol. I know it’s been said a hundred times already, but to reiterate pronouns are very often ignored in Japanese (I omit pronouns like 80% of the time) especially when you’re talking about another person because doing so may even be considered rude as well as sounding totally unnatural. In fact, if Ichigo had used “彼女” (she/her) it would sound like he’s referring to his girlfriend.
Ichigo doesn’t need to use a pronoun to indicate who he’s talking to because it’s obvious from the context, obvious to everyone except overseas Ichiruki fans it seems. So, I’ve taken the liberty to show everyone how Japanese fans themselves interpret this scene with sources unlike the
“just trust me bro”
essay that spawned this hilarious mess in the first place. Below are some of the Japanese fan reactions to Ichigo’s Hollow transformation during The Lust chapters (or references to it) in relation to Orihime’s presence.
Blog post from 2009:
Source:
https://ameblo.jp/rain-chaime/entry-10358790684.html
Ichigo’s heart tries to answer Orihime’s voice …then, there is a change in Ichigo…
“Help… her… I will… help her.” In response to these words, Orihime feels responsible for seeking his help. Orihime…it can’t be helped, because Ichigo is Orihime’s personal hero lol.
Blog post from 2010:
Source:
http://wondertime.blog31.fc2.com/blog-entry-1386.html
She can’t do anything, moreover she has no idea what to do, the only thing she can do is to call out Ichigo’s name… “Help me…! Kurosaki-kun!!” Something strange happens to Ichigo who responded to the voice of Orihime …!!! *sweats*
Anon jokes about Orihime’s voice bringing Ichigo back to life in a discussion thread:
Source:
https://bbs.animanch.com/board/1318379/
Even if Ichigo dies, he’ll probably just power up with Inoue’s voice and come back to life.
Blog post from 2010:
Source:
https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/kazusaroom/diary/201005190001/?scid=wi_blg_amp_diary_next
At the very least, the frustration I felt towards Orihime at the time I was reading the magazine has now turned into understanding. “help me! kurosaki-kun!” Ichigo suddenly shows a reaction to Orihime’s voice “She’s calling … she’s calling me.” “Stand up! Stand up!” Ichigo says. “I will protect her!”
Blog post from 2010:
Source:
http://strawcat.blog12.fc2.com/blog-entry-2441.html
Orihime, who is helpless to do anything but watch as her friends fall, can only cry out Ichigo’s name… Something extraordinary occurs in the body of Ichigo who had returned [to life] in response to that voice, the Ichigo before her eyes is perfectly Hollowfied!!
Blog post from 2010:
Source:
http://kadukikagayaki.blog129.fc2.com/blog-entry-83.html
Orihime’s desperate sorrow … it finally comes through in her voice as she wants Ichigo to help her… Something strange is happening to Ichigo’s body… this is finally happening isn’t it? Ichigo who was losing consciousness still manages to respond to Orihime’s cries and then he wakes up, I mean, his form goes berserk…
Article about Ichigo’s Hollow transformations:
Source:
https://11kamone.com/ichigo-horou-18894#i-11
At that time, Ichigo who was revived in response to Orihime’s cries, transformed into a figure that closely resembled the above-mentioned Hollow, White, and then defeated Ulquiorra.
Article about Ichigo’s Perfect Hollowfication:
Source:
https://performance-navi01.com/ichigo-perfecthollow/33919/#41350
In order to protect Orihime during the fight against Ulquiorra, which I mentioned earlier, Ichigo becomes perfectly Hollowfied.
Analysis of Volume 41:
Source:
https://note.com/zawa_no9cs/n/n24cc091c50cc
Fallen before Ulquiorra who displayed overwhelming power with “Resurreccion - Segunda Etapa,” Ichigo responded to Orihime’s voice which uttered “help me” before becoming perfectly Hollowfied and the battle between the two draws closer towards the end.
Volume 41 impressions:
Source:
https://ameblo.jp/mangasho5/entry-12424584769.html
But…. Orihime’s cry. Orihime’s tears It rouses something in Ichigo whose consciousness had already started to fade.
Ichigo was resurrected from the brink of death by the the words of Orihime as she uttered “help me, Kurosaki-kun!”
Volume 41 reviews:
Source:
https://bookmeter.com/books/565371#js-book-reviews
After being awakened by Orihime’s voice, Ichigo undergoes Hollowfication of his whole body?
Ichigo is ominously awakened by Orihime’s voice.
When Orihime’s cries reach Ichigo, who should have died, Ichigo is revived via a Hollowfication that is different from his previous form.
Ichigo was roused by Orihime’s words before taking on his next form.
After Orihime’s cry made Ichigo rise up, he becomes a Hollow!?
Every. Single. Discussion… around these chapters in Japan say the same thing,
the remnants of Ichigo’s humanity is reacting to Orihime and Orihime alone.
I could carry on with more and more examples until I break this post with the amount of links I can find. Find me one, just one Japanese article, discussion thread or blog post that indicates the opposite… oh wait, you can’t because they don’t exist. Just to be clear we have:
All official translations and reliable fan translations (like Cnet)… actually, even the old fan translations which came out before the official ones…all of them include the she/her pronoun because it’s obvious and correct.
The databook refers to Orihime specifically.
Masakazu Morita’s interview
The Japanese fans themselves…
But apparently overseas Ichiruki fans understand the Japanese language better than Japanese people. The audacity lmao. And to think, the one and only source of information for the other side is some rando chick - with a reputation for misinformation and toxic online behaviour - who made a “just trust me bro” essay over a decade ago. Thanks for reading, Rei
