#cherry magic analysis

[ezralva]

I'm still seeing a few comments on YT saying "I thought he was gonna propose!" or "still, why not rings? Rings can be modified as necklace so no one's gonna find out.."

Well, this is just my opinion but since Cheri Maho puts lots of thoughts in color details..

The pose screams nothing but proposing, offering custom-made gift in red matte box.

As for the color, most of us already familiar that combination of red and gold is identical with traditional Chinese celebrations, mostly weddings, new years, birthdays, everything that needs celebrations and wishing for good luck, and this dated back since ancient times.

And here it says and I quote:

"In the case of Japan, both China and Korea had heavy influences on the traditional colors of Japan early on in history".

"The history of red in Japan traces back to ancient times. The symbolic meaning of red is peace and the prosperity of the family. Also symbolises self-sacrifice, passion, carnal desires (Kurosawa wore all red in Adachi's nightmare 😆). Golden is considered the best color, represents wealth, reserved for emperors, and symbolises the power of heavens."

Fun facts: in modern japanese, 3 things associated closely with red includes cherry, paint, and public phone. It is also the same character Red = aka (赤) in Akaso Eiji.

Another post already explained well about the possibility of Fountain Pen meaning.

Edit: TYSM for @chibbysmama for telling me that @CherrymCherrym1 on twt had pointed out that this is actually Toyokawa's slogan for one of their pen product. Written on the poster behind Rokkaku and Fujisaki in ep 12 when he asked her plan for x-mas (link to tweet in notes)

"大切な人に一生物の文具を"

Translation : a lifetime stationery for your loved one

Also, imo the duality of its purpose really fits Kurosawa's personality, as in:

We know how sentimental he is! Pens are one of Toyokawa's specialties and it's the very place he met Adachi and be together with him.

It IS easy to camouflage since they work in stationery company. But Adachi loves stationery and anyone knew he always had a pen on his breast pocket so easy to say as long as he wears his work suit, it'll never part from his body. And I think that could be Kurosawa's intention because he wants it to be handy and be with Adachi all the time but also be visible to everyone! If the ring was worn as necklace it wouldn't show...

We all know by now Kurosawa is the jealous type and not subtle at all 😅 I mean with everyone around them, how come this counts as subtle?!

Hexagon might be dense but the others will found out sooner or later 😂 and I bet Kurosawa wouldn't mind if that happened.

And the boldness of kissing at the office!

in a nutshell:

if this ain't intended as real proposal then Idk what is! And when Adachi answered Yes, I'm pretty sure he got completely what Kurosawa's intention is. Period.

Sources in the comment

[ezralva]

Adachi's appreciation time

Haven't really seen many posts focusing on this and since Adachi is a total cutie here I simply cannot resist...

Again, another seemingly short and simple scene added in Cherry Magic that wasn't from the manga which, in my eyes, carries deeper issue and highlights the characters' traits.

Adachi being so hesitant and embarrased to answer that he wants his fried egg roll to be sweet, he lowers his head and can't even look up to Kurosawa, only to be stunned by the prompt answer of Kurosawa's "got it".

As a lot of us know that the Japanese pop culture which also extends to food, used to and still do (to some aspects) have strong perception that 'Real men don't eat sweet things'. That guys who like his food sweet are seen as less masculine, immature, and even weird. The belief that didn't necessarily come from different natural eating habits between both genders but built more on societal opinion which pressures men to not openly show their likeness of sweet food.

Ofc as years progressed, this belief got more relaxed. Terms like suiitsu danshi  or amadan (short for "sweets man") emerged to address them better and more acceptable tho imo, still held some judgements given the background and what they entailed in the past.

It's proven that until know, when I watch my japanese food and travel channel and I still spot the hosts/guests' throw-off comments like "look at us, two ossans eating sweets!" or "if it weren't for this show, I'd probably never had a chance to eat in this dessert cafe.." and the likes.

Back to Adachi, this pure soul probably had experiences where he was ridiculed by liking sweet fried egg roll in the past. Adachi is hesitant about admitting that to Kurosawa, a male colleague of same age that he sees as a 'perfect' man and more mature, and is probably expecting he will be teased about it, only because that is what he's used to. So having Kurosawa just easily accepts that with a smile just makes him speechless. Again surprising Adachi how Kurosawa always sees and treats him differently than others do. Ofc, the fact that Kurosawa is actually already knew and still asks and gives option to Adachi is another plus point for this scene.

And the way Akaso-kun managed to nail Adachi's cute boyish shy mannerism so smoothly is another thing I really like about this scene 💘

[ezralva]

I've pointed this out before and Imma say it again for so many times...cuz when I first watched ep 11 and abused rewind button here I was like, Whatcha doin here, Sir?!

Was he really depicting Kurosawa's first instinct to a distressed Adachi was to immediately offer comfort by caressing his hand (it kinda looked like he wanted to grasp Adachi's hand), offering warmth and closeness to convey he was there for him, yet in that split second he remembered how he was just being pushed away for what he thought as him crossing Adachi's boundaries so he wasn't supposed to give more unwanted touches and hence his thumb hesitated?

Like Machida-san, were you seriously acting out a detail with a single Thumb there when it wasn't even the focus of the camera and still managed to break me? (╥﹏╥) cuz You did!