Thankfully the series is still on-going—with there being 16 volumes available in Japanese and 15 volumes available in English.
At first it seems like it's a lot... But once you're up to date, you can't help but crave more... Honestly, I can't imagine what kind of ending the series will have at this point...
That being said, I'm a firm believer that all good things do have to end someday. So far I'm mostly satisfied with how the series has been going and don't really get the feeling that it's being dragged out unnecessarily... But that's just my opinion, I'm sure others might disagree. I enjoy a good slow burn so long as there is constant gradual build-up and the reasoning behind the pacing makes sense.
Hey! Have you watched The Legend of Princess Chang ge Donghua from last year. I don't see many people talk about it. Chang ge definitely is among my most favourite female characters. Saying this after reading the manhua of the same. The donghua can turn off many because of the 3DCG but it definitely has its strong points. Now I really want some similar recommendations but it's difficult to find one. Can you suggest some sharing the same historical setting?
Hi, thanks for sending in an ask!
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1.) The Legend of Princess Chang Ge
Unfortunately, I haven't seen the donghua of The Legend of Princess Chang Ge... This is actually the first one I've heard of it... I went to go read the synopsis on MAL and it sounds interesting...
Admittedly 3D CGI turns me off from many series as well... I tried watching the donghua for both SVSSS and Thousand Autumns last year but the uncanny valley feelings it evoked were too strong... Another historical romance donghua I liked released its season 2 last year but as the animation style shifted to 3D CGI, I also couldn't bring myself to finish it. I'll probably try the series in order to attempt to work past this issue when I have time—but I'm pretty swamped at the moment.
From what I can tell this donghua is set in historical China, unfortunately most of the recommendations I have seem to be romance-centric and lighter in tone and are pretty popular so chances that you've seen them are high.
2.) Recommendations for anime/donghua set in historical Asian-inspired settings
It's a bit difficult to recommend series similar to one I haven't seen myself, so these might not have the same sub-genres, themes and tone, but I tried my best to match the series' aesthetic and setting. Also, I'm sorry if you've seen most of these already...
-> 2.1.) Akatsuki no Yona | Yona of the Dawn
Although Akatsuki no Yona's setting is mostly derived from Korea's Three Kingdoms period, it incorporates some elements from ancient China. This series follows Yona, a sheltered princess who is forced to flee after her father's murder and a subsequent coup d'état. As she journeys across her kingdom with her bodyguard to find four legendary dragon warriors, she seeks to educate herself about the plight faced by her people and lend a helping hand. This series is a compelling blend of drama, fantasy, romance, comedy and action—in addition to being a masterpiece in terms of its character development and character dynamics.
-> 2.2.) Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai | Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Maste
This anime follows a succession struggle in a world ruled by shape-shifting raven creatures called Yatagarasu. I don't want to delve too deeply into the series' plot and setting because it's pretty difficult to do so without spoiling some key plot points... But trust me, it's definitely worth watching for it's clever plot twists. Although this series' setting is more so inspired by Japan's Heian period than ancient China, it has that darker historical-drama element that I think you're looking for. Overall, this series does a phenomenal job at blending political intrigue, action and mystery with its fantastical setting. Although this series came out in 2024 but was surprisingly underrated and unfortunately slipped past most people...
-> 2.3.) Koukyuu no Karasu | Raven of The Inner Palace
Koukyuu no Karasu is set in a fantastical version of Ancient China's imperial court and blends elements of drama, mystery and fantasy. This anime centres around the Raven Consort, Liu Shouxue whose role in the inner palace is solve supernatural mysteries while retaining her distance from others, including the emperor himself. As she gradually begins to forge connections with those around her, she unravels the secrets behind her powers and position. The series' strong points are its complex characters, compelling narrative, and the inherent chemistry between its cast. Also, this series is quite light in terms of romance if that's what you're looking for.
-> 2.4.) Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries
This anime is set in a fictional country based of Imperial China and follows Maomao, an apothecary obsessed with poison, after she is sold into servitude at the Imperial Palace. As she uses her expertise and intellect to solve mysteries and conspiracies, she catches the eye of several important figures and thus gets increasingly embroiled in various political conflicts despite her attempts to remain inconspicuous. If you're looking for a multidimensional series with high production values and compelling characters—then look no further.
-> 2.7.) Mo Dao Zu Shi | Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
If you're a fan of BL series, then MDZS is a great option as its fantastical setting blends various ancient Chinese dynasties and lightly references actual locations. This series centres around Wei Wuxian's descent from a talented youth to the cultivation world's greatest pariah and the aftermath of his downfall. Thirteen years after his death, he is resurrected and forced to partner with his former rival Lan Wangji—with who he shares a complex past—to solve a string of mysteries that will ultimately uncover the cultivation world's dark secrets but also the truth behind his downfall and rebirth. This series' strong points are its complex characters and worldbuilding in addition to its nuanced themes and social commentary. If you're looking for a series that blends mystery, fantasy, action and drama, then look no further. I however will note that the donghua heavily censors the romance compared to the novel…
-> 2.5.) Saiunkoku Mongatari | The Story of Saiunkoku
This is another anime set in a fictional world inspired by Imperial China. Saiunoku Monogatari centres around Kou Shuurei, a noble woman from a poor family who chases after her dream of becoming a government official—despite woman being barred from civil service. In addition to navigating court politics, she also tasked with reforming the emperor into a responsible ruler. This series blends drama, romance with comedy and historical fantasy with its strong point being its compelling, capable and confident protagonist.
-> 2.6.) Shi Yi Chang An: Mingyue Jishi You | Memory of Chang'an
This donghua is set during China's Tang dynasty and centres around its grand capital city Chang'an—which is now known as Xi'an. This series follows Emela/Li Mingyue and Li Qiang as they balance navigating various political conflicts together alongside developing relationship after being forced into a political marriage to secure stability between their states. This series blends together historical-romance and slice-of-life comedy with elements of drama and political intrigue.
-> 2.8.) Tian Guan Ci Fu | Heaven Official's Blessing
This is another BL series, and it is written by the same author as MDZS. This donghua is set in a classic ancient Chinese xianxia world and centres around the supernatural interactions of the three realms—the mortal kingdoms, the heavenly capital and the ghost realm. This series begins with its protagonist Xie Lian's third ascension to godhood after 2 prior banishments. A fateful encounter with a ghost king, Hua Cheng, sets Xie Lian on a path that will not only uncover centuries of divine corruption but will also reveal the truth about his own past entanglements with the former. This series is a compelling blend of fantasy, mystery, drama and action and boasts both complex character dynamics and intricate plot points. This series is packed with plenty of detailed symbolism and well-incorporated multi-layered themes. However, just like with MDZS, the donghua heavily censors the romance element compared to the novel…
Why do you think "Raven in the Inner Place" is not as popular as "Apothecary Diaries"? I mean both have similar themes of mystery and cases, right? Both have strong, intelligent, and independent femMC with the supportive ML....
Oh yeah, you said that better to recommend you books than anime/manga, right?
Then, how about adding 'The Captive Prince' trilogy? Yes, they're 3 books but compared to TGCF or MDZS those 3 books are really short. Really, trust me...!
The couples' dynamics are so great! The mc (Damen) is such a sweetheart and you can't help but root and also love the ml (Laurent)....
Bonus, when you finished them, there are a lot of fanarts and fanfics of Damen/Laurent....🥰🤩😆
It's a slow burn story, angst with a happy ending, drama, political, that are so good...
Hope you'll love it...
Hi, thanks for sending in an ask! That's actually a question I ask myself all the time... I'm sure my household is tired of hearing my complaints about this issue so hopefully writing it out might give me some closure...
Before I start I'd just like to clarify some things...
I really like both series. In fact I started watching The Apothecary Diaries because I missed Raven of the Inner Palace... So in no way am I intending to hate on either series with this post...
While I'm currently reading the light novels of The Apothecary Diaries—and am on volume 8 presently—I haven't read any of the light novels of Raven Of The Inner Palace. Therefore I can only base my arguments off of the anime for the latter series, though I definitely plan on reading the novels at some point... That being said, I have included a spoiler for the finale of Raven Of The Inner Palace's light novel... However I have clearly marked it, so you can skip over it if need be...
From here on out I will be referring to both series by their respective Japanese titles as it's grammatically easier for me to use them in sentences.
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Why Kōkyū no Karasu isn't as popular as Kusuriya no Hitorigoto?
While a multitude of factors can contribute towards a disparity in popularity between two series, I believe the main factor at play in this case is the differing demographics of both series. Although Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is somewhat ambiguous in terms of demographic—considering the novel was initially aimed at women—it is largely considered to fall into the seinen bracket because its manga adaptation is serialized in a seinen magazine. Kōkyū no Karasu, on the other hand, is exclusively categorised under the josei demographic.
1.) Marketing and Investment
Throughout the history of the animanga industry, women have never been prioritised and accommodated for in the same manner that male audiences have. This is evidenced by the limited adaptations, merchandise and promotion shoujo and josei series receive relative to their shounen and seinen counterparts due to a perceived lesser profitability.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto has almost certainly benefited from being rebranded as a seinen. This change in demographic has undoubtedly resulted in the series receiving more investment resulting in better promotion and more adaptations—ultimately allowing it to reach a larger audience than Kōkyū no Karasu.
The difference in production quality of both series’ anime can also be attributed to how adaptations of shounen and seinen series oftentimes have more polished adaptations—due to increased investment—which helps further bolster their popularity.
2.) Viewer Interest
Although not everyone is the same, most shoujo and josei fans enjoy a wide range of genres and demographics, whereas the vast majority of shounen and seinen fans only consume shounen and seinen animanga.
The "rebranding" of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto into a seinen series has allowed it to resonate with a larger audience compared to Kōkyū no Karasu—thus resulting in the former series achieving higher sales and greater popularity.
3.) The prioritization of romance in shoujo and josei demographics
Many of the executives in the animanga production industry mostly are men, who not only see greater economic potential in own demographics, but also have misguided assumptions about the demands and interests of the female audience. Furthermore production companies are more hesitant to invest in shoujo and josei adaptations—so when they do invest in these demographics, they tend to stick to what appears to be a safer option.
Consequently shoujo and josei series with romance-focused narratives are pushed to the forefront as it is assumed that is what female audiences want. Shoujo and josei series that deviate from this pattern are often assumed to have a limited appeal and thus aren’t given as much investment and promotion. Whereas the shounen and seinen demographics are littered with series that prioritise genres other than romance. As a result, even though Kusuriya no Hitorigoto and Kōkyū no Karasu both emphasize topics and narratives beyond their romantic subplots—the former series likely encountered fewer obstacles in obtaining investment opportunities compared to the latter due to its shift in demographic.
[Potential spoilers in the following paragraph!]
Furthermore, the conclusion of the Kōkyū no Karasu’s light novel—which chose to solidify the relationship between its female and male leads as platonic rather than romantic—likely further limited the series’ potential for further investment opportunities due the prioritization of romance-driven narratives in series aimed at a female audience.
4.) Other points to consider:
-> Kusuriya no Hitorigoto's logic and science-based approach to solving mysteries likely appeals to a wider audience than Kōkyū no Karasu's mystical and fantastical elements.
-> Kōkyū no Karasu expresses its character development and themes more subtly than Kusuriya no Hitorigoto does, potentially making it less appealing to broader audiences.
-> The highly stylized visuals in Kōkyū no Karasu’s anime have resulted in the series having a more niche appeal than Kusuriya no Hitorigoto’s more straightforward presentation.
-> Kōkyū no Karasu has always had to bear the brunt of comparison against Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, considering the former began publication in 2018 when the latter had already captured a substantial portion of the audience’s interest within the same niche.
-> One of the primary critiques levelled at Kōkyū no Karasu’s anime is that it feels rushed and thus lacks depth and memorability, especially when juxtaposed with Kusuriya no Hitorigoto. However unlike the latter series, which had a 24-episode first season to meticulously develop its plot points and characters, Kōkyū no Karasu only had 13 episodes.
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Hopefully this meets your expectations... I'm a little nervous since I used a different writing style and tone than I usually do haha...
Btw thanks for the recommendations! Tbh, I wouldn't say I'm better at reading books then manga... It's just that my tbw and tbr lists are so long, it feels like I never get around to anything... So, I can't promise that I'll get to them soon. I've steadily been working on clearing my lists though, since it was my goal for this year. The polls I've been posting every now and then have really helped to keep me accountable—even if I go off book sometimes lol...
Hi, Bleach fan! Just saw your IchiRuki post and I love it! You can't imagine how excited I am to found IchiRuki shipper in 2024!
So, what do you think are Ichigo and Rukia's greatest personality strengths and weaknesses? Why? What do you love about their dynamic? What are your favorite (canon) IchiRuki moments? What are your favorite headcanons of them?
Do you have any fav ships (from any fandom) that the dyanamic remind you of IchiRuki?
Thanks if you want to answer
Hi, sorry for the wait!
I'm just as excited to see another IchiRuki shipper! I swear ever since TYBW came out, we've been heavily persecuted... So it's nice to be asked about IchiRuki in a positive context rather than a negative one.
Just an obligatory disclaimer before I start: Although I have been spoilt for the series ending, I have not officially read the manga. I know that rival shippers are going to use this against me... But I needed to clarify that in case I slightly misremember something. However, I doubt I will since I won't really be speaking about anything beyond where the anime left off.
[My answers are under the cut because I rambled too much again sorry ❀]
-> Ichigo & Rukia's greatest strengths:
⦁ Their strong natural chemistry: They just have a genuine and instantaneous emotional connection that elicits a sense of familiarity and warmth.
⦁ Conversely, they fit into both the "birds of a feather" and "opposites attract" tropes. This implies that, despite their differences, they share a few commonalities—which is what accounts for their strong connection.
⦁ They have both positively impacted one another, consistently uplifting and motivating one another and bringing each other back from their lowest points. Most notably, Rukia is a source of strength, motivation, and light for Ichigo. In the same way that Ichigo is a driving force in Rukia's life, serving as a source of courage and resolve.
⦁ As a result of their similar experiences and struggles—especially with self-doubt and loss—they possess a unique understanding of one another that no one else possesses. Consequently, they are able to instinctively support one another in overcoming these challenges and progress towards bettering themselves.
-> Ichigo & Rukia's greatest weaknesses:
⦁ The significant disparity in their lives, circumstances, and careers could stand in the way of their relationship—though with some concessions, this is not immutable.
⦁ They elicit each other's stubbornness and strong willedness, which often results in bickering. While I find this endearing, I know this is a source of contention for many fans.
⦁ Towards the end of the series—in particular during the TYBW arc—they don't get as much screentime together.
-> What I love about their dynamic:
⦁ Simply speaking, they are a perfect amalgamation of my favourite tropes and symbolism.
⦁ Their perfectly counterbalanced designs and symbolism seamlessly integrate into their respective roles in the series, not only enhancing their dynamic but also conveying the notion of being fated or destined soulmates.
⦁ Their mutually important roles in the series, along with their profound trust and respect for one another, foster a sense of equality and balance seldomly seen in shounen F/M pairings.
⦁ Throughout the series, their most significant moments are consistently paralleled and inverted. This not only enables both of them to mutually support and uplift one another but also further reinforces their dynamic as a cornerstone of the series.
-> My favourite canon IchiRuki moments:
There are honestly so many, as I love all of the interactions, but if I had to limit myself to a top four, then it would be as follows:
4) When Rukia transfers her powers to Ichigo for the first time (Episode 1) - This has to be one of the most iconic IchiRuki scenes considering this is the moment where it all began.
3) Ichigo saves Rukia from her execution - Another obvious choice. What makes this moment appealing to me is that Ichigo enables Rukia to finally be upfront about her feelings and reinvigorates her desire to exist. This allows this scene to transcend the typical hero saves the girl premise.
2) Rukia and Ichigo reuniting during the Fullbring arc - This scene brought me to tears with its masterful parallels of both of the previous entries on my list here by having Rukia show up to support and guide Ichigo once more. I adore the manner in which Rukia can uplift him and encourage him with only a few words and her presence.
1) Ichigo thanking and saying farewell to Rukia after losing his powers - Some might find it ironic that this scene tops my list, but my reasoning goes beyond my fondness for angst. In my opinion, this scene—as well as its aftermath—cements how deeply Ichigo and Rukia care for one another. In the anime, the compelling voice acting as well as the soft colours and fluid animation deepen my love for this scene. Conversely, the manga's fluid panelling and delicate expressions are remiscent of that in shoujo manga.
P.S. I would've highlighted some scenes from the 3rd Bleach Movie: Fade To Black—but since its still debated whether the movies are canonical, I opted not to.
-> My favourite IchiRuki headcanons:
I'm more of a trope, motif, and symbolism analysis person—so I've never really given any thought to headcanons... To be honest, I don't think I fully know what counts as a headcanon.
I love seeing people use Sun×Moon, Day×Night, Ying×Yang, and Fire×Ice symbolism for IchiRuki. Also, this is much less common, but I also like seeing fan artists use Forget-Me-Not flowers for IchiRuki—that's totally their flower.
I don't know if those count as headcanons...So I'd love for you guys to share your favourite headcanons in the comments...
-> Ships that remind me about IchiRuki:
To be honest, this is a tricky question to answer... Everyone is drawn to ships for different reasons... Every ship is different, and every series is different... So it goes without saying that just because you ship a pairing in one series doesn't mean you'll ship a similar ship in another show.
People always get offended when someone always gets offended when comparisons are drawn between ships—especially those from different series. Having said that, I tried my best; so, please don't criticise me too harshly
I'd love to hear about any other ships that remind you guys of IchiRuki since I'm sure I might have missed a couple of good options...
1) ChiKawa / Chika Kudo × Satowa Hozuki (Kono Oto Tomare!) —
> Similar personalities/dynamics:
⦁ Just like Ichigo, Chika is a devoted and caring friend who can be a bit straightforward, impulsive, and short-tempered at times.
⦁ Just like Rukia, Satowa is graceful, determined, and stubborn. Satowa, like Rukia, has difficulty opening up to others and is adept at putting on a damsel in distress act to get her way in troublesome situations.
⦁ Both pairs initially get off on the wrong foot and often bicker because of their stubbornness, but ultimately come to respect, trust and care for one another.
> Common tropes:
⦁ Both pairs share the "belligerent tension", "birds of a feather", "can't live with them, can't live without them", "everyone can see it", and "slow burn" tropes.
> Similar backgrounds:
⦁ Before the start of the series, Chika often got into fights and had a "deliquent" image, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ichigo's backstory.
⦁ Satowa, like Rukia, is apart of a presigious family and faced immense pressure, which resulted in her becoming isolated and aloof.
> Similar in appearance:
⦁ Both pairs have a guy with bright, light-coloured hair and brown eyes. Both pairs have a girl with straight, black hair with bangs.
2) Takumi Usui × Misaki Ayuzawa (Kaichou wa Maid-sama!) —
> Similar personalities/dynamics:
⦁ Usui, like Ichigo, is confident, reliable, talented, and protective.
⦁ Misaki, like Rukia, is intelligent, diligent, and determined. Both characters struggle with being honest with themselves (and others) about their feelings and wants.
⦁ Usui enjoys teasing Misaki, similarly to how Rukia oftentimes teases Ichigo.
⦁ Both pairs initially get off on the wrong foot and often bicker because of their stubbornness, but ultimately come to respect, trust, and care for one another.
> Similar backgrounds:
⦁ Usui, like Rukia, is partially a member of a prestigious family and is now isolated and somewhat aloof as a result of his upbringing.
⦁ Misaki, like Ichigo, cares greatly for her family and younger sibling and works hard to protect her.
> Common tropes:
⦁ Both pairs share the "belligerent tension", "birds of a feather", "can't live with them, can't live without them", "declaration of protection", "everyone can see it", "like an old married couple" and "slow burn" tropes.
> Similar in appearance:
⦁ Both pairs have a guy with light and bright-coloured spikey hair. Both pairs have a girl with straight, black, shoulder-length hair with bangs.
3) ItaFushi / Yuji Itadori × Megumi Fushiguro (Jujutsu Kaisen) —
> Similar personalities/dynamics:
⦁ Both pairs have matching MBTI results. With Ichigo and Yuji falling under ISFP while Rukia and Megumi fall under ISTJ.
⦁ Yuji, like Ichigo, values protecting others—especially his friends—and is equally hard-working, determined, passionate, and impulsive.
⦁ Megumi, like Rukia, is intelligent, serious, blunt, diligent, and talented. He is equally as aloof, stubborn and short-tempered.
⦁ Both pairs have complementary personalities and fight well alongside their respective partner. Both pairs are very intuitive of their partner's needs and get along well—despite occasional teasing and bickering.
> Similar Backgrounds:
⦁ Like Rukia, Megumi has a complex relationship with his older, adoptive sibling. Megumi and Rukia are both apart of prestigious clans that are involved with eliminating supernatural creatures.
⦁ Like Ichigo, Yuji has a mysterious family background with some of his family members being somewhat connected to one of the series' main villians. Both characters possess latent, inherent abilities as a result of their heritage. Both characters battle with literal "inner-demons".
> Similar circumstances/roles in the series:
⦁ Both pairs consist of the protagonist and deuteragonist of their respective series.
⦁ Both Ichigo and Yuji were living relatively ordinary lives until they ran into their respective deuteragonist and had to awaken supernatural abilities to save themselves and the latter from a supernatural creature.
⦁ Both Rukia and Megumi have disobeyed orders/rules in order to protect their respective protagonist.
⦁ Both Ichigo and Yuji risked being executed as a result of the powers they awakened but were saved by their respective deuteragonist.
⦁ Conversely, at different points in their respective series, both Rukia and Megumi had lost their will to live and were then saved by their respective protagonist.
> Common tropes:
⦁ Both pairs share the "battle couple", "can't live with them, can't live without them", "declaration of protection", "everyone can see it", "fan-preferred couple", "friends to lovers", "I owe you my life", "rescue romance", "star-crossed lovers", "slow burn", "sun × moon" and "you are better than you think you are" tropes.
4) GinTsu / Gintoki Sakata × Tsukuyo (Gintama) —
> Similar personalities/dynamics:
⦁ Gintoki, like Ichigo, is very strong-willed, stubborn, short-tempered and impulsive. Conversely, behind their cool and detached image, both characters are very charismatic, compassionate, reliable and empathetic.
⦁ In terms of MBTI results, Rukia and Tsukuyo both fall under ISTJ. Like Rukia, Tsukuyo initially believed in placing duty above her personal feelings and struggled with emotional transparency and self-worth. Both characters are very responsible, diligent, determined and blunt.
⦁ Both pairs have complementary personalities and fight well alongside their respective partner. Both pairs are very intuitive of their partner's needs and get along well.
⦁ Although both pairs often bicker and tease each other, this does not detract from their respect, trust, and care for one another.
> Similar backgrounds:
⦁ Like Ichigo and Rukia, who comprehend and assist one another because of their similar past experiences, Gintoki and Tsukuyo have comparable understanding and support. This theme is further developed in Gintama's "Red Spider Arc" where Gintoki and Tsukuyo's backstories are even more explicitly contrasted.
> Similar circumstances and roles in series:
⦁ Both Tsukuyo and Rukia have defied orders to protect their respective protagonist.
⦁ Both Tsukuyo and Rukia struggle with emotional transparency and self-worth. Both characters have learnt to embrace their feelings and be less constrained thanks to their respective protagonist.
> Corresponding symbolism & motifs:
⦁ Both pairs have canonically been associated with celestial motifs with Rukia and Tsukuyo being associated with the moon while Ichigo and Gintoki are associated with the Sun.
⦁ Rukia and Gintoki have been respectively described as the "light" in Ichigo and Tsukuyo's lives.
⦁ Rukia has been associated with Winter and Night while Ichigo has been associated with Summer and Day. Conversely, Tsukuyo has been associated with night and autumn while Gintoki has been associated with day and spring.
> Common tropes:
⦁ Both pairs share the "a shared suffering", "back-to-back badasses", "battle couple", "belligerent tension", "birds of a feather", "can't live with them, can't live without them", "declaration of protection", "everyone can see it", "flirting under fire", "friends to lovers", "I owe you my life", "mutual respect", "slow burn", "sun × moon" and "you are better than you think you are" tropes.
If you made it till the end, I'm so grateful. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Also, remember not to spread misinformation and to respect others' right to formulate their own opinions.
Also, do you ship ShiMao? Now, as JinMao shipper I can't help but love ShiMao, too! ShiMao is such a doomed yuri ship! And do you know that Apothecary Diaries author said that op2 s2 is about Shisui and Maomao? Love the amv...!
Hi, sorry for the wait...
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-> 1) SVSSS & KNH
I included Kusuriya no Hitorigoto and SVSSS in the tags of that post because the two ships I was referring to were JinMao and BingQiu, respectively. Although my previous irresponsible statements on SVSSS make things rather obvious, I’ll reword things to clarify which was which:
“Put a finger down if you suddenly realised that the reason you've been subtly disliking one ship (namely BingQiu) is the same reason you've been greatly enjoying another (namely JinMao) and as a result, you've come to the realisation that you were being hypocritical and now appreciate both ships.”
With the “reason” being that Maomao’s and Shen Qingqiu’s unreliable narration renders their affection for their respective romantic interests to be more subtle and less overt. When I first read SVSSS, I wasn't very fond of BingQiu, especially when compared to MXTX’s other main couples. This was because at the time, I felt like Shen Qingqiu’s affection wasn't very palpable and seemed partly coerced making their dynamic seem unequal. However, after rereading SVSSS recently and seeing the parallels between Shen Qingqiu and Maomao, I’ve had a significant change of heart.
I greatly appreciate the subtlety and nuance with which Maomao's evolving sentiments for Jinshi are presented. Romance isn’t always an overt display of ardent passion and the light novel of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto does a great job of conveying that. Maomao isn't hesitant or doubtful because she doesn't like Jinshi; she's afraid of being vulnerable. Her affection for Jinshi becomes apparent only when one evaluates the implications of her actions and thoughts. I’ve come to realize that Shen Qingqiu is very similar in this regard.
Furthermore, Maomao and Shen Qingqiu are similar in the way they handle and express their emotions. Both characters like to convey affection with acts rather than words and have shown a reluctance to admit their own emotions. This reluctance extends to the feelings of those around them, to the point of intense denial. Both characters have a tendency to bury their compassion behind rationalism and detachment, causing them to become flustered and uncomfortable when directly confronted with affection.
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-> 2) ShiMao
Although JinMao is my favourite pairing in the series, I've developed a liking towards ShiMao since I started reading the light novels. At this point, it's my second favourite ship for Maomao. I'm not at all surprised by how popular ShiMao is given its abundance of tropes and all the parallels it shares with JinMao.
I will say that I don't like how some fans use Maomao's dynamic with Shisui to undermine her relationship with Jinshi, both ships deserve better than that. Aside from looking at things through a romantic perspective, I'm going to miss Maomao and Shisui's—and Xiaolan's—dynamic platonically as well.
I'm glad that you mentioned Hitorigoto—the series' 4th ending theme song—as it's become one of my favourite anime ending songs. The lyrics have a melancholic and nostalgic yet subtly poetic quality that perfectly encapsulate Maomao's feelings towards Shisui post-season 2. Admittedly I haven't seen any of Natsu Hyuga's statements on the song. However, I read a statement from Maomao's seiyuu (Aoi Yuki) which confirmed that the song is about Maomao and Shisui. That being said, I do think that parts of the song relate to Maomao's dynamic with other characters as well.
After reading the light novels, are JinMao still in your top 10 fav ships or have gone up to top 5?
Love how you wrote about Raven of Inner Palace. Yes, they're so underrated. And you know what, I'm glad that Jusetsu and Gaojun are kept being platonic until the end!
Frost, have you ever seen any manga/anime/books/tv series that you wish the main canon couple don't end up together but still have strong platonic bond or that the mc or fl/ml end up with other people and not each other?
That's what I feel about Gaojun and Jusetsu. So I'm glad that they still kept platonic. (For me, this is also for Eren/Mikasa. Sorry I know you ship them, but somehow I see them as siblings. Yeah, I know I'm the weird one)
Oh, also, spoiler a bit....
for Snow White with Red Hair, do you know that now Obi have love interests (kinda) but it's so sudden and I still don't ship them. If you asked me to pick between ObiYuki or ZenYuki, to me, ObiYuki is better! (Maybe I'm a bit bias because I love Obi way more than Zen, too)....
Sorry I don't really have any interesting questions. Maybe about your thoughts on Gaojun/Jusetsu, Eremika, Obiyuki and Zenyuki?
NOTES (below are not questions just my rambling, sorry for this long ask)
About canon couple that I wish were not ending up together, that is what I first think after finishing BL called Koimonogatari. As BL lover, this is the first BL that I wish the main couple end up just friends. Like wish, the mc & ml end up with other people! And it's so weird and unique expereince for me.
Hi, thanks for sending in an ask... Apologies for the delay...
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1.) Has JinMao advanced to the top 5?
I'm glad you asked this because it's something I've been contemplating ever since I surpassed the anime's progress in the light novels...
In all fairness, I posted that ranking almost 2 years ago, so it's not surprising that my list has changed a bit. That being said, I was so surprised by how much I've grown to like JinMao. While the lower rankings in my top 30 tend to cycle quite a bit depending on relevant series developments, my top 10 had remained unchanged for quite a while. In fact, the last change made to my top 10 had been adding JinMao back in 2023. I'm someone who is very influenced by nostalgia, so it's very difficult for me to rank something new above something I've held dear for many years.
Even so, beyond how deftly Jinshi and Maomao's complex and nuanced relationship is portrayed in the light novel, I can't deny how much of an impact they've had on me. The excitement I get from any minuscule interaction between them is absurdly immense. I think of them so often that they're practically ubiquitous in all sorts of everyday things.
I'm rambling, but to bring this to an end... After finishing volume 10 yesterday, I've come to a decision: they've moved up to 3rd place—ranking just behind HuaLian and BakuDeku. So they have officially become my favourite f/m pairing.
2.) Have I ever wished for a series' main couple to remain platonic? Have I ever seen a series where a main duo remained platonic, and I was happy with that?
Sorry if I misunderstood your question here; your wording was a little too ambiguous for me...
I have seen plenty of series where I didn't like the primary endgame couple and shipped something else... (Notable examples of this include Bleach and Saiunkoku Monogatari). There have also been plenty of series where a couple I shipped didn't become canon, although fortunately nothing else was confirmed for those characters...
There are also some non-canonical pairings that I value in a platonic context but understand why people ship them. Furthermore, there are also many popular pairings—both canonical and non-canonical—that I just don't like in any capacity. However, I can't really think of a canonically confirmed couple that I only like platonically...
Actually, on second thought, I think Violet × Gilbert from the Violet Evergarden series fit this role for me. Also, while nothing has been confirmed yet, I'd prefer it for Sakura and Kotoha's relationship in Wind Breaker to remain platonic as well.
3.) Why haven't I read the Akagami no Shirayuki manga yet? (+ My musings on the series' love triangle and the handling of Obi's character...)
Although I've wanted to read the manga for a while now, I never manage to get around to it. I typically only allow myself to binge one series at a time—although I do pace myself by reading fanfics and updates to manga and manhwa I'm up to date with—so I've been focused on the Kusuriya no Hitorigoto light novels for the past few months. Given that most of the manga I'm up to date with have ended recently or are ending soon, I really do need to start reading more manga... So hopefully I'm able to start reading the manga soon.
Part of what has delayed me from reading the manga is the developing love triangle since this is the first time I've ever been practically equally fond of both ships. I saw a few out-of-context panels online a month or so ago that made me feel even more conflicted about this matter... The more I revisit the series, the more I am drawn towards Obiyuki, and it hurts knowing that there's practically no chance the author will switch things up to such an extent...
Hearing that he'll have other love interests is honestly heartbreaking... As much as I want him to be happy, I feel like having things move on so suddenly cheapens his feelings... I oftentimes have issues with the way they handle the losing party in a love triangle moving on with someone else, irrespective of whether I shipped them with said character or not (e.g., Yuki in Fruits Basket, Hinata in Maid-sama, Hotohori in Fushigi Yuugi, etc.).
4.1) Thoughts on Gaojun/Koshun × Shoxue/Jusetsu
It's difficult for me to properly comment on these two since I haven't read the light novels for the series, and season 1 of the anime isn't enough to fully comprehend their dynamic.
I genuinely liked their chemistry and relationship dynamic in season 1, which is what prompted me to place them in my top 30—but I can also understand why their circumstances lead to them not ending up together in the series' finale.
Even so, rather than seeing their relationship as purely platonic, I can't help but see them as those bittersweet 'the one who got away' type of romances... Although no romantic feelings came to fruition between them, there's this lingering feeling that love sometimes means letting go. The series' ending very much encapsulates the conflict between duty and freedom, bringing together themes of identity, healing, love and sacrifice.
4.2) Thoughts on EreMika
I genuinely go back and forth with these two... I'm constantly torn between feeling bittersweet and resentful over how their relationship was handled in the series. While I like some themes and aspects of their dynamic, most of it wasn't incorporated into the series to its fullest potential. Although at the end of the day, I still ship them—because ultimately this is the only pairing that makes sense for both characters—I honestly don't blame people who don't.
4.3) Thoughts on ZenYuki and ObiYuki
I know this may come as a surprise for anyone who doesn't follow my posts, but I genuinely like both ZenYuki and ObiYuki. This is honestly a first for me, so naturally I'm constantly conflicted about the state of things. All in all, both pairings are rich in emotional resonance and are appealing in different ways.
I really like Zen and his dynamic with Shirayuki. Their relationship is built on mutual respect, trust and emotional growth—giving us an ideal depiction of love. The quick yet natural shift in the relationship is a testament to how well they work together. Their chemistry is based on their like-mindedness and fundamental shared traits. Zen's easygoing nature, reliability and strong sense of responsibility pair well with Shirayuki's patient, compassionate and diligent personality. Consequently, their relationship very much evokes the stability of a couple that have been together for years. However, at times I feel like there's an inexplicable quality missing from their dynamic...
Said inexplicable quality is something that ObiYuki undoubtedly possesses in abundance, which is likely why so many fans are drawn to them despite the series' clear differing direction. Their dynamic centres around development, subtle yearning and emotional depth and evokes a unique blend of sincere devotion and playful spontaneity.
Obi and Shirayuki's chemistry is based on how well their differing traits balance each other. Obi's playfulness and impulsiveness complement Shirayuki's diligence and composure well, bringing out a more assured and spirited side of her. Shirayuki's sincerity and sensitivity bring out a softer and more serious side in Obi, who is normally guarded and enigmatic despite his light-hearted disposition. I also want to highlight how overlooked their fundamental similarities are, as they are both incredibly loyal, resolute, pragmatic, independent, protective and emotionally restrained.
I'm trying to collect all of the Apothecary Diaries music. I just found out that the opening and ending songs aren't on the soundtrack. They can be bought as separate singles. I'm trying to collect all of the openings and endings, but the different names and translations are confusing me. Can you help sort them out? Thank you
Hi... I included the Japanese names, their transliteration and translations but I'd suggest only searching for Japanese songs by their original titles (kanji or romaji) as many titles songs are adapted from phrases that have meaning nuanced meanings thus leading to a number of different translations. (For example: Opening 4's title "Kusushiki" is the origin of the word "kusuri" (medicine) and can be translated as "strange", "mysterious" or "wondrous". )
Season 1 Opening 1: 花になって | Hana Ni Natte | Be a Flower by Ryokuoushoku Shakai
Season 1 Ending 1: アイコトバ | Aikotoba | The Spell by AiNA THE END
Season 1 Opening 2: アンビバレント | Ambivalent by Uru
Season 1 Ending 2: 愛は薬 | Ai wa Kusuri | Love is Medicine by wacci
Season 2 Opening 1: 百花繚乱 | Hyakka Ryōran | A Profusion of Flowers by Lilas Ikuta
Season 2 Ending 1: 幸せのレシピ | Shiawase no Recipe | Recipe for Happiness by HIRAIDAI
Season 2 Opening 2: クスシキ | Kusushiki | Mysterious by Mrs. GREEN APPLE
Season 2 Ending 2: ひとりごと | Hitorigoto | Soliloquy by Omoinotake
So BKDK is my first m/m ship ever. Yeah, until then, I always ship m/f ones and saw the same sex ones as just platonic (sorry I don't mean anything negative or being homophobic, it's just the way I was at that time).
Can I tell you something? When I first follow BNHA with my brother (about 8 years ago), I ship Bakugou with Uraraka (I know! It's random right?). My brother who dislike shipping, ships no one and said, "The endgame must be Midoriya with Uraraka. And there will be moments when they'll got closer just like Naruto and Hinata" (yes both of us are also Naruto fans)....
But as we enjoy the series over the years, I can't help but saw how special it is the bond between Izuku and Katsuki. Even my brother and I agree that, "Because of these canon moments. It's very clear that Katsuki have the role kinda like the love interests of the mc. Heck, the pining is so clear! Those BKDK shippers are really onto something." 🤩🤣
And that is why, I became BKDK shipper since 2022. My brother is not a shipper but an ally. So, you can imagine how shock we were when we read the epilogue! So agree with your post about the ending.
I found you because of your Hanakotoba of various anime/donghua. Thanks for sharing those beautiful posts. I never knew how important the meaning of the flowers. I also surprised when reading the posts about Fruits Basket, Gintama and Apothecary Diaries (these three have become my all time fav ever)....🥰😊😆
My friend asked me, how come I ship BakuDeku and not NaruSasu shipper? Honestly, I'm confused on how to answer that myself. Until I found your answer to why you love Naruto and Sasuke's dynamics but not shipping them. That's exactly what I feel, too.
It's also hard for me to start shipping them or seeing their bond as romantic.
I said that, but I'm not a fan of Naruto/Hinata or Sasuke/Sakura. I can't really explain (sorry cause I'm bad at explaining). But I just don't feel anything for the canon main ships.
Sorry for my rambling, feel free to skip the above because below are my questions for you.
1. What I want to ask, are, what made you love these ships? Why are they're special to you? For : BakuDeku, MinaKushi, ShikaTema?
2. If you were asked, what flowers that remind you of Bakugou and Midoriya, what would they be?
Note.
The last two are the only canon ships that I love from Naruto. For non canon, I ships Naruto/Sakura, Kakashi/Sakura (can you tell, how much I love Sakura? This is why I dislike how Sasuke treat her throughout the story), and Kiba/Hinata. Sorry for being random.
If you love the main canon ships, I hope you don't mind with what I said. Please, do know that I don't mean to bash any ships. They're all wonderful in their own way...
Hi! Thanks for sending in an ask... I'm so sorry that it's taken me this long to complete it.
I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but my first m/m ship was BakuDeku as well haha... So, I really relate to what you're saying... You're so correct about Katsuki filling many aspects of the role associated with the main heroine/love interest.
I'm just glad that the new special chapter relieved most of my dissatisfaction with the epilogue and helped to restore the confidence of many bakudeku shippers... Horikoshi essentially said that we should imagine things the way we want, and I'm going to take that to heart. No ships were made canon for Izuku or Katsuki, so we're all free to envision the ending that we all wish for... And that's the best outcome we could've gotten after the epilogue...
Wow! A fan of Fruits Basket, Gintama and Kusuriya no Hitorigoto?! You have immaculate taste; those three series are all in my top 10! I'm glad you enjoyed my hanakotoba posts... I put a lot of work into them, so it always makes me happy when I see others appreciating them. Sadly, I can't do them as often as I want since there isn't always material...
Honestly, I've been evaluating my feelings on this SasuNaru/NaruSasu a lot lately since it's come up in asks a lot lately... Even my tiktok fyp is filled with the "I can't defend Naruto/Sasuke anymore" type posts... The more I see clips of scenes of them, the more my heart wavers a little. So, at this point, I don't quite know whether I can only see them as a platonic duo or whether I've gradually come to ship them and am just in denial...
I get why people aren't fond of NaruHina or SasuSaku... I've been a Naruto fan for practically half of my life at this point, so my feelings have shifted a lot over time as well...
To put things into perspective, when I first started watching Naruto, my older brother lied to me and told me that NaruSaku was canon... Ten-year-old me, who wasn't yet aware of the concept of shipping and fandoms, was not at all happy about that lol... But I was gullible and took him at face value, so I never allowed myself to formulate my own opinions about shipping for the main trio to avoid the inevitable disappointment. This is why I gradually became much more focused on side couples like NejiTen and ShikaTema even though practically everyone else was concentrated on the four-sided battle between NaruHina, NaruSaku, SasuSaku and SasuNaru.
So, when NaruHina and SasuSaku became canon, I was surprised but decided to just roll with it and tried being optimistic about things... Though admittedly I grew fond of NaruHina primarily because of The Last Movie but was never as big of a fan of SasuSaku.
Over time as I watched more anime and have grown to realise that the intentional romance in the Naruto series for the most part isn't nearly as decent as I once thought it was... Consequently, I've come to like NaruHina, and by extension SasuSaku, less and less—which is why neither pairing is in my top 30 anymore.
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Anyways, I feel like I've already rambled too much and have yet to answer your actual questions...
[1.) What I want to ask, are, what made you love these ships? Why are they're special to you? For : BakuDeku, MinaKushi, ShikaTema?]
-> 1.1. BakuDeku
I honestly could write an entire paper about the intricacies of their dynamic, as well as how consistent and central their development is throughout the series... However, there are many posts on this topic made by others far more eloquent with words than I am—so, I'll mostly focus on why I'm infatuated with this ship.
As you know, BakuDeku is currently my second favourite ship, having formerly been my favourite for a considerable period. Although part of me was always drawn to their intriguingly complex dynamic, I only fully came around to the idea of them in a romantic context while watching season 3. Part of this shift can be attributed to my dissatisfaction with envisioning Uraraka as Izuku's love interest, given that Katsuki was the one who consistently fulfilled most of the key aspects of the role associated with the main heroine/love interest in shounen manga—a situation that especially reminded me of what happened with IchiRuki at the end of Bleach.
My favourite aspect of their dynamic is undoubtedly its focus on emotional depth and growth, in addition to their inherent natural chemistry. Throughout their turbulent relationship, Katsuki and Izuku have constantly gravitated towards one another. Katsuki has only disclosed his innermost insecurities to Izuku, while the latter has always reached out to Katsuki during his lowest points. In a similar vein, it is constantly noted that Katsuki is the closest person to Izuku and understands him best, which enables him to get through to Izuku during the latter's lowest points.
Throughout the series, it is often stated that Katsuki and Izuku are two sides of the same coin—that their seemingly opposed concepts of heroism are incomplete without the other. Only by learning from one another will they account for the flaws in their ideals and effectively embody the hero they both revere. In this sense, despite their differences, they do not contradict one another but instead accentuate each other's strengths while compensating for each other's respective weaknesses.
Another aspect of their dynamic I adore is their tendency to mirror each other, whether intentionally or inadvertently. For example, in chapter 285 (Katsuki Bakugou: Rising), Katsuki's body moves on its own to defend Izuku, putting himself in danger, exactly as Izuku did in chapter 1. Another reference to this is found in chapter 119 (Deku vs. Kacchan Part 2), where Izuku admits to himself that at times he can't help but emulate Katsuki when he finds himself yearning for victory.
-> 1.2) MinaKushi
Although many Naruto fans only regard MinaKushi as being the protagonist's parents, it is probably the best canonical ship in the Naruto series in terms of writing—which is why they're my favourite canonical ship within the series. While Minato is an incredibly popular and relevant character, Kushina is oftentimes overlooked—even though Minato and Kushina's narrative roles, character designs, and names/titles are greatly intertwined with each other.
While this pairing incorporates a few classic tropes, these tropes are implemented into their dynamic in a way that enhances their richness and strengthens their foundation. The way the Red String of Fate trope was incorporated into their narrative is probably my favourite aspect of this pairing.
Their presence in the series remains palpable in the way their son embodies their shared ideals. This adds to their richness, helping to make their narrative arc feel concise and fulfilling despite not getting a lot of screen time.
From a personal standpoint, their duality in terms of tone is deeply satisfying. Although their relationship and narrative role involve many serious themes, their dynamic has a humorous element created by their dynamic personalities. While their relationship was unquestionably fulfilling and secure, the tragedy of their early deaths imparts an element of angst and complexity.
-> 1.3) ShikaTema
Aside from NejiTen, ShikaTema was the only other pairing that I supported entirely on my own accord—rather than only supporting it after receiving canonical confirmation, as was the case with the others. This can be attributed not only to their instant natural chemistry, but also to the series' persistent, yet subtle hints—which go a long way in a shounen series that avoids overtly romantic displays.
They greatly complement each other with Temari's strong-willed and diligent personality bringing out a more determined and assertive side in the usually lazy and relaxed Shikamaru. Conversely, Temari oftentimes shows a gentler and less haughty side of herself while with Shikamaru.
Their dynamic is perfectly captured in their symbology, as Shikamaru is often symbolised with clouds while Temari is associated with wind. To explain more thoroughly, the title of episode 489 '風雲"—which contains the kanji for "cloud" and "wind" respectively—is a translates to "clouds appearing before the wind starts to blow" and is a phrase that implies that even although there is trouble ahead, something or someone will drive it away. Overall, this imagery suggests that any troubles on Shikamaru's mind will be swept away by Temari. This is made apparent when Temari shows up to rescue Shikamaru twice in the series.
Another amusing yet endearing aspect of this pairing is Shikamaru's frequent inadvertent comparison of their dynamic to his parents' relationship, despite his insistence that he has no interest in romance.
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[2.) If you were asked, what flowers that remind you of Bakugou and Midoriya, what would they be?]
This is a really interesting question... While both the BNHA anime and manga are filled with symbolism, the series isn't particularly rich in hanakotoba symbolism compared to other series. Despite this, Katsuki and Izuku have been repeatedly depicted alongside cherry blossom trees, which perfectly encapsulate the growth and development of their dynamic across the series. I'm planning to cover this in an individual post where I can fully elaborate. So, for brevity's sake, I'll refrain from repeating things here. Since their dynamic is so nuanced, there are many other flowers that I think could suit them as well...
That being said, to the best of my knowledge, neither character has been individually associated with a canonical flower. So, if I were to pick one for each of them, I'd pick chamomile for Izuku and gloriosa for Katsuki. I tried to take both colour and meaning into consideration when selecting, though I'm sure there might be something better suited that I might not know about.
A) Izuku Midoriya:
In Japan, chamomile flowers are called kamomīru (カモミール) and are associated with endurance and strength amidst adversity in hanakotoba. In Western floriography, they represent possessing patience and energy in adversity. The symbolism of the chamomile flower is primarily derived from its ability to persist when trampled on, as it continues to grow stronger as it is trodden on. The chamomile's symbolism greatly complements Izuku's enduring determination, empathy and resilience, which persist despite the challenges and obstacles he encounters.
B) Katsuki Bakugo:
The gloriosa lily's name―which is derived from the Latin word “gloriosus” meaning splendid―was inspired by its bright, fiery colouration and majestic, wave-like petals. In Japan, gloriosa lilies are known as gurorioosa (グロリオサ). They are associated with glory and bravery in hanakotoba. In Western floriography, they symbolise passion, purity, beauty and pride. The gloriosa's association with glory, bravery and passion greatly complement Katsuki's determination for victory and drive to succeed―while its symbolism of pride is a reference to Katsuki's superiority complex. Gloriosa are also known as flame lilies or fire lilies, which serves as a nod to Katsuki's fire-based, explosion ability.
