Discover Top Posts Tagged with #hamayū

Hair contrast duo

I didn’t realise that I’ve fallen into this trope for a few years now with my choice of character duos. Apologies for the images-heavy post.

A pair of characters (either rivals, best friends, siblings, lovers, or an otherwise closely-related duo) are given contrasting hair colors to signify their opposing world-views. The hair colors are usually blond and black or dark brown, but it can just as well be red and black, or blond and blue — the important bit is the contrast. Their respective personalities are then typically defined as follows:

The fair-haired partner is the "good" one: younger, bright, hopeful, enthusiastic, naïve, helpful, innocent, tends to follow the rules.

The dark-haired partner is the "bad" one: older, moody, testy, serious, cynical, often relishes in Angst and their Dark and Troubled Past, tends to break the rules and snap.

The attributes are sometimes the opposite. Nevertheless, the result is always their chemistry reaches the highest level of compatibility it gets hot in the room.

Of course, there is always a grey area and the tropes aren’t that true. All the time. But still, these are references.

I was trying to clean my hard drive and these images pop up that I decided to give them a proper post I could remember all the time.

These pairs aren’t enough. They are the only ones on top of my head right now.

Hamayū 1911

Geigi (geisha) Hamayū of the Shinbashi geisha district in Tokyo. In a nod to her professional name (Seashore Courage), she is posed on a studio beach. Dated 1911 on the reverse.

#Hamayū #japan #fashion #japanese #kimono #geisha #1910s #geigi #shinbashi #tokyo

The ending art illustrations in Yatagarasu with The four consorts Hamayū, Masuho no Susuki, Shiratama, Asebi So pretty.🫶🏻💐🌸🦋🫧

烏は主を選ばない #yatagarasu

From Yatagarasu anime character designer Takumo Norita:

A request I got some time ago: Disguised Wakamiya

The time when we realised that Wakamiya/Nazukihiko loved to disguise himself from the 18th episode, “The World Outside.”

#Takumo Norita #yatagarasu #the raven does not choose its master #karasu wa aruji wo erabanai #episode 18 #would it be considered now a fan art?#art #yukiya #wakamiya #nazukihiko #hamayū #poor #sumio #kikuno #masuho no susuki

The Mistress of the House, Lady Hamayū, Manga vs Anime vs the Original Work

In the oldest memory of Hamayū, there is the sound of a biwa. With a gentle smile, my mother played her instrument. And, just like my mother, my father smiled as he held me, listening to the sound of the biwa. Outside the cool arbor, light overflowed, and the flowers shone brilliantly. Both my father and mother looked very happy, and I myself was extremely delighted. That is why this scene is etched in my heart as the happiest memory. It was a garden that my father had created for my mother. Knowing that the lady of the house loved beautiful flowers, merchants competed to bring rare flowers... There were pale pink peaches with so many flowers that the branches bent under their weight. Double-flowered morning glories in a pale purple, like the dawn sky. Chrysanthemums larger than my face, perfectly round and golden. Camellias so richly dark red that they appeared almost black. As I learned to speak, I also learned the names of the flowers. It was far more enjoyable to be led by my mother, learning the names of each flower, than to be confined in a dark room playing with dolls.

An excerpt from the short story, “Sumi no Sakura,” written by Chisato Abe

#yatagarasu #chisato abe #ravens shouldn’t wear kimono #hamayū #karasu wa aruji wo erabanai #the raven does not choose its master #karasu ni hitoe wa niawanai #a raven for all seasons #natsumi matsuzaki #pierrot #the princesses edition #Yatagarasu icons

Mangaka Natsumi Matzusaki has offered again to make both of their mangas available to read as part of the promotion upon releasing the sixth volume of “The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master” with Yukiya on the cover putting on his personal attendant sash of Wakamiya/Nazukihiko, which will be released on the 23rd of March.

(Their fates are intertwined…)

#yatagarasu #the raven does not choose its master #a raven for all seasons #natsumi matsuzaki #chisato abe #yukiya #wakamiya #hamayū #masuho no susuki #shiratama #asebi #read them /adore them until the offers last #manga panels #Lord Gen’ya #can’t wait.

Missing Yukiya & Wakamiya and the gang times again…

Sharing Chisato Abe’s Q&As from years ago and with some of them are now included in the fan book. They first appeared on Bunshu’s Yatagarasu official X Twitter account (2016 to 2020) . This is going to be long so brace yourselves.

1. The characters’ heights according to Chisato Abe:

Yukiya (in his first appearance) was smaller than Masuho no Susuki, who is, in turn, smaller than Sumio, who is way smaller than Hamayū while she, Wakamiya and Yukiya (during his graduation from Keisoin) have now the same height. Yet, the three are incomparable to Lord Natsuka, who is taller, but Rokon/Michika is the tallest of them all.

This seems about right. Wakamiya experienced an early growth spurt, so I think he was already close to 175 cm at the age of 17.

2. Creating Yukiya’s character:

Initially, he was a minor character meant to be beaten nearly to death by a mountain god. By chance, after giving him the name "Yukiya," he unexpectedly asserted himself strongly, leading to another character taking on that role. Thus, Yukiya was born as a separate personality and became a main character.

3. The characters’ favourite foods

Wakamiya doesn’t particularly have a special fondness for candied kumquats, but rather enjoys making it. He doesn’t have strong likes or dislikes (and doesn’t quite understand his own preferences), but he tends to find satisfaction in preparing elaborate dishes. (Must be due to his stint in the Outside World. I still stand by my head canon that he was a former apprentice in a restaurant.)

Below are the other characters’ main likes and dislikes.

Favorite things...

Asebi: Sweet snacks

Hamayū: Alcohol

Masuho no Susuki : Lychee (from the outside world)

Shiratama: Garden-harvested cornelian cherry

Sumio: Ramen (from the outside world)

Yukiya: Meat dishes / plum

Lord Natsuka : Cucumber

Rokon/Michika: None in particular

Disliked things...

Asebi: Spicy food

Hamayū: Raw eggs

Masuho no Susuki: Vinegared dishes

Shiratama: Expensive sugar confections

Sumio: Sweetly seasoned side dishes

Yukiya: live cicada (from the short story)

Lord Natsuka: Shiitake mushrooms

Rokon/Michika: None in particular

“There might be more in the future, but this is all we know for now.”

4. All about Yukiya.

- After graduating from Keisoin, he briefly returned to Taruhi, but didn’t stay longer.

- During long vacation from Keisoin, “He does make appearances at Sunrise Palace and visit his family home, but I don't think he would be able to relax either way. He probably always had some errands to run, flying around within the mountain territory.”

- During his service under Wakamiya, he never received any compensation. “Close attendants do not receive a salary. They live and eat at the Sunrise Palace, but it is essentially an honorable position with no pay.”

- Yukiya’s “tactics study discussion.”

It is a study group set up by Yukiya to draw in those he has his eye on. They conduct board game training and tactical theory discussions, but since Yukiya takes them out for drinks with his pocket money and offers career advice (which serves as guidance) (Yukiya is a nice boss!), he has a fairly good reputation among juniors. However, since Yukiya is not good at teaching others, it actually serves more as a skill-up opportunity for those who can at least understand Yukiya's words rather than supplementary lessons.

- Yukiya “was born in spring, so at the time of his first appearance in Volume 2 during New Year’s, he is thirteen years old. By the time he briefly appears in Volume 1, he has turned fourteen. At the beginning of Volumes 3 and 4, he is fifteen, in the final chapter of Volume 4, he is eighteen, and in Volume 5, he is just said to be over twenty years old.”

- Yukiya recommended Ichiryū to be one of Wakamiya’s bodyguards (Yamauchi-shu) despite graduating second to the last at the Keisoin Academy.

5. Yukiya and Wakamiya

- Kumquats

At first, Yukiya didn’t know where Wakamiya got the kumquats, but those are actually prepared by Wakamiya himself. Since the quantity is limited, they’re a rare item that only a few people close to Wakamiya can enjoy.

- In the novel and the manga, it was shown that Yukiya grounded the ink on his first day as an attendant to Wakamiya.

Since it would be a waste, Wakamiya used it properly for purposes other than the assignment.

6. The characters’ alcohol tolerance.

First, Hamayū, Rokon, and Yukiya are extremely strong contenders. Rokon and Yukiya can hardly distinguish between alcohol and water, and Hamayū not only has high tolerance but also simply enjoys drinking, making it a fun experience.

Wakamiya is normally strong (to the extent of being able to join Hamayū’s evening drinks), as is Lord Natsuka, while Sumio is average. Masuho, who hasn't drunk much in the first place, doesn't really know if she is a strong or weak drinker.

7. Yukiya and Yukimasa.

- From Yukiya's perspective, the portrayal tends to focus on his father’s shortcomings, but Yukimasa was originally a young man skilled in martial arts and not lacking in intelligence, so Genya liked him. In fact, if he hadn't been dragged into the issues of the central and four families, there would have been no problem with Yukimasa becoming a village chief.

- Yukimasa, rather than handsome (ikemen), perhaps he’s more of a muscular, dashing man. Yukiya inherited some of his physique from his father, but on the contrary, that's about all he resembles him, as he mostly takes after his mother. Fuyuki was originally a woman with a very indifferent attitude towards romance, but after meeting Yukimasa, she seemed like a changed person. Whether this was good or bad for her... Someday, I might write about this in a short story.(Refer to “Thinking of Fuyuki.”)

- When Yukiya decided to enter Keisoin after pledging to Wakamiya, there was no more point of doing the charade.

“There's no benefit in pretending to be a foolish second son anymore. So, he probably just told them the truth before leaving.”

Lastly, Chisato declared that “Yukiya is, no matter how hard he tries, just an atmospheric handsome guy to me,” after a reader made a gushing comment that Yukiya, who was growing up to be a fine young man, was making their heart race.

All illustrations from Natsumi Matsuzaki

There are a few more…

#yatagarasu #the raven does not choose its master #karasu wa aruji wo erabanai #yatagarasu series #chisato abe #yatagarasu q&a #natsumi matsuzaki #yukiya #wakamiya #sumio #Lord Natsuka #rokon #Hamayū #asebi #shiratama #masuho no susuki #Yatagarasu character profiles #kinda

Infiltration

Written for @flashfictionfridayofficial using the prompt FFF337 - sweeter than candy and @fluffbruary ’s December 14 : portrait | ephemera | wings the continuation of the Yatagarasu AU I am working on. This time the focus is on the ladies.

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Fandom: Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master

Characters: Hamayū, Masuho no Susuki, Karamushi, Lord Tōru

Word count: 1018 (whew!)

THE PLAN was supposed to be relatively easy, said Hamayū’s uncle. Blend in with the princesses, act like them, talk like them. Behave as natural as possible. No weirdness. No stupidity. In the end, when you earn their respect, bewitch them all. Then assassinate the crown prince. The last step: install her uncle as the prime minister, the One who would lead the 100 officials.

“As if it were easy as 1-2-3.” Hamayū thought as she and the other candidates introduced themselves in front of the reigning empress, who was hidden behind the bamboo curtain. No one knew the difficulties Hamayū suffered after her 13th birthday. She was in hiding until Lord Tōru’s ravens found her in the Outside World. No, she was forced to come out when she discovered that her real father was still alive: her uncle’s blackmail.

“Come, my niece, this is your last chance.” He seemed to be saying when she kneeled in front of him. He didn’t have any wife nor children, but he needed someone like Hamayū, who he adopted as a chick after her parents were accused of killing the crown prince’s mother. Then later her mother was beheaded and her father imprisoned. There were rumours that Lord Tōru’s lack of interest to get married was borne out of frustration with his own family. Though one could see that the empress doted on him, the youngest sibling. Some said their relationship was too close for comfort.

“Indecent” was how her personal attendant Karamushi would describe it.

“May I help you, Lady Hamayū? Have you anything to say to me?” It was not aggressive, but it certainly was not friendly. The way her voice sounded was devoid of emotion. Is she that cold? “I am just admiring the view.” “I beg your pardon?” The Princess of the West’s sparkling eyes turned wide open. The white around the iris was so visible shocking Hamayū with delight. She winked at her to diffuse the tension. Usually girls in the Outside World found it charming, a way to break the ice, to gauge if they were interested or not. “I wonder if we can be friends.” Hamayū admired the luscious red hair enveloping the lady’s heart-shaped face. A pity that she wore a thick makeup. “Time will tell if we will. But as princesses of our respective houses vying for Wakamiya’s love, we must show our effort to be respectful to one another.” Bravo! It wasn’t as if Hamayū forgot her good breeding but she spent years in the mountains and then in the Outside World where customs and etiquette at the Court was simply a thing of the past. But it didn’t deter her for disliking Lady Masuho, who didn’t go away from her. “Have you spoken to the other ladies? I heard that your travel was delayed for a day.” “I haven’t. I am grateful for the empress for postponing the introduction today.” Lord Tōru detained Hamayū after he discovered that she found the way to talk to her father and he reprimanded her niece because of it. “Have you any thoughts of the others?” Hamayū asked the Lady Masuho. “They are all young Yatagarasu women who aspire to become Wakamiya’s consort.” Hamayū covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. If Lady Masuho had noticed it she chose to ignore it instead. It was time to plan their moves. A headache began to settle in. “If you’d excuse me, Lady Masuho,” Hamayū bent her head. Masuho’s disappointment was registered on her face prompting the princess of the South to backtrack a little bit. “I am glad that you like my company. Maybe we can talk again later. I am quite exhausted from the journey. I don’t feel quite well.” Hamayū touched her head to emphasise it. “Absolutely. I am going to hold an afternoon tea. If you’d be so inclined. A formal invitation will be sent to your mansion later.” “I am waiting for it.”