#mameji

[recurring-polynya]

inuzuri gremlin squad

[missstormcaller]

Rukia and Renji's childhood friends - Info from BLEACH JET Booklet [Translation]

Here is my translation of Kubo’s character sheet for Renji and Rukia’s childhood friends. I know a lot of people have always wanted to know their names but I think no one had shared this information among the western fanbase yet!

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Once the outcome of the battle between Ichigo and Renji had been determined, chapter 98 is where Renji entrusts Ichigo with the rescue of Rukia. This is the character sheet of the three childhood friends who appeared in Renji's recollections during that moment. Character names, traits and so on are revealed to the world for the first time!

(From left to right)

藤丸 - Fujimaru

He is the tallest of the group.

Has a strong sense of responsibility and is the witty one.

小三郎 - Kosaburou

Quiet.

He is a hard worker despite his appearance.

マメ次 - Mameji

Is usually the butt of the joke.

Timid but good with numbers.

Translator’s Notes:

I believe Mameji gets his name from the fact that he’s small! ‘Mame’ is often used in Japanese for small things.

[missmyloko]

Loss of a Legend

Although this happened back in January it’s only been officially confirmed now as images of the paperwork have finally surfaced. Mameji (豆爾) of Arai (新井) in Gion Kobu has retired from the profession. This likely explains why Mameroku was allowed to have her erikae at what basically amounted to the last minute as Mameji will now be dedicating herself to running the okiya full time. 

[recurring-polynya]

I think you should draw some Inuzuri faces the group might make while playing street futsal. You can get a wide range of dramatic expressions out of some youth sports.

🥅⚡Y O U T H 🔥⚽🔥S P O R T S ⚡🥅

*Before anyone gets on me: Renji is playing goalie, that's why he's using his hands

I know you said faces but I decided to do poses because I am insane. I almost gave up when I remembered that no one has shoes in Inuzuri and I was going to have to draw toes, but I persevered. It turned out to be a really great exercise, and these came out surprisingly good??? I also really enjoyed the opportunity to practice, um, whatever you call motion lines and explosions and stuff. Storytelling elements. Anyway, thanks so much for the suggestion!!

As a bonus, here's a scrap of street football fanfic from my failed attempt to rewrite anime episode 32 from Rukia's point of view, because doing this reminded me that it existed and there's no way it's gonna see the light of day otherwise:

The strip of battered stalls that passed for a market usually shut down in the early evening, leaving an empty stretch of packed dirt street just right for football. Inuzuri streetball was played challenge-style, where you showed up with your squad of five and took your turn trying to knock out the defending champs.

Rukia managed to talk her way into a group that needed a fifth. “We ain’t much good,” warned their leader, a tall, axe-faced girl named Moeka.

“That’s okay,” Rukia agreed. “I am.”

The girl snorted, and jerked a thumb towards the team on the field that was already creaming its opponents, even though they, too, seemed to lack a fifth. “We’ll see. It’s rare to see anyone score on Abarai and his guys unless they get real tired or one of the gangs of older kids shows up.”

When it was their turn, Rukia reported to the center of the field for the face off. It was against the tall kid with the scar, Fujimaru. “Hey, it’s you, again!” he greeted cheerfully.

“Don’t mess around, Fujimaru!” Renji hollered from back between the busted barrels that served as improvised goalposts. “Get your game face on!”

The ball--which was actually just a sack stuffed with rags--dropped, and Rukia immediately snagged it and passed it back to one of her teammates. He was a little kid with a runny nose, and he juggled the ball awkwardly, barely getting off a pass to Moeka before Mameji was on him. 

Despite their clumsiness at burglary, these boys worked like a well-oiled machine on the field. If they’d had a fifth man, there was no way Rukia would have managed to make a wild duck around Kosaburou, shouting for a through-pass. Once she had the ball, their chances were up.

Rukia barreled forward at top speed, and slammed a firm shot toward the right side of the goal.

It was a killer shot. The air shimmered around the ball as it screamed toward the goal. A murmur rippled through the crowd of onlookers.

And then there was a loud thwack as the ball smashed into Renji’s outstretched hands, and a louder thump as his body landed on the dirt.

Rukia skidded to a halt, mouth agape.

“Whooo-oa!” one of Rukia’s teammates moaned, breaking the silence.

“Way to go, Renji!” Mameji hooted.

“That was awesome!” Kosaburou added. “Sorry I let her get around me!”

“I keep tellin’ you, you gotta keep your head on a swivel,” Renji grunted, hefting himself to his feet and brushing the dirt off his knees.

Rukia just stared at him. Was he not going to say anything? 

Renji tossed the ragball back to the kid who was acting as ref. “Oi, what’re we waiting for? The sun’ll go down!”

“That was an amazing shot,” Moeka congratulated Rukia. “You can play with our squad whenever you like.”

A strangled growl was all Rukia could manage in return.

[haunted-kumanosuke]

Posting pictures of Ashley until they get anything/until I forget: Day 292!

[geimei]

December 2014: Senior Geiko Mameji, the okaasan of the Arai okiya of Gion Kobu.

While a lot of Geiko retire before they become the proprietress of an okiya or ochaya, Mameji-san chose to also continue her work as a Geiko.

The Arai okiya currently has three members: Geiko Mameji, Maiko Mameroku and Maiko Mamechika.

Source: kwcphoto

[geisha-kai]

Kotohajime 2015: Arai okiya family - maiko Mamechika, Mameroku and okasan Mameji (SOURCE)

[okiya]

Arai Okiya (Gion Kobu)

*Updated*

Natori Geiko (and okasan) Mameji

Maiko Mameroku

Mameji and Mameroku during Hatsuyori

List of okiya featured on this tumblr