As a Karmanami shipper, there’s one headcanon I’m really attached to.
Karma never meant to get attached to Okuda.
At first, he just thought she was interesting and useful. Her skills could benefit him, so he approached her—not to take advantage of her (he does have ethics… kind of), but to ask for help with his pranks and schemes.
What he didn’t account for was who Okuda actually is.
She’s kind, gentle, innocent—quietly endearing in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s hard not to find her cute. And, without realizing it, that got to Karma.
Where other girls might have A) run away, B) judged him, or C) fawned over him, Okuda simply smiled at him softly. She treated him the same way she’d treat anyone else, with calm kindness. That was a first for Karma—especially coming from someone as shy and small as Okuda. He’d honestly expected her to freak out. Part of him even thought it might be fun to scare her a little.
But she didn’t.
She was surprised, maybe a bit uncomfortable at first, but not scared. And as they talked, she grew more confident, already treating him like a friend. Okuda is far too trusting for this world.
That unsettled him.
Somehow, she became more interesting.
Since she agreed to help him with chemical mixtures and such, he started hanging around after class while she worked in the lab. When they were alone like that, he talked. And one day, without realizing it, he drifted into something personal.
By the time he noticed his guard had slipped, it was too late. He looked at her, expecting judgment.
There was none.
She just smiled, offered advice, reassured him. Seeing the worry on his face, she promised she wouldn’t tell anyone.
So he came back.
Whenever he could, he followed her to the lab after class. He talked about whatever crossed his mind, or listened to her ramble—something he found surprisingly soothing. Her voice was soft and calm, and those moments slowly became the highlight of his days.
By then, he trusted her completely. She knew far too much about him. Still, he refused to admit that their bond was anything more than poison and friendship.
Because he’d never felt like this before.
And maybe that scared him.
He started asking her to hang out on weekends and during holidays—just the two of them. To him, it was still friendship.
They texted often. Random things: a new place he wanted to check out, a terrible day he needed to complain about. She’d text him about a cute cat she saw on the way home, or how Kayano teased her that day.
Lunch breaks. Walking home. Weekends.
They grew close, slowly and naturally. Nothing romantic. Really.
The closest thing to romance was him resting his head in her lap, or her holding onto him so he wouldn’t slip on the ice in winter.
Nothing more.
Until Koro-sensei’s death.
After leaving their old school, it was time to say goodbye. Okuda hugged him, told him she’d had an amazing year, admitted she was sad they wouldn’t be in the same class anymore, and said she hoped they’d still see each other often.
It hit him hard.
That was when he realized—maybe, just maybe—he wanted more than friendship.
So he hugged her back.
As for Okuda, she was just being kind the whole time. She’s clueless about these things—or maybe in denial of her own feelings. To her, it probably feels impossible that a boy could like her that way. She’s too nerdy, too ordinary.
Okuda san Miguel's distinctive style of geometric harmonies emboldened with intense colors can make his artworks feel like they’re from a parallel universe. In his work, rainbow geometric architectures blend with organic shapes, bodies without identity, headless animals and symbols that encourage reflection in artistic pieces that could be categorized as Pop Surrealism with a clear essence of street forms. His works often raise questions about existentialism, the universe, the infinite, the meaning of life, and the contradictions of society’s false freedom, showing a conflict between modernity and our roots; ultimately, between man and the same.
Currently on view at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles, California is the group exhibition, “I Don’t Wanna Be, I Am,” curated by Ink and Movement.
“I Don’t Wanna Be, I Am” is a collective and itinerant exhibition that brings together the work of different artists under one roof. Creators who, despite their distinctive backgrounds and uniquely individual work, share an encompassing creative vision. The exhibition explores the concept of identity within the context of the international art world and is born from the necessity to approach new codes, new spaces, and new interaction methods inside the universe of contemporary creation without hesitation. The result is an exhibition that is open to multiple interpretations and for all audiences, offering the opportunity to contemplate individual and collective creative identities. The show also has a social objective: a percentage of the sales obtained in this exhibition will be used to fund the activities of Coloring the World Foundation, whose mission is to promote a diverse and inclusive society through art and color. I Don’t Wanna Be, I Am debuted in Hamburg, Germany (Sept. ‘21), followed by Miami, Florida (Dec. ’21) and Lisbon, Portugal (Mar. ’22). After exhibiting at CHG, the tour heads to Dubai, UAE this October.
Golden Kamuy - Kikuta really deserved better [part 2] 277-279.
Can you tell by my title that I’m a fan of Kikuta and I have some choice words for Noda? Chapter 277 starts out with an introduction to the regional politics of Meiji era Japan. The entire political shift occurred with the marriage of convenience between Choushuu and Satsuma (the Sat-Chou alliance) and how that is playing out in government and the military. With Hanazawa on the Satsuma side a commanding officer is having Tsurumi deal with the damage control. That being Lt. General Okuda (and Kikuta’s boss)
He discloses how he’s the person who helped to cover up the scandal for Hanazawa and more of the regional politics comes into play as he pulls Tsurumi into this.
Recall that Tsurumi is from Niigata and we know he is from a family that lost power and wealth due to political changes. He assumes that of course Tsurumi would hold a grudge towards those from the Sat-Chou alliance. Usami is also from a fallen samurai family in Niigata and we know that Ogata is from Ibaraki and also from a samurai family on the losing side. Tsukishima is from the island of Sado where unwanted people were dumped in Niigata so he is also an outsider. We learn of his ‘true’ feelings as the tells his core group his opinion on things.
I love how we get unhinged Tsurumi calling it all a farce and he’s over Central. But most importantly Okuda confirmed his own intel about the gold he learned while in Russia at some point in time. His gold plan can slowly move along. So Tsurumi becomes in the Hanazawa scandal cover up looking for the young 2nd Lt. and Kikuta, working under Okuda’s direct orders.
Despite his best efforts, Kikuta’s plan is revealed by a secretary at the Military Academy, while we know that Sugimoto and Kikuta are en route to the engagement dinner.
Hanazawa panics and sprints out to determine what is happening. Right on his tail is Tsurumi and his key team of Ogata, Tsukishima and Usami. Clearly this is going to become a huge mess. The next few pages are amusing, but really don’t add value to the plot. I am impressed that Kaeko has an excellent plot to get Sugimoto naked and I commend her efforts! GK is never short of strong female characters. Who enjoy sex.
This sets up a hilarious moment where he’s naked and trapped in a bedroom while she leverages the potential scandal to her advantage. By that point Tsurumi has caught up to them. What is most interesting is when Usami addresses Ogata as Hyakunnosuke and asks him what he thinks about meeting his brother. It is clear this isn’t out of concern from Usami’s part, we know he hates Ogata to his very core.
But as usual, Ogata doesn’t respond and we just see only a part of his eyes, not even a glance of his lips to give us an idea of what he’s thinking.
Kaeko and Sugimoto continue to talk as she reveals what she knows from Hanazawa Hiro. She had been a nurse during the first Sino-Japanese war so it has allowed her to reflect on the impact of war on individual soliders.
This tells us a few things; Hiro’s patriotism is more nuanced. If she were being selfish and just saying she doesn’t want her son to go off to war without experience it, that would be one thing. Instead, she knows being a military spouse first hand what happens - no one could say she didn’t do her own duty and go likely above and beyond. Ultimately, she wants to protect her son from her own experiences and observations and be a mother.
Sugimoto then realizes he needs to bail and leaves poor Kikuta confused. And then bam! The 27th is there.
Of course this leads to the most Sugimoto situation of all time! Tsurumi threatens Kaeko with his handgun and Ogata asks where Yuusaku is. Of course Sugimoto flies out of the bathroom naked sans Kikuta’s hat and Ogata is just amused beyond belief.
This would be complete if he were relaxed eating a box of popcorn or something like that. 278 continues this absolute chaos and lots of fan service for Miss Kaeko! I really don’t think the fight scene needs much meta. Ogata just finds it amusing (and btw sucks at hand to hand combat) while Usami rumbles with Sugimoto. Tsurumi realizes he’s not Yuusaku and Kikuta rushes in and gets shot in the shoulder by Tsukishima.
Somehow, Kikuta is able to get the rest of them to flee but not without running into the actual Hanazawa Yuusaku. Awkward. Tsurumi only then realizes that Kikuta was doing his job and they run out into the street.
Kaeko tries her best to convince Sugimoto to marry her. Granted he is a very heroic figure and he fought to protect her. However, reality wouldn’t allow that to happen and Sugimoto decides to join the army - thinking he won’t starve that way.
Kikuta looks so sad and disappointed when he hears this.
He’s definitely thinking of his younger brother who died b/c he told him to join the army with him. I loved the fact that we learn that Kaeko got to be a successful woman who was also compassionate to others.
There is a quick exchange that shows the first encounter between Ogata and Yuusaku. Yuusaku notices Ogata and salutes him as a cadet.
Ogata doesn’t even return the salute and he look he gives him out of the corner of his eyes. What is he thinking? I’d say Yuusaku doesn’t know who Ogata even is. But something has him very suspicious to be this leery of him. This also makes me think of this previous encounter between Koito and Ogata in chapter 200.
This time Ogata is bolder when he walks by Koito who is also currently still in the Army Academy. Except unlike Yuusaku who doesn’t seem to pick up on Ogata’s vibes, Koito does! And the two of them stare each other down. I think that this in part shows that Koito has more innate awareness of things and could be considered more of a ‘natural’ in the military. Which Yuusaku isn’t. We have no evidence Yuusaku has any sort of military talent or skills.
The chapter ends with Kikuta asking Sugimoto if he’s serious about joining the military and how he’s already fated to go to hell based on what he’s done in his life. 279 continues the conversation between Kikuta and Sugimoto and he flat out tells Sugimoto about how his brother died of illness in the army during the Sino-Japanese war.
Sugimoto then becomes Kikuta’s younger brother telling him that it is time to move on. This continues the trend in GK where a character that is speaking becomes someone else to the listener.
This is most evident with Asirpa when she becomes Yuusaku on more than one occasion to Ogata.
But this facial expression from Kikuta [sobs].
No wonder Kikuta worked so hard to save Ariko’s life! He can’t just always be responsible for the deaths of others.
Sugimoto convinces Kikuta that he’ll be alright in the army and he relents and lets him keep the cap. This shows that Kikuta has moved on from the death of his brother - a big deal! In an unusual way, Sugimoto has helped Kikuta move on and take the next step in the healing process.
Kikuta reports to his commander in the 1st. Okuda wants him to keep an eye on Tsurumi. Obviously, he knows now that Tsurumi interfered with Kikuta’s plans for Hanazawa rather heavy-handedly so he would need someone else to balance it out.
It then reveals that Ogata is also working for Okuda in the 1st. This explains why when the two of them crossed paths in the brewery they did not engage but nor did they appear to exchange any information.
I can’t help but feel like something is still off with this. Ogata does have skills from working in intelligence with Tsurumi. He’s observant, makes himself invisible and can get others to talk easily. But Ogata being a 100% willing spy - it seems like he wants something else out of this. Kikuta’s character screams secret agent - but Ogata, he’s something else. I’m not sure if Ogata’s choice to be a spy on Tsurumi was a real choice.
When Ogata and Tsukishima had their shoot out in Yubari at Edogai’s, Tsukishima told him he was a pet cat for Central. Ogata replied that they were part of a rebel element. We know that Ogata was working with Tamai at the beginning of the manga. I struggle to see how Ogata has loyalty to anyone honestly. He seems to be moving throughout this game with again his own mysterious objective. Ogata is cynical and has no belief in the nation state nor does he harbor any sort of deep patriotism towards Imperial Japan.
Since Okuda is friends with Hanazawa and is based in Tokyo, he may have known Ogata since his birth and has kept tabs on him after the Ogata grandparents took him back to Ibaraki with his mom. Ogata’s existence might be a sort of trump card that Okuda is keeping . . . but others found out as well like Tsurumi. Did Okuda have Ogata tell or leak information that Ogata is Hanazawa’s first son?
The chapter jumps to the 203 meter hill in the war and we see Yuusaku fallen on the battlefield. Ogata watches from distance, his face cut off while other members of the 27th run out to help Yuusaku.
This finally reveals Yuusaku’s eyes! Not the anticipated reveal - I kept thinking this was something that Ogata was going to see but it shows us clear eyes. Which look sort of similar to Asirpa’s eyes.
So many thoughts are jumping around in my brain about this reveal.
1.) These eyes are not the ‘trademark’ Hanazawa eyes. Dark black orbs with those eyebrows! This indicates his eyes aren’t from his father.
Seeing this, I can’t help but think that Yuusaku is not Hanazawa’s son. Instead, Hiro had an affair with someone else. A major theme in GK is that the children inherit the skills of their parents. Asirpa is able to do many things as she inherited the intelligence of Wilk. And that Ogata is the true inheritor of Hanazawa’s military skills.
Recall this from chapter 58. Ogata leads the crappy local gang against Hijikata and acts like a commander.
We know that Tsurumi’s lie about Ogata wanting to avenge Hanazawa is to keep Nikaido in the dark.
This would also explain why everything we learn about Yuusaku is terrible at military things. If he also isn’t Hanazawa’s son it would make it even more reason for Hiro to try to prevent him from entering the military since he’s not even genetically related to this great line of Hanazawas.
I wish we knew more about the Ogata side of things - I think we’ll also learn that the Ogata side had competent military men on it as well.
2.) Yuusaku’s eyes are the same as Asirpa’s and indicate their sort of innocence. In this case, it would perfectly explain why Ogata sees Yuusaku instead of Asirpa when he has the fever and then the melt down on the ice floe. Yuusaku kept himself naive and innocent to meet his father’s expectations. A man who I don’t think is even his father at this moment.
Therefore, Ogata’s guilt on killing Yuusaku is tied to his sort of innocence in these situations and why he can’t seem to shake his mental confusion when it comes to Asirpa. However, unlike Yuusaku, Asirpa has never forced herself on him to do things or guilt tripped him so it leaves things open for him to not link her to Yuusaku.
3.) Yuusaku was going to blow Ogata’s cover working for Okuda. Now that we know that Ogata was working for Okuda while in the 27th it means he’d have to keep his role quiet. If Yuusaku found out that Ogata was working for Okuda, I could see him going to Tsurumi and telling him this information. Therefore, to protect his status, Ogata used this as his rationale to kill Yuusaku on the battle field. I have never figured out if Ogata was nudged to kill Tsurumi by his ‘don’t kill him right now.’ comment as one of Tsurumi’s backwards motivations that lead Ogata to directly killing him.
So many possibilities! I want more Ogata backstory dammit!
Anyhoo, to not make this meta super long let’s get back to the action.
Asirpa begins working out how to try to break the code. Hijikata notes that Wilk could have used something other than kanji, since he’d know the Latin alphabet for Polish and Cyrillic for Russian. Shiraishi makes a clear point that this could be a message from Wilk towards her, though it feels like he’s channeling Kiro. Out of many of the Japanese characters Shiraishi time and time again comes out much more sympathetic to the minorities than others.
Asirpa begins to wonder how the coin is linked to the skins. She’s thinking things through and is on her way to solving the puzzle.
After saving Ariko, Kikuta is returning to Tsurumi’s group in the church. Oh Roger, this is why I love you so much.
Look at that smirk with a slightly watery eye. At the same time Tsurumi is also looking at the coin and realizes he’s figured it out.
Kikuta approaches the rest of the group and comments on if he’s found the location. Tsurumi states that things are just getting started. He casually pulls out his gun and fires two shots into Kikuta at point blank range.
And with this I am deeply saddened and shocked. How dare you do that to Kikuta!!! He was my Kiro replacement and now he’s also going to die.
First Boutarou died and now Kikuta. [cries]. We know that Tsurumi is a shinigami but this is just brutal. The bear death trio died early on in the manga. Ogata escaped. Kikuta now is the next link to Central that goes down.
