#suo theory

[steaku]

but that's just a theory! a suo theory!

[stuck-in-the-castle-of-sand]

SUO HAYATO ANALYSIS AND THEORY ABOUT THE "SYMBOLISMS" OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH HIM!!🫖🎐🍂

(reposting from my twt acc with revisions)

Haven't seen many people talk about the "symbolisms" that are VERY often used with suo and the objects+beings he's associated with in merch line ups, official illustrations and winhero cards so I'm taking it upon myself to discuss it and here we go!

One *very* important thing to note here is that most of the time, one concept he's been highly associated with is *REBIRTH*. There are a lot of meanings and symbolisms that have been played at with suo in official through the objects or organisms they use with him but among all those meanings, there is one connection. one common point. One meaning being symbolised over and over and it is REBIRTH. now I can be crazy but with this many instances I can't think of it as just smth done on a whim or without a deeper meaning or foreshadowing.

◉ The recent seasons illustration:

Because of the recent chapters I'll begin by mentioning the meaning behind the tree often associated with nirei, which is, the "ginkgo tree" that boasts its bright beautiful yellow leaves during the autumn season, which is nirei's season. It is being used as the background in this illustration too, representing autumn like in nirei's name, "aki" (秋) in akihiko.

◉ ginkgo leaves symbolize "longevity, resilience, and prosperity". In Japan, the ginkgo tree is considered sacred and revered for its ENDURING nature, representing the "ability to survive" through HARDSHIP. And that is literally nirei. No matter the hardships or the situation, nirei has always survived. He is determined and strong and his resilience, his endurance is unmatched. He never gives up. Despite the difference in physical strength in fights, he never once backs down and shows strength when everyone else feels hopeless, when everyone else feels lost, when everyone else needs support, a shoulder to lean on. Despite him being the 'weaker' one, he gives strength to others and supports them, showing strength in adverse times. Even among everyone at furin, he is one of if not the most "resilient". And this is why kiryu sakura and suo respect and admire him. Ginkgo trees, in the past, survived the hiroshima bombing in japan and grew which made them a powerful symbol of resilience, peace, and renewal. They are known as hibakujumoku (survivor trees). Ginkgo also represents "strength in adversity". Which is the very core of nirei.

This perfect symbolism representing these meanings associated with nirei is also what makes me think that the symbolisms associated with suo are not just an unintentional coincidence.

And so we move on to suo. He's representing the winter season. His name doesn't have any kanji meaning for winter unlike sakura and nirei's names meaning spring and autumn btw.

◉ suo has a mistletoe background. Through the passage of time, mistletoe went from symbolizing DEATH to LOVE and it also symbolizes eternal life and HEALING. suo lore related symbolism. If we speculate a little over this, can we say the transition from "death to love" here could mean the transition of a "cold, aloof and emotionless suo to a more human, compassionate, gentle, caring, loving and empathetic suo"? The transition from the suo that was before. To the suo we know now? And of course past suo is not to blame for being cold. He was just a kid who had to grow up quicker than kids his age, who had to give up a carefree, happy and normal childhood and suffer (most prob). Through whatever the circumstances or situations were. And it was because of those experiences that there must've been a phase of a cold, distant and emotionless suo. (Now this one's just a bit of my theory). Now here's an interesting piece of information I found. Unlike the other meanings of mistletoe, the japanese meanings say it represents "protection from evil" or "protection" and that they're seen as powerful. Take this as you will

◉ Moving ahead with the point of rebirth.

Suo keeps being shown with things that symbolize "rebirth". And not just rebirth but also: "transformation", "resurrection", "strength". which at first glance appear pretty ordinary but it seems intentional and intriguing as it is used continuously with him.

His name "suo" 蘇枋 uses the characters that mean the "sappanwood" tree that is used in chinese herbal medicine (notice how even his name has smth to do with china) and as a dye for its "red-brown" colour. the colour of suo's eye and hair. Also his official image colour and the colour everyone widely associates with him. this chinese medicinal tree associated name makes me think it was given to him by his master who from his flashback seem to either be chinese or have smth to do with china who might've also made suo love chinese tea (manga chapter where suo brought and brewed chinese tea over at sakura's place) (then essentially all type of tea) and clothing (aside from my slave theory so if you want to, check that out too!)

Reblog by @stuck-in-the-castle-of-sand · 10 images

💬 0  🔁 7  ❤️ 39 · @asofspades omg I'm really happy to know you and I are on the same wavelength too!! Thank you for liking my theory and its

And aside from colour, the name, "suo" also means "revived/resuscitated".

as for why I think suo was a name given to him by his master is cuz I think he either didnt have a name earlier or smth happened (maybe the past accident nirei mentioned) and he went through an experience that changed him and he was given the name "suo", maybe as a new name. (above linked theory)

It explains the concept of "rebirth" being associated with him using his name "suo" and such symbols. And I imagine that it was during this rebirth that he got his eyepatch or earrings or maybe both. cuz when sakura and nirei first meet him and nirei asks "youre suo san right?"

he doesnt exactly agree and neither denies it. instead he says smth very unusual and covers his out of place answer to a simple question like that with his smile, demeanor and instantly bringing up the sealed dragon before any questions about him answering oddly like that or about his eye patch are asked. he covers everything smoothly by making it sound like a joke and creates a lighthearted atmosphere to prevent further questions. It is BECAUSE he says "everyone calls me that" which makes me think he got that name much later. Coming onto his initial name, "hayato", it is taken from "hayabusa", the japanese word for the bird which is "FALCON". Again this initial name symbolizes "power and nobility". And REBIRTH AGAIN in egyptian beliefs. an interesting internet search says it also means "keen vision and speed". Just like what is expected when you think of a falcon. and also this:

merch lines, background designs and the yukata he wore in his winhero festival card have used "falcon" as a motif for him. You can see the clearly drawn hayabusa, falcons on his yukata.

◉ Furthermore, koi/carp fish symbolise "rebirth/transformation" too because of their ability to be able to swim upstream which have been used as a symbolism with him too. And this is inspired by a legend where a koi swims upstream to become a "dragon". They represent overcoming adversity, "transformation" and success and also symbolize love and "friendship". I observed and noticed that his earring in the same winhero card has the design of two koi fish swimming in it. The same winhero event used BOTH the FALCON and the KOI FISH for suo.

Flowers and many such things that carry similar symbolisms and meanings have been associated with him (I can't list every one of those but you'd get me now I think) and all that can't just be unintentional right? RIGHT!?

Anw I've pointed out everything that I wanted to so this is the end of my symbolism theory about my stupid lil pretty princess with a disorder! Thank you for reading it!!

(I can just be reading and analysing too deep into it cuz my son makes me overthink and sound crazy but well it's fun to think and yap! basically I'm crazy)

[partyposon]

Someone tell me if the coat(i think?) is supposed to be worn like that or is it big on him

Cuz if it is it could be a Hand-me-down from his master, which is why its so big on him. the coat's mabey a symbol of the leader

also adds to the theory he had to come back cuz his master died

[poppy5991]

Alright hear me out. What we have so far fits both for organized crime affiliate but also with a cult:

The organization is associated with dragon symbols right? And Endo thinks that either they’re too dangerous to mess with or that Suo will be too hard to retrieve. And there’s hints of association with Okinawa and China/international connections.

Suo jokes about his eye containing a Chinese spirit and references dragons. We assume that he’s being funny, but what if this actually an opaque reference to abuse he suffered at one point. Is it possible that a cult with weird beliefs about spirits damaged Suo’s eye and left him with scars? It’s not outside the realm of possibility when you consider the behaviors of real life cults.

Suo uses terms ‘brothers’ (which some people have said the Japanese term more likely references non-biological relation) and ‘master’ — this is language that could absolutely be used by either a cult or gang. And I know people think of Suo’s master a positive figure, but we don’t necessarily know that is true. And martial arts training wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility for a cult.

Additionally, we know that Suo seems weirdly focused on maturity and acting like an adult. For a gang situation, that’s honestly kinda strange? But for an abused child in a cult, it could make sense. Especially when you consider that Suo seems to value his own ability to hide his emotions and ‘convince’ other people to do things, as has been noted. It could also explain the vague sense of sadness and self-blame we get from him? Like he had to be party to abuse of others as a child?

Cult might also explain why he’s weird about eating tbh

At one point someone noted (probably @asofspades) that we see Suo’s shirt ride up at various points and expose his lower back while fighting, which lends points against a yakuza tattoo (usually full back)

I think all these things work for organized crime and for a cult. BUT! As other people have noted, it would be really difficult to save Suo from a true organized crime syndicate. But it’s possible, although still tricky, to help extract someone from a cult. Which might make more sense for the manga. We assume that they do have to be able to rescue Suo at some point because this is windbreaker.

[live-with-love]

Idk, something is telling me, what if Suo's master was one of the 3 officers of Red Chanpuru but he/she is gone and now Suo was forced to take over the position. Why else would a group that had supposedly lasted for generations let a 15-year-old take leadership?

[alba-kanadefan]

So I might have reread the Wbk manga instead of studying but at least I have some more thoughts about Suo.

Manga spoilers until chapter 215!

Okay so something I noticed is that from the beginning Suo has always taken the roll of a teacher, or more like he is always teaching someone something.

Not just in how he teaches Nirei how to fight but even earlier than that.

In his introduction he is the one who tells everyone about Sakuras fight, in telling the class that he is explaining that Sakura is on their side. He gives out this information to people so that they don’t make wrong assumptions.

In his fight with Kanuma he is teaching him how to become an adult, he isn’t cruel to him for fun but instead to teach him how to act so that Kanuma will stop being immature.

And of course he is Nirei’s teachers not only in fighting but he also helps teaching Nirei manners and social skills.

I think this shows that Suo master has had an really big impact on Suo. Not only his fighting style and manners but also on how he views others, just because someone is immature doesn’t mean they will forever stay that way.

”To teach others you need to engage with their feelings and support them to stand on their own two feet for the first time” this is probably something his master taught him.

But why is this important? I think that Suo learned everything his master taught and therefore ”graduated” from his master’s studies. But after that he was tasked/ he decided to spread his master’s philosophy.

Suo does his best to live up to this philosophy but also at the same time enjoys his newfound freedom by mixing it with jokes just to experience some kind of childhood.

Teaching might not be the reason he is at Furin but it might be the only thing he knows he’s allowed to do.

Anyway new chapter tomorrow and I hope we get some answers, I might make more posts before the new chapter just in case all my thoughts gets debunked.

[suodelic]

i want to know what people think is going to happen. not what u want to happen but what u think will happen. if its a mix of any of these vote for the one you think will be most prominent. and pls comment any applicable nuance if u would be so kind

which suo theory will be true

traitor / villain

martial arts lineage

rich traditional family

yakuza / triad / mob family

sakura’s brother

literally just an asshole

juvenile criminal

chronic condition

other (pls comment)

Voting ended onApr 29

[hopefulmuffins]

Quick thought I had the other day for the Suo arc... I guess it could be a possible theory. But what if his family loves him very much, too much. Maybe they feel the need to protect him all the time either due to his injury, or otherwise.

I mean Suo seems to love watching fights and a analyzing fighting styles.

Plus, what if he wasn't avoiding Tsugera but got transferred out after the fight occurred. Idk. I'm probably off base, but I think it would be a good juxtaposition to all the opposites between Suo and Sakura.

Sakura being rejected and cast aside, and Suo being suffocated by overprotective siblings/parents. I don't mind being wrong, but I just wanted to put it out there.