i've read only 3 volumes, but i already love gene bride
It isn't a revolutionary work and it isn't a revolutionary manga for feminism, but it really says something that I think should be shared, even if it's just representing reality.
I like how it represents the patriarchy and its "normalcy", bc these are things all of us have gone through or had someone close go through
These are comments we hear, situations we live, fears we have
It happens when we are kids, with adults we should trust or even when we are the adults
It's terrifying, it's infuriating
But what touched me the most is Edo's story and Ichi's memories and reflection of it
Boys kept disrespecting Edo bc of her looks, but when she was paired with the "leader" of the guys she was left alone
She is constantly belittled and objectified, but when society is what enforces those attitudes... what can you do?
You try to escape, somehow, someway, to forget this is how we live
Until something really serious happens and laugh won't save you
It makes me really want to cry, bc they were really JUST KIDS. Adults are the ones that failed them
But i know this is a kind of guilt that will never go away, even if you would never blame a kid in your position, forgiving yourself for letting things happen is so difficult
I understand Ichi's anger in such a visceral way, bc i was in her position as a teenager (I think a lot of us were) and as much as you understand it wasn't your responsibility, the regret stays and consumes you
That's why i also like a lot Ichi's attitude with Adzuru, it doesn't matter what he does, he will always be a perpetrator, Edo and Ichi will always hurt bc of his actions
He doesn't deserve nor forgiveness or salvation
And at the end of the day, after all those years, after every experience. All there is, is rage.
the period of time that suo and taichi spend playing karuta together, as well as spending a lot of their non-karuta time together, is genuinely fascinating to me. while i love so many of the relationships and dynamics in chihayafuru, suo and taichi’s is without a doubt my favorite in the series.
they come from very different backgrounds (with regards to class, location, family, how they’re perceived socially, etc.). they are almost diametrically opposed within the karuta world, too—suo is a five-time meijin, a genius to whom karuta came naturally, whereas taichi continually struggles with being unable to catch up with chihaya, arata, and the other players around him. even with these differences, it’s the striking amount of qualities that they share, both positive and negative, that allow them to form one of the most unlikely yet deep connections in the story.
while suo initially comes into taichi’s life in a sort of mentor/teacher role, imo calling their dynamic strictly a mentorship would be reductive. setting aside their in-text denial and/or acceptance of the nature of their relationship (truthfully, i don’t think either of them fully knows what to call it LMAO), their relationship actually subverts the typical mentor/disciple dynamic. their innate similarities, as well as their ability to see through each other’s pretenses, allow them to reach an equal ground that you wouldn’t expect. taichi is able to reciprocate the way that suo invested in him, making just as much of an impact on suo and helping him accept himself in turn.
what gets me the most about their dynamic is that taichi, a person who spends so much time trying to escape himself and disguise his shortcomings, is able to be the most real version of himself around suo. the caveat to this statement is that, yes, taichi has pretty much hit rock bottom when he starts spending time with suo… but that rock bottom version of taichi is a part of the real him, and it’s suo’s understanding and acceptance of that part of him that even allows taichi to start playing karuta again, albeit with a new and arguably disingenuous playstyle. getting rejected by chihaya sent taichi into a self-destructive freefall which starts with quitting the karuta club, torpedoing his friendship with chihaya, and throwing himself into his studies. he is absolutely Doing Bad, and he has deeper reasons for believing that he hates karuta, but i’ll get to that in a second.
about kowloon generic romance (kgr) first episode i have to say it's a bit disappointing... i think one of the best parts of the manga is that yes, the characters talk about the nostalgia, but you can feel it radiating from the pages too!! and at least this episode I don't think the anime got the vibe lol
and i do understand the decision to put everything until the picture reveal into the first episode, bc everything before is kind of an introduction so everything was a bit rushed and a lot was cut, but there are so moments i do miss (╥﹏╥) i hope the rest of the season does go slower and takes the time that's necessary to build the suspense, confusion and ROMANCE!!! (in the "love" way and the literal romance way)
Talking with my sister about the series she was at first surprised it actually happened in kowloon walled city and i now realise what makes this anime adaptation feel like it doesn't get the vibe...
it's the ilumination and colors
when you look at photos of it, it looks like it was createad already falling apart. the colors and light in the anime are just too alive, too new, too spacious
the light doesn't feel like we are in the middle of an overcrowded place.
i'm sorry. the first time i rewatched the first episode of dcmk after reading bsd (more than 2 years ago) i came to the realization of why i like skk so much (maybe) and i really need to share my thoughts.
FIRST: the super intelligent character and the martial artist
both shinichi and dazai are characters that are incredibly smart and chuuya with ran are recognized because of their fight abilities.
but let's not forget that ran and chuuya both are smart as well, they can definitely solve things on their own when they need to, but are often mischaracterized as dumb
SECOND: love at first sight vs. hate at first sight (i'm crying)
THIRD: the one that goes away
extra: womanizer guy
extra hc: just like shinichi fell in love first sight and ran noticed she was in love with him in the ny trip, i hc skk with dazai falling in love first and chuuya realising his feelings when dazai defects lol
Stand parting [Inaba/leave-if] Mountain ’s [Peak/ridge] [at/to] [grow/spring-up] [Pine-tree/wait/look-forward/end-of] [year |or| and death/poem] [hear-if] [Now/soon] [return/go-home] [crowded/to-do-intently]
Almost every line has multiple possible meanings. In this case, the poem describes being away from his lover and uses the image of Mt. Inaba. However, he writes Inaba in hiragana, leaving open another reading as “even if I am not there.” In the fourth line, “Matsu” can be read as “pine tree” under one kanji, but also as “waiting, anticipating, looking forward to” under another kanji. “To shi” could either be read together as “year” or separately as “and poem/song” or “and death.” So together that line could mean, all equally valid, “if I hear the song of the pines,” “if I hear your pining song,” “if I hear the years/time of your waiting is like death,” among other variations. The last line can be read as “return soon with intention” or “I’ll return no matter how crowded the way may be.”
yesss!! even if it feels like an end, i really want to read a novel with more of osanai involved (considering the promise she makes to kobato, even if she doesn't appear one will know everything was planned by her) and them meeting again!!
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
blakekathryn
kaledo-art
dailybridgerton
