kjwald

[kjwald]

Ooh, I did not think about the work culture part, but you are right! A lot of their problems come from their insecurities with work and stressful environments. I also did not think about how we see social standards in Japan. The bullying definitely represents how mean society can be towards those that do not fit societal expectations. I also liked the animations, but I would say I also liked Perfect Blue more just because it was more understandable than this movie.

Paprika 4/22/24

Honestly, I usually like psychological thrillers but I don't know if I loved this one. I just felt confused the entire movie even after it ended. Like normally towards the end you figure it out ya know. I had no idea that the main antagonist was actually Paprika (though I should have made it out from the title) but rather I was searching for who the problem was the entire time. I had to read a reddit summary... yes, reddit. Send help. Anyways it said that the movie was more about our subconscious and how we are free to be exactly who we are when we are dreaming. So while Dr. Shiba is a overly professional and judgemental scientist on the outside, on the inside she secretly is very playful and loving. For example, Dr. Shiba constantly bullies Tokita for being fat and calls him a genius in a dumb person's body. Well in the end we come to find out that she secretly loves Tokita. I think this could also be a critique on Japanese work culture and the intensity of certain social aspects of Japanese life. It seems that in order to be accepted in Japanese society you must follow these strict rules like being very professional, not acting on your desires (this can be seen through many characters),etc. Also the way Dr. Shiba presents herself at work is quite harsh. The combination of their seemingly repressed personalities, the chairman's sick control, the oppression of Otaku geniuses, it all gets me thinking that this is a work-society induced problem. On another note the doll imagery and toys and whatnot were all super cool. This movie is very visually pleasing. However, in comparison to similar animations like "Perfect Blue" I just feel like "Paprika" is lacking. I look forward to watching more psychological thriller's like this as they do carry necessary messages.

[kjwald]

Paprika

This was a very interesting yet confusing film. It kind of reminds me of Perfect Blue in terms of reality and fantasy getting mixed up and the animation style. I think the whole idea of our dreams being where we can see and experience our stresses and repressed thoughts is really interesting, and it was pretty cool seeing it in a movie. I often get dreams about school, something that I did not feel good about the previous day, etc., and I wonder why it happens, but I guess it is our subconscious trying to figure out and deal with all of it.

From the start of the movie, we start to see how our stresses and subconscious thoughts usually find their ways into a dreams: the detective, Konakawa, seems to be wanted by others, running away, or running after someone (a victim of one of the cases he is on at that moment - actually is his past self though). These scenes, I believe, convey his stresses with his job and a particular case. I think it could also perhaps show his underlying, more secretive attraction to a younger, child-like woman. This is pretty discomforting, but I think that this whole movie is about controversial opinions, wants, denials, and fears. Osanai also has dreams about his jealousy and insecurities, which he wants stopped. In the end, the detective's insecurity/fear was with his career choice, which he realizes was good and feels secure again, allowing him to move on. It is important we face our problems and insecurities and figure out how to get past them.

It is interesting to see how people communicate within the dreams - it is just a lot of random words and jumbling, but that is a great representation of how in our dreams we do not actually speak clearly. I think we just assume we do since we make up the plots anyway.

As briefly mentioned in the movie, I think that dreams are supposed to represent the internet. People rant about things online, say controversial stuff on social media, and think that everything we see on the internet is true. We even think that the real things are fake too. There are a lot of similarities. Then, we see Inui want dreams to not be touched by technology. I feel like this anime is critiquing the internet and technology in this way.

Another theme that might be shown is how adults are not always wise and better than the younger generation. Tokita is irresponsible and does not want to deal with adult stuff, leading to people being harmed or traumatized. This conveys how this anime is critiquing the idea that adults and the older generation should not always judge young people and think they are better than them.

[kjwald]

Yes, I completely agree!! I think that while war was probably not the morally just answer for Yakomaru, I do think that his actions were kind of valid. That kind of oppression they were facing was unjust, and the absolute power is definitely scary. In the end, species want power and to live, and there are many things we may do to get it. It is a natural instinct. The problem lies in how we get it and if we are willing to share it.

Post for 4/19

It was a bit difficult to connect today's Shin Sekai Yori episodes to contemporary Japanese themes, but at least I was somewhat able to keep up with the plot. I don’t have the full context for Yakomaru’s background since we skipped most of the episodes, but I feel like his punishment was unnecessarily merciless. I felt bad for him when he was laughed at by the humans in the court and, of course, when his organs bursted out from unendurable pain. I feel like he could’ve taken a more peaceful approach to physically separating the rats from humanity’s oppression (maybe they could’ve migrated to somewhere else), but other than that, I think he was valid in terms of not wanting to leave the fragile lives of their entire colony in the hands of humans with powers that could wipe them out at any instant. Who would willingly want to be put in a situation like that? Also, Satoru was criticizing Yakomaru for nailing the rat queen’s body down, but what else was he supposed to do – let the queen continue her rampage and kill everyone in the colony? I feel like some of his actions were justified and that Saki was the only person who realized that for some reason.

Also, I’m disappointed that the show made it seem like Saki and Satoru were going to save the ogre (Maria and Mamoru’s child) by making the ogre realize that she was human, too, but they just ended up making the ogre kill herself in the end. They really had to sacrifice Kiroumaru for it, too. I thought there was going to be some message about having empathy and humanizing criminals who didn’t know any better, especially because she was literally just a child, but nope – let’s kill her off instead of giving her any chance for redemption, I guess!

Image of Kiroumaru from https://shinsekaiyori.fandom.com/wiki/Kiroumaru/Gallery.

[kjwald]

Shin Sekai Yori (15, 21, 24, 25)

In episode 15, we can see Squealer and his species worry about becoming extinct and therefore try to exploit the queen. They knew they were smart and believed that they deserve some power, yet the queen had so much and ruled over them unfavorably. I feel like this represents governments/powers throughout history: the government exploits or neglects its citizens and, therefore, the citizens retaliate, protest, etc. at the power's expense. The citizens come together to build power and make changes to the government/power. Squealer and his species worked together, forming a union, and tried to negotiate, yet they ended up trapping her and still exploit her for the benefit of the colony. This is similar to when the newly formed government reduces the power of the leader, making them instead a public figure (kind of like the president or prime minister). Then we see things like war prisoners, enslavement, imperialism/colonialism in episode 21, which we see in history during an overthrow of rule as well. In the last episode, the Squealer talks about how change is necessary, which I do think is true, but that the sacrifices would have been worth it if they had won, which I disagree with: in the end, people lost their lives. War and violence are the problem (I can see why Squealer thought they needed to resort to it, especially when they tried to propose equal rights, but to continually hurt the Queen and other species? That does not seem very moral). In the end, it is quite a morally grey area when you consider all things, though.

I think there is also commentary on patriarchy. The Robber Fly colony thinks that the queen's only job should be childbirth, while the "smart" ones should have the power. The queens are stuck inside (domestic duties, trapped in the house) while the men (I think) are free to roam and rule. This also reminds me of Japanese history. There were queens with power an extremely long time ago in Japan, like Queen Himiko, that people at first accepted as ruler; however, men soon believed they deserved the power, labeling women that ruled as evil (people believed that Queen Himiko had magical powers that she used for evil purposes as well), resulting in men ruling Japan. Then, they use violence, blaming the Goat Moths for shooting an arrow when they used violence first. This represents the common opinion that men often resort to violence more compared to women, like starting something as small as fights or as big as war.

Now, something that I find quite disturbing is how kids ended up having a child?! Like I think they are 14? Definitely an interesting plot by the storywriter - I wonder what the idea was behind that?

I think that overall, this anime is a commentary on power, whether its a ruler, and man and woman, magical powers, or the responsibility that comes with it.

[kjwald]

Disclaimer: I reblogged this using my other account but it was on time! So, now I am reblogging with my actual account!

Proof:

Wow, I got the message and ending totally wrong! I didn't think about how him being a prince would help make him the scapegoat. I mean I just did not understand the whole prince thing in general so I am looking forward to actually understanding what happened tomorrow during discussion. And the idea that the Outsider and Juiz might just be robots/computers is so smart and could definitely be true!

04/15

Eden of the East (EP 6, 9, 10, 11)

The ending makes so much more sense now. I remember starting the show and thought it was a magical girl (boy, in this case) who was a scorned or disowned prince of some distant dimension. But it actually make sense how Takizawa became a prince so he can be a scapegoat.

And, I don't think Mr. Outside is some old [dead] rich guy. I think it's either a computer or a woman. Same for Juiz, part of me also thought it was a bunch of people (women was my guess, but who knows?) who all go by Juiz (if it's genderless, it makes sense) and use a voice changer to sound the same.

The title of the show was surprising, too. I thought Eden of the East refers to what the game's objective is, to turn the "East", or Japan, into an or its own "Eden". The use of English (is "noblesse" English?) in the show is unique. Even the missile scene in the last episode with that song (idk the name but I know I heard it before) even though the setting has been in Japan the whole time is new to me.

So, the truth about the NEETs was quite surprising. I wasn't sure what to think. I knew Takizawa had something to do with them, and the missile attack with 0 casualties definitely was suspicious. But the reveal sounded just like him. I knew he represented the young generation who wished to do something about their future. To think he would represent the power of the hopeful, and he shows it by using society's growing slice of the most useless people and turning them into heroes is incredible. It tells how given the chance and the situation forced upon them, people who are considered and consider themselves useless end up saving Japan. We never know who Juiz really is, but the fact that it is 20,000 unemployed, uneducated people's combined efforts found the solution, not Juiz or a computer for all we know.

I know the other Selecao (the one who actually launched the missiles) is probably another sector of young people representing the hopeless and hated who have been let down by society.

Still, it was cool to watch the effects of work on each new generation. With young people at the forefront of society's expectations, they are expected to do well when they've been set up since the beginning to only do someone else's bidding.

Ironically, the Selecao think they have been cursed to act in society's best interests when technically, everyone has been since they were born. Like the young people, it was not necessarily their fault that their world is the way it is, but by the curse of existing, it becomes their responsibility and their fault if they don't do something. While very, very, very select few have been "chosen" to fix the country with 10 billion yen and a digital genie, in a way, we all have resources that we are supposed to use to help society before society or us dies. Even the NEETs had resources: their phones and their own lives.

I think he "woke up" naked because, like the Eden club, he had to blend in with the NEETs he shipped off to Dubai so the "zombies" (lol for the club to call them that but we can see these people are certainly not heartless or brain-dead). Or, he was in a blacked-out van and they stripped him right before they brainwashed him and dropped him off in front of the White House to (idk) humiliate him. Or something, like a joke.

-04/15/24

[kjwald]

Eden of the East (6,9,10,11)

Disclaimer: I swear I did this post on time, I just accidentally posted it to my other tumblr account for my japanese language class. Proof below:

I have never been more confused by an anime ending in my entire life. Actually, any show's ending. So, I think Akira became a prince so that he could have power to make changes in Japan, yet I am confused because usually they do not have actual power? Does this mean he is actually going to be a Prime Minister? Or that he is just going to be a public figure to help change public opinion and use power that way? I also do not understand what he did with his phone and why he put it in the female lead's pocket. Overall, very confused. However, some things I have noticed:

I know I have mentioned this a million times in my posts, but again we see sexualization of women. Yes, Akira is seen literally naked multiple times, but it is always comedic; however, with the female lead in a small tracksuit and the blue haired woman in a bikini and heels, the women are either portrayed as evil or sexy. However, I will say there is a lot less than in other anime.

I am pretty confused by how the Eden of the East app (I think) is related to the title? Or like why it is the title?

The characters call Japan weak, why is why conspiracy theories on terrorist attacks arise. There are many people in this anime that believe Japan is too weak and not good enough on its own, reflecting the lack of hope and dependence NEETs or the younger generation have for/on Japan and its government. It was also sad to see the NEET with no pants on being great at hacking and CS, yet still not having a job. It makes you question: is it because he is not confident enough to get one? Or has society not allowed him to? Whose fault is it? We do see, though, him be able to send information to help stop the missiles, and he felt useful in the end. If all NEETs actually put their talents to use, or the government allowed them to, changes can be made.

Also, omg, the fact that Mr. Outsider might have already been dead was so crazy. It makes you wonder who and what the 12 people are doing all of this for. Obviously, they have their own agendas on how they will save Japan, but it was all started by and controlled by a dude that is now dead?

We also see the moral dilemma of who and what you sacrifice for the greater good. The bombs killing the NEETs of course meant people would die, but it also meant getting rid of those that do not contribute to society. Even the female lead said she wishes something good happened to Japan after the bombs, as if killing people is okay as long as there is some other benefit to it.

I have never been more confused by an anime ending in my entire life. Actually, any show's ending. So, I think Akira became a prince so that he could have power to make changes in Japan, yet I am confused because usually they do not have actual power? Does this mean he is actually going to be a Prime Minister? Or that he is just going to be a public figure to help change public opinion and use power that way? I also do not understand what he did with his phone and why he put it in the female lead's pocket. Overall, very confused. However, some things I have noticed:

I know I have mentioned this a million times in my posts, but again we see sexualization of women. Yes, Akira is seen literally naked multiple times, but it is always comedic; however, with the female lead in a small tracksuit and the blue haired woman in a bikini and heels, the women are either portrayed as evil or sexy. However, I will say there is a lot less than in other anime.

I am pretty confused by how the Eden of the East app (I think) is related to the title? Or like why it is the title?

The characters call Japan weak, why is why conspiracy theories on terrorist attacks arise. There are many people in this anime that believe Japan is too weak and not good enough on its own, reflecting the lack of hope and dependence NEETs or the younger generation have for/on Japan and its government. It was also sad to see the NEET with no pants on being great at hacking and CS, yet still not having a job. It makes you question: is it because he is not confident enough to get one? Or has society not allowed him to? Whose fault is it? We do see, though, him be able to send information to help stop the missiles, and he felt useful in the end. If all NEETs actually put their talents to use, or the government allowed them to, changes can be made.

Also, omg, the fact that Mr. Outsider might have already been dead was so crazy. It makes you wonder who and what the 12 people are doing all of this for. Obviously, they have their own agendas on how they will save Japan, but it was all started by and controlled by a dude that is now dead?

We also see the moral dilemma of who and what you sacrifice for the greater good. The bombs killing the NEETs of course meant people would die, but it also meant getting rid of those that do not contribute to society. Even the female lead said she wishes something good happened to Japan after the bombs, as if killing people is okay as long as there is some other benefit to it.

[kjwald]

Ya I think Akira is supposed to be helping NEETs go back into society, but I was pretty confused because apparently when he collected all of the naked NEETs in one spot, he bombed the area? Perhaps I missed something or didn't read the subtitles correctly, but I do wonder what exactly his method is. The whole naked part is so weird but perhaps it is a good distraction when carrying out these "missions," and maybe it conveys how all humans are equal without their money and glam (in the end, we all have the same human body)? I am not sure though - this was a very confusing show.

04/11

Eden of the East (EP 1, 3, 4, 5)

They used flip phones. It's pretty high tech given how they have (I think) an AI program, but it's not a touch screen.

Also, the fact that Akira probably used to help the unemployed citizens re-enter society, given how a stranger comes up to him and thanks him, and at the end of episode 5, he looks like he wants to help Saki's job hunting.

On one hand, it seemed like he was willing to do what he thinks is necessary to help revive the non-workers. He might have been unconventional though with the naked photos. I think he wiped his memories because he does not understand them as regular people as a secret agent. By wiping his memories he can become closer to people and realize what he really wants to do deep down. Or, it's something dumb like he saw the new tech and he or the universe accidentally hit the "delete" button in his head and now he's empty.

On the other hand, his determination pre-memory wipe might have caused a mental spiral that made him crazy. Sending 20K NEETs to Dubai to fix them up might have been with good intentions but his spiraling made him realize he was becoming less human, and he wanted to change himself before he did something reckless. Yet, even after becoming a new person, he starts giving off Kira and Death Note vibes with the limited power of his money.

But it is ironic to show Saki's job hunting struggles still match today's Gen Z job hunting, especially if you add on that COVID was not even a thought when this show was aired. The fact that even with connections/referrals, Saki knows she did not get the job when the interviewer comments about "youngsters," and she is aware that despite the expectations to carry the future, it is more of a power struggle to basic human decency when she got food poured on her.

Also, the lady in periwinkle blue is very suspicious. It's obvious she is one of the now 11 Seleco, but she is more than some model celebrity. With how she has young men lined up in front of her telling them to go on a diet as "advice", and how she was walking to Saki's friend when he was drunk tells me she is very much a loan shark and/or groomer. Not to mention, waking up in your undergarments and going to the bathroom to see a naked dead body and just asking your AI to "clean it up" because you "oops" and killed someone? And she was so calm like she knows it's happened often enough that it doesn't faze her anymore. Either it's a dissociative identity or something related to memory wipe because she clearly is not very kind-hearted towards the organization's goals.

Akira reminds me of Haru/Natsu/Shiki in a way I can't describe.

-04/11/24

[kjwald]

Eden of the East (ep. 1,3,4,5); Work Culture (Mouer)

My thoughts throughout the anime since I am confused what the overall theme and purpose are:

The mood of this drama was so discomforting. The way the background is drawn so differently from the simply animated characters, and the way she is speaking Japanese while the others are speaking English. All of the sudden, there is a naked man?? They are also speaking abnormally slow. He tells the girl throwing a coin at the White House is weird yet he is naked, and she just randomly trusts him?! Oh my goodness, it is like a fever dream. It was really funny, but so confusing.

It is interesting how she believes the Capital is the center of the world. I feel like it is a reference to how the government is the reason for so many problems, and how the US has caused many problems for Japan.

We also see the topics of NEETs. The main girl's friend (I am awful with names in anime) tells her that our generation is mostly comprised of NEETs by nature, and we do believe society does not accept us. During the interview, the interviewer told the girl that society is for the youngsters, but then she says that it seems like the youngters live for the comfort of the older, employed people. There are a lot of statements about the lack of hope and opportunities for the younger generation in today's day and age, and they seem to just accept this. Akira tells the main girl that she should not have to force herself to work and to just stay with him, and he kisses her to try and solve her romantic problems. Since he is part of the 12 people that are supposedly changing the world, I think that this represents how NEETs want a savior that might fix their problems quickly and easily. I may have interpreted that completely wrong though. I think that with the reading discussing a lot of the problems now with the work culture, I can see why viewers want there to be changes and some savior to fix everything.

[kjwald]

I definitely agree that those from the future have to make difficult decisions in how they will participate in this war. It is like the creator is asking the audience, "if you could go back in time during Imperialist Japan, would you try to change things?." Of course, Imperialist Japan has done awful things, but does that mean so many civilians should die? Is the current Japan worth losing if it means saving all those people? It is a really hard question, but I think that it is important to think about the impact this war had on history and the present time.

4/10 Blog

Today we continued watching the anime series “Zipang” by Kazuhiro Furuhashi in our viewing of episodes 13,17, 21, and 25. Across episodes 13, 17, 21, and 25, the series delves into themes that resonate deeply with us viewers, prompting reflection on the nature of ethics and the complexities of human decision-making. One of the central themes in "Zipang" is the concept of moral responsibility. As the crew of the Mirai grapples with the consequences of their actions in the past, they are forced to confront the ethical implications of intervening in historical events. This theme is particularly evident in Episode 13, where Lieutenant Commander Kadomatsu's decision to demonstrate the Mirai's firepower sets off a chain of events that challenge their understanding of right and wrong. The series also explores the notion of duty versus personal convictions. In Episode 17, the crew faces pressure from Admiral Yamamoto to align themselves with his vision for altering the course of history. This forces them to reconcile their loyalty to their own time period with the moral imperative to prevent unnecessary suffering in the past. Additionally, "Zipang" grapples with the ethics of war and violence. In Episode 21, Captain Umezu and his crew find themselves engaged in a deadly conflict with overwhelming odds. As they weigh the human cost of their actions, they are forced to confront the moral complexities of wielding their technological superiority in a foreign time and place. Finally, the show touches on themes of identity and belonging. In Episode 25, Admiral Yonai challenges the crew of the Mirai to consider their role in shaping the future of Japan. Admiral Yonai's character in "Zipang" diverges sharply from characters from the past like Kusaka. While others seek to exploit the Mirai's technology for victory, Yonai advocates for Japan's defeat, prompting the crew to reassess their role. Instead of striving for victory at any cost, he advocates for a broader understanding of Japan's future. His suggestion that Japan should face the consequences of its actions, even if it means accepting defeat, prompts the crew to confront their own place in the grand scheme of things.

[kjwald]

Zipang Ep. 13,17,21,25

At the beginning of episode 13, we see what we have seen in the past with World War II. Kusaka threatens the past US soldiers, saying he will take one of the past soldier's food and then use a missile to blow up their supplies. The past soldiers think that it is a bluff, yet in the end a rocket missile is sent, and another threat is made that he will shell the US marines. This alludes to what happened during World War II, since the US government threatened Japan, the government refused to surrender, and the US really did drop the atomic bomb afterwards. It is interesting because this time, it is reversed: a Japanese soldier is the one dropping shells and the American soldiers are the ones receiving it. One of the soldiers also mentions how Kusaka's weapons are much worse than what they have and so new, just like the atomic bomb was.

The whole pro or anti war message of this anime is very confusing to me. In episode 13, there is a whole discussion by Kusaka with the other soldiers. Another soldier tells them that all humans bleed the same color, so war and destruction is not the answer, but Kusaka tells him those thoughts are ideals for times of peace, not war. Therefore, he wants to proceed with the violence. However, after all of this, I think we see a more neutral stance? He does not believe in Imperialist Japan, but he does not believe in the future Japan. Instead, he believes in a Japan that is independent yet still powerful, called Zipang.

Im also not sure if the episodes do not line up for me, or if we were only supposed to watch the second to last episode, but I am still very confused what the message overall is because I do not know the ending. Anyway, I think that overall the anime wants us to understand all sides of this war. Those that just want their country to be protected, those that want their country to be powerful, those that do not want violence, those that want to save as many people as possible, and those that want to survive. It opens your mind to many different perspectives.

[kjwald]

Yes, Kusaka definitely is the epitome of a Japanese soldier during that time. He accepted that he would die if he could not swim, he loves his country, and he is very nationalistic in terms of Japan having power. I liked that he was placed with the crew from the future because it emphasizes the dichotomy between the two and highlights how much Japan and its people have changed.

JVC Post #31

ZIPANG!

This show was really interesting. I really liked the intro and the outro too.

Can I just say that the premise of this show resembles an episode of The Twilight Zone? The entire time I was watching the first and third episodes, I was thinking "Rod Sterling would probably write a premise like this". It feels like the kind of story you'd find in a novel or a short story rather than an anime, and I find that intriguing.

The show allows modern Japanese soldiers to confront their past in a literal sense, both personally through the lieutenant and also by being transported to the Showa era in the middle of the war. While we've already seen many works that deal with World War 2, this one feels so much more direct. It feels like it's not only putting Japan's nationalistic, totalitarian past on full display, but it's connecting it directly to the modern audience through modern soldiers who struggle to reconcile their motivations with that past.

Kusaka feels like he will become a driving force in the narrative. His presence alone, just like the soldier said when he first boarded, changes everything. He is what anchors them to the era; Him and all his nationalistic pride, strictness, and hope for Japan's future power. It's why he's on the cover too. He's the symbol of Japan in that era.

When they finally arrive to Singapore and they're at the party/ball(?) Kusaka says that the wants to change the 21st century (something that is already happening, as he points out later). This is after he learns of the future peace in Japan and its lack of military power and whatnot. He wants Japan to be a militaristic superpower like the empire dreams of rather than the relatively peaceful country it eventually becomes. Obviously, the modern soldiers have a contrary opinion.

I feel like this is going to become a point of conflict as the plot thickens.

[kjwald]

Zipang, Sexuality (Saito), and Media Effects (Gauntlet)

At the start of the episode, the scene where the battle ships were shown seemed really cool and beautiful. Magnificent music was playing in the background, and it was colorful. It showed how those that were not actually fighting in the war might see weapons as cool, when in reality, we learn that they are traumatizing and just evil. It was also interesting how in the first episode, they announced the weapons being released, but then the weapons were not shown or heard. It is like this is a time when the impact of war and the weapons were just not fully understood. Also in the first episode, Yasuke asks his father if war is bad and who were the bad guys, but the answer is unknown at the start. In the end, everyone was trying to save themselves and families. The force that goes into the past experiences this firsthand in episode 6, when one of them has to kill other Japanese soldiers just to save himself and his peer. Since everyone has the common goal of just protecting themselves and others, war should not happen in the first place.

The animation style I feel fits perfectly with the era that the anime takes place in. It reminds me of the older cartoons I used to watch as a kid in the early 2000s, like scooby-doo, which is around the time this anime was made. The old style also better conveys the old war era, making everything fit together better.

One thing that I liked about this anime was how it had a woman in the force from the future. Back in the day, there would not be a woman fighting along side the men, yet this portrays how later changes are made. She is not sexualized, she wears the same uniform as everyone else, and in my opinion, the way she talks and holds herself is of proper status, dominance, and power.

We also see Kasuka, the Navy soldier that was saved, saying that he was going to swim himself no matter how far, and if he did not make it, he would die like the other soldiers. This idea of honorable death that we talked about earlier in the semester is shown.

In terms of the reading by Saito, I definitely agree that we should be make generalizations and profile all otakus as perverts; however, the author seems to try to differentiate otakus from perverts. I think that the ones that are perverts are not non-otakus - they are are still otakus, just some of them.

I also agree with many of the points that Gauntlet makes: the audience interpreting media in their own way with their own reactions depending on their lifestyles, the ignorance of the positive effects that media can have (like for me, Spongebob actually taught me so much), and the effect that producers have on media.

[kjwald]

I had the same thoughts!! Like seriously?! Sexualizing a minor repeatedly? He is honestly an awful man that comes up with random excuses for his personality. Obviously, I did not watch all of the episodes so maybe there is some serious reason as to why he acts like this, but from what I saw (getting beat up, not getting a job), the way he acts has no validity behind it. If I were to meet him in person, let's just say I would not meet him again.

04/05

Welcome to the NHK! (EP 1, 2, 5, 13)

This was the one show I'm kind of glad I don't have context for half of the episodes I watched because if you are a fan of this show, do not read this post.

The MC Tatsuhiro is a hikikomori (very close but not necessarily a NEET). He meets Misaki who offers to help him re-enter society, and later on in the show, he meets his old friends Yamazaki and Hitomi.

I will comment that the show does make an effort to portray the "dark" or less preferred aspect of Japanese society, portraying not only the hikikomori but also anime otakus, suicide groups, and the impacts of psychological disorders on the working class.

I think it's good that the "heroes" or the people who save each other (and themselves) aren't ordinary or accomplished people, but members of the discarded groups, showing that despite the phobia and prison their minds are in, they are capable of leaving their old life.

In the group suicide attempt, even though Satou was the one who didn't want to die, it was someone else who convinced everyone to think about how irrational they all were for trying.

Now, do I like the show? No.

I may not be aware of how extreme or how bad hobby-obsessed people are, but I know they exist, even if their stories darken the anime community image. But I would rather watch a light shoujo anime. I know the male characters sexualizing female (including the fictional characters in their world) is supposed to degrade or accurately reflect the thoughts the characters represent, however that doesn't mean I would like to watch it.

When Satou first meets Misaki, he tries to humanize her by imagining her masturbating to get over his fear of meeting her at the park at night. I know it would be inaccurate to make him suddenly become a good person just to please the audience, but it is super gross and weird nonetheless.

Someone saw me watching this, and I probably sounded so weird explaining that this was for a class, not for fun while trying to be casual.

-04/04/24

[kjwald]

Welcome to the NHK (Eps. 1, 2, 5, 13)

Wow, he is in a serious delulu state, and now I feel like I am too. To be completely honest, I am not sure what the message is. This anime is about an otaku who keeps coming up with excuses to not do the things he needs to do and blames everything/everyone other than himself for his problems. Sato, as well as some of the characters, try to escape their problems by escaping reality, which is really sad but also does not solve anything. He seems to always be spiraling. He creates this whole scenario as to why he is the main character of a conspiracy theory, he comes up with a crazy excuse to see the girl, and he invents this whole life and career to make himself look good in front of her. At first, I liked him because he seemed a little relatable, but then I soon started disliking him. He has perverted posters on his walls, lies a lot, and sexualizes a minor. Yikes. We also seem him get kind of exploited by the people around him. His neighbor gets him to buy a ton of anime-related merchandise, Misaki uses Sato to reach her goal of fixing a hikkikamori, and Hitomi wants him to die with her since perhaps she does not want to escape alone or just wants someone else to be on the same page as her. If this anime taught me anything, it is that you should make good friends that love you for you, and do not spiral about your thoughts or troubles because it will only lead to insanity.

AGAIN, there was sexualization of women in this anime. Also, this woman looks like a child, so it was quite discomforting. Her in the nun outfit, naked, a lot of other things that I do not want to mention in this post - it is just so gross. Even the camera angles were disgusting - the camera pointing from behind her butt, pointing towards her chest, etc. I understand that it was portraying the perspective of Sato, who obviously oversexualizes the women in his life, but I think that creators need to understand the impact this can have on the audience.

[kjwald]

I feel like I have seen implications of homosexuality in anime, but it is very interesting how the characters are rarely established as gay. I mentioned in my post that it may be because of a more conservative audience, the artists not wanting to convey these sort of feelings, or just viewers trying to push this narrative when they are just friends. I am not really sure which is true, but in the end, their relationship was really beautiful, and I also really loved Max Lobo's and Ash's relationship, giving that familial relationship that I am sure was healing.

Banana Fish 4/2/24

This is a show I've been meaning to watch for a long while, since high school actually, so I'm glad I got the ability to do so. For starters, I had not realized how old the original manga, with its original run going from 1985-1994, which only makes the gang aspects feel more contemporary for that era, especially in areas of New York. This backdrop perfectly sets up the discussion of trauma and resilience that is integrated into Banana Fish with the inciting incident of Griffin Callenreese becoming mentally crippled in Iraq and effectively handicapped, which causes ripple effects for central characters like Ash and Max with how that lingering guilt and grief affects their personalities in the present day. This show handles more dark topics than I was expecting, covering issues of human trafficking, drug addiction, and exploitation all being frequently discussed and shown in horrific detail, a thing that I was not expecting coming into despite hearing it being part of the "gang" subgenre of anime. The anime is set in New York, an interesting change of pace from the often seen Japanese setting accompanying our readings and viewings. While watching this, it immediately made me realize this is how the Japanese must view America from a pop culture lens, as we have Eiji, our Japanese main character being introduced to the Big Apple and being unable to find his bearing or sense of belonging amongst the culturally diverse and distinct gangs, a sentiment that likely would have been shared by the Japanese population when trying to understand the ongoings of American culture. This becomes even more interesting with how this series serves as a vessel for the social commentary of homosexuality in anime, with it being never explicitly stated but CLEARLY implied that Eiji and Ash have a thing that goes a little beyond friendship, an aspect that I have never truly seen in an anime until this one. This commentary extends beyond this LGBTQ+ aspect but how sexual abuse and struggles placed upon marginalized communities in this world are continually perpetuated by the corrupt systems that make up it, most obviously being represented by the Mafia Don Papa Dino. Banana Fish handles these topics with remarkable class at times but through watching it, they tend to make distasteful jokes, especially with knowing Ash's background it leaves an even worse taste in my mouth. However these are nitpicks and it doesn't stop me from enjoying this emotionally charged, revenge-filled gang anime that I can't wait to finish by the end of this week.

This episode I found particularly compelling with Ash and Eiji's relationship which I felt was desperately needed more fleshing out for me to truly connect and care about the attachment, (especially after a recent big character death).

Max Lobo is probably my favorite character in the show and their sibling dynamic (especially in the wake of Griffin's death) makes them have a banter that I greatly enjoy and contributes to the aftereffects of trauma and the respective aftereffects that each of them deal with.

[kjwald]

Banana Fish (ep. 2, 9, 11, 24)

HUH?! I thought this was a BL anime but apparently it isn't? Everyone on every social media platform said this was BL but it seems that it just has implications of these boys liking each other romantically, but not actually. I feel like a lot of animes do this - a guy admires another guy, seemingly romantically but not. I think this is due to the more conservative side of Japan, but I do not want to generalize. I guess a lot of people kind of forced this idea about these characters, or it just seems like the way they talk about each other seems like a love story.

One thing I do not like about this anime is the amount of perversion. It is good that the perverts were portrayed in a disgusting light, and I think that it raises awareness towards how people pervert and eroticize homosexuality and how wrong it is. However, there was also a lot of sexualization of the characters by the artists/animators when it was not necessary. For example, they way they were dressed, the skin exposed at times, their positions, etc. I think that while the anime was trying to convey how immoral perversion is, the characters were still sexualized. This is another thing that I often see in anime: the creators trying to take a stance against something but then indirectly doing what they were against. Actually, I should not just direct this to anime because a lot of different kinds of media does this. I wrote about this in my essay for Zom 100, because the animators, I believe, took a stance against sexualization of women; however, the camera angles and clothing choices made by the animators/artists/creators say otherwise. I think that there needs to be more care and consideration put into delivering messages and the way that they are done so.

Also, I am pretty confused as to what Ash's and Eiji's relationship was though. Like how did they meet and why did they hit it off? I think that the first episode probably established that but I do not want to have to look it up. Anyway, it was interesting how Ash saved Eiji and not his best friend - like how valuable is Eiji to Ash? I also do not really understand the relationship between Ash and that old man that owned him but then saved him in the end? Perhaps I got the characters confused? If someone reblogs this, please explain!

Anyway, I knew that Banana Fish was sad, because people often talk about how they cry because of this anime, but wow, that was quite a depressing ending. I had already cried from watching Grey's and One Tree Hill today, so this was just the cherry on top. The intro to the last episode almost foreshadowed what was going to happen. It seemed like a lot of memories that Ash had flashes across the screen, specifically his relationships, just like how your memories replay in your mind when you die, so I could tell just from the intro that Ash would pass away. In episode 9 or 11 (I cannot remember which), someone also called Eiji Ash's achilles heel, conveying how Ash (or someone) would die. I cannot believe Eiji does not even know about his death, expecting to see him again. As sad as it is that Eiji and Ash could not be together, I am glad that Ash died in that library (I mean, it is traumatizing for whoever finds his dead body), because that was where he was away from all the violence and the killing (the aspect of himself that he disliked). He got to be the person he wanted to be when he died - peaceful and loved.

In the end, I like the message about how people can be so different, yet when you really think about it, we are all the same. No matter what race, gender, career, etc., although we may have different experiences of cultures, we are all human beings that want to be loved, to love, and to be happy.

[kjwald]

Wow, your post was beautifully written! I agree with everything that you said! The art style is beautiful, and I remember loving it so much that I could not wait to see his second movie, Weathering With You. I also thought that this movie really delves into self-development and identification. The girl seems to not like her situation at all, but soon, and the boy and girl swap bodies, they come to understand their own identities as well as the important of relationships. This is almost like a coming-of-age story, just with more emphasis on love, religion, and gorgeous art.

4/1 Blog

I watched “Your Name” by Makoto Shinkai a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. Besides the unique storyline, I thought the animation and art style in the film was beautiful especially during scenes with the sky and the shooting stars. Set in Japan, the film follows the story of two teenagers, Taki and Mitsuha, who inexplicably begin swapping bodies. What starts as a comedic exploration of the challenges of living in each other's shoes soon evolves into a deeply moving tale of love, fate, and the interconnectedness of lives. As Taki and Mitsuha navigate their unusual situation, they discover a bond that transcends time and space. However, “Your Name" is not just a tale of body-swapping teenagers—it's an exploration of identity, destiny, and the ephemeral nature of time itself. Beneath its beautiful animation and unique storyline lies important themes that resonate deeply with audiences. At its core, "Your Name" delves into the concept of identity, particularly the idea of finding oneself amidst the chaos of everyday life. Through Taki and Mitsuha's experiences of inhabiting each other's bodies, the film examines how our perceptions of self are shaped by our interactions with others and the world around us. It's a journey of self-discovery, as both characters grapple with the realization that they are not entirely who they thought they were. The theme of destiny also looms large throughout the film. As Taki and Mitsuha uncover the mysterious connection between them, they come to realize that their fates are inexorably linked, bound by forces beyond their control. Yet, "Your Name" also suggests that destiny is not a fixed path but rather a fluid concept shaped by the choices we make and the connections we forge with others. These universal themes allow the audience to resonate with the film on an emotional level. The film is about the power of human connection and the profound impact we can have on each other's lives. Taki and Mitsuha's journey serves as a reminder that our actions, no matter how small, can shape the course of our destinies and the lives of those around us.