#Fune wo amu

[vannmelonpng]

Last days of 2024 I did doodles of every series I watched or read that year (Twisted Wonderland is a plus).

[kez19h]

[megacarapa]

Fune wo Amu OP

[your-death-will-be-my-art]

The Great Passage - Fune wo Amu e01 Vastness

[so-na-gi]

Does anyone know if a sub group is going to pick up Fune wo Amu? :<

[okayto]

Mini-Review: The Great Passage

Araki, a veteran editor for the dictionary department at the Genbu Shobō publishing company, is looking for a successor now that he's approaching retirement age. When a chance meeting between one of Araki's employees with an odd salesman reveals that the newcomer, despite his poor social skills and inability to read the mood, excels at considering words and vocabulary, they recruit him. As the man accepts his new position, he finds himself unsure of his abilities and questioning whether he will fit in with his new co-workers. Yet amid the vast sea of words, the burgeoning dictionary will become a ship that keeps them afloat.

I'm not saying that the perfect audience for this is people who follow the Merriam-Webster Dictionary's clever humor on social media, and whose currently-reading list includes dictionary editor Kory Stamper's humorous Word by Word, but I AM saying that 1) that's me, and 2) this was fun.

To start, this is an adult workplace story. "Adult" in the sense of "literally everyone here has been in the workforce for at least a few years," and its content is all safe for work (/safe for parents/etc.). It is deliberately-paced, much like the process of the characters creating their new dictionary, named Daitokai.

(As an aside: I was intrigued that they frequently reference dictionaries who generally have what seem to be names, and I went down a brief Wikipedia hole reading about some of the ones mentioned, like the highly-respected Kojien ["Wide Garden of Words"], currently on its 7th edition. Some Japanese dictionaries seem to get nice names, as compared to the "name of person /people/group involved with making it" that seems to be more common in English dictionaries, like Merriam-Webster, Macmillan Dictionary, and the Oxford Dictionary of English.)

(Anyway, I don't have the cultural background to understand what affects different titling practices, but the Wikipedia page for "Japanese Dictionary" is pretty interesting.)

This is a low-key tale of someone discovering a work passion, and also of what it's like being the department in a company that isn't exciting, sexy, or super-profitable, and whose output requires a good amount of time that's hard to speed up (fellow library workers might feel some kinship here in the "not seen as a money-maker or important" aspect). The small but close-knit group of workers feel strongly that the dictionary is important and will have a use, standing out from other dictionaries on the market, but until it exists in a form that can be sold or at least pre-ordered, the business suits just see them as a time- and money-suck.

The main character is Majime, an awkward and often-socially-oblivious man who is absolutely not cut out for the sales job he found himself in. But his earnest, serious demeanor and careful consideration is perfect for detailed dictionary work.

He finds his work counterpart in Nishioka, an outgoing, charming man who's good with people. The two start off awkwardly, but they complement each other's abilities well, forming a work partnership that lasts over a decade.

Overall, this is different from my normal fare of fast-paced, comedy- and/or action-filled anime, but this story draws you in so gently you barely realize when you begin enjoying yourself, until it's time to stop watching for the night...at which point I was surprised by how much I needed to keep following their ongoing dictionary work, or find out whether X business decision ever came to pass, or what happened to the character who wanted to retire.

Verdict

English dub? No

Visuals: Nice, yet understated. It's a story based in reality, in the sense that it's not fantasy or over-the-top, and that's reflected in character designs. Backgrounds are detailed, and close-ups of character flipping through pages are lush.

Worth watching? Yes. There is a simple, pleasant story here: following Majime from a job he is ill-suited for to a new opportunity where he eventually feels like he's found what he is meant to do; at the same time, seeing how that growth and maturity also occurs in his personal life, and how his coworkers also settle and/or change in the decade that this series spans.

Where to watch (USA, as of September 2023): Prime Video

Click my “reviews” tag below or search “mini review” on my blog to find more!

[movielosophy]

Guardians of The Dafeng | The murder mystery game

[sneek-m]

Favorite dramas, 2024

This year's shows were a bit underwhelming compared to the last few years, but I found a few I enjoyed. Here are some words on them.

Tsukuritai Onna To Tabetai Onna 2

Everything you'd hope in a second season: more characters, more opportunities to learn about our couple as individuals, more relationship development. The last bit inspires more LGBTQ discussions as Manami Higa's Nomoto is now in a formal relationship with Emi Nishino's Kasuga, her first with a woman. And while my favorite TV dramas this year below concerned the nuclear family, its make-up and how it can stray far from tradition as we like (can't get more into it than my number seven), TsukuTabe 2 reminds queer couples in Japan have yet to be in the same page when it comes to starting a family, or even get an apartment together.

Fune Wo Amu: Watashi, Jisho Tsukurimasu

I collect, research and write about music as a hobby. It'd hard for me not to be all in on a story about big nerds being so engrossed in their passion for their chosen interest, even if said interest is the dictionary. It's about loving the thing as much as it is about making one, and the long gestating process behind it all. The commercial conflicts has to be wrestled with, though it always puts the love of the craft first over the political drama. For those who've seen the 2013 film or the 2016 anime, the post-COVID plot line should be a nice addendum, reminding the work and the pursuit is never truly over.

Haru Ni Nattara

The mortality of my own parents came to my attention a bit last year through Hidetoshi Nishijima's Shiro and his parents in the second season of Kinou Nani Tabeta? Haru Ni Nattara really makes me confront it, in particular with Nao's Hitomi also being an ara-saa like myself, opposed to the 50-something Shiro. When the time comes, you only hope it'll be a comedy as rowdy and full of life like this one, with the stubborn attitudes of both Hitomi and her father Noritake Kinashi's Masahiko clashing in the ways a close family members do. It's safe to say I'm growing out of twentysomething musings on TV about finding the one or being something and warming up to discussions like this one.

Tora Ni Tsubasa

Thank god for Sairi Ito, who brought comedy and needed levity to the show especially as it got deep in the weeds in the court system. Only she can turn the most ridiculous hengao into the year's most heart-tugging scene in TV. Not that the story and its central cases wasn't compelling, just heavy at it is complex: I often forget these scenes featuring conversations about war horrors, misogyny and homophobia, juvenile crimes, domestic abuse, et. al air during breakfast time. Kenshi Yonezu first imagined a gentle ballad as its theme, following his impression of an asadora; Tora Ni Tsubasa was anything but.

Ayaka-chan Wa Hiroko Senpai Ni Koishiteru

Nothing too deep to say here other than this was a fun yuuri comedy to watch. If you know Shiho Kato from the Hinatazaka variety show like I do, even more so.

Saionji-san Wa Kaji Wo Shinai

Never did this show express to me that it knew where it wanted to take its story nor did it seemed to know exactly what Wakana Matsumoto's Saionji meant when she pitched to Hokuto Matsumura's Kusumi this idea of a "fake family." But both were happy to make it up as they went along, constantly playing the silliest mental gymnastics, so long as they didn't have to go separate ways, and the show's energy, too, mimicked this eagerness to just go with the flow and see where the two will take it next. That's what it all boils down to anyway, this needlessness for labels and keeping definition of this unit of two people being together fluid.

VR Ojisan No Hatsukoi

The moment I gave my full respect to the show might be when Toru Nomaguchi's Naoki explained to Yajuro Bando's Honami that it wasn't any parts of their circumstance -- of a internet-born relationship met through digital avatars, with someone who's more than 10 years older, of the same sex -- that kept him at a distance from the latter once they met in real life, but because he needed time to simply sort out what exactly his feelings were for him. The first act hardly put any attention to the novelty of the overall premise, down to the outlandish costuming: and to be fair, don't we all customize our online avatars with flashy skins and costumes? Which gives way to the measured handling of their relationship as it steps off from the VR world, and eventually a heartfelt story of family, grief and preservation of life after death, the last bit I am very susceptible to.

Percent

Similar to selection number 2 in its premise being an immediate sell for a Person Who Makes Things as a Hobby, with this one being a TV drama about producing a TV drama. More un-romantic in its depictions of the behind-the-scenes process, and the show hardly hands Maika Ito's Miku an easy way out from dealing with production politics. But it only makes for an honesty I respect to say it takes work as much as passion to reap the rewards. More compelling than the other drama with another protagonist trying to be a TV-drama screenwriter whose inspired work is just slices of her life transferred wholesale and by some stroke of luck keep landing hits. It ain't that easy, but that's why it feels so good when you finally stick the landing.

Hikaru Kimie

My first taiga drama, and it was a commitment I enjoyed undertaking. There's nothing like the character development that unfolds in a year-long serial: my favorite was seeing Ai Mikami's Akiko grow from the painfully shy and forlorn girl into a powerful, vocal royal member of Fujiwara. Or the real sense of time you feel once a decades-long secret is finally out, especially when it comes from someone like Haru Kuroki's Tomoko, at the final episode. And who knew I'll come to love Yuriko Yoshitaka's Mahiro, or Murasaki Shikibu, and Tasuku Emoto's Michinaga Fujiwara together this much, maybe my favorite couple of this year.

...and some more:

Densetsu No Head Sho

Baby Walkure Everyday!

Umi No Hajimari

Karakai Jouzu No Takagi-san

My Diary

[cinammonelles]

Tysm for the tag @fivekrystalpetals!!! Sorry it took me forever to answer <\3

First ship ever in you life: Ah this is hard... Most likely a power rangers couple from one of the old seasons? Its been years so I'm afraid I don't remember their names anymore :")

The ultimate three ships: I thought long and hard abt this but I genuinely couldn't think of any 3 in particular. I'm not a very avid shipper and even for ships I do like I just kinda glance at them and go "I like this one" and move on lmao

The first crush (Fictional Character/Fandom): Shiro from K project most likely?(yeah it was the white hair and trauma sorry)

Last Song: parallel hearts <3

Last Movie: The new bunny girl movie?(forgot what it was called lol) My friend and I went to watch it on a whim and I was a little lost initially because I hadn't watched the anime, but my friend didn't mind explaining stuff to me and it was a fun watch overall!! I loved it when the ending song came on and everyone started singing together <3

Favorite Flower: Why must you make me choose😔😔😔 I don't think I have a favourite but baby's breath are really pretty!

Currently Reading (you can add a link): not a lot tbh!! I read Hiratabi a while back as a part of my kamatani binge spree and I'm around halfway through Shounen Note now. Other than that I'm just reading a couple of fics my friend recommended, A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf and beloved Tai Sui ofc <3

Currently Watching: nothing as of now. I've been pretty busy lately and haven't had the time or energy to invest in anything new. I would love to watch Fune wo amu when I get time tho :>

Last thing I wrote- ship/Fandom?: a zhou ying character study that might very well morph into a fic

Currently writing (you can add a link): a little analysis of the portrayal of patriarchy in tai sui, the previously mentioned zy character study, the ph siblings fic I've been working on ever since forever and a vnc fic I'm hoping to complete soon!

Tagging @lepetitloir @kumikko @grassbreads @edowardoelric @bombyixmori @stellarhoxy @despairrow @julysecnd @ruthserbel and anyone else who wants to join!!

[kez19h]

MAJIME'S ADDICTION WITH WORDS IS TAKING ME OUT

[slightly-gay-pogohammer]

Oh, Seven deadly sins... Yeah, not my favorite. Anyway. There is one anime that's about dictionaries, and I just felt too dumb to finish it. (Fune wo Amu or The Great Passage, I think) There is also this film Byousoku Go Centimeter, which was going too slow for me with nothing happening.

wait hold on an anime about dictionaries???

[your-death-will-be-my-art]

The Great Passage - Fune wo Amu e01 Vastness

[messy-and-bi]

hey, i saw your tags on the wikipedia post. care to share some iyashikei or slice of life anime pls?

Wait, this post? My dear nonnie, you have no idea what you have unleashed ^O^/* I'll divide it into categories so it's easier to browse. Also, IDK how many of these fit in the iyashikei category, but they're all slice of life.

Comedy

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun / Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun: high school protagonist confesses her love for Nozaki. He's a dumbass and ofc he misunderstands, revealing that he's a mangaka. They start working together on his shoujo manga :D

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku / Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii: nerd fujoshi* comes out as a nerd in the office where she works. She makes friends with her equally nerdy colleagues. *think slash shipper, but for manga

Ouran High School Host Club: cute girl who is poor breaks a vase, ends up working as a male host not prostitute! in her high school.

School Babysitters / Gakuen Babysitters: it takes a village (or in this case a high school) to raise THE FUCKING CUTEST BABY I've ever seen.

Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto / Sakamoto desu ga: Sakamoto is the coolest guy. That's it, that's the plot. If you like cracky wacky stuff this is the perfect show.

Saint Young Men: Jesus and Buddha are friends and they live in Japan. Yes, really.

TOO ADORABLE FOR WORDS

Sweetness and Lightning: single dad vs. learning how to cook for his cute daughter.

How to Keep a Mummy / Miira no Kaikata: girl receives a strange package from her dad. Inside the package: a tiny sentient mummy that is so adorable I spent half the first episode making high pitched noises at it.

Supernatural(-ish)

Mushishi: white haired protagonist helps people with their supernatural problems. The supernatural creatures have great designs IMO and the atmosphere is super immersive.

Hakumei and Mikochi / Hakumei to Mikochi: adorable tiny people live in the forest with talking animals. They're not lesbians canonically, but they are lesbians in my heart.

Cute girls doing stuff

Yuru Camp: high school girls go camping.

Hanayamata: high school girls learn how to dance.

Urara Meirocho: magical girls attending witch school.

Is the order a rabbit?(?) / Gochuumon wa Usagi desu ka: teenaged girls working in a cafe.

Tsuritama: anxious teenaged boy learns how to fish. Also there are aliens.

Slightly more serious stuff

Barakamon: a professional calligrapher finds love in his art again and gets new friends, mostly weird children.

The Great Passage / Fune wo Amu: a show about writing a dictionary NO BUT I SWEAR IT'S REALLY GOOD PLS WATCH IT!

Bunny Drop / Usagi Drop: single man in his 30s adopts his grandfather's illegitimate daughter because their relatives are all cunts.

March Comes In Like a Lion / 3-gatsu no Lion: depressed shogi player grows as a person and creates meaningful relationships.

[zodiacoracle]

This was pretty fun to do here's my list:

1. Mawaru Penguindrum

2. March Comes In Like a Lion (Sangatsu no Lion)

3. Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju

4. Princess Tutu

5. The Ancient Magus' Bride (Mahoutsukai no Yome)

6. xxxHOLiC

7. Revolutionary Girl Utena (Shoujo Kakumei Utena)

8. Princess Principal

9. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

10. Revue Starlight

11. Yuru Camp

12. Fruits Basket (2019)

13. The Great Passage (Fune wo Amu)

14. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

15. The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari)

16. Delicious in Dungeon (Dungeon Meshi)

17. Given

18. Bocchi the Rock!

19. Nichijou

20. ClassicaLoid

Alright, I've got two thousand people here now, let's try to figure out what this site's favourite anime are. This is going to work pretty similarly to the survey r/anime ran fairly recently. I've got a google form right here for people to fill out. You can submit a list of up to 20 anime, and those anime will be given points based on how high up the list they are (5 points for #1, 4 points for #2-3, 3 points for #4-5, 2 points for #6-10, 1 point for #11-20). If you can't think of a top 20, that's fine, you don't have to fill out all 20 spots. I'll leave the form open for a couple of weeks, and then close the survey, tally up the results, and post the top 100. I'd really appreciate reblogs on this post, I'd like want as many responses as possible.

[conflagrate]

Summer 2024 Anime + TV Season

Again I say. TIME STOP FLYING.

Anime

Spring was a pretty good season. Everything’s better when there’s Yuri- I mean Yuru Camping...

Top shows 1. Dungeon Meshi (cour 2) 2. Yuru Camp S3 3. Hibike! Euphonium S3 4. Tonari no Yokai-san 5. Bartender

Shows completed: 8

Coming up is a Hot summer, hot hot summer~

Must Watch: Yami Shibai S13 (SOBBB), Tower of God S2, Na-Nare Hana-Nare [3] Sounds Interesting! Hope It Doesn’t Suck!: Dungeon no Naka no Hito, Elf-san wa Yaserarenai (FOOD PORN???), Shoshimin Series, Bye Bye Earth (it’s Tow Ubukata!), Make Heroine, Ramen Aka Neko, Delico’s Nursery, Maarui Kanojo (why so many fatty girls anime??), Monogatari (I only watched bits & pieces of this over the years will I undersetand anything?) [9] 3episode Taste Test Needed: Tasuketsu, Tasogare Outfocus, Kono Sekai wa Fukanzen Sugiru, Tensui no Sakuna-hime, Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi, Shikanoko, ATRI, Katsute Maho Shojo [8] Do I Have To…? (No I Don’t): BokuTsuma, Russian thing, 2.5jigen no Ririsa, Cardfight Vanguard, Wistoria, 0saiji Start DDash Monogatari, Isekai Suicide Squad, Isekai Moriarty thing (does this really exist?) Sequel/Spinoff/Remake Hell: SHY S2, Oshi no Ko S2, Megami no Cafe Terrace S2, NieR S2, Kinnikuman, Kimisen S2, Sengoku Youko, Fairy Tail Light Novel/Isekai/Villainess/Mecha/Sentai/Harem/Cross Dressing/Video Game Hell: Maou-gun, Shinmai Ossan, Gimai Seikatsu, Parry anime, Giji Harem, Senpai wa Otokonoko, Hazure Waku, Grendizer U, Dahlia, Mob kara blah, Isekai Yururi Kikou, Isekai Shikkaku, Koi wa Futago de Warikirenai, Nazeboku Idol/Vtuber/AI/Musical Hell: Vtuber nanda ga, Mayonaka Punch (BUT I might give it 1-2eps)

Expected Load: 7-8

I hope to drop as many as possible (as usual). I might also watch Geass if I have the time...

TV & Streaming

Not much going on in spring & summer, plus my favourite comfort show got cancelled....

What I Watched Disney+/Hulu: Tracker, X-Men ’97, Shogun, The Acolyte*, The Bear S3* Netflix: Baby Reindeer, Anti-Hero* (TBS) Apple TV: Sugar, Dark Matter, Presumed Innocent* HBO: House of the Dragon S2* CBS: NCIS S21, NCIS: Hawai’i S3 ABC: Will Trent S2 BBC: Blue Lights S2, The Responder S2 NHK: Fune wo Amu Others: The Chosen S4 (app)

Total series completed: 13 Ongoing: 5 Full-length films watched: 25

What I will Watch Netflix: Tokyo Swindlers(?) Disney+/Hulu: Only Murders in the Building S4 Apple TV: Slow Horses S4, Sunny, Presumed Innocent*, Lady in the Lake(?), Pachinko S2, Bad Monkey HBO: House of the Dragon S2*, The Penguin(?) ITV: Joan

Hope we get a sleeper hit like Baby Reindeer this season!

[mina-ahavi]