#Japanese Edo Village

[campitalia]

A Limb in Concerto

Camp Italia ha il piacere di ospitare il musicista A Limb in concerto presso lo stage del Japanese Cultural Village & Historical Museum. Appuntamento Venerdi’ 12 Gennaio 2024 alle 22:00 ora italiana, 1:00pm SLT. **Camp Italia is pleased to host the musician A Limb in concert at the stage of the Japanese Cultural Village & Historical Museum. Appointment Friday January 12, 2024 at 10:00 pm…

[maychorian]

Found Family Anime Recs

I recently reblogged a list of found family anime recs and was a bit surprised by how many reblogs and likes it got. I had really reblogged it just so I can find it later to watch the shows I hadn't already seen on the list, but apparently I have a lot of followers who are interested in this topic! Well, I've watched a lot of anime, so here are ten found family anime shows that I absolutely love. These are in no particular order.

Buddy Daddies

This show is similar enough to Spy X Family that you might be tempted to call it a rip-off. It's really quite different though. There's a lot less comedy (though there's still SOME comedy) and a lot more healing from past trauma. The animation is gorgeous, and the relationships really tug at my heart. It's more realistic than Spy X Family, in some ways, though it's still pretty ridiculous. The melodrama in the last couple of episodes did annoy me a bit, but it's still a very satisfying show. It's like a fanfiction I would write, which is really the highest recommendation I can give, haha, because that means it's exactly the kind of story I would like. 

2. Samurai Champloo

This show was made by much of the same team that created Cowboy Bebop, but for some reason it never got the same cult status, which is really too bad. I love Cowboy Bebop, but I love Samurai Champloo more. It's about two ronin and a teenage girl traveling through Edo-era Japan to find someone the girl is looking for. Throughout the series, the three form a very strong bond, despite all of their communication difficulties and past traumas. I've rewatched this show probably more than any other anime. It's brutal at times, but so very satisfying.

3. Natsume Yuujin-cho

Natsume lost his parents as a young child and was passed around from relative to relative, most of whom couldn't deal with him because his ability to see yokai (Japanese folk spirits) made him a freak in their eyes. As the series starts, he's finally taken in by an older couple in a rural village who actually want him, and he's finally able to start forming connections with other people and find a support system with his new caretakers, his peers, and the yokai he tries to help. It's a very sweet, sad series, much more sentimental than the first two entries on this list, but a very soothing and lovely watch when you are in need of some relaxation. Warning, though, the flashbacks to Natsume's past families can be truly gutwrenching. He was not treated well for a very long time, and it's hard to stomach.

4. Barakamon

Handa is a calligrapher who gets essentially exiled to a remote island after causing problems on purpose. He has a hard time connecting with people and is struggling with his art. Over the course of the story, he forms relationships with his neighbors, especially an adorable child with possibly the best child voice-acting I've ever heard, and slowly rediscovers his joy in creation again. It's cute and funny and beautiful, and it makes me want to live on a remote Japanese island.

5. My Roommate Is a Cat

Subaru is a young novelist who recently lost his parents, who were pretty much his only connection to humanity. While trying to recover from this massive loss, he adopts a stray cat who quickly becomes the most important creature in his life. Through the cat, he begins to form relationships with other people, as well. The show is unique in that the first half of each episode is from the human's POV and the second half is from the cat's POV. It's a very lovely and soothing show. Pets are family, too!

6. Haikyuu

Haikyuu was the show that opened my eyes to the aspect of found family in sports anime. I know a lot of tumblr enjoys Haikyuu for the shipping, but to me it's more satisfying to view it through the lens of found family. Each team is essentially their own found family, in their own unique way, and the relationships are particularly realistic and well-depicted by this mangaka. I love Tanaka being a big brother to the first years, Kuroo and Kenma's mutual protectiveness and support, all of it. 

7. Kuroko no Basuke

This is the silly basketball show, and in my opinion it's not as good as Haikyuu, but I love the relationships here as well. Especially between Kuroko and Kagami, of course. Their mutual protectiveness is just chef's kiss. But the whole Seirin team is really great. I love them so much. The teamy goodness is what makes the silliness watchable for me.

8. One Piece

What is there to say about One Piece? This is, like, the ultimate found family show. All of the pirate crews with any kind of goodness at their core are found families, but especially the Strawhats. Luffy is just going around looking at people and declaring, "Okay, you're in my family (on my crew) now." If you've never watched One Piece before, I'm going to make an unorthodox recommendation and suggest you watch the live action Netflix adaption first. It does a really good job of capturing the feel and aesthetic and just pure loveliness of this story in a much more compact and approachable way than the anime. However, if you like it, I do recommend that you watch the anime from the beginning, because there is a lot of expansion on the themes there, and the characterization is slightly different. Usopp in particular kinda got shorted in the live action, so you'll understand him a lot more if you watch his introduction arc in the anime. But honestly both versions are great. I'm on my third rewatch of the live action version already, and I will watch and rewatch the anime until I die, probably. One of my favorite stories of all time.

9. The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash

I found this one slightly annoying in how it was obviously carefully designed to tug at my heartstrings, but it's working, so I don't have much right to complain. It's about a little kid driven out of her home who gradually gathers a found family of both monsters she tames and adult adventurers and guardsmen who take one look at this lonely child and go, "Well, guess I have a baby now." The isekai element is very lowkey, in that she basically just has a voice in her head giving her advice, and I like that it's about fighting local corruption instead of a demon army or what have you. I want more shows like this and less shows like every other generic isekai, haha.

10. Dungeon Meshi

This show is blowing up tumblr right now, so you've probably already seen it a billion times, but I'm going to make one more appeal for you to watch/read this story. It is so, so so good. And in my opinion, it is much MUCH more about family, both born and found, than it is about shipping. I could write a whole essay about Marcille and Falin's relationship that has nothing to do with romance, as I could for any other two (or three or four) characters in the main party, plus those outside. There is a LOT going on. I've been playing RPGs and LARPs for twenty years, and one reason I love the hobby so much is for the joy of creating found families with my best friends in new and different worlds, over and over again. This is the first piece of fiction I've found that really captures that particular aspect of party-based fantasy stories, the relationships that form and grow, the tight-knit bonds that keep everyone moving forward despite the monsters you must face (and consume). 

[puc-rewrite]

Event: Musical Wanderer

(Note: I'm going to put the English translation and not the actual Japanese lyrics for The song just so you can know what the song is saying without going the English translation yourself. I got the lyrics for Risa Shinozaki's cover of the song.)

Music can be heard from outside late at night. It was a Shamisen playing outside. Then you hear a soft haunting voice singing Edo Lullaby in Japanese.

"Hush-a-bye Hush-a-bye,

Good baby go to sleep,

Where has the nanny gone?

Beyond that mountain to the village-"

You slowly went out to see a 16 year old girl sitting outside. Fair skin, closed eyes, and lavender hair that fades to rosy red. She was maybe 5'7ft tall. Her hair was in a high ponytail and her bangs were swept to the right. She had a 44 time signature on the back of her neck tattooed in black ink. She also seems to have a few 16th notes on her jewelry and tattoo on her left thigh on red.

She had only had the Shamisen with her it seems. No bag for food, water, or an umbrella. Just the Shamisen. She was amazing at playing it, and singing.

"-What was the souvenir?

Pellet drum and sho flute

Roly-poly toy and hand drum"

Do you say anything?

Tags:

@mikado-sannoji @would-you-like-a-scooby-snack @edens-garden-au @human-monokuma @ask-the-otonokoji-twins @the-sxrens-sxng @unknown-ultimates @excitement-to-consumption @ultimate-rider @after-neo-world @chaoticblogofmuses @pizza-for-my-friends

[l-in-the-light]

The importance of a haircut

I was pondering whether I should mention it, but seems no one is catching on to that so far, so I might as well stir the pot a bit.

Many women today maintain long hair when they're single, and then cut it shorter when they have kids, due to its impracticality. So in a way, that cutting of hair is a ceremony that mirrors that of an Edo period Samurai: an end to an era of someone's life, and the beginning of another.

(...)

A friend or co-worker might remark, "wow, are you quitting your job or something?" joking that they were making a grand gesture by getting a haircut.

(source: Anime News Network)

The first time I came upon deep analysis of this trope was in Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka cuts off his bun before leaving village, which signifies he might never come back, he is from now on "dead" to them, because topknots and buns were associated with status back in the days. By cutting it he was not only giving up on his current social position, but also cutting ties with the community he belonged to.

Sumo wrestlers will cut off their topknots when they quit their career. If a samurai cut off their topnot it meant they're giving up on their title and becoming a commoner like everyone else. Sometimes it's done because of shame (pressured by others or because of your own conscience, if you're a honorable samurai). For aristocratic women hair was also a symbol of status and pride, and also object of adoration. Might be why even nowadays in fiction when a girl goes through a break-up or gets rejected by her crush, she cuts off her hair to make a "fresh start" (that apparently isn't uncommon not only in Japan). Last time I saw it was probably in XXXholic (I reccommend it to anyone who never read this manga, especially if you like supernatural themes mixed with slice of life :D).

Funny thing is, I also picked up on that trope subconsciously as a child, because I grew up watching animes. I remember my classmates often asking me why am I keeping my hair long (like, what's so strange in liking your hair long? I guess it became trendy back then to have shorter hair). And I always felt like I need a big reason to cut my hair, like I should do it only after a big life event happening, and I even decided when exactly I will do it. Except that I didn't find any meaning in it and decided I won't do it anyway. Lol.

It's interesting that apparently there was once a law in Japan that forced women to keep their hair long! If they need to cut their hair, they had to report it to the officials on paper, stating a good enough reason (for example, a health issue or a religious ritual). And if they fail to report or deliver good enough reason, they have to face some kind of punishment. You can read more about that here: Women in Japan who got haircuts once had to tell government why.

Importance in Japanese culture aside, for more fun examples of this trope used in fiction you should certainly visit the tv tropes page on it: tv tropes/important haircut.

Now back to Robin. She didn't exactly cut her hair short or anything like that, but she did return to her old hairstyle. That might signify she wanted to underline some kind of change in her life. She got a different hair style in the timeskip. Coincidentally, Nami also allowed herself to keep her hair long and be more feminine, because she felt safe doing so, not anymore having to survive on her own, or so I assume. I think it could have been similar for Robin, it was her sign of "now I'm part of this crew wholeheartedly", because before timeskip she kept the previous haircut instead and she was also always alone. So, it was a way of showing the change in her life, but she chose to do it only after learning news about Luffy losing his brother. Perhaps it might have been her way of showing her solidarity, besides the faith and trust in her crew.

Robin returning back to her previous haircut might be a way to celebrate meeting Saul, like she wants him to feel familiar with her looks, like nothing ever changed (just like the Giants suggested in the chapter). Except that we know that a lot has changed since then, she finally found her comrades, her nakama. That's part of the reason why I think it might not be about Saul at all. There was a lot happening with the Vegapunk's broadcast and will of Ohara in Egghead.

And she did look very affected when she listened to the bits of that broadcast. So, whatever her reason is, I'm sure of one thing: that haircut signifies some sort of decision or change in Robin, a new determination or something coming full circle. Towards what? Revealing the truth and carrying the baton passed by Vegapunk? But wasn't Robin already carrying that on her back already, the call to reveal the truth about the history? She didn't need Vegapunk for that.

It could mean Robin has made some important decision that is the opposite of the timeskip one and it relates to events from before that as well. There are some loose ends left from Water 7 arc. There were some never addressed again lies or games of deception. Maybe it's finally time we learn more about Robin, her mission and what she did exactly before she joined the Strawhats.

[mynahx3]

Return of a Favor

This is another addition to the, Love Through the Ages collab by @kentopedia. It is a piece inspired by the Japanese Folk Tales Tsuru no Ongaeshi ( "Crane's Return of a Favor"). Nanami x fem reader

Takes place in Edo era ish but def not that accurate Hope you enjoy lovelies!~

6.6k Warning this contains MATURE material. Please MDNI!!! 18+!!!! Contains a little blood, SMUT, pregnancy, and babies.

Snow billowed around the man as he walked. The harsh weather had drained his energy, slowing his movements. The basket's ropes uncomfortably dug into his shoulders as he trudged. Breathing heavily, he struggled against the resistance of the snow with each step. Eventually, he lost his balance and tumbled into the soft white blanket. Getting up with a huff he brushed the snow off him, determined to get home. 

The man walking was on his way home, returning after a day in the village market. The market day involved hard work and sweat, resulting in minimal earnings that barely covered his costs. He crafted small wooden items and sold his vegetables to the town. With the snow, it was hard to bring his cart into town. Still, he made enough for himself.

Struggling up the hill, the snow reached his knees, gradually decreasing in intensity as he climbed. The harsh wind blowing snow and rain has faded away. Soft flakes of snow descended upon him, offering a fleeting pause in the midst of his journey.

Immersed in the serene stillness, he marveled at the snow-draped trees and the quiet expanse of the landscape. Despite the hardships he has faced recently, he kept going. He knew that tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, he found solace in the tranquility of the snow-covered landscape. The sense of accomplishment for making it through another day filled him with a quiet sense of pride.

In his moment of reflection, he was jolted back to reality by the sound of something crashing into branches and squaking nearby.

Piquing his interest, the man walked to where he heard the sound, curiosity winning him over. Pushing past the branches in his way, he cautiously walked forward.

In the bushes, not far from the path, lay a wounded crane. It weakly fluttered its wings on the ground, and an arrow was shot into one wing. Blood oozed from the wound, dyeing the feathers a deep crimson.

At the sight of the man, it squaked louder, trying to move away from him. The man approached slowly, speaking softly to try and calm the injured bird. He knew he had to act quickly to help save its life.

"Not here to hurt you, little thing." He spoke, hands raised to the small bird.

The crane continued to struggle to get away from the man. Their eyes were filled with fear. Slowly, the man went closer, taking his time to not scare the animal more. Seeing his calm nature, the bird began to calm down as well, watchful eyes on his form.

Still wary of the man, the crane tentatively allowed the man to approach and inspect its injuries. The man gently examined the bird, assessing the damage and figuring out the best way to help it.

Taking its wing into his hand, he saw the arrow; luckily, the wound didn't seem to bleed too much. With no other option, he petted the head of the crane, easing it for what he would do next.

The man carefully removed the arrow, causing the bird to let out a small cry of pain, floundering on the ground for a second as the man tried to calm it down. Ripping up a part of his robe, he began to tend to its wounds. The crane seemed to understand that he was trying to help; it looked at him with quizzical eyes. No longer was it fighting him, but instead, it seemed to trust him. The man felt relieved and reassured, knowing that he had successfully ensured the crane's safety in his care. He was happy he was close to home; the crane was in no condition to fly.

Now docile, the crane was easy for the man to carry back to his house, where he could provide it with proper care and attention. 

The trek back home seemed faster, as he had a goal in mind now and the weather calmer. Going to his humble home he saw in the distance, it was a simple farmer's house; it was enough for him. It sat on a hill, overlooking the vast expanse of fields and forests. The man knew that the crane would have a peaceful and safe place to recover in his care.

Sliding back the doors, he gently placed the crane in a comfortable spot. In his home, there was a small table with worn cushions around it for tea across his kitchen. He had his room down the hall, along with a bathroom and spare room. While small, his home was cozy and filled with warmth. Quickly, he threw in another log to keep the fire going, moving the bird closer to rest next to him at the fire. Relaxing in his home, he rubbed his sore feet, sitting on an old cushion.

Glancing to the side, he was surprised to see the crane watching him from its bundle of blankets.

Tilting his head, he extended a hand, rubbing the top of the bird's head. It leaned into his touch, seemingly enjoying it. It gazed up at him with its big, grateful eyes. The man smiled, feeling a sense of peace and connection with the injured crane.

"You're a special bird, aren't you?" He whispered softly, feeling a sense of connection with the majestic creature. The crane closed its eyes in contentment, as if understanding his words.

"I'm sure you'll be ready to go back to the wind in no time. Just sit tight here for now. It may not be much, but it's home." He said this, patting the crane gently before slowly standing up and limping back to his own room. As he settled in for the night, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected companionship in the midst of his solitude.

The crane stayed with the man for a few months.

The injured crane kept the man company in his loneliness, bringing a sense of peace and connection to the man's isolated world. A routine of tending to their wound each night and sharing meals with it became a comforting ritual for the man, creating a bond that transcended words.

It often lay with him as he read, a skill his Danish grandfather taught him. The two enjoyed their time together. The crane's presence brought a sense of purpose and joy to the man's otherwise solitary existence.

This, of course, came to an end eventually.

Returning from another day in the market, he found the crane had left, a single feather left behind where it slept. While the man felt a pang of sadness at the bird's departure, he knew that their time together had brought him comfort and companionship when he needed it most. As he looked at the feather in his hand, he couldn't help but smile at the memories they had shared.

Little did the man know, the crane would remember this favor for the rest of its days, wishing to repay him.

~_~_~

Spring was now approaching, which was a relief for the man.

The cold, barren winter is becoming a memory with each sunny day. He would enjoy this time while he could before it rolled around again as a cruel reminder. A gentle breeze rolled through, swaying the branches of trees nearby.

The man relaxed in his home, screen doors open, sitting on the tatami mats.

His home had seen better days. The roof had a few leaks, and the walls were showing wear. But the man didn't mind, as long as he had a roof over his head. He was grateful for the simple life he led, surrounded by nature and the sounds of the countryside.

The setting sun beamed down on him in a pleasant warmth with a chill of the breeze, bringing a sense of peace and contentment to his heart. It was growing darker, but the man felt a sense of serenity enveloping him, knowing that he was exactly where he belonged. The soft glow of the lanterns inside his home beckoned him to come in and rest for the night. The man closed his eyes, taking in the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling, grateful for the beauty that surrounded him.

Opening his eyes, he expected to see his small garden, but he was met with the sight of a woman walking along the road.

Tilting his head, he stood up as he squinted to get a better look at the unfamiliar figure. The woman looked lost, and he felt a sense of duty to offer her assistance in finding her way.

Seeing him, she seemed to brighten just at the sight, hurriedly walking faster. This confused him, his shoulders tensing as the woman came closer.

She was indeed beautiful, a rare sight in this secluded area. Wearing white, plain robes that served her no justice, her hair was done in a simple braid. As she approached, he noticed the desperation in her eyes, making him wonder what could have led her to this remote place. Despite his initial hesitation, he decided to approach her with a welcoming smile, ready to offer his help.

"Hello, sir." She greeted him with a polite bow of her head. "I seem to have lost my way; would you be able to point me in the right direction?"

"It's awfully late for a woman to be out." He said, in a deep voice, as he stepped off his porch, smiling at her softly. "I can help you find your way back, but it's not safe to be wandering for either of us at this hour."

She smiled back at him, looking at him with such affection that his heart skipped a beat. He felt a sense of familiarity in her eyes, but he shook it off. He would have remembered meeting a beauty like her.

"Thank you for your concern, sir," she replied, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "I would appreciate your guidance back to town."

"I only say this in concern for your safety, but it's not best to travel in the dark, even in this part of the country. Bandits still lurk about." He starts, never leaving her eyes, getting immersed in them, lost in the moment with her. "May I offer my home for the night? I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing I left you to fend for yourself, and I can take you first thing at sunrise."

"That is very kind of you, sir," she said with a smile, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "I would be grateful for your hospitality."

With a stutter and flushed face, she introduced herself, and her name sounded like a melody to his ears.

"It's a pleasure to meet you; my name is Nanami Kento."

Nanami extended his hand toward her, a warm smile gracing his lips as he welcomed her into his home. The night was filled with laughter and conversation, with a bond forming between them that felt like fate.

~_~_~

Since their meeting, Nanami and the woman have only seemed to get closer. She had always talked to him on her journey home from town. He often invited her to dinner when the hour was late.

Nanami had grown quite fond of her. In the short time that he knew her, Nanami felt his feelings grow for her. She was attentive and soft-spoken, yet her strong determination was something he found incredibly attractive. Her heart was as kind as her smile, and Nanami found himself drawn to her more and more with each passing day. Their connection felt effortless, as if they had known each other for a lifetime.

Gaining the nerve to ask her to marry him, he prepared a token of his affection. Using his skills, he carved an intricate hair pin with images of birds and flowers intertwined in the design, symbolizing their blossoming love. As far as he knew, she was unwed with no family in town. While he had little to his name, he was determined to make her happy and provide for her in any way he could. He hoped that she would see his sincerity and accept his offer of courtship.

Waiting at a nearby river overlooking the village, he played with a small bouquet of wildflowers he had picked for her, rehearsing in his mind what he would say when she arrived. The sound of her approaching footsteps filled him with a mix of excitement and nervousness, yet he was prepared to express his feelings for her. Still, he hid the bouquet behind his back.

She quickly walked to him, smiling brightly at him as she called his name. The flowers were in full bloom over them, and the petals fell around them.

Sitting with him on his blanket, she begins to ask about his day. He took a deep breath, feeling his nerves dissipate as he looked into her eyes. As they talked, he found himself captivated by her every word, grateful for the opportunity to share this moment with her. Speaking her name, he got her attention, feeling a tad guilty for interrupting her.

"I have something I want to give you." He showed her the flowers and hairpin, his cheeks red from the action.

She looked at him in shock, mouth agape, as she reached out to take the gifts.

"I have come to realize how much you mean to me," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I wanted to show you how much I care."

Tears formed in her eyes at his heartfelt words. The gifts were now in her lap. Her own heart fluttered with her emotions.

"I don't have much, but I can provide you with food, a roof over your head, and love until the end of our days." He said that he was now holding her hands.

Smiling, she leaned forward, looking into his eyes which were warm pools of amber and dark chocolate, golden in the sunlight. His blonde hair was blown in the breeze, and the smell of cherry blossoms wafted around them.

"And that's all I need," she replied softly, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for his simple yet heartfelt offer. The love in his eyes reflected her own feelings, creating a bond that she knew would last a lifetime.

Overwhelmed by emotions, Nanami cupped her face, connecting their lips in a tender, loving kiss.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still as they embraced each other, cherishing the love that bound them together. The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them in their own little bubble of happiness and affection.

~_~_~

The two married in a humble ceremony, one that was attended by only his closest friends and family but was filled with an abundance of love and joy. At the village shrine, the priest blessed their union, sealing their commitment to each other in the eyes of the divine. Nanami kneeled beside her, and the both of them took sips of their sake.

Nanami wore his father's black haori with a loose gray hakama. He felt the heavens bless him with the one beside him.

She wore a simple, pure white kimono with an outer robe and a crane on the front of it, symbolizing longevity and good fortune in their marriage. It was the same robe that his mother wore on her own wedding day, a gift from her, passing down a tradition of love and happiness. The wooden hairpin he gifted her sat proudly in the updo his mother helped her create, showcasing the intricate design.

He couldn't give her the lavish gifts one would on their wedding like he desired, but she was happy. They had food together near the river where he proposed. Loved ones gathered in the summer night, the sounds of cicadas around them.

His family happily cooked and helped prepare the meal, celebrating the union of their loved ones. The simple act of sharing a meal together by the river symbolized their commitment to each other and the beginning of their lives. The couple sat together, enjoying the night as one. Their hands intertwined, the sound of laughter and music filling the air. Lanterns aglow around them, filling the sky above.

As they looked into each other's eyes, they knew that their love was all they needed to start their new life together.

Later on that night, when everyone had departed, they went into his home—no, their home—as a couple now.

Shyly, he looked around his room. Tonight was to be the night they became one in every sense of the word. The room seemed to glow with a warm light from the candles, reflecting the love that filled their hearts.

They kneeled before each other, still in their last layer of clothes. Her hair flowed down on her shoulders now, draping her in a soft, romantic aura. His hands trembled slightly as he reached out to touch her face, a mixture of excitement and nervousness in his eyes. They both knew that this moment would change their lives forever.

Moving closer to him, she let him cup her face, her eyes gleaming at him with love and excitement. Her own hand cupping his softly.

"Do you wish to spend the rest of your life with me?" She whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "Even though I may not be the wife you always dreamed of, I promise to love you with all my heart."

He gazed into her eyes, his heart full of certainty, as he replied, "Yes, I do. I will cherish you always and forever, no matter what the future holds. With no regrets."

Leaning closer, he takes her lips in a kiss, growing more passionate with each passing second. The world around them seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in the moment, savoring the love that bound them together. Their hearts beat in unison as they shared a tender kiss, sealing their commitment to each other.

Gaining courage, he pushed her to lay on the futon, his hands tenderly traveling her body. Unraveling her kimono with a gasp from her lips, his calloused hands felt the softness of her flesh for the first time.

As their passion ignited, they became lost in each other, their bodies entwined in a dance of love and desire. In that moment, nothing else mattered except the connection they shared. Their clothes were shed, and the two of them were bare under the moonlight.

Gazing down at her, he lost himself in her beauty. She laid bare before him, cheeks flushed from their kisses. Her bare breasts were littered with marks he made. Legs on either side of his waist, the two of them ready to become one.

"I've never…" Nanami started, his cheeks a bright red, as he was about to confess his virginity to her. But before he could finish his sentence, she placed a finger on his lips, silencing him.

"You don't need to say it," she whispered, her eyes filled with understanding and affection. Her own cheeks equally as flushed. "I've never done this either."

Her confession eased his nerves, knowing they would explore this new experience together without any pressure or expectations. They both smiled, their hearts filled with excitement and anticipation for what was to come. Cupping his face, she brushed hair from his eyes and leaned in for a kiss, their tongues dancing together in a symphony of desire.

Clasping her hand, he rubbed himself on her slick cunt. His length was soaked in their mutual desire, aching for the moment they would finally become one. Making eye contact, she nods to him, silently communicating her readiness and eagerness to take the next step in their relationship.

Pushing forward, he held her hand tight, her eyes clenched from the slight pain she experienced. As he entered her, he let out a groan, resting his head in the crook of her neck from the sensations. His lips peppered kisses on her collarbone, giving her a moment to adjust to the new feeling. Whispering sweet nothings in her ear, he assured her of his love and devotion. His hands rubbed her body soothingly to relax her, resting on her hips.

She panted for air, her heart racing in her chest as he leaned back from her. With warm eyes looking down at her with a mixture of desire and tenderness, he whispered, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, feeling a wave of emotions wash over her at the intimacy they shared in that moment. Feeling the pain begin to subside, she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him down to kiss her with a newfound sense of urgency and passion, moving his hips against him. Moving his arms up, he rested on his elbows on either side of her head. Hips thrusting against her with ease at the growing intensity of their connection, he whispered, "I've got you."

She melted into his touch, feeling safe and desired in his embrace. The world faded away as they embraced, cherishing the connection they had found in each other's arms. Their room filled with the sound of their heavy breathing and the scent of their shared passion, creating a bubble of intimacy that enveloped them both. As they continued to explore each other's bodies, they both felt their end was coming. Their eyes locked together, focusing solely on one another.

With a final surge of emotion, they surrendered to the overwhelming wave of desire, their souls intertwining in a moment of pure bliss before they collapsed into each other's arms, breathless and content. The world outside ceased to exist as they lay entwined, savoring the fleeting ecstasy of their love. Nanami moved to lay beside his wife, laying a blanket over them, gently brushing her hair away from her face and whispering words of love and gratitude.

"I love you." He declared, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

"I love you too, Kento." She responded, her voice barely above a whisper.

The couple held each other close, cherishing the quiet moment of connection before they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.

~_~_~

Kento felt pure happiness.

For years now, he has been married to the love of his life. Their time together strengthened their bond each day. No matter the poor condition of their house or the challenges they faced, their love remained unwavering.

With the cold months coming, Kento spent more time out in the fields. He could already feel the chill in his bones from the season changing. The brown leaves on the trees are beginning to fall from the branches. Gathering food to stock up on or sell. The cold, brisk air filled his lungs as he worked tirelessly, knowing that every moment spent away from his beloved was worth it for their future together. Nanami's heart swelled with gratitude for the life they had built, knowing that their love would always be the foundation of their happiness.

Raising a hand to his face to wipe his sweat, he gazed at his wife.

She sat on the porch, sewing a quilt, her hands moving skillfully as she hummed a familiar tune. Her bump was beginning to show in the life they had created together, a reminder of the love that bound them. Kento couldn't help but smile, grateful for her presence in his life and the warmth she brought to their home. As the sun began to set, he joined her on the porch, cherishing these simple moments of peace and contentment together.

Suddenly, a harsh feeling came into his chest. He felt as if he were being torn from the inside, waiting for it to erupt from him. Buckling over, he coughed into his hand, shakily looking at it. His wife immediately ran to his aid, rubbing his back in circles as she kneeled next to him to assist him. Brows furrowed in concern on her sun kissed face.

"Kento?" She called, her face paling as she looked at him. Blood dribbled down his chin, covering his hand.

~_~_~_~

A sickness furrowed its claws deep into him.

The village doctor allowed them both some time to consider; there were treatment possibilities, but they required money. Something either of them didn't have much of. The doctor's words lingered in his mind, weighing heavily on his chest. Kento knew that life would never be the same again.

Looking at his wife, he held her hand tight, regret flowing through him for making her go through this. For not being better for her. He knew that look in her eyes; she was thinking hard, thinking of ways to fix this. Kento felt a sense of guilt and responsibility weighing heavily on his shoulders as he realized the gravity of the situation.

"Love, we'll get through this together," he whispered, trying to reassure her. But deep down, he knew that their journey ahead would be filled with challenges and sacrifices.

Turning to him, she had that same smile—the same one he'd grown to adore the last few years. Years filled with absolute happiness.

"We will, Kento." She affirmed, leaning to rest her forehead against his.

~_~_~

The look of love never once changed in her eyes for him. Not once.

Even as she watched him struggle with the changes, he went from a strong man who could sow their entire field in less than a day to a man needing help being fed. Things like pity, regret, or resentment never crossed her mind.

A horrible cough wracked Kento's form, one that made her heart ache with worry. She held him closer, dabbing his face more with a damp cloth to ease the fever that had come on in the middle of the night.

"You should run off with the money we have. Stop wasting it on me." He chided her, still leaning on her as she cared for him. But she shook her head, determined to stay by his side no matter what. "Even with a child, I'm sure you'd find someone else. Someone worthy."

"I'm not going anywhere, Kento. We'll get through this together," she whispered, her voice filled with unwavering love and devotion. Kissing his forehead, she gently held him, caressing his damp hair until he fell asleep. His hand rested on her stomach, as if still trying to protect the life growing inside her.

The winter storm raged outside, and the two of them were bundled in their warm blankets, finding solace in each other's presence as they faced the uncertainty of the future together. The crackling fire in the fireplace provided a sense of comfort and warmth amidst the howling winds outside. Nanami's chest rose and fell with each calm breath. He looked at peace, despite the pain and uncertainty that surrounded them.

She vowed to find a way to help him, no matter the cost.

In the quiet of the night she slipped to her weave room, her loom in the middle of the room. With determination she got to work.

~_~_~

For several nights, she spent her time weaving delicate silk tapestries and silk panels she knew she would be able to sell at the market to support them through the difficult times ahead. The intricate designs and vibrant colors were a labor of love, a symbol of their unwavering bond and determination to overcome any obstacle together.

While being unable to do hard labor, she spent countless hours caring for her husband while also making the beautiful tapestries that would give her the money to buy the medicine.

The night before the market day, she stayed up late adding the final touches to her creations, knowing that their success was crucial for their survival. As the first light of dawn broke through the window, she felt a sense of hope and determination that they would make it through this challenging time together.

~_~_~

Spring is approaching now. The last month of winter began to thaw, bringing with it the promise of new beginnings and opportunities. His sickness weakened the strength he had. Each day, his wife cared for him with unwavering dedication, no matter how much he tried to push her away. Her bump is now bigger, and she can feel the baby kicking more frequently.

"It's pointless getting the medicine." He frowned, looking away from her as she bathed him. "It's pointless staying with me."

She simply stopped humming, continuing to wipe his chest, a frown on her face as she sat in front of him in the bathtub. Water surrounded the two of them in their small tub. The steam of the bath fogged the small room, enveloping the two in a sense of warmth and intimacy.

Despite his words, she couldn't bear the thought of leaving him alone in his time of need.

"My love, no matter what you say, no matter how foul you try to be, I'm staying." She said, "We both are."

Tears filled his eyes as he understood the extent of her love and dedication. Despite his protests, she remained by his side, a beacon of hope in his darkest days.

Another cough racked his form, and attentively, she helped rub his back as he coughed. Only once her hand dropped the towel to cup his face did he notice her fingers. They were wrapped in bandages, blood seeping through from the cuts.

"What happened to your hands?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

She smiled softly and explained, "Just a minor kitchen mishap, nothing serious to worry about."

The profound love and sacrifice she showed left him speechless. Gently, he lifted her hand to his face, pressing a kiss to the tips of each finger. Tears finally went down his cheeks; months of bottling them up were finally released in that moment of vulnerability. He realized then just how much she truly meant to him.

"I'll be better for you," he promised, tears streaming down his face. "I love you more than words can express."

She squeezed his hand gently, feeling the weight of his promise in her heart.

"You've done more than enough. I love you more than you'll ever know," she whispered, feeling grateful for his vulnerability and honesty.

He sobbed in her arms, pressing his face against her wet chest as sobs wracked his form. She held him close, whispering words of comfort and reassurance as he let out all his pent-up emotions in her embrace.

~_~_~

After making tapestries for hours, she had finally made enough to cover the costs for the stronger medication Kento needed.

With a breath of relief, she left the doctor's office, holding the vial of medicine close to her chest. She knew that the medicine was their last hope for his recovery, and she was willing to do whatever it took to ensure he got better. As she walked home, her heart was heavy with worry but also filled with determination to see him healthy again.

In her anxiety, she felt a harsh kick; her little one was quite active as of late. Her late nights working and taking care of Kento made her realize the importance of taking care of herself and her unborn child. She knew she needed to find a balance between caring for Kento and ensuring her own well-being during this challenging time.

~_~_~

Kento seemed to be getting better each day. 

His health was slowly regaining strength, and now he was able to tend to the small weeds in the garden. The fresh air and sunlight seemed to invigorate him, giving hope that they would indeed overcome this challenge together. As she watched him work in the garden, she felt a sense of gratitude for every moment they had together.

Her own health, however, only got worse. Bags were under her eyes, and she had lost weight. A concern for the doctors, especially with her due date being later than most women. As the flowers began to bloom outside, she prayed for a miracle to keep him by her side a little while longer.

"Kento! Come take a break, my love." She called out, reaching for him on the porch.

Kento looked up from his task and smiled warmly at her, setting down his gardening tools before walking over to her.

"I'm almost done here, love. Let's sit together for a while," he said gently, wrapping his arms around her as they sat on the porch, enjoying the peaceful moment together.

Nuzzling into her neck, he whispered sweet nothings, reminding her of his unwavering love and support. The warmth of his embrace was the only medicine she needed to feel better in that moment.

"You should be sleeping." He reminded her, concern on his face as he looked over her.

Waving her hand dismissively, she leaned into his chest, feeling safe and loved in his arms.

"I'll sleep soon, I promise. But right now, I just want to be here with you," she murmured softly, closing her eyes and savoring the moment of peace and comfort they shared together. 

Her restlessness seemed to melt away as she focused on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a soothing lullaby that calmed her racing thoughts. In that moment, she knew that with him by her side, she could face anything that came their way.

"I was thinking of names." He said it with a grin, looking down at his wife resting on his chest.

"Names ?" She lifted her head to look at him with curiosity, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. The anticipation of starting a family together filled their hearts with joy and excitement for the future.

"For a boy, Yoshiharu." He spoke, rubbing her hair gently. "For a girl, I was thinking of Miu."

She met his gaze, nodding in agreement at the two names.

"Those sound lovely."

~_~_~

Their child is born on a rainy spring day; she screams into the world, lungs full of life. Her chubby cheeks are pink, and her tiny fingers grasp at the air. The sound of her cry fills the room, bringing tears of happiness to their eyes as they welcome their daughter, Miu, into the world.

"She's perfect." Kento whispers, kissing his wife's forehead as they both marvel at the miracle before them.

Tears of joy fall down the couple's faces. Their hearts are full as they hold their precious daughter for the first time, feeling a love like no other. The room is filled with a sense of overwhelming love and gratitude as they begin their journey as a family of three.

~_~_~

Miu grows strong in the coming months, as does her father. The weather was not as warm anymore, leaves begin to fall with a chill to the air. The sickness is all but gone from him now.

All would be well, or so he thought.

Even after the birth, his wife's health did not seem to get better. His wife continues to weave in the late hours of the night, determined to keep her family safe and healthy. No matter how much he begged for her to get rest, she continued. She was scared of not having him in her life. Scared of losing him to the sickness. As the days passed, her exhaustion became more apparent, but her determination never wavered. The love she had for her family was evident in every sacrifice she made for their well-being. Fingers were raw from the endless threading and weaving. 

Having awoken in the middle of the night, Kento frowned. He had reached over to his wife's side but only felt the cold sheets. Groggily, he sat up, rubbing his eyes as he looked around the room. It was dark, save for the moonlight streaming in from his window.

His daughter slept in her cradle peacefully. He smiled at the sight. She looked like a carbon copy of his wife, but she had his eye shape, skin tone, and mannerisms. The girl never cried for much and slept through most of the night, something they were beyond grateful for.

Carefully, Kento steps out of the room, walking down the hall to find his wife.

The only things heard were crickets outside and the wooden loom being moved. As he approached the spare bedroom, he had a gut feeling something was wrong. His hand shook as it hovered over the screen handles. Ignoring it, he carefully slid open the door, seeing a shocking sight.

There sat his wife with her robes pulled down, and her arms were wings now. White, beautiful feathers were scattered around her, blood seeping from her arms and back. Feathers gathered into a basket in front of her, the loom glimmering with silk. Threads. She had been making the tapestries and silk panels from her own feathers all this time. 

His beloved wife was an enchanted being, able to switch between human and avian forms. Shocked and heartbroken, he realized the sacrifices she had made to be with him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he kneeled infront of her.

With tears in her eyes, she covered her body from him, ashamed he had found out. Her transformation was a secret she had kept hidden out of fear of rejection. Seeing the feathers closer, he recognized them; it was the crane's feather, the very same one he saved years ago.

"Look away!" She cried out, crawling away from him, not looking him in the eyes. Bloody hands clasped around her robes.

He only looked at her with love, hands raised, just like when they first met. 

Kneeling down on the ground to be less intimidating, he gently reached out to touch her hand, a silent gesture of understanding and acceptance. She hesitated for a moment before finally meeting his gaze, seeing only compassion and support reflected back at her.

"It's just me, love." Kento reached out to her, gently touching her shoulder, trying to reassure her. She flinched from him and looked at him fearfully, her chest heaving with each panicked breath.

"Please, don't," she whispered, tears running down her face, her body shaking. Memories flooded her mind of the pain she’s endured in the past from humans. Pain and abuse from them discovering what she is.

Tearing herself from his gaze, she turned around, transforming into her crane form, and flew out the open window. He ran after her, stopping at the window where he watched her soar into the night sky, yelling her name out.

As she disappeared into the darkness, he whispered a silent prayer for her safety and well-being. Tears went down his face, knowing her secret didn't change the love he felt for her. If anything, it only deepened his admiration for her strength and beauty. Months of her sacrificing her well being helped save him.

Sobbing, he collapsed onto the floor, thinking he had lost her forever.

~_~_~

Months disappear in the blink of an eye.

A time spent in loneliness and hardship. He had to navigate fatherhood without his wife, but his heart never found anger for her. She was scared; he couldn't blame her for her reaction. He knew she was struggling with her own demons, and he hoped she would find peace one day. Despite the challenges, he remained committed to being the best father he could be for their child.

He just wanted her back.

Miu is nearly one, and he still finds himself looking out the windows every night, hoping to catch a glimpse of her flying by. The memory of her departure still lingers in his heart, a bittersweet reminder of the love they shared.

Sitting by the river with his daughter, he lets out a sigh, looking up at the sky with a forlorn look. He felt a gaping hole in his heart, one that would never be filled. With the sun beginning to set, he picks up Miu. The girl was sweet, her laughter filling the air as they walked back home together. She looked closer to her mother, her features near identical. The ache in his heart slowly begins to heal, knowing that she will always be a part of him, no matter where she may be.

Just as he almost makes it up the hill, a feather falls down before him. Curiously, he leans down and picks it up, inhaling a sharp breath once he recognizes the feather in his hand. Without a second of hesitation, he begins to run to his home, his daughter laughing gleefully at the change of pace. 

He bursts through the door, finding a familiar figure in a white kimono waiting by the window, their backs turned from him. At his entrance, the figure turns his way, a smile on their lips—the same one he loves and misses dearly. The sun casted a soft heavenly glow behind them, making him think it was his imagination.

Tears well up in his eyes as he rushes forward to embrace them. Miu looked at them curiously as they cupped their father’s face. Their hands carefully caressed his face as if he was glass, tears now falling down his face in relief.

"Hello Kento."

Hope you enjoyed!! I was gonna go with the OG sad ending but my heart couldn't

Lol very vanilla and lovey dovey. Crane lady got saved by a handsome farmer, spent months with him under his care (learning everything about him), and went ‘I shall bear your children and love you forever’ and I mean, that’s fair

[mokokone]

Hello! I have an idea/request!!! I saw your Kusuriuri's and love them SO MUCH! Can I request maybe a Kusuriuri x reader with the red string, I heard that Kusuriuri is "unlikely that he can ever settle down and marry" so maybe the reader is the one that follows the red string and finds him. You know just a cute writing! Have a good day/afternoon/night! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ ♡♡

A/N: I had to do a little research on Japanese mythology before writing this. Hope you enjoy!♡

The Red Thread [The Medicine Seller/Kusuriuri x Reader Soulmate AU]

When you'd first seen the thin red string that was neatly tied to your pinkie finger, you knew immediately that Okuninushi no Mikoto, the God of Love and Marriage, had bound you to your soulmate.

You so badly wanted to meet them, but you were a little afraid that they might not be what you had imagined. However, as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the red string remained a constant reminder of the divine connection you shared with your soulmate. You found yourself growing more and more curious about who they could be, wondering if they were thinking about you too.

The anticipation and excitement continued to build, filling your heart with a mixture of hope and apprehension. Every time you looked at the string, you felt a surge of warmth and comfort, knowing that somewhere out there, your soulmate was waiting for you.

Thus, you began your journey through the land of Edo in search of the one connected to you by the red string of fate.

From bustling streets and rural villages to serene gardens and sacred shrines, the sense of connection you felt grew stronger. With each step you took, you felt an unfamiliar, small tug on your pinkie.

However, nothing came from those small tugs on the string. Despite the initial excitement and hope that had filled your heart, the absence of any further signals left you feeling uncertain and restless. You began to wonder if perhaps you had misinterpreted the signs or if the timing was simply not right.

As you were about to lose all hope, you suddenly felt that one constant pull, and you almost thought your finger was going to come off.

Curiosity is eating you alive. You take a deep breath and stand, following the string whenever it tugs. It was as if it was guiding you.

You want to know who you are connected to and why. You follow until the red string leads you to a red torii gate. Passing through, you're met with a gorgeous garden of pink hydrangeas and a beautiful shrine covered in papar Ofuda.

You stare at it in awe for a moment until the red string begins to glow brightly.

Slowly, you approach the shrine and see a man sitting on the engawa.

He had dirty blonde hair and wore a purple bandanna. He's dressed in a vibrant kimono with beautiful psychedelic patterns, and his appearance looks elven-like. The outsides of his eyes are outlined by strange markings, with the ones underneath forming the appearance of teardrops. And his upper lip is painted purple, making it appear that he is constantly smiling.

He doesn't look human at all. In fact, he remained like a sly fox. But the red string seems to connect to him as it does to you.

For a moment, you stare at him until his gaze meets yours.

"Oh?" His voice is velvety and attractive as he raises a tad, "A visitor?"

Suddenly, you felt naked as he shamelessly eyed you up and down; the corners of his mouth curled along with his painted lips in an amused smirk.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this special visit?" He asked.

"Are you... my soulmate?" You asked shyly, slowly inching her way closer.

You wanted to get closer to him, but stopped a few feet from him so as not to invade his personal space. You were strangers. The enchanted Ofuda covering the shrine acts as a warning to you to keep away.

"Hmm, perhaps I am." He tilts his head in question. "First, I'm hunting Mononoke, and the next thing I know is that I have a red string tied to my finger."

He then eyed the string tied to your own finger as his smile widens. Gently, he pulls at the red thread as trying to pull you forward.

"It would seem the old man has a sense of humor." He said.

Your face heats up in embarrassment as you shyly avert your gaze toward the ground. However, another tug on the string brings your attention back to him.

"I've been waiting for you to come find me." He replies.

"Y-you have?"

He nods.

"Though, you'll have to excuse all these... decorations," he says, gesturing towards the paper ofuda covering the shrine. "They were for safety measures in case you were a mononoke. Okuninushi is an old friend of mine, and I had assumed this was his way of getting back at me. But apparently I was wrong."

"You have a name?" You asked him.

"I'm just a humble medicine seller." He answers nonchalantly.

"You don't have a name?" You tilt your head in question.

Another smile graced his painted lips, and he is like a fox.

"I am but a humble medicine seller, nothing more."

Did he simply not have a name, or was he hiding it out of habit? Either way, you decided to call him as is.

"Kusuriuri, then," you say.

The Medicine Seller, or "Kusuriuri," grins in response, the sight of his sharp canines making your heart thump faster as the red string of fate that connects you both glows brighter.

Soon, he silently motions you over to sit next to him, which, after a little hesitation, you do.

For a moment, neither of you speak, the tranquil silence enveloping the space between you like a soft, comforting blanket, creating an atmosphere filled with anticipation. You feel Kusuriuri's enigmatic gaze on you, and for a second, you think that he's displeased by what he sees.

What if he finds you mediocre, ugly, or disgusting?

"Are you happy with the result?" He suddenly asked, nearly making you jump.

"Eh?" You meet his gaze. "M-me..?"

He nods in response, a gentle affirmation that propels your heart into a flurry of emotions as you realize the depth of his query.

"Yes."

Oh! Apparently he was having the same thoughts as you and is now asking if you're happy with the outcome.

You're not sure if it's the red thread that ties your souls inextricably together, but you couldn't be happier to have finally met him. It's clear he's not human, but you refuse to let such distinctions cloud your feelings or cloud your judgment of what truly matters.

"Okuninushi wants to know if you're satisfied with me being your soulmate. It is why the red thread glows," Kusuriuri explains, his words carrying a weight of significance. "If you are disappointed or unhappy, then you can untie and remove it from your finger." He added.

You're surprised by this. I mean, did you really want to untie the string? Yes, you and Kusuriuri are strangers and hardly know each other. But surely there's a reason why the God of Love and Marriage chose Kusuriuri to be your one and only.

Feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension, you gaze at the glowing thread that binds you and Kusuriuri together. As the significance of the situation sinks in, you find yourself hesitating, unsure of whether to keep the thread intact or to sever it and potentially change the course of destiny.

However, Kusuriuri doesn't seem to be complaining much since he's making no effort to remove the string, which piqued your curiosity.

"Are you happy, Kusuriuri-san?" You asked while averting your gaze back to him. "Are you satisfied with me being your soulmate?"

The words tumble out of your mouth in a rush, betraying the anxiety that has been building up inside you.

For a moment, he said nothing and only stared at you, which started to worry you. However, the corner of his lips arched upward as he smiled. His smile is enigmatic, hinting at a depth of emotion that you can't quite decipher.

"Only if you don't find me uninteresting," he says. "I am quite satisfied with my result." His words are cryptic yet strangely comforting, leaving you with a sense of peace.

"You are?"

"Yes, very much."

Slowly, he leans in close until he's inches away from your face. The sudden proximity made your face feel warm. His presence feels both familiar and unknown, drawing you in with a magnetic pull.

"I must admit, it gets lonely traveling alone, and I could use some company," he tells you with a soft smile.

The warmth of his eyes draws you in, hinting at a desire for connection and shared experiences in the boundless expanse of the world.

"Then, yes, I am happy, Kusuriuri-san," you finally answer in earnest.

Okuninushi didn't make no mistake.

"Then, would you care to join me on my travels, my dear?" He asked you.

You nod in agreement, still mesmerized by the sincerity and depth of his gaze, you feel an unspoken invitation to join him on an adventure, uncertain of the destination but eager for the journey ahead.

Without a word exchanged, the silence between you speaks volumes as you both lean in, closing the distance between your lips. In that fleeting moment of connection, the world around you fades into insignificance, leaving only the sensation of his touch and the shared intimacy of that tender kiss.

The red string of fate glows brighter, as does your bond.

[tokidokitokyo]

石川県

Japanese Prefectures: Chūbu - Ishikawa

都道府県 (とどうふけん) - Prefectures of Japan

Learning the kanji and a little bit about each of Japan’s 47 prefectures!

Kanji・漢字

石　いし、セキ、シャク、��ク　stone

川　かわ、セン　stream, river

県　ケン　prefecture

中部　ち���うぶ　Chūbu, Central Japan, the central region of Japan

Prefectural Capital (県庁所在地) : Kanazawa (金沢市)

Ishikawa Prefecture lies along the scenic north coast of Honshu, the main island of Japan, and is part of the central region, known as Chūbu (中部) or Hokuriku (北陸). Ishikawa combines contemporary art and ancient crafts, stunning ocean or mountain views, relaxing hot springs and traditional Japanese inns. Kanazawa boasts a vibrant geigi (芸妓) culture (think geisha), a bustling seaport in Kaga, and mountainous terrain in the Hakusan region.

This region was hit by the 2024 New Year's Noto Peninsula earthquake, with the most devastation occurring in the northern part of the peninsula. Many businesses and much of the economy relies heavily on tourism, and now is a good time to visit to assist in revitalizing the community, especially in minimally affected areas such as Kanazawa and Kaga.

Recommended Tourist Spot・おすすめ観光スポット Kutani Ceramic Art Village - 九谷陶芸村

Kutaniyaki (Kutani ware) (source)

Kutani ware is probably the best known in Ishikawa and the Noto peninsula. There are many kutani ware souvenirs to be found in Ishikawa, and you can even take classes to make your own pottery. Kutani ware contains five distinctive colors: red, yellow, green. purple, and blue. The rules for Kutani ware are few, so the freedom allowed in creating the pottery is practically endless. The high quality of the porcelain stone found in Ishikawa further lends itself to the distinctiveness of the pottery. In the city of Nomi you can find the Kutani Ceramic Art Village, which is also home to a museum documenting the history Kutani ware and how it is made. Nearby is Cerabo Kutani, a workshop where you can make your own Kutani ware pottery.

The history of this pottery dates back to 1655, when the first daimyo feudal lords of what was then the Daishoji domain wanted to make the most of the porcelain stone found in the area. A gold smelter was sent to Saga Prefecture to learn pottery, and when he returned he opened a kiln in the village of Kutani. This pottery became known as Ko Kutani, a predecessor to Kutani ware in its present form. This kiln operated for 50 years, and then closed down, for reasons unknown to historians.

The next kiln was opened in 1805, when a craftsman skilled in Kyoto pottery came to Ishikawa with his apprentice. The apprentice found the porcelain stone that is local to the area, and the pottery that they created became the modern day Kutani ware.

Regional Cuisine - 郷土料理 Kanazawa Oden - 金沢おでん

Kanazawa oden (source)

Oden is a popular traditional street food dish that can be traced back to the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan. It is traditionally a dish of various ingredients simmered in soy-based broth and the simple yet warm and nourishing dish can still be found all over Japan today.

Kanazawa oden is a regional variation from the city of Kanazawa in Ishikawa, and is particularly distinctive from other types of oden due to the broth, which is carefully crafted from a blend of soy sauce, dashi (stock made from kombu seaweed and bonito flakes), and other seasonings such as mirin, sake, ginger, and garlic. Kanazawa oden ingredients include crab (only available in the winter!), plum shell conch, and fish balls. Kaga vegetables such as gensuke radish and wheat gluten are also staples in this dish.

Although Kanazawa oden can be enjoyed year-round, to get kani-men or stuffed crab shell you need to visit in the winter months.

Ishikawa Dialect・Ishikawa hougen・石川方言

The dialects of Ishikawa Prefecture are Kaga dialect (加賀弁, Kaga-ben) spoken in the southern part of the prefecture, and the Noto dialect (能登弁, Noto-ben) spoken in the northern part. There are also multiple dialects within each of the primary dialects, thanks to the mountains separating the villages. The below examples are primarily Kanazawa dialect.

1. あんやと、あんがと　anyato, angato

Standard Japanese: ありがとう　(arigatou) English: thank you

ああ、あんやと。 ah, anyato

ああ、ありがとう。 ah, arigatou

Oh, thank you.

2. ～しまっし　～shimasshi

Standard Japanese: ～してください、～しなさい　 (～shite kudasai, ～shinasai) English: please do ～, do ～

そこへ座るまっしね。 soko e suwaru masshi ne.

そこへ座ってくださいね。 soko e suwatte kudasai ne.

Please go ahead and sit there.

*Note: The masshi structure is the most famous Kanazawa dialect. This is also the catch phrase for visiting Kanazawa: 来まっし、金沢！ Kimasshi, Kanazawa! (Come to Kanazawa!)

3. ほうや、ほうや！　(houya, houya)

Standard Japanese: そうだそうだ　(sou da sou da) English: that's right, that's right

A: だちゃっかんわいね。 B: ほうや、ほうやね。 A: dachakkannwaine. B: hou ya, hou ya ne.

A: だめだね。 B: そうだ、そうだね。 A: dachakkannwaine. B: sou da, sou da ne.

A: That's not good, is it? B: That's right, that's right.

4. あゆるしゅう、あゆっしゅ　(ayurushuu, ayusshu)

Standard Japanese: よろしく (yoroshiku) English: nice to meet you, I'll leave it to you, please do etc.

A: デザートもたのむん？ A: dezaato mo tanomun? B: あゆるしゅう。 B: ayurushuu.

A: デザートも頼むの？ dezaato mo tanomu no? B: よろしく。 B: yoroshiku.

A: Are we ordering dessert too? B: Please do.

5. なーんも、なーん　(naan mo, naan)

Standard Japanese: いいよ　(ii yo) English: it's ok, don't worry

なぁーん、いいがや。 naan, ii ga ya.

いいえ、心配しないで。 iie, shinpai shinai de.

No, it's ok, don't worry.

More Ishikawa dialect here (JP).

[itsmarjudgelove]

Wasabi is one of the most distinctive condiments in Japanese cuisine today, particularly for sushi and sashimi. But how did we get here? The journey of this pungent green root, also known as Japanese horseradish, spans over a millennium of culinary and cultural history. The story of wasabi in Japan begins in the Asuka period (538-710 AD), when it was first recognized not just for its unique flavor but also for its medicinal properties. Growing naturally in cool, clear mountain streams, wasabi was initially foraged before cultivation methods were developed. The plant's scientific name, Wasabia japonica, reflects its Japanese origins. A pivotal moment in wasabi's history occurred during the Keicho era (1596-1615), when villagers from Izu presented the plant to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. Ieyasu was so impressed by wasabi's flavor and the resemblance of its leaves to his family crest that he declared its cultivation methods a closely guarded secret. During the Edo period (1603-1868), wasabi's popularity soared, particularly as an accompaniment to raw fish in sushi. Its antibacterial properties made it invaluable in an era before refrigeration, helping to prevent food poisoning and allowing the flourishing of Japan's raw fish culinary traditions. By the Meiji era (1868-1912), wasabi cultivation had spread to other regions of Japan, such as Shizuoka Prefecture, which remains famous for its wasabi to this day. For those interested in experiencing wasabi's history firsthand, the Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, is a must-visit destination. This farm, established in 1915, offers visitors a chance to see traditional wasabi cultivation methods and even taste wasabi-flavored ice cream while exploring the picturesque wasabi fields.

[bnhaobservation]

Ramblings about the Himura family

So, the past time I was rambling about the Shimura family and the Takami family.

Now generally, when I made those posts about those families, I focused on the dynamics about family members… but for the Himura family there’s hardly something to work with as we barely see any interaction among them.

However… there’s plenty of history (which I kind of discussed in a past ask), and since I thought this could be interesting and worth being preserved, I decided to make a post just for this.

PREMISE

Generally, to make my posts, I use the canon material as basis, but since in this case the story of the Himura family involves history, well, I’m going to report info you don’t find in the manga but which are probably common knowledge in Japan.

For the sake of this observation I’ll assume this:

- ‘What happened in the past in our world history is also true in the BNHA universe’ which might not be true but unless Horikoshi specifically stated there were change, likely is.

With this said let’s start with the Himura family.

We learn more in detail about who the Himura family was in… chap 387 in which Geten will reveal to belong to the Himura family as well as a bit of their backstory.

‘Furuku kara no shōya datta Himura ha nōchi kaikaku go mo bunke wo fuyasu koto de zai to PRIDE wo nantoka tamotte kita.‘ 「古くからの庄屋だった火叢は農地改革後も分家を増やす事で財とプライドをなんとか保ってきた」 “The Himura, who were village heads from long ago, managed to maintain their wealth and pride even after the land reform by increasing the number of branch families.” [Chap 387]

Let’s consider this bit, ‘were village heads (庄屋 'Shōya’) from long ago’ and see what it exactly means.

'Shōya’ (庄屋) can be translated as “village heads” but which is actually a bit more complex than what it might seem to us.

Basically a Shōya was a person who, during the Edo period (1603-1868), was in charge of the village affairs under the direction of the magistrate and worked as the leader of the village. The term was used predominantly in the Kansai regions (other regions used other names), so we can assume the Himura were originally from that region.

Just to give you an idea the Todorokis instead are from the Shizuoka prefecture (along with other characters like Midoriya and Bakugō).

To be more exact, the office of Shōya in Japan was generally established between 1688 and 1704.

To get a better idea of how rich Shōya could be, just think even though they technically were considered peasants, many of them were financially better off than samurai, or even top class Daimyo, lived in large mansions, owned large tracts of farmland , and were also intellectuals representing the village due to their work involved in document creation . The families that served as Shoya during the Edo period were often from prestigious families or previously were powerful vassals of warlords of the Sengoku period (1467-1638).

Of course it wasn’t mandatory for the Shōya to be that rich but… well, it gives you an idea they generally weren’t just a random nobody in charge of a village.

Their duties included tax collection, general village administration, management of public natural resources (such as mountain, field, river and ocean) of a village, as well as negotiating with the territorial lord as the representative of the villagers. The most powerful of them, administered between a dozen to several dozen villages, and ruled an extremely large territory. Some of them were given the privilege to bear a surname and to wear a katana and were treated like members of the samurai class. Their duties also included the communication of laws and the coordination of lawsuits.

Just so you know, Japanese surnames were not really born until 1875. Before, the Japanese mainly carried the name of their clan. Before this date, only people of high rank such as nobles and samurai had a surname. The common people used, in case of need, the name of their place of birth, for example, their village.

Now… Himura is written with the kanji for “ice” (氷 'hi’) and “gathering, collection” (叢 'mura’)… but the interesting part is that 'mura’, written with this kanji 村 means “village”.

So it’s possible originally they were the people from the Hi village, and then they took the word Himura, changed the kanji so as to make it sound less common people and turned it into their surname… either by becoming important enough to gain the right to a surname or much later, in 1875 (I tend to think they gained the right to their surname but that’s just me) or maybe even after this date, when they gained their Quirk.

Going on.

Let’s consider this bit ‘managed to maintain their wealth and pride even after the land reform (農地改革 'Nōchi kaikaku’) by increasing the number of branch families (分家 ‘Bunke’)’ and see what it exactly means:

So here Geten mentions a 'Nōchi kaikaku’ (農地改革) which means “Agricultural revolution” or “Land reform”.

Although Japan had various land reforms, in Japan, when you talk of the 'Nōchi kaikaku’ (農地改革), you are talking of the reform of the agricultural land ownership system carried out by the Japanese government in 1947 under the direction of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

The purpose was to reduce the wide gap between absentee landlords who owned agricultural land but did not farm it themselves, and tenant farmers who rented the land in exchange for giving the landlord a high proportion of the crop. The land reform laws were intended to limit the amount of farm land one household could own to about the amount of land that one family could farm themselves, without outside labor. The government forced absentee landlords to sell all their land to the government. Farmers were allowed to own a small amount of farm land that they could rent out to others, and had to sell any excess to the government. The government then sold this land, usually to the tenant who had been farming it. The result greatly improved the living conditions of farmers.

Why Geten says the Himura maintained their wealth and pride creating branch families?

Likely the Himura owned more than the land they would be allowed to own by the reform… but my guess is that, in order to continue controlling it, they decided to split their family in many branch families and share the land among them so that the control would still remain in their hands even if they would technically comply with the law.

In fact let’s look for a moment at how the whole main family/branch family work in Japan.

The “main household” of a Japanese family, which Geten will mention later in his talk, is called ‘Honke’ (本家 literally “source house”) and it is characterized by a patrilocal residence and patrilineal primogeniture and is part of the system of family branching that establishes a multiplied structure to create familial relationships.

In fact, in Edo period it was decided the eldest son would inherit everything, all of the family’s assets, including movable and immovable property, including the household as well as the responsibility of taking care of his parents as they aged and even the family Butsudan (since in the Todorokis’ Butsuma room, the room in which the Butsudan is, there’s also a photo of Enji’s father on the wall, this implies the Butsudan had also been ‘his home’ and so we can figure out that, if Enji had siblings, he was the eldest son merely by him having the Butsudan which hosts his father). The eldest son is also expected to live with his parents when they grow older. This change was essentially intended to prevent further division of a territory into smaller sections. Due to all this, particular attention was given to the oldest son’s upbringing and education as he would be the next family head.

What’s the family head?

The “family head” (当主 ‘tōshu’) is basically the person who has inherited the headship of the family.

This means they have authority over their wife and the rest of the family members and the duty to protect them as well as the right to disown those who violate his wishes. Basically, disobey him and you can be literally kicked out of the family. They also had authority over the family's customs and rituals and are responsible for the management of the family property and the family business.

What about the other children of the family?

Normally they would get zero inheritance (or a very small one). The daughters would get married off and would come to belong to other families, as for the younger boys, they could remain in the family and continue obeying to the family head or, if the family head were to allow them, form a branch family, the ‘Bunke’ (分家 literally “part house”) “branch households”.

The branch family was supposed to remain subservient to the main family (so the main family still keeps control of things) and remains to live close to it.

Note that a family could also adopt an adult (generally someone who worked for them) and then use him to create a branch family.

The Himura already had some branch families they controlled since the text say they increased (増やす ‘fuyasu’) the number of the branch families.

Long story short, if the Himura decided to not let anymore the male firstborn inherit everything but to split the land between more people so as to create many branch families, the main family would still be in control of everything.

I’m speculating, I don’t know if this is how they handled the whole thing, but it seems the most logical assumption.

‘Demo chōjō ga okiru to tomoni kasokudo-teki ni reiraku shite itta. Chi ga mazaru no wo kirattanda. Kekka bunke… tōen dōshi de no kekkon ga aitsuida. Mizukara wo heisoku kankyō ni oki Himura-ke ha shukushō no itto wo tadori.’ 「でも超常が起きると共に加速度的に零落していった。血が混ざるのを嫌ったんだ。結果分家…遠縁同士での結婚が相次いだ。自らを閉塞環境に置き火叢家は縮小の一途を辿り」 “But as the exceptional happened, things (for them) started falling down at an accelerating rate. They hated mixing their blood. As a result, the branch families... had marriages among distant relatives which occurred one after another. As a result of placing themselves in a closed environment, the Himura family steadily shrank.” [Chap 387]

Now… during feudal Japan, clans traditionally encouraged cousin relationships to perpetuate family dynasties, and the Himura split their family on paper to keep control of their land… so it can be the Himura always married between themselves because back then it was normal to do so.

It’s hard to say.

However the way Geten claims it was the advent of the “exceptional” (超常 ‘chōjō’) or, if you prefer, the appearance of Quirks, which speeded up their downfall as they didn’t want to dilute their blood, seems to imply when they turned out with having an ice Quirk, things started to take a turn for worse, causing them to hate mixing their blood.

Possibly the Himura’s ‘ice Quirk’ became another reason due to which they didn’t want to mix their blood with people who didn’t have it. If before it could have been fine to adopt someone into the family, afterward it wasn’t anymore because that someone wouldn’t have an ‘ice Quirk’, if before whatever family member could be okay for marriage, afterward only whose who inherited the ‘ice Quirk’ were eligible.

Shōto too kind of hinted at this, when he talked of Quirk marriages.

‘Kosei kon. Shitteru yo na. “Chōjō” ga okite kara dai ni ~ daisan sedai-kan de mondai ni natta yatsu… Jishin no “kosei” wo yori kyōka shite tsuga seru tame dake ni haigūsha wo erabi…… kekkon wo shiiru. Rinri-kan no ketsuraku shita zenjidaiteki hassō.’ 「個性婚知ってるよな。“超常”が起きてから第二～第三世代間で問題になったやつ…‘自身の”個性”をより強化して継がせる為だけに配偶者を選び…… 結婚を強いる。 倫理観の欠落した前時代的発想」 “Quirk marriage. Do you know about it? After the ‘paranormal’ happened, between the second and third generation they became a problem… In order to pass in inheritance a further strengthened version your ‘Quirk’ choose a spouse… and get her married to you by force. Old-fashioned way of thinking which lacks in ethics.” [Chap 31]

Likely the Himura started marrying into the family before Quirk appeared but, once they did, the marriages weren’t just between family members but between family members with an ice Quirk. I’ve theorized the Himura might have changed their surname in the past… but it can be that the ‘hi’ part of it became “ice” after the appearance of Quirks… or the fact the Himura started having an ice Quirk ended up being seen as a requisite to belong to the “ice gathering” family.

So it’s likely they were also doing Quirk marriages among family members, not so much like Enji did so as to mix his fire Quirk with a suitable Ice Quirk so that they would both compensate each other, but only in order to strengthen or maintain their ice Quirk. Which made Quirkless people, which previously were the majority, ineligible for marriage.

How distant had to be those distant relatives the Himura married each other off?

Currently, by law, in order to marry among them, relatives had to be at least second cousins or more distantly related (4th degree or higher).

If you've no idea of what this means here there's a potentially useful scheme which show you which degree are your family relatives from 1st to 3rd (the ones without degree are 4th or higher).

Now the huge declining birthrate in Japan might have caused the thinning of their numbers… and to make matters worse, if people keep marrying distant relatives, with each passing generation those distant relatives become less distant and therefore no more eligible for marriage, which might have made harder for the Himura to find a potential partner… and if having a ice Quirk was a requisite to get married, the fact some Himura might have been Quirkless thinned their options further…

So, anyway, Geten blames the Himura downfall to the thinning of their numbers… but honestly though, I tend to think it’s more like they were bad investors/administrators and so they lost their own capitals.

I mean, whatever you think about their marriage policies, they shouldn’t affect the money they had and we know if Rei was married off to Enji it wasn’t because there wasn’t an Himura available for her to marry but because her family was poor.

‘Obā-chan-tachi ga binbō shiteta kara okā-san wo uttan daro. Okāsan ha sōsuru shikanakattan daro.’ 「おばあちゃん達が貧乏してたからお母さんを売ったんだろ。お母さんはそうするしかなかったんだろ」 “Grandma and the others were poor, so they sold you, mother, isn’t that right? Mother, you had no choice but to do it, isn’t that right?” [Chap 302]

In the anime Enji himself confirms the reasons why he won the Himuras over were also tied to their lack of money.

'(Katsute ha meika datta Himura-ke mo ima ha aoikitoiki…)’ 「(かつては名家だった氷叢家も今は青息吐息…)」 “(The Himura family, which was once a prestigious family, was now in deep distress…)” [Ep 130]

Okay, so he doesn’t quite talk of them lacking money as Tōya did but he makes clear what won the family head over: his status and the bride’s dowry.

'(No.2 HERO no chii to meiyo, soshite djisankin meate ni Himura-ke no tōshu ha ore no teian wo assari to ukeireta.)’ 「(No.2ヒーローの地位と名誉、そして持参金目当てに氷叢家の当主は俺の提案をあっさりと受け入れた) 」 “(The head of the Himura family easily accepted my proposal, aiming for the status and prestige of the No. 2 hero, as well as the dowry.)” [Ep 130]

The “dowry” (持参金 ‘djisankin‘) generally refers to the amount paid by the bride’s family to the groom, while the groom instead should give the bride “betrothal gifts” (結納金 ‘yuinō-kin‘) .

So what happened here?

When the bride is poor she brings as dowry the betrothal gifts given to her by the husband. So likely Enji, in a roundabout way paid her dowry, by giving her money as a betrothal gift and it’s possible that part of it was held back by the Himura themselves so that not all the money was returned to him. Or not. We don’t know but again, the Himura were interested in money, that’s why they agreed with his proposition.

Let’s go on.

‘Tōtō honke ga miuri wo hajimeta koto de jijitsujō no shūen wo mukaeta. Nokori no wazuka na shizoku mo risan shi sono naka no hitotsu datta boku ha saikōshidō-sha (read: RE-DESTRO) ni hirowa reta.’ 「とうとう本家が身売りを始めたことで事実上の終焉を迎えた。残りの僅かな氏族も離散しその中の一つだった僕は最高指導者(リ・デストロ)に拾われた」 “When finally the main family started selling themselves, it came to a de facto end. Even the few remaining clans are scattered, and I was among them and then picked up by the supreme leader (read: Re-Destro).” [Chap 387]

Geten also says the Himura family came to an end when the main family started selling themselves. This is likely a reference to how Rei was allowed to marry out of the family, the Himura being interested in Enji’s money and reputation.

What does this mean?

The family is carried on by a male heir. Likely Rei’s family had no male children and, since Rei didn’t marry a Himura nor her father adopted a Himura and made him the next heir, the main family couldn’t continue.

Well, to be honest, in theory it could have continued if Enji had agreed to take Rei’s name (yes, the husband can take the wife’s surname in Japan) but, of course, Enji wouldn’t have agreed.

Probably the main family kind of kept the organization of the other families until the family head died. With no new main family head, Geten explains the remaining “clans” (氏族 ‘shizoku’) ended up scattered.

What do we mean with “clan”?

A ‘shizoku’ (氏族), a “clan”, is a group of families that are related to each other.

Remember the whole ‘you needed permission from the family head to form a branch family, if not you would remain in the family under the family head authority even if married’ thing?

Evidently the Himura were still organized like that, with all the children who were born in the branch families continuing to live in the huge Himura residences with their parents (regardless of being married or not) under the authority of their father first and of his heir after, unless they were allowed to become a new branch family and leave.

This until the main family dies out. Once it does they probably started doing what many do, who gets married or is an adult capable to support himself, leaves the birth family and build his own house. Hence they scattered.

Likely this could have been because the old, huge Himura residences were sold because the branch families were poor and couldn’t keep that lifestyle, and the result was no family member could support the others. That’s why Geten ends up being picked up and groomed by Re-Destro from when he was a child, so that he doesn’t even attend to school and starts training his Quirk way sooner than other Heroes.

So Re-Destro to whom Geten is fiercely loyal, becomes his savior from a life of misery and poverty with no support from his other relatives who, apart from Rei, might be deep in misery as well.

The obsession of the Himura for not mixing their blood with others, might have made easier for him to embrace the 'Quirk supremacist’ theories of Re-Destro (those with the strongest Quirk should rule).

But let’s now go back to the main family and to Rei.

We get some information about them which confirm the story Geten told us in chap 301 and episode 130.

In chap 301 we’re shown Enji, Rei and the Himura family head taking part to what looks like a Miai (見合い), as the anime confirms.

‘(Ichiō, miai to iu katachi wo totte ha iruga, kore ha “kosei” kon)’ 「(一応、見合いという形をとってはいるが、これは"個性"婚) 」 “(Just in case, although it is made to look like what we call an arranged marriage meeting, this is a “Quirk” marriage.)” [Ep 130]

An “arranged marriage meeting” (見合い ‘miai’) is a Japanese traditional custom in which a woman and a man are introduced to each other to consider the possibility of marriage. Fundamentally is a meeting opportunity with more serious considerations for the future as a process of courtship.

Prior to it, both the families involved investigate the potential candidates.

So was Rei forced into it by Enji or not? When I say ‘families’ I mean parents who not always feel necessary to inform the future bride about it, in fact Shōto will say Enji persuaded Rei’s relatives, not Rei.

‘Kosei kon. Shitteru yo na. “Chōjō” ga okite kara dai ni ~ daisan sedai-kan de mondai ni natta yatsu… Jishin no “kosei” wo yori kyōka shite tsuga seru tame dake ni haigūsha wo erabi…… kekkon wo shiiru. Rinri-kan no ketsuraku shita zenjidaiteki hassō. Jisseki to kane dake ha aru otoko da… Oyaji ha haha no shinzoku wo marumekomi haha no “kosei” wo teniireta.’ 「個性婚知ってるよな。“超常”が起きてから第二～第三世代間で問題になったやつ…‘自身の”個性”をより強化して継がせる為だけに配偶者を選び…… 結婚を強いる。 倫理観の欠落した前時代的発想。実績と金だけはある男だ…親父は母の親族を丸め込み母の”個性”を手に入れた」 “Quirk marriage. Do you know about it? After the ‘paranormal’ happened, between the second and third generation they became a problem… In order to pass in inheritance a further strengthened version your ‘Quirk’ choose a spouse… and get her married to you by force. Old-fashioned way of thinking which lacks in ethics. He’s a man with achievement and money… My father persuaded my mother’s relatives and obtained my mother’s ‘Quirk’.” [Chap 31]

‘Marumekomi’ (丸め込み) literally “rounding included” means “to talk someone into doing what you want”, “to persuade him” but also “to manipulate”, “to swindle”. Shōto is clearly giving a definitive negative connotation to how Enji managed to win Rei from her parents, but in the end it seems all Enji had to do was to show them the money and the fact he was the Number Two Hero and they capitulated easily enough and decided he was a better potential partner than any distant relative she could have.

Tōya also paints a picture that looks rather negative.

'ENDEAVOR ha katsute chikara ni kogarete imashita. Soshite ALL MIGHT wo koe renai zetsubō kara yori tsuyoi “kosei” wo motta ko wo tsukuru tame muriyari tsuma wo metorimashita’ 「エンデヴァーはかつて力に焦がれていました。そしてオールマイトを超えれない絶望からより強い"個性"を持った子を作る為無理やり妻を娶りました」 “Endeavor was once thirsty for power. Therefore, out of despair of not being able to surpass All Might, in order to create a child with a stronger "Quirk” he took a wife by force.” [Chap 290]

Tōya uses 'muriyari’ (無理やり), which means “Forcibily, against one’s will” but again, later on, it seems it’s just because Enji didn’t swoon Rei over but merely persuaded her parents to agree by showing them money.

‘Obā-chan-tachi ga binbō shiteta kara okā-san wo uttan daro. Okāsan ha sōsuru shikanakattan daro’ 「おばあちゃん達が貧乏してたからお母さんを売ったんだろ。お母さんはそうするしかなかったんだろ」 “Grandma and the others were poor, so they sold you, mother, isn’t that right? Mother, you had no choice but to do it, isn’t that right?” [Chap 302]

In truth, apparently, Rei was given options by her parents, limited as they were, as she claims she actually chose this.

‘Sentakushi ha kagira rete itakeredo erande susunda no ha watashi no ashi de. Semete sono-sakide ha waratte iyou to omotte ita… noni’ 「選択肢は限られていたけれど選んで進んだのは私の足でせめてその先では笑っていようと思っていた…のに」 “Although my options were limited, it were my feet which chose to advance. At least I’ll try to smile in the future, that’s what I was thinking… and yet…” [Chap 302]

'(Kotowaru koto mo dekita hazuda. Daga kanojo ha “kosei” kon de aru koto mo shōchi no ue de, ie no tame ni ore no tsuma ni naru to iu.)’ 「(断る事もできたハズだ。だが彼女は"個性"婚である事も承知の上で、家の為に俺の妻になると言う)」 “She could have refused. However, even if she was aware that it was a "Quirk” marriage, she said that she will become my wife for the sake of her family.)” [Ep 130]

‘(“Kosei kon”de aru koto mo shōchi no ue de... Ie no tame ni ore no tsuma ni naru to iu.)’ 「(“個性婚”である事も承知の上で……家の為に俺の妻になると言う) 」 “(Even though she was aware it was a “Quirk marriage”… she said she would become my wife for the sake of her family.)” [Chap 302]

Likely her options were either to marry Enji and, at least, ensure financial stability for herself and her family, or marry a distant relative and ensure the continuation of the Himura family as well as its economical decadence.

Tough choice.

Anyway, during the Miai, the family head let us know it was Enji who approached them for a bride.

'Jiki No.1 no yobigoe takai ENDEAVOR-sama kara o koe kake itadakeru to ha yume ni mo omoi masendeshita! Gyōkō no kiwami ni gozaimasu!!’ 「次期No.1の呼び声高いエンデヴァー様からお声掛けいただけるとは夢にも思いませんでした！僥倖の極みにございます！！」 “I never dreamed that I would receive an invitation from Endeavor-sama, who has been hailed as the next No. 1! We are at the height of luck!!” [Chap 302]

So ‘okoegake’ (お声掛け) or, more simply ‘koegake’ (声掛け) as the ‘o’ is just an honorific, is generally used to imply you’re calling out someone or inviting someone to a meeting… but it is a word also used to imply you requested for a Miai.

Mind you, it’s not so weird in Japan. When organizing a Miai the parents of the future grooms tend to approach the people they know, asking them for potential candidates and even investigate said potential candidates. So either Enji checked on the Quirk registry and found out all the families that had an ice Quirk, investigated them and then approached the Himura with a proposal knowing they were in financial needs, or they were recommended to him by someone else.

It can also be the Himura also informed the people they knew they had a daughter they wanted to marry, just in case they decided PRIOR to Enji offering them money that they were willing to sell Rei to the best offering, but didn’t expect Enji to volunteer himself.

If the Himura were already planning on selling their daughter off, it means Rei too had her pick of rich potential husbands among whom to choose in addition to the distant relatives, which would increase her options and Enji had to persuade her parents he was the best candidate.

Hard to say but, from the way the family head, which I take is Rei’s father (it could be her grandfather as well but since the main family crumbles short after I’ll assume it’s her father) is enthusiast of having been approached by Enji who doesn’t even have to say a word, he didn’t really have to work hard to persuade them.

The guy is absolutely delighted to give Rei to Enji.

‘Himura mo katsute ha meika to yoba reta yuisho aru iegara ni gozaimasu ko - top Hero-sama no hanryo to shimashite ha jūbun ni tsuriai ga toreru mono to’ 「氷叢もかつては名家と呼ばれた由緒ある家柄にございます故―トップヒーロー様の伴侶としましては充分に釣り合いがとれるものと…」 ``The Himuras also come from a distinguished family with a prestigious lineage, so I think she would be a perfect match as the Top Hero-sama’s companion…” [Chap 302]

The family head confirms what Geten will later say.

He calls the Himura a 'Meika’ (名家) which can be translated as “noble/distinguished family” with a ‘yuisho aru iegara’ (由緒ある家柄) which can be translated “with a prestigious/with a long history social standing/lineage”.

In the anime Endeavor also confirms this, he probably picked the Himura also for this as, as I said, it’s considered perfectly fair to investigate the family of a potential bride.

'Katsute ha meika datta Himura-ke mo ima ha aoikitoiki…’ 「かつては名家だった氷叢家も今は青息吐息…」 “The Himura family, which was once a prestigious family, was now in deep distress…” [Ep 130]

Also, since Rei knew it was a Quirk marriage, he came clear with them about his intentions…

‘(“Kosei kon”de aru koto mo shōchi no ue de... Ie no tame ni ore no tsuma ni naru to iu.)’ 「(“個性婚”である事も承知の上で……家の為に俺の妻になると言う) 」 “(Even though she was aware it was a “Quirk marriage”… she said she would become my wife for the sake of her family.)” [Chap 302]

I’m honestly curious on what the Himura thought about Enji’s idea. Their Quirk marriages were to preserve and strengthen their ice Quirk as it was, they didn’t want to mix blood and create a different Quirk, so Enji who instead wants to marry outside of his family with someone with a different Quirk to strengthen his own by mixing it with Rei is definitely someone who’s doing something that runs in a parallel line to what they’re doing, meaning something similar but with no contact points.

The Himura don’t praise Enji’s family, just his status as Number Two Hero, which makes me think the Todoroki weren’t a noble/distinguished family with a prestigious/with a long history social standing/lineage but who cares, Enji has prestige as Hero and money so he can stand on an equal level with Rei.

What else do we know or can speculate about the Himura family?

The house in which Enji and Rei have their meeting might have been a place Enji rented for the meeting… but might have also be Rei’s house. Since the Himura were land owners this might explain why the garden is so large, and maintaining such a large property might be expensive hence why the Himura are desperate for money.

We’re told that Enji and Rei are at their first meeting/date.

Normally if the initial Miai introduction was successful, the potential couple went through a series of dates until a decision was reached. Don’t expect a long courting, the decision was usually expressed at the couple's third meeting. If they chose to marry, they went through a formal marriage process known as ‘miai kekkon’ (見合い結婚 “arranged meeting marriage”), in which a “betrothal ceremony” (結納 ‘yuinō’) was arranged by the groom's family.

Now… considering Rei is wearing a scarf which is what we see the character doing in January, the Miai might have taken place in January.

We don’t know when exactly Enji and Rei met and married, it was after Enji became the Number Two Hero and we know he became as such at 20. This means he became Number 2 either in the November Hero Billboard Chart, or that he had to wait until the following one which was in May. If it was in the November Hero billboard chart, the Miai might have taken place at the beginning of the next year, when Enji was still 20, if not it would take place in the following year, when he was 21 (but would turn 22 in August of that year). It can’t be later as, since Tōya is born in January he was probably conceived in April of the year in which Enji would turn 22.

Long story short Enji and Rei had, at best, a year and four months from their first meeting to the moment in which they conceived a child, and four months only at worst.

By the way, the best period for marriage is April so yes, Tōya could have been conceived short after they married.

With the marriage Rei stops being an Himura, her name is written out from the Himura “family registry”, better known as ‘koseki’ (戸籍) and written into the one of the Todoroki family.

If Enji were to kick her out of his family in theory she would need the family head permission to go back into the Himura family. Divorce is a big shameful deal for all the parties involved so it’s not as easy as in the west.

So, what happens to the remaining Himura of the main family?

We know Rei’s mother was alive when Shōto was five.

Tōya calls his grandmother ‘Obā-chan’ (おばあちゃん), which is an affectionate way to call your grandmother (he might have used the more respectful ‘Obā-san’ (おばあさん), and his view on them is sympathetic (they were really poor so they had to sell his mother off) so it can be that he has a good relationship with his grandmother.

‘Obā-chan-tachi ga binbō shiteta kara okā-san wo uttan daro. Okāsan ha sōsuru shikanakattan daro’ 「おばあちゃん達が貧乏してたからお母さんを売ったんだろ。お母さんはそうするしかなかったんだろ」 “Grandma and the others were poor, so they sold you, mother, isn’t that right? Mother, you had no choice but to do it, isn’t that right?” [Chap 302]

Even Rei tried to turn on her mother for help when she believed she couldn’t take it anymore… and calls her ‘Okā-san’ (お母さん), which is the standard way to say mother in normal families (people from upper class families might use, for example, the much more respectful ‘Okā-sama’ (お母様)) so, I guess, by Japanese standards she was present enough as a mother/grandmother.

We can even speculate she’s the old woman we see watching over Tōya, Fuyumi and Natsuo as they’re playing in the garden under Shōto’s longing gaze (though she could also be a helper/servant).

Shōto has not Tōya’s sympathetic opinion on her mother’s family relatives, nor refers to them in an affectionate way, calling them just that, ‘haha no shinzoku’ (母の親族 “mother’s relatives”).

‘Kosei kon. Shitteru yo na. “Chōjō” ga okite kara dai ni ~ daisan sedai-kan de mondai ni natta yatsu… Jishin no “kosei” wo yori kyōka shite tsuga seru tame dake ni haigūsha wo erabi…… kekkon wo shiiru. Rinri-kan no ketsuraku shita zenjidaiteki hassō. Jisseki to kane dake ha aru otoko da… Oyaji ha haha no shinzoku wo marumekomi haha no “kosei” wo teniireta.’ 「個性婚知ってるよな。“超常”が起きてから第二～第三世代間で問題になったやつ…‘自身の”個性”をより強化して継がせる為だけに配偶者を選び…… 結婚を強いる。 倫理観の欠落した前時代的発想。実績と金だけはある男だ…親父は母の親族を丸め込み母の”個性”を手に入れた」 “Quirk marriage. Do you know about it? After the ‘paranormal’ happened, between the second and third generation they became a problem… In order to pass in inheritance a further strengthened version your ‘Quirk’ choose a spouse… and get her married to you by force. Old-fashioned way of thinking which lacks in ethics. He’s a man with achievements and money…My father persuaded my mother’s relatives and obtained my mother’s ‘Quirk’.” [Chap 31]

The implication of Shōto’s words is that they just did it for an old-fashioned way of thinking which lacks in ethics and because Enji persuaded them.

So it can be that Rei’s mother either was kept away from Shōto as well or died early enough, hence he has no fond feelings for her.

Since Geten said:

‘Tōtō honke ga miuri wo hajimeta koto de jijitsujō no shūen wo mukaeta. Nokori no wazuka na shizoku mo risan shi sono naka no hitotsu datta boku ha saikōshidō-sha (read: RE-DESTRO) ni hirowa reta.’ 「とうとう本家が身売りを始めたことで事実上の終焉を迎えた。残りの僅かな氏族も離散しその中の一つだった僕は最高指導者(リ・デストロ)に拾われた」 “When finally the main family started selling themselves, it came to a de facto end. Even the few remaining clans are scattered, and I was among them and then picked up by the supreme leader (read: Re-Destro).” [Chap 387]

We can assume this also implied the family head didn’t live long after that or, otherwise, since he would have kept on ruling over the other branch families, he might have stopped them from scattering. If Rei’s father died without an heir instead there would be no one to rule and the families inside the clans can scatter. It would also explain why Tōya said it was ‘his grandmother and the others’ to say ‘his grandparents’ instead than ‘his grandfather and the others’. The man might have died when Tōya was young so it’s to his grandmother he thinks, even though the decision was very clearly taken by his grandfather, the family head.

Well, that’s all we know about the Himura.

We can speculate Rei is a forth generation Quirk owner like Midoriya Inko, which would mean since the Himura married among them with ice Quirk users, that their ice Quirk is very strong genetically, which explains why Enji’s kids tend to take more from Rei than from him… at least this was clearly Horikoshi’s intention when he inserted the Himura family history just before revealing Tōya too had an ice Quirk.

Basically of Enji’s kids, all 4 of them inherited Rei’s Quirk and only 2 inherited his Quirk albeit each of them inherited variations of those over mentioned Quirks… but well, as far as I’m involved that’s the less interesting part of the Himura history.

I doubt we’ll get more info about them before the end of the story, even though it could be interesting.

We'll see.

[every1sno1fangirl]

Had some thoughts about the history and foundation of the Human Village

These thoughts came about after researching what the literacy rates and societal organization would have been like for rural Japan, and springboarded from there about the other implications it should have on the Human Village because of what village life in Edo period and early Meiji Restoration era Japan was like. If I'm wrong about anything here, feel free to correct me on it please! These were just my observations:

Essentially, the Human Village does NOT match those expectations.

Namely, the Human Village does not have strong leadership despite how utterly impossible that would be if the village existed before the erection of the Great Hakurei Barrier.

We know that this is by design—if the humans had strong leadership, it could pose a threat to the balance of Gensokyo because then the Youkai could be eliminated by a strong enough organizational force. But it wouldn't explain away how the village came to be this way. In the Edo period the organization of Japanese society under the bakufu made this an utter impossibility.

For a summary of sorts, it's important to understand that the organization of Feudal Japan was not anything like the organization of Medieval Europe. Instead of administration being done directly by the lords for instance, the villages themselves were self-administrating. Before the Edo period Samurai did administer the villages, but the Separation Edict of Toyotomi Hideyoshi changed that and created a strict separation of the classes. Gone were warriors who became farmers who became warriors; he outright forbade it. They had two options: remain as samurai and move to the castle towns of their daimyos, or abandon their swords and become peasants. There were a lot of reasons for this (So a centralized government could be created, so the populace was easier to control, etc.) but it created the quirk of the those who chose to remain becoming wealthy elites who could leverage their education as the upper class of their villages and maintain control over them and those who left for the castle towns no longer being primarily warriors, but rather government bureaucrats. Since the villages were now self-administrating, literacy was more widespread among the peasant class as well because they had to manage their lands directly; most farmers actually owned their own farms for instance. And they weren't taxed individually, but rather on the village level. Meaning a 'headman' had to be chosen among these village elites (how they were varied wildly) to keep track of everything and distribute the tax burden. I could talk more about that but the more important thing about this is is that it basically created a lot of local power in the villages themselves, born out of necessity.

The Human Village in Gensokyo does not have a strong amount of power. This is explicitly by design as noted by various youkai like Mamizou and Aya. If the humans had a strong leadership, it would pose a threat to the youkai and thus the balance of Gensokyo as a whole.

While society would become structured in a different way with the Meiji Restoration and it's effective abolition of the samurai as a class, and it would bring many changes to the peasantry, things largely remained the same for them as they did in the Edo period in the early years. The same people would have held power in the villages for the most part, and Gensokyo itself, having existed for a few hundred years beforehand, only became separated from the rest of the Outside World in 1885—only 17 years after the Meiji Restoration. Furthermore, this is even something that Miko comments on after her resurrection—she's astonished at how flat the social structure is of Gensokyo and particularly how the human society exists. (I'm told she talks about it a lot in SoPM but as I haven't read that myself, I will not address it in great detail)

So how the hell does the Human Village not have a strong central leadership? The closest thing we have to that is the notable mention of the Hieda family and Akyuu's role in the village. And it is incredibly important to emphasize that the Hiedas are not samurais, ex or otherwise. The actual Hieda no Are, Akyuu's real life inspiration and her original reincarnation, existed in the year 712. This is over 400 years before the samurai as a class rose to any power. The Hiedas are prominent because of the Children of Miare themselves, not on their own.

It is my belief that the Human Village did not exist prior to the erection of the Great Hakurei Barrier. I believe it makes a lot more sense for it to be a (relatively) recent creation that came about during it's formation. It was already inferred as being fairly artificial in a lot of ways—like it's unusually large size, and it's self-sufficiency and previously mentioned lack of leadership—but I believe that logically it's very formation has to have been artificial as a result.

To support this, we know from the prologue to PCB that youkai exterminators settled in Gensokyo but at the very least, their practices did not pass on those who now live in the Human Village. While the village does produce the occasional youkai exterminator—notably the Hakurei Shrine Maidens of Reimu's lineage—their practices certainly didn't pass on to the village as a whole. And again, there is no central power in the village because of the threat they would be to youkai so youkai exterminators certainly aren't that.

And then there are other things, such as this interview from SCoOW where we are told the know the following about Okina, one of the Sages who created Gensokyo in the first place (In what is also incredibly based about ZUN):

It doesn't confirm that the village was created for that reason but it certainly adds weight to the idea, that even before one acknowledges that it's population is made up at least in part of the occasional outsider who gets Spirited Away and never returns, the population certainly wasn't 'naturally' formed.

Furthermore ZUN did some writing about Mayohiga in Gensuo Narratograph. It is a doujin TTRPG and published as much so anything contained within cannot be treated as hard canon, but he did write significant portions of the book (And was one of the players in the 'Examples of Play' section which is over a 100 pages long, because Japanese TTRPGs and how they are written is utterly fascinating). Namely, descriptions for locations. What did he write about Mayohiga? Well...

Only that it was "a private estate that existed before the Human Village’s founding, and was abandoned afterwards".

Which leads directly into my theory. Namely, my belief that the Human Village was created at the same time as the Great Hakurei Barrier as a result of the other villages in Gensokyo being artificially consolidated into one.

Gensokyo itself existed before the establishment of the Great Hakurei Barrier after all—it was originally separated from the rest of Japan by the "Barrier that divides Reality and Fantasy" that was created roughly four hundred years before the Hakurei Barrier. Humans certainly lived across scattered settlements such as Mayohiga—regardless if one acknowledges the specific details in Gensuo Narrograph as 'canon' or not—and we know as much because of the prologue in PCB. There had to be humans living there prior to the establishment of the barrier.

But they didn't have to have lived in what is now known as the 'Human Village' then.

If you think about it, it's really quite simple. The plan really only works if you start everything from 0 with the humans who will now be living in your closed system anyway. Established power structures needed to be eroded so the humans were easy to manipulate and their influence neutered, and starting with the humans already there just makes more sense. The region Gensokyo is speculated to be in is roughly what was recognized as a rural nothing-notable-there-at-all region at the time to boot.

The reason why there is no strong leadership of wealthy elites in the village now is because there was never any to begin with. Because when the Great Hakurei Barrier was created, the youkai came together and created some kind of calamity that ran the humans out of their villages and destroyed their homes, leaving nothing remaining but ruins like Mayohiga. I can only speculate as to what those calamities or disasters may be, but the end result was making it so the humans started over at zero in one, safe place where they were all relatively equal...And without any of those wealthy elites to muck it up and gather their power again. There is no better way to put it, but in all likelihood, they were likely excised as a result.

Which is why the most famous people there, the ones with the most amount of incredibly meager power and control that persists through generations—political power so meager that the villagers can go around their backs and hassle the shrine maiden into essentially breaking up their parties symposiums because it makes them uncomfortable—is the family of the obscure dustbin-of-history Hieda no Are's reincarnations.

Furthermore, this creates some interesting implications about Keine Kamishirasawa. In BAiJR it is mentioned that there is a 'secret society' with the aim of tracing the beginnings of the human and youkai in Gensokyo and discovering the secrets of such things. While a village that has existed for a very long time would certainly have it's founding fade from memory, this same village would have the previously mentioned powerbase and existing elite class as well.

No, it makes more sense if the Human Village was itself founded as part of the calamity and the nature of it—as well as those other villages—was forgotten.

Keine has the power to eat (and create) history. She uses this in Imperishable Night to make it so the village effectively disappeared by making it as if it had not existed there in the first place. Akyuu also had this to say about Hakutaku in PMiSS:

This poses an interesting thought about her role as a Hakutaku. Is it possible that she revealed herself when the new village was founded and in her own way, fulfilled that role as a hakutaku? Did she create this new favorable history by erasing the unfavorable histories that came before of those merchant families and established villages? (I wonder what they would have tasted like...) While I wasn't personally 100% confident in the idea that Keine is roughly at least 140 years old and would have been around back then when writing this, it is certainly a possibility and one I actually like the more I think about it. It certainly explains her absolute loyalty to the Human Village and simultaneous condemnation of any talk about driving the youkai out of Gensokyo or even just mere investigations into the history of the village itself. Why, I bet that secret society, as is only appropriate, is made up of the descendants of those powerful families! They know that something is wrong with the world but they don't know what! In the deepest, darkest parts of their mind they still remember! The truth will come out! They will reclaim their birthrights after vanquishing the evil youkai and...

Alright, I'll stop pretending to be like Aya now. She wouldn't even necessarily have to be that old either; she can obviously conceal the history of things that existed before she did, even if I'm pretty certain now that she's older than the Great Hakurei Barrier the more I think about it. I merely think it would have been remiss not to consider both her status in the village and the connection she has to certain aspects of its politics—that of its relationship to youkai and the humans not knowing their own history—in relation to this theory. If she isn't that old, her hakutaku-ness was an acquired condition—she might have possibly inherited it from the person who previously filled this particular role in the maintenance of Gensokyo.

All in all, it is my belief that the Human Village simply must be an artificial construct created simultaneously with the Great Hakurei Barrier and it explains so many of it's various strange quirks and otherwise impossible to logically deduct peculiarities, making it truly worthy of it's inclusion into the fabric of Gensokyo's strange history. Of course the Human Village is weird and it's foundation itself shrouded in mystery—it's only fitting!

Hey, do you think that means the village itself could be a youkai?

How spooky...

(Of course, the far more likely answer is that ZUN did not put nearly as much thought into it as i have, but that isn't as fun, now is it?)

[mah-o-daryaa]

ATLA Modern AU: Avatar Edition

This is going to be a slightly different post. I don't think people ever consider the past Avatars in an AU set in a modern setting. Where do you think they would come from, if they had IRL nationalities?

For sake of simplicity, let's say the AU takes place in the United States, since most ATLA Modern AU fics I've read take place there, mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area. We could also use NYC as the setting, since Republic City is roughly based on 1920's Manhattan. I think this task would be much easier if we consider the real-life influences for each of the four nations. I'll be using this post as a reference for these influences.

For example, the Air Nomads are based off of Tibetan Buddhists with some Nepalese and Bhutanese influences, so it would be pretty obvious to make Aang Tibetan in a Modern AU. The same would also go for Yangchen, although I would personally prefer Bhutanese or Sikkimese Yangchen because the Western Air Temple (I'm not talking about the episode) is inspired by Bhutanese cliffside temples. Another option would be making both Aang and Yangchen part of a Tibetan diaspora living in India. Kyoshi, being half-Air Nomad, would also be of Tibetan ancestry.

The Fire Nation is inspired by a combination of Chinese and Japanese cultures, while Ember Island being inspired by Southeast Asian, mostly Thai and Cambodian culture. In a Modern AU, I can see Roku being Thai, while Wan and Szeto would most likely be Chinese, Szeto is from Hong Kong/Macau. I also have a particular desire for Korean Wan, for no other reason than the fact that his VA, Steven Yeun, is Korean. I also wouldn't mind Wan being part of a Chinese diaspora from Malaysia or Singapore.

The Earth Kingdom, being the largest and most diverse of the four nations, is inspired by many Chinese dynasties, various ethnic minority groups in China, and even other Asian cultures altogether. However, we'll be paying attention to one specific cultural influence in Kyoshi's appearance: Heian/Edo Japan. She wears samurai gear and kabuki makeup. How in the name of the Moon Spirit am I not supposed to make Kyoshi Japanese (half-Japanese, anyway)? Kyoshi Island, formerly known as Yokoya, is literally ATLA's equivalent to Japan in the real world. There are even Ainu influences in Kyoshi Island, what with the clothing of the people in Suki's village.

The last nation is the Water Tribes, and the last two Avatars left are Kuruk and Korra. Now, the Water Tribes actually have a more diverse range of cultural influences than what we might expect. According to both @atlaculture and @kkachi95, the SWT is based on Inuit, Yupik and other First Nation peoples, with some Polynesian influences as well. The NWT, in addition to these influences, is also influenced by Mongolian and Siberian peoples. Since Kuruk is from the NWT, in a Modern AU, he would probably be Siberian, mostly Yakut, but I wouldn't mind Mongolian Kuruk either. For Korra, since she is half-NWT and half-SWT, I think she would be mixed like Kyoshi, except Korra would probably be half-Inuit, half-Yupik. I also want Kuruk and Korra to be part of a Mongolian or Central Asian diaspora living in Russia (I'll admit, I'm only saying this because I really want them to speak Russian), but that probably wouldn't work due to the differences in their cultures in-universe.

I have an idea for a Modern AU involving the Avatars, as well as their backstories for said AU, but that's for another time. For now, I turn this question over to you guys, and I want to know your thoughts on my nationality headcanons.

[macsimagines]

Vampire!Mikey? In general, how do you think he’d be? Would he act different? Also, Happy Spooky season! 🎃🧡

OK so for this one it was a little harder but I think I came up with a good idea for a vampire Mikey i hope you all love it. Its kind of a weird take on Darling too, i left it open ended on whether or not Mikey is crazy or if reincarnation is real so i hope its not too confusing.

TW:YANDERE BEHAVIOR, MINORS DNI, MURDER, SUICIDE MENTION

Yandere!Vampire Manjiro Sano (AKA Mikey)

Mikey is an old vampire. At least a few hundred years, with his own coven that has its dirty fangs in every aspect of the Japanese underworld. He rules over it from the shadows with a bloodied fist. Only a select few of his most loyal and trusted men have actually seen him in person.

But before all of that, before he was the feared head Vampire of the Toman Coven, he was just Manjiro Sano a young and rebellious boy getting into trouble in the Edo period.

Back then he was known for being a very impressive martial artist and in his small village he had built a bit of a name for himself.

He was prideful and arrogant and one day he picked a fight with the wrong person. An ancient Vampire that found the young Manjiro Sano amusing and decided that instead of killing him for his arrogance would turn him and see where it went.

And at first he was distraught by loosing his humanity, then quickly elated at his new found power, he loved his new strength and speed.

"I could take over all of Japan like this!" he had decided quickly that would be his goal and a young Manjiro wanted to share his ambitions with his Fiancé... Another young woman in the same village that had been promised to him when they were just children.

He didn't know about the thirst. Didn't account for what it could do to his mind when he first saw her flushed skin, could hear her heart beating. Manjiro hadn't even realized what he'd done until he was done drinking her mangled corpse dry.

After that he forgot all about his ambitions and abandoned his dream of taking over Tokyo because after killing his first love nothing else mattered. He just wandered throughout Japan, slaughtering anyone who crossed him, managing to gain a small but very powerful following of other vampires.

Then he found her again. Its been at least half a decade but he knows his true love when he sees her, clearly she had been reborn, and he wouldn't let her go.

He kidnaps her, tells her about the past, their past, how he was so sorry for all his mistakes, for killing her on accident and how he'll do better this time.

But she screams and cries, swears that he's confused her for someone else, that there's no way she's his reincarnated love but Manjiro persists that he knows its her and eventually she'll remember... She has too..

But five years go by and Manjiro is loosing his paitence... She should've remembered by now, at least something... She doesn't even love him like she used, just stares in fear of him like he's a monster. He figured she would have been used to all the blood shed by now.

He isn't a patient man, one day he looses his temper and looses his love all over again to his monstrous hunger. Devastated he becomes even more blood thirsty, and once again his dark empire grows.

Then another few decades go by and he finds her. Again. This time he's sure will be different. He'll be kinder with her this round, she'll fall in love with him in her own time and then they'll be together forever.

The cycle repeats like that. His love dies one way or the other. By his own hand, one of his enemies, or even by her own hand when she can't take it anymore. And for centuries it has become the norm.

You die and he waits. Its been a few decades now. Your last life was particularly bloody. It was war times sweet heart, and you wouldn't listen to him when he tried to protect you. It's not his fault you ended up in bloody pieces.

Somewhere down the line he stopped being Manjiro and had become Mikey. Some think he's a myth created in the underworld, others know better…

Today he sees you again, serving coffee to some nobody, and his eyes meet yours. He smiles and you smile back. He thinks this life will be a fun one.

[theheirofthesharingan]

Hi, sorry to bother. There is something that has been bugging me about Itachi and maybe you are the right person to ask this to. I found on Tumblr that a lot of people in the fandom hate on Itachi based on something he said during the fight with Sasuke against Kabuto. Apparently, when he is about to release the Edo Tensei, he says that he was able to defend the village as Itachi Uchiha of the Leaf, and that he has "no regrets".

I was super confused by this because it is not at all what he says on the anime version for my language. Here he says he will dispel the Edo Tensei, Sasuke asks "then you will leave as well", and Itachi answers that, as he managed to defend Konoha again, there is nothing left to keep him in this world. To which Sasuke reacts angrily because he demanded answers for him and Itachi seems to want to leave without telling him anything, and he does not understand why he wants to protect Konoha after all they did to him. I watched the arc many times, and Itachi never says he has no regrets. Quite the opposite.

Do you think this is maybe a translation problem? Do you have any idea of what he says in the original version? Because "I have no regrets" really does not fit with what Itachi had said all the time in that fight. He kept mentioning his fails and his regrets. And it does not fit Sasuke's reaction at all. If Itachi had said he had not regrets, Sasuke should have been confused and enraged.

Anyway, sorry for the rant and have a nice day.

I'll say the people in your country's dubbing made a wiser choice, because 'I have no other regrets' is what he says in the anime and manga both. I don't have the original Japanese manga, because it's hard to find it, I think. Every time I read or watch that part, I roll my eyes, not at Itachi but at Kishimoto's writing. He just knew how to ruin a perfect character development for silly drama. Now, I'm not the kind of person to blame the authors for the characters saying things and I'm not overly critical of Kishimoto either, although I'd still make some changes in how he wrote Itachi. But Kishi just inserted that one sentence that sticks out like a sore thumb that has no connection with what he's said so far or behaved with Sasuke.

Like you said, his entire interaction with Sasuke as well as Kabuto leading upto this moment bleeds of his regrets and guilts. He didn't have just one regret, but a cluster of it, which he had to face eventually accepting in the ways he failed.

The first time he meant Sasuke this was his first reaction.

He wasn't denying Sasuke was wrong - a criminal, at that, but he knew it wasn't Sasuke's fault either. It was his own doing, the hatred Itachi wanted to exploit to make Sasuke stronger ended up backfiring badly. There was no positive outcome that came out of him handling Sasuke the way he did.

Here, too, Itachi knew he had no right to lecture Sasuke on the paths he had chosen or what he wanted to do. He couldn't just say "you're wrong" when he himself had pushed Sasuke on that path, and he acknowledged it. If it's not regret, I'm not sure what else does it look like.

Itachi spent his whole life lying and as good as his intentions were he messed up real bad, especially Sasuke. One more admission of his failure. No one without regrets will ever say something like this. It's also to note that he's dead, so he can't make up for the damage he's caused, so the least he can do is accept he failed. And he does.

This particular page is so much more important than anything to assess Itachi's character. After he's shown Sasuke the truth he admits he's been wrong and he's nothing but a man built on the skeletons of his kins and lies he himself protected. He admits Sasuke is a better person than him, purer than him, who could have succeeded where Itachi failed; and it was his fault that he never trusted anyone, not even Sasuke. He can't do anything else now, but he at least can be truthful and let Sasuke have his share of truth he rightfully deserved.

At long last this. He knew he can't be forgiven so he doesn't beg for Sasuke's forgiveness. He knows nothing - no words, no tears, no apologies can ever make up for what he did. And sasuke isn't obliged to forgive him. He's still okay if Sasuke continues to hate him. He didn't think he was worthy of Sasuke's devotion, love, and his forgiveness. If he'd lived, yes, it would be a different story, but his death prevented him from making up for the things he'd done.

With all this available info, I'm not going to let that one phrase decide that "Itachi had no regrets". These are the instances that are in sync with his actual character and personality, and what he know about him from the beginning (that is, Sasuke's flashbacks). He loves Sasuke and throughout their fight against Kabuto, he protects Sasuke on his instincts. Like I said, he didn't have just one regret, that of ruining Sasuke's life, but so many more. People really expect Itachi to fall to Sasuke's feet and beg for forgiveness with tears in his eyes. I'd love a scene like that too, but Itachi lived his life suppressing his feelings, never verbalized them. Here, talking to Sasuke is literally the only time he expresses himself honestly. It's the only time he openly admits he was wrong, he failed, and most importantly, he loves his brother so much. Being dead didn't mean he was in therapy for the time being so he could communicate with Sasuke more openly and in a "healthy" way. He does try to be the kind of brother he would have been had he not been in the circumstances he was put in, thanks to the village.

Although, I don't entirely hate that one line, but that has more to do with Sasuke's reaction to it. Many people comment that Sasuke was just blind towards Itachi's flaws because of his love, which is why he forgave him so easily, but when he calls him out for this, we know that's not true. He doesn't go "I understand you were trying to help me and save my life so it's okay you put me through hell." He never tries to justify Itachi and neither does Itachi defend himself using this "excuse". They both knew Itachi's actions had no justification, which is why Itachi was okay with still not being forgiven and Sasuke, despite forgiving him doesn't use this as an excuse to defend his brother.

As far as Itachi's haters are concerned, I've stopped taking them seriously. Once upon a time I used to think it was probably a matter of different opinions because he's a "minimalistic" character where most info on him comes from unreliable narrators and can be taken either way. However, when I got into reading manga, it turned out that haters usually have no basis other than being angry on the things he's already acknowledged himself. So, why are you so outraged? What do you want to prove with the longish gibberish you call meta? This website is infested with his rabid haters so you'll find them even if you block the anti tag. I just see hypocrisy, ignoring canon for their own convenience because it feeds their hateful bias. This one is one of those countless instances. They can just seethe.

[random-brushstrokes]

Gyula Tornai - The Blind Masseuse (ca. 1905)

In the summer of 1905, the artist set off for the Far East. He began his Japanese foray by painting a portrait of the former Japanese prime minister Count Okuma, and through the auspices of this influential patron, the artist was allowed access to aspects of Japanese life often hidden from Europeans at the time. This immersion into Japanese culture kindled an interest in the world of Buddhism and Shintoism. Over the next sixteen months, Tornai traveled throughout the Land of the Rising Sun and visited Nara, Kyoto, Nikko and Nagoya.

Upon his return from this two year journey which included a tour in India, the artist gathered together sixty large canvases and several studies and sent them on exhibition through several major European cities, including London, Paris, Hamburg, Dresden, Leipzig and finally Budapest in the autumn of 1909. The present work was included in this exhibition as number 69 and was explained in the artist’s own words: ‘Regular massage was an ancient Japanese treatment, mostly carried out by blind men or women’.

The present works depicts a goze, or a visually impaired Japanese woman. Goze mostly supported themselves as musicians and masseuses, spending a good portion of the year on the road touring from village to village. From the Edo period onwards, goze were closely regulated and the women were required to be part of organizations and adhere to a strict set of rules. By belonging to these organizations, these women were allowed a degree of independence, and because the goze were members of an officially sanctioned group they were also afforded a degree of protection during their tours. (source)

[sagasimsworld]

A tiny hidden gem I found in thesims3. This small (512*512) oriental world is called Edo Island and its vibes are amazing. IMO it's almost asking for some mystery story that takes place in small japanese village. Perhaps I'll arrange one when my 'Survive without grown-ups' challenge is over.

There are 11 furnitured houses and plenty of commercial lots. Most of commersial lots are rebuilt into functional open buildings. Also there is a lot with old ship - I think it would be good idea to place functional rugs for missing lots there.

All vehicles are disabled here, so I recommend Mountain Bike mod to ride its streets. But no more words, I wanna show pics.

[englishotomegames]

Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo (君は雪間に希う)

Release dates (Nintendo Switch) Japanese: July 29th, 2021 English: May 18th, 2023

"1716. Kyoho era. Repeated incidents in Edo upset and frighten the people, so the “Oniwaban” is created to help maintain order and security. A girl born with special powers in a far away village has been exiled to the snowy mountains because she sees “black Threads” whenever a disaster will occur.

Men claiming to be Oniwaban appear at her door, saying she is needed in Edo. Her ability to sense oncoming disasters could save the country from demonic forces.

Or destroy it."

This is a game for the Nintendo Switch translated by Aksys Games! You can buy the physical version from Amazon.com here, or digitally from the Nintendo store.