#author: Mifune

[sugar-grigri]

If Fumiko is monstrous then Fujimoto should start presenting her as such

Fumiko is written to remind us that Denji is a child, and I repeat, she is the symbol of a child's sexual trauma in all its horror and "paradoxes".

Touching Denji without his consent, catching an adolescent who hasn't yet discovered himself off guard, is the most obvious way of proving the link between the theme of sexual assault and Fumiko, but it doesn't stop there.

The fact that Denji accepts only proves this point: it shows just how much he's someone who needs boundaries and protection. He passively listens to what he's told without question simply because Fumiko has the upper hand.

She has one, but spends her time pretending she doesn't, in particular by disguising her age like a predator, calling him "senpai" when she's 22, and playing up her protective role as a "bodyguard" when she's only there to stop Denji thinking for himself

As can be seen in the dialogue between Miri and Denji, she positions herself as an interlocutor, standing in Denji's shadow, influencing his decisions and distracting the boy from the substance of Miri's message.

But she's a complete paradox, still trying to make Denji believe she's protecting him, she refers to Chainsaw Man as a "child", which rather than demonstrating a good intention shows that she's well aware of what Denji is and that she's abusing him head-on.

Who protects a child by attacking him?

Once again, I insist, these are two pages from the same chapter. Dare you tell me that Fumiko doesn't present any contradictions?

Above all, she makes it seem as if she only wants what's best for Denji, even when he hasn't responded to her pleas for help. Once again, there's a paradox: the predator blames her victim for not having seen her own vulnerability, whereas she’s only abusing those of her victim.

Fumiko is a metaphor for the very dangerousness of sexual assault, gentle on the surface but insidious, its violence only made clear and felt after the event, rising like a tide.

When Yoshida convinces Denji to give up his normal life, he leaves him in the hands of Fumiko, a public hunter, who symbolises the extent to which, despite the monster in front of them, danger also exists among men, and that the milieu of public hunters is a harmful world for a child.

I think the reason Fujimoto doesn't immediately place Fumiko in a position of condemnation is to instil a feeling of frustration and powerlessness at seeing Denji unprotected, to make it clear that "he's missing something", a parental figure.

But I think that for the writing to be complete, the author has to take a clear stance on the subject, in his own way of course, but explicitly

Seeing Fumiko next to Denji makes me anxious, it's such a common form of violence that it pulls me out of my reading.

Fumiko is a monster, so I pray that Fujimoto will have fun explicitly detailing her dark side and her horror.

If he doesn't, then she'll remain an unfinished and confusing chimera, the result of lazy writing and a fear of commitment.

[thealmightyemprex]

April is Japanese Cinema Month

This month will be a random grab bag of movies.No promises for any particular films but I intend to include

Samurai

Horror

Kaiju

Anime

Perhaps some Studio Ghibli

Influential Directors like Akira Kurosawa

And of course Toshiro Mifune

These will mostly be blind watches ,so probabbly no Godzilla(Seen a majority of his movies ) Though you might see his buddies Mothra and Rodan appear ,as I havent seen the Japanese versions of their respective solo films

And who knows what else Ill check out

If any one has any reccomendations share em

@geeky92 @alexa-santi-author @grctw @countesspetofi

@the-blue-fairie @punster-2319 @theancientvaleofsoulmaking

@ariel-seagull-wings @themousefromfantasyland @filmcityworld1

@princesssarisa @florals-cardigan

[redsamuraiii]

Mifune Matsuri, Arashiyama, Kyoto by Kyoto Fan

"Held on May 19th. The day includes Heian-period historical clothing, old-fashioned boats, and traditional dances and music performed not on a stage, but on the water. In the Ōgi Nagashi ritual, an actress portraying the famous author of The Pillow Book, Sei Shonagon, and her attendants send decorative folding fans to float downstream."

[david-talks-sw]

"the Warrior, the Princess & the Peasants"

Hidden Fortress (1958)

The Akira Kurosawa movie that inspired the structure and some of the character dynamics in the first Star Wars film. The main characters are:

Matashichi and Tohei, the two serfs whose eyes most of the picture is viewed through, Princess Yuki, an uppity young aristocrat on the run from the authorities, who constantly bickers with Toshiro Mifune's battle-hardened general Rokurota.

Star Wars (1973)

In the original concept of Star Wars, the dynamic stayed similar, although more characters were added to the mix.

But you still have the two droids, C-3PO and R2D2 (deriving from the peasants in Hidden Fortress), Princess Leia (loudmouth aristocrat on the run from the authorities), and Luke Skywalker (a battle-hardened general).

As drafts changed and plot details shifted, Luke Skywalker became the young protagonist, the general character became Obi-Wan Kenobi (whom Toshiro Mifune was originally considered for).

It's not a one-to-one copy, but there is clearly an inspiration. And when you look at the posters at the time?

Still Luke, Leia, 3PO and R2.

The Phantom Menace (1999)

As already discussed here, in one of the early drafts of The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan is the one who rescues the Queen from Naboo and finds Anakin on Tatooine. Qui-Gon only comes into the script once the gang gets to Coruscant.

But in this early draft, Obi-Wan is an experienced warrior, who pushes the envelope, eliciting the complaints of princess Queen Amidala (the aristocrat on the run). When on Tatooine, the two "low-ranking" characters are still R2, this time with Jar Jar Binks.

Eventually, for multiple reasons, Obi-Wan was made the Padawan and Qui-Gon was put in early in the script.

(Fun Fact: before this change was made, there was a draft where Obi-Wan stayed the elder, Qui-Gon was made the Padawan, and then Obi-Wan gets killed by Maul and young Qui-Gon takes on his name, going on to become Alec Guinness' Ben!)

But be it Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan, the warrior in The Phantom Menace is no longer a general with rank authority, he's just a diplomat.

The only reason he's able to do things "his way or the highway" is because 1) he is headstrong and 2) Padmé is undercover and doesn't wanna give it away (as if Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hadn't already noticed...!)

So here we have an interesting reversal of roles: in Hidden Fortress (and kinda in the first Star Wars film), the Princess is the chaotic hellion who must be reined in by the warrior, who's always screaming:

"Princess, ffs! Stop wandering off, they're actively looking for you!"

Here, the warrior is the one going off-book and the Queen is like:

"Stop this at once, you cheeky fellow! We're on the run!"

Finally, as covered in this lengthy post about how The Hidden Fortress informs us of the Jedi's standing within the Republic, Lucas makes it clear that he alternates between projecting the "peasant POV" archetype on the Jedi duo and Jar Jar & R2/Anakin.

There is no clear protagonist in The Phantom Menace, you just have four main characters: the Jedi (who are two separate characters, but functionally are basically one single character), Padmé and Anakin.

All of this to say that just like the themes, these archetypes also echo each other in more ways than one, and it's intentional. As Lucas puts it, it's like a symphony:

"I’m also doing very stylistic ideas, things that are very musical in terms of how I develop themes, and repeat themes. I go do the same thing over and over in certain areas to echo what I have done before. It’s like a symphony more than a movie." - Star Wars Insider #35, 1997

"I'm approaching these films, for better or worse, like a symphony. I have a lot of themes that I keep repeating over and over again through the whole thing. Different notes and different instrumentation, but when you see all six movies together you'll see that there's a lot of recurring notes being played. [...] And it’s done on purpose. And it’s also done in different facets." - Star Wars Insider #52, 2000

So yeah.

Just some fun similarities and tidbits I noticed, figured I'd share.

[hegoeshardasfuck]

to become a star

wordcount: 0.4K

tags: branding, not actually super sexual i just wanted to write a branding fic tbh, intimacy

synopsis: she wants to be a star, and he'll oblige her request

authors note: ive been thinking about them again boys

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59469412

He's beyond gentle with her. It's out of character for him to go slowly and deliberately with his motions. She appreciates it regardless for a night like this one.

The night where she becomes a Star much like he is.

They'd been planning it for years really. Her clan has nothing for her and his is all gone. A mutual exchange.

She's his partner anyways.

And while she doesn't need to show eternal devotion to her Meister in a way as grand as being brought into the clan, she wants too. She's been there for him for years, he's done the same for her. Why not seal the deal irreversibly?

Black Star throws one more scrap of wood onto the coals to ensure the iron is hot enough. He'd long since removed his gloves for this. He knows this is scary. He knows he wasn't treated with the same kindness when he was branded as a Star.

With slow touches he pulls off her scarf and pulls down one strap of her top. It slides down her arm and exposes the tender flesh around her shoulder blade. He grabs a cloth to splash the spot just off of the shoulder blade with lukewarm water. It won't be enough to acclimatize her to the heat, but anything to make it easier.

"Do you really want to do this?" Black Star asked quietly, kneading into the flesh of her shoulder with his thumb and palm.

Tsubaki nodded, "I do."

"It'll hurt more than anything you've felt before," Black Star said. He splashed water on the flames that lapped at the metal of the star he'd use on her. It had a handle attached to it, so he wouldn't burn his own hand in marking her. Or anyone else becoming a Star at that rate.

"Nothing will hurt more than losing you when we fought Mifune," Tsubaki countered with.

"Alright." Black Star raised the brandishing tool and used his spare hand to press where he'd mark. A little closer to the back then on his arm. "I trust you."

He has to hold her still against the ground as he goes to lay it down on her skin. Every part of him is screaming to not do it, but he knows, he knows she wants this. He knows he wants this. Even if it is permanent and painful.

Tsubaki screams as hot iron burns her flesh with her new motif.

And Black Star feels nothing but regret.

[plantmommoonbaby]

Some Cannabis and Overenthusiasm-fuelled Fan Theories about Worlds Beyond Number (Part 2)

Theory #2: Is Eioghorain Rasper?

Look, this one is so thin. But it really leads back to my overarching theory that Eioghorain isn't actually as bad as we think actually, this theory of mine is very emotional and very deep, so I shall keep it to myself until I have a relisten specifically geared toward proving this, or if he is, it's not in the way we think. In reality, it probably stems solely from me thinking over and over again about the GIFT that is the fact that Eioghorain looks like Toshiro Mifune. But we know literally 2 things about Rasper (as recallled from memory so please correct me if I'm mistaken):

1) his origins are very mysterious but his name is likely a name cloak

2) he is an older east asian man with graying hair at his temples and a lithe, athletic build

This literally just occured to me today while listening to the Fireside Chat when Brennan made an effort to remark that Eioghorain would be older now. Aabria and Erika were (rightly) distracted by Mifune still being smoking hot at any age, but I can't help but wonder...

Theory #3: Indri and Mirara are working together to kill Hakea

Ok... ride with me, please. I've already talked about this before, but I have to say it again because... i just believe it so much. We know that The King of Night wants to eliminate Ame so that the Coven can make moves against the Citadel. But... what if his infiltration of Hakea's retinue is actually a ploy from Indri to incriminate Hakea in the death of Gramore's lover??? Gramore and Hakea came into this house the closest bond. And Hakea is the one witch currently in the coven with an undeniable authority over Indri. If there can only be 3 witches, it seems like the very best chance Indri has in convincing Gramore is by turning her against Hakea so that it is Ame and Hakea on the chopping block.

Theory #4: Indri is eliminating the Coven of Elders one by one

Look... there's not a ton of data to back me up on this one besides Brennan admitting that Indri is him living his best Regina George Life. Here's what I do have

• Indri's predecessor was not about isolation and self like Indri is

• Indri killed her predecessor

• Indri is so threatened by other witches that she "gets rid of" any apprentice she has that starts learning magic

• Oh, and the Mysterious Garden of Highly Specifically Posed Ice Sculptures, including one who is very much Not Like the Others

• Indri looked exactly the same as she does now when she met Morning Wrensong... meaning she was likely equally as powerful

• Grandma Wren would've been the third witch eliminated from the Coven if Ame's curse worked

And... lbr, that's all I need to know this woman is threatened by other powerful women and is Very Likely Up to No Good...

Theory #5: Halumon might be our best bet at fixing the Coven of Elders

Remember how Halumon melted the ground of the courtyard? Also, remember the ice sculpture that was Not Like the Others? I feel like the only way we really put an end to Indri's determined elimination of her own Coven will be getting the pretty pony back to melt Ice Mommy and have her reclaim her position as the Witch of Wind and Stars. This is less of a theory and more of a hope, ngl...

Anywho, again, if you actually made it here, thanks for reading and please tell me how you feel about any of these. Also, if toy are anything like me, you have cottonmouth rn, so don't forget to hydrate.

[rpking99]

Persona Part 2

Persona 5

Joker/Rin Amamiya (genderbent)

So, I always thought that Joker should have got a FeMC equivilant with Royal. And when Violet was revealed, I thought it was her. Now, I am not a big fan of her in Royal so I am using her as the 'face' for Female Joker. Partially because there is more fanart of her so more options

Joker is the leader of the Phantom Thieves. Arrested for a crime she didn't commit, she and her fellow thieves use the Metaverse to combat the manipulations of those who distort the world and change peoples hearts. Joker is a bit self conscious, but hides it behind her confident smirk and what could only be described unironically as 'swag'

Panther/Ann Takamaki

Panther is a model. Having been abused by her gym coach, Ann slowly grew into herself again after an incident with her best friend. Planning on becoming an actress the sex confident blonde is ready to face the world

Queen/Makoto Nijima

Queenis the teams strategist and leader of the team. A year older than the ithere. She use to be nothing but a doormat for authority, now she is ready to do what is right. A bit socially awkward, Makoto is confident in growing as a person. And she knows how to kick your ass

Oracle/Futaba Sakurai

Oracle, Futaba, is a big nerd and a year younger than Joked. Her mother died in front of her at a young age, and the guilt and lies that filled Futaba made her deeply repressed. She can best be described as a cinnamon bun chaotic gremlin highbrid. She is also Joker's little sister figure as Joker is staying with Futaba's adopted dad Sojiro, the man acting as Rin's guardian, and Rin and Futaba have formed a sibling-like bond

Noir/Haru Okumura

Haru Okumara, Noir, is the same age as Makoto. Big into gardening, she is the heir (slash is the CEO) of Okumara Foods after her father died. While having a sadistic side in combat, she is the 'team mother' and the sweetest thing around

Crow/Gina Akechi (Genderbent)

Sadayo Kawakami/Becky

Ms Kawakami is a teacher at Shujin Academy, the school Joker and her friends attended during their first year as a team. Ms Kawakami is a very calm, kind, teacher who has to act as a maid in order to get extra money

Tae Takemi

Tae is a doctor who lives close to the Sakura family owned cafe, Lè Blanc, and is a regular customer. Her license was revoced because another doctor faked a patient's death, a patient who was given an experimental drug by Tae to the and cure a deadly disease. She is sex on legs and she knows it, confident and sassy with a dry wit

Sae Nijima/Shadow Sae

Sae is Makoto's big sister. She was a prosecuter, but after Persona 5 became a Defence Attorney. Confident, calm and collected. She basically raised Makoto. And she do what she can for her family to be safe

Justine and Caroline (Aged Up)

Lavenza (Aged Up)

Chihaya Mifune

Hifumi Togo

Ichiko Ohya

Shiho Suzui

Persona 5 Strikers

Sophia/Sophie

Alice Hiiragi/Shadow Alice

Persona 5 OC

Akari Amamiya

(face claim is the crossdressing design for Joker. The art works too well for a female Joker but I already have Rin...)

This OC is Akari Amamiya, Rin's own mother. A former prison warden, she and her husband went through a.... But of a rough patch because of the Shido incident. Her husband believing in their daughter being a deliquent and trouble maker. Let's just say... When Rin returned home, the house was one person short....

Akari works as a negotiator. Arriving for business deals, hostage negotiations, anything. Wearing a.... Modified version of her old outfit to add intimidation/to throw off the opposition, she has a near 100% rate of success in scoring her client the best result. The reason it's not 100% is because she will never screw over those being victimised. If she's hired to make a negotiation against a weaker party, she will do all in her power to make it better for them.

...

She also sells photos of herself on some 'adult' websites, but only pictures of herself wearing some form of cloths. Never naked

Total Muses: 18/19

[southofzero]

me and jade see a swordsman with limited backstory and say is anybody gonna write that? and don't wait for an answer. anyways mifune headcanons

bounced around foster homes growing up; fondness for kids comes from feeling robbed of family and belonging

was called by a nickname by everyone ("tee")

he thinks horses are pretty... one of his better fosters was a ranch. they made him earn his keep but they were kind.

had his head shaved by a different foster father as a young teen. gave him issues about self image, authority, and autonomy.

despite not talking much and refusing to engage with arguments, he often got into fights. previously mentioned issues & Don't Fucking Touch Me attitude led to a lot of altercations

dropped out of high school & ran away at 17 before the system dropped him. began committing petty crime to afford a ticket to japan after learning the language from movies.

stopped smoking cigarettes when he arrived in japan to save money -- hence the takoyaki stick he keeps in his mouth

canonically dislikes sweets but keeps candy on him for kids; he buys the seaweed flavored ones because if he really needs a cigarette he'd rather not eat something sugary

"tee" is difficult to pronounce in japanese, coming out like "chee". he got the new nickname "mifune" as a tease for using slang from samurai movies.

tone deaf as hell. only realized this when he began trying to learn the shamisen (weeb)

returned to the US after killing white⭐star and developing the infinite sword style

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Does Mifune donate some books too? I can just hear Yua telling him about her son’s latest job/project and mifune goinf, “I have books that I never read/connections to authors who might be willing to donate”. One day a couple of small boxes arrive at the school. When Tsunade opens them, she immediately sighs and calls Yua to tell her Kohai thank you.

Hfjdjxjs I LOVE IT

MIfune hears his nephew is taking on this big project and decides he’s going to help, and his connections get him access to a lot of books Kakashi wasn’t able to get/never thought if.

And Tsunade doesn’t even need to ask cuz Mifune left a note at the top of the box informing her what these books were for, with his name sogned at the bottom

She has met the man maybe five times in her life, but Yua never shuts up about her precious Kohai so she knows him

She also knows this is somehow Yua’s doing and she needs to extend a small thank you to her as well, which Yua will not accept because Mifune did all the work (even if he did con her out of giving up ten books from her own collection, which is impressive given how greedy she is with her books XD)

[ryqoshay]

Tri-Arame: Persona Plight?

Primary Pairing: N/A Starring: Setsuna Nana Also Starring: Shioriko, Student Council Vice President Words: ~1.4k Rating: G Time Frame: The day after Episode 6 of Season 2 Story Arc: Stand Alone

---------

Author's Note: Happy Birthday Setsuna! ♡ ＼(≧▽≦)／ ♡

I'm so happy to be able to post this! It was an honor to be chosen to write for the Shout Your Love! fan zine. And a lot of fun writing this entry. And participating in a good cause. And having one of my favorite LL artists @myonmukyuu draw something for one of my fics. But I still looked forward to sharing this story with more readers, so here we are.

Also, go check out the other stories in the collection and celebrate Setsuna on her special day!

And finally, worth mentioning that I am referring to Setsuna as Nana in this chapter, as she is in Nana-mode through most of it.

---------

Nana wanted to hum happily as she crouched and opened the cabinet door to her secret stash, but she was Nana at the moment and…

Wait, did she need to continue keeping up the façade now that she had revealed her secret to the school? For that matter, did she even need this secret stash anymore now that her parents knew as well?

Nana gasped slightly as a thought occurred to her. She could take her collection home and display it openly in her room now. Her regular ritual of shuffling books and discs among her friends and her stashes here at school and at home was… no longer necessary. She realized she should be happy about this turn of events and yet it somehow felt… anticlimactic? Had she come to enjoy this ritual that much?

Did she also enjoy keeping Nana and Setsuna separate?

She had attended classes all day as Nana, as usual. And she had intended on continuing in Nana mode through the upcoming student council meeting. She would eventually change to Setsuna mode to meet the rest of the idol club to continue the activities of the second School Idol Festival.

But could she have attended class as Setsuna? Could she run the student council as Setsuna? Or perhaps could she attend the festivities as Nana? Would everyone else be willing to go along with that, or would it weird them out? For that matter, would she weird out herself?

Nana reached up and touched one of her braids as she pondered her new situation. She did enjoy the hairstyle, and wearing glasses did help her feel like she was being more serious about things. Plus, there was no denying that she thoroughly enjoyed changing into Setsuna by undoing her braids, often intentionally dramatically, and swapping her glasses for contacts. It felt like she was literally liberating herself to be herself. Not that being Nana wasn’t being herself, of course.

Plus, just a few days ago, Setsuna had told her fellow idols that the student council and the school idol club were different things. She had explained that she loved both, wanted to continue both, and thus had wanted things to stay the way they were.

Except now things were different.

Nana jolted at the sound of the door opening on the other side of the room. Hastily, she slammed the cabinet door and spun toward those entering.

“Ah, Setsu…” the vice president cleared her throat. “I mean, Council President.” Despite the shift in formality, Nana could easily see she was holding back excitement.

“Nakagawa-sa,” Shiroriko greeted politely, seemingly unphased by the behavior of the girl beside her.

“M-Mifune-san, Vice P-President-san, you t-two are early!” Nana heard herself sputter before putting conscious effort into her words.

Shioriko blinked stoically as she approached. “As are you,” she observed before her gaze shifted down. “That is quite the collection you have.”

“Geh…” Nana realized her bag was still open.

“Do you normally carry that many books with you?”

“N-No, I… uhm…” Nana fumbled for an explanation. So much for preventing stuttering. After half a second of thought, she decided lying to Shioriko wouldn’t be effective. Her shoulders slumped. “I was sorting my collection.”

“Oh? What types of books do you collect?” The vice president sounded interested.

A familiar flame flickered within Nana. She was about to quash it when a thought occurred to her. With her secret revealed, a little crossover between her personas was fine, right? Maybe?

“Manga, doujin and light novels,” Nana replied, monitoring her excitement level, letting a little out, but not too much. She then listed her favorite genres, making sure to list fantasy and romance first.

“I should have guessed,” the vice president smiled. “That’s what you list in Setsuna-chan’s bio on the club’s site. Do you have any recommendations?”

The tiny flame flared into a full, fiery conflagration.

Recommendations? Of course she had recommendations!

Nana stooped and grabbed a book from her bag. “I was going to reread this one because the next entry in the series is being released later this week. It’s so~ good! A masterpiece! The story focuses on a couple of angels in Heaven. This one,” she pointed to a blue-haired girl on the cover, “comes from a cursed bloodline, which is why her wings are black and most of her powers are dark. Even her familiar is black.” Her finger moved to a cat on the girl’s shoulder. “And this one thinks of herself as just an ordinary, run of the mill angel.” She indicated a redhead. “But of course she…” Nana gasped. “Oh, I’m sorry, I… I really shouldn’t spoil anything…”

The vice president laughed lightly. “It’s fine. Who is the blonde?”

“She’s their superior officer.”

“Angels have officers?”

“They’re part of Heaven’s military and some of the chapters focus on them fighting demons.”

“That sounds interesting.”

“It really is!” There was no way Nana could hold back her grin if she wanted to. “I highly recommend it. You should read it.” She held out the book.

“Is that not the second book in the series?” Shioriko inquired.

“I have the first!” Nana wheeled around and whipped open the cabinet. “Here!” She grabbed the book and turned back to hold it out

“You’ve been using school resources to store your collection?”

Nana froze. “I… I…”

Shioriko smiled. “No need to worry, Nakagawa-san. As with your former secret concerning your identity, I shall maintain this one as well.”

“Thank you, Set… Council President,” the vice president accepted the doujin. “I can’t wait to read it.”

“We still have some time before the others arrive,” Shioriko pointed out.

“You’d be alright with us reading while you’re here?” Nana asked, finding herself surprised.

“I am quite fond of reading myself.” The younger girl responded. “Far be it for me to deny others from doing so.”

“I could recommend something for you as well.” Nana offered, getting excited again.

“Thank you, but I generally prefer novels over manga.”

“I have light novels,” Nana quickly scanned her collection. “I’d let you borrow my favorite, but I believe that one is at home… Oh, how about this one?” She pulled out a book. “It’s about a war-torn world where magic, alchemy, steam tech and high tech all coexist, and various nations specialize in certain ones and they all combine their might to protect their world from invaders from another dimension. The heroes are so~ cool! My favorite character has this high tech suit of armor that lets her fly around and shoot fire and plasma. She’s awesome!” 

Before she consciously registered her own actions, Nana was miming her Setsuna Scarlet Storm call and response motions. Wait, why was she doing that? She was Nana at the moment! She felt heat rising in her cheeks.

“That sounds amazing!” The vice president cried excitedly. “Can I read it after you, Mifune-san?”

Oh… Maybe it didn’t matter.

“I believe that would be up to Nakagawa-san,” Shioriko replied.

“It’s fine,” Nana assured. “I’d love it if you both read it so we could talk about it after.”

“Very well.” Shioriko accepted the book. “I shall return it post haste.” With that said, she moved to one of the couches, sat down and immediately began to read.

“Well, it seems we only have a few more minutes before our meeting.” The vice president glanced at the clock on the wall. “Shall we get some reading in?”

“Yes.” Nana nodded.

As she made her way to her desk, Nana’s thoughts turned to all that had just transpired. Perhaps a little crossover between Nana and Setsuna wasn’t so bad. The vice president and Shioriko seemed to have no trouble going along with it all. Surely it would be the same with her friends in the idol club, right?

With one last glance at the two readers on the couch, Nana finally opened her doujin and began to read.

---------

Omake

---------

Let’s see… Shioriko thought to herself, scanning the shelf. They’re organized by title, so it should be… Ah. She reached up and pulled out a book.

With the School Idol Festival over, Shioriko had accepted Setsuna’s invitation to join her and the vice president on a shopping trip for books. It felt a little odd buying a doujin, as she typically preferred novels, but she had read Setsuna’s copy and was immediately hooked on the story. And she couldn’t deny that the art was lovely and lent itself well to the fantasy setting. Or RPG setting, as Setsuna had insisted on calling it.

“Ooowahhaa!” An excited cry caught Shioriko’s attention. “I can’t believe it’s in stock!”

She turned to find Setsuna marveling at some school idol merchandise.

“I’ll get one too!” The vice president matched Setsuna’s enthusiasm.

Shioriko smiled and moved over to join her friends at the display to see if there was anything that might catch her eye.

---------

Author's Note Continued:

Here is the Afterward I used for the zine:

Ah, Setsuna, my favorite idol in the Nijigasaki generation of the Love Live! franchise.

As with µ’s and Aqours prior, it took me a little while to settle on a favorite from the Nijigasaki club. PDP wasn’t quite enough, and it took SIFAS, the Nijiyon comics, and a lot of fanart for me to figure things out with the group. And as with those before her, Setsuna faced stiff competition.

I honestly thought a couple of the other girls would be my favorite before I settled on her. Ultimately, it was her over-the-top passion for that which she loves that propelled her to the top.

However, it’s not enough for Setsuna to be passionate about something she loves. She needs to share that excitement. She needs to shout her love. And while performing on stage as an idol definitely allows her to do just that, she has other things than idols that she loves that she needs to address off stage. And I love that the canon material gives her friends that allow to geek out as much as she wants; many actively encourage her excitement.

I’ve written many excitable Setsuna moments, many of which include geeky rants, or at least the implication that one took place. And I plan to write many more. However, with the chapter I wrote for this zine, I decided to give Nana a chance to geek out.

The Nana/Setsuna dynamic is also one of the aspects I enjoy about the character. Her Clark Kenting around school amuses me to no end. And I love that she continued to use Nana mode even after her secret was revealed.

I’ve long wondered how Setsuna might view the two sides of herself after the big reveal, and this zine entry seemed as good an excuse as any to explore it a bit. And include some of the happy geekiness that I adore so much. And have some of my ideas drawn out by the talented myon. How could I pass up such an opportunity?

So to that, I must extend my thanks to Ethanol and myon for selecting me to participate in this project.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Shōgun!

Shōgun: The much-anticipated Japan-set show has finally landed.—Cosmo Jarvis as the English ship pilot John Blackthorne, whose vessel was wrecked upon the Japanese coast in the early 17th century. After losing his ship to a violent storm, the English navigator finds himself in an endless web of complex politics and power play in Japan and is forced to deal with the two most powerful men in Japan these days. He is thrown amid a war between Toranaga and Ishido, who struggle for the title of Shōgun which will give ultimate power to the one who possesses it.

The term shōgun, which means “general who quells barbarians,” is an ancient military term that was adopted in the twelfth century for the dominant warlord who held political and martial power in Japan while the emperor in Kyoto maintained his position as figural head of state and cultural leader.

Shōgun (1980)

Richard Chamberlain at an event for Shōgun 1980) Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images - © 2012

The original Shōgun, a five-part miniseries based on James Clavell’s best-selling 1975 doorstop, was a massive hit when it aired on ABC in 1980. Nearly a third of American households tuned in to watch a cast led by Richard Chamberlain and the iconic Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune retell the tale of an English navigator’s adventures in feudal Japan. The series won three Emmys and three Golden Globes. The series and book triggered a wave of interest in feudal Japan.

Toshirô Mifune at an event for Shōgun (1980) Photo by NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images © 2012

Shōgun: The First Novel of the Asian saga. Set in the year 1600, it tells the story of a bold English pilot whose ship was blown ashore in Japan, where he encountered two people who were to change his life: a warlord with his own quest for power, and a beautiful interpreter torn between two ways of life and two ways of love.

Shōgun is a 1975 historical fiction novel by James Clavell, set during the late Sengoku period in Japan. It serves as the first novel in the internal chronology of the author's Asian Saga. A notable best-seller, by 1990 the book had sold 15 million copies worldwide.

About the author

James Clavell, the son of a Royal Navy family, was educated in Portsmouth before, as a young artillery officer, he was captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Singapore. It was on this experience that his bestselling novel KING RAT was based. He maintained this oriental interest in his other great works: TAI-PAN, SHOGUN, NOBLE HOUSE and GAI JIN.

Clavell lived for many years in Vancouver and Los Angeles, before settling in Switzerland, where he died in 1994.

Shōgun (2024)

The new Shōgun, whose two-episode premiere comes to FX and Hulu, is not a remake so much as a radical reimagining. Adapted directly from Clavell’s novel, this sprawling, 10-part historical drama takes a far broader view than its predecessor. The series will have a total of 10 episodes, releasing a new chapter every week following the premiere. The release of its first two episodes is on Tuesday, February 27th 2024.

Shōgun is a historical drama based on James Clavell's novel, focusing on English sailor John Blackthorne's experiences in Japan and the power struggle among various leaders. Pilot John Blackthorne, also known as Anjin-san, is the protagonist of James Clavell's 1975 novel Shōgun.

The novel is inspired by the real-life story of William Adams, an English sailor who travelled to Japan in the 1600s played a crucial role in Japan's overseas trading, and rose to high rank in the service of the shōgun. The series follows fictional Englishman John Blackthorne's (Cosmo Jarvis) transforming experiences and political intrigues in feudal Japan in the early 17th century. Shōgun assigns details to characters that match their historical counterparts and has influenced other works, such as video games and films.

Hiroyuki Sanada headlines Shōgun as Lord Yoshii Toranaga. The Japanese actor and world-renowned martial artist is most known for his roles in films such as John Wick: Chapter 4, Bullet Train, Mortal Kombat, 47 Ronin, Army of the Dead and The Last Samurai . Shōgun isn't his first foray into television either, having appeared in Season 3 of The Last Ship, Seasons 2 and 4 of Westworld, and Season 6 of Lost.

With Shōgun, for the first time after more than three decades of work in his nearly 60 years of acting, the icon Hiroyuki Sanada took on the project of a lifetime. He received his first-ever producer credit on the show, painstakingly poring over every detail of the production’s lavish, nuanced portrait of feudal Japan. And he found himself giving a performance unlike any he’d given before.

To this end, actor Hiroyuki Sanada was brought on board not only to play the lead role of wise, strategic Lord Yoshii Toranaga, but also as an executive producer. Sanada, a major star in his native Japan, has enormous experience in period dramas there.

The main cast of Shōgun also features Cosmo Jarvis, British actor playing the lead in the series, which was shot over 11 months in Vancouver. Jarvis featured in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi series Raised By Wolves, as well as Peaky Blinders, where he was the tragic, shell-shocked Barney, part of the plot to assassinate Oswald Mosley.

Cosmo Jarvis, as John Blackthorne, his bestial and brooding, vibe couldn’t be any more different from Richard Chamberlain’s slickness. When John Blackthorne’s beleaguered ship drifts into a Japanese harbour where his ailing crew are taken hostage, he finds himself first used as a pawn in the local power struggles, before being appointed a samurai complete with his own army.

Anna Sawai (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) as Toda Mariko, Tadanobu Asano (Thor) as Kashigi Yabushige, Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, Takehiro Hira (Gran Turismo) as Ishido Kazunari, Shinnosuke Abe (13 Assassins) as Toda Buntaro. Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, Tokuma Nishioka as Toda "Iron Fist" Hiromatsu, Yasunari Takeshima (Silence) as Muraji, Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba No Kata, Tommy Bastow (EastEnders) as Father Martin Alvito, Yuka Kouri as Kiku, Yoriko Dōguchi as Kiri No Kata, and Ako (30 Rock) as Daiyoin / Lady Iyo.

Shōgun is Epic! Strap yourself in for a wild adventure in feudal Japan. This lavish adaptation of the classic samurai novel is a beautiful, intellectual fare that amply rewards your full attention. But be warned: it’s gruesome from the get-go. Highly recommended if you enjoy top tier drama 🎭

“Shōgun” is created for television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks, with Marks serving as Showrunner and Executive Producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo. The series is produced by FX Productions. “SHŌGUN” PREMIERES EXCLUSIVELY ON DISNEY+ IN THE UK AND IRELAND TODAY 27th FEBRUARY 2024.

#Shōgun #general #JamesClavell #book #pilot #RichardChamberlain #JohnBlackthorne #Ishido #Toranaga #LordYoshiiToranaga #Japan #series #feudalsystem #HiroyukiSanada #CosmoJarvis #AnnaSawa #TadanobuAsano #HirotoKanai #TakehiroHira#ShinnosukeAbe #FX #Hulu #Disney+ #RichardChamberlain #ToshirôMifune

[ao3feed-asaden]

Schooled

by shutinlear53 The brutal rape and murder of Denise Hayakawa, perpetrated by Asa Mitaka, Yoshida Hirofumi and Barem Bridge. This is a piece I wrote for a private art trade with a cocaine baron during the first half of February 2025. Words: 5378, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Chainsaw Man (Manga), Enigma of Sépia (Video Game) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con, Underage Sex Categories: F/M Characters: Denji (Chainsaw Man), Mitaka Asa, Yoshida Hirofumi, Barem Bridge, Denise, Yoru | War Devil (Chainsaw Man), Mifune Fumiko Relationships: Denji (Chainsaw Man)/Everyone, Denji/Mitaka Asa, Denji & Mitaka Asa, Denji/Yoshida Hirofumi, Barem Bridge/Denji Additional Tags: Rule 63, Rape/Non-con Elements, Rape, Gang Rape, Rape Fantasy, Brutal Murder, Brutality, Gore, Blood and Gore, Blood and Torture, Blood and Violence, Sadism, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Misogyny, With A Twist, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fanon, Humorous Ending, Funny, Humor, Attempt at Humor, Author Is Sleep Deprived, The Author Regrets Everything, Guro, I'm Going to Hell, Teeth, Maledom/Femsub, Femsub, Maledom, Torture, Major Character Injury via https://ift.tt/wKP0eBx

[thealmightyemprex]

Japanese Cinema Month :High and Low

So for my second film of the month....Well my Roku went a little nutty (We fixed it dont worry but isnt the streaming age fun gang ) ,so I had to watch a blu ray and thankfully I had just gotten this one from Criterion recently as a blind buy .Now you might be wondering why I picked this movie ....HOnestly .....I was sold soley on the premise

In this 1963 film shoe factory manager Kingo Gondo (Toshiro Mifune ) gets a phone call that his son Jun (Toshio Egi ) is kidnapped........Thing is Jun is fine ,but his best friend Shinichi (Masahiko Shimizu) is missing....The kidnapper got the wrong kid .Gondo is put ina bind ,as he actually doesnt have the money needed for the ransom and hes currently at risk of being voted out of his company ,and if he were to pay he risks ruin for his entire family but if he doesnt a boy will die

Now it is this premise that intrigued me to the film,will a guy ruin himself to do the selfless thing.....But what I find interesting is thats just the first half ,and the second part of the film is a procedural of the cops trying to find the kidnappers .Now this film.....Really risked not working ,cause I was so into the ethical question and interpersonal character drama of the first half,that making it a "Catch the criminal" film in the second hour couldve been really boring,but it works.The second half of the film actually reminds me of the Fritz Lang classic M and if Im comparing to Fritz Lang thats a hig compliment .Two elements I really liked in the second half were how the kidnapped boys father played into it and especially the final scene with the villain

I also wanna point out this is my second non period piece I have seen by Akira Kurosawa.My previous more contemporary film from him was Dreams.....Though that film is fantasy while this film is firmly a crime drama .What I like about Kurosawas direction is it feels like....Hes aware of what audiences could criticise....And adresses those issues in interesting ways ,most notably in the empathy he shows both the Gondo and the films villain

This is one of those rare movies where I feel every character right down to the most minor side character is perfectly cast ,like Yutaka Sada as the worried meek single father ,Kenjiro Ishiyama as the gruff cop ,Tatsuya Mihashi as Gondos cutthroat assistant ,and Kyoko Kagawa as Reiko the wife of our lead pleading with him to do the right thing.Even minor characters like the shoe executives or the guy incinerating things are really memorable . Tatsuya Nakadai is very solid and likeable as the lead investigator.I must heap praises on Tsutomo Yamazaki who plays the villain does a fabulous job as a guy who does heinous things and has a cold exterior .....To hide he is just a bitter broken guy who I feel a little bad for ,and he does this in just a few scenes .Finally we got our lead played by the great Toshiro Mifune ,who is to no ones surprise really good in this ,as a guy whose done some shady stuff but we see regain his humanity ,taking a character who really couldve been NOT sympathetic and making me feel for him .The funny thing is Mifune is so great here......It honestly makes me more impressed with the cast cause every characterjust feels like the right character for this story ,and Mifune feels uspoorted and not like he overshadows anyone else

OVerall I adore this film,big reccomend ,great movie

@theancientvaleofsoulmaking @ariel-seagull-wings @the-blue-fairie

@countesspetofi @princesssarisa @punster-2319 @amalthea9

@alexa-santi-author @filmcityworld1 @florals-cardigan

@filmcityworld1 @grctw @geeky92

[symonynii]

heroic tales - sefia and kikuri

Sefia and Kikura are often referred to as "arch enemies", but not much is actually known about them. Since many people were attracted to the "good vs evil" themes that they represented, the fragmentary information that was obtained was embellished and many stories were written about them.

This text summarizes the book The Bloody Princess, a work by historical novelist Lebid Meyer (rabid mayor?).

By order of a certain god, Sefia is given 8 swords and tasked with getting rid of interdimensional travelers that are causing chaos in Grand Gaia. She encounters Kikuri, who smells of blood.

"In the sea of blood, there is a girl. Her body is trembling - perhaps she was a survivor of an attacked village. Her beautiful kimono is stained with fresh blood, and is dripping at her feet. As Sefia approached, the girl let out a small sob. She placed her hand gently on her trembling shoulder, and the girl slowly raised her head. Her face was covered in blood-- and she was smiling."

As we know, Sefia will fight with Kikuri and will be defeated. The author depicts the emotional turmoil of Sefia, who didn't believe such a small girl could have caused such a tragedy, and attempts to explain Kikuri's one-sided victory. From here, the story's perspective shifts to Kikuri, and there are many gruesome depictions of violence. Just when it gets to be overwhelming to the reader, another person from another world - a Samurai - appears and puts a stop to Kikuri's rampage.

"When the samurai scolded her, Kikuri laughed and tilted her head. The samurai continued glaring at her, and she explained herself, putting one bloody hand over her chest. 'The demon inside me has woken up... No one can stop me anymore... I hope...' The samurai grips the hilt of his sword, realizing that words would not persuade her. "You'll understand soon enough... no, wait... isn't it already inside you, too...?"

It's unknown how much of an impact Mifune really had on Kikuri, but in this fiction, he becomes the catalyst that brings about a change in Kikuri's way of thinking. The story then shifts focus back to Sefia, depecting the conflict that arises from the outbreak of the war between gods and humans. Like in reality, Sefia turns her back on the gods and points her swords at the Divine Army. Kikuri joins her there, and the scene where they fight together is the most exciting in the book.

"The two of them turn their blades on the army before them. The gods aren't even considered enemies - they're merely a nuisance that ruins their fun. They both realized at the same time that the one she was fighting alongside was the only one that could give her what her soul truly desired."

After destroying the surrounding Divine Army, the two of them faced off again. This battle lacks any primary sources, and the author created a long, deadly struggle wholecloth. However, they(idk what gender a name like Lebid is.) leave it up to the reader to decide who won, concluding the story on a lingering note.

Although The Bloody Princess is just one of many works of fiction on this topic, it is such a thought provoking work that many scholars continue to debate its merits of interpretation and research today. If you take everything in the book as fact, you may become prejudiced against actual historical research, but it's still an interesting read.

[ao3feed-speedracer]

All For Nothing Or Is it

All For Nothing Or Is it Read it on ao3 at https://ift.tt/zw3PZrW by WolfMate101 What happens when Speed finds out that Racer X is his older brother Rex the whole time. But he didn't say anything. Racer X isn't like the brother that Speed used to know, instead he is something different than he was before. But still he will do whatever it's worth to protect his brother at all cost. Words: 826, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Speed Racer (2008) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: "Fukumen Racer" Mifune Kenichi | Rex "Racer X" Racer, Speed Racer Jr, Trixie, Mach 5 (Speed Racer), Shooting Star (Speed Racer) Relationships: "Fukumen Racer" Mifune Kenichi | Rex "Racer X" Racer & Speed Racer Jr Additional Tags: Overprotective, Bodyguard, Undercover Missions, Identity Issues, Feral Behavior, Siblings, Animal Instincts, Kidnapping, The Author Regrets Nothing, No Incest, Identity Reveal, Race, Family Issues, Family Feels via AO3 works tagged 'Speed Racer (2008)' https://ift.tt/sKJF6lT February 23, 2025 at 04:20PM

[curewhimsy]

Minami Nitta and Miyu Mifune from Deresute look so identical. Who authorized that