#fujiko-san

[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

Rereading fits and i've got to ask,was Kokushibo in love with Fujiko?Did it increase his resentment towards Yoriichi when he found out they had feelings for each other?

i... don't know if what kokushibou felt for fujiko could be considered love.

infatuation, yeah. he respected her a lot too. he definitely had feelings for her of the romantic kind, but i wouldn't call it love.

why, you ask?

well, because it was entirely selfish.

he still had a wife and children. he never formally got divorced, he just... left. he fell in with the demon hunters, then was traipsing around japan with yoriichi, fujiko and keichirou.

in a way, i've always pictured his 'love' for fujiko as something like an obsession. maybe even similar to the obsession he had with yoriichi. something that he wanted - maybe even wanted to surpass - but it was always out of reach for him.

that being said...

i think it definitely increased kokushibou's resentment towards yoriichi when it finally clicked that fujiko was in love with yoriichi. i don't think he ever figured out that the feelings were reciprocated, because not even yoriichi knew that he returned fujiko's feelings until after her death, but if kokushibou had found out... he might not have been so merciful towards yoriichi at their final meeting.

[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

welcome back!!!!!!! i missed you too!!!!!!!! i hope u had a nice break, and that u get plenty of rest even now!!!!!!

i have always imagined a scene where ayame and fujiko are standing back to back (more of like a scene that would be in the opening or closing of the final season if fits was an anime) and this!!!!!!! this is beyond my wildest dreams!!!!!!!!!! short-haired ayame.......... is that ayame from mugen train arc??!?!?!!? my gods she's come so far............

ayame and fujiko........ centuries apart and they still found each other somehow......... i'm sobbing 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 it almost makes me wish they had a chance to speak to each other at least once.

the snow is so pretty too aaahhhhh all of it us pretty. and fujiko's kimono looks so much prettier than i could ever imagine. the fact that they're both back-to-back...... so cool!!!!!!!

as always, thank u so so much for ur hard work!!! this is brilliant and wonderful and beautiful!!!!!!!

Of legacies and sacrifices

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Art by me @latenightsonrooftops

Twitter|Insta @lateroofnights

Shes back from her slumber…for the most part.

To my lovely fwiend and fav author @minteayoongimakesmewoozi AHH IVE MISSED U 💕

[hatsumishinogu]

Mangaka san to Messhi to Asshi

[yocalio]

"Are you insane?" Fujiko has said that first night. 'No.' 'Then why are you going to take the maid's place?" 'Because of the saké and for amusement, Fujiko-chan, and for curiosity,' she had lied, hiding the real reason: because he excited her, she wanted him, she had never had a lover, If it was not tonight it would never be, and it had to be the Anjin-san and only the Anjin-san. So, she had gone to him and had been transported. - SHŌGUN by James Clavell

[mikeblocky]

Misaki Takamatsu's January 13th Space (Translation)

Warning: Insanely long! Please be careful :D

(00:07:17)

Takamatsu-sensei: Hello? Hello? … Was my mic off? Can you hear me now? If you can hear me, please give me some kind of response. If you can hear me, could you say something? … You can hear me? Okay, good.

(00:07:44)

Takamatsu-sensei: …Nothing?

(00:07:44)

Takamatsu-sensei: I’ve been talking by myself until just now. Can you hear me?

(00:07:48)

Takamatsu-sensei: If you can hear me, please react. Ah—there it is?

(00:07:50)

Takamatsu-sensei: Finally!

(00:07:53)

Takamatsu-sensei: So, I’ve been talking all alone for a while now.

(00:07:58)

Takamatsu-sensei: Um… so, Aiko-san, are you here?

(00:08:07)

Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you so much for being here. Sorry it’s so late. Yesterday, I got to have a signing event at Junkudō Ikebukuro after they started doing events again. They kindly let me do it. I really appreciate that. Apparently, only a tiny handful of people were able to come—hardly anyone. So…

(00:08:50)

Takamatsu-sensei: For those who couldn’t attend, if you have questions, I’d like to answer them here. Also, I want to say, “Please apply again next time!” I’d really like to do another event, so I hope to see you all in person one day. So yes, feel free to send in questions.

Q&A Begins

Q: “I’d like to know your favorite manga. I’m always cheering you on!”

(00:09:01) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you so much for the question. I have so many manga I love. Recently, I participated in a Fujiko F. Fujio Tribute. They reached out to me partly because I kept saying how much I loved his works, especially his short stories for grown-ups. Of course, I also love Doraemon and read it obsessively. All of those are highly recommended.

Another thing: there’s a new edition of Animal Doctor (Dōbutsu no Oisha-san), so I’ve been buying and rereading it little by little. I read it back in the day, but I loved it enough to buy the new edition and read it again.

Q: “I couldn’t attend your signing event, but I always enjoy your manga. Thank you! I’d love to ask: in your opinion, what’s the most important thing in human relationships?”

(00:10:42) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you! As far as “most important thing” goes… Well, I do write about human relationships, but I’m not really an expert myself. When I was in my teens, I was so self-conscious and overthought everything, so I actually handled relationships pretty poorly back then.

But if I had to pick something, I’d say: Don’t over-imagine what the other person might be thinking. I personally imagine way too much, which can be counterproductive. It’s good to have some empathy—like, “They might feel this way”—but you can never fully know someone’s exact feelings. So if you fixate on your assumptions, you can end up getting irrationally angry or jumping to the wrong conclusion. Instead, try to accept things calmly as they come. That’s my best advice.

Q: “Thank you for all your hard work. When do you have the most fun drawing manga?”

(00:12:19) Takamatsu-sensei: I think the best moment is after I finish everything—when the chapter is finally complete. While I’m in the middle of drawing, I do enjoy certain scenes, but there are also panels that feel tedious or that I can’t get right, which drives me up the wall. So the process itself isn’t always fun. But looking back when it’s done, I can be like, “Oh, that was actually kinda fun!”

As for a favorite stage, lately I do enjoy inking (pen work), because I can chat with friends while I ink and it’s pretty relaxing.

(00:13:14) (Reading a fan comment) “Congratulations on getting a second season of the anime!” Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you so much.

Q: “Will you do a signing event in Kansai? I’d really love for you to come.”

(00:13:41) Takamatsu-sensei: About signings: the recent event at Junkudō happened because I said, “I’d like to do a signing,” and they made it happen. Typically, bookstores send the offer, and if I agree, we do it. So maybe when Volume 12 comes out, if a bookstore in the Kansai region says, “Let’s do one,” we’ll do it! I’d really like to go. Also, I’d love to do one in the Hokuriku region (my hometown area), like Ishikawa Prefecture, since it appears in the story.

Q: “I couldn’t attend the signing. Will there be another chance?”

(00:14:30) Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, I definitely plan to hold more, so it’s not just going to be a one-time thing.

(00:15:00) (Reading a comment) “Thank you for hosting this Space. Do you have any recent hobbies you’re into? I want a new hobby this year, so I’d love to hear yours.”

(00:15:07) Takamatsu-sensei: Well, not super recently—because after I got my dog, I haven’t done it much—but I was playing the ukulele. I totally recommend the ukulele. I bought one about two years ago. I always wanted to play guitar, but guitars are big and I was afraid I’d give it up, so I started with ukulele. It’s got only four strings, and they’re softer, so it’s easy to pick up. It’s really fun. But lately, my dog is scared of it, so I haven’t played for a while…

Another one: I’ve been traveling overseas more, so I signed up for a year of online English lessons. But I skipped the last two months! (laughs) I promise I’ll resume this month.

(00:16:32) (Reading) “I love the flow from Volume 10 to 11 in Skip and Loafer. Everyone’s growth is incredible. Which character is closest to you personally?”

(00:16:56) Takamatsu-sensei: Hmm, I think I’m most similar to Mika and Makoto. Shima-kun is probably the furthest from me.

Q: “What’s your favorite spot in your hometown?”

(00:17:21) Takamatsu-sensei: I’m from the Hokuriku region. I went to college in Kanazawa. After everything calms down, I hope people will visit. My actual birthplace is Toyama Prefecture, so if we’re talking about Toyama… maybe Tateyama is pretty, or Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station if you want to jump right into a hot spring. They have a scenic trolley in Kurobe Gorge, which is amazing in the fall. If you get a chance, definitely check it out!

(00:19:03) (Reading) “I’m desperate to know your skincare routine and favorite makeup.” (00:19:05) Takamatsu-sensei: Ha ha, well, to be frank, I sometimes think: “Instead of buying fancy lotions, maybe it’s cheaper to go get laser treatment to zap spots at a clinic!” (laughs) But yes, daily sunscreen is important.

Q: “Have you watched any interesting anime lately?”

(00:19:57 → 00:20:00) Takamatsu-sensei: Let’s see… I haven’t had time for new anime. I’ve mostly been reading manga. I recently finished Natsume Arata no Kekkon (by Taro Nogizaka), and I really liked it. For live-action, I’m watching Dr. House (the American medical drama also known as House, M.D.) and Grand Maison Tokyo (a Japanese TV drama about a French restaurant). I discovered Grand Maison Tokyo on streaming, and it was great. For anime, I worry about being influenced by other works, so I hold off sometimes. But I do want to watch Nintama Rantaro or Moana 2 if that happens.

(00:21:29) (Reading a fan comment) “I’m a student in Ishikawa. I saw someone with a Skip & Loafer keychain on their bag, struck up a conversation, and we became friends. We recently went to a bookstore to plug your stuff. Thank you for creating this. Hoping to see you in Ishikawa!”

(00:22:12) Takamatsu-sensei: That’s wonderful! I’m so happy hearing that. Good on you for making a new friend.

(Reading another) “Come to Fukuoka too!”

(00:22:28) Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, I’d love to. Fukuoka is awesome.

Q: “In the newest volume, I was swooning over Shima-kun, and also thinking, ‘Wow, that’s a pretty freewheeling school trip!’ Was it based on a real-life school? It’s so laid-back.”

(00:22:31) Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, I referenced several. The idea is that Mitsumi’s school is academically high-level, so I asked folks from top-ranked high schools. Some allow students a lot of freedom because the kids are serious and don’t cause trouble—like they can explore at night, or even plan their own itineraries. My own school trip was basically nonexistent, so I was really envious researching all that.

(00:24:13) (Reading) “Egoshi-san: ‘Good evening, I missed your signing, so I came to listen. I’m leaving for now. Bye.’” Takamatsu-sensei: “Wait, Egoshi-san, that’s not a question—just come next time to the signing, haha. Thank you for dropping by.”

(00:24:37) (Reading) “When you’re drawing, do you snack or drink, or do you go without eating to focus? Also, any current favorite sweets?” (00:24:49) Takamatsu-sensei: I keep snacks and drinks nearby, but I know I focus better if I don’t eat. If I eat too much, I get sleepy. So ideally, I shouldn’t. But in reality, I nibble constantly, lose focus, nibble again, etc. A current favorite sweet: I might’ve mentioned this, but Otoemon is a shop that makes pound cakes with chestnuts. They also do a fruit pound cake. In winter, it’s called “King’s Fruitcake,” and in summer, it’s “Queen’s Fruitcake,” which has passion fruit. If you like dried fruit, it’s a must-try.

(Reading) “Do you use a retractable leash for Anko (your dog)?”

(00:25:56) Takamatsu-sensei: I have one, but my dog is so small that it doesn’t work well for us. I use a standard non-retractable leash.

(00:26:27) (Reading) “In Chapter 51, Mitsumi was a panda on the opening page. Is that referencing a Maroon 5 album cover?” (00:26:50) Takamatsu-sensei: No, it wasn’t. That’s news to me! I’ll look into it. (laughs)

(00:27:10) (Referring to the earlier mic troubles) Takamatsu-sensei: Thanks again to the person who pointed out my mic was off earlier. Otherwise, I’d have kept talking to myself.

Q: “Do you already know how Skip and Loafer will end?”

(00:27:12) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you. I have a vague idea, but some things I’d initially planned turned out differently. Not because I specifically wanted to change them, but they just naturally shifted from my early concept. So I do have a rough sense of how it might end, but it could also turn out differently.

(00:28:30) (Reading) “I love how you set real-world locations like Ueno Zoo. It makes Mitsumi’s world feel so close. How do you decide which places to use?” (00:28:50) Takamatsu-sensei: I’ll plan something like “I want them to go on a date in this general style,” then go location-scouting. If it seems workable, I incorporate it. For Kyoto, I took a trip to see certain places, but once I decided “I want them to drop by a certain café,” I made a second trip specifically for that. I popped into five or six cafés in one day to find the best vibe for the manga. That’s usually how I do it.

(00:29:56 → 00:30:20) (Reading) “I missed the signing, but I’m still reading your manga. You depict people’s feelings so well—how do you come up with those delicate emotions?” (00:31:00) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you. But really, I’m limited by my own experiences. I do try to recall the words and behaviors of various people I’ve encountered, and I kind of blend them all together.

Mitsumi-chan is, for instance, a fundamentally nice person. But if I only showed her nice side, it’d feel unrealistic. So I try to add some embarrassing or introspective aspects from my own experiences. Meanwhile, times of feeling “Wow, that’s so cool!” or “That was so kind!” are often from moments I witnessed from friends or even strangers. I gather all those things.

If a character’s always doing something really wonderful, it might feel a bit braggy if it’s too tied to my own personal achievements, so I try to pick up the good from other people’s actions, the bad from my own, etc.

(00:33:05) (Apology for possibly skipping questions asked while the mic was off)

(00:33:30) (Reading) “Your manga made me want to visit Ishikawa. Could you recommend any local foods or sightseeing in Ishikawa?” (00:33:42) Takamatsu-sensei: Sure. I was a college student in Kanazawa, but I had little money back then, so I didn’t explore a ton. If you go, you might pair Kanazawa with the Noto Peninsula—but be aware they’re two hours apart by car. Noto was recently hit by an earthquake, so if you can volunteer or if tourism is open, that’s great.

In Kanazawa, one place I used to frequent was a coffee shop near Omichō Market called Higashide Coffee (Higashide Kōhī), which has yummy pudding. Also, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is cool, though it can be crowded. Sometimes on Friday nights it’s less busy. I love the atmosphere at night.

(00:36:24) (Reading) “I’ve reread your manga many times. In the Kyoto school trip story, is the café Shima and Mitsumi visited a real place? It looked so cute.” (00:36:30) Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, I actually went there in real life. It was delicious. Kyoto has so many cafés. I only scratched the surface.

(00:37:19) (Reading) “Any special memories of the Kansai region?” (00:37:24) Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, for research, I visited Osaka and Nara. Typically for a school trip, you stay in Kyoto and do day trips to Osaka or Nara. I’ve gone twice. The first time, I brought an assistant who’s worked with me from the start. We took a camera and checked out all these places that high schoolers might visit, including a wagashi (traditional sweets) workshop. It was super fun.

The second time, I went again and spent more time in both. Some didn’t make it into the manga, but everything was delicious. Nara’s shrines and temples were gorgeous—didn’t have time to see them all, so I’d love to go back.

(00:39:45) Takamatsu-sensei: Today’s the last day of a three-day weekend, so I don’t want to keep people up too late. I’ll probably wrap up soon.

(Reading) “I love Mukai-kun—he’s my favorite. Will you ever focus on him?” (00:40:18) Takamatsu-sensei: The thing about focusing on a character is that it often requires a moment where their heart is shaken. Mukai-kun is a pretty self-sufficient guy, so he hasn’t had a major shake-up yet. But if the timing feels right, I’d love to try it. Sometimes I end up writing about characters I never intended to, so who knows. Thank you.

(00:40:47) (Reading) “I love Nao-chan and Mika-chan. Were they inspired by anyone real?” (00:41:01) Takamatsu-sensei: Not exactly. Everyone in my manga is a mashup of various real people I’ve known or observed.

(00:42:30) (Reading) “Thank you for hosting this Space. I adore your art style—it’s so cute. Where does that cuteness come from?” (00:42:43) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you. I’ve read lots of shōjo, shōnen, and seinen manga, so I’m not sure which influence is strongest. Because Skip and Loafer runs in a seinen magazine but has a warm, bright tone, I tried to simplify lines for a poppy, light feeling. I read a bunch of shōjo manga for reference, so that probably helped shape the cuteness.

(00:44:00) (Reading) “Last Valentine’s Day, you said Mukai-kun received the most chocolates from fans. Who got second place?” (00:44:05) Takamatsu-sensei: Well, it’s not like there were a huge number of chocolates sent in, but the next most popular were Shima-kun and Kanechika-senpai. I don’t think many others got anything, actually.

But here’s the thing: I feel like, compared to fans of Shima-kun, fans of Mukai-kun or Kanechika-senpai tend to have… how do I put this? A stronger sense of devotion. It’s a bit funny how this mirrors the dynamics in the story, right? In terms of image, Shima-kun is obviously popular, but ironically, the real “main love” feeling might come from fans of Mukai or Kanechika-senpai.

(Reading) “I’ve only ever watched one anime all the way through—Skip and Loafer. Do you still stay in touch with your high school friends? You strike me as someone with tons of friends.” (00:45:42) Takamatsu-sensei: I do keep up with a handful, but I don’t have that many. (laughs) Actually, a lot of people who had tons of friends in school only see a few close ones as adults. Quality over quantity, right?

(Reading) “What about living with a dog surprised you the most versus your original image of dogs?” (00:47:15) Takamatsu-sensei: I guess I never knew how unbelievably adorable they actually are. Like, a billion times cuter than I imagined. I hadn’t formed a strong idea of dogs beforehand, so there wasn’t a big “Wow, that’s different!” moment; it was more like “I never realized just how expressive and perceptive they can be.” But the top takeaway is definitely how cute they are.

(00:48:39) (Some confusion about reading comments…)

(00:49:07) (Reading) “I love the Skip and Loafer manga and anime. The opening theme, ‘Mellow’ by Keina Suda, fits perfectly. How did you feel hearing it the first time?” (00:49:18) Takamatsu-sensei: When I first heard it, I thought it matched so well! At the same time, I was like, “Oh my gosh, someone wrote a song specifically for my manga?!” I felt excitement, embarrassment, gratitude—so many emotions. It was also interesting to realize, “Ah, so that’s how the singer (Suda-san) interprets this story.”

I listened to it countless times. Even though I seldom go to karaoke, I decided that whenever I do, I have to sing it. It’s such a good song—really refreshing. And it made me think, “Wow, that’s so Shima-kun!”

(00:51:13) (Reading) “Hey sensei, in the latest volume, I recognized the café in Kyoto, so it felt super real. By the way, I love sushi from Hokuriku. Which sushi topping do you like best—white shrimp?” (00:51:23) Takamatsu-sensei: White shrimp is delicious—Toyama is known for that, along with winter yellowtail (kan-buri). But if I must pick, I love crab and sea urchin (uni).

(00:52:37) (Reading) “Mitsumi-chan has the same birthday as me, March 3rd! Why that date?” (00:52:55) Takamatsu-sensei: Because it’s Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival) day in Japan, which sounds cute. Also, Kankichi Ryotsu from Kochikame shares that birthday, and I love the contrast. (laughs) For the other characters, their birthdays were decided based on the overall vibe or personality I imagined for each of them.

(Reading) “What’s your monthly routine for creating manga? Also, I’d love Nao-chan merch, please!” (00:53:14) Takamatsu-sensei: Nao-chan merch would be awesome! Basically, I spend about two weeks on storyboards (the ‘name’) and two weeks on the actual drawing each month. If the name takes too long, then I have less time for drawing, and it’s chaos. But that’s the general cycle.

(00:54:39) (Reading) “Congratulations on your signing. I love the bonus manga in your covers. Which manga, novels, or films are you into?” (00:54:52) Takamatsu-sensei: I have so many favorites. Lately, I’m rereading fantasy titles like Made in Abyss and Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon). For novels, I like Miyabe Miyuki, and of course I read Harry Potter. As for films, I love the classics: The Shawshank Redemption, The Silence of the Lambs, Gattaca, Shall We Dance? Ghibli films too—especially Princess Mononoke.

(00:56:25) (Reading) “Your emotional portrayals are so good. How did you train your observation or verbalization skills? I’m an aspiring artist too.” (00:56:58) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you. I didn’t specifically train in observing. In my teens, I was just super anxious about what people thought, so I ended up over-analyzing everything. That might help me now as a creator, ironically. Also, reading many books broadens your vocabulary for describing emotions. I’m sorry I don’t have a more systematic method—it’s just how it went for me.

(00:58:52) (Reading) “Now that a new chapter is coming, is there anything you want us to focus on or any big plans?” (00:59:20) Takamatsu-sensei: I’m not really one to say “Huge arc incoming—stay tuned!” But from a school calendar standpoint, next is the culture festival, then exam season for college entrance. Since it’s a high-level academic school, they’ll get very serious about admissions. I do want to depict how each character thinks about their path after graduation, especially because Mitsumi came from the countryside wanting to become a government official. We can’t just fast-forward to “and then she graduated!” So I’ll do thorough research and depict it properly.

(Reading) “When you first heard someone call Skip and Loafer ‘Sukirō’ or ‘Skilow’, did it remind you of sushi?” (01:01:05) Takamatsu-sensei: Haha, yeah, it does sound a bit like “sushi.” (in sushi-ro). But it’s kind of catchy.

(01:01:26) (Reading) “Mitsumi-chan is like a cat, Shima-kun is like a dog, even like Sato-chan (Satonosuke) and there are some animal motifs, but do other characters have motifs?” (01:01:36) Takamatsu-sensei: No, not really. It’s not something I thought about for everyone. But somehow, Mitsumi and Shima-kun do give off cat-and-dog vibes, don’t they? It’s kind of interesting how that worked out.

(01:01:59) (Reading) “Which Sanrio character do you like best?” (01:02:03) Takamatsu-sensei: That’s tricky. Pompompurin is super cute, Keroppi is adorable, and I’m into Pekkle the Duck lately. I like the classic memo-pad crew.

(01:02:30) (Reading) “I look forward to each new issue. Which tools do you use for drawing? I love how warm your art looks.” (01:02:36) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you! I use G-pen and maru-pen (both are dip pens). I draw characters with analog methods, but I switched to digital backgrounds when the pandemic forced my assistants to work remotely. Still, I plan to keep drawing characters by hand.

(01:03:41) (Reading) “Thanks for hosting this signing. I love how everyone’s feelings are so relatable. When you show a character’s emotional shifts or facial expressions, do you have any special approach?” (01:03:56) Takamatsu-sensei: What I keep in mind is that each character has different vocabulary and a different level of self-awareness. People differ in how well they grasp their own emotions. For instance, I imagine Mika is someone who thinks a lot in words, while Shima-kun, and recently Chieri-chan, or even Yuzu-chan, might be less adept at it. Some realize how they feel only after a time lag, while others can say, ‘I’m sad or angry for these reasons’ and know it right away. I try to ensure they don’t all reach understanding at the same pace, so I think, ‘For this character, maybe their resolution is about this level.’

(01:05:03) (Reading) “I’m an older guy, but I love Skip and Loafer. Please keep it up.” (01:05:50) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you! Actually, some older fans came to the signing, too, saying, “I’m an old man—sorry.” But there’s no need to apologize. The magazine is Monthly Afternoon, which is seinen, so I hope folks of all ages can enjoy.

(01:06:27) (Reading) “I’m job-hunting and feeling depressed, but Skip and Loafer is supporting me. Looking forward to Season 2 of the anime!” (01:06:39) Takamatsu-sensei: Right, job-hunting… yes, that can get you down. Just do your best, take breaks, and don’t beat yourself up. I hope you find a good job. Same with student life: the people at the center or the ones who succeed aren’t necessarily ‘correct.’ If you think back, there were plenty of people who weren’t in the spotlight but were still great. Whether or not you get hired, it’s… Sorry, I can’t say much more. Hang in there, but don’t overdo it. Eat tasty food and stay warm.

(01:07:48) (Reading) “Good evening, sensei. Also, the donation campaign for Noto reached its goal!” (01:08:05) Takamatsu-sensei: Yes! We had that campaign where reading Chapter 1 would trigger a 100-yen donation for the earthquake-stricken area in Noto (in Ishikawa Prefecture), and thanks to everyone, we reached the target amount. It’s really nice for local folks to see it fully reached, so thank you so much.

(Reading) “What do you most value or refuse to compromise on in Skip and Loafer?” (01:08:53) Takamatsu-sensei: I try to avoid pushing my personal values onto the story, or painting only one viewpoint as correct. No matter how gentle or positive a story is, someone could feel hurt by something in it. But I still want to show many kinds of people with a fairly neutral eye, like “This kind of person also exists,” rather than labeling them good or bad.

(01:10:52) (Reading) “I keep rewatching and rereading. I love the Shima & Reiki-kun dynamics. Will there be a focus on them?” (01:11:04) Takamatsu-sensei: If there’s a reason to delve into their feelings, maybe. It’d be cute, right?

(01:11:32) (Reading) “The Comic Days app recently added a comments section, and fans are going wild. Do you read it?” (01:11:37) Takamatsu-sensei: I didn’t realize there were comments! But I figure if I start lurking, people might feel too self-conscious to comment freely. So I won’t look. (laughs)

(01:12:04) (Reading) “What’s something yummy you ate lately? I had Godiva warabi-mochi chocolate and was shocked.” (01:12:11) Takamatsu-sensei: Ooh, that sounds interesting. For me, I actually bought a mochi-making machine (a mini home appliance) recently. It’s about the size of a breadmaker, and you can make fresh mochi without getting flour everywhere. I did it with my niece and nephew, and it was so fun. Freshly pounded mochi is amazing! I hesitated to buy it, but it’s already paid for itself.

(01:13:32) (Reading) “Mitsumi’s pets are named Omiso, Oshio, and Satonosuke (‘Miso - Soybean paste’, ‘Salt’, and ‘Sugar’). What’s the inspiration?” (01:14:05) Takamatsu-sensei: They’re basically condiments. That’s all there is to it. (laughs)

(Mic-off glitch around 01:29:39)

(01:29:39) Takamatsu-sensei: Wait, my mic was off again? How long? Ten minutes? I had no idea. Sorry if you missed some of what I said.

(01:30:43) Takamatsu-sensei: I wanted to share something about the signing event: someone asked, “Any memorable moments?” And I mentioned that a few readers came up crying and said Skip and Loafer motivated them to change jobs or circumstances. It was touching and also overwhelming. Because while I understood in theory that a manga might encourage someone, it’s different when a real person stands in front of me, telling me how it inspired them to take action.

But truly, I believe they themselves already wanted that change—my manga just happened to be the nudge at that particular moment. It could have been anything else. They deserve credit for making the move, so I hope they feel proud.

(01:35:17) (Reading) “When you visited Kanazawa for a lecture (she lectured in Kanazawa College of Art), where did you eat?” (01:35:29) Takamatsu-sensei: I posted photos from a café near my college called Bonjin, and I also went to Oriental Brewing (a craft beer bar). Bonjin is a place I used to visit in my student days. It’s become super popular now, but it still tastes the same.

(01:36:24) Takamatsu-sensei: I said I’d finish by 11:00… and I was silent for ten minutes. I’m so sorry.

(01:37:18) (Reading) “I discovered Skip and Loafer through the anime. During the anime production process, did you have any particular requests for the staff, like specific directions?” (01:37:28) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you. As for actual ‘requests,’ I didn’t really make any. The director, producers, scriptwriter—they held meetings, but I didn’t have anything in particular to say. Basically, I’m a total amateur about visuals or audio, so if I wondered, ‘Huh, how will this turn out?’ once it was finished, I’d say, ‘Oh, I see!’ I attended the voice recordings, so I should have heard them, yet hearing the final anime, I was like, ‘Oh, so that’s how that voice sounds when animated!’ It was different. I realized the professionals can see further ahead than I can.

At the start of production, about ‘please be mindful of this,’ I hardly said anything. Basically, I just didn’t want them to discriminate against a certain group or do something that’s obviously out of line—just basic stuff. Like, I didn’t want them to mock a certain category of people or turn them into a total caricature. I wanted them to keep various ‘types’ of people neutral. I believe that’s what I asked for—about that much.

(01:38:40) (Reading) “I’m from Toyama too. What’s your favorite Toyama food?” (01:38:43) Takamatsu-sensei: Definitely the fresh seafood. And I sometimes crave masuzushi (pressed trout sushi). But overall, I love sushi more than big rice bowls.

(01:39:15) (Reading) “So many of your lines stand out. Are they from personal experience?” (01:39:20) Takamatsu-sensei: No, many of them are not from my experiences at all. It’s hard to say, but basically all the characters are classmates, so age difference doesn’t matter. Fundamentally, if someone says, ‘You’re doing it wrong, do it this way,’ and they go, ‘Oh, you’re right,’ and then they change right away… that doesn’t happen in real life. So I try to avoid that.

How to put it? When you read manga, you do want to see some growth, but if it’s just ‘growth, growth’ it can be draining. Still, we do want change, right? But I believe that real transformation comes from the character themselves being convinced—not from being lectured by others. It’s tough for people to change. If someone just scolds them, can they suddenly change? Probably not. You have to accept it yourself. So that’s the structure I want: a story where they realize it on their own.

(01:40:47) (Reading) “Are there adorable overseas goods for Skip and Loafer that we can get in Japan?” (01:40:52) Takamatsu-sensei: I’ve seen some really cute items from overseas, yes. I’m not sure about licensing, but it’d be nice if we could sell them here too.

(01:42:31) (Reading) “When I look back on my high school days, I remember the sports festival, the school festival, the choir competition, and the ball game tournament. In Tsubame Nishi High School (your fictional school), they have a class match (sports) and a culture fest. No chorus festival or sports day. Why those events?” (01:42:43) Takamatsu-sensei: In my mind, Tsubame Nishi might have a sports festival, but no choir competition. Or maybe they just skip the sports festival. (laughs) I specifically wanted to show the class match (which often happens early in the first year) and the culture fest (which tends to be later in the year). Those two felt like key events.

(Reading) “Do Mitsumi-chan and the others have theme songs?” Takamatsu-sensei: No, they don’t. I’m not that knowledgeable about music, but now I’m curious—what songs do you think suit them? Let me know!

(01:44:20) (Reading) “When I’m thinking up stories, I imagine them like a live-action movie in my head. But my friend says that manga panels appear in their head. Are you the type to think in manga from the planning stage?” Takamatsu-sensei: I wonder what type I am? I don’t really write a detailed plot. I usually go straight to storyboarding. I can’t organize my ideas with just a plot. I need to put them into storyboard form. But… maybe I’m more of a visual type? I think I imagine the movements.

(01:44:59) (Reading) “Do you have any plans to release another LINE sticker set with the content from the current volumes?” Takamatsu-sensei: Not right now, but I’d like to, wouldn’t I? I think the current ones only go up to volume five. I’d like to find some good parts to include and do it again. But… maybe when there’s a special occasion?

(01:45:33) (Reading) “I’m looking forward to Skip and Loafer university and working life editions.” Takamatsu-sensei: Who knows? We’ll see.

(01:45:54) (Reading) “When drawing certain scenes—romantic or introspective—do you listen to any particular music?” (01:45:57) Takamatsu-sensei: No, if I hear Japanese lyrics while I’m planning, I can’t focus. I usually work in silence. For finishing work (like tones), I’ll put on a drama or talk show in the background to keep me from getting restless. If you have suggestions for an ‘image song,’ feel free to let me know, because I don’t have one myself.

(01:46:24) (Reading) “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” Takamatsu-sensei: I signed up for a 12-month online English course and skipped two months, so I vow to resume and improve my English step by step!

(01:47:42) (Reading) “I’m doing disaster recovery in Noto. It’s tough, but it motivates me being in the place you modeled after.” Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you so much. Infrastructure is still being restored, so I know it’s challenging. Please take care of yourself.

(01:48:06) (Reading) “How many days off do you get per week, and what do you do?” Takamatsu-sensei: I don’t have a strict ‘off-day.’ If I have a plan with a friend, that’s my off-day. So maybe around five off-days a month? Sometimes I give up drawing if I’m not productive. It ends up being about two ‘light workload’ days a week in total.

(01:49:03) (Reading) “I promoted your manga to many people during the donation campaign! By the way, do you read other Afternoon titles?” Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, I read quite a few.

(Reading) “Have you ever slipped on snow?” Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, many times. (laughs)

(01:49:34) (Reading) “Makoto is in the literature club, but chose a science track. That surprised me. Which subjects are each character good at?” (01:49:46) Takamatsu-sensei: Well, I imagine Makoto is someone who likes the humanities but is strong in science. Mitsumi, perhaps she’s good at classical Japanese or memorization. Shima-kun is not especially great at anything, maybe about average all around. Mika is definitely good at English. Yuzu… maybe also balanced. Mukai-kun is probably a science type. It’s a bit vague, but that’s how I see it.”

(01:50:47) (Reading) “How do you think Mitsumi and friends will celebrate Coming-of-Age Day? Will they wear furisode kimonos, or do something unique?” Takamatsu-sensei: Well, local coming-of-age ceremonies can be interesting. Due to the earthquake, maybe they couldn’t do them, but in some towns, it varies. In the place that inspired Takojima, for example, there’s a little theater by the sea, and new adults (those turning 20) will perform something like kabuki, about a slender, stylish guy and a burly fisherman, with confetti—it’s really fun. Typically, it’s men only, but who knows in my version. (laughs)

(01:52:18) Takamatsu-sensei: Oh, it’s already past 11 PM. I’ll go a bit longer since my mic was off for about 10 minutes, but I’ll wrap it up soon.

(Reading) “Were you more a loafers person or a sneakers person in high school?” (01:52:36) Takamatsu-sensei: I wore both, but on the first day, I wore loafers because it felt so ‘high school.’

(Reading) “Is the café in Kyoto from the story a real place?” (01:52:54) Takamatsu-sensei: Yes, it is. I just don’t know if I can name it publicly, but it’s definitely real.

(Reading) “What breed is your dog?” (01:53:11) Takamatsu-sensei: Oh, the breed of my dog is a Maltese-Pomeranian mix. Right, she’s super cute. I got her from a rescue. It’s almost been a year now.

(01:53:39) (Reading) “Any favorite comedians?” Takamatsu-sensei: I like Nakagawa-ke (the Nakagawa Brothers), though I’m not super knowledgeable about comedy overall.

(01:54:05) (Reading) “I love the composition in your pages—like in the newest volume where they cross a small river while discussing their futures. It was moving. How do you decide your layouts?” (01:54:29) Takamatsu-sensei: Thank you. I actually have a bit of insecurity about my art, so hearing that makes me happy. As for composition, because it’s manga, rather than making it extremely elaborate, I focus on readability. For action, you might have really cool poses, but I try to keep things clear so you know what’s happening. I avoid doing anything too off-the-wall. I’d rather it be read smoothly without getting stuck than have a weird flashy panel that makes the reader pause.

As for panel layout or composition: in my head, things are pretty 2D—I can’t visualize super 3D scenes. But regarding paneling, since this is a print medium, there’s a left and right page. When you open it, which panel is most important? Even within a single page, where do I want the reader to focus, and where can they skim quickly? I use panel size, position, or the density of art to signal, ‘Here’s the main focal point, whereas you can breeze through this part.’ I try to arrange it so it’s somewhat intuitive.

(01:56:25) (Brief mention of an earthquake in Kyushu)

(01:57:00) Takamatsu-sensei: Everyone in Kyushu, please be careful.

(01:57:19) Takamatsu-sensei: Everyone, please be careful.

(01:57:24) Takamatsu-sensei: I’ll start by watching the news.

(01:57:43) Takamatsu-sensei: It’s past 11:00, so thank you for listening.

(01:57:57) Takamatsu-sensei: Happy New Year! I hope we can meet again at a signing event or some other event. Thank you for joining me tonight.

(01:58:05) (Gentle sign-off) Takamatsu-sensei: Thanks, everyone. Good night. Take care!

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Notes / Extra Credits

Junkudō Ikebukuro: A major bookstore chain in Japan, with a flagship store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

Fujiko F. Fujio Tribute: Refers to a special project or anthology paying homage to the late creator of Doraemon and other classic manga.

Dōbutsu no Oisha-san (Animal Doctor): A shōjo manga by Noriko Sasaki about veterinary medicine students, known for its humorous, slice-of-life style.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (Kanazawa): A renowned modern art museum in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, famous for its circular design and interactive exhibits.

Dr. House / House, M.D.: An American medical drama starring Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House.

Grand Maison Tokyo: A Japanese TV drama about a chef trying to earn three Michelin stars in a French restaurant.

Natsume Arata no Kekkon: A seinen manga by Tarō Nogizaka.

Keina Suda (Balloon): A Japanese singer-songwriter who performed “Mellow,” the opening theme of Skip and Loafer anime.

Nintama Rantaro: A long-running comedic ninja anime for children, known for short episodes and comedic gags.

Moana 2: A hypothetical sequel to Disney’s Moana, not confirmed at the time of this talk.

Kankichi Ryotsu: Protagonist of Kochikame, a long-running comedic police manga by Osamu Akimoto.

Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival): A Japanese festival (March 3rd) where families display dolls to wish for the health and happiness of girls.

Maltese-Pomeranian mix: A small-breed dog, known for being fluffy and affectionate.

Nakagawa-ke (Nakagawa Brothers): A comedy duo known for their skits and stand-up.

Mochi-making machine: A small electric appliance that steams rice and pounds it into mochi (rice cakes).

Otoemon: A confectionery (notably making chestnut pound cakes, fruit pound cakes) prized by fans of baked sweets.

Kurobe Gorge Railway: Known for its scenic trolley cars that run through a mountainous area, especially beautiful during autumn.

Masuzushi: A regional specialty of Toyama, a type of pressed sushi made with trout and vinegared rice.

Comic Days App: A digital manga platform in Japan where Skip and Loafer is serialized.

Godiva Warabi-Mochi Chocolate: A limited-edition product from the chocolatier Godiva, combining the textures of warabi-mochi and chocolate.

Furisode: A formal, long-sleeved kimono worn by young, unmarried women in Japan for Coming-of-Age Day.

Noto Peninsula Earthquake: Refers to the earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, in 2023.

Coming-of-Age Day (Seijin no Hi): A Japanese holiday held annually to congratulate those who have newly turned 20.

Monthly Afternoon: A monthly seinen manga magazine published by Kodansha, known for a wide range of genres, including slice-of-life.

“Image Song”: A song that a reader might associate with a manga, character, or scene.

Bonjin Coffee: A coffee shop in Kanazawa.

Oriental Brewing: A craft beer bar in Kanazawa.

[redsamuraiii]

Blackthorne : Legs, fire hurt, bad? Fuji : No. Sorry. But it still hurts to sit. Legs hurt. So sorry. Blackthorne : Please show me. Fuji : Please, Anjin-san, I don't wish to trouble you. Blackthorne : No trouble. You are consort, neh? He inspect the wounds and pleased to see her healing quickly.

Blackthorne : Doctor very good. Buddha watch Fujiko-san.

He puts his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

Blackthorne : No worry now. Shigata ga nai, neh? You understand? Her tears spilled. He gave her a hug. Blackthorne : Now no weep. Order!

He sent the maid for fresh cha and many cushions to help her recline on them, as much as at first it embarrassed her to obey. Fuji : How can I ever thank you? Blackthorne : No. Give back. He thought for a moment but he couldn't remember the word for 'favor'. He held up his fists mimicking pistols and pointing them. Blackthorne: Omi-san, remember? James Clavell's Shogun (1975), Chapter 49, Page 813

[dangerously-happy-world]

LUPIN MOVIE OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE !!!

The next Lupin movie of the month will be 2001's TVSP . . .

Lupin the third: Alcatraz Connection.

(Synopsis)

Lupin the third is after the sunken ship "Yankee Slade", a ship that was transporting countless goldbars that one day sunk 20,000 feet below surface of the sea. After finding a lead to the treasure, lupin, jigen, goemon and fujiko are ambushed by a mysterious organization also after the Yankee Slade and hell bent on keeping a decades old conspiracy a secret.

From sunken treasure, the mafia of San Francisco and the U.S government, how does alcatraz connect it all ???

Available on YouTube starting June 7th.

[peekaboo5551]

The Easter Eggs in [ Doraemon the Movie : Nobita and the New Steel Troops : ~Winged Angels~  ]

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

The Ramen Eater , Koike-san

A supporting character in the Doraemon story that we are familiar with his signature ramen eating scene. His name is "Koike-san" (小池さん)

He sometimes appears in [Q-Taro The Ghost] and is a teacher in [Ninja Hattori].

The prototype for this character is Shinichi Suzuki (鈴木伸一) , a friend of Fujiko Fujio and a member of the famous cartoonist dormitory, Tokiwa Dormitory. He really likes to eat ramen.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

The Chimpanzee wears a helmet that looks similar to "Booby (ブービー)" in Perman

Well.. I don't know much about this character since I've never watched [Perman] before.

I'm not so sure but I think it's a parody of him.

**If there is any incorrect information, I apologize**

[cloudymistedskies]

☁️ INTRODUCTION ☁️

I’m Cloudy! Im non-binary uses They/She pronouns! I’m an artist that does OC x Canons! Specially Muichiro x OC

I mainly make content relating to my demon slayer oc, Mari (and her older sister, Riko)

I do need to put a disclaimer, if you support PROSHIPPING, PLEASE DNI.

🌧️ About me 🌧️

- I’m Filipino (Unfortunately)

- I watched demon slayer over a year ago, but I got fixated on it last year of April

- Aside from demon slayer, I have a few interests like: DELTARUNE/UNDERTALE ❤️

OMORI 🔪

MHA⭐️

ONESHOT 💡

…That’s about it.

- I’m autistic so please be patient with me if I don't understand things or such!

- Cats are the most ever ✨

⛅️ Information about my demon slayer OCS ⛅️

Mari(lyn) Kaizumi ☁️

-> More info abt Mari! ☁️

-> Cloud breathing info + forms ☁️

-> Mari’s backstory ☁️

Yukihara Fujiko 💤

Ryouki Kobayashi 💥

🌦️ Masterlist of my random writing 🌦️

Mari’s journey as a demon slayer!

Muichiro breaks into Mari's estate then steals her

“Stuck in the classroom together” Marimui fic

“Love letters…” Marimui crack fic

“Falls in love with you” Marimui fic

"Flower Origamis" Marimui fic

“Take a moment to breathe, Suzuki-san!”

"Time spent with you" MariMui fic

"The love language of gifting" MariMui fic

"Lily of the valley"

Kaizumi siblings bonding

[elijahdmgz]

R.I.P Katsue Miwa (1943-2024)

2024 hurts me again...

Katsue Miwa, Japanese voice actress famous for being the voice of Perman since 1967 amongst other iconic roles like Calimero (Calimero 1974), Unico (The Fantastic Adventures of Unico & Unico in the Island of Magic), Shota (Obake no Q-Taro 1985), etc, has been confirmed to have passed away back In June on the 19th this year.

When I heard, I was immediately in shock (especially since it seemed like she was doing okay and well the past few years) and had to spread the news to my mutuals and friends. After a call I had with my friend Allen, I then passed out suddenly, but then immediately set out to create this tribute for Miwa with the character roles of her extensive career I know her the best.

Thanks for your talent you gave to us, Miwa-san. I hope that your final performance as Perman in the new Doraemon short for the Fujiko F. Museum is a lovely sendoff to your fantastical career and life.

Rest in peace...

[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

[aggressively side-shoves the person in front of me] Hi! Hello, can i get two orders of fluffy and soft pancake couples with extra sweet syruppy moments?

14. "i've been looking for my hoodie-" "my hoodie, you mean."

Tanyame ofc, though this one i would fits *haha* modern au established relationship.

18. "you're cold?" "no? it's super sunny right now-" "take my jacket anyway."

Fujiko and/or Yorichii or michikatsu

Sank 💕

LSDNFEWNOEFO it's okay there aren't many people for u to shove!!!!! but yes i can absolutely do my best to serve up some fluffy pancakes for u!!!!! esp cos we need it, considering what happened in ch116.........

and i will take any reason to write fujiko 🥺🥺🥺 thank u for feeding my fujiko and sengoku era squad obsession as always!!!!!! <3

14. "i've been looking for my hoodie-" "my hoodie, you mean."

(modern!au)

Tanjirou was used to a routine when he returned home from work. He would open the door to his cat greeting him with a meow, followed by his girlfriend meeting him in the genkan with a kiss and a murmured, "Okaeri." That was the signal for the burdens of the day to disappear from his shoulders.

However, there was a shift in routine when he called out "Tadaima!" and was met with silence after the customary greeting by Shirogane.

He blinked, taking in the quiet living room. The lights were on, which meant that Ayame was home from work, but she wasn't heading over to greet him. The kitchen was empty as well; no clanging of pots and pans as Ayame wrestled with the temperamental stove that they kept saying they would replace.

Tanjirou put away his coat, stepping into his house slippers with a concerned sound. Shirogane wound around his legs before sauntering off to do what he did best - napping in the early evening sunlight until it was dinnertime.

"Ayame?" he called out.

There was a thump, then sounds from their bedroom. Ayame appeared, her bun half-unravelled, the loosened curls sitting on one shoulder.

"Tanjirou, you're home! I didn't hear you," she said apologetically, leaning up to press a distracted kiss to his lips. "Okaeri."

His hands settled on her hips before she could draw away. The corners of her lips twitched, her hands resting on his shoulder in return.

"What's wrong?" he asked, thumbs rubbing circles against the worn fabric of her t-shirt. He recognised it; it was his old baseball jersey from high school. "Did something happen at work today, love?"

"No - well, yes," she admitted at Tanjirou's eyebrow raise, "but that's not the point."

"No?"

"I've been looking for my hoodie - "

"My hoodie, you mean."

"Our hoodie," she retorted. "Don't be selfish, Tanjirou."

Tanjirou couldn't help the grin that helplessly tugged at his lips. He shouldn't have been so happy; Ayame had just confessed to having a bad day at work, although it was obvious enough when he saw his old baseball jersey hanging off her frame. She only ever wore it when she needed comfort and he wasn't around to provide it immediately. Her workplace was much closer than his, after all.

"Anyway," Ayame continued, playing with the hair at his nape, "I can't find it. Do you know where it is?"

He hummed, fingers locking at the small of her back so he could pull her flush against his chest. She followed easily, gravitating into his orbit without a complaint.

"Sunshine?"

"Hm?"

Tanjirou blinked his eyes open - he wasn't aware they had closed. He nuzzled the top of her head, humming once more at the familiar scent of her shampoo.

"The hoodie?" she questioned.

Right. The hoodie. It was a hoodie that was about two sizes too big on him, with a green-and-black icihimatsu pattern. He had gotten it as a birthday present from his family when he was fifteen and it had been so hilariously huge that he could still wear it even now that he was well into his adult years. From the moment he started dating Ayame, she was wearing it more often than not. He didn't mind - it looked much better on her than it ever did on him.

"I think we left it at Zenitsu's place," he said thoughtfully.

The last time she had worn it was on their double date with Zenitsu and Nezuko. They had returned to Zenitsu's apartment afterwards, and they'd had another heated games night as usual.

Ayame's expression fell. Tanjirou leaned down to kiss her frown away, helplessly charmed by the way she loved that old hoodie so much.

When they broke apart, foreheads pressed together, she murmured, "We should go get it back."

"Mn, sure." He pressed his lips to hers again, spinning her so she was walking back towards the living room. "But not right now. It's late."

"It's barely seven," she protested, although she allowed him to walk her backwards until her calves hit the sofa. "Tanjirou, the hoodie - "

"You don't need it," he assured her. "I'm here now, okay?"

"You just got back from work."

"It's fine, it's fine."

"You stink. You need a shower. You smell like sweat and sugar."

Her nose wrinkled. She was never very fond of overly sweet things, even though she was dating a pastry chef.

Tanjirou smirked. "Let go of me so I can take a shower, then."

Her arms wound around his neck, a stubborn pout on her lips. Always so contradictory, his Ayame.

"Maybe after one more kiss," Ayame said, fingers sliding into his hair. "Then you can go."

Tanjirou ducked his head down, lips meeting hers. He knew as well as she did that they never stopped at one more kiss. But hey, who was he to tell her otherwise?

He had lost count of how many kisses they'd had when the doorbell rang. He let out a groan, unwilling to move from his spot where he was draped over Ayame as she lay on the couch. He gave her a beseeching look, begging her to ignore it. Unfortunately, the doorbell rang once more, followed by a staccato knock that could only be Zenitsu.

Ayame chuckled, pressing a fleeting kiss to his cheek. "Think this is payback for all the times you interrupted him and Nezuko?" she teased.

"Probably," Tanjirou grumbled, moving so she could answer the door.

It wasn't his fault he hadn't realised Zenitsu was trying to woo Nezuko!

He rolled into the warmth Ayame left behind, finally letting his body settle into the old sofa. He only raised himself on his elbows when Ayame excitedly called out his name.

"Look!" she gasped, eyes lighting up in delight.

He smiled helplessly. "Well, would you look at that."

She was already Tanjirou's oversized hoodie, the too-long sleeves flapping about as she waved her arms. There was a pleased flush on her cheeks, and Tanjirou just felt like he was falling for her all over again. To think she would be so happy over such a small thing.

"Hope I'm not intruding," Zenitsu said - as if he cared if he did.

Tanjirou snorted. "Of course not." He gave his blonde friend a warm smile. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Zenitsu turned to Ayame. "Inosuke told me what happened at work today. Must've been embarrassing, ne?"

Ayame stilled. She turned her head slowly to glare at Zenitsu. "Don't."

Tanjirou sat up. His curiousity was piqued.

"What happened?"

"We don't have to talk about it," Ayame answered hurriedly. "Come on, Tanjirou - look! I have my hoodie back!"

"Our hoodie," he muttered under his breath with no small amount of amusement. "And hey, I want to know!"

"Great!" Zenitsu grinned. "Inosuke's coming over in half an hour with takeout. He saw the whole thing."

Ayame scowled. "I hate you guys."

Tanjirou laughed, beckoning her over. She begrudgingly shuffled over, still pouting even as she stood between his legs.

"You love us," he teased, pulling her down by the sleeves for one more kiss.

Her gaze softened when she pulled away. Her hands, buried in his hoodie sleeves, cupped his cheeks before she was leaning back in for another kiss. As usual, one more kiss was never enough.

"I love you," she whispered against his lips.

"Guys, seriously," Zenitsu whined, causing the couple to pull apart. "Look, I'm so happy you guys are a loving couple, but give it a break."

"I'll give you a break, alright," Ayame huffed, glaring at Zenitsu. "Break one of your bones."

Tanjirou laughed into Ayame's stomach. Fingers slipping under her hoodie and shirt, he traced I love you too onto the warm skin of her lower back. Her warm glance told him she knew that too.

18. "you're cold?" "no? it's super sunny right now-" "take my jacket anyway."

(modern!au)

Fujiko couldn't believe her luck.

It had been pouring when she left her house. The dark clouds had dominated the sky before she could blink, and a heavy downpour had dropped right onto her head. Of course, it had to be the one day she had forgotten her umbrella at home. She had to run to the station, glaring out at the deluge that had accompanied her walk.

And now...

"Unbelievable," she muttered to herself.

The sky was a bright blue, the sun shining down cheerfully. A few fluffy white clouds floated amongst the azure expanse.

The journey had only taken half an hour. How the hell?

"What happened to you?"

Fujiko turned at the sound of her friend's voice. Michikatsu was looking down at her still-damp clothes, utterly puzzled.

"It rained when I left the house," she sighed, shaking her head. "I guess the wind blew the storm away from here."

A brisk wind blew past, causing a shiver to wrack through her body. She had thought it was bad in the air-conditioned depths of the train, but even with the sun's warmth beating down on her, her drenched clothes were keeping the cold locked close to her skin.

Yoriichi caught sight of her and immediately coughed.

"You're cold?" he asked, already removing his jacket.

"No?" Fujiko lied. At Yoriichi's bland look, she added, "It's super sunny right now - "

"Take my jacket anyway."

His jacket was shoved into her arms.

Fujiko blinked. She didn't think Yoriichi had ever acted so insistent before.

"Yoriichi, I'll get it wet," she protested, trying to return it to him.

He glanced down at her, then immediately averted his gaze.

"It - It's fine," he insisted. "Just take it - put it on. Please."

"But why?"

Yoriichi winced. "Don't... ask. Just - please."

"I don't understand - "

"Your bra is showing," Michikatsu interjected flatly. "Fujiko, please."

Oh.

... Oh!

It was the middle of summer, so her pale pink blouse was made of a thin material to keep her cool. She hadn't expected the sudden summer rain, and...

Her cheeks heated up.

"That explains why everyone was staring at me," she said weakly. "I'm going to crawl into a hole and hide forever."

Yoriichi laughed quietly, glancing at her as she buried her face in his jacket. "Don't do that. Just put on my jacket and it'll be fine."

Bemoaning her own idiocy, she pulled her hands through the sleeves and zipped it up halfway. The long sleeves fell over her fingers. A warm and spiced scent tickled her nose - the scent of Yoriichi's cologne.

Fujiko sighed. "I look ridiculous."

"It's fine," Yoriichi assured her. "We're going to see a movie anyway."

She peered up at him. "Won't you be cold?"

He shook his head.

With a smirk, Michikatsu muttered, "You guys can always share body heat."

Fujiko reached over to punch him in the arm in outrage. Yoriichi merely reddened and ducked his head.

"Don't joke around like that," she hissed, wishing her ears didn't feel so hot.

Michikatsu gave her a bland look. She didn't know why he was so insistent that Yoriichi had feelings for her. That was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard in her life. Everyone knew that he was in love with Uta - Michikatsu better than anyone.

"Where's Keichirou-kun?" Yoriichi asked, stepping between Fujiko and his brother before their bickering could escalate.

Fujiko slipped her hands into Yoriichi's jacket pockets, warming her cold hands. "He's waiting for us at the movie theatre."

"Better get a move on, then," said Michikatsu, lengthening his strides.

Fujiko let out an annoyed sound in the back of her throat; he knew she couldn't keep up with him like that!

Thankfully, Yoriichi remained by her side instead of leaving her in the dust. He was silent, which wasn't a strange occurrence, except that this silence felt like he was holding something back.

Fujiko smiled warmly. "Well, Yoriichi? You can say whatever is on your mind."

Yoriichi glanced at her, only to have his gaze skitter away.

"... It looks good on you," he confessed quietly.

"Hm?"

"The jacket. It looks better on you than it does on me."

There was a quiet confession in his voice. Fujiko thought that maybe it was possible Yoriichi might see her as more than a friend.

Maybe.

[peaterookie]

Yesterday i caught up on Shin Lupin from the San Fran arc to the first two chapters of Yapland and there were some things that i found interesting so i wanna talk abt it here

Vague spoilers for Chapter 160 and beyond

Firstly i wanna start with how much blatant the themes of freedom gets with every chapter, i find it peculiar that now it's put on the full front of things.

Monkey Punch typically leaves things up vague but topics of freedom has been spoken from the character's mouth multiple times, i think this is something we might wanna pay attention to

I'm not fully sure why Lupin is primarily the one that constantly states his freedom over and over given how little of it has happened in hundreds of previous chapters, but i can try to theorize on why

It's likely based on his feelings of pride, since on the second image he speaks on both his status as human being and his freedom back to back, showing a correlation between the two things

"Some people might be thieves because they're cockroaches." "I'm a thief because I am free."

My interpretation of this is that Lupin sees himself as above everyone in the world of crime, as some sort of righteous robinhood type of person that decided to lead into the path of crime because of a good reason, unlike the "cockroaches" that do it for greed and to hurt others

Why does he decide to emphasize freedom now of all times? Perhaps he feels the need to do so push back some sense of insecurity in him and argue against the world that he is better than what he/others see him as, he doesn't want to be seen as a cockroach, he rather wants to be seen as a butterfly, something that flies free in the world

This can be backed up by the fact that he tries to do good, like preventing this man from raping a woman (despite Lupin later raping Susan in the arc)

Why I theorize it could be due to insecurity is because of what happens in Yapland

i find it really interesting that instead of the "fake" Lupin (the one piloting the aliencraft) stating that he is the real one and the "real" lupin being fake, he says that both of them are real.

When reading this the first time, it really reminded me of the concept of Jungian Shadows, the side of yourself that you wish to not accept due to it inhibiting traits you wish you didn't have, but it is still a part of you (I am also a Persona fan, sorry for being a huge loser)

In this case the Lupin we first see (wearing a plain jacket) inhabits traits of the righteous thief, while the Shadow Lupin (wearing a suit jacket) inhabits traits of the cruel and villainous thief

the "good" Lupin claims innocence of everything he is accused of in the chapter, while the Shadow Lupin sends the Yapland residence to sexually assault Fujiko, forcing her to go to yapland with him. He really is sort of like the old lupin (from OG manga to early Shin), but in a kinda creepy way.

"Good" Lupin

Shadow Lupin

While the Shadow Lupin is proven in later scans to be the fake I think? the existence of two Lupins has some opportunity to be looked into what it means in a metaphorical sense.

What i think is that between the events of San Fran, Lupin psychologically spits himself in half and rejects his cruel side due to it being an undesirable part of him he wishes to leave behind yet can't fully detach himself from it, shown literally in how he constantly preaches about being free and doing good acts, yet turning around and doing horrible shit to others.

That 'shadow' of his comes back to haunt him in Yapland, trying to tell him that he is a side of himself that he will never be able to get rid of. Well see how well this theory holds up in later chapters lmfao

-----

Secondly, the thing with Lupin and Susan is lowkey disgusting but its also oddly interesting

I wanna point out how Goemon for possibly the first time comments on how Lupin raped a woman and how its unfaithful to Fujiko

Maybe he's doing this now out of all the times because he's behaving as Lupin's moral conscience, saying that Lupin's going out of line given how he's trying so hard to preach this sort of heroic side of himself yet is psychologically messing with this woman.

It also could be Goemon criticizing Lupin's lack of loyalty in general. Seeing how Lupin can easily discard his relationship with Fujiko and his effort to be a more righteous thief just because he's got the hots for this woman, what's stopping him from betraying Jigen and Goemon's trust too? (THIS IS FORESHADOWING TO THE EVENTS IN BAD CITY)

If you're free, then you're bound to nothing and nobody, not even the ones on your side

And throughout the arc Lupin murders quite a ton of people, wiping out the entire secret seven yet spares Susan, how could that show that he's a good person? He's just doing what seems right and sparing those he likes

What im saying is that bro is trying so hard to be good but is failing miserably, his treatment towards susan being a huge example

(in these pics he bombs a cable car but it turns out to be a fakeout, another example of how he seems to try to be the good kinds of criminals.)

-----

oh yeah i also wanna mention this panel

It's pretty interesting how Lupin was already considered Japanese / JP citizen from what Zenigata states. This either proves that he is a japanese citizen for quite a long time or he looks japanese enough to be considered a japanese person, or both

SEE GUYS HE'S CLEARLY HALF ASIAN

we support a wasian piece of shit 💚

okay thats it ive ran out of brain juice, that's what i took out of san fran and yapland

here's a oranges fail moment #funny #LOL

[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

this looks so good and i have no words but it's!!!!!! wow!!!!!!!!! i had no particular vision about fujiko in the lil blurb i wrote but this is just perfect!!!!!! and her hair is so [clenches fist] so good. so so good. the angle is phenomenal, her expression exquisite and her outfit is awesome!!!!!! thank u for ur hard work!!!!!!!

Hoodie / Modern AU

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.

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Art by me: @lateroofnights

Character: Fujiko from Fog in the Summertime by authorinprogress97 on ao3

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #738

Febri vol. 40, Hiramatsu Tadashi's interview

Part 1.

-- Firstly, let me start by asking you about how did you become involved in the project? Speaking about Director Yamamoto Sayo's projects, you also worked on opening to her previous project 'Lupin the Third ~The woman called Mine Fujiko~', is that right?

Hiramatsu: The first time we met was when Sayo-san was working on that one project of hers and she asked me to join [the magical girls project, she talked about in her Febri interview]. That project wasn't realized, but since that we've been working together on openings and I had the chance to work as a key animator on some projects that she did in the past. But this is the first time she asked me to work as character designer and animation director on her project.

-- When you first heard about this project, was what your impression of it?

Hiramatsu: Before Yuri!!!, Sayo-san directed a short film about figure skating called 'ENDLESS NIGHT', that was presented during Studio Khara's 'Anime(tors)' Fair'. That was how I got to know that she's a figure skating fan. Some time after that, she contacted me, like 'I'm going to make a figure skating anime. Would you like to join the project?' My first reaction was something like: 'Why are you inviting me? (laugh).

[Note: Hiramatsu-san solo this time! ✨

That such an incredibly talented director like Sayochin can't realize multiple projects, when so many questionable quality animes are made every year is just... 🤬 This unfairness is going to keep me mad for the rest of my life, I'm sure. ]

[formlessvoidbeast]

List of Lupin III Part 2 Episodes (that I liked enough to make my partner watch them)

Part 2 of Lupin III has Many Episodes, but overall I found it fun and charming (in a dated kind of way). Please be aware that this is a very old show, and there are still instances of racism/sexism/etc in these episodes (though the worst have not made this list).

I have decided to share the whole list of episodes I noted down to make Partner watch with me as I have been devouring the show entire, much like a snek, but I have also bolded a couple of my Extra Favorite ones.

I cannot speak to the quality of the dub versions, as I have only watched with Japanese audio and English subtitles. I don't think Part 2 is a bad place to start if you want to get into Lupin. It is a very silly show full of shenanigans, which has been bringing me a great deal of joy over the winter.

11 - "A Gift for the President" / "The Sleight Before Christmas" 12 - "The Great Chase in San Francisco" / "I Left My Mind in San Francisco" 20 - "Goemon's Revenge" / "The Last Mastery" 25 - "A Rose and a Pistol" / "Shot Through the Heart" 32 - "Lupin Dies Twice" / "Lupin the Interred" 41 - "Search for the Treasure of Princess Kaguya" / "Heroes and Vixens" 44 - "The Vanished Special Armored Truck" / "Lion, Cheatin' and Stealin'" 48 - "Lupin Laughs at the Alarm Bell" / "Vault Assault" 57 - "Computer or Lupin?" / "Alter-Ego Maniac" 58 - "The Face of Goodbye at the National Border" / "Gettin' Jigen with It" 61 - "The Flying Zantetsuken" / "The Yam Is Mightier Than the Sword" 66 - Order: Shoot to Kill!!" / "Beauty and the Deceased" 72 - A Skateboard Murder Mystery" / "You're Sapphired!" 79 - "The Lupin Funeral March" / "Baton Death March" 80 - "The Last Gift in Prison is Cup Ramen" / "Everybody Loves Ramen" 81 - "Fujiko, Men Are a Sorry Lot!" / "Fujiko, Men Are a Sorry Lot!" 82 - "Rescuing Pops" / "Hostage Rescue Operation: Daddio" 84 - "Leave the Revenge to Lupin" / "Leave the Revenge to Lupin" 98 - "The Day Pops Was Gone" / "The Day Without Daddio" 99 - "The Scattered Magnum" / "Fighting Jigen" 102 - "Lupin, Do You Like Chanel?" / "Lupin, Do You Like Chanel?" 110 - "Fujiko's Candid Photo" / "Sharp Shot! This is Fujiko" 112 - "Goemon's Close Call" / "Danger! Goemon" 116 - "When's the 108th Bell?" / "Has the Bells Rung 108 Times?" 129 - "In Jigen, I Saw the Gentleness of a Man's Soul" / "The Kindness Of Jigen is Seen" 134 - "The Climactic Lupin Arrest Operation" / "The Surrounded Summit Strategy" 137 - "The Magnificent Team-Play Operation" / "Team Work" 142 - "The Big Favorite Disappeared at the Grand Race" / "The Disappearing Favourite" 143 - "The Miami Bank Raid Anniversary" / "The Miami Bank" 145 - "Wings of Death - Albatross" / "Albatross: Wings of Death" 148 - "The Target Is 555 Meters" / "The Target is Five Hundred and Fifty Five Meters Away"

If you only watch one episode of Part 2 -- make it 145/Wings of Death- Albatross, but if you are going to watch more than one episode for the love of the gods don't watch that one first it will set your standards much too high for the rest of the show.

edit to add: a number of these episodes after 98 can be found on youtube! And in fact youtube has much better subtitling on their subbed episodes than crunchyroll, so I recommend watching them there instead if possible.

[cextra-loz]

Oh anime is your comfort series? Oh you are anime girl obsessed?

name eveyr anime girl >:3

2B (Nier: Automata)

Mikasa Ackerman

Yūko Aioi

Taiga Aisaka

Ritsuko Akagi

Moka Akashiya

Homura Akemi

Alita (Battle Angel Alita)

Misa Amane

Android 18

Anita Hailey

Ann Takamaki

Aqua (KonoSuba)

Ami Asai

Athena Asamiya

Mina Ashido

Tsuyu Asui

Asuna (Sword Art Online)

Cagalli Yula Athha

Atoli

Rei Ayanami

Ilia

Baby Bonnie Hood

Belldandy

Benten (Urusei Yatsura)

Queen Beryl

Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls)

Boa Hancock

Alisa Bosconovitch

Euphemia li Britannia

Sarah Bryant (Virtua Fighter)

Bulma

C.C. (Code Geass)

Cammy

Carrot (One Piece)

Caulifla and Kale

Michelle Chang (Tekken)

Chi (Chobits)

Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)

Chun-Li

Lacus Clyne

Jolyne Cujoh

Tomoyo Daidouji

Golden Darkness

Dejiko

Lala Satalin Deviluke

Momo Belia Deviluke

Nana Astar Deviluke

Chrome Dokuro

Ed (Cowboy Bebop)

Elena (Street Fighter)

Emma (The Promised Neverland)

Ami Enan

Junko Enoshima

Etna (Disgaea)

Felicia (Darkstalkers)

Maya Fey

Mia Fey

Pearl Fey

Anya Forger

Yor Forger

Haruhi Fujioka

Chika Fujiwara

Toko Fukawa

Yuno Gasai

Rias Gremory

Toru Hagakure

Sakura Haruno

Hatsune Miku

Misa Hayase

Lucy Heartfilia

Leona Heidern

Hestia (character)

Kagome Higurashi

Himawari Kunogi

Hinako (anime character)

Tohru Honda

Hsien-Ko

Hinata Hyuga

Yuko Ichihara

Midari Ikishima

Orihime Inoue

Lum (Urusei Yatsura)

Konata Izumi

Sagiri Izumi

Yumeko Jabami

Oscar François de Jarjayes

Kyoka Jiro

Abigail Jones

Juri (Street Fighter)

Jynx

Kagura (Azumanga Daioh)

Kaho Mizuki

Nezuko Kamado

Kamiya Kaoru

Madoka Kaname Midna

Mitsuri Kanroji

Urumi Kanzaki

Karin Kanzuki

Yuu Kashima

Ayumu Kasuga

Sakura Kasugano

Misato Katsuragi

Tomie Kawakami

Ami Kawashima

Nadeshiko Kinomoto

Sakura Kinomoto

Kyoko Kirigiri

Saya Kisaragi

Miyuki Kobayakawa

Kohane Tsuyuri

Yuri Koigakubo

Yotsuba Koiwai

Kirino Kosaka

Yui Kotegawa

Koyomi Mizuhara

Rukia Kuchiki

Nobara Kugisaki

Minamo Kurosawa

Motoko Kusanagi

Minori Kushieda

Anna Kyoyama

Lady (Devil May Cry)

Nunnally Lamperouge

Leafa

Connie Lee (Dr. Stone)

Lenalee Lee

Lillie (Pokémon)

Lina Inverse

Luna (Sailor Moon)

Makimachi Misao

Mari Illustrious Makinami

Hitomi Manaka

Mako Mankanshoku

Wendy Marvell

Ayeka Masaki Jurai

Ryūko Matoi

Sakura Matou

Megumin

Meiling Li

Chiyo Mihama

Sayaka Miki

Mai Minakami

Fujiko Mine

Lynn Minmay

Mikoto Misaka

Misty (Pokémon)

Kirari Momobami

Ririka Momobami

Morrigan Aensland

Multi (To Heart)

Naga the Serpent

Mio Naganohara

Yuki Nagato

Nino Nakano

Nakoruru

Nakuru Akizuki

Nami (One Piece)

Chiaki Nanami

Naru Narusegawa

Atsuko Natsume

Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)

Queen Nehelenia

Nico Robin

Darya Nikitina

Chisato Nishikigi

Himari Noihara

Arale Norimaki

Nyaruko

Yuzuriha Ogawa

Mamako Oosuki

Paninya

Suo Pavlichenko

Yomiko Readman

Rem (Re:Zero)

Revy (Black Lagoon)

Ritsu (Assassination Classroom)

Ritsuko Akagi (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Winry Rockbell

Roll (Mega Man)

Rose (Street Fighter)

Rebecca Rossellini

Ruri (Dr. Stone)

Saber (Fate/stay night)

Haruna Sairenji

Sakaki (Azumanga Daioh)

Yuri Sakazaki

Sakura (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle)

Chiyo Sakura

Kyoko Sakura

Haruko Sakurai

Izumi Sakurai

Shirō Sakurai

Mary Saotome

Ranma Saotome

Chie Satonaka

Erza Scarlet

Senko-san

Yuzuki Seo

Serena (Pokémon)

Yoruichi Shihōin

Mika Shimotsuki

Kaguya Shinomiya

Hakase Shinonome

Kuroko Shirai

Mai Shiranui

Noelle Silva

Elexis Sinclaire

Sinon (Sword Art Online)

Skuld (Oh My Goddess!)

Sonomi Daidouji

Asuka Langley Soryu

Kallen Stadtfeld

Celty Sturluson

Suika (Dr. Stone)

Super Sonico Sonichu

Haruhi Suzumiya (character)

Secre Swallowtail

Swindler (Akudama Drive)

Kiyomi Takada

Saya Takagi (character)

Sora Takenouchi

Taki (Soulcalibur)

Tomo Takino

Yukari Tanizaki

Utena Tenjou

Teresa Beria

Origami Tobiichi

Rin Tohsaka

Mami Tomoe

Trish (Devil May Cry)

Ayu Tsukimiya

Akane Tsunemori

Sarada Uchiha

Ulala (Space Channel 5)

Ochaco Uraraka

Urd (Oh My Goddess!)

Hana Uzaki

Kiri Uzaki

Tsuki Uzaki

Yanagi Uzaki

Shion Uzuki

Faye Valentine

Mereoleona Vermillion

Mimosa Vermillion

Videl

Anna Williams (Tekken)

Elf Yamada

Momo Yaoyorozu

Akari Yukimura

Mikan Yuuki

Maki Zen'in Zelda

Zero Two