#grander musashi

[tampire]

When you first get to know me / When I unleash my big personality

[viceandmature]

Gaslight / Gatekeep / Girlboss

[averydavery]

‼️📣 FX'S SHOGUN RENEWED FOR SEASONS 2 & 3 ‼️📣

You know what that means... time for some fan theories!

This should go without saying but SPOILERS BELOW! If you aren't caught up don't read!

For those who don't know, FX's Shōgun follows James Clavell's original novel pretty closely with some deviations, but it starts at the beginning of the novel and ends at the end of it. This leaves some major wiggle room for the continuation of the series and the writers certainly have their work cut out for them if they plan on going on for two more seasons. However, as definite the ending is, there are some loose ends to deal with and at least two directions they can head with it.

Future Plot Theories

The two ways I believe the story will go- IF THEY DECIDE TO NOT ADAPT CLAVELL'S OTHER NOVELS WHICH I HAVEN'T READ AND CONTINUE THIS PLOT- and they're pretty easy to see: either a prequel season or a season that continues the story. Let's start with the former.

At the end of S1 Mariko, one of the protagonists of the story, dies a martyr to enact Torinaga's plan to win over Ochiba's support for the incoming war. Mariko is played by popular drama actress Anna Sawai, which leads me to believe that the writers would want her character to return- if only for the sake of keeping one of their stars. While only Hiroyuki Sanada (Toranaga's actor) has reportedly signed on for the future seasons, if this is the case and Sawai signs on we can expect a prequel season episodes that explore the characters' pasts prior to the events of the first season. For Mariko, that'd likely be a look into her family and their history. As for Toranaga, a look at his rise to power should be expected and maybe a story about the his divide between him and his brother. On a grander scale, this perhaps could mean looking at life before the power vacuum that was left after the death of the previous leader and at how the Portuguese made their way into Japanese society.

Why I think this isn't all that likely: I'm starting with this theory because I think it's the least likely of the two. The main reason being how S1 ended. The first season ends with the Battle of Sekigahara, probably the most infamous battles in Medieval Japanese history. With such a bang, it has really left the viewer wanting and wishing for more, since war = action. This glimpse at the fate of the war is brief and spoils that Toranaga's faction will win overwhelmingly with the support of Ochiba and the heir's army, regardless it also leaves the audience wondering what life in Japan will be like following the decisive battle. Therefore, if we get any "prequel content" it'll likely be in the form of flashbacks or a flashback episode. Although, backstories and a prequel season could be in store for S3, just not S2.

Alright, now with that outta the way- my real theory for season 2.

As I said before, it's clear that we'll be looking at the Battle of Sekigahara and its consequences. However with major characters like Mariko, Yabushige, and John either dead or sidelined... it's to be believed that this season will be Toranaga-centric. This likely will be a season answering "what now?" since we already know Toranaga wins and seizes power. Toranaga's most loyal advisor committed seppuku, so it could tackle the issue of where he can find who to trust and how he'll deal with the former regents and the church. More political intrigue blah blah blah... but if I had to guess (and this is me hoping here): the biggest addition to the plot would be adding in Miyamoto Musashi as a major character. (I will talk about this at length under the "new characters" heading).

Returning Characters (Besides Toranaga since I yapped enough about him)

John Blackthorne

Probably one of the bigger characters who has an unknown future of him is the anjin himself! All we know of John is his remorse for Mariko after her passing and that eventually he ends up back in England as an old man. He's promised his ship to sail again and either complete his mission or return home. Based on his change as a character, I believe he does not complete his mission. But it is possible that he stays for just a bit longer to see what the future will hold under Toranaga's rule. However, since a literal war breaks out I doubt he'll stay for that. Perhaps he leaves and returns? I really believe that John will be fizzled out since his character arc has concluded.

Father Martin & The Rest of The Portuguese

Similar to John, now that Mariko is gone I doubt Father Martin will reappear and if he does it won't be for long- likely to confide in John as they both lost someone they cared for but that moment kind of already happened. However, the more important thing that may happen if they take a more historical stance with this, will be the closure of Japan's ports for another 200 years, effectively cutting off trade and influence from the Portuguese. However, Toranaga is established as a more "open-minded" ruler so I doubt that he will take this stance as well? It remains to be seen.

Kiko, Gin, & The Courtesans

A simple theory but one that may prove important is that Gin's tea house will become a massive source of income and power in Edo and I think she'll end up being a close ally to Toranaga as his influence spreads. I can see her and the courtesans establishing a sort of information and spy trade within the city.

The Regents

This is probably the area where I am most clueless as to what they plan to do with this. I'm thinking Toranaga might just "buy them out" or give them their regions as long as they pledge loyalty to his up and coming empire. There likely will be some in-fighting, but seeing as they ended up siding with Toranaga at the end of S1, I think there just kinda pushovers...

BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTT I do think a whole faction will spring up either stragglers from Ishido's army or something else, there has got to be some kind of threat to Toranaga's reign... I just have no idea what that could be 😭

New Characters

Miyamoto Musashi

Probably the most infamous ronin of all time and a character/historical figure I am way too educated about, Musashi makes his name at the Battle of Sekigahara and is an incredibly popular archetype from Japanese history that's used a ton in fiction- hell, Hiroyuki Sanada has PLAYED Miyamoto Musashi in HBO's Westworld! So adding him would even be a bit of a nod to Sanada's past roles.

Regardless, since a lot of the major character's plot lines have seemed to tie up nicely by the end of S1, introducing a new major character with a lot of "lore" is likely what the writers are looking for. For those unfamiliar, Musashi is regarded as one of, if not the, greatest samurai in history. Known for his unique two-handed swordfighting style and how he was undefeated in ~61 duels, Musashi actually fought for the losing clan in the Battle of Sekigahara as a samurai-for-hire which rendered him a ronin looking to better himself solely in the way of the sword. Musashi also was a talented artist and writer, authoring the "Book of Five Rings" which was his knowledge on the ways of war and the blade.

The character of Musashi was a legend for centuries, however his first instance of being a folklore character was in Eiji Yoshikawa's aptly titled book series Musashi (1939) which cemented him into the popular zeitgeist and still is one of the most popular book series to date. There have been hundreds of adaptations of the series and stories with Musashi in it from shows to video games, with the most praised version (and my favorite manga ever...) being Takehiko Inoue's manga Vagabond.

However, its for this reason that I believe if Musashi does get introduced his story will be greatly changed from the fictional myth to something that will fit into the context of Toranaga's and the greater plot of Shōgun at large. This could mean making him closer to the historical figure, more of a disgruntled sage than a hot head. If this is the case then I think he will be the new advisor to Toranaga that I mentioned potentially being of importance to the plot earlier. Historically, after his rise to fame, Musashi has advised Tokugawa Ieyasu, the actual shōgun who won the Battle of Sekigahara and who Toranaga is modeled after. So it would make some sense to put him in this role. Also when I go over Kojiro, there's another bit with that kinda fits the tone of Shōgun.

Sasaki Kojiro

Given that Musashi is introduced as a new character, they would have to include Kojiro, his "rival".

In terms of historical fact, Kojiro was kinda of the shit while Musashi was still a rising star and Musashi's victory in a duel against him was what cemented his place in history as a legend. Yet, the way he killed Kojiro was incredibly undignified for someone of his status and just the kind of insane death we've already seen in S1 of Shōgun. A la the shocking death of Toranaga's son Nagakado, (WARNING: GRAPHIC) Musashi rows up to Gānryu island late to their duel and after sharpening his oar into a staff, he slams it atop the skull of Kojiro and affectively bludgeons him to death. That is the end of the great samurai Sasaki Kojiro.

EDIT: I didn’t look over this at all for typos and my autocorrect changed “Sasaki” to Salami 💀

If a more historically accurate Musashi does get included in the next season the writers would be remiss in not including this conclusion to their duel. As violent as it may be.

But that's just a theory... a film theory 💀

[tgrailwar-zero]

IZOU: "Y'know what? Ominous messages aside, I know a real nice place, you can sit down and mull over your stuff there. My treat." MUSASHI: "Well, aren't you a gentleman?" IZOU: "Nothin' like that. I just figure you and your pal would wanna unwind a bit. Besides, it's a nice little hole in the wall. You'll probably see a few competitors here."

Considering that it was either that, or stay on this cold apartment floor, it seemed prudent to at least take the offer until you figured out what you wanted to do next. So, IZOU casually showed you to a small, yet nice bar.

It seemed like a quaint little place.

You saw KOMA up on a state, gently playing some music. It served to set the atmosphere, which was sleepy and casual. Considering it was the night before a major event, you'd expect tensions to be higher… but perhaps this was intentional. Keep things calm now, so that the explosion of the festivities the following day would be even grander. That, or KOMA simply wasn't a musician that specialized in excitement.

Either way, she had a nice voice.

It seemed normal. Patrons drinking. A talking teddy bear at the bar.

Wait.

BEAR: "Another drink for the lovely miss-- ah, wait, she ditched me. Another drink for just me then... but put down two glasses, just in case."

IZOU walked over to the teddy bear.

IZOU: "Yo, Archer." BEAR: "...Yo, Assassin. Looks like you've been having better luck with the ladies than I am. They only want to use me for a lap pillow… or a shoulder pillow… or an armrest… and I don't really mind, but…"

IZOU: "Yeah, yeah. Anyways, this is Saber, she's not with me like that. Saber, this is Orion. He's an Archer."

MUSASHI: "Like, the great hunter?"

ORION: "Oh-ho? You've heard of me? So, heh… what brings you here, cutie--" MUSASHI: "I'm not into bears."

The bear, verbally shot down in an instant, floated sadly into one of the chairs.

ORION: "Instant shut-down! Ugh, living the single-life without Artemis, and I'm stuck like this. Bartender, fill 'er up, please! I mean... talk about a curse... I'm sure you can relate to my plight, massive humanoid clump of accursed shadows, right?"

He paused, looking you up and down.

ORION: "…"

ORION: "WHO THE HELL IS THIS?!"

Honestly, as loud as a reaction as it was, it seemed a bit overdue considering that you were, as so aptly described, a 'humanoid clump of cursed shadows'.

[tampire]

Alright, the Four Heavenly Kings of Grander Musashi antagonists have Asian and White people in them. The two Asian characters BB and Yoshitaka Kuki becomes good guys in the end of Season 1 and Season 2 while the white foreigners Rosemary and Walter Kaneri remains evil even till the end when their demon organization disbands. So yeah POCs definitely should be portrayed as good more often and the whites might as well be antagonistic for us to overcome them. Love the Asian Protagonist Musashi Kazama and his friends for protecting Mother Nature as well

white people go like “is anyone going to redesign this nonhuman evil character as a poc?” and not wait for an answer

[bleedingbluebells]

A VAGABOND'S TALE

In sixteenth-century Japan, Shinmen Takezou was a wild, rough young man in appearance and actions. His aggressive nature had won him the collective reproach and fear of his village, leading him and his comrade Matahachi Honiden, to run away in search of something grander than provincial life. The pair was enlisted in the Toyotomi Army, yearning for glory - but when the Toyotomi suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Sekigahara, the friends barely made it out alive. MUSASHI MIYAMOTO is the fictitious retelling of the life of one of Japan's most renowned swordsmen.

The "SWORD SAINT" Musashi Miyamoto's rise from a swordsman with no desire other than to become "Invincible Under the Heavens" to an enlightened warrior who lights up the ETERNAL FLAME OF YOUTH.

In the dawn of youthful skies, we burn,

Igniting dreams, our spirits yearn.

With hearts ablaze, we chase the sun,

Forever young, we've just begun.

Through tender moments, laughter rings,

A symphony of innocence it brings.

Unfettered by time, we dance and sway,

In the golden haze of youth's bouquet.

Oh, vibrant days of wild desire,

Where passions bloom and souls aspire.

With eyes wide open, we embrace,

The world's allure, its endless grace.

Let's seize each moment, bold and free,

Embrace the wonders that youth decree.

For in our hearts, forever lies,

The flame of youth that never dies.

~The Deepest Honour For The One Who is INVINCIBLE UNDER THE HEAVENS - MUSASHI MIYAMOTO

[dengekiboys]

Grander Musashi episode 8 - Musashi electrocuted

[tampire]

Big kind guys lift up their bbgirls in Grander Musashi / Our Flag Means Death

[tampire]

Me with the Demon Fishing Kings of Grander Musashi

see my thing is that when a character is revealed to have conflicting principles and actions and everyone’s like oh they are such a HYPOCRITE that’s BAD i’m inclined to think it makes them a better and funnier character. on account of my taste

[microid-s]

would people mind if i turned this into a general anime blog? im still pretty focused on tezuka but i have a lot of other older and obscure anime/manga interests. think gatchaman, maybe kaiketsu zubat, plus some early 2000s shonen like beyblade and medabots

[tampire]

Hell yeah, fishing is valid

[animepleasegood2]

Tag Game!

➡Tagged by: @nya-vivi​

Gender: Female

Star sign: Cancer

Height: 5ft 6 in / 167 cm

Birthday: June 29

Fav bands: Big Bang, SNSD, Blackpink KAT-TUN, AAA (I'm a Kpop and Jpop fans and simply learned to appreciate new cultures.)

Fav solo artists: Bruno Mars, Selena Gomez, Crystal Kay, Miyano Mamoru, Eve, Jay Park, Rainych, Shayne Orok( A mix of pop singers and YouTubers. That is pretty much my jam!)  

Song stuck in my head: "Mahou" [Magic] by Myuk (Writing by Eve) I didn't cut out my old habit of watching new series every season since high school. Also, "Accumula Town" from the Pokemon Black and White soundtrack. IDK if that counts but ever since the news on the Pokemon remake games coming soon in the Nintendo Switch, this song has been popping out in my dashboard and I have been listening to it addictively.

Last movie: I want to eat your pancreas. ( Even though, the anime plot was obvious however it managed to stimulate my emotions down the road. Bittersweet ending that teaches you about the importance of communication and to enjoy your life to the fullest.)

Last show: Accurately Attack on Titan. ( However, I was re-watching some retro animes at the same time called "Grander Musashi" [Fish show] and " Chousoko Spinners" [About Yo-yo]. The shows ridiculously go into an intense training arc and tournament like how you would see in Shounen anime nowadays. Despite all of that, a part of my childhood does enjoy these old paced shows that hold a special place in my heart. Bear with me! )

When I created this blog: I don't remember.

Last thing I googled: Grander Musashi in Arabic. ( Yeah, I know I'm a dork. I actually watched the series in Arabic and wanted to binge-watched my retro animes from its original dub (Japanese). Also, I research it in Japanese in case if any of you wanted to watch the retro series that I mentioned.

Do I get asks: Yes, I guess so.

Following: I just daily reblog whatever I watch on TV and usually on Yu Yu Hakusho tags, always eager for any new content, news or merchandise. 

Why I chose this URL: The origin of my username was founded in my freshmen days in high school. Long story short, I was praying to God that I would survive the three-episodes shot of each anime series that I was watching in each season, hoping it would be a great show that I will learn something out of it. This is why I call myself "Anime Please Good." :) Don't ask for more, I was a weird teen who preferred spending the day at home. The irony, now I wish the opposite.

Other blogs: Well, maybe I will create a new one if I finally publish the story that I was working on for quite a while. Hopefully, I regain my motivation and stop my procrastination.

Average hours of sleep: Ideally 5-7 hours but the lockdown is messing around my sleeping routine.

Lucky number: 7 ( I love Nana so much, would totally recommend it for people who love a slice of life/romantic stories and teaches a lot of life notions) I'm so blinded by the show that I almost forgot that this number brings bad luck. And no, I'm not a masochist!

Instruments: Piano. I haven't played it for a while. I do enjoy the classical soundtrack to calm my mood and help me to script.

What I’m wearing: A pair of camouflage buttoned t-shirt and pants Pj set and hairclip for my Rapunzel's hair. My whole family is insisting on me getting a new haircut. Sadly, I'm stubborn as a mule and fonded by my long hair aesthetic.

Dream trip: Literally visiting Japan, since I'm progressively learning the language.

Favorite foods: Boiled stuffed grape leaves (which I had today for lunch) as a meal and cheesecake as dessert.

Nationality: Born in Kuwait but lived my entire life in Canada.

Favourite songs: Nu'est - Hello (addictive), Plastic Love by Takeuchi Mariya (retro vibes), Love in top by Beyonce (my queen), September by Equinox Stars (Just Dance) and old anime songs stored on my Itunes.  

Top 3 fictional universes: Yu Yu Hakusho/ Hunter x Hunter, Naruto and Black Bulter. ( I listed the fandom that I read the most in Fanfiction)

@luckystarchild​

Thank you for tagging me. I had fun writing about myself and it was a great stress relief for my mental health. Also, a great practice to sort my thoughts.  

[kaidgdoodles]

2012, Part 2. 

[eleore]

To be honest, I like Musashi and Kojiro a lot more than Aladdin and Alibaba. haha I just wanted to say it to someone >.< To me, there's something really refreshing about a protagonists who's main objectives aren't just to "do good and help people". There's a small amount of "selfishness" in them, yet they are still very good people. It feels a lot more dynamic and relatable. I really like Orient a lot haha >.<

Waah, that’s great to hear!! I’m very glad that you are enjoying it :D

I see your point on objectives, though I can’t completely agree on Alibaba and Aladdin being “less selfish” at the beginning of the story - most of their early adventuring was motivated by their own desires (later it did turn into a “fate of the world” scenario). In fact, I don’t think it unlikely that Orient will do a similar “getting caught in the grander scheme of things” kind of plot.

This said, I will admit that I like Kojirou as a character quite a lot! His inner monologue annoyed me at first, but I have grown to appreciate it.

Thank you for confiding in me, anon~. Feel free to come back to the askbox at any time :D

[tampire]

[firstyearejr-blog]

Illustrator Analysis - Takehiko Inoue

The medium of manga has fostered some of Japan’s most skilled illustrators, encompassing a spectrum of styles and genres, but none have made such a mark on the form as Takehiko Inoue. Author and artist for one of the best-selling series of all time (120 million copies sold in Japan alone), Inoue has risen to fame with his detailed, semi-realistic illustrations and talent for storytelling.

Inoue’s work has been serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump, the bestselling and one of the longest running anthology collections in Japan - a testament to his abilities as an illustrator. His illustrations, including character designs, observational drawings, and cover art, have also been released as books, displaying his draughtsmanship skills.

Slam Dunk (1990-1996), his sophomore release, saw Inoue become one of Japan’s eminent illustrators, his ubiquitous style becoming a defining feature of his work. The art of Slam Dunk began as somewhat rough around the edges, and Inoue’s illustrations followed the aesthetic of 80s and 90s manga – almost indistinguishable from his contemporaries. However, as the series progressed Inoue’s drawing skills steadily improved, able to render the human form perfectly from any angle and in any pose, without falling into the hyper-realistic category. His signature style set him apart from his peers and ushered in a new wave of manga, one which favoured individual styles over the status quo.

In this panel, clear focus is given to the white spaces which dominate the majority of the page, drawing attention to the precision of line and form. Action lines draw the reader’s eye instinctively to the characters’ dynamic poses and imbue the illustration with a sense of movement and energy. The square panels on the side of the page remind the reader of the drama and stakes of the game by featuring reactions from other characters, and thus Inoue uses both visual and narrative techniques to enhance his illustration.

In Vagabond (1998-present), Inoue depicts the 17th century samurai Miyamoto Musashi, who was believed to be undefeated in his 61 duels and famed for his double-bladed swordsmanship. Inoue mirrors Musashi’s grand legacy with even grander illustrations, surpassing Slam Dunk in quality. Inoue takes the techniques from his previous works to the extreme; the backgrounds are painstakingly intricate, contrasting blank space with precisely rendered scenery to create an impactful, emotive scene. The passion of the samurai era is also apparent in the action scenes, which see Inoue use the action lines to even greater effect, conveying the power and strength of Musashi.

Looking at this panel closely, Inoue divides the double page spread into three using the sea of bodies, which is offset by Musashi kneeling upright. It is clear here that Inoue is influenced by Western traditional rules of art, yet his work retains a Japanese sensibility. The angle he chose for this scene is also significant; the reader is able to see the devastation of war, the protagonist’s anguish, and the surrounding scenery. It is a highly emotive panel, amplified through the rain which fills the page.

In keeping with the classic process of manga illustration, Inoue uses traditional media throughout his work. Particular attention should be brought to his use of watercolour, with which he masterfully blends a range of unlikely colours and shades to produce one cohesive illustration. Alternately, he is also known to use the traditional pen and ink medium, which fills his work with calligraphic energy. Inoue himself has said ‘The brush can go to unintended places, the colour can fade…it’s unpredictable and exciting’.