#i love my chihayafuru buddies

[third-arch]

My Corazon HC’s!! pt.1 🤍🤍

Corazon’s an interesting one, bc I feel like he’s either a really corny but like informed dad, or just a really really chill and sweet guy. So, here’s my random hybrid of HCs for Rosi!!

Two Beatles songs he really likes are “For No One” and “In My Life”.

His favorite flavors are cherry, strawberry, and lemon.

He loves Steven Universe.

He LOVES IU and he’s so vocal about it. Because of this, he likes purple! It’s not his fav color, but he thinks it’s very pretty.

Vinyls > CDs for him

He’d be the person to send you memes that are either very sweet or kinda outdated. 

Like the previous one, he’d react to some of your texts with corny dad gifs.

He’s a Swiftie. 

I’ll make a list of a bunch of anime I think he’d watch some other time, but he loves Madoka Magica. His favorites are Madoka and Mami. He got Law to watch it, too.

In general he really likes cute, silly, and magical girl anime, so things like Sailor Moon, Is This Order A Rabbit?, Chihayafuru, and Nichijou.

If he likes you, he’d invite you to concerts.

He has this hanging in his closet:

He’d watch Gossip Girl with you, but he’d be saying things like,

“These people are horrible!” the whole time LOL. And he’d still watch it with you. It would be a case of “This is horrible…I need more!” (Poor Corazon)

If you asked him the artist he listened to the most last week, he’d say Lyn Lapid. If he listens to her often is up to you. 

If you ask him, “Do you like Radiohead?”

He’d say, “Radiohead’s okay. They’re not something I’d listen to on a daily basis, but I know Law really likes ‘em.”

Something I could imagine him saying would be,

“Oi, Law! Check this out! There’s this anime that y/n showed me called K-On. Isn’t it cool? Look!”

He’d cry watching KDramas like Descendants of the Sun. He’d invite you to watch them with him.

Romantic HC’s!!

He’d write you love letters. They’d be very sweet and gentle.

He’d stop smoking altogether if you didn’t like it. Like not just going to the balcony or setting boundaries, but he’d quit altogether. 

He’d love whatever you wear. 

If you guys met long distance or like not directly, then one likely possibility is that you met playing Sky CoL. (I might write a HC on this, too.)

If you had an art account, he’d like all of your posts, and tell you in private how much he liked them. 

His love is very very gentle. He’ll let you take the lead on more intimate things and just be an equal with you.

He’d get so happy just having you as his Lock Screen. He’d show you off to Law or his Marine buddies.

“Look at y/n! Aren’t they cool?”

He’d kiss his lockscreen sometimes in front of you. Like (mwah) <-that

He’d get really sad if you called yourself ugly. Like he’d reassure you so much.

I honestly think whether you loved him back or not, if he had the chance to, one of the ways of telling you how much he loves you would be playing “Lover”, “Love Like You”, or “Thinking Out Loud” for you on the guitar. Just some really well known love song I feel like.

He’d find a way to dance with you. He’d make it work, somehow. He’d dress really nice, too!

Author’s NOTE:

I meant to make this tomorrow, but I’m taking a break from studying, so I went ahead and wrote it. Some of these were inspired by my boyfriend :))!!🤍🤍

[embossross]

2023 in anime

i give ratings out of 10 stars based on a rubric that considers the following:

2 points / ambition of what the anime is trying to achieve 3 points / effectiveness of the anime in achieving its aims 4 points / my personal, subjective enjoyment 1 point / pacing +1/-1 miscellaneous

so with that said… ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2 anime)

revolutionary girl utena – heavy breathing panting crying what a fucking roller coaster nanami the child you are anty the child you were utena the child you choose to be – just one of the true masterpieces of all anime. took a few episodes to realize that this show understood tone and comedy perfectly and wasn’t just a wonky children’s show and by golly! the nanami in season 3 gutted me unlike anything else

attack on titan: final season (for real this time) – decent conclusion to maybe my favorite anime of all time

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10 anime)

school rumble – so goddamn funny and i cared about every goddamn character. it’s witchcraft!

trigun – good ole saturday morning cartoons

golden kamuy s3 – how does it keep getting better???!?!

fruits basket – i was a certified hater after s1, but slowly but surely i gave into the melodrama. akito and shigure were EVERYTHING

nana – the most disappointing ending of all time! for one of the greatest anime of all time. manga pls save me!!!

rascal does not dream of bunny girl senpai – i’m embarrassed. i cried.

princess tutu – expressionistic, dedicated to storytelling, tremendously kind-hearted. you have to let it move you

blue lock – i’m officially a sports anime girlie

cyberpunk: edgerunners – this was just so slick!

chainsaw man – nothing needs to be said here

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8 anime)

yamada-kun to lv999 no koi wo suru – adult romance that hasn’t been stripped of all conflict and maintains momentum nearly to the end

oshi no ko – my expectations were non-existent after ep 1 but then it crept up on me. i can’t even fully put my finger on what works so well? but it does! it knows when to take itself seriously and when to be nonsense.

demon slayer s3 – best season of demon slayer to date, i actually cared

durarara!!x2 shou – this is a confession. my inner edgy teen loves durarara. i appreciate huge casts of characters acting in opposition in atmospheric tokyo.

gintama – i finally finished gintama one of my favorites of all time. the end pulls all the threads together but it does so at the expense of the laughs so loses some points

chihayafuru – amazing background anime. just consistently fun and engaging.

perfect blue – i feel stupid and uncultured to not give this a 10

vinland saga – askeladd is so hot wow

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (7 anime)

buddy daddies – funny and sincere in degrees but a truly annoying little girl character

serial experiments lain – god you’ve gotta appreciate the wild swings creatives were taking in the 90s

durarara!!x2 ten

great teacher onizuka – ugh he’s a creep but also heh he’s funny

trigun stampede – they yassified them!

mob psycho 100 s3 - meandered a bit but the characters are forever favorites

to your eternity – the first 3 arcs are extraordinary. march is one of the great child characters of all time. the end drags.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8 anime)

zom 100 – crazy good first episode that earns its premise and then a slow descent into mediocrity; cool colors though!

terror in resonance – utterly forgettable

dororo – way too long with way too many hit or miss episode arcs

bungou stray dogs s4 – the cracks are showing but the rampo backstory is dope

lycoris recoil – those cute girls shoulda been lesbians

classroom of the elite – is it edgy? yes. are the quotes frustratingly misused? oh yes. is it fun? ugh yeah actually

romantic killer – pretty cute and the edge of danger at the end really sells it

free – solid watch but it left my brain like sand in a sieve

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 anime)

wolf’s rain – what passes as deep when children are your primary audience

hell’s paradise – boring and i liked the manga so.

durarara!!x2 ketsu – the conclusion falls short

land of the lustrous – bold but was too slow for me

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3 anime)

tomo-chan is a girl! – sometimes funny but the conceit does not justify 13 episodes and it loses steam fast

mushishi – some of the vignettes were beautiful but felt repetitive

bleach: thousand-year blood war – sleek, hype, plagued by all the old bleach problems

no game no life season 1 - confused that this was such a phenomenon when it came out. it’s fine i guess.

⭐⭐⭐ (5 anime)

kamisama kiss – trite imo

given – god save us from anime about perfect people being perfect with each other – but this time set to music!

tokyo revengers s2 – 🤷

natsume’s book of friends – i don’t need vibes this cozy

sasaki to miyano – and i really don’t need vibes this cozy

⭐⭐ (0 anime)

⭐ (0 anime)

& then ongoing shows that i’m not going to rank until i finish them (but actually all are pretty good so far) – skip to loafer, heavenly delusion, spy x family s2, apothecary diaries, jujutsu kaisen s2, frieren: beyond journey’s end, vinland saga s2

[exitvelocities]

writing patterns

List the first and last sentence of your last 10 AO3 works.

stole this off @bbcphile just bc i wanted to do it. this goes back to like 2017 because i am not particularly prolific outside of fic meme fills.

01. everything grows stronger in the light, E, mysterious lotus casebook first: "this is biological warfare," di feisheng says, looming large over li lianhua's tiny kitchen table. last: he rubs his nose against di feisheng's collarbone, lulled by his partner's steady, even breathing, and drifts off.

02. darling, roll the window down, T, bad buddy fic meme dump first: in your third year, you take the train out to the ocean. last: you are alive and you are in love and you are here, where you belong.

03. like summer in your teeth, T, bad buddy first: In a fit of mild insanity, or maybe mild drunkenness, Wai invites Korn out for a drink. last: "Yeah," he says, thinking about summer at beach, sunlight through the blinds, and the sound of waves outside. "We have time."

04. boy tasting wild cherry, G, bad buddy first: somewhere along the way it becomes a tradition: a long weekend at the beach, just the three of them. last: it's more than enough.

05. kindling, T, bad buddy first: joint field training, they'd said, and so far that has meant sitting in a windowless room, waiting. last: then, "pran," he shouts, breaking into a run, and leaves both of them behind.

06. light a match, start a riot, M, bad buddy first: "joint operation," pran says, sounding entirely too cheerful for the time of day — or, really, night — "it's undercover work so we're sending wai. which one of you wants to volunteer?" last: korn kisses his palm. he can work with that.

07. i do not know where this love will take me, G, chihayafuru first: on their third night of cohabitation, arata kisses taichi in the narrow corridor of space between the kitchen and the bath and says goodnight like they've been doing it for years.  last: taichi takes a breath and knocks.

08. and you're no one's but mine, T, daiya no ace first: it's raining when youichi wakes up, the air in ryousuke's apartment close and humid. last: ryousuke's been on his own a long time and youichi hasn't got all the answers but he wants to learn, together, what it means to build a home.

09. but remember this, T, daiya no ace first: kazuya is roughly six years old when his mother vanishes into the balmy summer dusk. last: he's not uncertain now, feet steady on the path and heart steady in his chest, sure of his place and his way forward.

10. the shape of you, T, daiya no ace first: Ryousuke graduates from Seido almost exactly a month before his nineteenth birthday, cool spring sun shining down like a farewell benediction. last: He's still like a rocket sometimes, quick to take off, but they both know where he'll land, north-star-steady, compass true.

bonus: mysterious lotus casebook wip (current) first: in the end, what they find is a body. (current) last: regret or love or grief or hope, di feisheng has only ever laid claim to what he can carry.

patterns: there are two sets of related stories in here (the bad buddy fic meme fill/boy tasting wild cherry and kindling/light a match, start a riot) and both of them i consciously mirrored the opening of the previous work. i will probably refrain from doing that again seeing as i've done it twice now.

i tend to start in the middle of action with openings and, if not, there's an at least somewhat atmospheric scene setting sentence because atmosphere is extremely important to me. endings tend to be short and punchy (eg, a couple of these i included the last two sentences) or contemplative. not on show here, but for "things you said" meme fills i do tend to end on dialogue since that's kind of the point.

idk man, i write on vibes and instinctive grasp of grammar, i can give no advice about craft other than "don't give up." the main advantage of being a fandom old that's still writing is that, even when i don't like my own writing, i have a level of baseline competence that comes from having continued to write.

tagging @chlorophanes, do it if you wanna!

[perrywrites]

About Me??

I see you’re interested in good ol’ moi… Well, if you’re interested I don’t have any reasons to deter you lolol! I’ll mostly be putting up headcanons here, and exploring ideas for fanfictions (I have far too many I’m afraid…)! I prefer they/she pronouns, but I’m fine with he/him too. I’m demisexual and bisexual with a leaning preference towards men! And a very excitable ENFP! Currently in university, Literature major! Oh, and not religious, just agnostic! 

Media I’m currently interested in writing for (will change in the future accordingly); Blue Lock, Genshin Impact, Bleach, Gintama, Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho, Jujutsu Kaisen, Ghost Hunt, Monster, Mahoutsukai no yome, Detective Conan.

(if you remember the episode this scene was from… automatically you’re my bosom buddy and I’ll let you shart in my toilet during the apocalypse 👍👍👍)

Below is just some basic info about me that you can ignore (I didn’t know what to put lolol);

All-time favourite anime; Detective Conan, Gintama, Fruits Basket, Chihayafuru

Favourite dramas; 25 21 (kdrama) W Two Worlds (kdrama) What is Fatmagul's Fault (turkish drama) 

Favourite sitcom; Brooklyn 99, Schitt’s Creek

Favourite books; The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, 1984 by George Orwell, Black Milk by Elif Shafak, Honour by Elif Shafak, Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak, The Bastard of Istangbul by Elif Shafak, as you can tell I really like Elif Shafak’s writing… I just love her writing style a lot

Favourite games; Your Turn to Die, Mystic Messenger, Witch’s House (I haven’t played many games, as you can see lolol) 

Feel free to talk to me about any of these things (or even beyond tbh! I’m open to everything) or ask me about anything as well! 

[yomifuda]

volume five

C.

Last week I was tempted to argue with Kien about categorizing Chihayafuru as a romance. But this week I'm here to say he's right, because finally the real best boy has arrived — Shinobu. Is there anything more romantic than two rivals? There is no longing like that of two rivals longing to see each other again (to beat each other, of course) and there is no intimacy like that of two rivals who have only eyes for each other('s skills). Kate Beaton knew this well, and so does Chihayafuru. If it was confusing before whether Chihaya's feelings for Arata were love, jealousy, sportsmanship, or all of the above, it's even more confusing now that Shinobu has replaced Arata in her dreams and every waking thought. Of course she'll still be happy to know that Arata has returned to professional play by the end of this volume, but for now head-empty Chihaya has only the space to think about qualifying for another chance to meet, and beat, Shinobu.

And in a weird twist, the one with the most romantic thoughts about Arata in this volume is Taichi. In some ways, Chihaya/Taichi/Arata is one of the few examples of a true love triangle, because Taichi and Arata have their own kind of strange romance. In Chapter 29, we learn that Taichi has unceremoniously dumped his girlfriend (and over the phone! Taichi is My Son but that is intolerably bad manners, buddy!). Chihaya accuses him of being unemotional, and he thinks to himself that he has no room left in his mind for anything else. Smash cut immediately to a memory of Arata's face, the only thing he can apparently spare a thought for. It's enough to make a girl swoon, and that girl is me.

But this has always been what I love the most about Chihayafuru, that the characters have relationships that keep reflecting and refracting the same themes, that the will-they-or-won't-they pull of Chihaya's relationships are not the only focus. When Taichi loses in the Class B finals, Nishida tells him in lieu of comfort, "Second place is the most frustrating of all." He too has his own rivalry, fighting not for the headlining position, but merely to be able to claim he is the second best, the second strongest player on the team after Chihaya. It is such a small battle that no one even knows it is going on, not even Taichi, until Taichi sneaks away to Kanazawa only to see Nishida is also there (just like it does not even occur to Chihaya to go watch Taichi's matches, even though he is immediately there to watch her match with Shinobu). All is unfair in love, war, and karuta, no matter what place you are in.

K.

Having been eliminated in my Team Fight Tactics tournament last weekend, I found Volume 5 to be more immediately relatable. Chihaya’s individual tournament run is crushed by our queen and savior Wakamiya Shinobu (best character), and Taichi makes a deep run to the B finals only to be barely eliminated (and, of course, we love watching Taichi lose). Both of them realize they have not given the game everything, and that their shortcomings are things they can work on. I realized the very same things -- what kind of practice am I doing? Is it effective? Do I actually even want to win? Ultimately there is a balance to all of this — surely one cannot devote everything to Karuta (though Chihaya will try), and Taichi will also try. We even see Nishida sneak his way to a tournament. But for all of them, the desire is definitely there. If you are going to compete, then you may as well try to win. 

They have clear rivals they are chasing. For Chihaya, it is the reigning Queen, and for Taichi, it is Arata — someone who seems destined for the Meijin title. In the grand scheme of the Karuta world, our two leads are a pair of nobodies. You don’t really expect a training arc in this kind of manga when you begin it, but here we are — this really is more shounen than it is anything else. There’s also the very funny little bit where they manage to win the cultural festival relay race, which is probably the most unrealistic moment in this manga. Actually, as I think about it, I don’t really understand why that was even included. Maybe to hint that they are still trying to recruit new members? I don’t know. Anyway, I will say that I miss the sound and the movement of the anime -- I feel some of the finesse of Karuta is lost on me in the manga, and I am more likely to speedread through some of it. It does make me want to rewatch it, though, so perhaps that will be one of my coming projects.

[kaleidodreams]

Knowing only that you're a Yuri!!! on Ice fan, here are some anime I recommend. The ones marked with an asterisk aren't on Crunchyroll, but the rest should be! (I also tried to provide possible trigger warnings when appropriate, but a lot of these I watched years ago, so I may have forgotten some.)

If you're looking for more BL:

given (Trigger warning: suicide for the main series and sexual assault/probably rape in the movie)

Love Stage!! (Trigger warning: sexual assault)

Sasaki and Miyano

Nabari no Ou (kinda debatable as being officially BL, but I think it can count)

Fairy Ranmaru

The Night Beyond The Tricornered Window (Truthfully, the main couple has no chemistry, but I enjoyed the mystery part of the series, so I'm still reccing it.)

hitorijime my hero (Trigger warning: student/teacher relationship)

The Stranger By The Shore (movie)

Twittering Birds Never Fly (movie) * (Very much an adult movie, with all that implies. Lots of violence and (often masochistic) sex, and references to rape and abuse, although I can't remember if any of that was actually shown on screen or not.)

Yes, No, or Maybe (movie) (Trigger warning: The final scene of the movie is an absolutely not necessary, not-very-consensual sex scene. Feel free to skip if you want; the rest of the movie is good.)

If you're looking for more sports anime:

Kaleido Star (acrobatics; features some skating in the second season)

Ginban Kaleidoscope (You can find fansubs on Youtube, but it's also about figure skating)

Princess Nine (baseball)

Princess Tutu (ballet)

Chihayafuru (karuta card game)

Cross Game (baseball) *

Haikyuu (volleyball)

Dance Dance Danseur (ballet)

Sk8 the Infinity (skateboarding)

Free! (swimming)

Bamboo Blade (kendo)

Backflip (gymnastics)

The Gymnastics Samurai (gymnastics)

Skate-Leading Stars (Technically, it's about a made up team sport called skate-leading, but think of it as kinda like synchronized skating but with quads?)

Birdie Wing -Girls' Golf Story- (golf)

If you're looking for more romance in general:

Fruits Basket (Either version is great, but if you want the complete story, then go with the newer series. Trigger warning: physical and mental abuse)

My Love Story!!

Ouran High School Host Club

Bloom Into You

Yamada's First Time

Fushigi Yuugi

Toradora

My Dress-Up Darling

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

Snow White with the Red Hair

Kimi ni Todoke

Paradise Kiss

My Next Life As A Villainess: All Road Lead To Doom

My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv999

Orange (Trigger warning: Suicide)

Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits

Love After World Domination

Tonikawa: Over The Moon

A Galaxy Next Door

Scum's Wish (Trigger warning: Somewhat non-consensual sex and student/teacher relationship.)

Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and The Inexperienced Me

If you're looking for anime featuring main characters who are adults:

Spy x Family

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (can be interpreted as BL)

Shirobako * (The movie is on Crunchyroll, but not the main series. I'd say the movie kinda stands alone?)

Space Brothers

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit *

Tiger & Bunny (The main character's young daughter is actually a figure skater, although that's not a big part of the story.)

NANA *

My Roommate is a Cat

Death Parade (One of the characters is a skater, although I don't want to say more since it's a pretty major spoiler.)

Buddy Daddies

Trigun (Stampede) (Both series are great!)

Other series that I just love in general:

Death Note *

Super Gals

Bakuman *

O Maidens In Your Savage Season (Trigger warning: Discussion about past molestation of a child)

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken

Cardcaptor Sakura (Trigger warning: student/teacher relationship)

Sailor Moon (Only Sailor Moon Crystal, covering the first three arcs of the manga are available on Crunchyroll. Sailor Moon Eternal, the two fourth arc movies, is on Netflix, and Sailor Moon Cosmos, covering the last arc hasn't been released yet internationally. You can officially watch the original series from the 90s on YouTube. Love them all!)

Fullmetal Alchemist(:Brotherhood) (Either series in great!)

Pretear

The Apothecary Diaries

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

ReLife

A Place Further Than the Universe

Yona of the Dawn

Zombie Land Saga

Carole and Tuesday *

Someday's Dreamers *

Rah-Xephon *

Neon Genesis Evangelion *

Ghost Hunt

Skip and Loafer

Sound! Euphonium

The aquatope on white sand

Bocchi the Rock

Code Geass

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun

Nerima Daikon Brothers *

Ascendance of a Bookworm

The Ancient Magus' Bride

Oops, kinda went overboard! Oh, well, hopefully you or anybody else who comes across this list will find something y'all enjoy.

do you guys have anime recommendations?

bonus points if they're available on Crunchyroll 👀

[the-chihayafuru-landslide]

[ 1 ] Chihayafuru Parallels: Blushing and Hakamas

Welcome to my first Chihayafuru analysis essay? Think piece? Dellusional rant? Idk you decide what this is lmao.

It’s actually wild to think wild that in such a short amount of time (I started watching the anime first in December of 2021?) that this story has literally been on my mind almost 24/7. Chihayafuru started out really good and I was enjoying myself a lot but what actually was the moment that I “cracked” and switched from passive watcher to obsessive fan was Taichi’s infamous “spoon scene”.

The single image that launched a thousand ships.

All Taichihaya fans know this scene like the back of our hand. It is ingrained in our collective subconscious. Pretty sure, when the fandom were all listing our favourite moments, this made it onto everyone’s list. When I die, this scene will be the last thing I think of. When I go to the pearly gates I will ask for just one moment to think of it before I go down to heck. Yeah it’s something.

Y’all boring b*tches who think this is cringe don’t know how to live vicariously through media. B/c yeah if I man did this to me irl sure I’d be grossed out but here I’m like Chihaya is the world’s strongest solider b/c I would have folded immediately.

Anyways, there is something so poignant about this scene. Let’s look back on my initial tweets and see some of my completely normal thoughts I had on my first watch through:

Things of note: I predicted my own downfall and also it’s so funny that I forgot Arata’s name and also felt no need to look it up kjcdjkcajkadk

There is something inherently… spicy (it is spicy but in an intimate kind of way) about the way that Taichi and Chihaya simply stare into each other’s eyes after he pulls his sneaky little “indirect kissing” (a shoujo staple) stunt. However immediately afterwards Taichi shows her the text message and we see… Well we see what kind of thing get’s Chihaya’s eyes sparkling and her cheeks flushed. An indirect birthday message from the glasses guy. The bar is in hell people. Is Chihaya in love with one and completely indifferent to the other? It’s left kind of ambiguous… Though clearly as a viewer we are meant to believe that she likes Arata more based on Chihaya’s visceral reaction vs. THE EMPTY LOOK OF VAGUE CONFUSION SHE GAVE TAICHI. Taichi rip lil buddy but you’re firmly in the Karuta zone.

However thinking a bit deeper it’s actually funny because even Arata’s birthday message is framed as something Taichi “gives” to Chihaya (again we never fking know how Arata had Taichi’s number and not Chihaya’s but I digress). If he was truly a careless jealous shit (which he definitely is at times) he would have just closed his damn phone and said anyways weird Arata didn’t call for your birthday wonder why? I even planned you a big birthday bash and paid for him to attend but he never came… lol. But no, Taichi’s built different. He still shows her the message because he knows how much it means to her that Arata still cares (cares enough to text Taichi anyways lol). Taichi must have expected Chihaya to react like she had just received a message from her dead soulmate… but he still did it. I like in the anime where afterwards Taichi just kinda… Turns away and stares at the river pensively thinking to himself “maybe I should just jump”.

He just like me fr

Anyways I brought up this whole scene because I think it is the pinnacle of the Taichihaya Chiharata debate: If Chihaya was in love with Taichi, why are the sparkle eyes and blushes for Arata? If she FELL IN LOVE WITH TAICHI LATER, why did Chihaya never develop sparkle eye blush syndrome for Taichi? Well friends I have some thoughts!! (You should know, I always have a lot of them).

The thing about Suetsugu’s writing is she fking loves parallels. We as a viewer are meant to compare and contrast Taichi’s and Arata’s relationships with Chihaya. You were never supposed to just see one and say “OH SO SHE LIKES HIM.. DONE!!”… Though some did (rip fallen Chiharata comrades). Though I was confident what I saw in Taichi and Chihaya’s relationship was love, I was never arrogant enough to say that the crush (and yes it was a crush) Chihaya had for Arata couldn’t stick through to the end.

But at the same time to quote @miss-coverly (who is a Kyoru lover like me and has impeccable taste)

IN WHAT WORLD IS IT UNREASONABLE OR WEIRD FOR A TEENAGE GIRL TO NOT STAY IN LOVE WITH THE SAME PERSON THAT SHE LIKED AT 16 FOREVERJDJDJDJJS

Not saying it doesn’t or couldn’t happen… just… it is rare people. We change so much in our formative high school years and what we want out of a relationship changes too. Like you never stopped to think that maybe maybe it would amount to nothing more than what it was at the start? All the Chiharata fans waited so patiently for an epic conclusion that just never came and ik it feels bad man. Some wanted a time-skip to give them the development the sparkle eyes had promised. TBH I emphasize with their pain, I really do. I’d be feeling like dirt if all of Taichi and Chihaya’s relationship development ended in an epic high-five. But, I never had to wish for a hug because Taichi and Chihaya had plenty ;) KDJNJKDSANKDJDKJSA I NEED TO BE STOPPED B/C PEOPLE ARE STILL IN MOURNING BUT I CAN’T.

Anyways back to the topic at hand. I do try to keep an open mind to what the Chiharata fans saw in their relationship that made them think that it would be love. One moment that got mentioned a lot was the two times where Arata compliments Chihaya’s Hakama. Interestingly enough, both these Chiharata moments serve as a parallel to show how Chihaya and Arata’s relationship hasn’t really progressed from the start of the manga and to the end. However, the craziest thing is there is even a Taichihaya parallel. Was it Taichi commenting on Chihaya in a Hakama? No. Just wait friends… It’s such a blink and you’ll miss it moment but the fact it happens in between these two Chiharata moments is VERY INTERESTING VERY INTERESTING INDEED.

[ 1 ] Chiharata Hakama Compliment - The Blushing Karuta Bakas

Chapter 98

Before I get into it, let’s set up the context of this moment. It’s now the Yoshino Tournament one of the few times where people are organized into ranks and not by gender so finally our trio can be forced to play against each other in official matches. Of course Taichi and Chihaya show up looking fly in their Hakamas even though they really didn’t need to. That’s when Chihaya by runs into Arata by chance in the hallway before the matches start…

I WILL NEVER BE OVER HER EXPRESSION HERE SHE’S LIKE DID Y’ALL SAY SOMETHIN

She couldn’t quite make out what Arata said (and to be honest who knows what he really said under his breath). But she puts him on the spot to repeat what he said about her. It’s also funny because Chihaya in her competitive Karuta nature believes that he might be badmouthing her as her opponent LMAO. Again because individual matches are team matches and her and Arata are not on the same team. It also shows how Karuta focused Chihaya is that her CRUSH might be badmouthing her under his breath… LMAO.

When put on the spot Arata admits, while blushing a deep crimson and looking away, that he was saying how her Hakama’s pretty.

It’s honestly a cute moment! Arata is very shy softie whispering his feelings to himself… He wasn’t even going to tell her. Nor can he can’t say directly that he thinks Chihaya is attractive (even though we as the audience know he does we saw him ogling and imagining her in a bikini earlier) so he settles on complimenting her Hakama. Essentially saying (indirectly) “you look pretty today Chihaya”.

Now let’s look at Chihaya’s reaction?

Chihaya looks at him wide-eyed mouth agape with a blush on her face then she scrumples her face and blinks hard so she can regain her focus.

She quickly bottles up whatever emotions she felt for Arata’s compliment because what comes first and foremost is Karuta. She cannot be distracted by cutesy compliments from that little shy boy in the glasses she has a tournaments to win. SEE YA LATER WHEN I MOP THE FLOOR WITH YOU IN THIS HAKAMA.

Now I actually think this moment reveals a bit more than just wow Chihaya is so much in love with Arata and they are flirting. In Yoshino the Hakama is actually a very important to Chihaya (she told him that directly afterwards). When she wins the whole tournament she clutches her Hakama in her hands and said that he one desire was to win while wearing it. The Hakama is essentially Chihaya’s “battle armour”. So while we as the audience can see what Arata was doing… I don’t necessarily Chihaya understood. She thought to herself wow the guy I like complimented my Hakama!

The next time Arata compliments Chihaya’s Hakama happens much much later and we can see how much of their dynamic stays the same / changes.

[ 2 ] Chiharata Hakama Compliment - Thanks my Sister brought it for Me!

Chapter 221

So now we’re nearly at the end of the manga and during the Meijin and Queen matches. Chihaya has finally received the Hakama that Chitose raced all night to get to her. Arata sees her sitting down in front of the cards and just looks at her… It’s pretty evident by the way that he looks at her that he’s still carrying some feelings for her.

He’s still got the shoujo eye sparkle syndrome

But while he points at Chihaya she just kind of sits there wide eyed as he blushes to try and get the words out to tell her how he feels.

:( I feel kinda bad for Arata… Like before, he is still unable to pay Chihaya a simple and direct compliment. We know that’s not what he really wanted to say as he laments it directly afterwards.

Instead he opted to mention that her Kimono’s different… It almost feels like even more of a downgrade from his first indirect compliment. Different doesn’t necessarily even mean pretty rip. BUT let’s see how Chihaya reacted?!

NOOO SHE’S BLUSHING AGAIN!! DRAT, I HAVE BEEN DEFEATED EVERYONE WAS RIGHT SHE IS STILL IN LOVE WITH ARATA… Except not really. I think unlike before where she was caught completely off guard by Arata’s comment on her Hakama, she now had an inclining of what might be coming when he was looking at her that way (hence her wide eyes). When she realized that he was just commenting on how her Hakama was different, she was happy! She’s like yes that’s right it is new and it’s because my sister brought it for me. Just like before the Hakama that Chihaya wears is very important. It has also been used to represent the support that people have given you (think of Ooe’s comments to Taichi). This Hakama is probably the most special one Chihaya has ever worn because the person who brought it for Chihaya was Chitose… She put Chihaya’s ambition above her own :(

When you look at these two moments the little progress Chihaya and Arata have made in their relationship becomes really apparent. Arata while he was bold and was the first one to confess that he was in love, has kept most of his feelings towards Chihaya deep down inside. Maybe Arata was a coward at least when it came to love because when Taichi confessed he held nothing back he was like “I love your smile, your hair, your laugh, your gimp toe, I love when you droll a bit when you take notes in class and the way you thought the River Thames was in France”. But in instances of love, vulnerability is an important foundation. Taichi’s confession (at least at the time) epically backfired and then he was left completely empty. So perhaps Arata was keeping more of his feelings close to his heart was in a way to protect himself since he always thought he would lose to Taichi… There’s also the problem that Arata simply doesn’t know Chihaya as well as Taichi to make such a grandiose statement about her. Or that he doesn’t know the words to say it. Maybe I relate to Arata more than I thought b/c same dude same. The other thing is you should look at the page layout. Now the Chiharata fans might want my neck for this but… What I am saying makes sense. When Arata was looking at Chihaya without her noticing the page was white and airy. When Chihaya noticed him staring the page was the page was black. It’s a purposeful shift.

I almost think at this point Chihaya didn’t want to receive a compliment about her Hakama from him even though her heart used to flutter by it. That’s why I believe that the blush was also partially relief. Oh, he just noticed that it’s different! Thanks buddy o’ pal. Again I feel like people might not agree with me here but you do you lil rockstar you do you. It sucks because we really only know Arata’s feelings we don’t know Chihaya’s so we have to read between the lines a lot.

Looking back I can sorta understand why Chiharata fans felt hopeful by this. The panel where Arata mentions he had more to say it almost looks like there’s autumn leaves in the background. Y’know that “red passion” they always talked about. However, it’s a clever misdirect. It’s supposed to be ambiguous to the end. Maybe Arata’s passion for her would have swayed her had he only had the courage to do it. But… He never did. Similarly nobody really thought about what Chihaya’s reaction must meant. The assumption that Chihaya’s feelings remained the same throughout was all of our downfalls.

But anyways moving on:

[ 3 ] Taichihaya Hakama Moment - Why does Chihaya have to Come?

Chapter 193

So sandwiched in between these moments is an interesting moment with Chihaya that was very much overlooked (not by me though I was reading with a firm Taichihaya bias LMAO). In this scene it is right before the qualifier matches and Taichi has to go on his own to get a new Hakama. Now, of course he gathers the MIZUSAWA besties to come but then Kanade (our Taichihaya solider in the trenches till the bitter end) suggests that maybe Chihaya should come too!

Taichi blushing over the fact he doesn’t want to go Hakama shopping alone… he is baby you have done nothing wrong ever

Taichi asks why Chihaya needs to come and Chihaya just looks at him surprised pikachu face with a slight blush on her face.

But quick can we also just talk about the way that Taichi and Chihaya look at each other. I SIMPLY CANNOT DESCRIBE IT BUT IT JUST HITS. Taichi looks vaguely disappointed that she’s actually not coming… Even after he just complained about it moments ago. Dkjsnajkdnks YOU TWO WERE NEARLY THE DEATH OF ME I HOPE YOU KNOW.

She rejects the proposition because of course Karuta must come first but that doesn’t mean that she didn’t want to go… In fact she REALLY wanted to go actually. Suetsugu wanted the audience to see that Chihaya really was putting up a front in this moment.

It isn’t until Komano conveniently “forgets to tell Chihaya something” that we realize that Chihaya (when nobody could see her) was blushing hard… It wasn’t a blush that she could blink away either. She is lamenting twirling feelings around in her head and getting upset. What is she thinking about? The fact she won’t be there to support Taichi? The fact Taichi didn’t want her there? A missed Mizusawa hangout? The thought of Taichi wearing a new Hakama? Taichi getting fitted? It’s left ambiguous. But what’s not ambiguous is that it all revolves all around Taichi.

The way Chihaya just looks back at him in frustration as they each go their own way. Connected only by the fact they are both working to prepare for the qualifiers. Taichi probably seemed rather indifferent to Chihaya being someone to support him and that probably frustrated her. That’s why Komano (after seeing this and so many other instances) was like Chihaya if you don’t tell this mf how you feel about him it really will be the end for you.

Is it a direct parallel to the Chiharata? No. It’s not like Chihaya complimented Taichi’s Hakama. She was too busy having a breakdown over his haircut.

Me when my bestie gets a terrible new haircut and I hate it. Now I know why Chihaya waited to confess.

How interesting: Chihaya blushes at Arata’s feelings (that he is attracted to her) but the feelings she has about wanting to be near to Taichi makes herself blush uncontrollably. It’s almost like… It was purposeful somehow. If this made sense, great! If you disagree, good for you. However, I am a human and sometimes I make mistakes especially because this manga is fairly new so if I missed anything feel free to jump into the asks or if you want to add your own thoughts I’d love to hear them. THANKS FOR READING!! Charles out-y

[mokkemusic]

Gonna blog about my day just cause. Most of it wont make sense if your not me but for anyone who sees this enjoy the show I guess

Well tonight I found out that I had 3 drop buddies for a minty pin drop (if anyone doesn’t know those pins resell for like $500 dollars on Mercari after ok so it’s a big deal cause people are unfair scalpers) anyway I have 3 I had THREE drop buddies for the Tohru and Kyo couple one and all 3 couldn’t do it cause of all the extras that we’re gonna be at that shop drop we didn’t expect. Which ironically the shop drop is on the 30th which 😅.. now makes me definitely think I won’t be able to get anything cause luck on that day I don’t think Is ever in the cards. 😔 I’ll still try … but I am sure that also it might make me more disappointed if I come up empty which 99.9 percent sure I will be. But also … it’s ok cause really there’s way more important merch to me rn I am praying works out then Mintys pins. But still it would have been really nice! 🥺 it’s just disheartening to know I had 3 drop buddies and all of them couldn’t do it. Which I completely understand not there fault but still disappointed. But at the same time also tonight..

I got to talk to Erin about Chihayafuru and l like - emotional tears want to cry! Cause like oh man it’s not about Chihayfuru (well I always cry when it’s about Chihayafuru anyway) but it’s about my process for how to explain something.

It takes me an hour to like explain what I mean at one point I’m like “Erin I have no idea what I’m saying but the point is I just love it so much like I just love it so much that’s the only thing I’m trying to get across”

Like me trying to explain Taichi and Chihaya I start at point 10 and go out of order to points 3 7 and 2 like my brain just can’t tell things the way I want them and ahh it’s frustrating! But she gives me the time to do that. And like ahh it just

This story was actually made for me it was. I didn’t realize it was. But how some of my friends have said “this story was made for me” I truly agree when you all have said this about the new stories besides Hanako you have let into your life.

And this is mine my true Dana self��s self.

Idk there’s no point to this but I’m so in love with this story (gonna hysterical sob when I reach the end) and I want to shout it to the world. However I am not making others watch and being like “you gotta watch it!” Like I do all the time no this kinda story all I can do is express my love so if and when you are ready to delve into it it will be yours too. I won’t sell you on it.

But this story means the sheer the world to me rn so being able to talk about it with Erin and Ami just alone so overjoyed about that. Cause I probably will be continuing talking about this.

Oh I also talked about how Alternative Universe Dana who was not such a narrow minded stubborn soul would have been obsessed with fruits basket if I she had watched it before Hanako. For reasons that have nothing to do with Hanako but the idea of “unattainable love” as well as

Me and Erin would have been best friends as little kids with our stories. Highlights pure Highlights 👌🏻

Next - The Chihayafuru pop up store is still there so like I just check everyday on Mercari to see if they add new things. They weren’t kidding like .. if this was the Hanako pop up store everything would be online rn! But chihayfuru merch… why is it so hard to obtain! It’s insane.

I wrote a fic?? Well sort of?? It’s literally maybe 100 words but I just needed to jot it out cause it’s silly but really fluffy I have giggles and cavities

Now since someone brought it up I am really mad about that 18 card difference it’s been on my mind all day. (Like I can understand 8 but EIGHTEEN his godlike powers at work again no no that’s just not ok makes no sense)

I now have 3 poems I’m attached to: “Su” “Se” and “Chiha” (I feel bad Kana I love you and have not studied your poems yet but I will)

I have a list of edits I want to make a mile long

A tweet I want to make - when I finish

Someone post the very standees please! 😭

- oh incase you are still here these are all again about Chihayafuru.

Back to a sadder note I have developed slight paranoia - even I’m like no no this is getting out of hand. Superstitions are meant to be comforts not ruin your life. But im working on reining that back in- as if I didn’t have enough.

Back to a happier note. I helped someone the other day. 2 someone’s. Made me happy to know I could put them more at peace. At least I hope I did. ❤️ one of them I know for sure the other I hope they will let time heal their wounds.

I’m back to watching podcasts at night and … umm well I have to clean more? Gotta pre order some manga that got restocked but that’s stuff I’m going to do not I did so this is just stuff that already happened. Oh and I really do need more bookshelves I think and I want to re read Tac and re watch fruits basket

I told you this was all a jumbled mess right? Lol

[crowsofhell]

a little look into what i'm mainly here for and the things i’ve liked and haven’t revisited for so many years, but not limited to (doing this mainly because i tend to forget stuf and i want to note down all my interests and hyperfixations):

(i don’t really reblog and talk much about kpop here anymore but these are my groups at present: svt, pentagon, hanbin & ikon, nct/wayv, shinee, epik high, etc. fandoms i’m not active in but i will always cherish are mostly other 2nd-3rd gen groups & artists, and i adore & root for my rtk babies (golcha, onf, oneus, verivery, to1)

daiya no ace, jujutsu kaisen, haikyuu!!, slam dunk, hunter x hunter, yuri!!! on ice, trigun, chainsaw man, kazetsuyo, evangelion, one piece, shingeki no kyojin (until shit hit the fan), boku no hero academia, kimetsu no yaiba, oofuri, fukigen na mononokean, no.6, mob psycho, ao ashi, hoshiai no sora, tokyo revengers, free!!, orenchi no furo jijou, blue lock, naruto, kuroshitsuji, banana fish, yowamushi pedal, sk8, code geass, blue period, kuroko no basket, bungou stray dogs, the case files of jeweler richard, moriarty the patriot, fugou keiji balance: unlimited, owari no seraph, doukyuusei, umibe no etranger, given, tanaka-kun wa itsumo kedaruge, re-main, days, backflip!!, fullmetal alchemist, tsurune, card captor sakura, uramichi oniisan, dr. stone, natsume yuujinchou, dramatical murder, ohshc, chihayafuru, ranma 1/2, kamisama hajimemashita. other animes/mangas. 

xz & wyb lsfy, cql/mdzs; zzh & gj lld, shl, tyk & qi ye; tgcf/eternal faith; zyl & by, zhen hun; svsss; 2ha/hyx; spl/winner is king; qian qiu; mo du; lie huo; link click, jie yao; danmei & baihe in general. priest and mxtx works. canglanjue. love 020 for hao mei & ko.

kamisama to tobenai tsukai & hagi’s works, doukyuusei series, here u are, blue sky complex & ichikawa kei’s works, london pariko’s nichijou climax, saezuru, 19 days, scarlet beriko’s works, red candy, mr. 100% perfect, ao no flag, aitsu no daihonmei, sagan sagan’s old fashioned cupcake, the best smell, aoao waiting to be eaten, otona ni natte mo. other mangas/manhuas/manhwas. (this is so not up-to-date lol)

mileapo, kinnporsche. history ctl + trapped, chrisjake. bounprem, between us. offgun, not me. ohmnanon, bad buddy. cherry magic.

iwtv the show series (one of the current hyperfixations!!!! love me some gothic horror romance fucked up vampires grappling with interconnected/intersectional issues and identities and sense of self). our flag means death, sense8, the old guard, good omens, skam (og & druck mostly), the good place. narnia, casmund. venom. spideypool. atla, zutara. petergwen. awae.

jeunet’s and del toro’s works. otgw.

sdoc, dancing high.

books (various genres). music, films, series, and other shows. art and literature and everything that embraces & breathes art and resonates with me.

“problematic” fiction. i have things i love and things i don’t like and abhor to death.

[meitanteisachi]

^basically me and @dreamautonomy and @circumference-pie​ in the chihayafuru server

*cries in Chihayafuru*

[thequotorium]

“GET TO KNOW ME” TAG GAME

rules: answer the questions and tag people you’d like to get to know better!

Tagged by: @sandypenguin6

What do you prefer to be called name-wise?

Toria is my nickname, but i’m not really picky about how people shorten Victoria or whatever, it has so many versions

When is your birthday?

09/19

Where do you live?

Quebec!

Three things you are doing right now:

1. Watching Julia Cudney’s new video :D

2. Eating my advent chocolate of the day

3. Getting edits together for my thesis

Four fandoms that have piqued your interest?

Recently, these 2:

Chihayafuru (karuta in general)

Legend of Zelda

But in terms of long-standing fandoms:

Hyouka

Fate/stay night

How has the pandemic been treating you?

My desire to create has taken such a nosedive, i have like 10 essay posts i want to write and no time to do it bc my thesis is taking priority and that’s an incredibly hard thing to motivate myself to do!!! And with no variety in where i can be it just compounds those feelings.

A song you can’t stop listening to right now:

gold rush, Taylor Swift, or Spirits of the Sea by Kenshi Yonezu duality of man

How old are you?

24

School, University, occupation other?

MA in Film Studies and i love it but it’s also incredibly hard sometimes

Do you prefer heat or cold?

I hate the heat in terms of summer and humidity and sweating, so technically i like the cold much better? generally more of a fan of fall and winter and being able to add warmth rather than having warmth as the default 

Name one fact that others may not know about you.

i was recently able to rewatch httyd and i can still quote the whole movie

Are you shy?

I get very anxious about saying the wrong things when i’m in new contexts and don’t have a good way of gaging how to act, but overall i’ve become more confident in myself recently

Pronouns?

She/her

Biggest pet peeve?

when people don’t cancel the microwave timer after stopping it, so when i look over to check the time it’s like 00:03 and i have to go and fix it

What is your favorite “dere” type?

Hardcore supporter of tsundere, they’re amazing

Rate your life from 1-10, 1 being crappy and 10 being the best it could be.

it’s a solid 6 i think...pretty uncertain about the future in literally every aspect and that scares me to no end, but also i’m realizing a lot of dreams wrapping up the beginning of next year which will help to guide how i roll. i’m in a stable position right now thank goodness and i have the opportunity to hunker down and focus on finishing the task at hand. just grateful for all the connections to friends i have despite the circumstances and fighting my own brain

What’s your main blog?

This one! 

List your side blogs and what they’re used for.

sorry, everything on my main blog belongs here, no side blog needed!

Is there something people need to know about you before becoming friends?

My love language is showing you things. pls don’t take it the wrong way, i LIVE for showing people things it’s how i connect to others interests and how i learn

So, don’t feel like you need to do this, all right? It’s cool either way. I’ll tag @reginas-lasagna @muffincoti @pkmnsensei @well-alright-then-buddy @palmtoplion @thedisneysoldier

. . . and anyone else who sees this and wants to join in.

No spoons? No  problem. If you’re not feeling it, then I get that. I hope you enjoy the day. 😊

[drink-n-watch]

I’ve been promising this post for a while now. I did a voice actor version some time ago and it was one of my favourite lists to put together. I think you guys enjoyed it too.

As we all know, an actor’s performance can really drag down an anime. There’s something heartbreaking about a painfully wooden performance in the middle of a wonderful story that rips you right out of the fantasy. On the bright side, I’ve seen more than a few characters go from boring to endearing on the strength of an actor’s charisma. Voice actors don’t have as much to work with as conventional actors. They can’t rely on body movements or smouldering looks to get their message across. So it’s doubly impressive when they manage to convey subtle emotion and complex feelings though inflection and tone alone.

And for me, these ladies do just that.

Today let us celebrate the artistry that goes into bringing some of our favourite characters to life. In no real order we have!

5. Aoi Yuuki

I don’t care how petty it sounds, I’m just going to put this right here. This young woman is shorter than me!!! A musician and traditional actress, Aoi unique voice has made her quite successful in the field. Here are a few selected roles out of the tons she has had:

Hana – Ben-To

Tsuyu – My Hero Academia

Mina – Vampire Bund

The Energetic Ringo – Daily Lives of HighSchool Boys

Sosuke – Free!! (surprised? – I was)

Victorique – Gosick

Mihoshi – Gundam

Russia – Hetalia

Kino – Kino’s journey

Futaba – Persona 5

Iris – Pokemon

Mélie – Radiant

Shinra – Durarara!!

Sunako – Shiki

Borr – SSSS.Gridman

Tanya – Saga of Tanya the Evil

Oh yeah – she’s also Madoka in some magical girl show…

She’s set to play Touka and Boogiepop in the upcoming remake and I am psyched for this!

Not to mention roles in March Comes In Like a Lion, ACCA 13, Asobi Asobase, Welcome to the Ballroom, Gangsta, Gintama, Goblin Slayer, Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens, Hyakka, Hyouka, Your Name, last exile, One Punch Man, Seraph of the End, Sword Art Online II, Tanaka-kun, Tokyo Ghoul, Snafu, Yuru Yuri, and I seriously skipped over most of them. This lady works!

The surprisingly raspy quality of her vocals, and the counterintuitive depth of her tone makes her suitable for a wide range of diverse characters. A small actress with a big voice! Irresistible.

4. Chiwa Saito

Miss Saito has been acting for some time which means she’s had the chance to amass a pretty impressive portfolio. One of my favourite random facts out there, is that she is part of a voice acting groups called “MORE PEACH SUMMER SNOW”. That’s the best name ever. I’m going to rname Buddy that. (His actional name if Sir Buddy Livingston Master Chief Brown). Sadly, she is taller than me.

Yona – Yona of the Dawn

Aika – Aria

Hitagi – Monogatari series

Sigyn – Break Blade

Yuki – Vampire Bund

Chloe – Fate/Kaelid series

Natsumi – Keroro

the fantastic Riko – Kuroko’s Basketball

Louise- Gudam 00

Anita – R.O.D. TV

Kotori – rewrite

Meru – Zetsoubu Sensei

Nadeshiko – Yuru Yuri

She’s also Homura in some magical girl show…I swear I didn’t know this before researching for this post. I never realized how much I liked the Madoka casting before!

Of course there’s like a billion more titles but I’m going to name these ones because, reasons: Amanchu, Arakawa Under the Bridge, Boccano, Berserk, Dog & Scissors, D-Frag, Daily Lives of HighSchool Boys, Gintama, Girls Bravo, Kino’s journey, Last Exile, Log Horizon, Lyrica Nanoha, Murder Princess (I just like this title) One Piece, Sward Art Online, I’m just going to stop now.

You can actually hear her sing in some roles and she truly has a beautiful singing voice. It has a rich timber and she obviously has a great ear for melody. If ever she chose to switch career paths to the musical instead, I’m sure she’d have a great future. We would miss her as an actress though so let’s not encourage that!

3. Megumi Hayashibara

A more classical voice actress and one of the best known in Japan, Megumi almost became a nurse instead. There’s a certain personality that goes along with choosing a career in nursing. Caring but also resilient. You can see that peek through a bit in Megumi’s character and acting choice. Then again, there are so many to pick from I could probably make an argument for any character type.

Pai and IV – 3×3 eyes

Ai – Detective Conan

Haruko – FLCL Progressive

Haruka – Love Hina

Todomatsu – Osomatsu-kun

Paprika and Chiba – Paprika

Musashi – Pokemon

Ranma – Ranma 1/2

Lime – Saber Marionette J

Anna – Shaman King

Lina – Slayers

Ai – Video Girl Ai

Genkai – Yuu Yuu Hakusho

Hello Kitty…this woman is Hello Kitty

The incomparable Faye Valentine – Cowboy Bebop

Probably best known as Rei Ayanami – Evangelion

She can also be heard in Blue Exorcist, Bakuretsu Hunters, Sailor Moon, Blue Seed, Chihayafuru 2, Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Macross Plus, Lupin III, Maison Ikkoku, One Piece, Project A-ko, Shadow Skill, the Doreamons, Tenchi Muyou, and obviously a million more shows.

This lady’s body of work speaks for itself. I have to say I was already pretty amazed that spunky, opinionated Faye, with her womanly register and quiet monotone Rei were played by the same person, add in Hell Kitty to the mix and my mind is a little broken…and then you have comedy queen Ranma. This is the type of career you look up to!

2. Romi Park

Did you know that Romi studied Korean in university. I just find that intriguing, obviously she’s always liked languages. Ok I’m beating about the bush so let me just say it, miss Park’s performance was one of the best parts of FMA: Brotherhood for me. I literally caught myself in the middle of scenes just going, OMG the acting is phenomenal. I’ve heard great things about the English language cast but you really are missing ouy if you didn’t catch this performance.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya –  Bleach

Teresa – Claymore

Akane – Danganronpa

Tanaka – Daily Lives of High School Boys

Igarashi – Deadman Wonderland

Kenichi – Cyber Coil

Ken – Digimon

Sena – Eyeshield 21

Natsume – Gakuen Alice

Walter – Hellsing Ultimate

Switzerland – Hetalia

Angelina – Black Butler

Taiga – Major

Falis – Murder Princess (love this title)

Temari – Naruto

My precious, precious Naoto – Persona 4

Jiro – Pokemon

Syrup – Precure

Alma – Radiant

Zoe Hange – Attack on Titan

Everyone’s favourite rocker Nana Osaki – Nana

And of course Edward Elric – Fullmetal Alchemist

And if that wasn’t enough, you can hear her in Air Master, Beelzebub, Blue Dragon , Clannad After story, Detective Conan, Devil May Cry, Garo, Granblue Fantasy, Hunter x Hunter, Kill la Kill, Lupin III, Gundam 00, One Piece (everyone is in this), RahXephon, Sengoku Basara, RDG, Samurai 7, Terra Formars (cause it’s terrible), Aquarion, White Album

Romi Parks has the most devastatingly emotional voice I know. She often plays calm, cool and collected genius type characters (a lot of boys as you can see) but when an emotional contrast is needed, she really knows how to deliver, making her characters feel so real and raw.  One of the greatest performers in my opinion, she tends to make me want to see a show just to hear what she can do with the character.

Honorable Mentions

Ami Koshimizu

C,mon, she Ryuko from Kill la Kill. Always loved that sexy alto voice! Apparently she was also both Hiro and Naomi in the recent Darling and the Franxx. I loved her as Ibuki in Danganronpa. She was Kallen in Code Geass, Holo in Spice and Wolf and Yuiko in Persona. Obviously I’m skipping over st of her work including some very big roles. I suggest you look her up! The only reason she isn’t on the list proper is that I simply haven’t seen that many of her shows even though a lot are very popular.

1. Megumi Ogata

OK fine so this is a subjective choice. Well they all are really, it’s my top 5 list. Fact is, I’ve been a fan of Megumi Ogata for a long long time and I’m just always going to be. She’s the first voice talent I ever learned about and I absolutely love her work. Sure, she might have voiced a few of my anime crushes but surely that did not influence my choice in any way…. She’s much taller than me.

Ayato – Angel Beats

Haruka (Sailor Uranus) – Sailor Moon*

Jun – Captain Tsubasa

Yukito and Yue – Cardcaptor Sakura*

Makoto – Danganronpa

Nagito – Danganronpa***

Shinji – Evangelion*

Izumi Rio – Searching for the Full Moon*

the terrifying Fairies – Humanity has Declined

Cranberry – Raising Project*

Ichigou Fujimoto – Magical girl Ore

Ken – Persona 3

Yukimura – Samurai Deeper Kyo*

Akagi – Slam Dunk

Valkyrie – UFO Princess Valkyrie

Yuugi – Yu Gi Oh!*

Karuma – Yuu Yuu Hakusho*

And just o drive the point home, here are a few more at random. If you want to full list, you’ll have to look it up. I just can’t type that much! Bleach, Detective Conan, et Backers, Great Teacher Onizuka, Kino’s Journey, Magic Knight Rayearth, Tamayura, Tokyo Mew Mew,

Megumi Ogata is a revered veteran in the field. Comparing Nagito to Makoto (purposefully similar characters with a lot of very similar lines) will reveal her mastery on inflection and subtle vocalisation to embody a character way beyond their dialogue. Anyone still under the illusion that voice acting is simply reading your lines, please see master Ogata’s work!

Good list isn’t it!?! I discover new voice talent all the time mind you. I’ll be watching a show and suddenly realize that the actor is doing fantastic work. And I’m always so happy when I discover a new favourite. So please, share yours with me!

that was a lot of pics to find….

  Top Five Voice Actresses in My Harem I've been promising this post for a while now. I did a voice actor version some time ago…

[sparkynekolinz13]

Anime I’ve Watched

Okay, here’s this massive post!

My roomie/best friend, Amanda, has gotten me into watching new anime as it comes out every season. We’ve been doing this since college, either 8 or 9 years ago, and it’s accumulated in a crapton of shows that we’ve watched. Obviously I’ve liked some more than others, and I can’t remember every single show I’ve watched, and with so many to list, it’s hard to think of shows I’ve seen when people ask me.

So I’m going to use this as a way to track all the shows I’ve watched!

I’m going to list shows that I’ve seen more than just a few episodes of. There are a ton of shows I’ve started watching, but then quit. Those aren’t going to count here.

Also, I’m going to use the titles I’m used to, so there will likely be a lot of Japanese titles of shows that I’ve noticed are more popular with the English title. I honestly don’t know the English title of some of them. XD;; It’s just how I’ve watched them. I will add akas where there is more than one version of the title.

I’ve watched all of these in Japanese, unless I specify that I watched it in English. The first few shows I watched in my life were in English, and so I tend to only watch those in English even now, but now I’m a Japanese snob and refuse to watch dubs. XD

07 Ghost

91 Days

ACCA

Ace Attorney (aka Gyakuten Saiban)

Ace of Diamond (aka Diamond no Ace)

Active Raid

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (aka Snow White with the Red Hair)

Akatsuki no Yona (aka Yona of the Dawn)

Aldnoah.Zero (though don’t ask me about it; I hate it; I call it “That Show”)

All Out!!

Amaama to Inazuma (aka Sweetness & Lightning)

Antique Bakery

Ao Haru Ride (aka Blue Spring Ride)

Aoharu x Kikanjuu (aka Aoharu x Machinegun)

Arcana Famiglia (aka La storia della Arcana Famiglia)

Area no Kishi (aka The Knight in the Area)

Argevollen (aka Shirogane no Ishi Argevollen)

Arslan Senki (aka The Heroic Legend of Arslan)

Atom The Beginning

B-PROJECT

Baby Steps

Baccano!

Bakuman

Bakumatsu Rock

Barakamon

Battery

Big Windup! (aka Ookiku Furikabutte, or Oofuri)

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love! (aka Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!)

Black Cat (in English)

Bleach

Blood Lad

Boku no Hero Academia (aka My Hero Academia, or HeroAca)

Bonjour Koiaji Patisserie (aka BONJOUR Sweet Love Patisserie)

Boruto (the movie; I’ve only seen a bit of the anime)

Brave 10

Brothers Conflict

Buddy Complex

Bungo Stray Dogs

Captain Earth

Cardcaptor Sakura (in English, as Cardcaptors)

Cardfight!! Vanguard (not all of it, but enough of it to list it)

Case Closed (but only the episodes Funimation aired on their channel, in English)

Cheer Danshi!! (aka Cheer Boys!!)

Chihayafuru

Chiruran Nibun no Ichi (aka Chiruran 1/2)

ClassicaLoid

Classroom Crisis

(La) Corda d’Oro Blue Sky

Cuticle Detective Inaba

D.Gray-man

Dagashi Kashi

Damekko Doubutsu

Dance with Devils

Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou (aka Daily Lives of High School Boys)

Dantalian no Shoka (aka The Mystic Archives of Dantalian)

Darker than Black

DAYS

Death Note

Death Parade

Devil Survivor 2 The animation

Digimon (seasons 1 and 2, and part of 4, in English)

Dimension W

DIVE!!

Divine Gate

Dragon Ball Z (parts of it, in English)

Dream Festival!

Durarara!! (only the first season)

Earl and Fairy

Endride (about half?)

Fairy Tail (only like the first season or two, I think)

Fate/Apocrypha (still in progress, but I’m not planning on quitting atm)

Fate/stay night

Fate/Zero (I didn’t finish it, but I watched the majority of it)

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (movie)

Fireball Charming

Flying Witch

Free!

Fruits Basket (in English)

Fudanshi Koukou Seikatsu (aka The Highschool Life of a Fudanshi)

Fukigen na Mononokean (aka The Morose Mononokean)

Fune wo Amu (aka The Great Passage)

Galilei Donna

Gallery Fake (didn’t finish it, but watched about half or more)

Gangsta.

GATE

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (aka Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun)

Getbackers (haven’t finished it, but I want to)

Gifuu Doudou!! Kanetsugu to Keiji

Gingitsune

Gintama

Granblue Fantasy the Animation

Grave of the Fireflies (movie, in English; had to watch it for a class...never again)

Grimoire of Zero (aka Zero Kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho)

Gugure! Kokkuri-san

Gundam Build Fighters

Gundam Build Fighters Try (counting this as separate since it’s a different generation)

Haikyu!!

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East

Hakuouki (aka Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom)

Hamatora

Hanasakeru Seishounen (only about half)

HaruChika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru (aka Haruchika - Haruta & Chika)

Hataraku Maou-sama! (aka The Devil is a Part-Timer!)

Heat Guy J

Hetalia Axis Powers (not all of it)

Hibike! Euphonium (aka Sound! Euphonium)

Hikaru no Go (haven’t finished it, but I’d like to)

Hotarubi no Morie e (movie)

Howl’s Moving Castle (movie, in English)

Houzuki no Reitetsu (aka Hozuki’s Coolheadedness)

Hunter x Hunter (2011; not all of it, but a good portion)

Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha (aka Inari Kon Kon)

Inuyasha (in English; not all of it yet)

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (aka JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken)

Joker Game

K

Kabukibu!

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! (aka Maid Sama!)

Kami-sama no Memo-chou (aka Heaven’s Memo Pad)

Kamigami no Asobi

Kamisama Hajimemashita (aka Kamisama Kiss)

Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi (aka Kami-Nai aka Sunday Without God)

Karneval

Katekyo Hitman Reborn! (not all of it, but a good portion)

Katsugeki! Touken Ranbu

Kekkai Sensen (aka Blood Blockade Battlefront)

Kenka Banchou Otome: Girl Beats Boys

Kimi to Boku (aka You and Me.)

Konbini Kareshi (aka Convenience Store Boy Friends)

Kuroko no Basuke (aka Kuroko’s Basketball aka The basketball which Kuroko plays....that version of the title always cracks me up)

Kuromukuro

Kuroshitsuji (aka Black Butler; not all of it)

Kyoukai no Kanata (aka Beyond the Boundary)

Kyoukai no Rinne (aka RIN-NE; about a season and a half)

(The) Legend of the Legendary Heroes

Library War (aka Toshokan Sensou)

Log Horizon

Magic Kaito: 1412

Magic-kyun! Renaissance

Mahou Sensou (aka Magical Warfare)

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro (aka Neuro - Supernatural Detective)

Makai Ouji: Devils and Realist (aka just Devils and Realist)

Makura no Danshi

Marginal#4 Kiss Kara Tsukuru Big Bang (aka MARGINAL #4 the Animation)

Medaka Box

Meganebu!

Miracle Train - Ooedo-sen e Yookoso

Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit

Nana Maru San Batsu (aka Fastest Finger First)

Nanbaka

Naruto

Naruto Shippuuden (not all of it; got tired of all the fillers and stopped watching)

Natsume Yuujin-Chou (aka Natsume’s Book of Friends)

Nijiiro Days (aka Rainbow Days)

No. 6

Nobunaga no Shinobi (aka Ninja Girl & Samurai Master)

Nobunagun (only saw about half; want to finish it someday)

Noragami

Norn9 - Norn + Nonette

Nurarihyon no Mago (aka Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan)

One Punch Man

Onihei

Ore Monogatari!! (aka My Love Story!!)

Orenchi no Furo Jijou

Ooshitsu Kyoushi Heine (aka The Royal Tutor)

Otome Youkai Zakuro (aka just Zakuro)

Ouran High School Host Club

Overlord

Pandora Hearts (I can’t remember if I’ve seen the entire anime, or just a good portion of it)

Peacemaker Kurogane (I haven’t finished it yet...)

Peach Girl (in English)

Persona 4: The Animation

Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation

Phi-Brain - Kami no Puzzle (aka Phi-Brain - Puzzle of God)

Pokémon (in English; only like the first two or three seasons, and the first...4? movies)

Prince of Stride: Alternative

(The) Prince of Tennis (aka Tennis no Ouji-sama; almost all of it)

Princess Mononoke (aka Mononoke Hime; movie)

Psycho-Pass (not the second season)

Re:CREATORS

ReLIFE

Rokka no Yuusha (aka Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers)

Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan (aka The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)

Sailor Moon (in English; a good portion of it, and the 3 movies)

Saint Seiya

Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary (movie)

Saiunkoku Monogatari (The Story of Saiunkoku)

Saiyuki

Sakamoto desu ga? (aka Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto)

Scared Rider Xechs (aka Scar-red Rider XechS; didn’t finish it)

Seikai Suru Kado (aka KADO - The Right Answer)

Sekkou Boys

Sengoku Basara (just the first season and the movie)

Servamp

Servant x Service

Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis (aka Rage of Bahamut: Genesis)

Shingeki no Bahamut VIRGIN SOUL (aka Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul)

Shirokuma Café (aka Polar Bear’s Café)

Shoukoku no Altair (aka Altair: A Record of Battles; ongoing, but I’m not planning on dropping it)

Shounen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 49

Shounen Maid

Shonen Onmyouji

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (and the second season, Descending Stories)

Sket Dance (not all of it, but a good portion)

Skip Beat!

Spirited Away (movie, in English)

STARMYU (aka High School Star Musical)

Starry Sky

Steamboy (movie, in English)

Super GALS! (in English; probably not even half of it, but more than just a few episodes)

Switch (OVA)

Taboo Tattoo (I watched until B.B. died; he was the only reason I watched the show in the first place)

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (aka Tanaka-kun is Always Listless)

Tegami Bachi (aka Letter Bee)

Tiger & Bunny (plus both movies)

Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta (aka The Pilot’s Love Song)

Tokyo Ravens

Tonari no Seki-kun

Tono to Issho (but just the original OVA, not the TV series)

Toriko (about half? maybe?)

Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru

Trickster (like...7 episodes or something?)

Trigun

TsukiPro the Animation (only 3 episodes so far, but I’m definitely planning on watching all of it)

Tsukiuta. THE ANIMATION

tsuritama

(The) Twelve Kingdoms (maybe about half?)

Uchouten Kazoku (aka The Eccentric Family)

Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari (aka Poco’s Udon World)

Un-Go

Ushio to Tora (aka Ushio & Tora)

Uta no Prince-sama (aka UtaPri)

Utakoi (aka Chouyaku Hyakunin Isshu: Uta Koi)

Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen (aka Utawarerumono: The False Faces; not all of it)

Vatican Miracle Examiner (aka Vatican Kiseki Chousakan)

Watashi ga Motete Dousunda (aka Kiss Him, Not Me)

Weiss Kreuz (aka Knight Hunters)

Welcome to the Ballroom (aka Ballroom e Youkoso)

Working!! (aka Wagnaria!!)

X

Yakitate!! Japan (maybe like 20-ish episodes?)

Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo (aka Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches)

Youkai Apaato no Yuuga na Nichijou (aka Elegant Yokai Apartment Life; still ongoing, but it’s been about 14-15 episodes now)

Young Black Jack

Yowamushi Pedal

Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files (in English; never finished it, but wanted to)

Yuri!!! on Ice

Zetsuen no Tempest (aka Blast of Tempest)

And that’s all of them! I missed a couple while I was going through, so I might be missing a couple, but...this is theoretically all of the shows I’ve watched! Well, that I’ve watched more than like 5 episodes of. There’s a ton more shows that I’ve only watched like 1-5 episodes of, haha. I don’t need to make a list of that...