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emikorin · 3 years ago

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Who Is Higuchi Ichiyou? (Spoilers if you haven’t fully watched/read Bungou Stray Dogs)

Higuchi Ichiyou, a port mafia member and the one who commands the Black Lizards. She isn’t respected by the mafia, she isn’t useful to the mafia ability wise but why is she here?

Let us begin from the beginning.

Who is the real life Higuchi Ichiyou?

She was born on May 2, 1872 in a nagaya (row house) on the premises of the Tokyo prefectural office (present Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Prefecture) in Uchisaiwaicho, Ichi shoku, Daini daiku, Tokyo-fu (Tokyo Prefecture). Her real name was Natsu HIGUCHI. Her father was Tamenosuke (Noriyoshi) HIGUCHI and her mother was Ayame, the fifth daughter of the Furuya family; Ichiyo was their second daughter. She had an older sister (Fuji) and two older brothers (Sentaro and Toranosuke), and was followed by a younger sister (Kuni). Making Higuchi Ichiyou the fourth child.

Her father, Noriyoshi, was a peasant in Nakahagiwara Village, Yamanashi County, Kai Province (present Koshu City, formerly Enzan City). Her grandfather seems to have been familiar with creative writings such as haikai (seventeen-syllable verse) and keisho (the most important documents in Confucianism); it is said that Noriyoshi preferred academics to farming and, as his marriage with Ayame was not permitted, they practically eloped to Edo. Noriyoshi began as a servant in the Bansho shirabesho (a government-run Western studies education and research institute) and, by good fortune, became a jikisan (immediate retainer) of the bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) by buying a kabu (a right to become doshin) of doshin (a low-ranked official) in 1867. After the Meiji Restoration, he became a low-level official and acquired the status of shizoku (a family or person of samurai ancestry), but was dismissed in 1876. After that, he made a living by working as a real estate broker and similar things.

As a young child, Ichiyo was raised in a family of moderate means, and she enjoyed reading from the time she was small; she read kusazoshi (illustrated story books) and it is said that she read through "Nanso Hakkenden" (a story of eight samurai and a princess of the Satomi family in the Nanso region) by Bakin KYOKUTEI when she was seven years old. In 1877, she entered Hongo Shogakko (Hongo Elementary School), but could not continue because she was too young, so she enrolled in Yoshikawa Gakko (Yoshikawa School), which had been established privately by Tomikichi YOSHIKAWA. In 1881, Toranosuke, her second older brother, set up a branch family and apprenticed himself to an earthenware painter. The family moved to Okachimachi, Shitaya Ward in the same year, so in November, she transferred to Seikai Gakko, a private school, in Ueno Motokuromoncho. She graduated from the fourth grade of the advanced course at the top of her class, but left the school without advancing to the upper grades. It is said that this was because her mother, Ayame, believed that studies were unnecessary for women.

On the other hand, it is said that her father, Noriyoshi, recognized his daughter's literary talent and let her learn waka from his acquaintance, Shigeo WADA. In 1886, she entered the waka school 'Haginoya,' run by Utako NAKAJIMA, through an introduction by Choan TODA, an acquaintance of her father from the days of the Tokugawa shogunate. In this school, besides waka, she studied classic literature and Japanese calligraphy of the Chikage school; dynastic style literature, such as The Tale of Genji, was the motif of Ichiyo's early works. During her time at Haginoya, Ichiyo met her close friends Natsuko ITO and Tatsuko TANABE and gave lectures as an assistant teacher. At that time, Haginoya was a waka school attended by the wives and daughters of the former regime's privileged classes - such as court nobles, former roju (senior councilor of the Tokugawa shogunate), and former domain lords - and of the Meiji government statesmen and military personnel. Although Ichiyo was shizoku, since her family had been farmers, she was treated as a commoner; she became introverted, and senior pupils from the upper social class called her 'monotsutsumi no kimi' (literally, close-natured person). When the first annual New Year's opening ceremony since Ichiyo had entered the school drew near, the topic of conversation among the well-bred young ladies turned to clothing and festive dress, well beyond the range in which the daughter of a low-class government official could compete. However, she quashed her feelings of inferiority and attended the ceremony wearing old clothes that her parents had borrowed.

Ichiyo's family moved frequently; Ichiyo moved twelve times in her life. In 1888, Sentaro, the first son and head of the family, died; Ichiyo inherited the family and became its head, with her father as guardian. In 1889, Noriyoshi's attempt to establish an association of draying contractors failed, and he died in July of the same year.

Ichiyo's engagement to her fiance, Saburo SHIBUYA, was cancelled. It is said this was due to the fact that, although the Higuchi family was left with a large amount of debt after Noriyoshi's death, Saburo HIGUCHI required a large amount of yuinokin (betrothal [gift] money). At the age of 17, Ichiyo was forced to support her family as its head and, in 1890, she lived in the house of the Nakajima family as a Haginoya apprentice. In September of the same year, she moved to Kikuzaka, Hongo (Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo Prefecture) and, along with her mother and younger sister, was obliged to live a hard life doing needlework and araihari (washing, stretching and drying various parts of kimono). It is said, however, that Ichiyo herself tended to disdain labor, and that the needlework and araihari were conducted by her mother and younger sister.

As Ichiyo's nearsightedness made her bad at detail work, she searched for other ways to earn income. When she learned that Kaho TANABE, a pupil in the grades ahead of her, had obtained a large manuscript fee for her novel "Yabu no Uguisu" (literally, Bush Warbler in a Thicket), Ichiyo made up her mind to write novels. At the age of 20, she wrote 'Kareobana Hitomoto' (Withered Grass). She used her pen name 'Ichiyo' for the first time in an essay written that same year. In order to make a living as a novelist, she also studied under Tosui NAKARAI, who reported on novels for the Asahi Shimbun, frequented a library, and published her first novel 'Yamizakura' (literally, Cherry Blossom in the Dark) in the first issue of the magazine 'Musashino,' presided over by Tosui. Afterwards, Tosui continued to take care of Ichiyo, who lived in dire poverty. Gradually, Ichiyo began to have amorous feelings for Tosui. However, a scandal about their relationship spread (although both were single, the customs of the time did not approve of such associations between a man and a woman without the intent to marry), and so she severed relations with Tosui. As if to emphasize the end of her relationship with Tosui, she published "Umoregi" (literally, Buried Wood), an idealistic novel in the style of Rohan KODA; it was completely different from her previous works, and it became the one that made her career.

Ichiyo became acquainted with Toson SHIMAZAKI and Tokuboku HIRATA, both of whom were well-versed in European literature; having come into contact with naturalistic literature, Ichiyo published multiple works including 'Yuki no Hi' (literally, Snowy Day) in 'Bungakukai.'

Her former fiance, Saburo SAKAMOTO (the Saburo SHIBUYA mentioned above) had become a prosecutor; around this time, he proposed to her, but she refused him. In order to relieve her straightened circumstances, she opened a variety shop which sold cleaning implements and penny candy in Shitaya Ryusenji-cho (present Ryusen 1-chome, Taito Ward), but closed the shop in May 1894 and moved to Maruyama Fukuyama-cho, Hongo Ward (present Nishikata 1-chome). Her experience on this occasion later became the subject of 'Takekurabe,' her representative work. She continued writing. In December, she published 'Otsugomori' (literally, New Year's Eve) in 'Bungakukai' and the next year, in 1895, 'Takekurabe' was published in seven installments, beginning in January.

Between the two works, she published 'Yuku Kumo' (literally, Going Cloud), 'Nigorie,' 'Jusanya' and others; the period from 'Otsugomori' to 'Uramurasaki' (literally, Purple on the Verso) is called her 'miraculous 14 months.'

In 1896, when 'Takekurabe' was published in its entirety in 'Bungei Kurabu,' it won great acclaim from Ogai MORI, Rohan KODA and others; Ogai MORI praised Ichiyo very highly in 'Mezamashigusa,' and many members of 'Bungakukai' began to visit her. In May, she published 'Warekara' (literally, From Myself), and 'Tsuzoku Shokanbun' (literally, Popular Epistle) in "Nichiyo Hyakka Zensho" (literally, The Daily Encyclopedia). Ichiyo had advanced tuberculosis and, when she was diagnosed in August, it was judged hopeless. On November 23, she died at the age of 24 years and 8 months. Ichiyo's life as a novelist lasted only a little over 14 months and in 1897, the year following her death, "Ichiyo Zenshu" (literally, The Complete Collection of Ichiyo's Works), and "Kotei Ichiyo Zenshu" (literally, The Revised Complete Collection of Ichiyo's Works) were published.

Her grave was in the annex temple of Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, the Higuchi family's ancestral temple, and was later moved to the Wadabori byosho (mausoleum) of Nishihongan-ji Temple in Izumi, Suginami Ward. Her homyo (posthumous Buddhist name) in Jodo Shinshu sect (the True Pure Land Sect of Buddhism) is Choshoin Shaku Myoyo. Literary materials including handwritten manuscripts and other related materials are kept by the Museum of Modern Japanese Literature and Yamanashi Kenritsu Bungakukan (literally, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Literature). Since November 2004, her portrait has been used on the Bank of Japan's five thousand yen note.

Now that we know her real life counterpart lets review her anime/manga self.

As a mafioso, Higuchi proves ruthless and fearsome, not shying away from killing her targets. When confronted by the enemy, she has a distant atmosphere to herself, often strictly no-nonsense and showing little sympathy for them. Quick to act, she seldom tolerates disrespect and detests those who underestimate Port Mafia.

However, Higuchi's personality, as her boss and she herself notes, is rather unfit in the Port Mafia. Beneath her tough exterior, she is easy to upset, hesitant, and quick to question herself. She even contemplated leaving several times, despite the inevitable hardships defection foretold. As a result, her subordinates seldom show her respect, many following her orders out of fear of Akutagawa's wrath. An impulsive spirit also leads her to tend toward drastic measures, consequently going against orders.

Her biggest weakness is her intense, bordering obsessive loyalty to Ryunosuke Akutagawa, whom she obeys almost unconditionally. She often insists on filling in for Akutagawa, worried about his poor health. Unfortunately, her loyalty is met with a frustrated Akutagawa's abusive and harsh treatment, often being called "unnecessary" to him. Nonetheless, Higuchi remains loyal to him. Her instinct to tell Akutagawa everything she knows ends up a key component to luring Akutagawa to the Guild's Moby Dick. However, Higuchi makes up her weaknesses for having a strong resolve, and she refuses to turn away when allies, especially Akutagawa, are in danger.

Thankfully, her determined and honest nature earns her Black Lizard's respect. She proves reliable and incredibly brave, even if her judgment is easily clouded under pressure. Even if questioning her position in the mafia, Higuchi shoulders its burdens and responsibilities to this day, understanding its vital role in Yokohama's safety. She also makes it a point to not be unnecessarily cruel to her opponents, acting strictly professional in Akutagawa and Port Mafia's names.

Her composure can often waver. Sometimes she is cool-headed and intimidating, other times easily unsettled and stressed out. Ultimately, she seems to excel more in covert operations than the frontlines, as a tendency to panic leaves her wide open in battle.

Higuchi however has some...strange relationship with the boss however. And this is mostly with what was already established above that the real life Mori Ougai had praised her work which made her very popular. So far in the anime there are three people who Mori Ougai seems close with;

Fukuzawa Yukichi, Yosano Akiko and Natsume Soseki.

Ogai MORI (February 17, 1862 - July 9, 1922) was a novelist, critic, translator, playwright, surgeon of the Imperial Army and Bureaucrat (Senior Official First Class). He was also Army Surgeon General (equivalent to Lieutenant General), Shoshii (Senior Fourth Rank), Order of Merit Second Class, Ko Third Grade, Doctor of Medical Science and had a doctorate in Literature. He is considered one of the great writers of the post-First World War Period ranked alongside Soseki NATSUME. His real name was Rintaro. He was born in Tsuwano Domain, Iwami Province (present Tsuwano-cho, Shimane Prefecture). He graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine.

Shiyo Ho was born as the third daughter of Soshichi HO (father) and Tsune (mother) who ran a long-established Japanese confectionery shop 'Surugaya' in Kaino-cho, Sakai City (present-day Kaino-cho, Sakai Ward), Osaka Prefecture. One of her real brothers was Hidetaro HO who later became an electrical engineer. Shiyo entered a school of Sinology (the study of the Chinese classics) at the age of nine and also learned koto (a long Japanese zither with thirteen strings) and shamisen (a three-stringed Japanese banjo). After entering Sakai Girl's School (present-day Osaka Prefectural Senyo Senior High School), she devoured the Japanese classics such as "The Tale of Genji." In addition, she said, under her elder brother's influence, 'by the time I was twelve or thirteen, my greatest pleasure was reading literary magazines "Shigaramisoshi" (and later its successor "Mezamashigusa") and "Bungakukai" as well as novels by Koyo OZAKI, Rohan KODA, and Ichiyo HIGUCHI' ("Myojo" May 1906).

Around the age of twenty she started contributing her poems to magazines while she helped her family business. After participated in the Kansai Young Men's Literary Society, in 1900, she became acquainted with a waka poet Tekkan YOSANO at a poetry reading held at a Japanese-style hotel in Hamaderakoen and contributed her poem to "Myojo," an in-house magazine of Shinshisha (New Poetry Society) founded by Tekkan. In the following year she left her home and moved to Tokyo, and published her first poetry anthology "Midaregami" (Tangled hair) that expressed female sensuality in open fashion with which she established her style as a romantic poet. Later she married Tekkan.

In September 1904, she published a poem "Kimi Shinitamou koto nakare" (Thou Shalt Not Die) in "Myojo." In 1911, she contributed a poem that started with 'Yama no ugoku hi kitaru' (The day comes when a mountain moves) to the first issue of "Seito," the first female literary magazine in Japan. In 1912, Akiko followed Tekkan and moved to Paris, France. Ogai MORI helped her to raise money for going abroad with his wide range of literary works and large circle of contacts, and he also proofread "Shinyaku Genji Monogatari (New Translation of The Tale of Genji)" on behalf of Akiko to which he wrote the preface. On May 5, 1912, the Yomiuri Shimbun started a series of articles entitled 'Atarashii Onna' (New Women) with an article on Akiko's voyage to Paris, and on the following day the newspaper reported her departure (some 500 people including Raicho HIRATSUKA saw her off). The following June issue of the "Chuo koron" magazine ran a feature story on Akiko. On May 19, Akiko arrived in Paris via the Trans-Siberian Railway; during four months up to her leaving to Japan from Marseille, France on September 21, she visited England, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands and so on.

The same like Higuchi Ichiyou, Fukuzawa was praised for his work and put on the Japanese bill. Fukuzawa is respected and is still friends with Mori as evident in season 3 episode 9 where he said after leaving Lucy “I’m going to visit an old friend”.

Despite the many things Fukuzawa witnessed Mori do (which includes mentally abusing Yosano to have her ability of usage for the mafia) Fukuzawa still sees Mori as a friend and that is seen back with how Mori and Fukuzawa fought.

They both went for the more vital points of their body. Making their death quick and painless so that one cannot suffer compared to the other. Even when Pushkin was caught, the two had one brain cell in that moment and both punched the virus ability user.

Why are Fukuzawa, Yosano and Natsume relevant you might ask? Well, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Let’s dissect season 1 episode 11 first (chapter 14 in the manga.)

We begin with how Mori Ougai is introduced, which is through Higuchi. After the failure that is capturing Atsushi and selling them for 4 billion yen/dollars Higuchi reports to Mori about their failure. This scene made me, a fan of the irl Mori Ougai’s work, open my eyes and ears to see how the two interact:

Higuchi: “I’m truly sorry for this.”

Mori: “Maybe he’ll never regain consciousness.”

Higuchi: “No way!”

Mori: “Don’t worry. You two have done you’re best. It’s true that you failed in the assault of the armed detective agency, erred during the capture of the man-tiger and sank the freighter along with our cargo. But you’ve done your best, and that’s all that mattered. Making effort is the most important. Results only come second, isn’t that right?”

Higuchi: “....”

Mori: “Oh, yeah. The trafficking company Akutagawa destroyed during the mission...the Remnants of Karma Transit seems to be recruiting. They’re probably planning to take revenge on Akutagawa.”

Higuchi: “what?”

Mori: “Listen, Higuchi-kun. The mafia is essentially an economic body that uses violence as its currency. It doesn’t matter at what got sunk or who got killed but if that violence is returned to us, all our expenses will become liabilities.”

Higuchi: “How could you call those liabilities? They were the fruits of of Akutagawa-senpai’s efforts up until now!”

Mori: “Indeed. Akutagawa-kun is highly capable. His violence is outstanding even in the mafia. **But what about you?** “

Higuchi: “....”

Mori: “Higuchi-kun. Have you ever wondered whether this job is really suited for you?”

From what we have seen so far, Mori doesn’t seem angry at her actions. In fact, he seems more disappointed but with a hint of worry. Knowing real life mafia bosses, Higuchi would either get fired or tortured for her failures, yet she is here standing without any injuries. This is the most seen in the anime where Higuchi clearly is talking back to Mori, talking back to the king of the underworld.

The next scene is with the Black Lizards.

Tachihara: “This bastard Gin is always put onto sneaky jobs like infiltration and assassinations. Slitting the throats of families and friends on the higher ups order is quite a usual task. If he had meant it, you wouldn’t even have the time to gape.”

Higuchi: “Did the boss say he wanted me dead?”

Hirotsu: “Not yet, but who knows what will happen in the future.”

Higuchi: *cold face* “So you have come here to mock me?”

Hirotsu: “We’re only here to warn you to stay alert. If I were you I would come up with an insurance plan before the hitman starts closing in. The higher ups aren’t the only ones who are after your head. You and Akutagawa are the Guerrilla Squad directly under the boss’ command, giving you the authority to mobilize us in the combat squad, so your technically our superiors. However we don’t obey you out of your authority, but out of fear and respect for Akutagawa’s ability. Higuchi-kun, now that Akutagawa is out of action what power do you posses to make us obey you?”

Throughout the whole entire scene they say that Higuchi, despite her position as their superior, has not much authority over them. The only reason why they follow her is because she is under Mori’s direct order, so she and Akutagawa are second closes to Mori next to the executives.

Yet why is she here if she isn’t that important to the mafia according to the Black Lizards?

In the next page we see that she is against Mori’s order. Higuchi is going against Mori’s orders. This is a giant red flag because she is directly not following Mori’s order; this is enough to get executed under mafia rules yet she isn’t. How? How is she allowed to go through with this?

Let’s look further:

“But the only reason I never actually did it...”

“It’s not easy to break away from the mafia, but it’s not impossible.”

Let’s take the first sentence. She never finished it. She never said the reason why she never left. All we see is her remembering Akutagawa. This could mean one of two things; 1, she is in love with Akutagawa and wants to protect him or 2. She admires him for him using his ability more efficiently compared to her.

You might be asking, how did we go from Akutagawa to Higuchi’s ability? That’s simple.

Let’s remember Tachihara for example. At first we thought he wasn’t an ability user like Gin but it was later on revealed that his ability, Midwinter Memento, allows him to manipulate metal. While it has nothing in common, the name and the ability itself, this can be the same for Hirotsu.

Which means that authors have abilities, and Higuchi Ichiyou isn’t just some author. She is the first ever female author that got so high as being on a yen bill. So her not having an ability is rather suspicious.

Not only that but let’s look at how the novel 55 minutes describes her:

The novel described Akutagawa as an ability user, how would Higuchi not be described as a non-ability user? Because she is an ability user.

⁠Which brings us back to the first take. Many mafioso’s would get in trouble for going against Mori’s word. With Higuchi it is differently; in season 1 episode 11 you see that Higuchi was talking to Mori on a rather even note, her eyes shined a few times which means that she appreciates the praises but she still went against his word by saying “Akutagawa has done so much to be considered a liability.” She talked back against the boss, that would be considered a punishment in the underground yet Mori kept her. This is also shown in the manga where in the mall, Higuchi talked once again back against him but Mori warned her as if she was a child that wants to know more about her birthday present.

Compare this to how he talks to Hirotsu; a mafioso who is longer in the mafia compared to Mori.

He talked back to him and he got a glare and was questioned “what do you want to say?” In a threatening type of way. Knowing Mori, it isn’t because of the former boss because Mori doesn’t care about him anymore nor is it about Dazai taking his place, that is his main goal.

My theory is that Higuchi’s ability is that big of a liability that she is Mori’s secret weapon.

In season 1 episode 11 she keeps saying “it is difficult to leave the mafia but the reason I stayed is because...”

She never finished her sentence. She never told the full reason why she stayed. In the manga we are shown that she isn’t respected, that subordinates walk over her. Yet even with these facts, Higuchi isn’t fired.

She also says “it is difficult to leave the mafia but it isn’t impossible”

That is a lie because as we have seen with Kyōuka it is impossible. How does Higuchi have such privilege? Because Mori knows she will come back. The reason why in her monologue it showed Akutagawa is because she admires him for being able to control Rashoumon, the same way how Atsushi finds Akutagawa amazing for being able to control Rashoumon.

Mori favors her, and this is shown in a panel in Wan where Higuchi does an impression of Mori when he is with Elise yet instead of being angry at Higuchi, Mori directs his glare to Chuuya and Tachihara. There is also a chapter where Tachihara, Higuchi, Akutagawa and Gin destroyed the Black Lizard hideout but instead of punishing Higuchi (who was the source of the accident) he punished them all.

Let’s look at another thing; how close is Higuchi with Mori?

Season 2 episode 8 where Mori was stabbed by Fyodor. It was brief but we see Higuchi together with the boss. Out of everyone in the mafia; Kouyou, Chuuya, Kajii hell even Akutagawa could (but he was busy looking for Nathanial) it was the least respected mafioso. Not only that but Higuchi back in season 2 gave information that the boss gave personally to Higuchi to send to Dazai.

This could have also been done by Hirotsu or Gin who know Dazai the longest. But something caught my attention. Higuchi said “I researched your history.” This wouldn’t seem bad was it not that Mori keeps Dazai’s executive position open for him to return, so Dazai is still technically an executive. ONLY EXECUTIVES are allowed to learn the history of the other executives. Gin, Hirotsu, Akutagawa, Kajii, Chuuya and Kouyou know about Dazai because they have an actual history with him but Higuchi is an outsider of this. She is like the other mafioso who aren’t related to Dazai yet she did research on him, which isn’t allowed.

Now this might sound as if Higuchi is special but let’s look at something or more someone who also didn’t look special but actually is special; Tachihara Michizo.

On the surface, Tachihara is an arrogant, impulsive, rash individual, more than willing to solve problems through sheer brute force and his dual guns. A violent temper leads to frequent conflict between him and other mafiosi, namely Gin, whom Tachihara views as creepy and frequently insults, leading to arguments, and Hirotsu, who often shuts Tachihara's temper down by threatening him. Tachihara's self-preservation prompts him to obey Hirotsu in the end, albeit reluctantly. An apparent thirst for battle and arrogance fuels Tachihara's temper. He's often seen with a rather feral smile on his face whenever fighting. He seldom considers the weight of a mission over the rush of eliminating his targets. He shows no hesitation nor remorse in murder, in fact sometimes urging to just eliminate a troublesome person if he finds their baggage more than they're worth.

A prideful man, Tachihara despises being underestimated and belittled. This is a surefire way to get oneself shot.

His rebellious side doesn't negate how he values orders, seeing them as an utmost system. Due to this, he attempts to dissuade Higuchi from saving Akutagawa against Mori's orders, even suggesting an alternate plan that wouldn't disobey these orders. Furthermore, he maintains his composure when dragged into shopping with Elise, and tolerates her putting bows in his hair. Despite guards laughing at him, Tachihara doesn't snap. Despite his rough exterior, Tachihara is capable of thinking rationally, just not in the heat of the moment in the Port Mafia. He can recognize danger quickly and finds himself on edge over how nonchalant Mori, Kōyō, and Chūya's meeting went. Tachihara has a proficient understanding of how to deal with the enemy, alluding to a much more cunning side of his true nature.

Much of Tachihara's details of joining the Port Mafia are unknown, however, it is a ruse. His identity as the fifth Hunting Dog reveals a much more clever, driven man. Unlike Ango Sakaguchi, Tachihara always intended to infiltrate the Port Mafia, using his position in the Hunting Dogs to operate as a spy. His confrontation with Yosano is devoid of any rage, depicting a cold, blunt side as he explains his grudge against her for "killing" his brother. Regardless of who he is working for, Tachihara cares deeply for his comrades. He was first to try to stop Higuchi when she tried to save Akutagawa on her own and has been seen visibly harboring guilt for when he cut down Hirotsu and Gin for the sake of his mission as a spy. He has also been seen caring for Teruko when she showed she was heavily injured from going against a plane head-on. He's also notably patient with those who are spoiled, including letting Teruko sit on her shoulders with little protests of being her "slave" and letting Elise put a bow on his head.

Beneath a lot of Tachihara's rough and punk-like exterior is a strong sense of incompetency and inferiority compared to his elder brother who was praised as being "perfect" while he was deemed by his family as being inferior, even being questioned as to why he didn't die instead of him. These things have driven Tachihara to act out and live a life of delinquency and ruthlessness by affiliating with gang activity, but despite these things, he still couldn't shake off these negative feelings. His insecurity and desperation to escape his brother's shadow was so strong, that Tachihara took on the first "order" that allowed him to become someone "not like his brother or his opposite" and joined the Hunting Dogs and infiltrate the Mafia to get revenge on Yosano for "killing" his brother, even when he knew and acknowledged that all of it was an excuse to appease his own negative feelings.

Many didn’t think much of Tachihara next that he was a commander of the Black Lizards and just someone who is close with Chuuya in Wan, however in the current arc we learn that he is a member of the Hunting Dogs with his ability Midwinter Memento being perfect for to lure Yosano to him, and in his fight with Fukuchi we learn that Mori giving him the order to kill Fukuchi was perfect for him.

Tachihara’s ability is named after his famous poem;

*Neither pursuing nor being pursued,

I stand under a barren tree. I'm watching

my silhouette, now marooned on a spotless snow....

(My pale shadow somberly takes shape.)

I'm listening. Yes! I certainly

am listening to what my shadow sings....

In a plaintively nasal voice it sings tunes of long-gone

summer flowers never to return.

Without responding, "That's a bunting, that's a siskin,

that's a white fir

—that's me...I a siskin, I a fir...," my shadow and I

eye each other as though these statements once were true.

My shadow listens to my heart at song.

Like the hubbub of that old arrowing brook,

it listens to tears at song...on the snow.*

This poem is seen mostly how Tachihara lives in the shadow of his brother, how much he listens to what others have to say because he himself can’t find a reason to do something.

As we already had established, Higuchi Ichiyou is a famous female writer. And the characters based on the authors and their books have an ability.

However there are two (three) categories: Name based abilities and non-name based abilities.

(Three being a non-abilities)

Non-abilities: The Great Old Ones and Ultra-Deduction.

Name based: Beast Beneath The Moonlight, Doppo Poet, All Men Are Equal, Lemon Bomb, The Great Fitzgerald, Thou Shalt Not Die, Gone With The Wind, I Am A Cat, A Feast in Time of Plague, Anne of Abyssal Red, Moby Dick, Time Machine, Yesterday’s Shadow Tag, The Grapes of Wrath etc.

Non-name based abilities: Vita Sexualis, Midwinter Memento, Another, An Inherent Drop, Black Cat in the Rue Morgue, Little Woman, Demon Snow/Golden Demon, Flawless, Futon, Plum Blossom in Snow, Priceless Tears, Undefeated By the Rain, No Longer Human, For The Tainted Sorrow etc.

Higuchi Ichiyou’s famous short story Takekurabe (Growing Pains) could be her ability based on that Mori Ougai had praised her for it, which eventually became they key to her success;

“ * [Higuchi Ichiyō’s] ‘Growing Pains’ was acclaimed as a masterpiece, especially when the entire work was republished in a single issue of the popular magazine Bungei Kurabu in April 1896, Mori Ōgai… lavishly praised its every feature: … (Ōgai): It is not especially remarkable that this author, a member of a literary circle in which the Naturalist school is said to be enjoying a vogue should have chosen to set her story in this place [the Yoshiwara district]. What is remarkable is that the characters who haunt this area are not the brute beasts in human form - the copies of Zola, Ibsen, and the rest - presented by the assiduous imitators of the so-called Naturalist school, but human beings with whom we can laugh and cry together… . At the risk of being mocked as an Ichiyō-idolater, I do not hesitate to accord to her the name of ‘poet.’ It is more difficult to depict a person with individual characteristics than a stereotype, and far more difficult to depict and individual in a milieu than a special person all by himself. This author, who has painted the ‘local coloring’ of Daionji-mae so effectively that one might say it has ceased to exist apart from ‘Growing Pains,’ without leaving any trace of the efforts such portraiture must have cost her, must truly be called a woman of rare ability.* “

(Credit to Donald Keene, Dawn to the West.)

But what could Growing Pains do if it was actually an ability? For most we need to understand what an actual ability needs to have in common.

For this we will take For The Tainted Sorrow and see how this ability is related to gravity?

With literal names based abilities we look at Atsushu. Atsushi has the ability to transform into a white tiger. At first, he doesn't seem to have much control over the transformation, likely due to the fact, or caused by, his unawareness of his state as an Ability user. After becoming an official member of the Agency and under the influence of All Men Are Equal, he gains more control over his transformations - as shown during his second fight with Akutagawa, when he breaks the transformation on his arms to escape.

My theory is that Higuchi’s ability allows her to paralyze her enemies.

Let’s look as too why I think this and use the summary of Takekurabe as an example; The main characters are children living on the edge of Yoshiwara, the only district of Edo that was licensed for prostitution. As they grow up, they find themselves assuming their family professions and losing the freedom they enjoyed as children. Next we have Nigorie translated into English as Troubled Waters and Muddy Water, is a Japanese short story written by Higuchi Ichiyō in 1895. It depicts the fate of a courtesan in the red light district of a nameless town during the Meiji era. Nigorie centers around Oriki, the most popular courtesan at the Kikunoi, a brothel in the red light district of an unspecified town, and a group of people connected to her, during the summer Obon festival. Through her conversations with other prostitutes, and Oriki's accounts in the presence of new customer Yūki Tomonosuke, the reader learns that a previous customer, Genshichi, a futon salesman of moderate affluence, was addicted to Oriki and spent all his money at the brothel. Now that Genshichi has been reduced to the hard labor of a construction worker, forced to move with his wife Ohatsu and his young son Takichi into a smaller flat in a run-down section of town, Oriki rejects seeing him despite his pleas. Tomonosuke repeatedly questions Oriki during his visits. She reminisces about her poor upbringing, which she cites, together with her profession, as the reason for not wanting to marry, although she had contemplated the possibility. She recounts a childhood incident when she was seven years old, sent by her mother to buy rice for supper. On her way back, she slipped on the frozen ground, spilling the rice into the gutter, leaving the family starving for this day. Meanwhile, Ohatsu scolds Genshichi for his ongoing obsession with Oriki and the family's poverty, which she tries to mitigate by doing piecework. When Takichi comes home with a piece of cake, which he received as a gift from Oriki (whom he refers to as "the demon-lady"), Ohatsu angrily throws it away. Genshichi, furious about her ongoing accusations and behaviour, demands that she leaves him. Ohatsu begs him to let her stay, as she has no relatives she can return to, but finally leaves, taking their son with her. At the end of the festivities, the dead bodies of Oriki and Genshichi are found. While it seems obvious that Genshichi committed suicide by seppuku, the cause of Oriki's death stays unclear. The passerbys speculate about her fate; while one assumes a shinjū (double love suicide), another one reasons that the wounds on Oriki's body make a murder after her attempted escape more plausible. It is left to the reader to determine the true circumstance of her death.

From these famous stories we can already determine that Higuchi’s stories are centered around the concept of one-sided attraction. This is something she and Akutagawa have, a one-sided attraction. This is the most in season 3 episode 5 where Higuchi doesn’t seem to find her way of trying to confess that she loves Akutagawa or that she thinks she admires him. And what is there not to admire about Akutagawa? He has an amazing ability, he is reliable in many ways but is just stubborn. So with this in mind, Higuchi’s (if this theory is correct) ability comes in this form; Higuchi’s ability is a mix of a non-name based ability and a name-based ability. The ability of paralyzation has the meaning of that she is paralyzed by fear with job as a mafioso but also her fear of being rejected by Akutagawa and that it is the greatest liability Mori has in order to protect Yokohama-This idea comes more in mind in the manga, Chapter 41, where we briefly see Higuchi’s little sister. This may not mean much to you but Higuchi is the only confirmed character with a little sister who isn’t based on a book (Gin=Ogin and Naomi=Naomi). Which leads me to the reason why she doesn’t use her ability anymore or is restricting herself- and the second is the meaning of Growing Pains ; Growing pains are often described as an ache or throb in the legs — often in the front of the thighs, the calves or behind the knees. Growing pains tend to affect both legs and occur at night, and may even wake a child from sleep. Although these pains are called growing pains, there's no evidence that growth hurts.

There could have been an incident in which Higuchi accidentally used her ability on her little sister which resulted in her little sister being paralyzed. She could have met Mori and knowing Mori he manipulated in keeping her ability a secret and for repayment let her join the mafia. This idea is further proven with how he was with Yosano; after the death of Tachihara’s brother Mori manipulated Yosano into thinking that this is her fault, almost making her join the mafia out of guilt was it not for Ranpo.

6. Maybe Higuchi wasn’t as lucky and thought that what Morti said was true and joined the mafia out of guilt, which leads me as to why she fell in love with him. The nightingale effect; The Florence Nightingale effect is a trope where a caregiver falls in love with their patient, even if very little communication or contact takes place outside of basic care. Feelings may fade once the patient is no longer in need of care. Higuchi fell in love with Akutagawa not out of admiration but out of care for him. That guilt of not being able to take care of him could be because of her little sister and the fear that Higuchi one day paralyzes Akutagawa, as to why she isn’t using her ability. After all, this isn’t the first time there was a character who hid their ability to do things without it; Fyodor and Tachihara.

And the last thing that might confirm Higuchi’s importance is the way she acted in Wan and the Onsen drama CD. While Wan is merely a comedy it does call out the characters for their flaws and unique personalities, meanwhile the Onsen drama CD is like a filler but adds information about certain characters and their relationship; Higuchi included.

1. ⁠She stalks Akutagawa at first out of fear that other organizations might attack him, but at this point she stalks him with a mix of worry and not being capable of walking up to him.

2. ⁠She is rather open to nudity as shown that she said to Chuuya “it is my job to help Akutagawa even it means being naked” (or something along those lines).

In a certain chapter however where the Port Mafia had to disguise themselves as Mori, Higuchi was up and while she failed to look like Mori because she is very feminine she then used another tactic which is acting like Mori when he is with Elise. For most, Mori would have either glared at them and give them punishment, he glared at Chuuya and Tachihara (who were the closest next to him) instead at Higuchi. Higuchi broke many Port Mafia rules, many times she failed and has unintentionally mocked him yet she is still here.

so what do you guys think? Is this theory plausible?

#higuchi ichiyo #higuchi bsd #theories #speculation #bungou stray dogs #mori ougai #yosano akiko #tachihara michizou #ability

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closetofanxiety · 5 years ago

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Wrestlequest: Tokyo

Hey everyone! I’m back from Japan. What a trip! I will post a bunch of stuff about it in a bit (still unpacking, jet lagged, etc), but as a baseline, here are the shows I attended while I was there, courtesy of Cagematch. I thought 10 shows was a lot, but I met a bunch of fans from overseas who were going to 20+. If it wasn’t clear before, it should be now: I am a fake wrestling fan. I might as well wear be wearing a Dolph Ziggler t-shirt and have a Twitter screen name like “WokenCloset316.”

Anyway, here’s the list:

December 28, 2019

DDT

“D-Ou Grand Prix 2020: The Final!”

Korakuen Hall

Taped for Abema TV

Attendance: 2,019

Chihiro Hashimoto and Yuki Ino defeat Keigo Nakamura and Keisuke Ishii

One Count Rule Gauntlet Match: Antonio Honda, Danshoku Dino, Hiroshi Yamato, Kazuki Hirata, Mad Paulie, Masahiro Takanashi, Mizuki Watase, Toru Owashi, Yoshihiko, vs. Makoto Oishi (Makoto Oishi wins)

Saki Akai defeats Sakura Hirota

Three-Way Tag Match: Nautilus (Naomi Yoshimura and Yuki Ueno) defeat ALL OUT (Akito and Shunma Katsumata) and DAMNATION (Nobuhiro Shimatani and Soma Takao)

Shinya Aoki defeats Super Sasadango Machine

Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi and Yukio Sakaguchi defeat Bull James and Yukio Naya

Four Way Match: Konosuke Takeshita defeats Chris Brookes, Daisuke Sasaki, and HARASHIMA

D-Ou Grand Prix Final Match: Masato Tanaka defeats Tetsuya Endo

December 30, 2019

Gatoh Move

“GTMV #26″

Ichigaya Chocolate Square

Attendance: 77

Hagane Shinnou defeats Lulu Pencil

Chris Brookes defeats Mitsuru Konno

Six Man Tag Match: Antonio Honda, Baliyan Akki, and Mei Suruga defeat Masahiro Takanashi, Rin Rin, and TAMURA

December 30, 2019

Big Japan Wrestling: The World Is Not Enough Round 2

Korakuen Hall

Taped for Samurai TV

Attendance: 1,150

Six Man Tag Match: Kazuki Hashimoto, Shinobu, and Yuya Aoki defeat Koju Takeda, Kota Sekifuda, and Tatsuhiko Yoshino

Tag Team Match: Kazumi Kikuta and Ryuichi Kawakami defeat Kankuro Hoshino and Masaya Takahashi

Daisuke Sekimoto defeats Kosuke Sato

Six Man Tag Match: Daichi Hashimoto, Hideyoshi Kamitani, and Takuya Nomura defeat Freddie Krueger, Leatherface, and Raijin Yaguchi

Six Man Tag Match: Masashi Takeda, Takumi Tsukamoto, and Toshiyuki Sakuda defeat Koji Kanemoto, Shinjiro Otani, and Tatsuhito Takaiwa

Six Man Tag Match: Akira Hyodo, Yuji Hino, and Yuji Okabayashi defeat Hideki Suzuki, Takuho Kato, and Yasufumi Nakanoue

Six Man Tag Match: Strong Hearts (El Lindaman, Shigehiro Irie, and T-Hawk) defeat Abdullah Kobayashi, Yuko Miyamoto, and Masato Tanaka

January 1, 2020

YMZ Pro Wrestling

“The 7th Sunrise”

Basement Mon Star

Attendance: 120

Tag Team Match: Manami Katsu and Mari Manji defeat Eito and Kaji Tomato

Tag Team Match: ASUKA and Hagane Shinnou vs. Daiki Shimomura and Tsubasa Kuragaki (Time Limit Draw)

No English Allowed Match: Cherry defeats Kakeru Sekiguchi

Six Man Tag Match: Kuishinbo Kamen, Syuri, and Yuko Miyamoto defeat Daiki Shimomura, Hikaru Sato, and Kaori Yoneyama (w/Matsuzawa-san)

January 2, 2020

All Japan Pro Wrestling

“New Year Wars 2020, Day 1″

Korakuen Hall

Streamed live on AJPW.tv

Attendance: 1,445

Six Man Tag Match: Akira Francesco, Danny Jones, and Rising HAYATO defeat Atsuki Aoyagi, Dan Tamura, and Yusuke Okada

Six Man Tag Match: Fuminori Abe, Jake Lee, and Naoya Namura defeat Black Menso-re, Jun Akiyama, and Takao Omori

Six Man Tag Match: Masanobu Fuchi, TAJIRI, and The Great Sasuke defeat Abdullah Kobayashi, Frank Atsushi, and the Great Kojika

New Year Battle Royal: Danny Jones defeats Akira Francesco, Atsuki Aoyagi, Black Menso-re, Chikara, Dan Tamura, Fuminori Abe, Jake Lee, Naoya Nomura, Osamu Nishimura, Rising HAYATO, Takao Omori, and Yusuke Okada

Eight Man Tag Match: Izanagi, Lucas Steel, Shigehiro Irie, and UTAMARO defeat Hokuto Omori, Kento Miyahara, Yoshitatsu, and Yuma Aoyagi

AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal Match: Hikaru Sato defeats Kagetora

AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal Match: Susumu Yokosuka defeats Koji Iwamoto

AJPW World Tag Team Title Match: Violent Giants (Shuji Ishikawa and Suwama) defeat Ryouji Sai and Zeus by KO - Title Change!

January 2, 2020

World Wonder Ring Stardom

“New Year’s Stars, Night 1″

Shin-kiba 1st Ring

Attendance: 408

Tag Team Match: Queen’s Quest (Hina and Leo Onozaki) defeat Rina and Ruaka

Three Way Match: Leyla Hirsch (debut) defeats Itsuki Hoshino and Saya Iida

Six Man Tag Match: Queen’s Quest (Bea Priestly, Momo Watanabe, and Utami Hayashishita) defeat Oedo Tai (Natsuko Tora and Natsu Sumire) and Zoey Skye

Tag Team Match: Andras Miyagi and Giulia defeat Oedo Tai (Jamie Hayter and Martina)

Tag Team Match: Kagetsu and AZM defeat STARS (Starlight Kid and Mayu Iwatani)

Eight Man Tag Match: Tokyo Cyber Squad (Death Yama-san, Konami, Jungle Kyona, and Hana Kimura) defeat Saya Kamiani and STARS (Arisa Hoshiki, Saki Kashima, and Tam Nakano)

January 3, 2020

Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS

“Happy New Freedom 2020″

Shin-kiba 1st Ring

Attendance: 215

King of FREEDOM World Title #1 Contender One-Day Tournament Match: Kenji Fukimoto defeats Masashi Takeda

King of FREEDOM World Title #1 Contender One-Day Tournament Match: Takashi Sasaki defeats Rina Yamashita

King of FREEDOM World Title #1 Contender One-Day Tournament Match: Yuko Miyamoto defeats Kamui

King of FREEDOM World Title #1 Contender One-Day Tournament Match: Chikara defeats Takumi Tsukamoto

Two On One Handicap Elimination Match: Naoki Kamata and Tomoya Hirata defeat GENTARO

King of FREEDOM World Title #1 Contender One-Day Tournament Semifinal Match: Takashi Sasaki defeats Kenji Fukimoto

King of FREEDOM World Title #1 Contender One-Day Tournament Semifinal Match: Yuko Miyamoto defeats Chikara

Tag Team Match: Mammoth Sasaki and Violento Jack defeat Toru Sugiura and Yuya Susumu

King of FREEDOM World Title #1 Contender One-Day Tournament Final Match: Yuko Miyamoto defeats Takashi Sasaki

January 3, 2020

World Wonder Ring Stardom

“New Year’s Stars, Night 2″

Shin-kiba 1st Ring

Attendance: 453

Three Way Match: Starlight Kid defeats Natsu Sumire and Ruaka

Three Way Tag Match: Itsuki Hoshino and Saya Kamitani defeat Leyla Hirsch and Rina and Queen’s Quest (Hina and Leo Onozaki)

Tag Team Match: Andras Miyagi and Giulia defeat Natsuko Tora and Zoey Skye

Six Man Tag Match: Tokyo Cyber Squad (Death Yama-san, Konami, and Jungle Kyona) defeat Bea Priestley and Oedo Tai (Jamie Hayter and Martina)

Six Man Tag Match: Queen’s Quest (AZM, Momo Watanabe, and Utami Hayashishita) defeat STARS (Arisa Hoshiki, Saya Iida, and Tam Nakano)

Oedo Tai Reunion (Hana Kimura and Kagetsu) defeat STARS (Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima) - Saki Kashima betrays Mayu and joins Oedo Tai

January 5, 2020

Tokyo Joshi Pro

“New Year Dish”

Itabashi Green Hall

Streamed live on DDT Universe

Attendance: 223

Tag Team Match: BAKURETSU Sisters (Nodoka Tenma and Yuki Aino) defeat Mizuki and Sena Shori

Akemi Daredasore defeats Pom Harajuku

Three Way Match: Shoko Nakajima defeats Mahiro Kiryu and Yuki Kamifuku

Six Man Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita, Raku, and Suzume defeat Haruna Neko, Hikari Noa, and Natsumi Maki

Six Man Tag Match: Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi, and Yuka Sakazaki defeat Mina Shirakawa, Mirai Miumi, and Yuna Manase

International Princess Title Match: Thunder Rosa defeats Maki Itoh - Title Change!

January 5, 2020

New Japan Pro Wrestling:

“Wrestle Kingdom 14, Night 2″

Tokyo Dome

Streamed live on NJPW World

Attendance: 30,063

Dark Match: NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Title Gauntlet Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, EVIL, and Singo Takagi) defeat Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, and Yujiro Takahashi), CHAOS (Robbie Eagles, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI), Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Taichi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) and Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe, and Toru Yano - Title Change!

Tag Team Match: Hiromu Takahashi and Ryu Lee defeat Jushin Thunder Liger and Naoki Sano (w/Yoshiaki Fujiwara) - Liger’s final match

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match - Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) w/Rocky Romero defeat Bullet Club (El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori) - Title Change!

RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Title Match - Zack Sabre Jr. defeats SANADA

IWGP US Heavyweight Title Match: Jon Moxley defeats Juice Robinson (w/David Finlay)

NEVER Openweight Title Match: Hirooki Goto defeats KENTA - Title Change!

Jay White (w/Gedo) defeats Kota Ibushi

Chris Jericho defeats Hiroshi Tanahashi

IWGP Heavyweight/IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Tetsuya Naito defeats Kazuchika Okada - Title Change! (also Title Retention!)

#making towns #Wrestlequest Tokyo

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sskk-ao3feed · 2 years ago

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Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen

by 4lb3d0_D13d

Seven years after the Decay of the Angel were defeated and killed, Yokohama tries to move on as normal. Both the Agency and the Port Mafia grow, gain new members with new abilities and, no matter how controversial they are, relationships form as Yokohama ends up carrying on as if the Decay of the Angel had never existed in the first place. However, now that a page of the book is in someone else's hands, the Armed Detective Agency hires someone new, and a mysterious foreign boy is found in the river, a new situation slowly begins to unfold, a new problem, and the idea that the Decay of the Angel incident had never been resolved at all.

Words: 26647, Chapters: 6/?, Language: English

Fandoms: 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, Gen, M/M, Other

Characters: Nakahara Noriko (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Ozaki Kanade (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Akutagawa Sadako (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Mori Yoko (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Koda Aya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Yumeno Kyuusaku | Q (Bungou Stray Dogs), Elise (Bungou Stray Dogs), Mori Ougai (Bungou Stray Dogs), Ozaki Kouyou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Yosano Akiko (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Higuchi Ichiyou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Akutagawa Gin, Nakajima Atsushi (Bungou Stray Dogs), Akutagawa Ryuunosuke (Bungou Stray Dogs), Kunikida Doppo (Bungou Stray Dogs), Tayama Katai (Bungou Stray Dogs), Edgar Allan Poe (Bungou Stray Dogs), Edogawa Ranpo (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nikolai Gogol (Bungou Stray Dogs), Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Bungou Stray Dogs), Sigma (Bungou Stray Dogs), Jouno Saigiku (Bungou Stray Dogs), Suehiro Tecchou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Tachihara Michizou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nakahara Natsuko (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Ozaki Souya (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Edogawa Annabel (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Akutagawa Tora (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Tayama Kairi (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Yamabuki Ena (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Kajii Motojirou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Jouno Ren (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Tachihara Asuka (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Tachihara Ichika (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Sakaguchi Akane (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Sakaguchi Ango (Bungou Stray Dogs), Ookura Teruko (Bungou Stray Dogs), Kyrylo (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Vasyl (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen)

Relationships: Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Akutagawa Ryuunosuke/Nakajima Atsushi (Bungou Stray Dogs), Ozaki Kouyou/Yosano Akiko (Bungou Stray Dogs), Kunikida Doppo/Tayama Katai (Bungou Stray Dogs), Fyodor Dostoyevsky/Nikolai Gogol (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nikolai Gogol/Sigma (Bungou Stray Dogs), Fyodor Dostoyevsky/Nikolai Gogol/Sigma (Bungou Stray Dogs), Akutagawa Sadako/Nakahara Noriko (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Akutagawa Gin/Higuchi Ichiyou, Fukuzawa Yukichi/Mori Ougai (Bungou Stray Dogs), Edogawa Ranpo/Edgar Allan Poe (Bungou Stray Dogs), Jouno Saigiku/Suehiro Tecchou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Tachihara Michizou/Tanizaki Junichirou (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nathaniel Hawthorne/Margaret Mitchell (Bungou Stray Dogs), Ozaki Souya/Nakahara Natsuko (Bungou Stray Dogs Next Gen), Oda Sakunosuke/Sakaguchi Ango (Bungou Stray Dogs)

Additional Tags: Original Character(s), ship lovechildren, Noriko is a canon lesbian, Kanade is canonically aroace, Characters died in canon? ummm... no they didn't, the vampires went poof too, canon can suck my dick, KAIRI IS NONBINARYY, Not beta read we die like odasaku, Aya and Kairi have a sibling dynamic, manga spoilers!, they/she/he Koda Aya, TANITACHI FIANCES WHATTT?!?!?!?!!, not too much of Ichika yet,��Mild Gore

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/39546207

0 notes

aarcanechaoss · 6 months ago

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Memory

Masterlist

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes widened as he fell to his knees before her. “I’m sorry Lyubimaya.”

Warnings: swearing | Fyodor & Higuchi

Note: according to Google Lyubimaya means sweetheart and Koibito means person you love - also let me know if you want more Witch Higuchi she’s fun to write.

It had finally happened. They had him, they’d won and yet something far worse than Fyodor Dostoevsky was awaiting them all.

He sat in the pitiful cell, having grown board of counting every imperfection he could see, he’d never wished for a book more in his life.

The Armed Detective Agency, Port Mafia and the Hunting Dogs had grown tired of asking him questions it seemed and he couldn’t even entertain himself with the notion of killing the guards… they’d nullified his ability with some serum… how annoying.

He felt very sleepy all of a sudden, probably due to boredom and allowed himself to drift away from this sinful world.

~~*~~

“Higuchi we may need to…” Mori’s voice was hushed, eyes only locked on her- and quite clearly ignoring the strange looks being sent their way.

“If it cannot be helped.” She sighed, spinning on her heel. “I need to… change.”

She was out of the room before anyone could question the interaction.

Some time ago when Fyodor first started (or, well was first noticed) his Yokohama crime spree she’d gone digging- his name having rung a bell.

Of course she had been correct but not quite how she had expected… and only Mori knew of her discovery both having brushed it off as a strange coincidence.

Her ancestor Natsuko Higuchi- the woman she had been named after though she did not use her name at work- had been married twice, the first had tried to burn her at the stake while the other… well she wouldn’t have been born if he had done that too.

What amused her though was how similar she looked to the woman too… and how eerily similar Fyodor looked to her first husband… his name matched too.

Her looks however, was not all she inherited from the woman.

Then there was that mass reveal by Sigma and now here she is with a plan Mori and she had only whispered about. So here she was staring in a mirror as she braced herself for what was to come.

With a sigh Ichiyo Higuchi tugged the blonde wig from her head, raven black hair having been hidden beneath. Her natural hair had been sat in a crown braid, the hairstyle she had been known for as a child and conveniently quite close to how the drawings of Natsuko’s depicted her.

Next was her clothes as she tugged away her usual suit, pulling on a nice black dress instead, nothing too drastic, just enough for the plan to work.

Barefoot, no heels, no makeup. Just her hair, the dress and the heirloom ring she carried for good luck.

It was enough.

It would have to be.

~~*~~

Sakura blossoms had always been a scent Fyodor could not stand. Not for any reason par how they reminded him of the life he had destroyed.

He had ruined something good, something beautiful all because she’d had a gift. One she never used until one of his men had attacked her…

His eyes shot open, the memory of his wife’s face burning behind his eyelids just as she had done.

Beat.

The room was different.

No this was not a room but the old cottage… of all times to dream of this place.

He was on the bed he’d shared with Natsuko, he could still feel her, taste her even after all these years.

A humming came from the kitchen, a song he had not heard in so long.

He was up in a second, bare feet hitting the cold ground. Shoving away open the crooked door that led out of their small bedroom he paused.

There she was, stitching a hole that had formed in one of his shirts (in the back of his mind he vaguely remembers catching it on a broken branch). Natsuko was as beautiful as ever, her dark hair in a braid, brown eyes focused on each and every stitch, her perfectly kissable lips pursed in concentration and her dark grey dress bunched around her- her legs must have been crossed.

He could hear her excuse too “I’m at home koibito I should not need to uphold the world’s standards here.”

Each step he took towards her was agony. He missed her so, so much and yet he had been the reason she was no longer alive… this had to be a dream, or perhaps a message- yes a message from the one he loves.

Natsuko paused her work, looking up to him with a smile, though one laced with concern.

“Are you alright?” She questioned. “That was a nasty fall you had the other day.”

Fall?

Had he fallen?

“I feel quite fine Lyubimaya.” He pulled out the chair beside her and sat.

It was her, it had to be her.

“That’s good.” She placed the shirt and needle onto the table where he spied the wedding band on her left hand… she wore it even in death… “Viktor stopped by- said he and Maria would like us over for dinner by weeks end.”

Viktor… his fists clenched. That day when Fyodor decided his wife’s fate he’d seen Viktor slam into a tree, had seen Finn’s hands welt with heat so blistering… his wife was a witch.

But when she looked at him like that, like he was her world, he couldn’t bear to think her as anything but that too.

“Fyodor?” He sucked in a breath. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

He clasped her hands in his, warm, smooth- calloused exactly where he remembers them being- and just held them, bringing one to his mouth to kiss before simply holding them again.

“I had a terrible dream my love.” He lies, like his conscience wasn’t ripping him apart. “I did terrible things.”

It was dream after all wasn’t it? He could tell her these things, he could be weak with her.

Though if it was a message… maybe some truth was necessary for his sins to be lifted… just that little bit as his God torments him with the woman he loves.

“Tell me.”

He smiled at her, blunt as usual- it was her, it truely was.

So he told her.

Told her how he snuck into Bram Stoker’s castle, ready to blame him for her death instead of himself. How the guard had impaled him and a curse had come full force.

Told her how in the future more people were sinfully gifted and how he wanted to exterminate that- needed to.

He told her every single detail, every gruesome plan he’d concocted- he didn’t spare a single detail, nor his glee when he told her how he finally had Bram under his control.

That glee faded when he looked at Natsuko, a worried frown etched on her beautiful face. He kissed her hand again, promising he would never do such a thing to her, promised that if she had magic he would not go down that path.

It was true. If he had the chance to do it again… he’d choose her this time.

What he did not tell her was that he had killed her. He had burnt her at the stake for witchcraft and regretted it.

A tear fell down Natsuko’s cheek and as he always did he cupped her face in his hands, resting his forehead against her’s.

“The fall must have made me insane.” He whispered.

She felt so real and warm and…

The room shifted, no… it set alight and all those warm happy feelings came to a halt.

“Why?” Natsuko whispered. “Why did you kill me?”

His breath caught in his throat… she already knew what he had done.

Flames licked at his feet, at her dress- no longer that dark grey but the chemise he had once stripped her to.

He had no answer for her. Not one that didn’t sound like an excuse for his ego.

“Because I am a monster.” He said instead.

“Why did you kill me?” She asked again.

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes widened as he fell to his knees before her. “I’m sorry Lyubimaya.”

His hands grabbed whatever he could, her chemise, her hands, her legs- he just needed to hold her, to show how deeply sorry he was.

She slipped from her chair too, the smell of smoke wafting as she did. He stared up at her, watching her mouth move, but all he could hear was her screams. He wrapped his arms around her legs, silently begging for her to stay- he would never beg aloud no matter who was before him.

“Stand.”

And so he did, following the command instantly, though his hands travelled up the smooth expanse of her legs as he did.

She tucked a strand of dark hair behind his ear and he could do nothing but lean into the touch, lean into her until he was but a breath away.

“Natsuko.” He whispered.

Kiss her, make it up to her, anything- do anything. He needed to.

“Thank you for your cooperation.” She stated, breath fanning over his lips as she did. He froze as the world melted away, the cold white cell forming once more and the woman before him… she still looked so much like Natsuko though she wore a black dress that left little to the imagination.

He had her pressed against the wall, when he’d done that he didn’t… no he’d gone to kiss the woman before him- a woman who was not his wife.

“Take five steps back.” And so he did, eyes wide and jaw clenched. “I apologise for resorting to that method.”

“No you aren’t.” He snarled.

“You wouldn’t tell us a thing Dostoevsky… we needed information and so I did what I do best.” The woman stated, his wife’s face stone cold as she stared at him.

“An illusionist?” He questioned.

“No.” She answered with a sickeningly sweet smile then shrugged. “I just got into your head… maybe it was witchcraft.”

“You pretended to be my wife… all so I would talk?”

“I think that is obvious…” She sent a look to the camera in the corner of the cell. “Though in a truely hilarious turn of events Dostoevsky Natsuko Higuchi is my ancestor- I was even named after her.”

“Bitch.” That was impossible.

He tried to surge forward.

“Don’t move.” She commanded. “Natsuko Higuchi did not burn, in fact she’d escaped amidst the flames… found another beau and here I am- with zero relation to you thankfully.”

He seethed. A lie, he’d watched her burn.

“Higuchi we have everything we need.” Mori’s voice intercepted over the speaker.

“Rest well koibito.” She hummed, turning on her heel and out the door to the cell. “You can move now.” Was all she said as the door slammed shut.

~~*~~

She had her name, her face, her voice and even had an ability he’d akin to witchcraft. Fyodor laughed as he collapsed onto his bed, the interaction replaying over and over in his mind.

Perhaps she was Natsuko reincarnated…

Maybe he’d get a second chance after all.

#bsd #bsd angst #Bungou stray dogs #bungou stray dogs angst #bsd fyodor #bsd higuchi

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kentootv · 8 years ago

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クローンベイビー (Clone Baby)

Dorama Details

Title: クローンベイビー

Title (english): Clone Baby

Broadcast Network: TBS

Genre: Science Fiction / Thriller

Episodes: 11

Release Date: October 8 - December 17, 2010

Runtime: Friday 24:20

TV Ratings: 2.2%

Theme song: Stay by HURTS

Plot

Cloned human beings who have same DNA compete each other to get one chair. No matter how far they are away, the cloned persons can attract each other. If they meet they try to kill each other. These clones with same the DNA are born to fight.

Cast

Ichikawa Tomohiro as Masamune Aoyagi

Matsuzaka Tori as Hiro Kikuchi

Fujimoto Kanata as young Kikuchi

Taki Yukari as Marika

Yamazaki Kento as Okabe Jyotaro (Okajo/Jotaro)

Kikuta Daisuke as Mikumo Futoshi

Inaba Yu as Satoshi Ozu

Kikuchi Akiko as Higuchi

Miki Honoka as Kanako Aoyagi

Suruga Taro as Haruki Wakabayashi

Sakurada Dori as Eita Tsubaki

Makita Tetsuya as Shyogo Katsushika

Shiga Kotaro as Shoichirou Hazuki

Matsushige Yutaka as Kazuma Aoyagi

Fujimoto Kanata as young Kikuchi

Kabe Amon as young Futoshi

Production STAFF

Director: Kawashima Ryutaro, Okamoto Shingo (岡本伸吾), Yuasa Noriko (湯浅典子)

Screenwriter: Nakayama Tomohiro (中山智博), Miyuki Nodaka (野高みゆき), Ikeda Natsuko (池田奈津子), Obayashi Rieko (大林利江子)

Producer: Iyoda Hidenori, Sugiyama Tsuyoshi, Kawashima Ryutaro, Sato Atsushi

Music: Nakanishi Kyo

WEBSITE

Official Homepage:

www.tbs.co.jp/clone-baby

source : AsianWiki + DramaWiki

SPOILER

Yamazaki Kento played the role as a God of Hacker. He's currently attracted & followed a murder case. He then met the real murderer & found out that he's a clone baby. What would he do next? Find the full story by download or stream here:

[DOWNLOAD LINK]

RAW

SUBTITLES

STREAM (with engsub)

*ALT = alternative

#Yamazaki Kento #山﨑賢人 #山崎賢人 #クローンベイビー #Clone Baby #tv drama #dorama #2010

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sadisticsmiles · 5 years ago

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When Chiaki is proud of the MC, but this is the beginning of her project in his route.

#voltage inc.#our two bedroom story #visual novels #chiaki yuasa #otome games #vns #voltage #love 365 #otbs #natsuko higuchi #fictional authors #fictional men #otoge #seasonelle

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moniwaskaname · 4 years ago

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Higuchi, the 5th Hunting Dog

SPOILERS FOR THE MANGA!

I know my theory of Higuchi being the 5th Hunting Dogs is super dismissed by now (sad) but I have been thinking about her chapter "An occupation that does not suit her". It's clear she does not feel fit for her job, and people doesn't think it either (Mori said it, and the Black Lizard doesn't respect/obey her).

Now, Higuchi goes into this monologue about how she could get out of the mafia, disappear. And she constantly says she hasn't done it for a reason, meaning she has wanted to.

We as readers and because the chapter is Higuchi rescuing Akutagawa, we assume she means her feelings for Akutagawa. But she never explicitly says it. The chapter actually ends with her saying; "It's my job" and "It's not easy to break away from the mafia, but it's not impossible. The only reason I don't do it is..."

What if she doesn't mean her feelings for Akutagawa? What if she doesn't break away from the mafia because that's her job. I mean, Higuchi has been shown to be super-efficient with guns, but we don't know how he entered the mafia nor how she got ranked so high (above The Black Lizard Commanders, has direct access to Mori, etc). It's also the fact that we had seen her sister that made me think a lot about her.

Apart from the Akutagawa's, Higuchi is the only one that's been shown to have family, or a life outside the mafia anyway, but her sister doesn't seem to be involved with the mafia, which is odd. So, in my head, the explanation is that her sister doesn't know she's a mafia member, and/or the mafia doesn't know about her sister. The real-life Higuchi's real name is Natsuko, not Ichiyo, so I like to think her real name is Natsuko and she uses Ichiyo to be in the Port Mafia.

She also entered the mafia after Dazai left, since Dazai didn't recognize her in the chapter of "Gangsta Paradise" when she went to the Agency. With all of this, I really think Higuchi could have been the 5th Hunting Dogs, and it would have been super dope, in my opinion.

Now, I really like Tachihara's backstory and I think Asagiri explained the plot twist very well, but I think the plot twist was kinda lacking in terms of foreshadowing. There was no clue, not small scenes or talk of Tachihara being a traitor, like we can interpret Higuchi having. I don't mean obvious things, but they could have shown him dying his hair, or mentioning he had a brother, or someone asking where he had been and him being snarky about it.

And if you put Tachihara and Higuchi together, chronologically Higuchi fits also in the "description" (they both entered after Dazai, none is specified exactly when). And they also have parallels in common; siblings, they are presumably non-ability users (Asagiri really said "idk the name of the weird ability yet" and never mentioned again huh), and around the same age (this is kinda more my thoughts than facts lol, since we don't know how old Higuchi really is). They both have bonds inside the mafia that's confusing them. While Tachihara is torn between his place in the world and his friendship with the Black Lizard, Higuchi, and Akutagawa, Higuchi has feelings for Akutagawa, but neither of them seems to think that they belong to the mafia (that I, personally, think they both do tbh).

So... I'm gonna end my rant with two hopes; First, I hope Higuchi and Tachihara's story gets interlaced in this arc or future arcs. I mean, Gin and Hirotsu are wounded, and Akutagawa is busy with Atsushi, I think it's realistic to assume Higuchi and Tachihara could do something idk xD And two, I really hope Asagiri has something planned for Higuchi, I really want her to be something to the plot more than "Akutagawa's stalker and assistant" because she has so much potential...

So yeah, even if Higuchi the Fifth Hunting Dog theory is dead (RIP me), I think it was a pretty interesting analysis do.

#bungou stray dogs #higuchi ichiyo #higuchi ichiyou #bsd #tachihara michizou #my rant #text

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recentanimenews · 5 years ago

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Celebrating the Birth of a Legend with Hideaki Anno's Top 10 Works!

Whether you’re a casual anime fan or a diehard follower, chances are you revere, worship, or at the very least know the name of Hideaki Anno. As an eclectic and ambitious director and one of the founders of GAINAX studios, his career has had no small part in revolutionizing anime as we know it. His influence persists through some of the most memorable mecha anime and monster animation, dating back to Hayao Miyazaki’s classic, Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind, where he received recognition for helping animate many of the more complex scenes in the film's climax. His style makes him a certified nerd genius, meaning he knows exactly how to make some of our favorite franchises and genres great because he grew up with them much in the same way we did.

To celebrate Hideaki Anno’s 59th birthday, we’re listing off our top 10 favorite works as we fondly look back on a filmography that is as timeless as it is visionary.

10) Rebuild of Evangelion

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It’s difficult to gauge how good something is when it hasn’t finished yet, especially when its conclusion has been more than eight years in the making. So we’re settling with the reimagining of Anno’s most influential work at number 10. Whereas the original Evangelion broadcast lacked the budget to achieve Anno’s true vision, the Rebuild movies were able to capitalize on its popularity and create visual spectacles that were closer to his ambitions. The new story may take some controversial twists and turns, but Rebuild is certainly an experience that Eva fans shouldn’t miss out on.

9) Love & Pop

In 1998, Anno made his first venture into live-action filmmaking, which expanded his passion for pop culture, and comes in at number 9. This harrowing coming-of-age story follows a group of Japanese high school girls who are embroiled in the seedy industry of compensated dating. In the transition from animation to live action, Love & Pop loses none of its creator’s creativity. The film was reportedly filmed almost entirely on handheld cameras, and uses odd perspective and camerawork to convey emotions. As a poignant commentary on Japanese society and the importance of self-worth, Anno succeeded in carrying out his patented brand of visual philosophy in his first live-action project.

8) His and Her Circumstances

This 1998 anime comes hot off the heels of End of Evangelion, but represents a departure from Anno’s usual beat up until that point. Whereas he told very humanizing stories through the lens of sci-fi, His or Her Circumstances brought his drama back to much more realistic settings. The show focuses on a young girl who feigns perfection in high school despite her numerous personality flaws, and the relationship drama that she and her friends face.

According to Animefringe writer Adam Arnold, Anno did research on actual high school students in order enrich the anime’s plot and characters with a touch of realism. His introspection into the sociology of people’s relationships was supplemented by a unique art direction that featured scenes depicted using panels from the original manga, and lines of dialogue that featured little to no animation. Anno’s sense of style and storytelling is in full force, even without giant robots or monsters to complement the character drama, earning His or Her Circumstances a comfy seat at number 8.

7) Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water

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For a series inspired by Jules Verne, conceived by acclaimed anime director Hayao Miyazaki, and directed by Anno himself, is it any wonder that 1990 anime makes number 7 on our list? The show revolves around the titular Nadia and her inventor friend Jean who join up with Captain Nemo and a host of other characters to try and stop the Neo-Atlanteans from taking over the world.

The series earned several Anime Grand Prix Awards in 1991, including “Best Work” of that year. It also placed at #72 in a 2001 Animage list of top 100 anime productions. It’s been lauded for its dark and mysterious narrative undertones being expertly woven into the show’s charming and upbeat nature.

6) Cutie Honey (2004 Live Action Film)

As another one of his live-action films, Anno took on the sizeable task of adapting Go Nagai’s classic and influential magical girl series. That’s a winning combination for number 6! The 2004 film stars award-winning actress Eriko Sato as the titular outfit-changing superhero, and features a ton of original character depictions, such as making Honey’s best friend,Natsuko Aki,a police inspector. Various scenes featured wacky visuals and magical action that oftentimes likened the movie more to a glorified motion comic than a film. However, a stylistic choice like this could be traced back to Anno’s love for classic Japanese pop culture stories, and a desire to bring that charm to life in its purest form.

5) Re: Cutie Honey

Of course, Cutie Honey shines as an anime, and Anno succeeded in bringing the project back to its roots. Re:Cutie Honey is a three-part OVA that came out only two months after the live-action movie. While the story remains the same between the film and the OVA, its characters received more development and many scenes retained the charm that Cutie Honey is known for.

Though Anno is credited as the director, he worked with three different directors across each episode, each of them bringing their own style and polish to connect with Anno’s vision. Its stylized visuals, quirky anime dialogue, and homages to other classic anime make Re:Cutie Honey one of the more memorable works that Anno had a hand in.

4) Gunbuster

This classic mech mini-series marked Anno’s directorial debut back in 1988. Inspired by 1986’s Hollywood film Top Gun, Gunbuster tells the story of Noriko Takaya, a clumsy but determined young girl who enrolls in a mecha pilot training school in order to follow her father’s footsteps in the battle against malicious aliens.

As Anno’s breakout directorial work, this already featured many hallmark elements that we know him for today. From unique mecha and monster designs to a compelling and emotional narrative with a dash of fan service thrown in there, Gunbuster remains a pillar of 1980s anime and truly set the precedent for what Anno had in store for the world. The show’s final moments also featured his patented “vision exceeding budget” technique of having to cut corners on action sequences during the finale.

3) Neon Genesis Evangelion

You probably saw this coming a mile away, because Neon Genesis Evangelion deserves no better place on this list than in the top 3. Anno and Evangelion are practically synonymous, as his show remains one of the most influential and memorable works in anime history. Evangelion dared to tell a harrowing and visceral introspection on depression and the human condition through the trauma of young and immature mecha pilots, reflecting Anno’s own depression at the time.

Since its premere in 1995, it's been widely credited for revitalizing anime during a time where the industry was in dire straits. In a 2009 interview, anime producer and current AT-X President Keisuke Iwata once posited that it even played a major role in anime's initial global appeal. It challenged other creators at the time to tell stories of psychological depth and gave rise to more impactful and emotional anime. Acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai himself stated that anime as it is today owes a great deal to Evangelion. There’s really not much else to say about how revolutionary Evangelion is, or how imaginative Anno was in creating it.

2) End of Evangelion

Of course, Evangelion literally wouldn’t be complete without End of Evangelion. With a proper budget and a reputation as one of the most popular and memorable creators of his time, Anno was able to transcend Evangelion’s controversial final episodes and deliver something truly special within this 1997 feature length film.

End of Evangelion marked a major achievement in Anno’s career by allowing him creative catharsis. The trauma and development behind the main cast is brought to a head as Anno’s vision is fully realized. Shocking and intense visuals and a healthy dose of Anno’s trademark psychological and existential drama made for a much more direct, if not considerably surreal, conclusion to Shinji Ikari’s tale.

1) Shin Godzilla

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In his most recent 2016 live-action film, Anno adapted one of Japan’s most iconic pop culture characters, and he did it rather perfectly. Known as Godzilla: Resurgence in Western theaters, Shin Godzilla received critical acclaim in Japan for Anno's unique yet faithful take on the classic kaiju. Though the monster was generated with CGI, its visceral organic design was made to emulate the feel of a traditional tokusatsu monster suit as an homage to Godzilla’s roots. However, he also implemented his own twists on the character, showing off a gradual evolution of the monster and displaying considerably epic upgrades to his classic Atomic Breath.

The film won an abundance of Japanese film awards, including the 40th Japanese Academy Prizes for Film of the Year and Director of the Year for Anno and Shinji Higuchi, a close friend of Anno’s who worked previously worked with him on several of Anno’s projects, including Evangelion.

Reportedly, Anno initially turned down the project while he was in the midst of a depressive episode after completing Evangelion 3.0, citing that he didn’t feel confident enough that his film would meet the standards that previous Godzilla films have set. But with the love and dedication he put into the film along with the accolades it built up, its place as on our list one of Anno’s best works is a no-brainer for us.

Honorable Mention: Anno as portrayed in Blue Blazes

While Anno certainly didn't direct this 2014 Japanese drama, this endearing depiction of the acclaimed director deserves a shout-out on our list. Based on a semi-autobiographical manga by Kazuhiko Shimamoto, the show provides a fictionalized record of his student years at the Osaka University of Arts, which he attended alongside Anno and several other notable anime creators in the 1980s.

Anno was portrayed by Ken Yasuda, who presented a hilariously-dramatized version of Anno who would act out his favorite kaiju battles with his friends and flaunt his eclectic knowledge of animation techniques, character habits, and tokusatsu suit actors. The show also showcased many of Anno’s impressive animation assignments and even recreated his charmingly-homemade Ultraman student film project.

Hideaki Anno is nothing less than an iconic anime visionary, whose imagination and deep appreciation for pop culture knows no bounds. As a creator, he's spent his career constantly climbing out of the depths of depression to create impactful and outstanding work in both anime and live-action filmmaking. It's no exaggeration to say that anime as we know it wouldn't be the same without Anno and his boundless creativity!

Which of Anno's work is your favorite? How would you rank his shows and movies? Drop a comment and let us know!

----

Carlos is a freelance features writer for Crunchyroll. Their favorite genres range from magical girls to over-the-top robot action, yet their favorite characters are always the obscure ones. Check out some of their satirical work on The Hard Times.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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christasyd · 13 years ago

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FACE ZOOM

#natsuko higuchi #manga #arcade+#christasydney13

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aarcanechaoss · 7 months ago

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Heyo next chapter of Bad Moon Rising is half way done just been busy with Uni 😊

Buttttttt I’m in a BSD mood so anyone who misses my Higuchi One Shots send them through I’m working on something as a side project 👀

Natsuko is in it too and she’s got eyes for Chuuya (iykyk)

The usual for her oneshots is still open too so feel free to send in that Chuuya x Ichiyo content to your hearts content

I’m obsessed with this ship for some reason LOL but feel free to ask for Akutagawa too

Still love Gin x Atsushi too because it’s funny

#bsd #bungou stray dogs #bungou stray dogs fluff #bungou stray dogs smut #Bungou stray dogs angst #ichiyo higuchi

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aarcanechaoss · 2 years ago

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Can you do a fic with Higuchi and the black lizards.About seeing Higuchi at an outing with her sister school on a day off and she looks so different(i headcanon her having black hair and being more kind and respectful as to keep her mafia identity and sister identity a secret)

And Higuchi has to frantically tell the other parents and teachers their her coworkers(but they dont believe her cause she says she works in an office but their all dressed in black and looking scary)

It seems wierd but i had this scenario in my head for a while🤣

Ignore it if you want💙

👀 hold my beer I have an idea… don’t mind me just gonna throw Natsu in here 😎

“Come on Kuniko we’ll be late.” The dark haired woman called, the small apartment making it very easy for her voice to travel.

“Coming Natsuko!” The fourteen year old sang as she rounded the corner grasping at her school shoes. “I’m so excited you’re tagging along today.”

“I can tell.” She laughed, ruffling her sisters hair.

“Duh. You never come on excursions anymore and you know my friends parents like to talk to you too.” Kuniko says as they exit the apartment.

And with one last glance into the mirror, she locks the door.

Natsu didn’t mean to lie to anyone. She didn’t enjoy it but she didn’t want her sister to get hurt, not while she worked at the Port Mafia.

Kuniko only ever saw Natsu, her sweet and kind big sister who’d give her the world. Natsu who worked odd office hours but made it home for tea, who would hide her injuries and help her with her homework. Natsu who would chat with Kuni’s friends and their parents and laugh with them over whatever silly thing the kids did at sleepovers.

The Port Mafia saw Ichiyo. Ichiyo who wore a blonde wig so she wouldn’t be recognised in public. Ichiyo who craved affection from a man who would never give it to her. Ichiyo who didn’t belong.

They could never meet. She wouldn’t allow those two worlds of hers to collide.

But of course those hopes don’t last.

~~*~~

“Natsu!” Mrs Nakamoto greets, pulling the black haired woman in for a hug. “Oh it’s been too long. That office job of yours must be working you to the bone! You’ve lost so much weight.”

She was a kind woman, Kuni’s best friend’s mum. She helped them both the second she found out Natsu was raising Kuniko herself at seventeen.

“Hello Mrs Nakamoto, how have you been?” Natsu asks, smiling as she hugs the older woman back.

“I’m doing great! Just wonderful now that I know you are one of the other chaperones. Mr Sato is here too by the way.” Kuniko’s other friend’s dad. He was younger than Mrs Nakamoto but not any closer to Natsu’s age.

“Hey Natsu.” He greeted, grin cheery and welcoming as always. “How’ve you been?”

“Busy. Way to much paperwork recently.” She answers, and that isn’t a lie.

“Tch. You need to take some time off.” Mrs Nakamoto tutted. “You are young so you can’t go working yourself to death you understand.”

“I understand.” Natsu grins.

“She understands but probably won’t listen.” Kuniko buts in, making the parents and her friends laugh.

“Very funny Kuni.” Natsu rolls her eyes as the teacher makes her way to the collection of guardian chaperones.

“Ah Mrs Higuchi?” Natsu doesn’t ever think she’ll get used to the teachers doing that.

“Miss.” She corrects. “I’m Kuniko’s older sister.”

The teachers face flushes. “Oh my god I’m so sorry!”

“No worries. Happens all the time.”

And with that let the chaperoning begin.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Of all places Higuchi never expected to see people she knew; the Zoo was quite high on that list. Yet here she was half panicking behind her sister because she thought she saw a very familiar head of choppy copper hair.

She couldn’t have right? She must be seeing things… she highly doubts anyone from the Port Mafia would come to the Zoo today of all days…. Right? Yeah… maybe she just needs to go to bed early tonight or something.

And so the day continued, Natsu playfully shoving her sister and chatting with the parents. The teachers even joined their chats every once in a while.

It was her sister that pointed it out as they sorted themselves for lunch. She noticed that four people dressed in all black, with a shorter male stood in the middle had been looking their way, specifically towards Natsu. Her eyes widened… no, no it couldn’t be who she thought it was right?

Slowly she turned her head, eyes widening as she locked eyes with the copper haired male from earlier. Tachihara.

If that was Tachihara then… she scanned the group, the Akutagawa’s, Hirotsu and Chuuya too… what’s next Mori is going to appear out of nowhere?

“Why’s that group staring at you?” Mr Sato questions. “Should I go and check?”

“No.. no it’s fine I know them.” She said with a sigh. Mr Sato was by no means a small man, he was tall, had muscles and could probably put up a decent fight but… they were the Mafia, he wouldn’t win. And knowing them whatever he did would end in an altercation.

“How do you know them?” A teacher questions, looking quite nervous and she side eyes them.

“Work.” She says quickly. “I’m just gonna… go talk to them… okay?”

The parents nod while Kuniko gives her older sister a confused look.

~~*~~*~~*~~

“See I told you I saw Higuchi.” Tachihara tutted as he sat himself down to eat some ice cream he’d just bought.

“Are you sure it’s her?” Gin questioned. “Also I’m fairly certain you are scaring those school likes Ryu.”

“Then they should grow a spine.” Was her brother’s response.

“Yep okay.” Gin sighed.

“Why does she have black hair?” Chuuya questions as he takes a seat beside Tachihara and Hirotsu.

“Who knows. Maybe it’s a fresh dye.” Tachihara shrugs. “Oh hey she’s coming over.”

The Black Lizard and co turn to see an almost embarrassed looking, dark haired Higuchi speed walking towards them.

“What are you doing here?” She questions. No hello, no asking how Akutagawa is doing. Nope, none of that.

“Hello to you too.” Chuuya drawled before giving her an appreciative look. She looked good in jeans and a tight long sleeve.

“Hello Mr Nakahara.” She says through her teeth. “Why are you here?”

“Day off, got bored.” Tachihara answers.

“So you come to the zoo? Today!”

“What’s wrong with the zoo?” Hirotsu questions.

“… you aren’t meant to see me like this.” She almost panics and they can tell she’s trying to keep a cool head. They give each other worried glances.

“Like what?” Akutagawa asks, nose scrunching as he did. “You dyed your hair? Was it supposed to be a surprise?”

“No this is my natural hair colour I normally wear a wig.” She blurts out accidentally. She can see Tachihara almost choke on his ice cream at that (is that even possible?).

And before they can ask any more questions Mr Sato, Mrs Nakamoto and Kuniko wander over, to warn her that lunch was nearly over.

“Natsu dear we’ll have to get ready to continue walking around the zoo soon.” Mrs Nakamoto smiles. “Hello dears I’m a friend of Natsuko’s.”

“Natsu…” Chuuya says before smiling and moving to reach a gloved hand forward for a shake. “Lovely to meet you I’m Chuuya Nakahara.”

“Hinata Nakamoto and this is Katsuki Sato.”

“Hello.” Mr Sato greets, towering over the much smaller man.

“Sis says you work with her at the office.” Kuniko adds, giving them a look filled with suspicion. Then they realise, oh, this is why she didn’t want to be seen.

“We do.” And surprisingly it’s Akutagawa to speaks first. “She’s Mr Nakahara’s secretary along with my sister.”

The lie was almost fluid, falling from his tongue smoothly- but Natsu could see the worry in her friends eyes as he spoke, assessing him with sharp eyes.

“And you do?” Mr Sato questioned.

“Security!” Natsu grinned, patting the Emo man on the shoulder. “Akutagawa, Tachihara and Hirotsu here work as Mr Nakahara’s security…”

“Oh.” Mrs Nakamoto hummed. She seemed impressed. “We’ll we best get back too it. Can’t let the class leave without us… see you another time dears.”

The older woman practically drags Natsu away from her co-workers whilst Mr Sato and Kuniko continue to give them sharp looks.

They didn’t believe them… and that was fair- who would believe a group of people dressed in all black and clearly not all that important looking.

“We’ll that was fucking awkward.” Tachihara said once they were out of ear shot.

“Yep.” The group agreed.

“Perhaps we should agree to not speak of this again.” Hirotsu offers. “It seems she really doesn’t want us to know her as anything but Ichiyo Higuchi.”

“No one else still blown away that she wears a wig like all the time?” Gin said suddenly. “Like how have we not seen that? How has it never come off?”

“You know what?” Tachihara said. “You’re right… what the hell!”

“I agree with Hirotsu.” Chuuya cuts in as he laughs at Akutagawa rolling his eyes at his sisters antics. “Unless she speaks about it first- keep your mouths shut. Alright let’s go I don’t feel like sticking around.”

The group agrees, readying themselves to leave as they watch their co-worker laugh and smile with her sister and friends. They would leave it at that, she could come to them in time, when she felt her sister was safe, when she felt she was safe.

#bsd #bungou stray dogs #bsd fluff #Bungou stray dogs fluff #Ichiyo Higuchi #natsuko higuchi #higuchi’s sister #the black lizard

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