#one I always think of is when todo called himself an ally before then calling megumi gay and basic and curb stomping his ass

[hijinks-n-lowjinks]

put your fav jjk moment in the tags or replies, I’m curious as to what your favorite arc/character/panel/frame/scene/interaction/etc is

[linkspooky]

Mahito and Todo

Gionshōja no kane no koe, Shogyōmujō no hibiki ari. Sarasōju no hana no iro, Jōshahissui no kotowari wo arawasu. Ogoreru mono mo hisashikarazu, tada haru no yo no yume no gotoshi. Takeki mono mo tsui ni wa horobin(u), hitoeni kaze no mae no chiri ni onaji.

The sound of the Gion Shōja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sāla flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure, they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, they are as dust before the wind.

Todo is quoting the Tale of the Heike, one of the most famous stories in japanese literature.  The central theme of the story is the Buddhist law of impermanence, specifically in the form of the fleeting nature of fortune. It’s remarking on the transitory nature of life. In other words, nothing is permanent. 

However, Todo only quotes the first part of the text. However, we are the exception! Is something Todo added. Not only is he altering a classical text which has implications of arrogance in a cultural context, Todo is also turning the quote around entirely to say that even if everything in the world is fading, his friendship with Yuji will never fade. 

All of this to say, that Todo and Mahito’s philosophies towards life are complete opposites. Mahito represents the inevitability of decay, which is why his touch destroys whereas Todo insists he is stronger than that decay, then that inevitability, and arrogant enough to fight against it. More on their character foiling under the cut. 

1. Life Circles

The 4-character expression (yojijukugo) "the prosperous must decline" (盛者必衰, jōshahissui) is a phrase from the Humane King Sutra, in full "The prosperous inevitably decline, the full inevitably empty" (盛者必衰、実者必虚, jōsha hissui, jissha hikkyo).

Mahito as a character is someone very observant of natural law, and the nature of the world around him. His closest friends are all literally made to be embodiments of nature as cursed spirits. 

The budhist law of impernanence is another natural law, remarking that with time everything fades. Eventually everything in this world will die. LIfe is fleeting, etc. etc. Mahito as a character has a special understanding of both the composition of the soul and the body. He can see through it in a way that others can’t. 

However, his ability to see the soul causes him to dismiss it as nothing special. It is just another part of life. Mahito as a character observes and compeltely obeys both natural law and his nature. He is a curse. He’s there to curse people. He does that to his fullest ability. To  Mahito life circles around. It cycles. Everything living must inevitably die, and because of that there’s really no point in attaching meaning to something imperanent. 

Mahito just sees it as something that goes in circles. He doesn’t see the soul as anything special. Humans and curses both have souls, so they’re completely equal in his eyes. Human awareness, reason, logic, emotions, values, connections, doesn’t add anything to it, because Mahito can’t see them therefore it’s all made up. Mahito’s argument towards life then becomes very nihilistic. 

Everything is the same in his eyes. Mahito can twist a human form to a fat, bulbous monster, but he still sees it as a human because there’s a human soul dwelling inside of it. Mahito rejects the idea that any of these things, human reason, human emotions, give any sort of value to life. 

Mahito is inherently nihilistic, at least in the sense of moral nihilism. There is no meaning to life, therefore it gives me liscense to do whatever I want. He doesn’t have any respect for life in the slightest. Everything is fleeted to Mahito, so he’s completely without respect, and without sentiment, because to Mahito there is no point in getting invested in something that is inevitably going to die anyway. 

Mahito is the embodiment of the fear of other human beings. Therefore it only makes sense, that he denies connection. Humans have no connection to one another, and no conenction to the world around them, they’re just there. It’s inherently nihilistic statement, because he’s arguing basically there’s no meaning to existence. 

Jogo even calls Mahito the embodiment of death because he reflects that idea so well, that everything dies. Even Mahito’s own curse ability is the embodiment of his inability to connect, if he reaches out and touches someone he only harms them with just a single touch of his hand. Hands are pretty basic symbols of human connections. 

However, even though Mahito’s nihilistic he’s not indifferent. He outright hates, and torments other humans. He encourages Junpei to hate life, exactly like he does. 

2. We Exist

If Mahito is a character that hates life, antagonizes life, then Todo is the complete opposite of that. Todo is someone who represents love and connection. Hence why even down to his curse energy takes the form of little hearts. 

Every detail we know about Aoi, centers around this idea of love, and particularly this love of life. The hearts are a repeating motif with him, they even appear on his volume cover. We know he has a crush on an idol named Takada. 

The first question he always asks people when he meets them is what kind of girl do they like, (but even if it’s a guy who is only into other guys he finds that answer acceptable as well). 

He dismisses Megumi from the moment he meets him, but immediately falls head over heels for Yuji. However, look at the difference between Yuji and Megumi. Megumi is someone who feigns indifference, and pretends not to be invested in the life around him. He’s always repressing his emotions and pretending he’s not interested. Yuji on the other hand, loves life, loves other people, and will react to save people’s lives without even thinking. Megumi is principled, but Yuji is unprincipled and acts on a simple love for the people around him, so therefore it makes sense why he’s more Todo’s type. 

The only other person Todo seems to respect on the level of Yuji is Okkotsu Yuta, who also said this. Whose cursed technique was converting the girl he loved into a cursed spirit to remain with him after her death. 

If Mahito’s character is built around the hatred humans have for each other, Todo is built around love. Even if it’s kind of in a weird way sometimes. He asks people what kind of girls they love. He respects people who are open about what they love. This isn’t even the first time that Love and curses have been connected thematically to each other in the series. 

Love and curses are presented as a complementary pair. That is rather than being binary opposites ,like life and death, fire and whater, they’re like yin and yang. Two ideas that seem like opposites but go together. Love can be like a curse. You can curse someone you love. Etc. etc. 

Love and hate, is much like love and cursing, seem like they’re opposite ideas. They’re traditionally held to be opposites. Mahito even comments on this. There’s Junpei who is apathetic. Mahito says the true opposite of love is hate, and saying apathy is the opposite is just japanese wordplay. He then encourages Junpei to hate people, to curse them. Mahito is a cursed spirit, hating people, cursing people is in his nature. 

Junpei even said, the hatred that the bullies constantly lobbed against him, the fact that his mother was killed, it all felt like he was being cursed by everyone around him. Cursing people, hating people, are presented as the same thing to Mahito. 

Mahito’s philosophy is basically that there’s no particular meaning to existence, therefore it’s okay to hate life. 

Both Mahito and Todo have a special insight to how cursed energy flows around him. Todo as weird as he is, seems like the wisest of all the students especially in regards to curse energy. 

Todo has a similiar perspective of the world as Todo. He too says that life, that cursed energy flows through the world. However, rather than using that argument for nihilism, he uses it for existentialism. Mahito says we don’t exist that there’s nothing special for existence. Todo says we do exist. Therefore it’s okay to love life. 

While Mahito encourages Junpei to hate and spite others, Todo does the opposite of that, telling Todo to repress his hatred for now, because he has to think of the feelings and well being of the people he loves and is trying to protect first. 

Todo is someone who fights against the natural order of things, for the sake of the love he feels for other people. He even literally fights Hanami, who is an embodiment of nature. 

Hanami, the practice of watching the blooming sakura flowers is also a symbol of transience. Todo fights against this transience, and declares himself the exception. Mahito is natural order, Todo opposes natural order. Therefore in both love and hate, and also in philosophy they are complete opposites. Todo fights for what he loves, and Mahito fights for the sake of hating others. 

Even in thie cursed techniques they are opposites. They both use their hands. However, Boogie Woogie is a cursed technique ideally suited for cooperation. When he claps his hands together he switches places with anything. Todo is like, the one sorcerer in the series whose cursed technique is far better for team fights than it is solo fights.

Mahito calls for them to curse each other. 

Todo, blows a little kiss when he’s fighting against Mahito, another symbol of love. 

(Mahito’s Let’s curse each other, is also a callback to Geto’s let’s curse each other. Geto is someone who after all, hates humans as well, at least the ones who aren’t jujutsu sorcerers). 

When Mahito shows Yuji he is all alone by killing two of his allies Nobara and Nanami (Nobara is fine though), Todo shows Yuji that they are still all together because he is carrying the feelings of his allies with him. Something Mahito would insist means nothing. Something Todo says means everything. 

Lastly, when Mahito moves to finish off Todo he’s distracted for a moment by Todo’s little locket. The symbol of his love for both Yuji and Takada. 

Which buys Todo enough time to clap Mahito’s hand and used his cursed technique even after one of his own hands is completely blown off. Hands are the symbol of connection, Todo connects to others and Mahito doesn’t. 

What’s ultimately ironic is the memories Todo has are completely fake. They are made up. Just like Mahito says, there is no meaning to life, any kind of meaning we try to make is just made up. However, even though Todo’s friendship with Yuji is completely imaginary, he obviously values it. His fake friendship with Yuji trumps Mahito who really only values his own individuality, and only thinks about himself. 

Mahito says I am the only thing that’s real, therefore it’s only natural I only care about myself.

Todo says, my friendship is Yuji is real, and our feelings will far outlast both of us. 

[bayleavesfromthevine]

Some thoughts about the different teaching styles in JJK

Well. There’s only two that we really know so far: Gojo’s and Utahime’s. And I think the differences in their teaching styles are really interesting. 

Gojo is a very hands-off teacher for the most part. Yeah, he taught Yuuji from the ground-up, but only because he had no other choice - and even then he didn’t do the best job (more on that later). Megumi had to specifically ask to train with him, the implications being that Gojo does not regularly train with his students. Lastly, as far as I remember, Gojo has never even spoken directly to Nobara (outside of when they first met and he called her over to their group). Please correct me if I’m wrong, but he’s only spoken to her when he was referring to the trio as a whole, which is an issue I won’t get into here. Needless to say, he’s not much of a present mentor in his students’ lives.  For all I know, Gojo might be lazy when it comes to his job - I don’t get the sense that he’s all that enthusiastic about the instructional aspect of teaching as much as he likes the final result. Basically, as he’s stated before, he wants strong allies. He wants a jujutsu society in which he is not the only pillar holding it together. He also wants his students to be strong enough to help him change jujutsu sorcery from the bottom-up. Ergo, him entrusting his students to trainings and missions without his guidance seems to be a “tough love” type of approach: they’ll grow when they reach their breaking points, but that will only occur when he’s not around. As such, Yuuji, Nobara, and Megumi are strong on their own. Like Gojo himself.   (Also, he’s only the instructor of the first-years, soooo? Who are the second- and third-year instructors? Ah, whatever. That’s not the point of this post smh.)

Utahime, on the other hand, is very different. She actually trains with her students. She teaches them, guides them, and clearly has a personal relationship with each of them, which I picked up on in just the brief interactions we saw in the exchange event. (When Mai and Miwa were talking about Maki during their break in Miwa’s flashback?? And then they... went back to their training session with their instructor??? .... Guys... Gojo could NEVER.) As a result, the Kyoto students are far superior at working as a team (well, sans Todo lol, but he’s a special case) and they have a better understanding of each others’ techniques, which, of course, we also saw in the exchange event. (Yes, yes. I know Yuuji and Nobara are a powerful duo, but that is an anomaly and seems to have formed from their chemistry and talents, not Gojo’s influence.) There’s also a stronger sense of “family” amongst the Kyoto students that must have been due to Utahime’s influence. (Not to say that the Tokyo students don’t have a similar vibe to them, but it’s just not as prominent imo.)  I can’t help but notice that Utahime focuses on her students supporting each other and working together presumably because of her own experiences. This is only a theory, but, while we don’t know her cursed technique yet, it seems likely that she requires time and support from others in order to use her abilities in battle. It would make sense for her to instruct and nurture her students to be able to support and function with a variety of techniques as a unit - including those that aren’t as convenient to use (Mai’s ability comes to mind here).   I think it’s fair to say that Utahime wants roughly the same thing as Gojo: to build up strong sorcerers that will one day take charge of their society and build a better future. However, the big difference between the two, in my opinions, is that Utahime seems to acknowledge the distinction between herself and her students - she knows she is a mentor whose job is to nurture them into full-fledged sorcerers. There will always be that teacher/student or adult/child aspect of her relationships with them, even, presumably, after they graduate and become legitimate, adult allies. She’s a normal teacher like that (I assume).  Obviously, I think Gojo knows that his relationship with his students is the same deal. However, I can’t help but feel like his actions and words bely that fact. He said he wants allies, and he treats his students as such. I think you can see this the most in his relationship with Megumi. As many people have acutely pointed out, Gojo is all about treating children and teenagers with respect for their agency and allows them to make their own choices. This is a beautiful thing and I love that about his character, but it does add an interesting layer to his teaching style. Mainly: he views his students as equals from the get-go, despite the fact that they are relying on him to guide them. Now, I’m not saying that he shouldn’t treat them as equals - he should because they are, especially when they’re putting their lives on the line and are more likely to die than he is in any given situation - but the student/teacher relationship is an important one for those on the student end of things. When Gojo doesn’t uphold his end of the bargain, certain things are lost and left up to the students to figure out for themselves. (Prime example: Yuuji’s divergent fist. Gojo knew it wouldn’t work long term, or against special grades, yet still said nothing, forcing Yuuji to learn the hard way. Had Nanami and Todo not been there to say something / do Gojo’s damn job for him, Yuuji’s growth might have been stunted or, worst case, he would have been killed.)  (Utahime never would have let it get to that point, but we’re not here to slander Gojo lol) So anyway, my point is: Gojo wants his students to be strong enough to not have to rely on others, believing that jujutsu sorcery is an individual’s game.  Utahime also wants her students to be strong, but she also acknowledges the value in relying on others so that no one person (or small group of people) is responsible for holding up the entire jujutsu world.  And I just think that’s neat.  

[chibimyumi]

INSPIRE Onmyouji

Dear Everyone,

Suddenly there’s been an announcement that INSPIRE Onmyouji shall release a DVD and that the slightly cheaper option will only be available until the end of this this month. But understandably a lot of people would hesitate to buy it with so little information about the show.

There seemed to be some need for a bit more information, so I shall give you my personal review (^▽^)/ based on the live stream of 03/01/21 (unfortunately it was only available if you have access to a Japanese phone number and credit card... that’s why I didn’t announce it... sorry.)

Click here for the post containing the DVD purchase link and related goods, and please use #proxy to find proxy options. Please note that I shall not answer proxy related questions anymore that I have already answered. 

This post shall be divided into a total of five parts with a spoiler free, and spoiler section.

1. Spoiler Free Rating

Story: ⭐⭐⭐★★: It’s really simple, nothing that blows your mind. It’s only a 90 minute show (half of the usual) so there’s not a lot of building here. But it’s a visual spectacle show, so the emphasis is not on the story, which is fine.

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐★★: The three protagonists are all really enjoyable, but the villain is sadly a bit weak in my opinion. The side characters are simple, but mostly enjoyable.

Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ★ : Save for one or two people who are a bit hard to watch, the acting is excellent!

Visuals: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: It’s a visual spectacle show, and it does what it promises. It is goosebump-promising.

Music: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: There’s only one sung song, the rest are just good music. It’s not a musical.

Choreography: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: The choreography is part of the visual spectacle this show promises, and it is stunning!

2. The Premise

The premise of this show is in this post, please click here if you really don’t want ANY spoilers at all.

3. Main Plot

The story begins in mid Heian Era (1020 AD) where the BFFs Onmyouji Abe no Seimei (Oosawa Takao) and politician Fujiwara no Kaneie (Furukawa Yuta) drink together. Kaneie is very bothered because a continuous solar eclipse has persisted. He says that as the days grow more sombre so have people’s hearts.

Seimei states that there is no need to worry because he shall performer a ceremony to appease angered spirits, and that his BFF should therefor cheer up, especially because the following day shall be Kaneie’s wedding day with the lady Tsukihime famed for her graciousness. Kaneie does not seem very delighted because he’s never met the woman before. All he knows is that it’s just a politically arranged marriage, and that it’ll do nothing to better the world in this state. More than worrying about marriage, Kaneie is more concerned that the Emperor does not seem too involved with doing something about the status quo, and therefore people like him need to take initiative.

Just when Kaneie insisted on joining hands with Abe no Seimei to save the world, dark spirits attack. Together they seem to be quite capable, but the dark spirits are simply with too many, and Seimei’s powers have already started to decline...

Seimei and Kaneie do ultimately manage to temporarily drive off the evil spirits, but the price they pay is enormous... The onmyouji has predicted that the evil spirits and the abnormal solar eclipse shall return in 1000 years, and in order to prepare for that day, he seals off his own soul for one millennium to preserve his powers.

1000 years have passed, it is now Reiwa 2 (2020 AD), and the world is, as predicted, sunken into darkness once again, known as the 'Black Days'. Seimei has reincarnated as the astronomer Abe Haruaki, but has no memories of his previous life. Haruaki has studied the stars and the powers of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Based on his studies, Haruaki predicts that the darkness shall persist forever, unless it is overcome using the ‘Theory of Yinyang and the Five Phases’. Haruaki’s theories are not received very well at all and is called a pseudo-scientist left and right.

Haruaki leaves the venture with a heavy heart, but the 27th generation buddhist monk, poet and rock star has identified him to be the reincarnation of Seimei. Semimaru approaches Haruaki, telling him that while few people believe his Theory of Yinyang and the Five Phases, he does and knows it can save the world. Haruaki thnks the man is but a prankster so ignores him, but then Semimaru challenges the former to break the seal of Abe no Seimei’s soul. If he can, then that proves he is the Onmyouji. If he cannot; well, then nothing’s lost.

Though sceptical, Haruaki does reach for the seal, and indeed, Seimei’s spirit with all his memories and powers reawaken in Haruaki’s body.

Meanwhile we also get to meet the reincarnation of Kaneie, now Todo Kaneki, has also attended Haruaki’s lecture. Todo Kaneki is a psychosomatic therapist who is very concerned that depression rates have risen since the Black Days. He is highly sceptical about the astronomer’s theories as well, and considers them no more than fear mongering for the sake of publicity.

His assistant Kawase Keiko shares Kaneki’s opinion, so she invites him to see a spiritualist she’s been especially enthusiastic about and thinks might be able to help: Ashino Michitaka. Kaneki and Ashino meet. Ashino explains that the world has grown darker, but that the darkness in the hearts of people is because of their own mindset. He is of the opinion that due to the persistent darkness, people have been spending more time with their loved ones and family, and that due to technology, people do not need to live in actual darkness; that happiness is in the hands of humans! In Ashino’s mind, darkness is subjective, and therefore the same as light.

Kaneki seems very impressed by this view of ‘subjectivity’ and entranced by Ashino’s worldview. Bit by bit Kaneki gets sucked into Ashino’s “online therapy sessions”, and more positive about the perpetual darkness. Before long he has also adopted Ashino’s teachings into his own psychosomatic therapies... until he realises belatedly what ill effects it actually has on his patients.

Then at this moment, the reawakened Abe no Seimei reappears before Kaneki, inviting him - the reincarnation of his best friend - to join hands with him once again to fight darkness.

4. Spoilers and conclusion (it’s relatively short, don’t worry)

【Click ‘keep reading’ for the spoiler section, and 5. rating.】

Kaneki is initially still hesitant because he has already labelled the supposed pseudoscientist Abe Haruaki a quack, and now this man has the audacity to proclaim himself THE onmyouji Abe no Seimei.

But Seimei’s presence calls upon Kaneie’s soul inside Kaneki, and a silent, weak voice of Kaneie in his head responds to his past friend. Kaneie has not fully reawakened in him yet, but Kaneki feels part of him screaming at him to join hands with Abe no Seimei... Seimei leaves Kaneki for he would not force him, but he did trust his friend to reawaken and answer his part of the promise to save the world together.

Later, Abe no Seimei and Semimaru prepare for the new, grand ceremony to appease the evil spirits and to restore balance to the world. However, then the evil spirits show up again... under the leadership of Ashino.

Not only does Ashino command the evil spirits, he also commands the personification of darkness which can swallow light. As Seimei fights with his divine agents (Shikigami) his agents get corrupted by darkness one by one!

Then finally Todo Kaneki shows up at the ceremony, and Ashino tries to overtake him too. But at this point Kaneki who now bears parts of Kaneie’s reawakened soul sees how Ashino will only destroy the world, rejects and fights him. Finally Kaneie fully awakens and fights along side his millennium long old friend.

Ashino turns more and more of Seimei’s divine agents into dark beings, and even turns humans present against the duo.

After a battle of magic, swords, spirituality and light, Seimei and his allies manage to beat the villain, and they finally restore light and darkness into their former balance, therewith saving the world.

The end.

5. Review

1. Story

The story, as I said above, really simple, but the story itself also does not attempt to be more than a ‘hook’ on which the visual spectacle hangs. As you can see, the story is very much about “oh, there’s no light, now restore the light”, “oh, the villain wants darkness, expel darkness!” and “friendship is magic 🌈”. There’s just no complications there, but it works. As the emphasis is not on a deep story will duality and other mind breaking concepts, this ‘story’ fulfills its own purpose plenty well!

2. Characters

Abe no Seimei/Abe Haruaki: Seimei is a really fun character and I honestly did not expect that from such a ‘deified’ ancient character. He speaks in semi-classic Japanese, and yet he manages to crack some really good jokes for modern audiences. When he performs Onmyou magic it really makes one go: “YESSSS this is what I came for!!!” He is also a genuinely good character with his own feelings; he is more than just his reputation.

As Haruaki you see how he’s always been burdened by the ‘weight of knowledge’ which he never understood why he had, and yet he felt compelled to share the knowledge in a vain hope to save the world. And yet you can also see how he’s lived a life wherein nobody has ever taken him seriously. This actor really managed to portray a very ‘solitude-plagued’ side of this man, until he reawakens as Seimei and knows his sworn friend would never break his promise, and therefore is waiting for him somewhere in 2020.

Once reawakened Seimei reverts to his semi-Japanese speech again, and it is amazing to see this actor perfectly balancing AND intentionally dropping balls when it comes to modern vs classic. 10/10!

Fujiwara no Kaneie/ Todo Kaneki: Fujiwara Kaneie is a very serious and highly intelligent man, who despite speaking in headache-inducing semi-classic Japanese, also shows a really modern, sassy attitude. It is great to watch. He is unappreciative of the darkness that has plagued the country, and even less so towards the passiveness of the people. He even passive-aggressively snuck in some criticism against the DIVINE EMPEROR for his lack of action. If the Emperor would not act, then he and his friend better do the job. He is skilled at the sword, and it is great to see Furukawa swinging the sword!

After he is reborn as Todo Kaneki he is equally sceptical and therefore also a bit of an arse. Considering how he used to be so sassy he even dared criticise the Emperor, it is no wonder he would be reborn as the good-hearted arse that Kaneki is.

When Kaneki reawakens as Kaneie again, he reverts to semi-classic Japanese again sometimes, and Furukawa does an excellent job showing how Kaneie has not completely ‘overtaken’ Kaneki’s existence. He just co-resides in him. He shows how he is really two people now, a modern man with modern knowledge, as well as an ancient Lord with trust for his friend.

Kaneki is the only non-ensemble character who dances, and it is great to see the show capitalising on Furukawa’s talents.

Semimaru: I honestly did not expect to like Semimaru because I feared he’d be the omniscient narrator or something, or a useless side-kick. But again I was too pessimistic! Semimaru genuinely is not the third wheel of the show, and is good actual support. He knows his own skills, place, and friendship. He functions as a good bridge between the Heian period and our current day, and always comes across as quite natural.

Besides being monk and guardian to await Seimei’s reawakening, he is also a rock star. He is the only character who sings in this play, and his voice is 10/10!

Ashino: This honesty is what I owe you since I do recommend buying the DVD, but he is the one that really made me give the ‘characters rating a 3/5′ because he is just so.........bad. His character is so wacky, somebody who spouts bs like: “light is darkness, darkness is healing” yada yada. His acting is also so cringey.... he’s just so over the top, it’s hard to watch. I cannot bring myself to say anything good about him except: “the story itself doesn’t pretend to be more than a simple “restore the balance and save the world!” so it’s not the WORST setting to put him in.

Ensemble/Divine Agents: Their roles are simple; they’re ensemble members who dance and function as Divine Agents and they are absolutely perfect! They’re everything you’d expect in such a show.

Other characters: They have relatively small roles in a short stage play, and they fulfill their function well. Overall rating: 8/10.

[mattkennard]

Jeremy Corbyn: My goal is to lead a government devoted to social justice

Published: La Jornada (6 November 2018)

Arriving at the Houses of Parliament in London, I worried that I would find Jeremy Corbyn downbeat and nervy. The leader of the Labour Party, the official opposition to the British government, has been the victim of fierce attacks over the past six months -- the crescendo to a campaign that has been rolling since he was elected leader of the Labour Party in 2015.

In a near-universally hostile British media, he is regularly portrayed as an anti-semite, a misogynist, a terrorist sympathiser, a communist agent -- the list is literally endless. Every day, there is a new line of attack on a politician who for just about his whole political life was a largely unknown, marginalised left-wing voice in British politics.

But, like so much when it comes to Jeremy Corbyn, the opposite is the case. He is upbeat and relaxed. I meet him at his offices where he is surrounded by young and enthusiastic staff buzzing round the office. As he greets me, he hands me a double espresso. Someone has got his order wrong. “Want it?” he asks smiling.

He is quick to crack a joke, is intensely interested in other people, and seems at peace. His aura is one of enviable calm. Considering the storm around him, it’s disorientating. You take a lot of hits, I say. People worry this must have an effect on you: are you happy? “Absolutely,” he cries with his characteristic wry smile, raising his eyebrows. “Absolutely!” he adds again for emphasis. “I’m extremely happy. I do my work in Parliament, I spend a lot of time touring around the country doing campaigning events, meeting people. And I travel when I can, I was in Jordan this summer visiting refugee camps.” He then adds: “I lead a very balanced life. I read quite widely. I have an allotment, which I'm very proud of, and I keep myself fit and healthy. We want people to be able to lead full lives, and I lead a very full life, and I'm very happy doing it.” As we chat casually -- he is disarmingly open -- I have to keep reminding myself that I am sitting opposite the biggest threat to the British establishment maybe ever. There have been important anti-imperialist socialist figures throughout Britain’s history, but none has ever got as close to power as Jeremy Corbyn is right now. His rise has been improbable, but, after constant destabilisation campaigns (often by his own party) he is obviously going nowhere.

In the General Election of 2017, when he was roundly predicted to crash and burn, he increased Labour’s seat count and the Tories lost their majority in the Houses of Parliament. Some say it was the most important moment for progressive politics in modern British political history. The left finally proved that its ideas could be popular with the general population. Socialism is back, and many predict that if Britain’s unstable Prime Minister Theresa May falls and a general election is called, Corbyn and Labour would win a landslide.  

Corbyn, unlike many in parochial British politics, is and has always been an internationalist. He links struggles for democracy and human rights across the world and has travelled extensively throughout his life. But Latin America, and especially Mexico, has a special place in his heart. I glance over to his desk where a miniature Mexican flies above his papers. Further back is a framed picture of his Mexican wife Laura Alvarez at her graduation.

Corbyn has been rereading A History of Mexico in preparation for the interview and he is clearly enthused by the fact Mexico has turned red with the election of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- the first time, he points out, Mexico has elected a real left-winger since Lazaro Cardenas in the 1930s. In fact, he is so excited by what AMLO represents that he announces he will be travelling to Mexico for the inauguration of AMLO in December.  “AMLO has shown amazing personal and political courage over many decades,” he tells me. “He was one of the most reforming of mayors of Mexico City in history. Indeed, it's quite humbling when you go to the supermarket at the time of the month when the older people get their food vouchers, and they call them AMLOs.”

Does Corbyn sees similarities between himself and AMLO? “I see similarities in the sense that we're both of about the same age, both been in politics all of our lives, and both have an absolute commitment to human rights and to righting injustice. I support him in the difficulties I know he's going to face in searching for all the disappeared, as well as dealing with the Ayozinapa 43, and the dreadful case that that is.”

Corbyn first went to Latin America in the late 1960s when he was 20-years-old. He was living in Jamaica working with Voluntary Service Overseas and when he finished he embarked on a solo trip around South America. He fell in love with the region and has since visited nearly every country in Latin America. “There is a huge ethnic diversity across Latin America that's often not understood by people outside. Understanding the history of Latin America is very limited in the rest of the world. The diversity of Bolivia, for example, with Quechua being actually the dominant language not Spanish. When that diversity is recognized you tend to get more inclusive governments. For example, in Chile the great Salvador Allende recognized the needs of the Mapuche people, which had often been ignored until then. I see the strength of Latin America as bringing people together.”

This is the side of Latin America that has inspired the left across the world in the past century. But there is another, darker, side to the region that, in places like Brazil, is coming back. Corbyn is aware of this too. “I also see elites in Latin American that have often been interlinked with the armed forces and global corporations ... hence the problems that the Allende suffered. I think an ongoing issue is the question of control of resources, and the economic development of the continent. I was looking recently at my diaries from 1969, and I've got an entry from May the 1st, 1969, in Santiago. That was the time when Popular Unity had been formed which eventually led to the election of President Allende a year later. Remember it was the first past the post system, so Allende got elected on, I think, 36% of the vote. He faced opposition from the very beginning, particularly from the mining companies, and the CIA, much of it led by Kissinger. It's all very well recorded.”

Corbyn pauses then adds: “There are powerful forces that move around in the world that want to oppose those who want to bring about economic and social justice. The only way to combat it is insertion of democratic values and humans rights, and that is exactly what I'm determined to do.”

Corbyn has been called by some Britain’s answer to Salvador Allende. Except the powerful reactionary forces he mentions will be much more concerned about Britain going red than Chile. No core capitalist country has ever had an anti-imperialist socialist in power. The political and economic system is sick and immoral. It remains to be seen whether such a system will ever allow a decent and principled human being to rise to its apex. Do you worry, I ask, about the forces that brought down Allende doing the same thing to you? “Well, I understand a lot of the media are very unkind towards me here,” he says. “Extremely unkind,” he adds with a wry grin. “I think what we showed in the general election and since then is our ability to communicate with people was critical. Things like social media, and local organizations, have created a confidence amongst a lot of people in Britain that we can bring about political change, we can be a government of social justice and we can have a foreign policy based on human rights and justice. I'm utterly determined to achieve it.”

The Labour Party in Britain is nominally left-wing yet at least since Tony Blair won leadership of the Party in 1994 -- and arguably long before -- it has allied with reactionary forces across the world, from George W Bush to Silvio Berlusconi to the dictatorship in Saudi Arabia.  That meant it showed no solidarity at all with the “pink tide” movement of the late 1990s and 2000s which saw progressive governments come to power in Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay and Brazil. In one of most exciting times for left politics in history, the Labour Party under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown was completely absent - only offering ritual denunciations of “authoritarianism” and “populism” in the liberated countries.

I wonder if that will now change under Corbyn, that the Latin American left can expect solidarity from the Labour Party now. “I'm very clear that we have to build an international movement, which deals with economic injustice and inequality, and challenges the neoliberal agenda. We need governments that think alike to work together on economic justice and we'll absolutely do that.” He is particularly interested in the progress that Bolivia has seen under the government of Evo Morales and the social movements that catapulted him to power. “I had a very interesting visit to Bolivia some years back when I led a parliamentary delegation there. We were looking at the control of water, and the mining industry, but also the enfranchisement of the diversity of Bolivia. The idea that a non-Spanish speaking woman should be the author of the constitution of Bolivia was amazing and historic in so many ways. I've got a lot of respect for what they've achieved in Bolivia.”

Before we finish up I ask him if he has a message for Mexicans as AMLO takes power, and he shoots back, in perfect Spanish: “Saludos y buena suerte para el futuro, y paz y justicia para todo el pueblo de Mexico.” He smiles and then says tapping his Mexican history book, and back in English now, “I’m really looking forward to being in Mexico.”

[kitanoko]

Todomomo Fairy AU Part 3 ~

READ PART 1 HERE

READ PART 2 HERE

just to clarify, in this AU, people know that fairies exist and so do witches, warlocks and what have you. It’s just extremely rare to meet a fairy and their realms don’t intertwine in any way (or more like the fairies and the humans don’t want trouble so they try to stay away from each other as much as possible; however, there are curious ones who want to know more about each other’s lives). I also mentioned fuyumi and tensei which is from blamedorange, and thanks to gingersducksandbubbles for the horse names HAHA

warning: its another longgggg one! Again, this is somewhat between a fanfic and a hc. This one is more lighthearted…..I think? 

-on the way back to the castle, Todo’s allies had already secured the main fronts of the battle. Endeavor’s strongest fighters were defeated by Mido and Iida (those two also followed Todo’s orders and restraint Endeavor in his weak state), though Kaminari was the real MVP, clearing off most of the area on his own with his electricity magic (Kaminari was a noble from the royal branch family of the Kingdom of Clouds, and he himself brought in his best strategist and right hand, Jirou Kyouka, amongst his most reliable warriors). 

-Todo enters the dungeons as fast as he could and notices that the guards had fled; when Todo’s mother, Miyuki (her name means beautiful snow), sees him, her eyes opened wide , then immediately crinkle as she gives him a soft smile. Todo sees her mother curling at the far corner of the prison, like a lost animal too afraid to show themselves, and for the thousandth time, he wonders if he will ever know exactly how much pain his mother had to go through because of his father. “When I heard the guards talking….I knew it was your doing, Shouto” she says, with a hand to her heart. She knew since long ago that her son would grow up to be a brave, noble young man and she wasn’t wrong. Todoroki takes a deep breath, the sunlight through the tiny slit on the moss-covered bricks reflect on his cyan eye and he quickly slashes the chain-and-lock with his sword. 

-”How about Fuyumi? Where is she?” his mother asks urgently when he guides her out and Todo tells her that he had sent his sister to the Cloud Kingdom to take refuge a day ago before the coup had set. His father did not suspect a thing as Fuyumi would occasionally do charity work or volunteer in other parts of the world as a representative of their Kingdom (Fuyumi actually helped the reputation of the Kingdom of Fire by doing so and so Endeavor encouraged it). His mother is relieved but the tug on her dry, chalky lips and rickety gait shows Todoroki just how feeble she is. She looks malnourished and if there is one thing he must do, it is to lead his mother back to the castle and give her the care that his father owes her.

-Days passed. Todo’s friends went back to their respective Kingdom and those who were from the same Kingdom was ready to serve Todo as the new King. In reality, Todo isn’t ready to be King and his mother had to step down as Queen because of her health (the citizens had honestly only seen her twice anyway so she isn’t prepared to be the face of the Kingdom).  Todo had always believed that the heir to the throne should be Fuyumi so after consulting his mother, he confronts his sister.

-”But father had always wanted you to –” “Sis, this is what both mom and I want. And our father is a prisoner now, I could care less about what he thinks. You will be the best ruler the Kingdom has ever had and you’ll have mom and I with you every step of the way.” Fuyumi accepts it with teary eyes and open arms in the end.

-Endeavor is locked up far away from the Kingdom in an old abandoned tower and Todoroki begrudgingly accompanies his mother to see him the day before Fuyumi’s coronation. His mother wanted a private talk with Endeavor and so Todoroki waits outside. Right before he steps out though, Todo makes sure to spit out a warning, “If you dare lay a finger on my mother, I’d –” “That’s enough Shouto,” his mother looks at him pointedly, “don’t worry, I’m going to be fine.” 

-Todo stands by his sister’s side the day of her coronation. There are those who protest having a woman as the sole ruler of the Kingdom of Fire (Fuyumi’s the first female head of the Kingdom), but overall everything is under control by the knights and the guards. His mother is the happiest of all but she can tell that something’s on Todoroki’s mind. 

-The after-party is a blur; he makes small talk with friends and thanks them yet again for their services. Todo also dances with a few noblewoman and ladies-in-waiting as per his mother’s request but hesitantly so. Fuyumi is teased by their mother on the issue of ‘finding a lifelong partner’ and blushes when Iida’s brother, Tensei, stands guard at the side of the ballroom, exchanging glimpses of each other as if no one knew their secret.

-The party ends at midnight. People’s chitchat dwindles away like the aroma of the pine-scented incense in the middle of the room. Todo’s mother finally asks him what’s wrong and that’s when he tells her he knew about how she isn’t human but a fairy, related to the Fairy Queen nonetheless. His mother sighs, knew that this day would come, and recalls the time when she had to hide her wings and identity when Endeavor first held power. She tells Todo how she had only shown her face in public twice, three times including tonight, and even though their marriage was perfectly schemed so that the truth would be concealed, still some knew her secret. Her wings slowly disappeared as she no longer possessed the same amount of fairy magic from living in the human world for decades. Endeavor had sent those who knew her secret to their deaths through immediate execution. He knew that the citizens would go crazy if they found out that the Queen wasn’t human. Endeavor had given excuses that Todo’s mother had a persistent illness, almost as if she was terminally ill, to fend off those who meddle too much into political affairs. 

-”when did my son become so interested in fairies?” “the truth is…I befriended one and she helped me a lot with the battle against father, she believed I could do it and I did. I really wouldn’t have been able to do it without her.” “And where is she, Shouto? I’d like to meet her myself.” 

-Todo doesn’t answer, eyes distant as if searching for an answer among the stars. The way he stayed silent made his mother queasy. 

-By now its been months. Momo’s sitting at her favourite spot in the fairy gardens wondering why he still hasn’t come. She visits the palace to see the Queen and asks if she should open the portal for her to enter the human world since she hasn’t fully recovered yet and thus has limited power to open the gates herself. The Queen orders her to stay and recover first and Momo obeys, frowning.

- With the string of events, one after the other, things had gotten so hectic for Todoroki that he found no time to get back to the fairy realm. He feels a little apprehensive; what if Yaoyorozu still hasn’t recovered? Guilt eats him from the inside but his mom tells him to do what he must and everything will be fine. 

-Todo’s mom figures that there should be enough fairy magic left in him to open the portal one more time and so after Fuyumi had finally settled in her throne and was used to her duties, Todo decides that the chance to see Momo again is now. Todo suggests to bring his mother to the fairy world but she refuses incessantly, claiming that she had no right to enter anymore. Todo attempts to convince his mother, telling her that her sister, the Fairy Queen, misses her more than anything but to no avail.

-Todo wanted to open the portal in his own room before his mother chuckled lightedheartedly at the idea. “The gates to the fairy realm isn’t like a door. Your room will look like a hurricane had hit it if you really opened it there.” Todo thinks; his mother’s right, the portal is like a void, sucking in gusts of air whenever it shows itself. He promptly changes his mind.

-Todo takes off on his onyx horse, Frostbite, and stops at the once-flourishing field where they used to take afternoon naps and chants the magic words that he couldn’t seem to forget. In the back of his mind, he thinks of Momo’s beaming expression and her voice which still jolts him. His scar ignites again. The portal appears like ripples on an autumn lake, opens, and he advances, consumed by the light on the other side with his royal blue robe thrashing on his back and heart thumping hard against his rib cage. 

-The circumstances from last time masked the true beauty of the fairy realm and as if it was his first time, Todo runs a finger softly along the sides of a well covered in wispy vines of a morning glory and eyes the nature before him. Everything was pristine. Plants were ubiquitously sprouting, and he strides further.  Todoroki is definitely not at the palace like before; he isn’t sure where he really is. He feels the waxy peach-coloured petals of a hydrangea plant and flinches. “Who’s there?” an urgent voice calls somewhere from his right and Todoroki swallows. 

-With a dainty hand, Momo holds the hem of her aquamarine dress and with the other, she drags the stiff branches away from a hedge, and steps out. 

-They meet, gazes situated on each other as if they were admiring a statue from the ancient times.

-Her jaws slack slightly , the shadows cast on her face hides her expression and Todoroki extends a hand towards her, upturned, as if to ask her to hold onto him.

-Momo flies over, lips quivering but doesn’t close the distance; she stops a feet away from him and reaches for his hand and pauses right before her fingertips touched his. It may be the time that had settled between us, she questions herself and drops her arm. With inquisitive eyes, she studies him once more and Todoroki purses his lips, glad that she hasn’t changed one bit; her bold, ebony hair flying over her graceful wings, a familiar blithe emanating around her. 

-But it bothers him that she won’t hold his hand. 

-”Are you mad at me, Yaoyorozu?” He asks and her nose tinge slightly red and her cheeks colour a bit as well. “No, of course not-” 

-He moves closer, too intimately in her opinion, and clutches her hand that was clenching tight onto the shimmering chiffon skirt of the dress, stopping her short of her sentence. The fabric spills down when she was forced to let go, and her emotions falls with it, like tearing apart the invisible cage that prisoned her heart. Without a moment’s hesitation, she buries herself onto the nape of his neck, tightening her fingers on his shoulders. 

-”Sorry for the wait,” he says and puts a hand on her back to ease her hiccups, feeling her tears damp on his neck. She shakes her head and the pleasant lavender-like scent of her hair disperse and covers his senses. 

- Still mind-boggled with his sudden arrival, Momo picks up his hand and leads him deeper through the thicket under the glimmer of the sun. They arrive at a secluded lake covered by whispering willow trees. Momo tells him that a human must not be found here by the other fairies except for her friends and so they must only stay within the forest which apparently, Todoroki finds out, was also one of the lands owned by her clan. They sit down and he marvels at the  scenery; the water is greenish blue and he can see the bottom of the lake so clearly it was as though a piece of glass had laid on top of the rocks and sand. 

- Momo plays with her fingers a little and gestures for Todoroki to sit beside her. Todoroki watches as she pulls up her dress a little to keep it out of the water’s reach and he leans his back to the tree trunk behind him, and rolls the hem of his pants and pulls off his boots.The water feels cold, but not freezing. 

-”Yaoyorozu-” “Call me Momo, its how they call me here.” “Well then…Momo,” he focuses on the twinkle in her eyes as he calls her given name, “promise me you’ll never take a hit for me again.” “And you promise me to never sacrifice your life for me, ever.” She retorts. “I can’t promise you that Momo.” “If you had died, then who would save your mother?” Momo asks, swinging her legs in the water, and her question hits a nerve. Todoroki doesn’t say anything until the girl beside him lets out a cheerful whimper. 

-“I forgot to say congratulations, Prince….or shall I say King?” “My sister is going to be the ruler, as per both my mother and my wish, so I’m still just a Prince” “But there may be a day when you need to prop yourself onto the throne” “Maybe.”

-Momo enjoys the silence after and she sees Todoroki dripping his arm into the water to play with the fish. A frog swims over. It looks awfully big and is uncharacteristically neon. It croaks and hops onto a rock beside Momo and suddenly begins talking. Todo jumps a little at the talking animal and Momo almost flips over from laughter. “This is Tsuyu-chan, don’t worry, she’s a close friend of mine, she won’t tell anyone that you’re here.” The frog croaks again and miraculously, sparkles scatter out of thin air, surrounding it. In a split second, the amphibian turns into a girl with giant oval eyes, wearing a white pokka-dotted sundress and sleek hair tied into a bow, sitting prettily on the back of her head.

-Tsuyu asks, jabbing a thin webbed finger at Todoroki, whether he’s the one Momo keeps talking to her about and Momo immediately jumps to cover her mouth. “Tsuyu-chan!! Gees!!” 

-Todoroki seems indifferent at Momo’s flustered state and simply says “that’s ok, I talk about you a lot to my mom too.” 

-Momo dies a little inside hearing that but tries so hard to keep her cool. Todoroki thinks it’s adorable.

-Next thing he knew, Momo pulls him up (not entirely, it really was more like Momo desperately yanking him with one arm). She waves bye to Tsuyu (him scrambling to place his feet back into his boots and since Momo is bare feet all the time so she doesn’t care) and mutters something about ‘Frostbite’ but Todoroki doesn’t quite catch it. She’s in front of him, dragging him along, and halts.

- Before them stood a pure white pegasus. 

-”Shhh….” Momo puts a finger pressed against her lips as if one false move would scare the creature away. Todoroki’s amused. “What a beautiful winged creature,” Momo starts, “It just appeared one day last week and it seems to enjoy it here. Doesn’t it look just like Frostbite?” Todoroki crosses his arms, “And to think, you were scared of my horse, now you want one for yourself?” Momo looks sheepishly to the side, “No! To be exact, I’m not scared of befriending them, I was just scared of riding Frostbite….your horse seems…extremely energetic.”

-Momo takes a careful step forward and the pegasus swivels his neck to face her. She relaxes and the elegant creature treads over to sniff her fingers which she happily offered. The pegasus neighs once, and then twice, and slumps down its wings.

-”I think it likes you, Momo.” Todoroki says with a crooked smile, and the girl begins to comb and ruffle the pegasus’ immaculate snowy mane with one hand while patting his nose with another. 

-”What are you going to name it?” Todoroki asks, fixing a loose collar. He spews out a few names out of the blue and Momo chuckles with a glint in her eyes. “I think maybe something that could rival Frostbite. Perhaps Abyss? No…NO ACTUALLY, IT’S GOING TO BE CLIPCLOP.”

-Todoroki doesn’t know whether to nod in approval or tilt his head in question. The girl literally went from ‘Abyss’ to ‘Clipclop’ within a split second. “Uh…sounds good?” He ends up saying and she’s so delighted that all she could do was hug Clipclop in front of her. 

-The sun sets in what feels like minutes after, and Momo proposes for Todoroki to stay at her house for the next few nights. She guides him to the trail they had just taken after waving goodbye to Clipclop who flies away with strong beats of his wings. Momo urges Todoroki to start running as she levitates when the horizon begins to change colour. The sky goes from blood red to a violet purple and he ponders how nice it’d be if he could physically capture the moment before him, totally oblivious to Momo’s nervous panting. His thoughts are severed when he feels a tickle on his calves and when he shifts his gaze downwards, he sees moving branches.

-”I shouldn’t have lead you in so far off within this forest,” Momo grunts, regret written all over her face, “Its not safe, even for someone who has dealt with this countless times. When the sun sets, the plants begin to have a life of its own, and sometimes lose control. I should’ve…not been so distracted by Clipclop.”

-Todoroki gulps as they advance, his feet trips on a tight and unrelenting vine and it crawls up his leg. With a cry of frustration, Todoroki releases his dagger from the inside of his robe and swings at it, chopping it in half by the second attempt. Momo analyzes the situation in a heartbeat and decides that the best way for them to both make it out was for her to take flight while having him hold onto her. The boy is reluctant but wraps his arm around her neck and she grabs tight under his arms. Her wings flutter rapidly but they couldn’t even get an inch off the ground. Todoroki releases his grip.

-”You may be too heavy.” Momo scrunches her brows. “this isn’t going to work. We should–”

-An unsuspecting vine heads straight for Momo’s arm and she pushes herself higher into the air to dodge but the vine extends even faster. What they didn’t foresee, however, was Momo’s good friend to jump into the fray.

-”Momo, are you alright?” Tokoyami seeth, donning a black cape that could easily mask him into the shadows. He is t,currently the guardian of the night. He whips his bird-esque shadow at the moving vines, bisecting them with ease. He doesn’t seem to care for Todoroki but gives him a polite nod anyway. 

-Tokoyami helps lead them out and when Momo sees the outskirts of the forest again, she thanks him profusely. Todoroki gives the guardian of the night a firm handshake and introduces himself. 

-”I already know who you are.” Tokoyami closes his eyes and rubs his beak gently. “Momo talks about you a lot.” 

-The girl is for once grateful for the darkness that is hiding her embarrassed, nervous grin. 0-2 for Momo. She sighs.

-Right before Tokoyami leaves, he turns to offer the girl a face of concern. “Momo, about–” The girl doesn’t let him finish. “Tokoyami, I know that having a human here is strictly outlawed, just–” The bird-man shakes his feathery head, and Todoroki catches a glimpse of Tokoyami’s obvious look of disapproval. “Tsuyu told me that you headed over to find the pegasus earlier. You know how the rule is.” Todoroki has never seen Momo so uncomfortable until now; she pivoted her heels a few times playfully and interlocks her hands behind her as if she had something to hide. 

-”I know, I have to ask Bakugou first before I make friends with Clipclop.” Momo says. Tokoyami seems like he just cocked an eyebrow, but Todoroki wasn’t sure. “Clipclop?” The bird-man asks but quickly decides to change his mind about it. “You’ve already named it I see. Well, you know Bakugou is the paladin of the beasts for a reason.” Momo does a disheartened sigh and watches Tokoyami leave, arms still clasped behind her. 

-”Momo, shall we find this…this Bakugou then?” Todoroki asks, sensing the mood drop as Momo swivels around. He knows how much Momo loves that pegasus. The girl groans. “No, its fine. I’ll…find him tomorrow.” 

-Todoroki strides beside her floating form and could practically see her thoughts whirling in her head. “Do you not like this paladin?” He asks out of curiosity and she shakes her head. “How is he like? Does he have a head like an animal, like Tokoyami? I assume so since he’s the ‘paladin of the beasts’” Todoroki emphasizes his last words, “Does this Bakugou person have a head like a lion? Maybe?”

-Momo scoffs in laughter and grins ear-to-ear, “For a prince, you’re quite silly!” Todoroki’s just happy that she finds his joke so amusing, but muses at the possibility of it coming true. Momo continues, “Tomorrow, you’ll meet him. And you might just not like him.” 

[pinkcaseotakadl]

Diabolik lovers Lost Eden: Ayato Sakamaki [Maniac epilogue]  ~Translation|traducción~

*Esta en español abajo de todo. Anterior: maniac 10.

???: It’s been a while, Kino.

Kino: Yuuri, how are you? How’s everything going?

Yuuri: Everything goes fine.

Kino: Fufu, I see. However, the Sakamaki and Mukamis families are much simpler than I thought.

Kino: Just as I planed it, make the families quarrel and so separate them.

Kino: At the end, all of them will try to fight with Ayato for the force.

Kino: Once they depose Ayato, I wonder who will come to the throne. 

Yuuri: ... ... ...

Kino: Well, I couldn’t care less. My interest goes much more beyond this...

Kino: Anyway, I just want money for now; I have to make it look as if the hegemony of the Makai didn’t care at all.

Kino: ... Then I’ll just watch how they destroy each other.

Kino: But the last one standing will be me... Fufu...

Yuuri: I’ll help to make things turn out just as you wish.

Kino: Yeah, I’ll leave that to you.

-Yui’s monologue-

And that day,

Kou-kun and the others called me.

The familiars gave us the location,

it seems that I’ll go right where Reiji-san is.

While Azusa-kun stays in the Eden to buy us some time,

I, Yuma-kun and Kou-kun, the three of us will go to the Human World.

To do something in secret makes my chest hurt,

but this is to save Ayato-kun and to get him another opportunity.

I had no time to lose.

-End of Monologue-

Yuma: See ya, Azusa. Keep an eye on Ayato!

Azusa: It’s okay... I hope everything goes fine... be careful...

Yui: We’ll be leaving, Azusa-kun!

Kou: M-neko-chan, come quick, quick~!

*They open the door to the Human World*

Yui: (I hope everything goes well...!)

*Screen fades*

Place: Limousine

Reiji: I requested to leave the mansion for a moment, but it seems that it has taken me more time than I had thought... 

Reiji: I hope Kino won’t see it as something suspicious... ...

*The car suddenly brakes*

Reiji: ... ...! What did just happen...

*Reiji gets off the limousine*

Reiji: Oh... You...

Yui: It’s been a while, Reiji-san... ...

Reiji: And... what’s the meaning of this?

Yuma: Well, let’s leave formalities aside, ok? More importantly, we have no time.

Kou: That’s right, that’s right~! Anyway, this girl has something very important to tell you, Reiji-kun.

Reiji: ... I see. Then you just guided her here? Come to think of it, so the familiars that were in the car were yours... ...

Reiji: I didn’t doubt Ruki, however it seems that was all a scheme of his younger brothers... [T/N: I couldn’t understand very well what he said]

Reiji: Anyway, get in.

Yui: Thank you very much!

Kou: Well, see you later M-neko-chan! When you have finished go to the agreed place.

Yuma: Do it well, okay?

Yui: Yes, thank you!

*She gets in*

Kou: Uff~ we did it well! So, what will we do with this plenty of time to spare?

Yuma: We have no choice but to kill time, right?

Kou: Ah, I know! It’s been a long time we are not in the Human World, so how about we buy a present for Azusa-kun?!

Yuma: Oi, if we do that, then Ayato will find out we came here, what will we do if that happens! Kou: Ahh~, it’s true~. Too bad...

Yuma: Geez, how a pain. Oi, let’s go! 

Kou:  Yes~

*They walk away*

Place: Limousine

Reiji: So? What did you want to talk to me about?

Yui: Well... I wanted to ask you what are you planning to do... ...

Yui: At this rate the Sakamaki family will separate completely. Is that really okay for you...?

Reiji: Whether it is good or bad... it’s something inevitable.

Reiji: Just as you know, Ayato has done too many things wrong.

Reiji: Not coming here in person proves that he’s not worthy to be king.

Reiji: That someone like him has that kind of power is just too dangerous.

Yui: ... ...Ayato-kun is conscious of it!

Yui: He... knows that he has done many terrible things to everyone.

Yui: He knows that he’s immature to be king.

Yui: But... he’s not honest with himself...

Yui: (He bears everything alone...)

Yui: (I can’t just remain quiet and keep watching him like that...)

Reiji: Then what do you want us to do? Are you saying that you want us to wait Ayato once again?

Yui: I’m not saying that. I just... I want you not to leave him alone...

Yui: Right now Ayato-kun is suffering in loneliness.

Yui: (If everybody goes back to the way it was before, then surely...)

Reiji: Fufu... you say funny things, you are so strange...

Reiji: Ayato feeling alone? That’s impossible. Because after all he has you...

Yui: But...

Yui: But it’s not enough. Not just me, his brothers also have to go back with him...

Yui: I... can’t do anything besides being by his side...

Reiji: ... Nevertheless, I think that’s enough.

Reiji: It seems like in all this time you haven’t learnt your own position...! *Reiji gets close*

Yui: (Reiji-san...?! What the hell is he doing...) 

Yui: *She resists* L-Let me go!

Reiji: No, I won’t let you go. Due you came to me on your own.

Reiji: ... That means you’re ready to correspond to me, right?

Yui: Something like that...! I didn’t have that intention...!

Reiji: I see. That’s unexpected... but even so, it’s too late...! *He bites her*

Yui: ... ...! No! *Pushes him away*

Reiji: ... ...

Yui: (I thought he was going to suck my blood...)

Yui: (I... never thought Reiji-san would do something like this...)

Reiji: Fufu... You had said that Ayato felt alone, right?

Reiji: But... we feel even much more alone.

Reiji: Because none of us was chosen by our Father...

Yui: ... ...

Reiji: Ayato was the only of us who received that privilege.

Reiji: Furthermore, the chosen Eve is always by his side. And after all that, you come here to say that’s not enough?

Reiji: How greedy...

Reiji: Even though we are blood related, I don’t think that we can fill Ayato’s loneliness.

Reiji: Well... Driver, could you please stop the car? It seems like the guest wants to get off.

*The car stops*

Reiji: ... Now you have understood, have you? How much of a fool you have been... (Una frase re vieja y formal <3)

Yui: ... ... ... ...

*Yui gets off*

Reiji: I hope Ayato to have a taste of it.

Reiji: What the true loneliness means...

Reiji: And thus, it would be better for him to realise of his own greed.  

*Reiji gets in the car*

Yui: (Reiji-san... so that’s the way you think...)

Place: Eden.

Ayato: Geez, where did she go?

Ayato: It’s been a while and I still can’t find her! What the hell happened to her!

Azusa: Ayato-san... calm down... Eve is... Ehh...

Ayato: Ahh? Oi, Azusa... You know something, don’t you?

*He grabs Azusa*

Ayato: Kou and Yuma aren’t here either... Did they do something to Chichinashi...?

Azusa: This is a misunderstanding... Eve is... Mmm, this...

Ayato: AAH! This makes me angry! Speak at once!

*Yui enters*

Yui:... ... ... ...

Azusa: E-Eva..?

Ayato: You finally show yourself. Where had you gone?

Yui: I went... for a walk.

Ayato: A walk...? At this moment?

Yui: I... will go to take a bath...

*Yui walks off*

Ayato: What’s wrong with her...?

Azusa: Eve...?

*Scene changes*

Place: Bathroom

Yui: ... ... ... ...

*Flashback*

Reiji: Ayato was the only of us who received that privilege.

Reiji: Furthermore, the chosen Eve is always by his side. And after all that, you come here to say that’s not enough?

Reiji: How greedy...

*End of Flashback*

Yui: (Maybe Reiji-san is jealous of Ayato-kun...?)

Yui: (But he’s right, Ayato-kun was chosen by KarlHeinz...)

Yui: (... If that’s the case, then Ruki-kun is jealous too...?

Yui: ... I better leave it as it is. It doesn’t matter what I think, it’s something inevitable

Yui: (Besides, the problem now is... this mark...)

Yui: (He couldn’t suck my blood, but when he bit me he left the mark of his fangs...)

Yui: (This could lead to a misunderstanding...)

Yui: (Anyway, I definitely can’t let Ayato-kun see it...) [Puse: Definitivamente no puedo dejar que Ayato lo vea...]

*Scene changes*

Kou: I~ am telling you~ I don’t know!

Ayato: Shut up! That’s not true!

Ayato: Chichinashi was acting strange the moment you were not here

Ayato: Where and what were you doing! Don’t hide it and answer me!

Yuma: We are tellin’ you that we didn’t go anywhere, how many times do we have to say it for you to understand!

Ayato: Tch, I see we’re not getting each other. If that’s the case, I’ll ask her

Ayato: It’s punishment for hiding something from me. I’ll have to do terrible things to her, heheh...

Azusa: Will you... be violent with Eve...?

Ayato: Ahh? You have any problem? She belongs to me; it’s my business whatever I do with her!

Azusa: You shouldn’t do that... because Eve even for your sake...!

Kou: Wa... Azusa-kun!

Ayato: ... For my sake what? As I thought you’re hiding something.

Ayato: Tell me everything right now!

Kou: ... Haa, we have no choice. The truth is...

*Screen fades to black for a moment*

Kou: ...And that’s what happened! Do you understand?

Ayato: ... What does that mean...

Ayato: You’re saying she went to see Reiji behind my back...

Yuma: We’re tellin’ you it was for your own sake...

Ayato: Shut up! For my own sake! Don’t fuck with me!

Kou: Ha... This became troublesome...

Yuma: Really...

*Screen fades*

Place: Hall

*The Eden cries*

Yui:... Nn?

Yui: (What’s this sound...?)

Yui: (It comes from outside...?)

*Yui enters where  all the boys are gathered*

Kou: Oh... M-neko-chan...

Yui: Hey, don’t you hear something strange? It seems like it comes from outside...

Ayato: Oi, Chichiashi. You went to see Reiji, didn’t you?

Yui: Eh...

Azusa: I am sorry, Eve...

Ayato: Why did you hide it from me? Answer!

Yui: Why you ask, well...

Yui: (I thought that if I told him, he would believe I’m plotting against him...)

Ayato: ... Why you fall silent? You said you were my ally!

*CG*

Yui: Kya!

Ayato: ...! That mark in your neck...

Yui: This is...

Yui: (He saw it... What do I do...!)

/If you touch Yui’s head, Ayato will say: “In the end you were just a liar”. /

/If you touch Ayato’s hand, he will say: “I was an idiot for trusting you”. /

Ayato: ...I see. I understood. In the end you too were the ally of those guys.

Yui: No, it’s... a misunderstanding. I just...!

Ayato: I don’t care anymore. I don’t trust anyone else...

Ayato: Someone like you... go to the Human World or any other place!

*End of CG*

*Ayato leaves*

Yui: Ayato-kun!

Yui: (I can’t believe it ended like this...)

Azusa: It’s our fault...

Yuma: ... I’m sorry

Kou: M-neko-chan, I’m really sorry...

Yui: ... No, don’t be. It wasn’t your fault...

Yui: (The three of them helped us a lot...)

Yui: (The one whose fault it is, is me...)

*The Eden cries again*

Azusa: The Eden is crying...

Kou: It’s the first time that the sound can be heard from here...

Yuma: This... is not good at all...

*The Eden cries again*

-The End-

ESPAÑOL~

???: Ha pasado un tiempo, Kino. Kino: Yuuri. Qué tal? Como va todo por allí?   Yuuri: Todo va sin problemas. Kino: Fufu, ya veo. Sin embargo, los Sakamakis y los Mukamis son mucho más simples de lo que yo creía. Kino: Justo como planee; hacer que las familias se peleen, y brillantemente separarlos. KIno: Al final, todos ellos intentarán pelear con Ayato por la fuerza. Kino: Una vez que bajen a Ayato, me pregunto quien subirá al trono. Yuuri: ... ... ... ... Kino: Pero eso me da completamente igual. Mi interés esta mucho más después de esto... Kino: De todas formas, por ahora lo que quiero sólo es dinero, tengo que hacer que parezca que la heregemonía del Makai me da completamente igual. Kino: ...Y entonces, simplemente me quedaré observando como ellos se destruyen entre si. Kino: Pero, el último que quedará de pie seré yo... fufu... Yuuri: Yo ayudaré para que las cosas sucedan justo como las deseas. Kino: Si, te lo encargo.

-Monólogo de Yui-

Y ese día, Kou-kun y los demás me llamaron.

Los familiares nos dieron la dirección, al parece iré directamente a donde Reiji-san se encuentra.

Mientras Azusa-kun se queda en el Edén haciendo que las horas pasen, yo, Yuma-kun y Kou-kun, nosotros tres nos dirigiremos hacia el Mundo Humano.

Hacer algo a las escondidas hace que mi pecho duela, pero esto es para salvar a Ayato-kun, y para que él tenga una nueva oportunidad.

No tenía tiempo para perder.

-Fin del monólogo-

Yuma: Nos vemos, Azusa. Te encargo a Ayato! Azusa: Esta bien... espero que les vaya bien... tengan cuidado... Yui: Nos iremos yendo, Azusa-kun! Kou: Mneko-chan, ven rápido, rápido~!

*Abren la puerta del Mundo Humano*

Yui: (Espero que todo vaya bien...!)

*desvanece*

Lugar: Limusina.

Reiji: Solicité alejarme unos momentos lejos de la mansión, pero parece que me ha llevado más tiempo de lo previsto. Reiji: Espero que Kino no lo vea sospechoso... ...

*El choche frenta de golpe*

Reiji: ... ...! Qué es lo que sucedió...

*Reiji baja de la limusina*

Reiji: Oh... Tú... (hEYAAAAA MOMMY) Yui: Ha pasado un tiempo, Reiji-san... ... Reiji: Y... qué es lo que esto significa? Yuma: Bueno, dejemos las formalidades, ok? Más importante, no tenemos tiempo Kou: Eso, eso~! De todas formas, esta chica tiene que contarte algo muy importante, Reiji-kun Reiji: ...Ya veo. Entonces sólo ustedes la guiaron hasta aquí? Ahora que lo pienso, así que los familiares que estaban en el coche eran de ustedes... ... Reiji: No había dudado de Ruki, pero sin embargo al parecer había sido obra de sus hermanos pequeños (Cof, no entendí bien) Reiji: De todas forma, sube a bordo. Yui: Muchas gracias! Kou: Bien, hasta entonces Mneko-chan! Cuando termines ve al lugar acordado Yuma: Hazlo bien, okay? Yui: Si, gracias!

*Se sube*

Kou: Uff~, lo hicimos bien! Y, qué hacemos en todo este tiempo que nos sobra? Yuma: No queda otra que matar el tiempo, no es así? Kou: Ah, ya sé! Hace mucho que no estamos en el mundo humano, así que, qué tal si le compramos un presente a Azusa-kun!? Yuma: Oí, si hacemos eso entonces Ayato se va a dar cuenta de que vinimos acá, qué haremos si eso pasa! Kou: Ahh~, es verdad~. Que pena... Yuma: Caray, que despreocupado. Oí, vamos! Kou: Si~♪

*caminan*

Lugar: Limusina.

Reiji: Y entonces? Qué es lo que quieres hablar conmigo? (Ya deberías sab- Yui: Bueno... ...quiero preguntarte que es lo que ustedes planean hacer... ... Yui: A este paso la familia Sakamaki se separará completamente. De verda eso esta bien para ti...? Reiji: Sea bueno o malo... es algo inevitable. Reiji: Justo como tú lo sabes, Ayato hizo demasiadas cosas mal. Reiji: No viniendo en persona prueba que él no es digno de ser un rey. Reiji: Que alguien como él tenga ese poder es simplemente muy peligroso. Yui: ... ...Ayato-kun es consciente de ello! Yui: Él... sabe que le hizo muchas cosas malas a todos. Ayato: Él sabe que es inmaduro para ser un rey. Yui: Pero... no se sincera... Yui: (Lo soporta todo él solo...) Yui: (No puedo quedarme callada y seguir viendolo...) Reiji: Entonces qué es lo que tú quieres que nosotros hagamos? Estas diciendo que quieres que esperemos a Ayato una vez más? Yui: No estoy diciendo eso. Simplemente... quiero que no lo dejen solo.... Yui: Ayato-kun ahora mismo esta sufriendo solo en soledad... Yui: (Si todos vuelven como antes entonces seguramente...) Reiji: Fufu... dices cosas graciosas, que extraña eres... Reiji: Que Ayato se siente solo? Eso es imposible. Porque después de todo él te tiene a ti Yui: Pero... Yui: Pero no es suficiente. No sólo yo, sus hermanos también tienen que volver con él... Yui: Yo... no puedo hacer más que estar a su lado... Reiji: ...Yo creo que eso es suficiente sin embargo. Reiji: Parece que en todo este tiempo, aún no has aprendido tu propia posición. ...! *Reiji se acerca* Yui: (Reiji-san...!? Qué demonios está haciendo...) Yui: *Yui resiste* S-sueltame! Reiji: No, no te voy a soltar. Ya que tú misma te acercaste a mí Reiji: ...Eso significa que ya estas preparada para corresponderme, cierto? Yui: Algo así...! Yo no tenía esa intención...! Reiji: Ya veo. Eso es inesperado... pero aún así ya es tarde...! *la muerde* Yui: ... ...! No! *Lo empuja* Reiji: ... ... Yui: Pensé que iba a chupar mi sangre...) Yui: (Jamás... creí que Reiji-san haría algo como esto...) Reiji: Fufu... habías dicho que Ayato se sentía solo, verdad Reiji: Pero... nosotros nos sentimos aún mucho más solos Reiji: Porque todos nosotros no fuimos elegidos por padre... Yui: ... ... Reiji: Ayato fue el único de nosotros en recibir ese privilegio Reiji: Agregandole que la elegida Eva siempre esta a su lado. Y por sobre todo eso todo eso vienes a decir que no es suficiente? Reiji: Pero que codicia... Reiji: Aunque estemos unidos por la sangre, no creo que nosotros llenaremos la soledad de Ayato Reiji: Bien... puede detener el coche por favor? Parece que la invitada quiere bajarse

*El coche se detiene*

Reiji: ...Ahora lo has entendido, cierto? Cuan tonta has sido... Yui: ... ... ... ...

*Yui se baja*

Reiji: Espero que Ayato la pruebe Reiji: lo que significa la verdadera soledad... Reiji: Y así, sería mejor que se de cuenta de su propia codicia

*Reiji se sube*

Yui: (Reiji-san... así que esa era la forma en que pensabas...)

Lugar: Edén.

Ayato: Caray, a donde se fue? Ayato: HAce desde un rato que no la encuentro! Qué demonios le sucedió! Azusa: AYato-san... cálmate... Eva esta... emm... Ayato: Ahh? Oi Azusa... Tú sabes algo no es así?

*Lo agarra*

Ayato: Kou y Yuma tampoco están aquí... acaso esos dos le hicieron algo a Chichinashi...? Azusa: Es un malentendido... Eva esta... Emm, esto... Ayato: AAH! Esto me enoja! Confiesa de una vez!

*Yui entra*

Yui: ... ... ... ... Azusa: E-eva...? Ayato: Al fin apareciste. A donde te habías ido? Yui: Fui a... dar un paseo... Ayato: Un paseo...? En este momento? Yui: Yo... iré a bañarme...

*Yui se va*

Ayato: Qué pasa con ella...? Azusa: Eva...?

*Cambio de escena*

Lugar: Baño.

Yui: ... ... ... ...

*Flahsback*

Reiji: Ayato fue el único de nosotros en recibir ese privilegio Reiji: Agregandole que la Eva elegida siempre esta a su lado. Y después de todo eso vienes a decir que no es suficiente? Reiji: Pero que codicioso...

*Fin del flashback*

Yui: (Tal vezReiji-san tal vez tiene celos/envidia de Ayato-kun...?) Yui: (Pero esta en lo cierto, Ayato-kun fue elegido por KarlHeinz...) Yui: (...Si es el caso, entonces Ruki-kun también lo esta...?) Yui: ...Mejor lo dejaré así. No importa que piense, es algo invitable... Yui: (A parte de eso, el problema ahora es... esta marca...) Yui: (No llegó a chupar mi sangre, pero al morderme dejó la marca de sus colmillos...) Yui: (Esto podría convertirse en un malentendido...) Yui: (De todas formas, tengo que definitivamente hacer que Ayato-kun no lo vea...)

*cambio de escena*

Kou: Te~ estoy~ diciendo que no lo sé! Ayato: Cállate! Eso no es verdad! Ayato: Chichinashi estaba actuando extraño en el momento que ustedes no estaban Ayato: Donde y qué estaban haciendo! No lo escondas y respondeme! Yuma: Te estamos diciendo que no fuimos a ningún lugar, cuantas veces hay que decirtelo para que lo entiendas! Ayato: CH, no nos estamos entendido. Si ese es el caso lo comprobaré con ella! Ayato: Es el castigo por esconderme algo a mí. Tendré que hacerle muchas cosas terribles, heheh... Azusa: Serás... violento con Eva...? Ayato: Ahh? Tienes algún problema? Ella me pertenece, es cosa mia que haga con ella! Azusa: No debes hacer eso... porque incluso Eva por tu bien...! Kou: Wa... Azusa-kun! Ayato: ...Qué cosa es por mi bien? Como lo pensé ustedes están escondiendo algo Ayato: Hablen de todo ahora mismo! Yui: ...Haa, ya no queda de otra. La verdad es que...

*desvanece y vuelve a aparecer*

Kou: ...Y eso es lo que pasó! Lo entendiste? Ayato: ...Qué significa eso... Ayato: Estás diciendo que fue a ver a Reiji a mis espaldas... Yuma: Te estamos diciendo que fue por tu bien... Ayato: Cállate! Qué es por mi bien! No me jodas! Kou: Haa... esto se volvió problematico... Yuma: Realmente... (Me estoy conteniendo de poner ''posta'' o ''mal''. YUMA PARECE ARGENTINO JAJAJA)

*desvanece*

Lugar: Hall.

*El EDÉN llora*

Yui: ...Nn? Yui: (Qué es este sonido...?) Yui: (Viene de afuera...?)

*Yui entra a donde están los chicos*

Kpu: Oh... Mneko-chan... Yui: Oigan, no escuchan algo raro? Parece que viene desde afuera... Ayato: Oí, Chichinashi.  Tú fuiste a ver a Reiji, no es así Yui: Eh... Azusa: Perdón Eva... Ayato: Por qué lo ocultaste? Responde! Yui: Por qué preguntas, bueno... Yui: (Pensé que si se lo decía él creería que estoy yendo en su contra...) Ayato: ...Por qué te quedas callada? Dijiste que eras mi aliada!

*CG*

Yui: Kya! Ayato: ...! Esa marca en tu cuello... Yui: Esto es... Yui: (La vio... qué hago...!)

*Si apretas las dos rosas Ayato dice: Touch en la cabeza de Yui:''Al final de todo sólo eras una habladora'' Touch en la mano de Ayato: ''Yo fui el idiota por haberte creido, eh...''

Ayato: ...Ya veo. Lo entendí. Al final tú también eres la aliada de esos tipos. Yui: No es... es un malentendido! Yo sólo...! Ayato: Ya da igual. Ya no creo en nadie más... Ayato: Alguien como tú... vete al Mundo Humano o algún otra lugar!

*Fin de la cg*

*Ayato se va*

Yui: Ayato-kun! Yui: (No puedo creer que esto terminara así...) Azusa: Es nuestra culpa... Yuma: ...Lo siento Kou: Mneko-chan, realmente lo siento... Yui: ...No, se equivoca. No fue su culpa... Yui: (Ellos tres nos ayudaron mucho...) Yui: (La que tiene la culpa soy yo...)

*El Edén vuelve a llorar* Se escucha feo

Azusa: El Edén está llorando... Kou: Es la primera vez que el sonido llega hasta aquí... Yuma: Esto... me da mala espina...

*El Edén vuelve a llorar*

~Fin~

[jibuyo]

Few weeks ago, there was an episode of 諸説あり！ that dealt with Sekigahara『関ヶ原の戦い』の真実 - The truth of the Battle of Sekigahara. It tries to introduce the recent research from primary sources to its viewers. For some reason Japanese historians started to focus on primary sources only in recent years. 

It doesn’t mean that this is the truth. They’re just new theories. And the story will always live. I’ll try to provide some arguments against if I know of them to give you more views. 

The show presented three points:

1. Kobayakawa Hideaki wasn’t a traitor

He was already a part of Eastern army before the 15th. He climbed Matsuoyama where someone else from the Western army was already stationed and kicked him out. According to Mitsunari’s letter addressed to Mashita Nagamori, Mitsunari wanted the Mouri to be at Matsuyoama, there were no plans for Kobayakawa to be there. (However some researchers - Nakai Shunichiro and Shiramine Jun - believe that this particular Mitsunari’s letter is a forgery. And Shiramine Jun says that it also can’t be confirmed that Hideaki actually was at Matsuoyama from primary materials, he was around there somewhere, but probably not at the top)

The other point the show talks about is the reward he got from Ieyasu. His fiefs were increased and moved closer to the capital (from Chikuzen to Okayama). However, the other four who betrayed after Hideaki did, weren’t given any increase, their fiefs were actually decreased or their clans were ended.

Which shows that Ieyasu recognized Hideaki as his ally right from the beginning.

Ieyasu firing guns at Hideaki to make him join him is a fiction created in Edo. It seems the first mention was in 1672 in Ii clan’s materials: “Todo Takatora fired the weapons, but Kobayakawa didn’t move” - after that other versions started to appear. In 1727 it was Ieyasu who fired and Kobayakawa moved.

After that the hosts joke since Ieyasu didn’t fire the guns and Hideaki attacked on his own conviction that it was him who did all work (and Ieyasu did nothing), hence why he was made into a traitor to make Ieyasu look better. (but in Shiramine Jun’s works where he summarized the letters and diaries, I remember reading that he was seen as someone who betrayed - so while perhaps he and Ieyasu had an agreement, the outside world saw it as a betrayal... so they just rolled with it I guess)

2. The actual battlefield wasn’t at Sekigahara

This is based on Shiramine Jun’s research. “They didn’t fight at Sekigahara, it was over in two hours.” 

He says that the place was slightly west from Sekigahara, called Yamanaka (this actually has two meanings - it’s a place name, but it can also refer to a place between mountains. But on maps from Edo, a place called Yamanaka actually exists). Ieyasu wrote to Masamune that the battle took place in Minou-Yamanaka. In Kikkawa Hiroie’s letter written two days after the battle, it was also called Yamanaka. (Sekigahara is mentioned once in the letters written at that time.)

((If you’re wondering where Yamanaka is, it’s basically between Matsuoyama and the mountain where Yoshitsugu put up his camp according to tradition. (Until now, when I read this theory before, I was like, ok, so I visit Sekigahara and you tell me that the battle wasn’t even there? And I was a bit disappointed... but thanks to this programme I learned that I actually walked through Yamanaka, thx)))

The second point for supporting this theory is archeological research. They didn’t find anything that would support a big battle happening at Sekigahara. They did find some bullets at Yamanaka.

The third thing supporting this theory is the fact that the current battlefield formation and people’s positions that everyone is familiar with was actually created in Meiji and it’s different from formations and positions that circulated in Edo. It is assumed that the map was redrawn and redrawn many times and it got the current form.

So what kind of a battle it was if it ended in two hours?

According to Shimazu clan’s documents: At dawn, Otani Yoshitsugu was attacked by Hideaki and completely destroyed. At 10am, the Eastern army (those who came from Kantou) got close to Shimazu clan’s position.

According to Shiramine, the battle had two levels.

The Western army was stationed in Yamanaka, only Yoshitsugu moved towards Sekigahara, when he was attacked by Hideaki from Matsuoyama’s direction and some forces that came from Kantou. The first level ended.

The second one started at 10am. Ishida’s forces were overwhelmed, Shimazu fled. The end.

So an interesting, engaging story was created - “the battle of Sekigahara”.

3. Ishida Mitsunari wasn’t the mastermind

This is based on Takahashi Yousuke’s research (however Shiramine Jun made some arguments about Takahashi’s understanding of the content of the primary sources and also suggested that some of the letters, because they’re not originals, might be forgeries. For the record, Shiramine Jun thinks Ishida was a central figure, but not alone - it was the magistrates as a group, and he calls the Western army Ishida-Mouri coalition.)

They provide three points:

a. “what did Ieyasu do wrong” letter - Mitsunari’s signature’s not on it. All following letters sent to various daimyo also don’t have Mitsunari’s signature, so it’s thought that the three magistrates also hold a position close to being a “mastermind”. (Mitsunari’s signatures starts to appear in August, before that he already wrote to Sanada Masayuki - a personal letter. Masayuki got letters from the magistrates, Terumoto, Hideie, and Yoshitsugu too, Mitsunari’s one was the most detailed, given their relationship, completely understandable)

b. in diaries of people living in Kyoto, when commenting on the situation surrounding the rise of armies, Ishida Mitsunari’s name doesn’t come up, Terumoto’s does. After the Western army is defeated, in diaries of nobles, it’s written Ieyasu won, Ukita Hideie lost. There was no mention of Mitsunari being a central person of the Western army. It apparently only comes up when he gets executed (now, if I remember correctly his name also comes up right after the West was defeated - Otani and Ishida were killed (that might be from the shrine’s diary though) obviously a misunderstanding)

While I don’t think the diaries should be taken as 100% truth of what went behind the scene, because they only reflect the situation, and how it’s seen by people, it shows that people of that time didn’t know/there was nothing that would point at Mitsunari being the one behind everything. And they were definitely aware of “Jibu no shō”.

In one of the books I own, but I can’t remember which one, there’s also a mention that in foreigners’ (Jesuit and Korean) accounts from the execution, they write something along those lines that Mitsunari was just made responsible. (but tbh I think Jesuit diaries and letters shouldn’t be trusted because everyone says something different imo. For the record there are Jesuit accounts that do say Mitsunari was a central figure with Konishi Yukinaga, but because the connection to Yukinaga is quite strong in those, it’s not unbiased, therefore shouldn’t be trusted unconditionally imo)

c. Ieyasu and Mitsunari’s relationship. They say they didn’t hate each other and that they apparently had a favourable relationship. According to Ieyasu’s retainer, it was Mitsunari who announced Hideyoshi’s death to Ieyasu and it made them closer. When Ieyasu was staying in Osaka, he was using Mitsunari and Ishida Masazumi's housing. Ishida Shigeie became Ieyasu’s retainer (this is the first I heard about it, though, it was always a hostage situation), Mitsunari was helping Ieyasu during the subjugation of Kaga (i.e. Maeda Toshinaga) - they use the line written by Kang Hang, but it can actually be proven thanks to... Shimazu clan’s document??? I think. And he did plan to sent Shigeie to Aizu.

More historians actually think that the relationship between the two of them wasn’t based on hatred. I don’t remember reading anything that would suggest a bad relationship between them before Sekigahara tbh just saying (and once I start to read some more, I’ll find something :D)

So if Mitsunari wasn’t the mastermind, what the hell happened when Yoshitsugu visited him? What did they talk about? Wasn’t it the other way? Wasn’t Yoshitsugu asking for Mitsunari’s help? That’s what Takahashi thinks.

There’s actually a line about this in the Jesuits accounts that says one of the magistrates visited Mitsunari at Sawayama.

In conclusion, the guest (a historian) himself thinks that there was no mastermind behind the Western army. The host jokes: “because Western army was so scattered and disconnected it’s natural that they lost.” And that’s most likely what happened. 

So this was the summary of the episode of “The truth about the battle of Sekigahara”. Take from it what you want.