#seto akira

[dilebe06]

My Favorite Male Characters

[kira-akira]

excuse me just one second *muffled sounds of hysterical sobbing*

[kcuf-ad]

The Five Best Yugioh Older Brothers In No Order

Akira Zaizen.

Kite Tenjo/Kaito Tenjo

Seto Kaiba

Shay Obsidian/Shun Kurosaki

Reginald Kastle/ Ryouga Kamishiro/ Shark / Nash

[mizusjawline]

NOOOOOOO MARIONETTE HOTEL LOOKS SO SEXY WHY ISN'T IT BEING STREAMED ON RAKUTEN 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[squishyneet]

it’s me and my blorbos against the world

[eien-no-gakusha]

Touken Ranbu:  The Contradictory Tale of Genji

Went in expecting fanservice and just a good time, left impressed.

Part 1/3 - Plot:

The videogame source material has a very barebones plot because it knows what it is:�� a gatcha game for fujoshi to collect sword husbandos.  Basically, something evil is trying to change (Japanese) history and make the universe implode.  You, the player, are an onmyoji or priestess who is summoning famous swords like mad to save the world.  The touken danshi themselves basically have the personalities of their famous historical figure owners or forgers coupled with quirks related to random facts and legends surrounding them.  Some come with a Hachiko streak from losing their masters or their service in some darker parts of history.  (only your love can heal them!). Classic gatcha game fare.  In other words, there is a lot of room to be creative with this framework.  Just look at all the sexy derivative works spawned from the thirsty fujoshi.  This aspect of the fandom is surprisingly relevant to the plot of the musical.  Stick around and find out. 

Anyways, the plot of this specific show features a Tale of Genji crossover.  The usual evil is messing with history again and a squad of swords are dispatched to fix it.   The problem of the day is the entire Heian court has been isekai-ed into the novel Tale of Genji.  The author Murasaki Shikibu and her fans have all gotten merged with the characters of the book.  The Heian era swords are unavailable for vague reasons, leaving a bunch of young swords not forged in this era to untangle fact from fiction.

Thus, we start with team Kanesada finding themselves escorting a lady-in-waiting who explains that everyone around her has been suddenly larping Tale of Genji and she’s the only sane person left in court.  They realize they are trapped in the book and reenact all the early chapters as they figure out how to undo the curse.  Some of the more hot-tempered swords try to brute force their way out only to realize that book characters have protagonist halos to protect them from getting KOed.  At the center of this vortex, the titular character Hikaru Genji is effectively an NPC who has gained sentience a la RE:  Creators.  We learn he functions similarly to the sword boys as the embodiment of the book.  Not being a weapon, he can’t do much by way of fighting but he is unkillable and can act as dungeon master in his own story by transferring protagonist status to his victims.  In other words, Genji can possess targets to simulate his story as a substitute while he dicks off.  He uses this power to go OOC and try to retcon his own story.  This is all quite convenient for him since he has a complicated relationship with his author.  He is half reverential of her and half resentful.  This culminates in Genji ultimately killing his own author.  In the merged universe, Murasaki Shikibu and her readership have merged with the female leads of The Tale of Genji with Murasaki taking the role of the unobtainable Fujitsubo no Nyogo, Genji’s true love.  In breaking the story with literal death of the author, all hell breaks loose with Genji going rogue.

As the touken danshi dig deeper, they learn the source of this chaos was a result of toxic fan culture!  While many people enjoy Murasaki’s book and come away from it positively, a stalker fan voices his concerns that this is all vapid fiction with no value nor contribution to reality (the “wake up, loser” argument).  They debate about the point of writing “fake” stories.  While Murasaki understands the man’s point of view, she disagrees and refuses to put down her brush as this work is her passion.  The man becomes so upset he is taken over by the evil powers to cause the time rift and alter history.  His reasoning is if everyone is so obsessed with the book, they may as well live in it rather than face the real world. 

Back in the present, the touken danshi are having a bad time resolving the timeline.  They complain about needing grandpa Mikazuki’s help and keep getting possessed by Genji to reenact chapters while he escapes to cause trouble elsewhere.  However, during the final boss battle with evil Genji, the isekai-ed fangirls come to the rescue!  As they reminisce about their love of the novel (well, it would be equivalent of a serialized magazine at time of publication) and how it was therapeutic or inspiring for their real lives, they begin to return to themselves.  Now it’s important to note that Murasaki’s contemporaries did write derivative works or helped her transcribe chapters to share.  Therefore, these fangirls are effectively ancient Japanese fanfiction authors and thus have power to end Genji as much as the original author does.  But they love him as a character too much so are unable to strike the finishing blow and basically toss the responsibility to young Murasaki, Genji’s second wife who he had kidnapped as a child to groom into the perfect woman.  Unable to bear the suffering and moved by the women in his life both as characters and as his fans, Genji lowers his protagonist’s halo and accepts death.  The touken danshi are able to finally fix history and complete their mission.  When they return to modern day, they hear news that archeologists have found physical evidence that Genji existed as a historical figure and thus a conspiracy theory is born!  The touken danshi take this information with mixed emotions.

What an amazing story.  The theme was deep without being too obtuse.  The climax got meta and opened a lot of discussion about the value of fiction, derivative works, the dangers of escapism, censorship, and even spirituality.  Definitely worth a second viewing to digest all this.

There was a mini-revue number in the end where the cast performed an umbrella dance to anachronistic Touken Ranbu music.  Then the cast descended a staircase in parade order for final bows.  It was a much-needed break from the heavy and complicated plot.  It was also a small nod to the main cast’s Takarazuka roots or hina doll staging, which is a common set design when using Heian costume.  The umbrella dance reminded me of the finale Sakura dance OSK does at the end of their performances.  Perhaps this is a proud Osaka tradition.  I haven’t seen a different Touken Ranbu show (yet) so I don’t know if this is a part of the brand.

[historyhermann]

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story Season 2 Spoiler-Filled Review [Part 2]

Continued from part 1

Although there, sadly, wasn't a kiss between Eve and Aoi, the series was filled with gay subtext. While some may call it yuri-bait, it is more charitable to describe it as yuri subtext. In any case, the show was a fun ride. It wrapped up far too quickly, with many time jumps. Despite this, the ending of the series makes clear that the game between Aoi and Eve continues forever. There is the implication that they won't be apart and may even play again.

The ending could have been stronger, but I don't detest it. There is enough space and possible storyline, especially during the two aforementioned time skips, that a third season or even an OVA could expand upon. Such a season, or OVA, could focus on Eve and Aoi, or the growing closeness between the two caddies, Amane and Ichina, shown in the final episode. There is fan support for another season, or OVA. It remains to be seen if executives think the same.

There are other praiseworthy elements of Birdie Wing. The music complements the action. It accompanies the strong, flowing animation. The two highly skilled series composers, Kōtarō Nakagawa and Hironori Anazawa, make the series that much better. The former composed music for Gosick and Chivalry of a Failed Knight, while the latter did music for Scarlet Nexus.

Birdie Wing is nothing like any currently airing series produced by Bandai Namco Pictures, or those by Sunrise. Such series are supernatural action, mecha, or military science fiction. Bandai Namco Pictures is known for Gintama, Brave Beats, and Aikatsu!. Another division of the same company, Sunrise (also called Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.), is recognized for other series. This includes Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, Love Live! Superstar!!, Love Live! Sunshine!!, Love Live! School Idol Project, Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, Tiger & Bunny, Dirty Pair, and Cowboy Bebop.

The series director, Takayuki Inagaki, worked on Fuuka, KanColle, Kokoro Library, Princess Tutu, and R.O.D. the TV. Yōsuke Kuroda, main writer for Birdie Wing, worked on Kokoro Library as well. He served as a head writer for Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid and Madlax.

The voice cast are just as seasoned and have often voiced queer characters. Akari Kito, who voices Eve, voiced magical girl Momo Chiyoda in The Demon Girl Next Door, Kanata Konoe in Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, Touko Usagihara in Akebi's Sailor Uniform, and Sakura Adachi in Adachi and Shimamura. Asami Seto, voice of Aoi, previously voiced Yoshino Takatsuki in Wandering Son, Charlotte Scherzen in Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid, Fena Houtman in Fena: Pirate Princess, and Nene Saionji in Yuri Is My Job!

Seto is scheduled to voice Yori Asanagi in Whisper Me a Love Song in January 2024. M.A.O. (voice of Kaoruko Iijima) will voice Kohaku in Yohane the Parhelion: Sunshine in the Mirror. The latter is a Love Live! Sunshine!! spinoff which recently premiered on Crunchyroll. The voice actor of Amane (Ami Koshimizu) voiced Yang Xiao Long in RWBY: Ice Queendom, Elda in Otaku Elf, Maria in Management of a Novice Alchemist, and Sailor Jupiter in Sailor Moon Crystal. All these characters are directly or indirectly queer.

Akira Sekine, voice of Lily, previously voiced Sora/Cure Sky in Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure and Princess Charlotte in Princess Principal. Saki Fujita, who voices Ichina, previously lent her voice to school president Mitsuki Sonoda in Sakura Trick. Sonoda had a huge crush on Haruka Takayama. Other voice actors are known for their roles in Maria Watches Over Us, Yurikuma Arashi, D4DJ, Akebi's Sailor Uniform, YuruYuri, Strawberry Panic!, and Sweet Blue Flowers.

Birdie Wing will likely not be continued. Similar themes were likely added to the video game associated with the series. The connection to Madlax, since it is in the same universe, will remain a topic of ongoing fan speculation. I will always remember this anime fondly. It may be some time before another anime can shoot me right through, as Eve says to her opponents, like this one.

All 25 episodes of Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story can be streamed on Crunchyroll. The second season can also be purchased on Prime Video or on the Microsoft Store.

© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[yurimother]

Yuri Anime 'Whisper Me a Love Song' Announce April 13 Debut; HIDIVE to Simulcast

Last Friday, an announcement posted to the official website for the upcoming television anime adaptation of Eku Takeshima's Whisper Me a Love Song (Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau) revealed that the series will premiere on April 13. Additionally, on Wednesday, Sentai Filmworks announced that it has licensed the anime and will stream the anime internationally on HIDIVE.

Whisper Me a Love Song follows first-year high school student Himari Kino, who, at a welcome ceremony, witnesses Yori Asanagi singing and instantly falls in "love." She immediately confesses her admiration to Yori, who misinterprets Himari's feelings as romantic. However, once she realizes her mistake, Yori swears that she will make Himari fall for her for real.

The release date announcement also included a new key visual (above) and information about the opening and ending themes. Whisper Me A Love Song's opening theme, "Follow your arrows," is performed by the fictional band SSGIRLS from the anime and sung by Kana Sasakura, who provides the singing voice for main character Yori Asanagi.

Sentai Filmworks will simulcast the anime exclusively on HIDIVE in North America, Australia, the the British Isles. The North American premiere will be screened at Anime Boston 2024 on March 29.

The anime, which was delayed from its initially announced January premiere, is directed by Akira Mano at Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory. Mano replaced the initially announced director, Xin Ya Cai, due to "health reasons." Character designer Minami Yoshida and script supervisor Hiroki Uchida join Mano.

The anime stars Hana Shimano as Himari Kino and Asami Seto as Yori Asanagi. Additional cast includes:

Konomi Kohara as Mari Tsutsui

Mikako Komatsu as Aki Mizuguchi

Ai Kakuma as Kaori Tachibana

Yuna Nemoto as Shiho Izumi

Reina Ueda as Momoka Satomiya

Chika Anzai as Hajime Amasawa

Aoi Koga as Miki Mizuguchi

Ichijinsha serializes the original manga in Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime. Kodansha USA publishes the manga in English and will release the eighth volume on March 26.

Sources: Official Anime Website, HIDIVE Press Release

[paintedmage]

Reupdating my Yu-Gi-Oh Headcanons list

All my headcanons are from the Duel Monsters portion of the series, most of which are influenced by the anime and personal thoughts and ideas.

Atem has a thing for anything strawberry. Strawberry drinks, baked goods, artisan goods, you name it. If it's got strawberry, Atem will almost certainly eat it. Even as Yami, he would take over Yugi's body sometimes to enjoy strawberry flavors(Yugi thought it was silly but also was happy Yami had something he liked)

Of course, my headcanon of Kaiba treating Yugi like a second little brother after Atem departs. Seriously, Yugi becoming an unofficial Kaiba brother because of Seto's love for Atem and feeling bad that Yugi doesn't have his own big brother now is something that feeds me life.

Atem's last name is Sennen. His full name is Atem Yami Sennen

Kaiba's full name is Seto Ryuuki Kaiba. Sometimes Atem calls Seto by his middle name, and Seto loves how whispery and velvety Atem says it.

Kaiba and Mokuba's birth surname is Konami. Their parents names were Sara and Akira(called Aki for short)

Kaiba and Atem are 100% gay and demi, Yugi is bisexual and nonbinary(goes by he/they pronouns)

Kaiba and Atem are both intersex, Kaiba's intersex biology allows for childbearing, but it's not something he likes to think about or really wants, as pregnancy means a loss of control over his own body, and Kaiba can't imagine not having control.

Atem eventually returns through magic nonsense and everyone is overjoyed to have him back (Yugi and Kaiba especially, for their own reasons)

Kaiba has a cat. Her name is Zahra and he adopts her from a shelter not long after the Ceremonial Duel, telling Mokuba things are feeling a bit lonely and maybe a pet would help make their home a little less empty. Despite his cold exterior, Kaiba loves animals and would adopt every single one from every shelter in the world if he could.

Atem loves cats and hits it off with Zahra(Kaiba doesn't like that he's no longer her favorite person but Atem spoils her as much as he does so he supposes its fine), and for some reason, strays gravitate towards him and he occasionally comes home with a new cat in his arms, announcing. "Ryuuki, another one chose me!", and Kaiba just goes with it, loving how the mansion staff are now always kept on their toes by the MANY cats now running amok.

Kaiba's favorite of Atem's little cat herd(also called a clutter) is Luna, a pretty tortoiseshell with golden eyes and dainty white paws. She gets attached to him rather than Atem(much to Kaiba's delight)

Later down the line, Kaiba finds an abandoned corgi puppy. Unable to ignore the creature, he takes her home to Atem and their many cats. They name her Duchess as she quickly becomes a spoiled pup.

Yugi and Marik are a couple. I just think they're cute together. They'd eventually have a son(Kaiba helps them create their son by taking Yugi and Marik's DNA and making the baby in a tube in his lab. Because I'm absolutely certain Kaiba could do that sort of thing if he tried) and name him Atemu, after Atem. Because Yugi just loves his brother so much. (cue Uncle Atem shedding tears of joy), and when Atemu is 2, they have twins; a son and daughter named Toki and Tera.

Atem and Kaiba get married and Atem 100% is in charge of wedding planning cause he has better tastes than Kaiba when it comes to this sort of thing. And Atem convinces Seto to let him wear a dress for the wedding. Kaiba becomes Seto Kaiba-Sennen.

Kaiba and Atem eventually have twins unplanned, a daughter named Kaida and a son named Yami, both taking Atem's last name of Sennen. The pregnancy is full of complications for Kaiba due to his unique situation, and the changes to his body cause a lot of dysphoria, but Atem is always there for him when things get rough, knowing that Seto can get through this with the strength and grace he applies daily.

Joey becomes a KC Security Officer because he's "A good guard dog", according to Kaiba.

Tea becomes a successful dancer on Broadway, landing many lead roles. Yugi and friends are glad to see her follow her dreams, and occasionally, Kaiba will sponsor musicals and plays that Tea is in, his way of showing his friendship.

Tristan opens a martial arts and self defense studio, wanting to teach others how to protect themselves and the ones they care about.

Bakura begins to work for the museum, and always manages to rope Atem into helping during his free time, as Atem WAS an ancient Pharaoh.

Atem works graphic design for Kaiba Corp (he's a surprisingly good artist)

Yugi works at Kaiba Corp for the game development division. Sometimes he brings Atemu and Toki into the office with him, and he tries to coordinate dates where Kaida and Yami are brought in when Seto and Atem come to work so their kids can bond with each other. (Yugi wants his sons to have a deep connection with their cousins asap.)

Atemu looks a lot like his namesake uncle, thanks to the combo of Yugi's hair and Marik's complexion, but his eyes are Marik's lavender. Toki and Tera are pale like Yugi with soft, sandy-colored hair like Marik, and Yugi's amethyst eyes.

Kaida looks a lot like her father Atem, bearing his tri-tone hair, although the ends of hers are blue instead of red, she bears his darker complexion, and the shape of her eyes is quite similar to his. She gets Seto's blue eyes. Yami, however, is a mini Seto Kaiba with Atem's purple eyes. (the little guy has already mastered the 'Kaiba scowl')

Later down the line, Atem and Kaiba have two more kids. Ryuuki and Sara. Both kids have Atem's dark complexion. Sara's hair is black and wavy and she has Kaiba's blue eyes. Ryuuki, however, much like his brother Yami, has Kaiba's brown hair and Atem's amethyst eyes.

Mokuba absolutely adores his nieces and nephews, being sure to talk about them to anyone who will listen(or is forced to). He also spoils them whenever he can, wanting to give Kaida, Sara, Ryuuki and Yami the whole world, wanting them to have a childhood full of certainty and light, unlike what he and Seto had. Uncle Mokuba ftw.

Kaiba rebrands Kaiba Corporation to Sennen Corporation.

Joey eventually finds a nice girl and hooks up with her, and Atem, being a former Pharaoh, officiates Joey's wedding.

Joey soon becomes a dad, having four kids. Jack, Jana, Kaden, and Jacob. The little ones are a handful, having Joey's spirit and knack for trouble. And Kaiba says "Wheeler, the world had enough of you, why'd you add four more?" the first time he meets the kids. However is is quite fond of them, as his children have friends to grow up with.

[ashhearthelpsaa]

Below the cut will be a list of some of my favorite Japanese names. I like to write a lot of original characters that are based in different animes, so I thought this would be useful to have. These will be placed under a read more, as this post got quite long. There are 70 feminine names, 75 masculine names, and 31 gender neutral names. Please like or reblog this post if you found it useful. Thank you. :)

Feminine Names.

Airi.

Aina.

Amane.

Ami. / Aimi.

Anzu.

Asuna.

Aya.

Chidori.

Chiharu.

Chou.

Danuja.

Doi.

Ema.

Emica. / Emika.

Emi.

Emiko.

Etsuko.

Gina.

Hatsue. / Hatsu.

Hana.

Hanae.

Hanakao

Haruka.

Himari.

Himwari.

Hina.

Honoka.

Kairi.

Kaori.

Kanna. / Kana.

Karin.

Katsumi.

Kyoko.

Machi.

Mai.

Manae.

Mari.

Matsuri.

Mayumi.

Megumi.

Mei.

Midori.

Mika.

Mina.

Mirai.

Misa.

Misaki.

Miyah.

Miho.

Naho.

Nako.

Nami.

Nanami.

Naomi.

Reina.

Rei.

Rena.

Rika.

Sakura.

Saori.

Sarina.

Sayuri.

Seika.

Seina.

Shizuka.

Tae.

Tora.

Yuka.

Yuna.

Yurina.

Masculine Names.

Akane.

Akihito.

Akito.

Anji.

Arata.

Benjiro.

Choei.

Daihachi.

Daiji.

Daijiro.

Daisuke.

Daishiro.

Eiji.

Enzo.

Etsuji.

Genji.

Gorou.

Hajime.

Haruto.

Hatsuo.

Hideji.

Hiro.

Hiroshi.

Hiroto.

Hisaki.

Hyuga.

Judai.

Jun.

Jun'ichi.

Junpei.

Kaito.

Kakashi.

Kanji.

Kazuki.

Keitaro.

Kenji.

Ken'ichi.

Kentaro.

Kenzo.

Kiyoshi.

Koji.

Kota.

Kyo.

Masao.

Michaiki.

Mitsuhide.

Mokuba.

Naoki.

Naoe.

Renji.

Riku.

Ryo. / Ryu. / Ryou. / Ryuu.

Ryota.

Ryuuji.

Sasuke.

Satoshi.

Satoru.

Seto.

Shinji.

Shino.

Shintaro.

Soma.

Tadashi.

Taichi.

Takahashi.

Takeshi.

Taro.

Tooru.

Yota.

Yudai.

Yugi.

Yuji.

Yuma.

Yusei.

Zenji.

Gender Neutral Names.

Akari.

Akira.

Akihito.

Asuka.

Ayame.

Chiyo.

Dai.

Daichi.

Haku.

Haruhi.

Haru.

Hikaru.

Hikari.

Hinata.

Ino.

Kaeda.

Kai.

Kaoru.

Kenta.

Kita.

Minato.

Mitsuki.

Nara.

Noa.

Reiji.

Ren. / Rin.

Sato.

Shin.

Shion.

Shun.

Shuya.

Sora.

Yui.

Yuki.

[dilebe06]

Dragon Zakura 2

Grazie Dragon Zakura.❤️

Grazie.❤️❤️❤️

Questo commento è in onore del mio ultimo esame. Quello che ero straconvinta di aver bocciato o se proprio l'avevo passato, il voto non avrebbe mai superato il 20. E invece...

I MIRACOLI SIGNORI.

Oggi si parla di miracoli. [con spoiler]

D'altronde cosa c'è di più miracoloso dl far ammettere degli studenti caproni di una scuola liceale alla prestigiosa università della Todai facendogli superare un esame d'ingresso tostissimo?!

Perché sì, Dragon Zakura parla di questo: un avvocato/professore che viene assunto in un liceo con l'obbiettivo di far ammettere degli studenti alla Todai. Meglio se i suddetti alunni hanno dei voti disastrosi.

Esattamente come la prima stagione - che ricordo pochissimo poiché vista più di 10 anni fa - il nostro professor Sakuragi torna tra i banchi di scuola con la solita missione a dir poco impossibile.

qui sopra una gif di Dragon Zakura del 2005 tra capelli improponibili, fiocchetti, cose tipicamente anni 2000 ed un Yamashita Tomohisa molto moltooooo pischello

Una cosa della prima stagione però la ricordo bene: che questo drama mi piacque parecchio. Di serie ambientate a scuola è pieno il mondo televisivo ma Dragon Zakura a differenza di tutte le altre, si concentra molto sullo studio. Rimembro ancora alcune delle metodologie d'apprendimento che Sakuragi Sensei insegnò ai ragazzi.

Ed è infatti qui che secondo me la serie si discosta maggiormente da tutte le altre serie incentrate sulla scuola. Sakuragi mostra ai ragazzi dei metodi di studio efficaci ed incisivi per la missione che andranno a svolgere senza riempire la loro testa di nozioni o cose noiose.

Gli insegnamenti di Sakuragi si dividono in due strade: la prima rappresenta l'acquisizione di informazioni. Antesegnano di quello che in gergo viene chiamato "compito autentico", Sakuragi cerca di far utilizzare ai ragazzi ciò che hanno imparato nella quotidianità: ad esempio, scrivere ogni giorno 20 tweet in inglese. Oppure fargli completare 100 calcoli di matematica molto semplici in 3 minuti perché il calcolo a mente diventi così naturale che loro non debbano nemmeno pensarci. Esattamente come accade per la bicicletta: quando si pedala non si pensa a cosa si debba fare per far muovere la bici, ci viene naturale. Così deve essere per il calcolo. Oppure memorizzare formule ed altre nozioni a tempo di musica o muovendosi.

La seconda strada è invece relativa ai "buoni consigli" che tutti gli studenti dovremmo tenere a mente quando si approcciano ad un compito: durante l'ascolto di un brano in un altra lingua non prendere mai appunti per il primo ascolto ma cerca di capire il contesto di cui si sta parlando. Oppure come strutturare una risposta: meglio essere brevi ma chiari che prolissi ma confusi. Sakuragi da consigli per gestire l'ansia, come rispondere alle domande a crocette o come razionalizzare il tempo per completare un esercizio.

Ed io ho adorato questa parte. Sia nella prima che nella seconda stagione. Mentre ascoltavo gli "insegnamenti" del buon Sakuragi pensavo che questa serie dovrebbe essere fatta vedere in tante scuole superiori.

La seconda stagione, come la prima, riprende dei ragazzi che si trovano di fronte ad una missione impossibile - soprattutto per i voti che hanno - per quasi tutti loro: riuscire ad entrare alla Todai superando l'esame d'ingresso che falcia orde di studenti ogni anno.

Sakuragi avrà il suo bel daffare anche solo per reclutare degli alunni poiché la missione è così ardua che molti non ci vogliono nemmeno provare. La paura e l'impossibilità di superare quest'esame rende l'esame stesso impossibile per la mente dei ragazzi ma per dirla con le parole di Sakuragi stesso :" è più difficile diventare campioni olimpici che entrare alla Todai."

Alla fine l'entrata all'università è solo una "scusa" per mostrare come l'ostacolo che sembrava impossibile sia in realtà alla portata di tutti, come ci si blocchi da soli preferendo non combattere perché sappiamo già di aver perso prima ancora di provarci.

Ma Dragon Zakura non parla solo di questo. A far compagnia alle lezioni di metodo c'è la parte motivazionale - che se i giapponesi non ci infilano non sono contenti - con tutte le questioni da essa derivanti. in questo senso c'è almeno un argomento centrale che assorbe tutta la storia: essere padroni del proprio destino. Fare le proprie scelte non permettendo a nessuno di decidere per noi o per il nostro futuro avendo anche il coraggio di andare contro alle persone che ci vogliono bene.

Sakuragi si conferma il solito personaggio sopra le righe: cazzone, motivatore, fumatore impenitente, rivoluzionario ed incredibilmente acuto. E' il primo a credere nelle possibilità dei ragazzi, nelle loro potenzialità e questo li sprona a dare il massimo e a voler continuamente migliorare.

In questa stagione a far compagnia al professore c'è anche Mizuno che era la sua allieva nella prima stagione: entrata alla Todai, alla fine aiuta il suo vecchio insegnante nella stessa missione che riguardò lei tanti anni prima. E mi è piaciuta perché è un buon contraltare per Sakuragi. Dove lui è calmo, sicuro di se e misterioso, Mizuno è agitata, si preoccupa. E' allegra, socievole dove Sakuragi è cupo e silenzioso. Si nota comunque il grande rispetto che la ragazza nutre per il suo ex insegnante e come cerchi di aiutarlo il più possibile. Insieme hanno una buona chimica.

Ed infine i ragazzi. Come sempre i drama giapponesi caratterizzano bene i personaggi, riuscendo a inquadrarli anche con poche scene: dal ragazzo con problemi di autostima alla ragazza viziata che non prende nulla sul serio...essendo tanti ragazzi sono anche tante le diversificazioni delle loro personalità e dei loro background.

In particolare me ne sono piaciuti 4 più di tutti: Seto, Fujii, Iwasaki e Kenta.

Seto ha avuto una vita difficile, con la morte dei genitori accaduta quando era piccolo e una sorella maggiore che fa il diavolo a quattro per lavorare e guadagnare soldi e che lui aiuta al ristorante. E' un bravo ragazzo, palesemente innamorato di iwasaki . Dolce, simpatico e altruista, ho davvero fatto l tifo per lui. Considerando poi che tra tutti è quello messo peggio con i voti, mi sono anche commossa per lui sul finale della serie.

Iwasaki d'altra parte è una ragazza carina e popolare. Campionessa di badminton e destinata ad un futuro come campionessa olimpica, si ritroverà a fare i conti con un infortunio che rimescolerà tutte le carte per il suo futuro. Mi è piaciuta la sua determinazione e sicurezza e come abbia poi affrontato il discorso del suo futuro con la sua famiglia. Piaciuto meno invece come la serie abbia affrontato i gravissimi errori del suo allenatore e della sua amica.

Kenta, mio piccolo raggio di sole, è un ragazzo affetto da disabilità. Autismo suppongo. Ma ciò non lo esula dall'essere un vero genio. Non ricorda nulla di ciò che gli viene detto ma ha una memoria visiva così potente da imparare a memoria interi vocabolari. Kenta poi è un cucciolino, dolce e davvero gentile con i suoi compagni di classe. Bellissimo poi come i ragazzi abbiano incluso Kenta inventando anche dei giochi per lui o come lo abbiano aiutato e protetto. Commovente la reazione della sua insegnante che si rende conto, solo grazie a Sakuragi, delle potenzialità del suo allievo e si riempia di orgoglio per ogni risposta giusta del regazzo. T_T <3

Infine Fujii. Lo studente migliore della scuola che vuole andare anche lui alla Todai, che sminuisce i compagni poiché convinto che siano troppo stupidi anche solo per provarci. Arrogante, prepotente e a tratti meschino, Fujii tenterà in ogni modo di mostrare la sua superiorità, fallendo ogni volta. Sakuragi - che è il più sveglio della scuola - lo include nel team con gli altri e piano piano anche lui si aprirà agli altri, mostrandosi sempre più gentile. Così tanto gentile che si fa male per proteggere Kenta da dei bulletti. Fujii non riuscirà ad entrare alla Todai ma accidenti se ha comunque vinto di più! La sua evoluzione è quella più palese tra i ragazzi e per quanto semplice e scontata mi è comunque piaciuta.

L'ultime cose vorrei dirle sulla trama che rigurdava la preside, la vendita del terreno su cui sorge la scuola ed i due ex allievi di Sakuragi. Onestamente tutta sta diatriba non mi ha emozionato così tanto. Non so perché ma l'idea della scuola che rischia di dover chiudere, gente in giacca a cravatta che compie illeciti ecc ecc, non mi ha entusiasmato così tanto.

Meglio invece la storyline dei due ex allievi dove per metà serie avevo davvero ipotizzato che i due fossero arrabbiati con Sakuragi. Mi sembrava realistico che qualcuno di questi ragazzi di fronte alla promessa non mantenuta di entrare alla Todai, si risentisse con il professore. Ci sta. Sarebbe una cosa che non mi stupirei di vedere. Invece si scopre che era tutta una messinscena ed i due stavano indagando per aiutare il loro ex professore e ...va bene così. Vengono spiegate le motivazioni e gli eventi di ciò che è successo quindi non mi posso lamentare.

Concludendo: Dragon Zakura prima e seconda stagione rimarrà uno dei miei drama di conforto e motivazionale preferiti. La seconda stagione non si discosta molto dalla prima - se non per l'inserimento della vicenda della vendita della scuola - e mostra sempre i grandi insegnamenti di studio o di approccio alla vita. C'è un buon cast, dove i giovani davvero hanno fatto un buon lavoro, e alcuni grandi ritorni dalla prima stagione. Per chi ama questo genere di drama è una buona visione da recuperare.

Voto: 7.9

[kira-akira]

every time akira showed up on screen i had to pause the video, kick my legs around, giggle, and then take a copious number of screenshots

lesbian bar owner seto kazuya is the best thing to ever happen to me

[rayventoodles]

don't usually make text only posts but I feel like if you cut Takizawa's bangs a lil bit and gave him a sharper jawline he'd look a little more like Jerma

also, I find it hilariously ironic that Asami Seto (Akira's VA) went on to voice a character with the surname Takizawa (Asuka Takizawa / Cure Flamingo from Tropical Rouge Pretty Cure)

[tokudocu]

Firsts in Sentai

First Team - Himitsu Sentai GoRenger

First Red - Kaijo Tsuyoshi, Akarenger: Himitsu Sentai GoRenger

First Blue - Shinmei Akira, Aorenger: Himitsu Sentai GoRenger

First Yellow - Oiwa Daita, Kirenger: Himitsu Sentai GoRenger

First Green - Asuka Kenji, Midorenger: Himitsu Sentai GoRenger

First Pink - Matsuyama Peggy, Momorenger: Himitsu Sentai GoRenger

First Black - Kuroda Kanpei, Goggle Black: Dai Sentai Goggle V

First White - Banba Sokichi, Big One: J.AK.Q. Dengikitai

First Brown// - Tatsui Naohisa (Seto), Ryusoul Brown: Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger

First Gold* - Mary Gold, Deka Gold: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

First Gold - Hikaru, MagiShine: Mahou Sentai Magiranger

First Gray - Tessai, KyoryuGray: Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger

First Orange - Shiraishi Kensaku, Battle Cossack: Battle Fever J

First Silver - Hayakawa Yuusaku, Mega Silver: Denji Sentai Megaranger

First Violet - Fukami Gou, GekiViolet: Juken Sentai Gekiranger

First Unknown Color - Akebono Shirou, Battle Kenya: Battle Fever J

First Sixth Ranger - Yamato Tribe Knight Burai, Dragon Ranger: Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger

First Extra Ranger - Doggie Kruger, DekaMaster: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

First Female Red - Shiba Kaoru, Princess Shinken Ren: Samurai Sentai Shinkenger

Fist Female Blue - Misaki Megumi, Blue Dolphin: Chojuu Sentai Liveman

First Female Yellow - Koizumi Mika, Yellow4: Choudenshi Bioman

First Female Green*// - Kokonoe Luna (Kyuemon Shingetsu Kibaoni), MidoNinger: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger

First Female Green - Hammie, Chameleon Green: Uchu Sentai Kyuranger

First Male Pink - Kijino Tsuyoshi, Kiji Brother: Avataro Sentai DonBrothers

First Female White - Nagisa Sayaka, ChangeMermaid: Dengeki Sentai Changeman

First Female Gold* - Mary Gold, Deka Gold: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

First Male Gold - Hikaru, MagiShine: Mahou Sentai Magiranger

First Female Silver* - Lisa Teegel, DekaBright: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

First Female Silver - Sutou Miu, Go-On Silver: Engine Sentai Go-Onger

First Female Violet - Yayoi Ulshade, Kyoryu Violet: Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger

First Female Sixth Ranger - Sutou Miu, Go-On Silver: Engine Sentai Go-Onger

First Female Extra Ranger - Shiratori Swan, DekaSwan: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

Legend:

* - Only one appearance from the ranger and its debatable whether to consider them the "first" of anything in Super Sentai History

// - Denotes being possessed by the name of the character inside the parenthesis.

[stickers-on-a-laptop]

Challenge: make a poll with five of your all time favorite characters, and then tag five people to do the same. See which character is everyone's favorite.

tagged by @mo-ok (i already did it but you know what this is fun i'll do it again with 5 new characters as is my right)

no ultraman this time, none of them are fujimiya. also mima is not bl but he IS bromance (with SETO TOSHIKI and a kpop idol no less) and i adore him so

tagging anyone who wants to blame me for making a poll!

[eien-no-gakusha]

Touken Ranbu:  The Contradictory Tale of Genji

Part 2/3 - Cast:

(I’m going by romanization in the program, which might differ from their Takarazuka days)

Here is the list of actors and their program introduction.  There’s more to the Genji Monogatari cast that will be elaborated on in the spoiler section.

OG = Takarazuka OG, specifically otokoyaku TR = Touken Ranbu character GM = Tale of Genji character

 Holy Takarazuka OG Batman!!  What a star-studded cast! For me at least.  I was drooling over this casting. All the named male roles were performed by otokoyaku retired from Takarazuka.  It’s good to see the craft continue outside the big revue companies.  This is in no small part thanks to Nanami Hiroki who actively continued otokoyaku work outside Takarazuka.  There are the likes of Amami Yuuki and Sagiri Sena who have performed genderbent roles in their OG career on occasion.  However, that was an exception in a true to gender cast.  This is the first big production I’ve seen with all female casting outside Takarazuka.  It worked incredibly well since the actors involved specialize in stuff like that.  Also, with Takarazuka otokoyaku garnering a reputation of portraying idealized men, it made sense that they would portray fictionally idealized men about a novel lead by the perfect romantic hero.  Overall, very impressed by the acting talent.  I did enter the lottery three times to see this cast live lol.

 Of the OGs on stage, I’m most familiar with Nanami Hiroki, Ayanagi Sho, and Seto Kazuya.  They happen to play the major characters.  The lead role is Nanami Hiroki as Kasen Kanesada closely followed by Ayanagi Sho as Okurika.  These two swords are basically foils of each other.  Kasen Kanesada is the cultured sword named after the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry (or the 36 retainers his master killed, depending on your interpretation).  He’s the level-headed leader and refined poetry master, making him ideal for being trapped in a literary work.  Okurikara is the brash brawler sword.  He belonged to the son of Date Masamune and if son resembles father at all, that explains the thirst for battle.  Also, a lot of his design refers to a fierce Buddhist deity who removes obstacles so makes sense he tries to brute force his way out of a problem.  As these two were possessed by Genji, they had the heaviest roles having to play two characters with one having to match Seto Kazuya’s acting.  Both Kai and Ayaka did great and captured their respective characters.  I barely recognized Sho and it wasn’t just the brown-face, she did something a bit different with her makeup.  Akira is perfect for Genji.  She is a versatile actor who can handle both drama and comedy.  Here she wholeheartedly embodies the tragic hero and bitter villain (book protagonist but show antagonist, an interesting twist).  She did such a good job I didn’t even recognize her as the nameless creeper fan until I checked the program.  She played dweeby, shy nerd for that brief scene so convincingly, I thought it was a different actor.

 The rest of the touken danshi serve as fanservice and comic relief.  It’s a bunch of OGs playing Ichimonji swords, mostly relatively new collectables in the game.  All anyone needs to know are the silver color characters are Uesugi swords who are there to be the cool, silent types.  The blond boys have a bit more lines.  Aya Oka as Ichimonji Norimune, expensive old man sword, will act suave and pretty in between scenes.  Nansen Ichimonji by Shiotsuki Syu is the comic relief.  Legend is the sword split a cat in two and was then cursed by the dead cat, hence all the cat mannerisms and frustrated meowing.  So Fuku here has to act the cat and also act the young, explosive lad.  She does the most audience-insert snarky commentary and slapstick of the side characters.  She wasn’t too distracting or detracted from the story.  In fact, she was genuinely funny and earned a lot of intentional chuckles and laughs from the crowd.

 The musumeyaku, as we will call them here, I am not as familiar with as they are mostly idols and actresses from the part of Japanese pop culture I do not follow as closely.  Everyone did a good job and were absolutely beautiful in their juunihito kimono.  Now this is a Touken Ranbu show so naturally the Tale of Genji cast are secondary characters.  However, each of the Genji cast was tasked with a double role that was important in carrying the theme.  Including Akira, they each played a “real” person from the Heian era and a book character.

 Half of the musumeyaku cast are basically random court ladies that, as a group, represent friends and fans of Murasaki Shikibu.  However, they have more to do in the Tale of Genji isekai as Aoi no Ue, Utsusemi, and Suetsumuhana.  What is important to note is their brief lines in the book club flashback when they discuss their favorite characters with the Empress.  The discussion extends to the solace and inspiration they find from the text.  Ironically, they all turn into their favorite characters when sucked into the book so perhaps that is why they so easily went with the flow.  Aoi no Ue’s realworld counterpart is presumably going through a rocky marriage or having trouble conceiving so sympathizes with the character.  Utsusemi finds inspiration in her character’s strong sense of morality and self-respect.  Suetsumuhana is actually a bimbo enjoying the story?  Well, she is basically comic relief on the girl’s side.  In the book, she’s known for that little red nose and the fact that she’s broke and dull because her family fell on hard times so lacks an education.  She even gets a clown mask with a giant nose to represent her morning-after cold for a bit of levity.

 The other ladies carry are more relevant to the theme.  We learn in Act 2 that Lady Rokujo (Genji’s MILF poetry teacher turned mistress), is actually the Empress in real life.  She is having marital and thus political troubles with the Emperor and feels trapped so gravitates towards Lady Rokujo for catharsis.  After all, Lady Rokujo of book fame goes wild and outright haunts her enemies by sheer will.  In reverse, we have Lady Koshosho, Murasaki’s best friend and a humble court lady, reincarnate as the villain empress in the book.  At the center of it all, we learn that the author Murasaki Shikibu has taken the role as unobtainable true love Consort Fujitsubo.  These three women are more prominent in the real world timeline.  The Empress voicing one opinion about fiction as head of book club, Lady Koshosho being avid book promoter and introductory character who links scenes, and Murasaki being the godly author of the book.  Minamoto Maho as both Murasaki Shikibu and Consort Fujitsubo is fitting as the lofty author is as grand a figure in her fictional universe as the idolized woman Fujitsubo.  Genji has a complicated love-hate relationship with her that blurs the line between character and creator.  Not much to say about her as Fujitsubo since she just has to stand there and be pretty while Genji angsts in the foreground.  However, she really shines as the author.  Murasaki Shikibu within the play raises some interesting points regarding storytelling and fiction as we observe her life and the people impacted by her story and finding a place in history.  A lot of Japanese portrayal of women, even with women protagonists, write them rather passively.  In the case of this show, we see internal conflict and agency from Murasaki as she strives to finish her novel against criticism and backlash.  Also, I would be remiss to not discuss young Murasaki, played by a set of child actresses.  The one in my showing was very professional in her line delivery and performed well.  Of course, she was super cute.

 Even extras were noteworthy people with previous works in major franchises, some were household names by Japanese standards.  We had voice actor from a Final Fantasy mobile game, guy in BLEACH musical, and boy band member.

 Overall, all the actors brought their talent to the table so I have no complaints!