#under kamikakushi

[yoco-45]

TaiSyou

[itsumonandodemo]

"いつも何度でも (itsumo nando demo)" - spirited away, 2001

[kohakuriver]

Spirited Away Twitter Q&A Translations

Multiple theories debunked/confirmed and we're given answers on how Haku and Chihiro can meet again! Ghibli finally answered a lot of popular questions!

When the official Ghibli twitter was first active back in 2022, it held a Q&A during a Spirited Away rerun. I don't think anyone's ever posted about it on here so I thought I'd share these translations I found! Most of these answers are completely new information about the movie. Here's a site that archived all the tweets and trivia.

The credit to these translations and notes go to atrociouscheese.

Q: Is it true about the rumors that "Spirited Away" has an subsequent story about a phantom after, and that it was shown only in some movie theaters? Or is it just an urban legend?

A: It's an urban legend. Miyazaki: "At first, I was planning to start from Chihiro's house. Chihiro's room was a path for yokai, and she talked about going to a bathhouse with my mother. But I quit because it felt dull. So it would be interesting if such rumors were circulating!"

Q: Why did you decide on the title "Sen and Chihiro's Spirited Away"? (referring to the Japanese title of Spirited Away which is: Sen to Chihiro Kamikakushi) Were there any other candidates for the title?

A: At the stage of the completed proposal that was drafted on November 2, 1999, it was "Sen's Spirited Away". At some stage, the movie was titled "Sen and Chihiro's Spirited Away" because it was about Chihiro's story.

Q: What is the meaning of the mysterious Daruma-like rock in front of the tunnel?

A: The image board says "Stone person (actually a frog person)"...

Q: Do you have any plans to build that tunnel in Ghibli Park?

A: I asked Goro, who is building the acclaimed Ghibli Park under construction.

Goro said: "I'm making 'that tunnel' in 'that work'~ (laughs)"

Q: The mother feels a little cold to Chihiro. I've always been wondering if there's any reason or if she's a cool person by nature.

A: Animation director, Masashi Ando, said that he wanted to not have the image of father and mother that appear in Miyazaki's work, and he said that he set it with an awareness of "a person who is cool and not in a place where family harmony is disturbed".

Q: How did the main character come to be named Chihiro?

A: Chihiro was modeled on Miyazaki-san's friends who were around 10 years old at the time (including some of their names). After the first preview, Mr. Miyazaki was there before anyone else to hear the children's impressions of the film.

Q: I'd like to know more in detail about the objects and places you used as references in creating this work.

A: There is no specific location "here". Mr. Miyazaki recalls the places he once visited and draws while imagining places he cannot remember. The restaurant district in the mysterious town that appears at the beginning of the film was said to have been drawn with an image of the entertainment districts of Yurakucho and Shinbashi.

Q: Are Kamaji and the working soot sprites (Japanese uses makkuro kurosuke) the same species? Or are they similar but different?

A: The official name of makkuro kurosuke is "Susuwatari". That's what it says on the storyboard, so it's not wrong to say that it's the same species. Initially, there was a plan that rice and sesame were their favorite foods, but now konpeito became their favorite.

Q: Are the characters portrayed in human form like Lin, human? Or are they other creatures?

A: The employees of the bathhouse are frogmen for the men and female slugs for the women. This is symbolic of the fact that to the new employees joining Ghibli, all the uncles look the same. Lin may look human because she is a close senior. Doesn't that happen to you?

Q: I want to know more details about of the chicks who are crammed in the bath!

A: It's a chick god called "Otori-sama." By the way, the one who is also soaking in the hot water is the "Cow Demon." According to Miyazaki, he thought, "Today's Japanese gods must be having a hard time," and that's how the bathhouse was born, where gods and yokai can heal their fatigue. 20 years later, the bathhouse may be even more prosperous now...

Q: Why did Radish spirit (Oshira-sama is used here) follow Chihiro upstairs?

A: The spirit became interested in Chihiro and got on the elevator together with her, but they didn't like Yubaba's room, so they descended immediately (it's written in the storyboard).

Q: How many years ago was the world of the bathhouses set from now?

A: It's modeled on the "pseudo-Western" buildings that were popular from the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period, so it can be interpreted as after that.

The actual model is Studio Ghibli. To work for Studio Ghibli, you have to go to Toshio Suzuki on the top floor and say, "Please let me work" (laughs).

Q: I really like the flood-like atmosphere of the flowers in the scene where Chihiro slips through the flowers before eating rice balls. Did you change the expression technique for only that scene?

A: For that scene, the flowers are drawn with paint and are then animated to have depth on the computer.

Q: I felt that the onigiri that Haku gave Chihiro were white rice balls, but did they contain any contents inside?

A: The storyboard says, "3 onigiri (without seaweed)". I'll leave it to your imagination to see whether it contained any ingredients in them (not that there was any wasabi).

Q: How many years has Haku lived approximately?!! He looks like a boy, but...!

A: His appearance is about 12 years old, but his actual age is unknown. He's kind during the daytime when Yubaba is sleeping, but is cold at night. According to Miyazaki, Chihiro is like falling in love with a manager. "What was that about last night?"

Q: Is No Face (Kaonashi is the original Japanese used)'s movement a little cat-like...? I personally think that, but are there any animals that you used as reference?

A: I don't have any "animals" as a reference, but the staff at that time said, "I felt like I was collecting the obsession that everyone had, the parts of people that were sick."

Q: I want to know the rating of the bathhouse bills! I wonder how many kinds there were and what rank of the tag Kasuga-sama was.

A: There are no ratings, but the efficacy of hot water is different for each tag.

Q: Is No Face a god? Is there a reason why they couldn't enter the bathhouse?

A: No Face is not a god, but Miyazaki said at the time that "No Face is inside everyone."

Q: Do many Ghibli staff have special feelings for Chihiro? Were there any celebrations among the staff on the 20th anniversary?

A: The studio does not do so-called "anniversary celebrations". Miyazaki and Suzuki's idea is to do what is in front of them without looking back on the past.

Q: I heard that most of the dishes that appear in the movie are made at least once, but was that big steamed bun (meat bun?) that Chihiro was chewing on also made by hand?

A: We don't cook all the meals that appear in the film. Miyazaki says, "Most of the food that appears in the movies are usually things I made and ate a long time ago."

By the way, the fried egg that appears in Laputa and Howl is said to have been drawn based on his memory of making a fried egg when he was a student, returning home from a long trip without any money and starving.

Q: Why is the name No Face?

A: At the drawing meeting at that time, Miyazaki said that Yubaba, No Face, and Chihiro are all "one aspect of the individual." Everyone has both good and bad points. I think he created a character called No Face as a symbol of human beings that cannot be drawn in a one-sided way (I answered seriously).

Q: When the film was released overseas, I was wondering what kind of responses and impressions people had about the unique concepts of Japan, such as Japanese gods and "spirited away/kamikamushi" had. Also, was it made in consideration of reactions from overseas at the time it was produced?

A: It varies from country to country. In some countries, the appearance of No Face became "silence", and other countries burst into laughter. Miyazaki does not make movies conscious of overseas reactions. Suzuki says, "If Japanese people make something that only Japanese people can do, it will become a global work."

Q: Why is Boh drawn so big?

A: It's a symbol of growing up as a child. It seems that Yubaba can't help but spend money on Bo.

Q: "Spirited Away" is the voice acting debut of Ryunosuke Kamiki, who has done voice acting in numerous anime. I heard that Ryunosuke was called to Ghibli's studio after recording his voice at home and sending in a tape because it was an audition. I would like to ask why you cast Kamiki in the role of Boh.

A: At first, people with big bodies were nominated for the voice of Boh. Miyazaki's face lit up the moment when he heard the voice of Kamiki who was eight years old at the time, he shouted, "This one, Mr. Suzuki!" and he decided.

Q: Please tell me how to distinguish between Yubaba and Zeniba.

A: At the image board stage, there was a clear difference between Zeniba and Yubaba. At the storyboarding stage, they thought it would be better to make them look exactly alike. One staff member said, "Yubaba has one wart on her chest and Zeniba has four warts on her chest." But I can't confirm it (laughs).

Q: Kamaji says that Zeniba is scary, but she is a gentle grandmother in the movie. Why did Kamaji say that Zeniba was scary?

A: People who look kind are the scariest when they get angry.

Q: Why did you make the scene of "I can't forgive you!" Dragon Ball-style? How did Yubaba hit such an orb?

A: The storyboard says "Dragon Ball style" (laughs). It's not clear why she was able to shoot an orb, but Miyazaki said, "Yubaba is an old woman who can swim in the air."

Q: I have a question about trains. Is there a reason why we used to come and return in the old days, but now we can only go one way? I would like to know if there are any settings.

A: During a drawing meeting, Miyazaki remarked, "All the employees of the bathhouse dream of saving money to open a store in the town beyond the bridge. Will they go for leisure? But if you get on the train you’ll never be able to come back and this will be gone.”

Q: Where was the scene that took the most time to draw?

A: If there are a lot of characters, the scene will take a lot of time, though I can't say in general that this cut took the most time. It is unclear what scene took the most time but Miyazaki often fixed Chihiro's small gestures, and in particular, Miyazaki seems to have, with all his effort, corrected the scene where Chihiro received the hair tie from Zeniba and tied her hair.

Q: What was the most difficult dubbing scene?

A: Kamaji, who is played by Bunta Sugawara, speaks a lot slowly, so it was difficult for Sugawara to get it on scale. Rumi Hiiragi was having a hard time with saying "one, OK?" from the line "one, OK? I can't call one flower a bouquet". And Miyu Irino tried many times with "Nigihayamikohakunushi"

(translation note: her line in Japanese, what "one, ok" sounds like is "ippon, ne." Japanese changes numbers when it comes to counting items, so one which is ichi becomes ippon when it comes to counting the bouquet. So instead of saying, "One, okay" she said "one okay") Additionally, I actually know what they're referencing and you can actually see the dubbing behind the scene difficulties they're talking about in this video uploaded on Youtube: video here

Q: How do you write Haku's real name "Nigihayamikohakunushi" in kanji (Chinese characters)? I am wondering if it is the characters for "amber river" (琥珀川) or "small white river" (小白川). I would like to know if there is a meaning to "Nigihayahimi"!

A: Although it is written in katakana in the setting, the name "Nigihayami" is said to be the composite of several gods including Nigihayahi (nigihayami-no-mikoto), the ancestor of the Monobe clan who fought against the Soga clan during the Asuka period, and Hayakitsuhiko, the river god and dragon incarnation.

Q: How did Chihiro find out that her mother and father were not inside the pig pen in the end?

A: I'm not sure of the reason, but please read the children's book called "Krabat", which Miyazaki was greatly influenced by.

Q: Is there any reason why Chihiro's hair tie sparkled brightly at the end?

A: That hair accessory is the only proof that Chihiro worked at the bathhouse. I think it can be said that it is a (choice by) stage direction to give that impression (of the sparkling).

Italics is my inference, but I'm not 100% sure.

Q: How many days did it take for Chihiro to get lost in the mysterious city, work in the bathhouse, and exit the tunnel?

A: Mr. Suzuki advocates the three-day theory. When her father and mother get into the car as if nothing had happened, the inside of the car is covered with dust, so the passage of time may be different here from the tunnel.

Q: Why is going into the tunnel different on the way back?

A: When I asked Noboru Yoshida, an art staff member, he answered, "It depends on the passage of time." Does that means that the "three-day theory" collapses...?

Q: Did Chihiro and Haku meet after that?

A: Haku was the spirit of the river that flows near the house where Chihiro used to live. If Chihiro ever visits the river...

[hellaciousfaith]

He has to leave. Now.

They - he and Mephisto - have a plan made up for this.

(Except they don't. Not really. The plan was to keep Shiro from falling back under Satan's watchful gaze, not to escape it if/when he ever fell into the demon god's crosshairs again. It's too late. There's no escaping the one who controls all the elements.)

Hastily, he packs as much as he can into the simple duffel bag he's kept under the bed all these months. He only needs the necessities to travel. Clothes, some books, weapons; so many weapons. It's not enough, but it'll have to due under such short notice.

(Nothing will ever be enough.)

With his things packed, he leaves a hasty note on the desk for the others to find, then deliver.

Mephisto Your father knows now.

Nothing else needs to be said. The Baal will understand, and he can handle the fallout with the children however he sees fit.

Shiro then slips the kamikakushi key off his neck, slides it into the keyhole of his dorm room door, and steps out into world away from everyone and everything he's come to love in this strange, alternate universe.

[shuuenmei]

(inhales) Alright.

I’m currently on the third semester for my first Persona 5 Royal run and with much ideas for “tabula rasa”, I also got a crossover AU idea for black or white which I shall dub as “murder siblings au” where Goro is adopted into Yuu (Rei)’s family.

(Placed right under the cut for story spoilers for P5R and some future plans for black or white. Also this is going to be long.)

Pre- P5R timeline:

In this AU, Goro is adopted into Yuu (Rei)’s family all the way out at Hokkaido at age 10, 2 years after his mom passed away.

Yuu (Rei) is a 2004 baby which makes her 6 years younger than Goro.

Goro, who had already gone through a few foster homes already thought the Shiina couldn’t be any different from his previous ones.

It took a few months but Goro eventually warmed up to them because they had been so kind to him, even after he opened up to being an illegitimate kid. And he had changed his surname to Shiina out of respect for his adoptive family at this time.

He especially bonded with Yuu (Rei) the fastest because she actually helps Goro find some closer with his mother by pointing and talking to his biological mother’s ghost.

He didn’t learn about the fact that the Shiina family and its family tree are practically cursed to have supernatural abilities due to being descended from a Kamikakushi returnee (Yuu (Rei)’s grandmother)) until he is old enough to actually question why Yuu (Rei) and some of his adoptive family members are born with it.

At any rate, another family member that Goro is close to is his adoptive granny and he is especially fond of her because she is just so nice and loving.

Unfortunately, granny died when Goro is 14 and Yuu (Rei) is 8.

Goro grieves, but Yuu (Rei) took the worst because grandma’s death is the first reminder for Yuu (Rei) about human mortality.

This time, it’s Goro’s turn to help Yuu (Rei) out and slowly, he helped her find some closure regarding her grandmother’s death.

Things are peaceful and nice. Goro wished that things stay that way.

And then he had awakened to Loki and Robin Hood due to Yaldabaoth, and then Shido found him with all the intentions of manipulating him but Goro saw through it and refused since he already had a family that he gave a damn about now.

Then Shido brought in the big guns and threatened Goro by putting his adoptive family, especially Yuu (Rei), as leverage and hostage for Goro to work for him or the lives of his adoptive family are forfeit.

So Goro is literally forced to work for Shido and had no choice in the matter lest his adoptive family gets killed.

Goro moves back to Tokyo under the guise of a Tokyo highschool scholarship (Under Shido’s name) but Yuu (Rei) thought something is a miss right from the start but couldn’t do much yet to act on it.

So a year after Goro moved to Tokyo, she saw him gaining fame as “Detective Prince” and took his old surname of Akechi that Yuu (Rei) went “I knew something is fishy!”

Yuu (Rei) called for her older cousins living in Tokyo and ask if the offer to have her stay with them and study in Tokyo is still up (They made the offer to help Yuu (Rei) out from her situation at school because she is shunned for her ability to see the dead and her cousins really wanted to help her.)

Yuu (Rei) moved to Tokyo, chaperoned by her older cousins with a goal of wanting to find her older adoptive brother for answers.

P5R timeline proper:

Due to transfer problems, Yuu (Rei) was only able to get enrolled to a school in Tokyo around 2016 which I set to be the year P5R took place, so Yuu (Rei) had to wait and endure another school year back in Hokkaido.

However, Goro is so busy with his “Idol” persona crafted by Shido in this AU, on top of his hitman job and metaverse explorations, that Yuu (Rei) never actually found him.

He also never got to see or knew about Yuu (Rei) moving to Tokyo because he tried to keep his contact with his adoptive family as little as possible lest Shido and his goons get ideas to bring them into the fold and endanger their safety even more than usual.

Yuu (Rei) did, however, meet the Phantom Thieves in their real life guises in separate occasions and spoke of her goal of wanting to find her brother. However, neither party connected that Akechi Goro is the “brother” that Yuu (Rei) is looking for and the fact that Yuu (Rei) somehow always missed seeing Goro.

So yes, Yuu (Rei) befriended the ghost parents of the Phantom Thieves and ask them for help instead, which includes Isshiki Wakaba and Yusuke’s mom.

Kobayakawa, after his death, kinda got directed to her because Yuu (Rei) had formed a network of ghost informants via Wakaba and Yusuke’s mom over the months of her stay in Tokyo and Yuu (Rei) learned the truth indirectly of her adoptive brother being under Shido’s employ but they don’t know why yet, especially since Wakaba didn’t tell Yuu (Rei) about Persona’s and Metaverse stuff yet since she feared Yuu (Rei) going reckless in her confrontation with her brother in her need for answers.

Then December 3, Akechi entered the Metaverse in his rush to stop the Phantom Thieves from getting a hit on Shido since he still wanted to be the one to personally put an end to the man and Yuu (Rei), who finally saw her brother for the first time, followed after him and entered Shido’s palace because she was close by when he activated the Metanav.

By the time Yuu (Rei) caught up to Goro... he just got beaten by the thieves and Shido’s cognitive Akechi showed up.

It’s a really bad, bad timing for him to show up and then hold her captive, gloating smugly about why Goro actually works for Shido.

Goro is pissed and also torn because of the fact that his adoptive sister is actually here in Tokyo and is looking for him and it took a lot of restraint for him to stay put lest Shido’s cognitive Akechi actually shoots her.

But instead, the unexpected happened.

Yuu (Rei), fed up with being left out of the loop, feeling helpless and refusing to die here, awakens to a Persona in response.

Yuu (Rei) awakens to Ibaraki-Douji as her first Persona.

None of the thieves are happy at the development. Though she was able to manage to fight back, her young age and smaller physique means that she gets easily hurt and it prompted the thieves to step in and help, Goro included.

Since Yuu (Rei) is younger, she literally passed out and had to be tended in a safe room with Goro and Futaba getting answers to why she is in the Palace in the first place.

Goro actually got time to talk and clarify how he actually got entangled with Shido while waiting for her to wake up.

It was a fucked up situation and conflict with no right or wrong answer in hindsight.

On one hand, Futaba and Haru both still had a right to be mad at Goro for killing their respective parents.

On the other hand, knowing that Goro literally got his hands forced because Shido threatened the well being of the one adoptive family who actually gave a damn about him changed their impressions of the detective prince.

When Yuu (Rei) wakes up, both brother and sister had a long talk, shouting matches and all, mostly out of worry for the other.

But at the end of it all, they come to an understanding and promise to not keep anymore secrets with each other.

That said, Yuu (Rei) is still banned from joining the thieves because she is too young for the Phantom thieves to consider getting a help from and they rather prefer that she stay away from Metaverse business as much as possible.

And then the third semester happened and Yuu (Rei) forces her way in because she can’t stand being left out.

Post P5R and Pre-Twst:

Goro tried to turn himself in to atone for his crimes and to pay back a debt to Akira (Joker’s real name in this AU).

Goro’s initial sentence was 5 years of juvenile prison.

However, this was later changed because Shido’s change of heart completely altered and cause complications to how Goro and Sae are going to prosecute and condemn Shido for his massive crimes because Shido claimed that he killed Akechi Goro, and the one that is brought to the police station is a Akechi Goro’s look alike, a Hokkaido boy named Shiina Goro.

Goro is not pleased because he still had crimes that he wanted to atone, since he values accountability among other things that he valued such as freedom of choice, but if he didn’t agree to this testimony, then Shido won’t stay in jail.

So Goro, Sae and the thieves begrudgingly agree to this narrative so Shido will rot in jail forever.

Even Goro admits that it left a bitter taste in his mouth to not be able to get to be able to atone for his crimes but he at least manage to accomplish getting payback at Shido for his threat and his adoptive family left safe.

Despite things being over, Yuu (Rei) decided that she’d like to stay in Tokyo with her cousins instead of heading back to Hokkaido because things were already bad back home because the area she lived in is still prejudiced against her for being “abnormal” but she actually now had people she care about in Tokyo.

Goro decided to head back to Hokkaido because he needs some time away from Tokyo to heal and he needs to talk with his adoptive parents and baby brothers again.

Not sure about whether or not I want to include Strikers in but things are relatively peaceful for the most part as Goro and Yuu (Rei) adjust to regular lives and getting along better with the Phantom Thieves.

And then comes April 2020.

On the day Yuu (Rei) and Goro went back to Hokkaido to visit their grandma’s grave, the ebony carriage appeared and Goro watches Yuu (Rei) being brought away right in front of his eyes.

Twst timeline Proper:

I admit there hasn’t been a lot of thought for this but Yuu (Rei) is literally brought to Twisted Wonderland and start her journey as the new Wild Card of Twisted Wonderland.

Goro had to strong arm and get the Velvet Room attendants to let him see her once he was told about this information.

However, Goro is on the condition that he is not allowed to interfere in Yuu (Rei)’s wild card journey unless necessary and prompted.

Goro begrudgingly agreed to the condition just so long that he can see his adoptive sister.

They reunited... post Heartslabyul where Yuu (Rei) already awakened as a wild card, forming a team with Riddle as the first Persona user to join her, and then he proceeds to judge the rest of the cast because of the knowledge that Yuu (Rei) got thrown into a magical all-boys school.

Cue Goro menacingly smiling with the hidden message of “Touch my sister and you’re fucking dead.”

Yeah, that’s about it but I honestly started writing and thinking the idea out because I thought it’ll be fun to write Yuu (Rei) and Akechi as adoptive siblings with the dynamic of “Looks like pleasant and polite people but are secretly bloodthirsty and feral in different ways”.

Hence, murder siblings.

Anyway that’s all for now!

[souglias]

I posted 658 times in 2022

That's 658 more posts than 2021!

164 posts created (25%)

494 posts reblogged (75%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@souglias

@dinoshimaaa

@c6jpg

@almond-adeptus

@iridescene

I tagged 657 of my posts in 2022

#q - 373 posts

#genshin impact - 261 posts

#childe - 110 posts

#art - 109 posts

#recs - 104 posts

#icymi - 103 posts

#shitposts - 96 posts

#conversations - 73 posts

#mutuals ! - 66 posts

#gintama - 55 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#im a real sucker for stories that include things abt chinese or japanese culture and these r the days i appreciate the fact that im chinese

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

In Another Reality [Kazuha]

c/w: angst, hurt/comfort, mention of a bug, implied blood in one line, separation, recent GAA spoilers

note: thank you to Mint and Feiyue for looking through this for me <3

Thank you for all the likes and reblogs!

Cross-posted on AO3

Born to a family of servants under the Kaedehara clan, your childhood was spent under the roof of the Kaedehara house that you no longer have access to. Most of your memories had Kazuha in them (the first time you met him, the first time you sparred with him with branches, the first and last time you won him in a game of shogi), but those that didn’t have him were those with family.

With your mother’s history as the shrine maiden before she had married, she had many stories to tell you when she had spare time. Those you remember vividly are about the phenomenon of kamikakushi, people being spirited away. You remember her holding about her pointer finger as she warns, “People say that you should never eat or drink anything from that world if you ever get spirited away. Otherwise, you’ll be trapped forever.”

A part of you skeptical about your mother’s stories, you lock the stories in the back of your mind. That is until you enter Kazuha’s domain at the Golden Apple Archipelago. The memory resurfaces, leading you to remind yourself over and over never to touch the tea sets and plates of food you see in the domains. You wouldn’t call this getting spirited away, but it is another world after all.

When you open your eyes after Kazuha touches the bonsai for the third time, you are standing alone. Large wooden sliding doors tower in front of you as you stand in the spacious genkan. You call out the names of your travelling companions, but you get no response.

As if you’re doing a hesitant gamble, you whisper, “Kazuha?”

You are being too hopeful. Sighing, you slip your feet out of your sandals.

“My love?”

Kazuha’s voice comes out muffled behind the wooden door. You almost trip when stepping up onto the wooden floorboard. Perhaps it was just an illusion. After all, domains are unpredictable and unexplainable. A warp in time and space.

You hear your name through the door again. Gingerly, you press your hands against the sliding doors and shift them outwards. It reveals a man all too familiar to you. Except that he’s wearing a white silk kosode with red accents and flowing sleeves on both sides. Maple leaves are sewn meticulously onto his hakama and a gold crest with a maple leaf etched is pinned on a simple red fabric belt.

Eyes running up his body, you settle your gaze on his eyes. There are dark circles underneath his eyes and faint wrinkles on his bottom lid. Beyond the crimson irises, there is only a dim candlelight braving the ruthless gales.

Kazuha outstretches his hand to you and you notice his scar-less hands. When you take his hand, you feel a writer’s callus on his finger that you don’t recall him having.

He brings you down the familiar dim corridor and the wooden floor creaks the way you remember it. The servants in the house shuffle across your vision as the two of you walk, opening and closing the paper sliding doors. A few familiar faces that perk up when they see you and new faces who only spare you a glance in their busy flurry.

Bright sunlight spills into your vision when Kazuha opens the sliding door, causing you to squint your eyes. When you open your eyes again, you see a tea set on the floor with two zabutons on opposite sides of it.

As you step into the room, you note the slightly frayed tatami flooring below your feet and notice the nihonga of maples that has its colours dulled. There is also now a shelf full of bound books. Below it, a sturdy bonsai.

Kazuha invites you to settle on the zabuton opposite him. You shuffle around in your seat in an attempt to shake off the awkwardness (and the unsettling feeling festering in your chest).

You notice that instead of hard sweets, there is a plate of crackers that comes with the tea set instead. Kazuha reassures you, “Don’t worry, it is only the two of us. We shall go ahead and forgo the formalities today.”

Still as attuned to your thoughts and emotions as ever.

Kazuha picks up the teapot and you hurry to hold up your teacup to him. As he tips the teapot, the fragrance of the tea reaches your nose. Nostalgia fills your heart. You used to try making this tea for Kazuha when the both of you were kids.

You had thought you could do it just by looking at the elder servants brewing tea. But in the end, you had accidentally tipped the burnt tea over the tatami flooring and earned yourself a harsh scolding from your parents.

After Kazuha finishes pouring the tea, he closes his eyes as he brings the cup up to his lips. On the other hand, as you bring the teacup up to your lips, you’re hit with a cruel reminder that you’re in a domain. And there are rules you have to abide by unless you can shoulder the possible consequences.

Your arms droop back down to your lap, your cup cradled in both hands. A few moments pass when only the tea timidly sways and brushes at the mouth of the cup.

“What’s wrong? Is the tea not to your liking? I made this with you in mind, but it seems like I have more to work on.”

You bite the inside of your cheek. “I’m sure the tea is great, Ka- my lord. I’m just not sure if I can stomach anything right now.”

His eyes widen and he asks with alarm in his voice, “Are you alright? Do you need anything?”

After you shake your head, he adds, “Please, don’t call me that. Kazuha will do.”

See the full post

153 notes - Posted August 3, 2022

#4

hi sherry :))

you’re doing the most for soon-to-be birthday boy and i love it! all the stages of your event are so cool and thought out so i’m excited to see all of it put together on jax’s b-day.

as for your request event, i’m a sucker for hanahaki so…

i’d love to see hanahaki au with some hurt/comfort ! (and i would totally say no comfort, but i’ll let him be happy for 1 day)

sending big hugs rn and wishing you a great day/night!! 🫶🫶

Blue Roses [Childe]

c/w: hanahaki

Note: HI LEE! I'm so sorry that I took a while to get to this, I've been wrestling with this request for a while :">. It's my first time writing hanahaki and I hope that you like this! Thank you for waiting and for participating in my event. I hope you've been doing well

“Who did this to you?”

The blue of his eyes scalds more than any flame you’ve known. The sheer heat makes you look away.

And how ironic, given that all you wanted was to look at his eyes without it being a privilege. 

There was only once when you managed to admire his eyes without him catching you for an extended period. Despite the brilliant azure sky behind him, it did not dull the richness of the blue eyes. 

Having caught you staring at him, he had nudged your arm and asked, “What is it? Oh~, are you in love with me?”

You had averted your gaze before you scoffed, “How could I love someone who tried to destroy my nation?”

“You wound me, [name].” 

Even though you are staring at the sand instead, you can see him having a hand on his chest with a pout in your mind’s eye.

His eyes have the same blue as the roses you watch yourself cough up. How beautiful, you want to say. Even as the petals had fallen off your lips, they twirl elegantly in their descent. 

You keep your eyes on your fingers as they tussle with each other. You couldn’t tell him.

(Because then, what would that mean for him? Would that put him in a spot? Would that make him obliged to love you?)

“[name], look at me.”

Any despearation he tries to hide leaks into his voice. From the side of your eye, you see his hands ball the ends of the blanket. 

The ward in Bubu Pharmacy becomes a little too small for both you and Childe.

Your eyes slowly run up his body. Abdomen, chest, neck, chin, lips, nose. Finally, your gaze reaches his eyes. Childe searches for an answer to his question in your eyes.

(You do not know how to tell him that he can find the answer in his instead.)

“I promise, I’m not going to harm them. I… just want to talk to them.”

“What are you going to say?”

He doesn't say anything for a few moments.

“Is it Mr Zhongli?”

“What? No! And I asked-”

“Is it the traveller?”

See the full post

170 notes - Posted September 17, 2022

#3

The Drive of Two [Childe]

c/w: swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of break-ups, arguments

note: I promise this is not angst. Thank you to @hurricanectar for beta-ing this for me!!! Your comments were very encouraging for me ily <3. For Childe's birthday event hosted by me here :)

Cross-posted on AO3

Thank you for all the likes and reblogs!

-19-

“Want me to drive you to the station?”

You give Childe a confused look as he says that. Childe takes the last sip of his juice before he elaborates.

“I drove here and I know the train station is a 15-minute walk away.”

You realise how kept up you’ve been with a part-time job that you didn’t know Childe has been taking lessons for a driving licence. It also finally clicks why he didn’t meet you at the train station to head to the eatery together this time. 

The thought of having a friend, your best friend, drive you for the first time makes your eyes visibly brighten up. 

You skip out of the eatery like an excited puppy into the hot afternoon sun (which you were hiding from as much as you could earlier).

Childe always knew the first person he wanted to take for a drive was you. But he didn’t anticipate his thrumming heart and the hurricane of uncertainty that spins in his chest. He can feel your excitement radiating onto his back.

Previously confident, he’s now worried his driving skills are still too rough for you.

Childe pulls out his keys with a sweaty hand. There is a twinkle in your eyes and he feels like he’s carrying the expectations of a child. Out of everyone, he knows best not to let down a child with expectations. 

He opens the door to the driver’s seat and plops down in his seat. You open the door of his new car gingerly and step in with great care. 

Shit, I should have opened the door for them. 

You squeeze into the seat that hasn’t been pulled back and you lean back into the seat with stiff shoulders. Noticing the Monoceros Caeli keychain hanging from the rearview mirror, you beam with pride. After all, the only keychain hanging in his car is the one you got for him.

The engine revs up when he turns the key. The whirring of the engine fades away as Childe turns on a song. 

You keep your eyes on the road in front of you, but you can’t help but feel his presence right beside you. From the side of your eye, you see how he pulls and pushes the gear lever with his slender fingers. 

(Were his fingers always that slender?) 

You only truly start paying attention to the road when you find the buildings a little too familiar.

“Childe? You sure this is the right way?”

His grip on the steering wheel tightens a little. “I’m pretty sure I keyed the station into the navigation system.”

“Um-”

He abruptly stops in the middle of the road, swearing under his breath. You chide him to get a move on and he manages to collect himself to shift into another lane.

He chuckles sheepishly, “My bad, I almost got onto the highway to go home.”

After turning a few more circles, he drops you off at a pavement, saying the station should be nearby and that it would probably be faster if you walked there on your own.

Childe opens his mouth just as you crack open the car door. 

“If you need me to drive you again next time, you can always ask me. I’ll drive you whenever I can.”

See the full post

184 notes - Posted July 20, 2022

#2

2:11AM [Childe]

c/w: mentions of destroying

Thank you for all likes and reblogs!

Childe is fast asleep, even with the trembling of the windows in the room. His arm hangs loosely over your waist. The curtain blocks your view, but the flashes of lightning unsettles you. Having lived in Liyue all your life, a blizzard is foreign and you never expected to experience one in your short visit to Snezhnaya. Being careful not to awake Childe, you slide out of his grasp and out of bed. 

You descend the the stairs carefully and skip certain steps. But you still step on the steps that creak, seemingly mocking your efforts to stay quiet. Exploring the house could appease your restless mind. But you still associate certain rudeness with sticking your nose in the nooks and crannies of the house. His family did say to make yourself feel at home, but there is still a line you do not dare cross. 

In the living room downstairs, a flame breathes weakly at the fireplace on a meagre piece of wood. You toss in more wood from the basket at the side. It crackles as it consumes the wood like a stray who hasn't had food for ages.

You settle on the sofa beside the growing flame. In your view, there's a glass window that you can't look away from. The gales knock angrily on the window, causing the glass windows to shiver. Rapid torrents of snow cut through the air, slicing relentlessly at the muddy light radiating from the lamp. You can't help but think there's another presence in the room, ready to ravage you like the ruthless blizzard attempting to lay waste to the trees outside.

Today is your first day in Snezhnaya. Childe has made the effort to show you around his hometown and share with you the sights he’s treasured from when he was young. But all you remember is feeling like an uneven weighing scale. A hand warmer almost burns your palm while chills run down your arms and feet where heat does not reach.

The warmth of the fireplace tickles the side of your arm, yet an emotionless cold seeps into your heart. 

“What’s wrong?”

You jump at the sudden voice from the stairs behind you. Childe attempts to rub the sleep away in his eyes as he approaches you. He plops down beside you, letting out a suppressed yawn. 

“The cold stresses me out and…” 

You dare not say the rest of your words. The image of his parents welcoming you with open arms, his older siblings taking time to find out more about you and his younger siblings swarming around you in excitement flashes in your mind. "I miss home" could come off as a critique of how they have failed as hosts.

Childe treats his family like a prized pearl. If he hears that, would the flame alight in his heart for you be snuffed out by the frost? Perhaps in a few minutes, you’d be out at the mercy of the freezing temperatures.

Childe leans into you a little, still keeping some distance. “And…?” 

You finish your sentence softly, as if you’re still trying to prevent him from hearing anything. There’s nothing from him as an aeon passes. 

(It’s only been a second.)

Childe shifts closer to you on the sofa meant for two. His sides touch yours and he takes your hand in his. Rubbing circles on the back of your hand, he reassures you, “It’s only your first day here, don’t be too hard on yourself.”

You nod, still unconvinced.

“The cold is tough on even us locals too.”

He lets go of your hand and circles his arms around your shoulders. Childe rests his head on your shoulder and snuggles closer to you. “Besides, I can always shield you from the cold with a hug. I’ll buy you all the hand warmers and heat packs you need. Maybe we could create our portable fireplace if that’s what you want too,” he drawls as sleep creeps into his voice.

But before he dozes off, he says, “If it gets too difficult for you, don’t hesitate to tell me that you want to leave. This land will always be here for you to come back to. I'll always be waiting for you here.”

His voice trails off. You lean on his head, careful not to awaken him. The blizzard outside accentuates the warmth of Childe’s skin on yours. The icy storm in your mind calms. A flower blooms in your heart amidst the howling winter.

205 notes - Posted June 23, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

9:22 PM [Ayato]

c/w: none

note: for @sohyuki

Thank you for all the likes and reblogs!

Moonlight touches your skin as you emerge from Chinju Forest and you heave a sigh of relief. You are finally free from the tricks that Ayato has played on you. You thought having Ayato escort you home from the party was a good idea, plus he said he would do anything you asked today since it’s your birthday. 

But perhaps it would have been better that you didn’t. Especially with how Chinju Forest scares you, where the light of the sun does not look down upon you. 

He’s taken 10 years off your lifespan by falsely alarming you with “dark shadows lurking behind that rock”, “plant youkai that eat human souls” and shouting for no reason just to get a reaction out of you. He should be nicer to you. After all, it is your birthday!

(Ayato should have been born as a mischievous bake-tanuki instead of the Yashiro Commissioner. You shouldn’t have said yes when he said he wanted to court you. But hey, that’d mean you couldn’t court him in return.)

Gentle drops of water on your exposed skin stop your train of thought. Thunder rumbles overhead and you see a flash of purple in the distance. Ayato is unperturbed by it as he continues walking into the plains at a slow pace with your hand in his. 

“Ayato, the drizzle might turn into a thunderstorm. Perhaps we should move quicker.”

He shakes his head and continues at his own pace.

The drizzle does not turn into a thunderstorm, but it does become heavier. You can feel your shirt clinging to the skin on your shoulders and you know both of you will be soaked at the slow pace that both of you walk. 

You run ahead of him to pull him along. But instead of following your lead, he comes to a sudden halt and does not budge. Baffled at his resistance, you try to cover him from the rain instead. You tiptoe to hover your hands above his head with frantic breaths and you struggle with your balance, even though you know it will not provide him much shelter.

Ayato clasps your hands between his and brings them down in front of his chest. 

“Let’s dance, [name].”

His pale blue hair starts to plaster his face and wet splotches bloom on his silk white coat. 

“Ayato, you’re getting soaked. You’ll fall sick.”

“A little rain won’t get me down. Just this once.”

Without letting you protest, he lets go of your hands and takes a step back. Ayato stretches his arm outwards as if he’s holding something close to him. 

He says as he checks his posture, “The traveller taught this to me. It’s called the waltz.”

You realise soon after a few steps that the cogs in his brain are turning, trying to recall something. Ayato is a little uncertain, taking a while before he puts a step down. But he takes that uncertainty with pride, unashamed to take back a wrong step even if it leaves a mark on the gravel. 

His feet stop doubting themselves after a mere few minutes. 

The worry in your mind about his wellbeing has yet to calm down, but you find yourself unable to ask him to stop.

He stretches his hand out towards you. Your hand is drawn to him as if it's a magnet attracted to another. He places your left hand on his shoulder, then takes your right in his left

“Just follow me.”

You soon get used to it, even though you step on his feet quite a bit. He steps on yours at times (and you think it might be intentional).

“You’re having fun dirtying my white sandals and watching the rain sully it, aren’t you?” 

He chuckles, “Don’t make me out to be so sadistic, [name].”

You slip on the mud and he catches you, pulling you back towards him. With the proximity, you take this chance gaze deep into his eyes.

Lightning is the boyish glow in his eyes, thunder is the tap of his heels on the gravel. Gone are the elegant steps he has to take. The sly fox that lives in his eyes has slinked away; it has left for a temporary respite. No one except you and the dark skies that do not judge watch him. 

See the full post

206 notes - Posted July 1, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[conflagrate]

Spring 2024 Anime + TV Season

TIME PLEASE STOP FLYING.

Anime

I am now depress cos all my fave shows have ended. But I ended up watching very few in total cos most of everything else was not to my taste & I GOT SCAMMED by Metallic Rouge

Top shows 1. Sousou no Frieren 2. Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 3. Yubisaki to Renren =. Dungeon Meshi 5. Cherrymaho

Shows completed: 7 (+1) Continuing: 1

Sakura season brings fresh-smelling new shows (yeah right)

Must Watch: Yuru Camp S3, Bokyaku Battery, SasaKoi, The Grimm Variations [4]

Sounds Interesting! Hope It Doesn’t Suck!: Bartender (I didn’t watch the first one...), Hananoi-kun to Koi no Yamai, Astro Note, Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai, Jii-san Baa-san Wakagaeru, Tadaima Okaeri, Rinkai!, Kaiju 8-go, Kuroshitsuji [9]

3episode Taste Test Needed: Shumatsu Train Doko e Iku?, Kami wa Game ni Ueteiru., Wind Breaker, Girls Band Cry, Highspeed Etoile, Ooi! Tonbo, Yoru wa Kurage o Oyobanai, Tonari no Yokai-kun, Yozakura-san’chi no Daisakusen, Vampire Dormitory, Seiyuu Radio no Uraomote, Kaii to Otome to Kamikakushi [12]

Do I Have To…? (No I Don’t): One Room Hi Atari Futsuu Tenshi Tsuki, The Fable, Himitsu no AiPri, Viral Hit

Sequel/Spinoff/Remake Hell: Okami to Koshinryo (I am the only oldfag who couldn’t finish watching the first one), Touken Ranbu Kai, Mahouka S3, Tensura S3, Hibike! Euphonium (I’m still in limbo cos I haven’t watched S2...), Shinigami Bocchan S3, Mushoku Tensei II, Date A Live V, KonoSuba S3, Maou Gakuin S2 Pt2, HeroAca S7, Kimetsu no Yaiba (I OFFICIALLY GIVE UP), Jongtama Kan!!, Nijiyon

Light Novel/Isekai/Villainess/Mecha/Sentai/Video Game Hell: Tensei shitara Dai Nana Ouji, Dekisokonai bla, Dorei Elf, Re: Monster, Henjin no Salad Bowl, Sentai Daishikkaku, Tensei Kizoku Kantei Skill, Blue Archive, Lv2 kara Cheat datta, Unnamed Memory, The New Gate

Idol/Vtuber/AI/Musical Hell: iM@S: Shiny Colors

Kids shows IDGAF: Kumarba, Shinkalion, Shadowverse

Continuing: Dungeon Meshi

Expected Load: 10-ish

I hope to drop as many as possible (as usual)!

TV & Streaming

TV back in half (as opposed to full) swing after the strikes, with truncated seasons + prestige shows being spread out thinly...

What I watched/am watching:

Disney+/Hulu: Murder At The End of The World, Tracker*, X-Men ’97*, Shogun* Netflix: 3 Body Problem*, The Gentlemen* Amazon Prime: Reacher S2, Expats CBS: NCIS S21*, NCIS: Hawai’i S3* ABC: Will Trent S2* NBC: The Irrational BBC: The Tourist S2, The Way NHK: Tsukutabe S2, Fune wo Amu* GagaOOLala: Chaser Game W Gameshows: Only Connect

Total series completed: 9 Ongoing: 9 Full-length films watched: 25

What I am/will be watching:

CBS: NCIS S21*, NCIS: Hawai’i S3* ABC: Will Trent S2* BBC: Blue Lights S2, Famous Five, The Responder S2 ITV: Red Eye?, Orphan Black: Echoes? Netflix: 3 Body Problem*, The Gentlemen*, The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman, Ripley?, Scoop?, Eric?, Baby Reindeer? Disney+/Hulu: Tracker*, X-Men ’97*, Shogun*, The Bear S3, The Acolyte?, Under the Bridge?, The Veil? Apple TV: Dark Matter, Sugar?, Presumed Innocent HBO: The Sympathizer, House of the Dragon S2 Others: A Gentleman in Moscow? (Paramount+), 1122? (Amazon Prime), The Tattooist of Auschwitz? (Peacock), Fune wo Amu* (NHK), Messo mo nai? (TBS)

*continuing

Looks like a lot, but they’ll be spread out + the network shows end in May + most of the rest are limited series. Plus, half of them will probably suck and I’ll end up watching old shows-

See ya in 3 months for the summer edition....

[flower-of-assiah]

Hi! One of my favorite rinshi details that I’ve recently noticed was that in chapter 109 when Rin is knocked unconscious by Mephisto, Mephisto uses Rin’s hand to use the kamikakushi key on the door where he is then dumped on Shiemi’s floor. Since we know the key takes Rin wherever he desires I took this to mean that even subconsciously with all the chaos of his trip to the past and witnessing his birth he wanted to see her since they are a source of support to each other. What do you think?

oh! I love this moment (it's in chapter 109) and also find this part so underrated! it's such a subtle but sweet detail that tells so much about how Rin views Shiemi (and we see on her end in chapter 114 when we see her end and she sees him there that it's the same for her)

it's interesting that the key could take Rin anywhere (including in time so likely back to Shiro/happier times when he was younger) and Rin subconsciously the safest place in the world and person he feels the most comfortable with is Shiemi, it's very telling about their relationship as a whole (friendship and love) because at one of his moments he's feeling like a monster and faced with all his fears the comfort he's seeking is from her! also adding the panels from the chapter below!

(also this got long so adding all images under a readmore)

Chapter 109

okay and then in chapter 114: we see once we're at Shiemi's part and her situation and similarly how she's in an uneasy situation and dealing with her own struggles and fears (like she's clearly feeling off around Jeremiah) plus she's got missing memories she's trying to recall

we see she's going through a lot emotionally and feeling very alone and missing her friends while also feeling bad because she's emotional and wishes her friends were there/what would they do in her shoes and thinks to Rin and Yukio (both who she looks to as she finds them strong and gives her encouragement though mainly focusing on the Rin half here <3)

adding a lot of scenes from this chapter! sorry about that

and similarly to Rin’s situation it’s like the moment they thought of each other their wishes were granted, Shiemi also had this whirlwind going on inside but just seeing Rin helped her calm down, and we also see just her voice while he’s dealing with his internal struggle reaches him where he needed as well

it’s funny Shiemi calls Rin (and Yukio) like the sun to her, but we also see a similar exchange through this scene and how even if Shiemi is unaware of it she brings a light to Rin’s shattered world and brought him comfort in a way she’s not aware of, and it’s like you said Anon! what’s so great about that key bringing Rin where his heart desires most and he sees as his biggest comfort is that combine that with Shiemi’s and you really see how that mutual support and care they bring to one another’s lives is the light and comfort guiding them in ways they don’t even expect!

these pages are forever favorites, the way just looking at his face allows her to smile and finally let her emotions out!

I keep adding too many scenes so gonna try to only add small moments from here

I love how once she hears him she can tell something is wrong and then from there we get this:

had to add as many as I could, but this whole scene is beautiful! and I love the visual of when you see her words reaching him and light starting to shine through! 

also the end results showing that the comfort they brought each other continues after this interaction to help them carry on and keep moving forward!

I can’t think of what else to add as I kinda went a bit off track here and there and this got longer than intended since I added all these panels rip but thank you for sharing with me what you love about this moment and also giving me the chance to discuss it as well!

there’s so many beautiful aspects to Rin and Shiemi’s relationship, and like you said the way they just are able to show this level of support in each other’s lives is definitely a favorite and one that warms the heart!

it’s also telling how close they are and positive they are in one another’s lives as even when apart the areas they’ve grown because of each other shine through, they’ve really impacted each other’s lives! 

[cjloogy]

Spirited Away – 千と千尋の神隠し

I think it’s easy to consider this thing a work of art. The animation is beautiful, the art direction is stunning, all of the character designs are incredibly inspired and imaginative, the music is wonderful, and the voice acting sells everything that’s happening on screen. When it comes to productions that work well to introduce people to the medium of anime, I think this is a solid option despite its extremely fantastical setting and premise. Everything here just works, and there’s really not much to criticize for what it sets out to achieve in my eyes. I think just about anyone could enjoy this film if they’re a bit more open minded to exploring different mediums and stories.

As for what’s going on in this film, there’s a lot. But I can still boil it down to a few sets of themes that stand out to me at least. An obvious one is supernaturalism, this tale is inspired by Japanese Shinto-Buddhist folklore, as showcased by the wide variety of spirits that Chihiro encounters, plenty of which I can pick out individually. The setting of the bathhouse is a pretty literal interpretation of solstice rituals, in which villagers would call forth various spirits and kami and invite them to their baths. Chihiro’s place in all of it is that of a child going through their rite of passage into adulthood. She’s somewhere between child and adult in this rather upsetting point in her life, and in this world of spirits she also stands outside of societal boundaries. The literal translation of the title reinforces this idea further, 千と千尋の神隠し (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) or “Sen and Chihiro’s Spiriting Away” where 神隠し (kamikakushi) can also be read as hidden (kakushi) by gods (kami). In this way, I can see Chihiro passing through this world of spirits while moving on from her status as a child in her old home, to a more grown individual who’s embraced her past and accepted moving to a new home.

Other themes I can notice more now are ones that seem to be more critical of modern aspects of society, such as consumerism and environmentalism. Greed is a major motivation and pitfall for many characters in this movie, with varying obsessions over gold and food. I feel like this greed is mostly rooted in westernism, with Yubaba having a distinctly western-inspired dress and having much of her furnishings in her room look very European compared to the much more traditional Japanese styled architecture and furnishings of her workers. I think this ties into the influence the west had over Japan during the Meiji restoration, where in the process of modernization and “catching up” with the rest of the world, much of the traditional Japanese culture at the time may have been overwritten. Yubaba’s act of literally taking Chihiro’s name from her and turning it into Sen (which is the Japanese character for one thousand) can also be looked at as a commentary on employers’ fixation on sheer value even when it comes to living beings. Chihiro’s parents also turn into literal consumerist pigs, which is incredibly subtle and took me many viewings to understand this incredibly nuanced metaphor. Haku himself also gets his name stolen from him, albeit in a somewhat different manner from Chihiro. He exists as a manifestation of what was once a river in the human world, but the river was destroyed and had apartments built over its place, causing him to lose his home and his sense of self and identity. A pretty blunt commentary on both consumerism and the destruction of nature through urban expansion, which continues to be a concern for many in Japan to this day.

As far as Japanese cinema goes, I feel that animation should probably viewed from a separate perspective when comparing it to other films. The production is intense in its own ways, dealing with an almost entirely different set of hurdles under a pretty distinct medium, so comparing Spirited Away with other works that we’ve watched should be an interesting experience. While other Miyazaki films still win out for me, this viewing reminded me of how absolutely solid this movie is. A strong story with a lot of good commentary and a superb audiovisual experience makes it clear why this is considered by many to be the best animated film of all time.

Can’t beat Howl though, love that guy.

[abi-kamikakushi]

tagged by @stillness138 thank u!!! <3333

questions under the cut:

1. why did you choose your url?

i changed it to abi-kamikakushi ("spirited away") when i stopped using tumblr years ago, but then i came back and just never bothered to change it back... it's long and hard to type out and i should probably do something about it lmaooo

2. side blogs?

@abi-tired for reblogs, then theres uhhhh homestuck ask blogs from ye olden days which i shall not name

3. how long have you been on tumblr?

since 2015-16 i think... but with large gaps here and there

4. do you have a queue tag?

#q

5. why did you start your blog?

for posting undertale fanart :)

6. why did you choose your icon?

miss wadanohara my first video game beloved (she's from the jrpg 大海原と大海原 and i still love that game so much...)

7. why did you choose your header?

geralts hansa is precious, plus it's my first piece of witcher art!

8. post with the most notes?

life is strange lesbians

9. how many mutuals do you have?

10? 20? i can't keep track but all my mutuals right now are from witcher, as it's the first fandom that i've interacted this much in

10. how many followers do you have?

~1000

11. how many people do you follow?

~700

12. ever made a shitpost?

catch me on twitter @ zhx_abibibi shitposting 24/7

13. how often do you use tumblr each day?

terminally online

14. did you ever have a fight/argument with another blog?

not that i can remember... maybe i had some years ago?

15. How do you feel about ‘you need to reblog this’ posts?

depends on the content ig :/

16. do you like tag games?

ye!!!

17. do you like ask games?

i do but i always forget to reblog ask games to this blog dskfjs

18. which of your tumblr friends/mutuals do you think is famous?

idk? but i think all of them are neat and i love their content

also on twitter i have mutuals who are like, cool professional artists and writers... but once we're on this hellsite we all just vibin

19. do you have a crush on a mutual?

nah, but mutuals reading this know that ilysm!!! your content and interactions have brought me so much joy this past year and it kept me going thru some hard times 💖💖💖kudos and best wishes to you all.

tagging friends who i haven't seen tagged yet @gwynbleiddancrevan @gerrito @jlyarts @akilah12902 @dhelglore @andordean if u guys want! also anyone else who would like to join <3

[yoco-45]

“Well, I'm probably going to get my pay docked by Asgore for not being properly dressed this time.”☹️

[kamikakushidorm]

Shuu’s twin brother, Kou, twisted from Zeniba.

art by @00-lingling 🤗💖✨

~

personal info

name: Kou (Tomomi Suzuki)

age: 18

birthday: January 15th (Capricorn)

origin: Reikai

height: 5’11ft (180cm)

eye colour: Light brown

hair colour: White

dislikes: Studying

favourite food: Takoyaki

least favourite food: Curry

dominant hand: Right

professional info

dorm: Kamikakushi 2nd year

class: 2-A (n.27)

occupation: Student

club: Light music

best subject: Music

worst subject: Everything else

unique magic

“Anatade Wanai Nanika” (Something you are not): The user has the ability to morph any animate or inanimate object into another animate or inanimate object of their choosing. The user can switch them back whenever they want, but effects automatically wear off after 96hrs. Being morphed causes the recipient to lose their ability to speak, but they are still able to use their own magic.

biography

Kou is polar opposite to his brother Shuu. He is very relaxed and free-spirited, not caring too much about the rules or being successful, more so caring about having fun and living life to the fullest. He’s got strong opinions and often gets into trouble with school staff because of it, causing problems in the classroom. He’s also got a mischief/delinquency streak, which together with his tendency to act out in class has gotten him suspended a few times, even held back a year. His grades are nowhere near what they should be, but it often gets swept under the rug due to his wealthy background.

The only thing Kou truly cares about is playing music; He’s a very talented musician and plays in a small band outside of NRC. He’s played the drums ever since he was young but his parents never recognized it as a worthwhile talent. Kou tends to bottle up his feelings a lot and put on a mask of cheerfulness because of his childhood.

[treethymes]

Many of Miyazaki’s male characters carry a curse of some sort, an expression of internal conflicts: Ashitaka’s toxic arm in Princess Mononoke, Marco’s pig face in Porco Rosso (Kurenai no Buta, 1992), Haku’s magic indenture to Yubaba in Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, 2001), and Howl’s imprisoned heart in Howl’s Moving Castle (Haoru no ugoku shiro, 2004). These are the most obvious examples, but even the seemingly happy-go-lucky Lupin in Castle of Cagliostro (Rupan Sansei Kariosutoro no shiro, 1979) and the remarkably mature five-year-old Sōsuke in Ponyo (Gake no ue no Ponyo, 2008) bear traces of a gravity unusual for protagonists in movies aimed at a young audience. Although these choices make aesthetic sense in helping to create more intricate and compelling characters, they also suggest a view of the world that goes beyond simple family entertainment.

Curses in Miyazakiworld are not limited to human beings. In one of the more memorable speeches in the blockbuster ecofable Princess Mononoke, the cynical monk Jiko-bō states, “The whole world is under a curse!” The traumatic landscapes of the film support that statement as we see woodlands destroyed, skies shrouded, and the god of the forest brought down with a rifle shot. Spirited Away makes the curse on nature even more specific: the enigmatic character Haku is not actually a human but a river god, and it is his river that is “cursed.” Another river in the film is so polluted that its god has been turned into a “stink spirit,” signifying both spiritual and environmental pollution.

[...]

Even in Miyazakiworld’s most apocalyptic expressions something always endures. In his animations of lost or unreal worlds the director presents catalysts for hope and action, not simply vehicles of escape. In this regard Miyazaki may be said to engage in what theorists David L. Eng and David Kazanjian label “a politics of mourning”---neither passive nor resigned but activist, concentrating on “what remains” rather than “what is lost”: loss motivates more than memorials; it also motivates art. Along with Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and the dedicated staff at Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki would go on to make films that inspire action when confronting loss, community when dealing with absence, and resuscitation in the face of ruin.

Susan Napier, Miyazakiworld (2018)

[bts-fic-collection]

what are the best mystery fics in ur opinion? ive never actually read any but i think they could be fun ^-^

So i’ve found a few mystery fics - whether they’re the best I don’t know, but they seem good :)

Too Alive by Farquad

Rating: T

Pairings: Hoseok/Yoongi

Status: Incomplete

Word count: 59,627

Summary: When Hoseok wakes up he can’t remember anything. He’s in a room, sharing it with Min Yoongi.

There’s something weird with Min Yoongi. Hoseok tries figuring it out; figuring him out, and ends up falling in love along the way.But he doesn’t know that Yoongi is sick. He doesn’t know that time is ticking.Time is ticking and Hoseok only has one month to save them all.

지혜と지민の神隠し (Jihye to Jimin no kamikakushi) by GaufreKerry

Rating: M

Pairings: Yoongi/Jimin

Status: Incomplete

Word count: 21,238

Summary: Jimin is a fifteen years old Korean boy who's just moved to Japan with his parents for his father's work.

He's sulky, he never wanted to move away from everything he knew in the first place, but when his parents decide to visit an old, abandoned amusement park on the way to their new town and stop at a strange restaurant, Jimin finds himself drawn into a world full of demons, gods and magic where he'll have to survive and face many dangers and foreign beings in the hope of going back home with his parents one day.

Sneak peek:

Jimin sighed, his shoulders sinking, then he turned and he let out a gasp when his eyes fell on the face of a boy, standing behind him on the other side of the bridge.

He was wearing a blue and white Japanese kimono, and his black hair fell on his eyes like ink as his eyes widened in horror.

“You–” his voice was somehow cracked and low like a choked whisper, and he stepped toward Jimin with something like urge and shock while staring at him as if he’d seen a ghost, “You can’t stay here!” he stepped forward again and Jimin jolted, “Dusk is coming! You can’t say! You must go back!”

Where Skies Are Blue by aeleoneira

Rating: M

Pairings: Yoongi/Jimin

Status: Incomplete

Word count: 112,142

Summary: When he discovers a small rash on the inside of his left wrist, Jimin's lonely - albeit stable - life as an office worker is drastically flipped upside down as a whole new world opens up to him.

Forced to relocate to a hidden forest island run by strange yet remarkable people, Jimin must learn their ancient culture and secure himself a place among them if he is to survive.

Further From the Sky by roebling

Rating: M

Pairings: Yoongi/Jimin

Status: Complete

Word count: 107,561

Summary: Officer Min Yoongi knows his boss hates him, but it’s never been more clear than when he gets his latest assignment: go under cover as an idol trainee and figure out the truth behind Golden Calf Entertainment. He’s determined to crack the case, but first he needs to survive dance practice led by star trainee and Grade A asshole Park Jimin.

[pearlescentpearl]

Hi, I recently discovered kamikakushi. I read all the chapters in one day, and i love the story. The amount of research you did for this story is amazing, I admire your hard work. Since adopting is a prominent part in dragon culture, Will tobirama adopt naruto or sasuke in the future? He already adopted six kids in canon.

While I have no plans for this in the main verse, I am working on a spin off au where Tobirama is a nekomata instead and he does end up (reluctantly xD) taking Sasuke under his wing. If you search nekomata on my page you’ll find the relevant posts.

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Tsuritama 1 - 12 (REWATCH) | Visual Prison 5 | Mashiro no Oto 8 - 12 (FINAL)

Tsuritama 1 (REWATCH)

Ah, Tsuredure Monochrome. How I’ve missed you!

I remember I couldn’t quite figure out that Coco was Haru’s fish at first. Now that I listen to her voice properly again, it makes more sense.

Whitebait = shirasu.

There seems to be some kind of Shaft influence to some of this, like when Keito puts her hand in her pocket to take that thing out.

Tsuritama 2 (REWATCH)

(no notes, sorry!)

Tsuritama 3 (REWATCH)

(no notes, sorry!)

Tsuritama 4 (REWATCH)

(no notes, sorry!)

Tsuritama 5 (REWATCH)

(no notes, sorry!)

Tsuritama 6 (REWATCH)

Back at it after I lost the legal stream due to licensing… *sweats* Well, it was the only way I could continue this project…

Kamikakushi? Spiriting away?

I don’t think I ever got the catfish joke, but apparently it is namazu (catfish) vs. namaste (an Indian greeting, due to Akira being Indian).

That cat’s got…ergh, can’t unsee his privates… *cringes*

The quick switching of shots when the captain slapped the quartet reminded me of Shaft again.

Tsuritama 7 (REWATCH)

In actuality, Akira is wearing that jacket to stay clear of Bermuda Syndrome…but you already knew that, didn’t you? (<- doesn’t remember because I binged most of Tsuritama in one go)

I think the reason I like Tsuritama is because it’s a story about friendship, but also fishing. It’s educational without talking down to its audience, but also really kooky in a lovable way. (Plus the OP, if I didn’t say that earlier.)…Oops, that’s a good 3 or 5 reasons… *sweatdrops*

Oh, the 35 on Natsuki’s shirt is because of coral (sango in Japanese).

Duck umbrella! That’s cute.

“The Boy” still makes me laugh a bit, heh. Update: The JPN name is Seishunmaru - the "seishun" means "youth".

Tsuritama 8 (REWATCH)

Notice how Tapioca stays in the Duck pose even after Akira stops doing it, haha.

Tsuritama is an anime for introverts. That’s what this episode proves.

I wonder if Natsuki is wearing his shirt on backwards by accident…? *sweatdrops*

What did Keito get hospitalised for? I don’t think I’ve ever figured that out in either watchthrough…

I guess Tsuritama is also about Yuki opening up, so that he won’t regret anything he ever says. I was typing up a comment in Discord earlier and kept taking it back because it was basically either 1) a hot take and/or 2) about a topic I didn’t personally know much about (Twisted Wonderland, which I’m a bit interested in because it’s Disney bishonen, but I don’t think I could handle the emotional attachment required for playing a game for so long when some Reddit page said the gameplay was very casual), so I can see myself from earlier today in him. (Meta note: This was written shortly after TWST’s ENG release in the US/Canada.)

Tsuritama 9 (REWATCH)

This thing about Haru saying “goodbye”…common mundane things which suddenly become psychoanalysed in the light of new developments… (<- currently in isolation due to being a household contact of COVID)

Yeowch, way to hit me where it hurts. (<- sarcastic)

Yum, that…is it a matcha cake(?)…looks delicious! (<- has not eaten much today)

Tsuritama 10 (REWATCH)

(no notes, sorry!)

Tsuritama 11 (REWATCH)

“The Boy” still makes me laugh a bit, heh.

Tsuritama 12 (REWATCH) (FINAL)

I remember I fell in love with Urara the first time I saw him, but…now I know he only appears in the final episode of this anime, all my love is gone. It’s the same with the entirety of this show – losing legal access to it meant stretching it out for a really long time (over a year and a half), so now I’ve seen it over such a long period, it no longer holds the spell it had me under during the first watch. I wonder whether my first watch-through was this long too, come to think of it…? (<- stayed up past 1 am to watch this, so partially fell asleep and woke myself up again to finish) Anyways, see you next time!

Visual Prison 5

(no notes, sorry!)

Mashiro no Oto 8

Yocchan dried squid. Basically, it’s a type of squid dagashi.

Yogul.

Samue. I didn’t know those had a name!

I sort of zoned out during the middle episodes (<- I did chores while “watching’ them, hence why I have no notes for them), so I didn’t know the significance of these characters.

…wow, this anime really gets performance nerves down pat… *claps*

“…You’ve got balls, haven’t you?” – Setsu seems to be saying “tama tsuiteru?” or something of the sort (<- watching at 12 am, so can’t really afford to turn sound up for fear of waking someone up)

Mashiro no Oto 9

Osatsuma-bushi.

“Adorbs” is rather out of style right now, methinks… *sweatdrops*

AYG seems to be a play on AKB, judging by the outfits.

Mashiro no Oto 10

It’s just red bean rice, LOL. (I think there was some Asian belief that eating red bean rice was good for handling your period…or something like that, but that’s women’s gossip. Ssh…)

LOL, this Kouta’s so brazen.

Kouta, lying on the floor and waving…LOL.

…Wait, so how is Wakana related to Kamiki Ryuugen???

Ushio reminds me of Christophe from Yuri!!! on Ice.

Mashiro no Oto 11

This series is clearly aimed at helping introduce Tsugaru-jamisen to beginners. That’s why it seems like a shonen fighting series at this point and it has this occasional humour - to have crossover appeal.

Who’s that guy with the lip ring…? Update: Oh, that’s the guy Yuna dumped early on! Haha!

What we’ve learnt from this anime is Setsu put his grandpa on a pedestal and never got rid of it.

Mashiro no Oto 12 (FINAL)

Well, I finally finished this! I was thinking about how it is that anime watchers can all create such diverse paths through life and the medium…it’s amazing.

Anyways, after about a year, that’s the end, folks! See you next time.