#watanabe r-type

[reddragon-cowboy]

PSA

CW: Anti-blackness, Racism.

I usually don't make posts of this nature, but something had to be addressed since it involves my racial identity as a black women. This involves my experience in the server with one individual.

This is a post to share my experience concerning an individual who displayed direct and indirect racial prejudice towards me in the @bebopcrew server. First and foremost, I must say that the Bebop crew is an amazing server and, although I am particularly shy as it can take me awhile to feel comfortable enough to socialize in groups, the members there made me feel welcomed and supported me, as well as many writers/artists alike.

But one member in particular, @/Drasino, stood out to me that treated me differently than the rest. I thought I could put the situation behind me and let it rest, but due to seeing them on my dash often continuously calls back to mind what occurred.

This happened when I had begun to try to come out of my shell, attempting to socialize and engage in conversations in certain channels. I left a compliment on some insight they shared in a channel, but I never got a response that showed he acknowledged me. I also tried to engage in them again, but he didn't acknowledge me and proceeded to ignore me. Interestingly, he would engage with other people in the server and their stuff, but nope, not me.

Ironically, a day or so later right after, Drasino posted an image where he outwardly mocked the Afrikaan language. That was the first red flag for me. I asked one of the admins about what they posted, what his intention and motives could be about the crude image. The admin got right on it and confronted Drasino about it, to which he acted oblivious and played innocent. But after that incident, the admin updated the rules to emphasize how racist and other toxic content, comments, or memes are not allowed.

Afterward, there wasn't no more images of that sort again. However, he proceeded to deliberately ignore me and my stuff while engaging and initiating conversations with other people. I also tried to involve a few people in a channel where he and other people were talking, which he easily could've engaged with me as well, but instead, he proceeded to switch over to another channel to try initiate a totally other conversation, again, deliberately and willingly trying to exclude me from his presence. There was also a comment a admin told me where Drasino made a joke about monkeys as well.

All of these things began to pile up. Even though he acted oblivious about the picture he posted, you have to remember, Drasino, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. THE WAY YOU TREAT OTHERS IS ENOUGH TO KNOW THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE. I am not stupid; I knew exactly what you were doing, and your actions towards me further proved my case. I do my utmost best to extend kindness towards others, try to make others feel welcomed, and I don't like it when others feel left out. I extended kindness towards and courtesy towards him in the same manner as I try for anyone else. But he didn't for me; the fact I'm the only black person ( plus with the only black oc) in the server who he outwardly and deliberately chose to not give me the same courtesy and respect as he gave other people stuck out like a sore thumb. Plus, that image was all I needed to know because he knew exactly what he was doing and proceeded to downright ignore me.

This type of behavior something I wouldn't expect to experience in this type of community, but here we are. Shinichro Watanabe created a show with a diverse cast of characters; Cowboy Bebop is abundant with diversity of different languages, cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities-it is an element I love about the show. Anyone who is a fan should understand and appreciate the message and vision that Watanabe delivered for us. If Watanabe appreciates and respect others, no matter their race, culture, or language, a fan of his work should share that same openness. With that being said, showing racial prejudice, anti-blackness, xenophobia, or any other type of prejudice towards another person is completely unacceptable here.

I decided to make this post to make others aware of my experience with this individual, and for others who look like me to be wary of their company, so they don't also have to go through the same thing I experienced.

[vividracing]

New Post has been published on https://www.vividracing.com/blog/top-5-best-mods-for-the-honda-civic-type-r-fl5/

Top 5 Best Mods for the Honda Civic Type-R FL5

Let’s be honest, there are way less FL5 owners testing the full potential of their factory built track weapon when compared to FK8 owners, which is obviously due to how new it is and the massive markup they likely paid leaving the pandemic. As the auto sales market begins to reach pre-stimulus levels, we can only hope to see more and more of those future classics hit the tracks. As far as I can tell, Honda made slight improvements to the cooling system when compared to the FK8, but FL5 owners are still feeling the heat. 

For your casual auto-crosser or beginner level HPDE enthusiast, it’s probably not as big of an issue as it would be if you were moving into the more advanced tiers and going all in for the majority of your session.  However, once you start finding more power through bolt-ons and advance tuning, the K20C1 really starts to sweat. That being said, if you’re going to hit the track in your Type R like Koji Watanabe-san would want, you owe it to your investment to upgrade your cooling system. While you have the trusty AMEX out, you might as well upgrade the braking system too. 

With that being said, these are the Top 5 Best Mods for the Honda Civic Type-R FL5: 

1. PWR Advanced Cooling Technology Performance Radiator

Despite being a cutting edge performance car, the FL5 does have its flaws. Heat soak is one problem area, particularly during sustained hard driving. To combat this, PWR has developed one of the most tested radiator kits on the market today. Designed to integrate seamlessly into your engine bay, it comes standard with provisions for OEM mounting. This kit takes advantage of air flow generated through the bay by the bonnet scoop and under tray. Crafted with premium aluminum materials and professionally TIG-welded in the USA, this radiator boasts a single-pass design and louvered fin technology for maximum heat dissipation. 

2. EBC Brakes Fully Floating 2-Piece Brake Rotors

Looking to drive your FL5 to work Monday to Friday, but fancy hitting the track on a weekend? You’ll probably want to consider upgrading your rotors and pads! The EBC Brake Rotors are designed to serve this exact need, offering a long lasting outer ring by using high quality components that can stand up to more spirited driving plus serious track abuse than the widely marketed 1-piece cast iron rotors! 

3. HKS Legamax Sports Revolutionary Exhaust System

The FL5 is the crème de la crème of front-engine front wheel drive cars to come out of Japan, and while we can hope to SEE more of them in the coming months, I think more of us would prefer to HEAR them. That being said, the factory exhaust on the FL5 was designed with a compliance first, performance eventually mindset. Luckily, exhaust artisans from all over the world have come to the rescue on our quest for power and sound.  HKS has been known for their signature sounds since their inception. Gone are the days of the T51R and Super Drager, instead HKS has blessed us with the Legamax line. Completely ditching the factory valve system, HKS believes in flow consistency and has designed the Legamax to deliver a 30% increase in exhaust flow, which when paired with the HKS Power Editor results in impressive gains over stock, and even improved boost pressure and response. 

4. PRL Motorsports Billet Intercooler Upgrade

As with any turbo-charged car, the FL5 needs cool, dense air to make the best power, however the standard intercooler isn’t really up to the task. A slightly inefficient design coupled with the FL5’s heat soak issues have driven a variety of companies to offer aftermarket kits. Our favorite is this PRL kit, with its re-designed end tanks and expanded core size, increasing the intercooler surface area by 31% over stock. Billet machined aluminum end tanks maximize efficiency while looking as smooth as they flow! This intercooler utilizes factory mounting spots with the billet machined end tanks as well as all factory air ducts/shrouds. PRL extended the intercooler fins to take up the entire width of the front bumper’s opening to increase allow for adequate cooling to/through the intercooler into the radiator. 

5. Enkei TS-5 

TS-5 is part of the Tuning Series. This five spoke model does a fantastic job of dispersing stress efficiently and allows it to keep the spokes as thin as possible to cut down on weight. Relief cuts on the fronts and sides utilize sacred geometry to keep from sacrificing strength and effectively shave weight even further. The step-down lip adds depth and that extra emphasis on this star shape.  18×9.5 +45 5×120 wrapped in 265/35R 18 (As pictured) seem to be most practical fit, but if being original isn’t your thing, we also have TE-37’s in stock.

There are dozens of other great ways to modify your FL5. Let our performance specialists help you decide what’s right for you by calling 1-480-966-3040 or emailing sales@vividracing.com.

[baliportalnews]

Honda Memulai Uji Coba Mobil Honda Civic Type R-GT untuk Persiapan Balap Super GT Tahun 2024

BALIPORTALNEWS.COM, TOKYO - Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) mengumumkan untuk menguji coba mobil Honda Civic Type R-GT pada 25 - 26 Juli 2023 di Sirkuit Internasional Okayama, Jepang. Mobil ini akan mulai digunakan pada ajang balap Super GT Series tahun 2024 mendatang. Honda Civic Type R-GT sebelumnya diperkenalkan untuk pertama kali di dunia dalam bentuk konsep pada ajang Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 bulan Januari lalu. Mobil tersebut langsung mendapat sambutan yang sangat baik dimana mobil ini berhasil mendapatkan penghargaan bergengsi ‘Concept Car Category Grand Prize’ di acara Tokyo International Custom Car Contest 2023 pada ajang Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 lalu. Mobil ini dikembangkan dari Honda Civic Type R generasi terbaru yang diperkenalkan pada semester kedua tahun 2022. Mobil tersebut mengusung mesin 2.0-liter direct injection turbocharged inline 4-cylinder. Desain bodi serta aerodinamika mobil serta teknologi lainnya dikembangkan oleh Honda Racing Co., Ltd (HRC). President dan CEO HRC, Koji Watanabe mengatakan sangat bangga dapat memulai pengetesan untuk mobil Honda Civic Type R-GT ini. “Kami juga untuk pertama kalinya menggunakan brand Type R untuk mobil balap Honda terbaru kami ini yang akan mulai digunakan di kelas GT500 di ajang balap Super GT Series tahun 2024. Ke depannya, mobil ini juga kami harapkan dapat digunakan di berbagai kejuaraan balap lainnya di seluruh dunia,” jelasnya.(bpn) Read the full article

[hirocimacruiser]

S31 Fairlady. Wheels are RS Watanabe R-type. The owner has two sets. One for street and one for track. Front wheels are the same size for both at 15x10J-25 and rear for the street is 15x11J-38. Rear for the track are an even larger 15x12J-51 set.

[itsawalk]

Check the footwork. 

[iwamotos]

(221229) snow man @ ‘kouhaku uta gassen’ rehearsal

[crystalpower]

vi’s celebrity crushes

kazuki kitamura #1 the man of his dreams!!!!!!!!!!!

trevante rhodes

paul rudd

shahrukh khan

leati anoa'i / roman reigns

ben affleck in a really weird ‘ i can fix him ’ / captain save-a-ho kind of way

kofi siriboe

trai byers

jesse williams but he’s not proud of it

ken watanabe

kazuchika okada

yongguk bang

and more but if i had to pull names outta my ass these r def his types... gflkjgd.

[imperishable-prayers]

(I realize that if I’m not gonna have the motivation to update bio pages, then I could at least have a post that lists of the muses I have and how much I use them, just by name)

(Will update this post in a bit to have that)

Main Muses:

PC-98 Reimu Hakurei

PC-98 Marisa Kirisame

Sanae Kochiya

Reimu Hakurei

Marisa Kirisame

VIVIT (from Seihou Project!)

Aya Shameimaru

Hatate Himekaidou

Rin Satsuki

Patchouli Knowledge

PC-98 Yuuka Kazami

Hina Kagiyama

Side Muses:

Yuuka Kazami

Rumia

Ex-Rumia

Hata no Kokoro

Yuyuko Saigyouji

Ayaka Saigyouji

Small Yuyuko

Kanako Yasaka

Shanghai Doll

Alice Margatroid

Utsuho Reiuji

Hong Meiling

Wriggle Nightbug

Letty Whiterock

Mystia Lorelei

Hina Kagiyama

Remilia Scarlet

Flandre Scarlet

Satori Komeiji

Seija Kirin

Yukari Yakumo

Byakuren Hijiri

Hecatia Lapislazuli

Shiki Eiki Yamaxanadu (I keep typing it as Shikieiki)

Gengetsu

Yuki

Mai

VIVIT-r (from Seihou Project!)

Meimu

Mitori Kawashiro

Kikuri

Elis

Konngara

Sariel

Aunn Komano

PC-98 Alice Margatroid

Hardly Used Muses / I Just Have Icons Of Them That I Haven’t Used Yet:

Urumi Ushizaki (her icons are really old, I’ll have to dig for her icon border)

Eika Ebisu

Narumi Yatadera

Mimi-Chan

Parsee Mizuhashi

Orange

Kurumi

Elly

Mugetsu

Sara

Louise

Yumeko

Shinki

Mima

OCs:

Hana Hakitsuki

Sakura Hakitsuki

Ceara, the Self-Insert

Chirrby Warblebee

Netami Toraguma

Irami Yamaguchi

Shiro Solstice

Renma Kotobuki

Kaori Haruki

Lavender Atrax

Tsunobue Anmei

Himiko Minamoto

Koyuki Sakata

Fuyu Watanabe

Elphaba Nalusta

Tamaa Kapela

Emily Keile

Bella Sephir

Misha Rehia

Shia Izanami / Shima Izanami

Nya Izanagi / Klaus Izanagi

Sasha Rehia

Sasalea Greenknoll

Xephirine 'Genesis' Chrono

Ame Minakanushi

Amanozako

Amanosaku

Hinnagami

Mariposa

Otozai Tsumiten

Ryuuta Tsumiten

Zhusha Shokuin

Okuri

Elizabeth

Margarita Ethos

Umibozu

Francesca Accetta

Centice Raijuu (Allegra Raijuu and Forte Raijuu)

Roa Hayabusa

Hikaru Usada

Kiki Karito (Kaitou Cat)

Lico Kanzo

Ruuka Nurumo

Cathy Malison

Miu Saiken

Jacinthe Verene

Ashley Rosenthorne

Gurokumo

Schadenfreude

[imasallstars]

R/R+ 【Smiling In The Rain】Minori Watanabe

Skill:「Score Bonus」 　　　For every 10 seconds, there is a 32~50% chance that PERFECT/GREAT/GOOD notes receive a 18% SCORE BONUS for 5 seconds.

Center Skill:「Physical Step」 　　　 All PHYSICAL-type cards gain a 30% boost in their DANCE stat.

※ This card is available through scouting in the PLATINUM GACHA box starting 31.05.2022

[glassessence]

PGR - OC

I got so inspired by everyone’s creativity that I created my own OC ^^” Even though she’s a member of the Purifying Force, I hope she’ll still be received warmly. Special thanks to @punishing-gray-raven-ocs​ for their detailed posts about character creation that really made me think about Lydias! 

Warning: I may have gone a bit overboard with the detail. It’s a long read! Also, I threw in a not-so-subtle reference to the most traumatic Memory Rescue mission lmao. So proceed with caution, I guess HAHA

Name                          Lydias: Umbral

Type                            Offensive Support-type Construct

Service time              1 year

Psychological age    24

Activation date         15 March

Height                         167 cm

Weight                        59 kg

Vital fluid type          O

Faction                        Purifying Force

Rank                            A

Weapon                      Chakrams (preferred) /  Gun

Damage type             70% Dark, 30% Physical

Lydias is a support-type Construct modelled after Watanabe’s Astral frame. She has extreme stealth capabilities and excels at tracking, making her ideal for the execution of rogue and infected Constructs.

Her missions mostly involve infiltration and spying, although she’s also been deployed on assassination missions. Those orders come straight from Nikola and their records are kept top-secret, inaccessible even to Bianca.

Her frame is designed for long-range sniping and comes equipped with visual accuracy enhancements and superb calculative powers. However, Lydias prefers to engage her targets in close combat. Killing Constructs from afar feels cruel and cold, like they really are meaningless machines instead of former comrades.

She truly believes in the good of the Purifying Force, but hates the things she has to do. She doesn’t feel like she belongs, but also can’t see a future for herself anywhere else.

Her fighting style is very graceful, featuring a lot of spins and flips that are reminiscent of a dance. Her signature move is called “Blade Dance.”

B A C K G R O U N D 

Lydias was born to a wealthy family in Babylonia. Her mother joined the war effort as a Commandant shortly after she was born and is known as the leader of the elite task force, Cybele. Since then, Lydias has always wanted to follow in her mother’s famous footsteps.

Originally a Commandant of the Black Wolves, a certain incident caused her to give up the position and apply for reconstruction. Despite having low compatibility for Tantalum-193, her application was approved after negotiations with Nikola. Following her surgery, she was transferred to the Purifying Force.

P E R S O N A L I T Y

Shows affection through actions rather than words. Bakes cakes for the humans of Babylonia in her free time

Philosophical, often ponders on the nature of humans and of the war

Likes to make dirty jokes and tease others

Obedient to a fault because she doesn’t trust her own judgement

Comes across as cold, but is just awkward with introductions

Doesn't think very highly of herself. Ignores it when other Constructs call her "traitorous hunting dog" but secretly thinks they're right

Loves the sea and the fathomless depths yet to be explored. Likes to go swimming at every opportunity

Prefers to work alone, but overprotective of her comrades when in a team. Frequently throws herself in harm’s way to shield her teammates. Knows it’s not good, but is too haunted by her past

Trusts easily, but is very guarded with her heart

Knows how to dance a lot of old-school styles like ballroom and ballet, but is too shy to ask anyone to practice with her

S E C R E T S

Has memorised a lot of poetry from before the Punishing Virus outbreak

Gets intensely lonely and jealous when seeing close squad camaraderie like Gray Raven’s

Avoids Kamui because he reminds her of someone she’s lost

Has spied on Watanabe extensively under Babylonian orders and is deeply fascinated by him

Doesn’t trust Nikola, but is unable to disobey his commands

Secretly harbours doubts about Babylonia’s mission to reclaim Earth

Has obtained special permission to download the data of the Black Wolves and often reads the records to keep them alive in her heart

V O I C E   L I N E S

“Team leader? No, I refuse. You’re making a grave mistake.”

“I’m not suited for protecting people.”

“My opinion on the Forsaken? They’re hardworking, loyal, and--Nevermind. We seem to share a similar goal.”

“The Black Wolves? Where did you hear of that name?! Don’t mention it again!”

“I baked a cake today. Would you like some?”

“Yes, I can dance. But I’d prefer it if you didn’t tell the others…”

“I can teach you to dance. Privately, if you’d like. Haha, just kidding.”

“Becoming a Construct was a decision I made rashly. I don’t necessarily regret it, but…”

“Are we really doing the right thing? This endless war… All these years… What have we really achieved?”

INTERLUDE

D U S K F A L L

A voice cracked over the intercom. “...dant…Com...ant...Commandant, do you hear me?!”

Lydias blinked. The urgency in his voice caught her off guard. Ferdinand kept his cool even in the most dire of situations. Something was very wrong. “Tell me, Ferdie.” Static. “Ferds? Come through!” Nothing. Communications had been poor ever since they’d entered this area, but they’d managed until now. For it to suddenly fail like that… it couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Shit,” she said, turning to the other two Constructs with her. “On guard, guys. Something’s coming and comms are down.”

Ilya grimaced. “Sure it’s not one of Ferdinand’s pranks again?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Flora offered, even as she tightened her grip on her lance. “Pesky little bastard would find it hilarious.” Lydias said nothing. She was too tense. There was a taste in the air, a metallic tang that churned in her belly. Sweat dripped into her eye. Suddenly, a hand slapped her on the back. “Relax, Commandant,” Ilya chuckled. “We’ll protect you like always. No need to be so scared all the time.”

Something in her loosened, just a bit. “Shouldn’t I be the one protecting you?” she retorted, trying to project confidence. “You guys with your fragile little M.I.N.Ds?” Flora laughed, a deep-belly rumble that Lydias loved. The knot in her stomach unravelled some more. “You do that, Commandant,” Flora said. “We’ll just twirl our pointy sticks at the bad guys.”

Lydias was just about to say something snarky when she caught movement in the corner of her eye. She swirled, gun at the ready. There was still no word from Ferdinand. “I’m sensing a large Corrupted force in our perimeter,” Ilya reported. His voice had lost its casual lilt. “They’ve got us surrounded.”

Lydias cursed. “How’s that Memory retrieval coming along?”

“Slowly,” Ilya replied unhappily. Flora clicked her tongue. The Corrupted were visible now. They weren’t like anything Lydias had seen before. They carried advanced weapons - chainsaws and spears and bows - and seemed to be organised into phalanxes. Dread coiled in her belly. “We’ve been ambushed,” she breathed in horror. “Ferdinand tried to warn us. They must have blocked off comms.”

“Well, shit,” Flora grunted. The Corrupted army was within gunshot range now. “When the fuck did they get so smart?”

“Someone must be leading them,” Ilya said. “How did the information leak?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Lydias said. “We need to retreat. Now.” A bullet flew by her head, burning the shell of her ear as it passed. Her heart hammered. “Back off,” Flora growled. She twirled her spear, eyes flashing as she impaled the Corrupted soldier. Beside her, Ilya stepped forward, fast as a flash, and stabbed one through the neck. Lydias fired off three shots, watching in grim satisfaction as two buried themselves in the heads of two infected Constructs.

The scene descended into chaos just as Ferdinand’s broken voice sounded in her ear. “...n...way! Comm...ant!”

-----------

Flora stumbled back. She was breathing heavily. Vital fluid leaked steadily from several places, staining her coat a rich purple. Ilya was behind her, grimacing. His left arm was gone, torn away at the shoulder. Sparks flew from the exposed wires within. Beside them, Lydias swayed unsteadily. She clutched at her stomach. Red blood seeped through her fingers. All their attempts to break through had failed. Things were looking more hopeless by the minute. 

“Commandant,” Ilya said, voice strained. “Turn off my pain receptors.” Flora nodded. “Same here.” Lydias coughed wetly. Her vision was growing dim. “It’s dangerous,” she admitted, wishing she could shut off her own terrible pain. “But there’s no other choice.” She authorised the command. Her team’s face relaxed immediately. She met their determined gazes and nodded. “We’re all gonna go home. Together.”

Ilya smiled. Flora grinned. But there was a sadness in their faces Lydias didn’t want to acknowledge. Her connection with Ferdinand was still blocked. He could be dead for all she knew. She turned away from the thought. Just survive, Lydias. And take the Wolves home.

Together, the Black Wolves rose. Ilya with his dagger and Flora with her spear. Unseen by Lydias, they nodded to each other. An agreement, a pact. A promise. Renewed, they threw themselves at the Corrupted like cornered animals. Slowly, inch by painful inch, an exit was being forced open. Corrupted weapons dug into their bodies, but they pushed on. 

Lydias fought beside them, swinging her chakrams haphazardly. Her gun had run out of ammo long ago. She stumbled, half-blind, and almost skewered herself on the end of a Corrupted sword. She could hardly think straight; blood loss was making her weak. Suddenly, a voice crackled in her mind. “Commandant!” Ferdinand’s voice tumbled through her hazy thoughts. “The signal jammer is gone. What’s your status?!”

Her heart soared, bringing with it a brief burst of clarity. “Ferdie! It’s an ambush. We need support!”

“I’ve already informed Babylonia,” he said urgently. “Reinforcement is on the way. I’m coming to you, Commandant. Just hold on!” His signal blinked to life, moving rapidly towards their location. Lydias smiled grimly. Ferdinand was on his way. Support was coming. Surely, they would be okay. They would make it out of this. She just had to hold on for a little longer. 

Flora’s signal pulsed unsteadily and Ilya’s grew fainter with every breath. Lydias clung with desperation to the unstable M.I.N.Ds of her Wolves. I will protect you.

-----------

“Coming through!” A ray of energy tore through the Corrupted wave. Lydias spied Ferdinand’s face through the sea of blades. She almost wept with relief. “Retreat,” she said hoarsely, struggling to stay conscious. “Black Wolves, retreat!”

On cue, Ilya and Flora rushed through the tunnel, half-carrying Lydias with them. Between one ferocious breath and the next, they’d broken through the Corrupted circle. She tumbled bonelessly into Ferdinand’s open arms. He took a brief moment to survey her and paled. “The meeting point isn’t far,” he said. “Support will be there.” He picked up Lydias and turned to run, but Ilya and Flora didn’t follow. 

“Sorry, but this is the end of the road for me,” Flora said wryly. “Didn’t think it’d end like this.” She spat out a wad of purple fluid. “At least these fuckers will go down with me.”

“And you get the privilege of dying by my side,” Ilya said primly, readjusting his grip on his dagger. Flora laughed, an edge of sadness in her voice. “Yeah, old man, I guess I do.”

Lydias stirred in Ferdinand’s arms. “No,” she said, forcing herself to meet their gazes. “I won’t allow it.” 

“Unfortunately, Commandant,” Ilya said. “This time it’s not up to you.” He raised his remaining hand in a salute. “It’s been a pleasure working with you.”

“Go on,” Flora growled. “We’ll make sure nobody pursues you.”

Ferdinand pursed his lips, but nodded tightly. Lydias fought in his grip. She hardly even felt the pain. “No!” she screamed, or tried to. It was hard to tell where her voice was. “Don’t! I forbid it! That’s an order!” He started running. She watched helplessly as the distance grew. “Stop! Go back, we have to help them! Stop!”

In the fading light, Ilya fell and was immediately consumed by a horde of Corrupted hands. His signal weakened then blinked out. A scream tore itself from her throat. She thrashed in Ferdinand’s grip and felt his hold on her loosen. White-hot pain shot through her body as she tumbled to the ground. Mad with grief, she crawled forward desperately, mind blank except for the desire to be with her Wolves. 

Strong arms lifted her up. Ferdinand’s lively voice was dull. “Please don’t do this, Lydias.” 

“Let go, Ferdie,” she said angrily. “We have to--” Flora’s signal flickered out. Lydias felt her spirit break. “No,” she cried. “Please, no.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. Words abandoned her. The world seemed to shrink, compacting to a single thought: she had failed. 

-----------

She woke to white light. Something beeped steadily beside her. Tubes ran from her body to several machines like the tentacles of some deep sea creature. Her entire body hurt. Immediately, she reached for the Black Wolves, but their signals were absent, leaving her mind uncomfortably empty. Panic settled like ice in her veins. It couldn’t be. It was impossible. 

Surely, they had recalled their consciousnesses. Surely, she’d simply woken up early. And where was Ferdie? Gasping, Lydias stood, dragging her broken body to the wall of windows. She brought a fist to the cool glass. Nikola watched her from the other side. “Where are they,” she croaked. “What happened?”

He shook his head sympathetically. “They didn’t recall their consciousness. According to our records, Ilya and Flora died protecting you from pursuit. Ferdinand was infected.” His eyes were grave. “He guarded you until reinforcements arrived.”

She didn’t know if she could bear the answer, but she asked anyway. “And then?”

Nikola studied her for a long moment before giving in. “And then the Punishing Virus took over his M.I.N.D. He escaped because we prioritised your survival.” A desperate hope sparked to life within her. “So he’s still alive? Then there’s still a chance! Please, let me find him!”

“You know it doesn’t work like that.” 

“Please,” she begged. “Please.”

He turned away from her. “The Purifying Force has already been sent after him. I’m sorry, Lydias.”

-----------

Three weeks later

“Are you sure?” Nikola asked, studying her with intensity. “Your chances of success are only 47%.”

Lydias stared at him blankly. “I’m sure.”

“I’m afraid I can’t allow it. Commandants are valuable to Babylonia. Perhaps even more than Constructs. Few possess the will and compatibility to stabilize M.I.N.Ds. Someone as experienced as you is not expendable.”

“Then I quit being a Commandant. I refuse to lead another squad.” She looked away. “I couldn’t protect any of them. Not a single one.” Her voice broke. “I’m not… I don’t think I can--I just can’t.”

Nikola considered her with some pity. “What do you want then, Lydias?”

“You know what I want. I’m not afraid of dying.”

“I know you’re not afraid, but it seems to me like you seek it.”

She said nothing. Nikola sighed. “I’d rather not lose you completely. You have experience and ability. The Black Wolves were specifically chosen for that mission for your competence. Aife will increase our combat power significantly against the Corrupted.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s unfortunate, but these things happen at war.”

“Say whatever you want,” Lydias said stubbornly. “But this is my final decision.”

“Fine,” Nikola said. “Your attempt at redemption is admirable. I’ll grant your request, but if you survive, you’ll work directly under me. Is that acceptable?”

“Perfectly.”

INTERLUDE HIDDEN CHAPTER

F A D I N G   L I G H T

Flora: Fairfrost - Voice Log 

*sounds of fighting* I hope this reaches you, Commandant. I don’t think I’m gonna last much longer and… *grunting* I just wanna say goodbye. The old man’s already gone. I felt his signal die out a while ago. He went down taking a blade for me, can you believe it? Even though I’m the Attacker Construct. *panting* You know what his last words to me were? “It hurts.” As if our pain receptors weren’t turned off. I know what he means though. *blades clashing* After all, we all wanna go back home with you. But life’s a bit unfair, eh? For once, I don’t mind. Protecting your back… it almost makes me feel like a hero. That ain’t something you experience every day, y’know? *metal tearing* I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you. For being someone worthy of love. *crash, wet coughing* It’s been my honour and privilege to have been one of your Wolves, Commandant. You’ll remember me, won’t you?

-----------

Ferdinand: Aegis - Voice Log 

Lydias… This will probably be my last communication with you. I never would have thought this would be how it ends, but… Well, I’m just glad that I get to spend my final moments with you. I can feel my M.I.N.D. slipping, but Babylonia will be here any second now. They’ll take care of you, the way I wish I could. *sigh* Ah, there are so many things I want to say. I have nothing to lose anymore, so I hope you’re ready to listen. *deep breath* I love you. The way you laugh at my jokes and tease me. The way you can talk about anything. Your smile, your lips. I love the way you kiss me. And of course, I love our late night activities… Such as you trying to teach me to dance. *short laughter* Were you expecting me to say something else, Commandant? You--*grunt, glitching* Looks like my time is running out. I should go, but promise me one thing, Lydias. Promise me you’ll keep your heart open, so that someone else can love you as you deserve. I--You--*glitches*

DATA CORRUPTED.

[motormavens]

Celica XX aka MA60 or GA61 depending on which country/engine is installed… Humongous rear bumper, but it looks so good on RS Watanabe Type R! 😍 #celicaxx #celicasupra #ma60 #ga61 #toyotacelica #RSwatanabe #rsワタナベ (at Salo-Salo Grill) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTJG0dHnKuO/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lhaewiel]

Cowboy Bebop the live action: a review

So I have finally gathered myself and I am ready to write my thoughts on the live action of "Cowboy Bebop" by Netflix.

A little premise: Cowboy Bebop the anime is one of my all time favourite anime, I practically know it by heart and I really wish Netflix had the actual anime series too because IT IS EPIC.

The anime came out in 1998-1999-early 2000 and I fondly remember watching it on MTV, when MTV was still a decent channel.

Yes, I am old.

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AHEAD, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I will put the rest of this review/rant under cut, so I don't clog your dash.

THE OVERALL OPINION

It's a good watch, the vibes are there, the actors are well in character, and besides a few things I will talk about later on it is enjoyable. I still recommend you to watch the anime, it is more complete and you get 26 episodes. Netflix decided to stick the whole series in its usual 10 episodes formats, which is a choice I don't agree with, but ok. I have no power here. Shinichiro Watanabe, the original Cowboy Bebop director, was kept as consultant and given the result I am fairly sure he had a lot to say in the matter. A++ for costuming and scenography, these were really spot on, although we don't see much of the space, because I guess that CGI would be very expensive and I may have noticed that some frames were taken from the original anime. I really appreciated the effort and work that went into this. Props for the casting, they all actually do an amazing job. The casting is very diverse, which comes at no surprise. Shinichiro Watanabe himself, despite all, has always tried his best to include diverse characters, different body types, etc.

But now onto the main bits

THE EPISODES

Because Netflix apparently must stick to its 10 episodes, which again it is a choice I don't agree with, they had to pick and choose what to show and place easter eggs around, crossing fingers and praying that it would be fine. This of course demanded for some changes. I will talk about the changes later. The episodes covered are:

Asteroid Blues

Stray Dog Strut

Gateway Shuffle

My Funny Valentine

Black Dog Serenade

Pierrot le Fou

Brain Scratch

Cowboy Funk

There are also Ballad of Fallen Angels, Jupiter Jazz and The Real Folk Blues, but they get minced and mashed to create a backstory for Spike, Vicious and Julia. Keep this in mind because I will come back on this. The rest of the episodes gets mentioned and referenced as easter eggs.

This of course demanded dramatic changes in the plot and there they are my major grievances.

MY GRIEVANCES

First of all Jet Black is now a divorced parent of a daughter. Alyssa, his ex wife, instead of abandoning him and trying to run away with a petty lowlife because she wanted to be able to choose her own freedom, is now a well-adjusted housewife raising a child and married to one of Jet's former colleagues. She was robbed of her agency and he was denied the growth and understanding of the actual reasons she decided to go away. Jet is now thrust in the role of this bounty hunter who tries his best to be part of his daughter's life, but in the end of the day this fails to pay off because he gets abandoned by both ex wife and daughter alike. The moments are sweet, but the payback is absolute zero.

🤦🙏😩

The second dramatic change is Faye's back story. Now Whitney Hagas Matsumoto is not her con artist lawyer who worked with his uncle and his assistant to con Faye. He is now a she and she is pretending to be Faye's mother, conning her into giving her a ride to run away from a dangerous mafia boss called "the Iron Mink" and the whole heist was actually a kinky roleplay thing. Not only that, but they hooked her up with a random woman mechaning and here I suspect it was more for the woke points rather than a genuine representation, as in the anime we don't actually see Faye being attracted to women and instead actively flirting with guys exclusively. I mean, all good for representation, but not if it is done just for the woke points.

🤦🤦🤦

The other dramatic change is Vicious. I said earlier that the episodes where he appears were butchered up for a backstory. Well. Now the red eye thing doesn't fail because Spike gets in the middle, but it is something that Vicious did without the approval of the elders and now he must be punished. Vicious is married to Julia????? Vicious suffers from the "let's cheapen the villain" syndrome. Let's face it, we love Vicious because he is a ruthless bloodthirsty bastard whose only concern is power. The live action makes him seem like a stupid brainless prick who can't come up with a plan or save his own ass unless Spike or Julia intervenes on his behalf. A man's reputation completely ruined.

👿👿👿

The other dramatic change is Julia. Do you remember the sweet sot angel who dies when she and Spike attempt to escape for the second time? Yeah, scratch that. She is a singer in Ana's night club - another change, Ana does not own a run down drug store, but a night club and GRen, yes, THAT Gren, the one who should be a Titan war veteran framed by Vicious, who took a ton of drugs that changed his hormones so much that he became a hermaphrodite, anyway THAT GREN is now a very queer manager/talent scout for Ana's night club, I think this is another one for the woke points bingo. THe night club is also how Julia met Spike and Vicious. Anyway in the live action first Julia is married to Vicious, who abuses her. Then she learns that Spike is alive and she tries geting to him. When that fails she goes for the throne becoming a ruthless bastard etc. And you know the fight in the church scene, where Spike and Vicious are fighting and you are waiting for Vicious to toss Spike out of the window? Scene very well done, until....... Julia arrives, shoots Vicious, claims she wants to be the head of the syndicate and have Spike next to her, so when Spike says "no thanks" she shoots him and he falls down the window with shattered coloured glass pieces etc. She then imprisons Vicious, declares him an elder and that she will speak on his behalf.

🤬🤬🤬

There are other minor changes, but I will let the nitpickers find them.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOOD

I know that by the way I spoke it seems like this series is a burning trash can, but there are reasons why I said it was a good watch.

First of all I want to mention the sci fi bits, the practical effects and the cgi. They were very well made and definitely gave that snazz and aided the vibes. The atmosphere was great and it felt like being there. The space ships were amazingly accurate, just like the costuming.

The costuming, omg! Whoever was in charge did a great job, they were 99% accurate. I am not saying fully accurate, because Faye's outfit was changed, I guess because it suffered the usual "let's not oversexualize the main female lead role" treatment. Which was a pity, I always saw her dressed scantily as her own choice, she feels confident and she feels that she can wear whatever. I think it was also her way to present herself in a way so that she could take her opponent by surprise. Also, another change was that she is now a bounty hunter, not a loser gambler with debts the size of the sun anymore, which does make her suffer a bit the characterization. I am not so mad though, it could have been worse. Her character is still there.

The soundtrack was left untouched, unsullied and beautiful as ever, a joy for the ears, Yoko Kanno outdid herself back then and I am so glad that her work has remained the same.

The action scenes were very well done, Pierrot le Fou is as creepy and mad as he should be, applause to Udai Taxim, there were Punch and Judy and their bounty hunters show and it was great! The emotional scenes managed to destroy me regardless, it was good!

CONCLUSION

It is a good watch, if you have some time check it out, but pls watch the anime as well!!

I think this series left the, seeds for a possible next season and I wouldn't mind watching it.

Let me know what you think!

[birdsean]

We finished up a set of wheels for the corolla. Jacob from Shock-Mob sourced me a set of 14x8 watanabe R-type’s, he had to buy a total of 8 wheels to make this set of 4. They are old castings denoted by the Watanabe logo on the wheel spoke. I’ve always enjoyed the finish on the magnesium option on the Watanabe website (photo1). They show the wheel with a raw cast face & machine finished lips. I set out to replicate this look on my wheels. They showed up pretty hammered so I started with chemical stripping them, then a couple different types of media blasting on the faces. The lips needed to be welded then profiled, before being polished, & then I sprayed a little matte clear on the faces & clear chromated the lips.

[weyheyjxlya]

𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚎 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐

*•.¸♡ pairing: 

Ennoshita Chikara x Reader

 *•.¸♡ genre: fluff | timeskip!ennoshita au

*•.¸♡ a/n: made one out of simp nights with my bestfrind @maviiiiic​. his voice actor omygosh also, this one is also near to my heart since physical theraphy is my second choice in college so that’s why I love ennoshita’s timeskip very dearly.  listen to the music linked in the lyrics while reading this hehe :3

“Please don't let this love die young If I'm gonna lose someone Don't let it be you”

"So is this how you gonna end up this type of conversation?" you snapped "How did it come to this anyway?" Ennoshita answered with a loud sigh as he just walked out of the house since he's gonna be late for his work

You don't even know what's the reason you got mad about. But one thing's certain, you're mad at Ennoshita. You're mad because you're scared. Scared of what may happen. Due to your distrust with relationships, you never thought that this might happen to you. Here you are now, married to someone. Married with someone like Ennoshita Chikara. A quiet and reserved man that usually has a gentle smile. A man who understands you so well. He may lack confidence but when he's with you, he felt like he's on the top of the world. Also, a man who closed that hole in your heart that made you believe in love. So that's why you're married now. Also, that's why you're scared now. Scared that this precious love that you've encountered will die young. 

Recently, you've been mad at him for a while now. Even though he's doing nothing, he never failed to make your blood boil and you don't even know the reason why. You're being unfair, you know that but you just don't know why. You're even pitying your husband by now. But there's one thing certain, your hearts jumping out of joy because of that text that you got from him. It took all of your momentarily worries away. So without further ado, you prepared yourself instantly to meet your husband and what he has prepared for you. 

Approaching the physical rehabilitation center, upon the glass windows you saw your husband. The sight of your gentle husband working passionately to make someone's life is such a wonderful sight. And what made it more wonderful is he's helping a man about the age of 50 who's trying his best to walk properly using the parallel bars while his wife is watching him. That brimming smile that's evident upon the wife's lips and the truly motivated face of that man is such a pure and genuine moment to look upon you thought. Will we ever reach this age? Will you ever see that smiling face when you're both teasing about your aged up faces? Will you ever see the way your wrinkled hands intertwined together? Will you ever encounter that future where the hands of time stopped for you? Will you still still be there when you both still love each other as you breathe your last breaths? Those thoughts crippled its way upon you until your husband waved his hands in your direction and has now directed the man to take a break for a while. ~~ "Hi, babe! I'm very sorry. Our schedule's jam-packed for this day," Ennoshita apologizes as he kissed your cheeks and pulled you over to the old couple he used to assist. "Here is Mr. and Mrs. Watanabe. I've been telling stories about you to them every time we have sessions and they want to meet you. Is it okay that I asked you on a whim about this?" He asked as he ran his hand through his hair "Of course babe, it's okay. I saw your session earlier and I'm so in awe. Also, sorry for getting mad at you for nothing earlier," you apologized Without any notice, Ennoshita suddenly kissed your lips in front of the couple. Butterflies pooled your stomach and heat crept its way onto your ears and cheeks as you register what happened. "Awww I miss our young times honey," the woman in plaid said to her husband "Yes haha, youth. It's so good to be young," the husband responded All of you chuckled by the sudden statements of the old couple when their happy faces got replaced with worry when you suddenly kind of staggered and held onto Ennoshita's arms for support. "Oh, I remember your head ached earlier. Wait for me here while I get proper medicines for you," Ennoshita worried as he supported you to sit at the same couch where the old couple's sitting and ran straight out of the center to fetch your medicines

“Oh, honey are you okay?" Mrs. Watanabe asked while rubbing your back

"Yes, thank you for worrying. Been experiencing this for a while now. Like these mood swings and the guilt because I've been getting mad at Chikara for no reason for a while now," you sobbed as you've started to notice tears brimming upon your eyes

"Aren't you like that when you're pregnant with our first child honey? You're annoying that time, geesh," Mr. Watanabe joked and suddenly got some slap at his shoulder from his wife.

Pregnant? how?

"Stop joking like that honey. So mood swings and you're frequently mad at your husband for no reason huh, is it because you're also frequently craving for some things?" the woman asked naturally

"Oh yes! I think that's why I am mad at Chikara for a while now," you've answered reflexively upon the sudden realization

"Anything still not fine babe?" Ennoshita chimed in holding some tray that contains a glass of water and some paracetamol

"Uhm honey, could you also please fetch your wife some pregnancy test kit?" the woman asked as both you and Ennoshita are stoned because of the shock from the sudden suspicion of the woman Without batting an eyelash, Ennoshita moved with a poker face to fetch you what you need.

~~

"Congratulations on your baby you two!! I'm so happy for both of you!!" Mrs. Watanabe said as she hugged you tightly like you're one their daughter

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Watanabe, you've helped us," you thanked as the both of you bowed down to properly thank them when suddenly Mrs. Watanabe whispered something to you.

"I'm so happy babe, I can't contain what I'm feeling right now," Ennoshita sobbed "I love you so much Chikara," you beamed while tears are running down your cheeks "I love you too Y/N, but why are you crying?" he asked as he gently wiped your tears "I'm just happy from this wonderful news because I got scared for a while that we'll end it by this time because I'm pointlessly getting frustrated at you," you mewled "I got scared that you'll be gone, you're mine Chikara. You got me into this, so take full responsibility," you sobbed "Of course, I'm willing to take full responsibility. Both of us bet our lives into this, so let me love you with all the best that I can give and all that you deserve. My life would be a mess if you won't be here babe. I'll do my very best to be a great husband and a father for our little bleep," he assured as he hugged you tightly and started kissing you that turns into open-mouthed kisses. Both of you stopped when you've noticed that the both of you are a hot mess and now scared to you'll squish little bleep in your belly from how tight both of your bodies are united. So you suddenly straightened your clothes and started resting upon Ennoshita's shoulders as you're both laying your backs against the headboard. "Hmm you're still not mentioning something to me Chikara Ennoshita," you've mocked as you give your husband a provoking glare "What? wait what? Have you heard of this from Mrs. Watanabe. Geesh she can’t keep things hmm. You're kind of scary now my wife," as he threw his hands up in defeat "You've been planning this all along huh, why didn't you discuss that with me? I should not have been in this kind of state if you did that," you pouted "Of course Y/N-chan, I love you and I really intend to build a family with you. I want to see more of mini yous and me going around this house. I just didn't have time to discuss it because we have been so busy recently. So I'm sorry and can we continue what we're doing earlier?" he insisted as your calm and gentle husband is now like a wolf who has this smugly look and is now starting to kiss you to places "Okay and slow down now mister. Geesh so eager," you hissed but is now truly grateful for this precious moment "Ever so eager for my Mrs. Ennoshita. I love you so much and I promise to not let this love die young. I'll love you forever until we take our last breaths," he assured as he pulled you and tugged you within his arms as he kissed the crown of your head to push all your worries away and assure you of his compassionate lifetime promise. You thanked the heavens as you are truly thankful that they've given you this precious love that you didn't expect you'll have in life. This the best that you've ever had and more are coming in your way. “Oh heavens really, thank you that you've assured that you won't let this love die young.” you thought

[hirocimacruiser]

A187A Mitsubishi Starion GSR-VR with R-type Watanabe wheels. 16x8+0 front and 16x9-13 rear.

[wearejapanese]

A Japanese person's perspective on the mini-series. Let's discuss!

As a naturalized Japanese-American who was born in Japan, speaks Japanese with family, and has lived in Japan for 10 years growing up, this mini-season was the absolute best thing I could have asked for. Binging it made my weekend!

Going into this, I immediately had this feeling in my gut knowing that there is an extremely large cultural difference between Japan and America, and was curious how effectively the show was going to explain that to the audience or if they were going to take a more shallow, "JAPAN IS SO KAWAII and COOL" route. People in Japan are EXTREMELY accustomed to the concept of "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down"; you should not be different or stand out, because you will be bullied and conforming is for your sake. Modesty, conforming, gender roles, being indirect and roundabout, and not being emotionally expressive are extremely big concepts in the Japanese psyche. Mental health, therapy, LGBT acceptance, being sexual, "doing me", straightforward emotional expression, embracing your curves, loving your body, etc. are not as prevalent in the general population as they are in America.

Kiko Mizuhara (who I've adored since I was a teenager living in Japan, she is so gorgeous and is in so many commercials in Japan) did a good job explaining and clarifying things to the Fab 5, although I wish she was featured a little bit more in each episode breaking things down more. The whole concept of a "guide" was really great, as she is decent at English and explained well, but I think the show could have done more with her.

1: Yoko was a fantastic hero to start off the season. The fact that she was spunkier than the average 50-year-old Japanese woman helped keep the episode lighthearted and appealing. She was so receptive and warm to the Fab 5 and it was a really feel-good episode overall. I think her episode helps viewers who are unfamiliar with Japanese social norms to get a taste of concepts like "throwing away your womanhood". I think the first slot was appropriate for this episode, as opposed to later. I was a bit sad that Bobby covered up a lot of the traditional Japanese interior of the community center, but I have to say the place ended up looking like it'd really be useful. I loved her transformation. It was really refreshing but still age-appropriate. In Japan, it'd be embarrassing to be talking about things like "How do you like the new me?", "I learned to have more self-confidence", etc. But the way she delivered her speech was soooooo...Japanese, so un-self-centered, it made her experience more digestible for the people there.

2: LGBT acceptance is really lacking in Japan compared to in the U.S. As soon as I saw the preview blurb on Netflix for this episode, I knew we were in for a doozy. Sure, there are still ignorant people anywhere, and still accepting people anywhere. But, as Kan expressed, it's extremely difficult to live "out and proud" in Japan with all of the social norms we grow up indoctrinated with. I thought Kan was the sweetest, most endearing lead, and he was also super receptive to the Fab 5, and I think it helped tremendously that he knew English so he could understand what they were saying. I also thought Kan was so brave to be so open on TV about his sexuality and I have so much gratitude for that. The scene with the monk and Kan breaking down about how he couldn't find support abroad or at home made me bawl my eyes out. I also really appreciated JVN telling Kan in the hair salon that it's radical and brave to love yourself and that's enough, you don't have to dress like him to be radical. Finally, sleeping on the floor is totally normal, and that is what a real futon is. The flat thing on the floor.

3: This was my second-favorite episode for a reason. It was so nuanced and definitely not the bubbliest or most happy. First of all, the mom haunts me. I am 100% Japanese, and my parents are both Japanese, live in Japan, only speak Japanese. They were traditional Asian Tiger parents growing up, and did a lot of things to me that I wouldn't ever do to my future kids. I don't talk to them about anything personal. I don't feel close to them. But, we get along decently in person, and they aren't bad people. Personally, in my opinion, something about Kae's mom gave me the heebie-jeebies. I got so much anxiety every time she came up on screen. There's obviously way more that has to be unpacked here. The pure, still rage on the mother's face when Kae said to Antoni that "she told me not to be in the kitchen so I felt uncomfortable to", the way the mom stirred the stuff in the pan with that blank stare, I felt extremely uncomfortable the whole cooking scene. And Antoni tried his hardest to get them to connect, but it just was a bit too "direct" to work well in Japan. I appreciated that Antoni heard out the mom when she said that saying "I love you" isn't normal in Japan, which is definitely true. The fact that the mother didn't recognize that bullying was a big deal literally floored me. The way she said "I think we're similar in that we both tend to not express our pain to our parents" really rubbed me the wrong way. That may be a fact, but it's not something to be content about or use as an excuse, it's something to improve upon. Sorry, I have a lot of thoughts on this topic from personal experience and also analyzing their body language and stuff from a Japanese perspective. Finally, I love JVN so much, but that hair was horrible. I wished he kept it pink or at least a dark burgundy. Also, loved seeing Naomi Watanabe in this episode and I think she was a great choice to inspire Kae - someone who can turn any situation into something lighthearted which will help Kae feel comfortable, while also being straight up, and with major star power! I don't know why tf Kiko got the drawing in the end, when she didn't even help, but oh well. Tan is so nice.

4: I knew guys kind of like Makoto growing up in Japan. Getting by in life, not openly into girls or dating, watching out for themselves, extremely introverted. Really fitting into the mold of what society accepts, because that's all they know how to do, think will be appreciated, and think is the right thing to do/think is enough. The way that Makoto's boss made that comment about how Makoto's wife is more out-spoken, saying what she wants, reflected the traditional gender roles and sexism that Japan still has. It had this undertone of like, women usually aren't like that. I really enjoyed this episode because it was honestly so...interesting. The dynamic between Makoto and Yasuko was really mind-boggling, right? I was so thrown off by all the things that were divulged about their marriage. I don't want to come across as disrespectful, but I honestly had a few moments in that episode where I thought Makoto was in the closet or something. Maybe it was editing. Did anyone else think that? However, I think that there are a ton of different types of people in the world - different personalities, ways of expressing themselves, childhoods, parenting styles that affect adult personality, all that stuff. Clearly, being from Japan where emotional expression is minimal and extremely indirect to begin with, along with maybe having a sad (?) childhood, and not being the most experienced with dating or relationships, I can see how Makoto and Yasuko unfortunately settled into this sibling-like relationship for 4 or so years. I think that they have a great shot at improving their relationship over time, and I think Karamo helped them so much with the yoga conversation where they finally opened up about their insecurities and unspoken worries. Also, I'm pretty sure they translated a bit wrong. Makoto is referring to Yasuko as the superhuman, not himself. He says to her, "Just the fact that you exist makes you a superhuman to me". Very sweet! His makeover also looked amazing, my favorite transformation of the season.

Overall, I'd rank the episodes in terms of how much I enjoyed them: 2, 3, 4, 1. How about you?

I think this mini-season excellently touched on a lot of really real social issues in Japan and presented how different things are in Japan compared to in the U.S. Do you have any questions about certain things that came up in an episode? I'd love to discuss with you and share my perspective.

(Reddit Conversation)