#free headcanons

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Important Update (MAYU)

hey guys, it’s been almost a month? since I last posted. I just started uni so I’m getting busier these days. Another bad news, I’m positive for covid, so please understand that your requests are currently on hold as I’m focusing on getting better and focusing on my studies more than being in social media.

Other than that, requests are still open. Though as I have mentioned above, posts and answers will be delayed. I hope everyone understands that.

I’ll keep y'all updated on my health.

Free! (Genshin AU)

I’m up to it once again, more Genshin AUs for other fandoms. I really have little to none ideas eh. But it’s nice to imagine what these characters would be like if they were in Genshin Universe. So feel free to request of your headcanons or so.

Take a look at the other fandoms I’ve hc-ed for:

MTP,
Haikyuu (Karasuno//Nekoma),
MLQC,
Idolish7 (I7 & Trigger//Re:Vale & ZOOL//Other Characters)

~~~~~~

~ IWATOBI GANG~

- Haruka Nanase -
Vision: Hydro
Weapon: Catalyst/Bow
Affiliation: Mondstadt

> I wanted to give him catalyst but at the same time he kinda fits with a bow. And putting him in Mondstadt seems so right. It’s freedom in that nation, you can find him swimming at the Cider Lake.

- Makoto Tachibana -
Vision: Geo
Weapon: Claymore
Affiliation: Mondstadt, Dawn Winery

> My man Makoto already screams like a Geo character. Tall, handsome, muscular? Claymore. Making him work with Diluc at Dawn Winery also sounds nice. Who wants a barista/waiter Makoto?

- Nagisa Hazuki -
Vision: Anemo
Weapon: Polearm
Affiliation: Mondstadt

> This boy here, is so carefree and fun to be around. Imagining him with Anemo sounds very right. We can see him running around with kids, maybe fooling around with Venti. He might even do tricks with his polearm to entertain the people.

- Rei Ryugazaki -
Vision: Electro/Hydro
Weapon: Sword
Affiliation: Knights of Favonius, Mondstadt

> Tbh, idk if Rei would be blessed with Electro or Hydro. But a part of my thinks that he might be an Electro user. Rei is definitely part of the Alchemist faction of the KoF as one of Albedo’s assistants. He likes beauty, thus I can definitely see him fight with a sword passionately.

- Shizuru Isurugi -
Vision: Hydro
Weapon: Claymore
Affiliation: Liyue

> He talks about fish and compare things with seafood. I see him coming from Liyue and probably be the son of one of the greatest fishermen there.

- Romio Hayahune -
Vision: Cryo
Weapon: Bow
Affiliation: Liyue

> I don’t really know much nor take notice of him, but my impression of him is that he might be blessed with Cryo vision. He did mention Tokyo is his second home, thus why I think he fits by coming from Liyue, a nation of contracts and business.

- Gou Matsuoka -
Vision: Cryo
Weapon: Catalyst/Sword
Affiliation: Inazuma (former), Mondstadt

> The Matsuoka family moves around a lot during Gou’s and Rin’s childhood. And she definitely has Cryo vision to mess around with the Iwatobi guys. Like freezing the lake to avoid Haru from swimming during the winter, creating ice paths to let kids play on the ice and other things.

- Ayumu Kunikida -
Vision: Geo
Weapon: Catalyst
Affiliation: Mondstadt

> She looks like Geo Sucrose. She’ll be with Timaeus instead of the KoF. She’ll throw rocks at the baddies from a far, unintentionally playing pranks on the hilichurls. She’ll be Sucrose’s best friend too. They’d create the weirdest and questionable things ever.

~ SAMEZUKA GANG ~

- Rin Matsuoka -
Vision: Pyro
Weapon: Claymore
Affiliation: Inazuma // Fontaine

> He has pyro vision 100%! Passionate with his dreams to the point he might accidentally burn something. Probably evaporate the water at times. Gou will be the one who would help him maintain the water level. She’d freeze liquid while he melts them.

- Sousuke Yamazaki -
Vision: Geo
Weapon: Claymore
Affiliation: Inazuma // Liyue

> Rock hard muscle man carries a claymore like his buddy. Geo vision user indeed. He can also be a healer and DPS like Noelle! He’d be Rin’s best partner in the team aside from Haru and Gou. Since Rin and Sousuke were from Inazuma, I can see them returning and being part of the resistance with Sangonomiya. They’d fight for freedom together (and making sure that Rin doesn’t explode like a volcano)

- Aiichirou Nitori -
Vision: Dendro
Weapon: Sword
Affiliation: Sangonomiya Troupe, Inazuma

> Idk why, but Nitori looks like he would have Dendro vision. I see him as a person who likes nature and would be more of a healer and support. He’d be with the medical team of the resistance. And making sure Momo behaves.

- Momotarou Mikoshiba -
Vision: Electro
Weapon: Polearm
Affiliation: Sangonomiya Troupe, Inazuma

> Boy is so explosive he may have had created Overload with his brother or Rin. He’s exciting but also has limits. At least he listens to the general and the higher ups, making him one of the best fighter in the resistance.

~ HIDAKA U ~

- Seijuurou Mikoshiba ~
Vision: Pyro
Weapon: Claymore
Affiliation: Sangonomiya Troupe, Inazuma

> Mikoshiba Chaos number 1. Do I need to say more? Chaos with his siblings? Why not. Not only that, he’s one of the best captains in the resistance, leading his team with full victory, training them to be the best of the best. He received recognition from both Gorou and Kokomi. Was probably one of the Tenryou Commission officers but betrayed them once the Vision Hunt Decree happened.

- Asahi Shiina -
Vision: Pyro
Weapon: Polearm
Affiliation: Liyue

> Probably the son of one of the commissioners in Liyue. And most likely one of the best adventurers of Liyue. Also a promoted officer of the Millelith. Like Seijuurou, he’s a good leader. He may be reckless, but his chaotic and lively attitude brings positivity in the team work.

- Kisumi Shigino -
Vision: Anemo
Weapon: Sword
Affiliation: Fontaine // Liyue

> This guy is so carefree but when it comes to business or leading his adventure team, he’s serious. As a reference that his uncle works with a company that’s gotta do with housings, his family probably is a part of a commissioner thingy and has contacts with the Liyue Qixing. He’s like Tohma in a way, kinda like the middle man or a fixer. We need him to deal with complicated things.

~ SHIMOGAMI U ~

- Tsubasa Hoshikawa -
Vision: Electro
Weapon: Polearm
Affiliation: Doushin, Inazuma

> He’s a minor character but he shows good leadership by how he talks to his teammates. I imagine him being one of the generals of the Tenryou Commission

- Ikuya Kirishima -
Vision: Cryo
Weapon: Bow
Affiliation: Tenryou Commission, Inazuma

> I was so close to imagining him using a claymore as a reference of Razor. I headcanon cryo characters to be someone perfectionist in a way, thus why I think Ikuya might be a Cryo vision bearer.

- Hiyori Toono -
Vision: Geo
Weapon: Sword
Affiliation: Kanjou Commission, Inazuma

> Kanjou commission clearly shows how much they wanted to manipulate traveler upon them reaching Inazuma. And that’s what and how I view Hiyori as. He’s cheeky, good with words. He might be like Tohma, a fixer, at the same time manipulating people with taxes and whatever Kanjou Commission does. He might even block outlanders with his Geo vision.

~ OTHERS ~

- Natsuya Kirishima -
Vision: Pyro
Weapon: Claymore
Affiliation: Tenryou Commission (former), The Crux (current)

> My man Natsuya travels a lot. He’s like Kazuha, the wandering ronin. I can definitely see him as Beidou’s second in command in the ship. He’s also a good leader, a caring and kind individual. His pyro vision provides warmth in the cold nights in the sea. If this guy even dare, he would even dive into the sea to swim.

- Nao Serizawa -
Vision: Dendro
Weapon: Catalyst/Bow/Sword
Affiliation: Bubu Pharmacy, Liyue

> I can see him working as Baizhu’s disciple. I don’t know why I see him having dendro vision, but he just screams dendro. He’s majoring as sports medic of some sorts, thus I see him working with Bubu Pharmacy along with Qiqi. He would expect Natsuya and other characters to visit him to ask for medicines.

- Isuzu Mikoshiba -
Vision: Anemo
Weapon: Sword
Affiliation: Sangonomiya Troupe, Inazuma

> Mikoshiba Chaos number 2. With anemo, she can apply swirl to overload from her brothers’ visions. Following Seijuurou’s footsteps, she strives to become a good leader and role model. Kokomi would even ask her to be her assistant. Big bro Mikoshiba is proud of little sister Mikoshiba.

- Kaede Kinjou -
Vision: Electro [Hydro; Delusion]
Weapon: Claymore
Affiliation: Fatui, Snehznaya

> idl this guy. I definitely see him with the fatui. His few targets would be Ikuya, Rin, Haruka, Sousuke and Asahi. I can see him fooling around with them with so many ruthless tactics he has under his sleeves. Not to mention how aggressive he can be. Scaramouche weaker version.

- Albert Volandel -
Vision: Cryo/Hydro
Weapon: Polearm
Affiliation: Fontaine

> I view him fighting as gracefully as Rei, maybe even more. But as for his vision, I’m unsure if he would be blessed with cryo or hydro.

~~~~~~

It took me quite some time to figure out the characters whenever I do these things. But any whooo, a family fic for Natsuya is coming soon, as well as my first two requests are now under editing. Stay tuned for the stories!

a-voice-of-my-own:

K so I had a little time off work and I decided to revisit Kodama Yuki’s; Kids On The Slope or “Sakamichi no Apollon”.

I re read the manga and sat down to FINALLY watch the anime. This one was a series I had avoided watching forever; due to a lot of descriptions of homoerotic tones, in reviews (which would be queerbating for this manga) and the emotional academic experience I have with the subcontext of the story’s subject matter.

Still, I’d always wanted to watch it. Not only because this Era captivates me, but my college studies surrounded it for a long while, and IT’S ABOUT MUSIC! It was directed by Watanabe Shinichiro of Cowboy Bebop fame, the music performed and composed for screen by the incredible Yoko Kanno, and all these years later; it’s still considered a masterpiece and a very very unique anime.

With the anime being condensed into just 12 episodes, from a 50 something chapter long manga; it truly did hold up to the story of youth, uncertainty, and unfair life lessons so well captured in Kodama’s original story.

It’s one that anyone can enjoy, esspecially if you have music fortifying your bones; but know that it does reference quite a lot of societal context, that may be under appreciated in its importance to the characters’ experiences, if you lack at least a basic knowledge of post WWII Japan, and the US occupation.

BUT it’s not a wartime or occupation centric story.

AND it’s not a BL.

It’s a story about that anxious awareness you have in your coming of age; knowing that you are both of the world and circumstances surrounding you, but are not actually in it yet. That time at the end of youth, when you don’t know how one switches from child to adult, but that it will happen, and…it just did. You could’ve blinked and missed it. Yet you can’t say for certain when or how exactly it occurred. You wish for the innocence and idleness of childhood, which at the time, you despised so much. If you’re lucky; you realize the things and people that shaped you, when that elusive moment innocence flew away, happened.

It’s also about the love found in only friendship. The kind of love found nowhere else, in life. A deeper understanding for another person, that cannot be compared to the love of family, or romance; it’s just more than that.

This is why I say; making reference to underlying homoerotic tones, in regards to this story, would be queerbating. There’s nothing queer about it. The two main characters love eachother, intrinsically. They are both male, and they share deeply intimate moments. Yet they’re the kind of moments that can’t be experienced really, in the same way one would expect them to be understood, if they were shared between lovers or even family.

They are simply, eachother’s person.


They also made a live rendition The story is told in a different way, from both the manga and the anime, but it is soooo good. The order of events, and some of the details of circumstances, are changed around (a lot of the darker elements are completely omitted) but it’s done so in a way that allows the main characters’ friendship, to shine a little more pure.

Komatsu Nana (Ritsuko)

Chinen Yuri (Kaoru)

Nakagawa Taishi (Sentaro)

I’ve never seen Komatsu play such a sweet character, and she was very good at showing those subtle reveals of deep emotions, churning inside.

I also thought it was genius to cast Chinen, a JPop idol as Kaoru; since he’s much moodier and insensitive in the manga. Part of his growth is in consideration of others feelings, and that little touch of diva, did the trick while keeping him more approachable for the more upbeat tone of the film version.

Nakagawa is known for rom coms and comedy variety skits, aswell as popular dramas. And he’s the live action Ryota from Your Lie In April! And the live action Arata in ReLife! IRL he’s a big goofball who does a lot of children’s events. That somehow lent a strong vulnerability to even his most violent scenes.

Keep reading

K so I had a little time off work and I decided to revisit Kodama Yuki’s; Kids On The Slope or “Sakamichi no Apollon”.

I re read the manga and sat down to FINALLY watch the anime. This one was a series I had avoided watching forever; due to a lot of descriptions of homoerotic tones, in reviews (which would be queerbating for this manga) and the emotional academic experience I have with the subcontext of the story’s subject matter.

Still, I’d always wanted to watch it. Not only because this Era captivates me, but my college studies surrounded it for a long while, and IT’S ABOUT MUSIC! It was directed by Watanabe Shinichiro of Cowboy Bebop fame, the music performed and composed for screen by the incredible Yoko Kanno, and all these years later; it’s still considered a masterpiece and a very very unique anime.

With the anime being condensed into just 12 episodes, from a 50 something chapter long manga; it truly did hold up to the story of youth, uncertainty, and unfair life lessons so well captured in Kodama’s original story.

It’s one that anyone can enjoy, esspecially if you have music fortifying your bones; but know that it does reference quite a lot of societal context, that may be under appreciated in its importance to the characters’ experiences, if you lack at least a basic knowledge of post WWII Japan, and the US occupation.

BUT it’s not a wartime or occupation centric story.

AND it’s not a BL.

It’s a story about that anxious awareness you have in your coming of age; knowing that you are both of the world and circumstances surrounding you, but are not actually in it yet. That time at the end of youth, when you don’t know how one switches from child to adult, but that it will happen, and…it just did. You could’ve blinked and missed it. Yet you can’t say for certain when or how exactly it occurred. You wish for the innocence and idleness of childhood, which at the time, you despised so much. If you’re lucky; you realize the things and people that shaped you, when that elusive moment innocence flew away, happened.

It’s also about the love found in only friendship. The kind of love found nowhere else, in life. A deeper understanding for another person, that cannot be compared to the love of family, or romance; it’s just more than that.

This is why I say; making reference to underlying homoerotic tones, in regards to this story, would be queerbating. There’s nothing queer about it. The two main characters love eachother, intrinsically. They are both male, and they share deeply intimate moments. Yet they’re the kind of moments that can’t be experienced really, in the same way one would expect them to be understood, if they were shared between lovers or even family.

They are simply, eachother’s person.


They also made a live rendition The story is told in a different way, from both the manga and the anime, but it is soooo good. The order of events, and some of the details of circumstances, are changed around (a lot of the darker elements are completely omitted) but it’s done so in a way that allows the main characters’ friendship, to shine a little more pure.

Komatsu Nana (Ritsuko)

Chinen Yuri (Kaoru)

Nakagawa Taishi (Sentaro)

I’ve never seen Komatsu play such a sweet character, and she was very good at showing those subtle reveals of deep emotions, churning inside.

I also thought it was genius to cast Chinen, a JPop idol as Kaoru; since he’s much moodier and insensitive in the manga. Part of his growth is in consideration of others feelings, and that little touch of diva, did the trick while keeping him more approachable for the more upbeat tone of the film version.

Nakagawa is known for rom coms and comedy variety skits, aswell as popular dramas. And he’s the live action Ryota from Your Lie In April! And the live action Arata in ReLife! IRL he’s a big goofball who does a lot of children’s events. That somehow lent a strong vulnerability to even his most violent scenes.


The story takes place in late Showa Era; mid 1960s to mid 1970s, during a significant period of courtship (if you wanna call it that) between Japan and the US. This is the generation after approximately 230 THOUSAND Japanese civilians were massacred by the US Airforce. The story also takes place in the southern Kyushu prefecture of Nagasaki; one of the two cities annihilated by the American nuclear attacks. During this period; you see a country emerging from military occupation, radically changing in its internal view of itself, and becoming the 2nd strongest world economic power.

Yet for this generation itself; young adults were torn between a nationality steeped in exclusive tradition, and recognizing their identities in the world outside of their nationality. The story can be somewhat viewed as an allegory between not only the “youth” lost of Japanese identity, but also the marriage of modern Japanese and American cultures. There’s a whole history there, that I won’t go into in this post, but some notable points are as follows:

Japanese and American cultures are innately almost the exact opposite, in every way, yet there has been a long standing fascination with each other. There’s just some sort of symbiotic relationship in the two countries’ pop culture.

The US occupation of Japan (1945-1952) changed Japan inside and out, and while the country of Japan is roughly only the size of California; there are close to 100 US military bases throughout the islands and mainland. The US is the only country to have ever invaded Japan.

The phenomenon of what is some times refered to as “children of ash” were the children of US soldiers by Japanese civilian mothers. In most cases; abandoned by their own families, they were outcasts in their own communities. The majority were illegitimate, and often the result of rape.

Debated cival unrest on local levels, due to student protests by the Communist Youth Party, The pro Russian Socialists, and those who fought to rid the American presence from Japan.

Catholicism set up shop and began to convert the locals to Christianity; who had suddenly found themselves poverty stricken, traumatized, and quickly losing their identity as a people.

Jazz; a uniquely American music, was embraced and made even better, by Japanese musicians of the Showa Era. Yet it went hand in hand with American soldiers and businessmen, as they were often the audience. Young Japanese men played to groups of blatantly racist foreigners and occupying personnel, amid the introduction of hard drugs, openly sexual promiscuity, and arrogance that they brought with them. All of which, was also uniquely Western, to them.

So now that you’re up to speed on a lot of the underlying dark tones of the story; know that these themes are mostly brushed over in the manga and anime, and are almost completely left out of the live action film. The story wasn’t really written for an audience outside of Japan, so these points are just known to Japan’s audience. Also, the majority of the dialogue is in a Kansai type dialect, so you definitely want to watch with subtitles.

Kaoru (a pianist) is a moody, introverted young man from the city. His father is a sailor of some sort (not military but probably a merchant) and though they have a loving relationship; due to his business, Kaoru is moved around to different relatives. He’s wealthy, intelligent, speaks and reads English, and his family is very Westernized. He’s moved into his Aunt and Uncle’s mansion in Sasebo Nagasaki, where he’s expected to follow in his Uncle’s footsteps, and become a doctor.

Sentaro (a drummer) is the child of a local girl and an American soldier. We know from a glimpse of a photo; his parents were involved for at least a brief time. Shortly after his birth though; he’s abandoned to the village priest, and later raised by his mother’s family. Though he calls his Aunt and Uncle, Mom and Dad; no one in the family or the village accepts him, save for his Aunt. He’s massive in size, has reddish brown hair and light eyes, and inherented an almost entierly American, boorishness demeanor.

Side note for my Given readers; there’s a lot of Sentaro reminiscent aspects to Akihiko. Besides being a half white drummer; I honestly wonder if the character inspired Kizu.

Both boys were abandoned by their mothers as infants, and while Kaoru’s father is just always away; Sentaro never even knew his. In the manga and the anime; there is a deep theme that women are so easily overlooked and yet so incredibly vital, in the raising of kind young men. The film leaves this out, but it’s not to disregard its importance in life or the story; it’s that they left out all of the instances of lack of consent, which indirectly leads the boys to understanding the traumas and strengths, of their own mothers. So if you watch the film first; you may have some unexpected and unsettling moments, watching the anime. They also leave the topic of political activism and drug use out of the film. Those topics served the context of the society the boys live in, and isn’t as relevant in the film.

Everyone in town is terrified of Sentaro; his laugh is too loud, his stride is too outspoken, he comes and goes as he pleases; getting into fights as if it’s funsies and smiling while doing so. One nuance to the character; is that he smiles big, just showing all those teeth, and talks while he’s eating (not just with his mouth full) which at this time would have still been extremely rude for even a male. The whole town treats him as if he’s an outsider, like he didn’t grow up with them. As a small child; the other children beat him and called him “America” as if he represents the very people invading their world, all by himself.

But inside this man sized 15 year old, beats the heart of a joyous and unconditionally loving child. He’s adored by his Aunt’s tribe of young biological children, and cares deeply for his community, including the Catholic church which he adamantly attends. So much so; Kaoru exclaims at one point; he’ll surely be a natural father, surrounded by happy children, as an adult. Sentaro describes Kaoru as his angel.

When Kaoru arrives in town; he’s singled out immediately by classmates, due to his intellectual way of speaking, his girlish face, and small stature. Yet being a bit of a standoffish dick; he’s the only one of them to “stand up to” the seemingly dangerous Sentaro. Interstingly, he also represents American influence; in that he comes from a family that has completely assimilated. Eventhough he’s more traditional in his mannerisms, and even his physical appearance; he’s all business and reformed etiquette. The two together, mirror two very different Americanized people. A big part of this is subtlety shown in the different ways they go about trying to flirt with girls. He has also lost touch with language, as he speaks English better than local dialects. Eventhough, there are dozens of ways to speak Japanese; it’s a serious problem for him, as he moves around. He can’t understand what his own people are saying.

With the encouragement of Ristuko, who’s father runs the local record store; the two bond over jazz, in a secret practice room, in the basement of the shop. She acts as a sort of guardian over both of them, and she and her father seem to be the only people in town, that know Sentaro is an actual ray of sunshine.

There’s a lot of crushing going on with the boys, as a sort of love triangle forms in Ristuko’s heart, throughout their three years of highschool. And another with Yurika, between Sentaro and Jun; an older musician whom Sentaro idolizes. Yet the main “love story” is between Sentaro and Kaoru.

In their case, the akai ito red string of fate; is represented as Ristuko’s blue yarn. Blue meaning something pure and stable. Both boys suffer extreme attachment trauma, and while Kaoru expresses his as admittedly, not being able to get along with or let other people in; Sentaro expresses his as never letting himself grieve for his excruciatingly unfair circumstances. One of the most heartwrenching scenes in every adaptation, is when he finally let’s himself cry, and sobs uncontrollably into Kaoru’s arms.

In the anime; without knowing subcontext; some of the racial discrimination is easily missed. In the film; they really draw on it, most prominently by adding to a scene where American soldiers are talking shit about the boys while they’re trying to play a set. Throwing slurs at Kaoru and Jun, who is their vocalist and trumpet player, and picking up on the fact that Sentaro is probably one of their “responsibilities”, to put it “nicely”. The scene is even more difficult to watch, knowing both Kaoru and Jun speak English, but Setaro doesn’t understand a word they’re saying.

There is never a moment of sexual or even romantic tension between the two, boys. They experience friendship in its deepest form. Yes they squabble like they’re dating, and no one else knows what’s good for the other. Have throw down fights, followed by silent treatments and angry faced acts of service love language; like an old married couple. Piss eachother off, and know exactly how to soothe one another, like only close partners do. But not a single moment of it is homoerotic. It’s the pure love and joy, only found in those rarest of friendships, where you just know one another, even if you don’t yet know a lot ABOUT the other. Where you heal wounds, without trying to fix the other person, because you’re not looking at them like a mate whom you want to meet your expectations or needs. Instead it’s companionship where you speak eachother’s truths, and cannot be apart without experiencing painful sorrow. Even feeling jealousy at them being with someone else. Where you see the other’s beauty, as well as the faults, and love them all, because that is your person.

At one point; they meet some older men, who while watching them get drunk together; insist that they must treasure eachother, no matter what, because true friendship like theirs’ is forever. For life; through the good and the bad. Their relationship captures the newness of growing from a sweaty, awkward boy; into first loves, and fist fights, and broken hearts. All while being told you’re becoming a man, and there are expectations in that; because men are unfairly expected to make marks on the world. Being told this by adults, who seem to irronically always forget that you are the litteral future expectation, and you’re learning from their all too often, poor examples. Those tedious moments of discovering your ability to be made into a mumbling idiot; by first feels and falling out over your own idiocy. Trying to understand tenderness, and your own terrible ability to be insensitively aggressive. As well as learning that it’s ok, rewarding, human, and HEALTHY to show affection and share intimacy with one another, as two young men. Eventhough half the time; Kaoru interjects that Sentaro isn’t his friend, they just play music together.

Viewing the two as a potentially queer interpretation of that love, only takes away from its profound wonder. Being a gay guy myself; obviously I don’t mean that because it’s QUEER, but because it would make it sexually romantic, which is not this story. They have moments of aversion to eachothers’ affections, that are part of being told men can’t be close, but it’s in childish humor. Sentaro tells Kaoru he’s only truly happiest, when they play music together. Kaoru says that he can’t be separated from him, and that their times together are his “favorite things”.

And they check eachother out, in platonic affection; the same way Sentaro teases Ritsuko, in the film, that she better tell him he looks good. Sentaro comments that Kaoru is pretty and sensitive, and Kaoru exclaims in jealousy, that Sentaro is so handsome; sometimes he takes even his breath away. He acknowledges his impressive, natural masculinity, while Sentaro acknowledges Kaoru’s gentility …but it’s all in admiration and innocent honesty. This too can be seen as that mirror, of two very differently Americanized Japanese men. The two are physically very different, and if you look back at this time in history (not the understanding of toxic male perception, now) Americans were admired as being effortlessly “masculine”.

There’s a whole sort of set of rules for what constitutes being “masculine”, between the two cultures. I’ve written on it before, but for a moment; for the sake of this story’s setting, unlearn what we now understand about the former misconceptions of what it means to be a male. In that time and place; the American men young Japanese boys were exposed to, were big US soldiers. Their average height, was 5'9" to 6 foot. They were muscular, broad shouldered, loud, and assertive, with strong faces and big eyes. Eventhough Sentaro is despised for physically being all of these things; that’s still where young Japanese men at the time, were trying to get to. The average height and weight of a Japanese man at the time, as just over 5 foot, and Americans had them out weighed by a good 20-40 pounds.

Both boys represent to one another, what the other will never be; as perceived by other people. Kaoru who is small and reserved; finds that being courageous and taking the lead in his own life, doesn’t mean he has to be outlandish. By the end, he’s grown his hair and walks with a beautiful air of quiet masculinity and grace. There’s a whole thing with the song “One Day My Prince Will Come” and he does infact grown into one version of a modern prince. Sentaro on the other hand, will never not look white, and his bold presence can be one that instills inspiration and joy, rather than fear or disdain. As a child; he wacks off all of his beautiful, wavey auburn hair; in an attempt to have some kind of control over the way he looks, and declares he’ll use his size and strength, to protect himself.

One part that is always declared to be queer coded (and trust me, I get why) is when the two first see eachother. It’s not supposed to be romantic sexually; it’s romantic interpersonally. Sentaro is in high sunlight, and revealing his face, he’s almost angelic, in an iconic western kind of way. Yet he looks up into Kaoru’s face and thinks HE’S dreaming of an actual angel, because he’s so lovely looking down at him in the light. They are what eachother is told, they should be more like. Really it’s just the sun in their eyes, which I always felt was the mangaka referencing to [the sun rises in the East/sets in the West] but that is their first impression of the other. Sentaro is this impossible vision of unobtainable Westerner presence and command (which we all know is absurd) in the moment Kaoru first realizes he’s another boy. Irronically (absolutely NOT Western) when the Japanese express that even people can be kami; Sentaro is an example of that. Someone who’s presence you can’t disregard, but is unexplainable in their sort of unknown power over the people around them. In another allusion to their sense of self worth; Karou apparently looks like what Sentaro would imagine angels look like. Which to him, is not at all Western; Karou’s delicate, and small, and unmistakably East Asian. This says a lot about Sentaro’s internalized subconscious self; considering he’s a devout catholic, which is the branding iron of western control. Ironic; a Christian diety would look like a Japanese person, to him and Karou himself, even being very Americanized, thinks Christians are odd. This fascination they instinctively feel, is absolutely a form of being in love, but takes on a vicarious, platonic version of it.

The story ends in a twist, and it’s one of those stories that you wonder; how could this possibly end in a satisfactory way for the audience. Yet it’s entirely satisfying and poignant. Without it being sappy or just fanservice. Completely unexpected; the film changes the ending up a little, and it’s even BETTER!

The film is such a beautifully sweet tear jerker, compared to the original’s darker angst, but I absolutely loved every minute of it, and felt the changes were done respectfully to the original. It’s easier to follow, without knowing the subcontexts, but difficult to find, to watch. If you intend to watch the anime or read the manga; I would recommend doing so before watching the film. If you want to watch the film only, it’s a really wonderful stand alone story, and the actors did exceptionally well !!

Anime only:

Side note worth mentioning: During this time; the Beatles had just started taking over rock and roll. Rock was still viewed as a sort of cheap, and dirty music, mostly because of the use of expensive electric guitars, and blatant marketing to underage girls. Simping had been discovered, as a means to sell music; which left a bad taste in the mouths of other musicians. Before music acts on that scale; making music wasn’t about making money or even really fame; it was about being appreciated and respected for your talent.

Okamoto Nobuhiko; My Hero Academia’s Bakugo, voices a boy named Seiji, who heads up a Beatles-esque boy band! He does an INCREDIBLE job in the anime, of being both adorable, and cringey! I really love Okamoto’s cutesy characters

☆Sentaro is voiced by Hosoya Yoshimasa:

My Hero Academia; Tokoyami

Katsuya Honda (Tohru’s dad) in the upcoming Fruits Basket; Prelude

My fave character in Horimiya; Ishikawa

Ensemble Stars (Enstars) Trickstars’ leader; Hokuto Hidaka

and a BUNCH of sports anime characters:

Prince of Tennis/Free!/Haikyuu!!/Yuri On Ice etc

☆Kaoru is voiced by Kimura Ryouhei:

Who’s characters you’d most likely recognize are:

Kuroko no Baskuke; Kise

Free!; Hiyori

Haikyuu!!; Koutaro

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