Chihayafuru: An Offspring of Shoujo, Poetry, and Athletics

Tags

Arata, Architecture, athletics, card game, Chihaya Ayase, Chihayafuru, Karuta, sports, Taichi

It was an absolute delight to once again see the entire crew of Chihayafuru. Each time I watch this anime I get chills, inspiration, and exhilaration all at the same time—a nice set of feelings, I would say—as if I’m trapped in this subtle yet impassionate spell of Karuta.

Nekomonogatari, A Catwalk of Eyegasm

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Araragi, Bakemonogatari, Black Hanekawa, cat, catwalk, Contrapposto, eyegasm, Hanekawa, Monogatari, Neko, Nekomonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Oshino, pas de deux, Pose, posture, S-curve, Shaft, Tsukihi

Nekomonogatari relived Hanekawa’s past and cat history. Personally, I find her as the most underrated character; that’s why it’s nice how Shaft dedicated a short series solely for her. This show may not have the same magical feel that I experienced with Bakemonogatari but it’s evocative how it catwalked us through to the hallmark of Monogatari’s one-of-a-kind perversion—the intricately artsy and titillating poses.

The Power of Shipping in Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

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Chizuru Ōshima, Haru, Haru Yoshida, Kenji Yamaguchi, love triangle, Natsume, Natsume Asako, Oshima, Sasahara Sohei, Sasayan, ship, Ship (fandom), shipping (fandom), Shizuku, Shizuku Mizutani, shoujo, The Monster Seated Next to Me, Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun, Yamaken

Ship, ship, ship!

Coming from the word relationship, shipping has been a trending term among anime fans. Why would it not be? Love is beautiful… and even more wonderful if romance is part of the picture. Ship is the idea in which two characters, fictional or non-fictional, are in an intimate relationship. As every shoujo-holic knows, the doki doki feeling makes the show emotionally engaging and exciting.♥

On Mythic Creatures and Looking Through Kamisama Kiss

Tags

Great Chain of Being, Kamisama Hajimemashita, Kamisama Kiss, kitsune, Kurama, Mizuki, myth, mythical creatures, mythology, Nanami, Tomoe, youkai

Kamisama Kiss fancifully showcases the recurring theme of human/yokai relationship. For hundreds of years, folktales about mythical creatures cohabiting with human have been a subject of interest for people. I particularly find the otherworldly tales interesting because it mirrors how our thoughts deviate away from the realm and reflect an altered world that contains humanity’s inmost desires. Plus of course as a shoujo fan, it’s always amusing to see how the romance and tension build between two different characters.

Aside from that, it is also interesting how the sense of hierarchal structure is profoundly embedded in myths—the gaps between gods, spirits, and humans are constantly being portrayed. It was said that the principle of the Great Chain of Being interconnects nature and governs all life forms. In this hierarchy, humans are less noble than spirits because of the desires of our flesh. Ironically, these desires could actually move us up in the ladder.