Zurajannai's Blog

Anime Relations: Death Parade

Anime Relations: Suzuka, Kimi no Iru Machi

Now before we move any further, I have to warn you this post will contain HUGE spoiler of some hit works by my favorite mangaka in romance genre, Seo Kouji, such as Suzuka, Kimi no Iru Machi, Half & Half, and Fuuka.

You have been warned!
Enjoy~

I have to clarified that I have only read all four stated manga, and needless to say, I love them all. Now only the story are unique and interesting, the art is beautiful to my taste. I can feel something similar, yet I can also can feel something different as well (I know when I said it like that, I doesn't sound make any sense) when I'm reading them.
So when I think about it, there are at least eight things that you can call "recipe" in all of those four hit manga by Seo Kouji.
Now let's discuss and show each "recipe" one by one.


All the four male MC in these series rather early in the series to his first crush, regardless who he ended up with at the end. Now let me show you

1. Suzuka
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 14, but technically Yamato confess at chapter 13, about 7% of full story
   sadly got REJECTED
   
   
   
2. Kimi no Iru Machi
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 39, the part where he got answer of the confession earlier, about 14% of full story
   also got REJECTED
   
   
   
3. Half & Half
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 2, scene when both MC met Shin'ichi's girlfriend
   prove that he confessed and fortunately didn't get rejected (like the other two above), about 15% of full story
   
   
   
4. Fuuka
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 32. If I were to guess by all the series above, then Fuuka will (based on this calculation alone) end with about ~210 chapters (we're still half-way) lol

It seems that regardless of who he ended up with at the end, MC still dating rather early in the story. Let me show this again.

1. Suzuka
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 37, the chapter where Yamato and Sakurai technically start dating
   
   
   
2. Kimi no Iru Machi
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 106, the chapter where Haruto and Asuka (THE BEST girl of the entire series) technically start dating
   
   
   
3. Half & Half
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from chapter 8, scene when both MC verbally admit they like each other and start dating
   
   
   
4. Fuuka
   
   
   
   
   this cute scene was from chapter 33 where Yuu confirm to Fuuka that they are start dating. reading it again really kinda break my heart a little

All male MC in these manga is not your usual harem MC who is oblivious and clueless/useless bastard that don't recognize other girls feeling for him. Prime example of this kind of MC is Raku Ichijou from Nisekoi.
Some would say that Yamato from Suzuka is kinda oblivious about Sakurai, but that was because at that time, he only got his mind on Suzuka. And when Sakurai kissed her she knows immediately that she like her and response appropriately. Not like Manaka Junpei from Ichigo 100% who repeatedly kissed, shown naked body, etc by girls that obviously liked him but still didn't give any response to that kind of attitude.
All other MCs is not showing any kind of obliviousness in my opinion, and also because of this reason, we got recipe 1. and 2.



You my not notice this point unless you really think about it. All four manga I mention have a dead ex-girlfriend/boyfriend and the one who are lived still hang up on her/him for at least a year.

1. Suzuka
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 23, the chapter where Yamato heard from Suzuka's onee-chan that she had dead (would be) boyfriend because he hit by a truck. It took Suzuka about a year to recover from this tragedy
   
   
   
2. Kimi no Iru Machi
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 100, where Yuzuki's boyfriend at the time, Kazama's funeral is held and this bring far more feels than Tsuda's death. It took Yuzuki about two years to get over his death and decided to start going out with Haruto and RUIN EVERYTHING
   
   
   
3. Half & Half
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from the last chapter, chapter 13, where Seo Kouji managed to put last and best twisted in the series. The series didn't specified whether Yuuki ever get over Shinichi's death, but at least after 4~7 years his death she still hang up on him. I personally think she would never get over him and focus her attention on his Shin-chan. A great way to end the series
   
   
   
4. Fuuka
   
   
   
   
   this really sad scene was from chapter 36 where Fuuka x Truck-san ship sailed. This scene really hit me with feels train far harder than any of the deaths I mention earlier and shut down every "this is Suzuka all over again" opinion for once and for all. Even after one year of Fuuka's death, Yuu still didn't show any major indication that she get over her death and capable of accepting someone else to fill his heart.
   PS. Suzuka must develop some kind of hatred against truck by now.

If I were to point out the one favorite thing about Seo Kouji's hit works, it's gotta be the male MC at least going out with two girls and have a really heart breaking break up with one of them. Something that you didn't see often in harem/romance manga. Let me take you back to the feels train of these scenes.

1. Suzuka
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 112, where Suzuka suggest to break up with Yamato and then Yamato reluctantly accept. Some would say Sakurai and Yamato's break up is very heart breaking, but I think it's not really heart breaking cause at the time, Yamato really didn't deserve Sakurai anyway
   
   
   
2. Kimi no Iru Machi
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 140, where Haruto decided to break up with the best girl in the series, Asuka to going for that bitch Yuzuki. By far THE most heart breaking break up scene I've ever read in manga. Just looking at it for this post made me want to cry a little
   
   
   
3. Half & Half
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from chapter 3 where Shinichi witness with his own eyes that his best friend from childhood betrayed him. I wanted to punched him and bitch slap her so bad when I first read this
   
   
   
4. Fuuka
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 37. Right after her death and we are shown Yuu doesn't even get the courage to attend her funeral

I can't really say about Yuuki and Yuu is getting back together with their boyfriend/girlfriend, but I think by some twisted logic, you could say they are "getting back together"

1. Suzuka
   
   
   
   
   this was from chapter 136, where Suzuka, after overcome her doubt and Yamato's persistance, finally decided to reconcile her relationship with Yamato. I find this scene very heart-warming
   
   
   
2. Kimi no Iru Machi
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from chapter 260, where Haruto and Yuzuki met in their promised place and decided to get back together after breaking up earlier because of long distance relationship. I really didn't find this scene really heart-warming because, well, you guess it, I don't really like Eba Yuzuki
   
   
   
3. Half & Half
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from last chapter, chapter 13.This shows that Yuuki, by some twisted logic, "get back together" with Shinichi to take care of their Shin-chan
   
   
   
4. Fuuka
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from the latest page of latest chapter as of now (May 13th 2016), chapter 107 where Yuu decided to visit Aoi's house. I think this manga real main couple are Yuu and Fuuka (Aoi), so yeah. Again, by some twisted logic, Yuu is "getting back together" with Fuuka

Despite the beginning of all of these manga, at some point, it tells us the story after highschool phase, not lazily jump time settings.
Well, for Fuuka I guess technically most of them are still in highschool age, but they quit school, so I guess it still counts as "after highschool phase"



If you define wedding as "uniting two family together", then you could say all these four stories ends with a wedding of the main couple

1. Suzuka
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from the last chapter,chapet 166, Yamato and Suzuka's wedding. What I can get over is how Miki and Hattori still didn't get together in the end, but they are quite hinting about it. They were a very cute couple
   
   
   
2. Kimi no Iru Machi
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from the last chapter 261, Haruto and Yuzuki's wedding. What I can get over is how Akari and Takashi couldn't get together. I think they got better chemistry than their "cannon" couple (Kanzaki Narumi and Kiyomi Asakura)
   
   
   
3. Half & Half
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from last chapter, chapter 13.This shows Yuuki called Shinichi's father "father" and she's been living in their household while raising her Shin-chan. So you could say she is married to Shinichi Nakagawa
   
   
   
4. Fuuka
   
   
   
   
   this scene was from the latest page of latest chapter as of now (May 13th 2016), chapter 107 where Yuu decided to visit Aoi's house. And as I said earlier, I think the main couple of this manga is Yuu and Fuuka (Aoi) and they'll definitely get married

If I were to name other similar detail that I think doesn't count as "recipe" or unlikely to happen in the only on-going series I mention, Fuuka, it would more or less like these:

• MC always have bestfriend and/or childhood friend that help him with his relationship
  
• there always shotgun babies, whether it's the main couple or not
  
• "long distance relationship" is the reason main couple broke up
  
• there always side couple
  

well, I guess that's about it.
If I were to summarize why I love Seo Kouji's works so much, it'll be because Seo Kouji can create a rather realistic story in an unrealistic theme such as harem where the male MC magically met and be able to made all the interesting and cute girls to get attracted to him for one reason or another.
I said "realistic" because the story in all four stories I mentioned has contents such a honeymoon phase of relationship, relationship problems, break-ups, hanging up on past love, get over past love, characters who are not so fucking DENSE, etc which we, the reader, in real life has experience at least one of these contents in our life, at least once.

Still, after writing all of these, I gotta say my favorite is still Suzuka. And all I'm writing is very subjective and only my opinion.
Here's my favorite scene in Suzuka.




Thanks for reading and CYAAAOOOOO~

Anime Relations: NHK ni Youkoso!

Anime Relations: Ichigo 100%, Nisekoi

I have to warn you this will content spoiler of Nisekoi and Ichigo 100% manga
You have been warned!
Enjoy~

Now that Nisekoi finished, I can say for sure Nisekoi is just copied what Ichigo 100% had and cross-check each of its components.
First of all, I love both manga obviously. However, despite having different author, I can't get over how similar they are, especially on plot, settings, and characters.
Let's first discuss this matter based on each category:


Both story revolve around an average looking guy, Raku Ichigo and Manaka Junpei (later refer as "MC"), with some powerful harem magnet equipped within them who later because of some misunderstanding ends up with a relationship with a blond girl, Kirisaki Chitoge and Nishino Tsukasa respectively while MC still has a strong feeling for another cute girls with black hair who somehow didn't attract another guy's attention, Onodera Kosaki and Toujo Aya.
Both MC initially has no feeling for their girlfriend whatsoever. However as time goes, the begun develop a strong feeling toward their current girlfriend, even as strong as what they feel about their first crush, while lead to a dilemma and lots of drama.

See what I mean?
Even just the premise is very similar.
However of how strong the similarity, there're some different as well like:

In Nisekoi, the plot device that lead them is the locket that the MC holds and the keys that four heroine holds.


While in Ichigo 100%, the author use Ichigo (strawberry) panties (I know it's rather perverted, but need to be said), and you'll see a lot of those along the series.


Also as I mention, Ichigo 100% is rather perverted series, so it seems to used a lot of fan service such as showing naked body to each other, hugging, groping, girl's crotch in MC's head, and even kissing.


While in Nisekoi, you'll find a lot less of those thing. In fact, as far as I can remember, the MC hadn't willingly kissed any of his harem.

Last thing I have to mention, Nisekoi plot progress is really slow because most of the series, you'll find a lot of kinda filler chapter and the characters, beside Tachibana Marika, Shuu Maiko and Ruri Miyamoto are DENSE as fuck. Until recently, starting about chapter 200+, the cast suddenly not so dense which I'm feeling grateful about it.
While in Ichigo 100%, you could say that the progress is also slow, but it's there. In every chapter, you could feel the plot progressing, despite really slow.



You could say both story start at middle school, and mainly take place in high school in which most of the main cast attend (Nishino Tsukasa is the only exception). I could also assumed the story end the same time as they graduate and the time jumps a few years to see what all cast is doing with their life.

This category is also very similar right?
Now let's discuss what's the different between the two:

First of all, in Nisekoi apparently most of the main cast had met when they are really really small and forget all about it, really convenient right? lol
While in Ichigo 100% most of them met for the first time since middle school and one of them goes to another school.

Also, it seems the cast of Nisekoi are all "go-home" club members while most of the main cast in Ichigo 100% are members of movies club in order to chase their dreams.

Cast in Nisekoi also very very lucky to have all the main cast in same class for 3 consecutive years while in Ichigo 100% seems more realistic with they'll separate at some point.



Now before we'll discuss each character separately, I'll give you my view on their characteristic in general.
Characters in Ichigo 100% are very determine about their future since middle school and doing everything they can to reach it while they're in high school while characters in Nisekoi just like to play around enjoying their time in high school except for maybe Ruri Miyamoto.
Also I have to mention, the MC and all his harem in Ichigo 100% are aware that they love each other and dare to face conflict each other in attracting MC's attention in their own way from the beginning.

First let's discuss each main harem's characteristic of Ichigo 100%:














Now let's discuss Nisekoi's main harem's characteristic:
They have almost every Ichigo 100%'s harem characteristic, you just need to crosscheck them.













If I were to compare all Nisekoi minor character's characteristic and compare it to Ichigo 100%, it more or less should be like this:

• MC has best friend who are really perspective and genius
  
• MC's best friend has sidekick who personally doesn't want to involve in MC's harem business (Miyamoto Ruri and Sotomura Misuzu)
  
• Tsugumi Seishirou has Toujou Aya's breast size
  
• Onodera Haru resembles Minamoto Yui as imouto character
  

Now all of this is only my opinion.
Personally, I'm leaning toward Onodera but the fact is all there, gotta accept it :(

PS. Apparently Raku x Chitoge really happen, I hope this will also happen


Thanks and CYAAAOOOOO~