it/they- real nyanbinary madness- hey! i'm mew. i ramble a lot about my interests. welcome to headcanon hell- doodle dump galore- multifandom
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Someone has already introduced the topic, but I want to delve deeper and give my vision on the matter.
This is the kind of thing that, when you think about it, is so obvious that you can't help but feel a little silly for not noticing it sooner.
When we talk about cooking, the doors are opened for many interpretations, but we will not go to something as complicated as… analyzing the dishes that appear next to the names of the episodes. It's something much simpler.
Cooking is something that we can associate with independence and maturity. I think this is easily represented by Arajin's mother, who, although she can be somewhat eccentric at times, let's not forget that she is also the owner of her own restaurant, in addition to having to take care of her son practically alone (as far as we know) both being responsibilities that are not exactly easy to carry. We even have Arajin himself, who despite demonstrating questionable behavior throughout the story, we know that he helps his mother, again, a responsibility about which he usually doesn't complain, being one of the few things that probably helped him with his trauma and develop a skill necessary for adult life, or in his particular case, a business that he will most likely inherit.
We can talk about the scene in which Arajin and Matakara cook together, these are already my conjectures, but perhaps it is a way to contrast how each one has tried to cope with their lives, and it's even more revealing if we remember that they were making gyozas ( They are stuffed/external part, internal part), showing us that Arajin (despite what one might think) has had more tools at his disposal (which his mother also provided him) to move forward than Matakara, who has managed to do so, as we can see, with great difficulty.
Akutaro is another one we see cooking in episode 7, but since it's something he's doing more out of obligation (and possibly threat) perhaps it's more to emphasize that HE NEEDS INDEPENDENCE (he depends on Ichiya) and learning to manage with his own resources to mature.
Now let's talk about what really matters, cooking and love. Cooking has an important relationship with love, being very commonly represented as one of the most sincere gestures of affection, both for those who cook and those who eat. Let's remember when Marito is hospitalized and Mahoro visits him, the food that she prepares for him is well… we know… peculiar, but we see that despite this, even if it's not in front of his sister, Marito makes the effort to eat what she prepared for him, making us understand that despite seeming distant, he appreciates her.
On the other hand we see it in Arajin's mother and the effort she puts into preparing his lunches for school.
We also notice it with Matakara while he prepares the party to welcome his brother, where he offers to help Arajin to make the food. Let's remember that the only person with whom we have seen Matakara cook apart from Arajin is his brother, therefore, the two people for whom he feels the most affection. That's why he wants Mitsukini to eat something that he prepared with his own hands.
But here there is something else. We talk about cooking as a sign of maturity and affection for those we love, but there is something else, and you should already imagine what I mean. Cooking as a representation of a home and its warmth. We already see it with all of the above, especially Arajin, who if there is something he doesn't lack is his mother's love and support . Personally, this makes Matakara's situation even sadder, because if we are good observers, we have NEVER seen Matakara eating or cooking with his "relatives." Basically yelling at us that he doesn't feel part of them, which is confirmed when he simply leaves after what happens with his brother.
In contrast, Arajin's house is a place where we know that beyond being also a restaurant, it's a place where cooking is done with love, therefore,it's not just a house, it's a home.
And now that we know about his past, it's just heartbreaking. Deep down, Matakara not only wants strength, he wants someone who won't abandon him, he wants a home and feel its warmth, maybe that's why we see him so happy making gyoza with Arajin, because it had been a long time since he could experience it. In the end, for Matakara, any place where he can be with a person he loves is his home.
if bucchigiri has arajin say something like "10 years from now, I see us eating gyoza together" i think i will explode
hmmm
thinking about bucchigiri and its motif of connecting food with love and family, how matakara implied that he'd be happy to make miso soup with arajin for the rest of his life and how he enjoys just making gyoza with him...
my only prediction for the finale is that the final nyan nyaight love segment is going to involve the teacher adopting jasmine so they can be with each other all the time (assuming she’s a cat), which will somehow connect to arajin asking matakara to move in with him and/or giving him a new stone as part of the resolution
I miss him being all happy 🥹
twelve episodes is nothing in this economy. bucchigiri deserved exactly thirty-nine episodes and a movie that toed the line between retelling and direct sequel to the original series
Pls accept my low effort drawing and I apologise about jabashiri I only know how to draw twinks
saw 2 posts (on twitter) saying matakara is now an asshole and beyond saving AND WE'RE NOT DOING THIS AGAIN. ITS BEEN 4 YEARS WE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT DOING THIS AGAIN
I keep seeing this "Bucchigiri has an awful mc" discourse popping up whenever the anime is mentioned, and there's something that bothers about the way a lot of people are framing these discussions. People always point out the fact that Arajin is a dirtbag who ghosts his only friend to simp for a girl who is actively disinterested in him under the pretense that this is behavior the anime expects us to agree with and think is good, and will thus endear him to us as audience, but like... that's obviously not what Bucchigiri is trying to do??
like- this is a show where the protagonists main love interest is a girl that is so revolted by him that she has zero qualms manipulating him into joining an actual gang, a show where the main character almost shits his own pants before every single action scene, and lets not forget, a show where he neglects and mistreats his only friend so badly that said friend loses it and systematically beats the piss out of every other character on the show to work out his frustrations.
Does that sound like a show that "failed at making a likable protagonist", or does that sound like a show that is purposefully centered around a selfish and awful character?
One of the shows main narrative hooks is watching this terrible man stumble his way through what is an otherwise fairly serious shounen anime world. I think that's a pretty funny subversion of typical anime tropes, but even if you don't agree, to deny that it's what the show is going for is to just refuse to engage with it on any level, and that's the main issue with this type of critique.
You can dislike the show for not having a likable protagonist, but the show is not trying to have a likable protagonist. At that point you're not hating a show because it executes what it's trying to do poorly, you're hating a show because it's not something it never wanted to be in the first place.
this was a neat way of showing how arajin’s priorities have changed, but im honestly pretty disappointed with how little mahoro did in eps 10-11. ep 11 especially could have been a good moment for her to confront arajin and indirectly have him see her for who she really is as a person, or even go straight to facing off with matakara like she did with akutaro in episode 6
Some screenshot redraws featuring Zabu and Komao! (pt. 1)
i'm definitely in the minority but in terms of writing and structure i think bucchigiri does what it sets out to do pretty well and i really appreciate it for that. most problems i have revolve around mahoro post-ep 6, but otherwise i understand the emotions being conveyed. the last episode will finalize my thoughts, but the story does make sense thematically so far and i'll probably expand on my thoughts in another post
HAPPY TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY😼🏳️⚧️‼️
bucchigiri is about how one awful, selfish, cowardly boy is still loved by a boy he showed kindness to and how even though he finds himself undeserving of it, he wants to be able to love him back
I think I should start gatekeeping these two from the BUCCHIGIRI?! Twitter/X space cause the way they acted towards two flawed teenagers is just horrendous.
y'know what this is good enough to escape the tags zabu being the flying carpet (flying carpet -> zabuton -> zabu) correlates to how while he isn't enough to save the day on his own, his ultimate strength comes from being the 'vehicle' who pushes arajin to save matakara and escape his darkest hour through he continuously badgers arajin into checking on matakara throughout the series, all culminating in him getting komao to drag him to the kenichiro fight (which is what ultimately convinces arajin to take back senya) but also he's the carpet bc lmao look he's on the floor
everytime i think about how zabu must feel abt this how situation, my heart breaks
how helpless and clueless he knows he is on what going on with matakara but still trying so hard to save his friend.
he even told komao to get arajin. zabu fucking hates arajin, but when asked why, he just said that arajin is matakara's buddy. its implicit, but you can tell that zabu knows that arajin means more to matakara than him and komao.
zabu knows hes helpless, but even still he doesnt stand by doing nothing. he does everything he can and then some. its such a stark contrast to arajin's cowardness and insecurity, just doing the bare minimum
if you listen closely you can hear the shippers screaming
(its me, im the shippers)
Do you want to know what’s so truly sickening in this scene? The moment where Matakara removed the jacket + armband and then dumped it into the sea water you can tell by Kenichiro’s expression (even if it remained the same as it is) that he was disappointed in himself, that he failed to live up to Mitsukuni’s promise to him to look after Matakara.
Honestly, even if Ken was pretty forgettable (no thanks to certain story directions btw) as a character, I definitely feel sorry for him.
The most painful part? That jacket belonged to Mitsukuni. So to see Matakara throwing away the last reminder of his brother, the only family that he had left and doing it in front of his brother’s most trusted comrade and leader who did whatever he can to keep Matakara safe is just truly saddening.
What do you think will be the happy outcome for the teacher at the cat cafe? Doesn't seem like he's okay this episode what with how he's become obsessed with Jasmine-chan, unwilling to let anyone have her.
In all honesty anon, I'm not really sure what the outcome will be anymore. Episode 9 teased us with a happy reconciliation only for Episode 10 to provide some conflict with Jasmine being too busy to see the Teacher. And with the twisted development of the Teacher wanting to keep Jasmine all to himself makes this feel like the outcome won't be a happy one. Worse case scenario is that the Teacher will cut ties with Jasmine.
And while we're on the subject, I might as well analyze what's going on in the crazy world of Nyan Nyaight Love.
Episode 11: The Outstanding Darkness of Night
Part 1: Someone Get the Manager
So the Customer aka the Teacher is back at NNL. But the biggest and most concerning of changes, is his lack of comedic reactions. In all previous segments, the Teacher was always a jittery mess who struggled to go into the place and only went in because a passing character scared him in. But this time, he goes in without a reaction regardless of the Siguma Squad boys passing by. He's not even phased or freaks out when the Receptionist welcomes him in.
Something to note is how the Receptionist has turned back to his usual chipper self when welcoming the Teacher. He does the same song and dance he's done since the first Episode like nothing's changed.
Relating to my previous interpretations, this comes off as a defying the parallel of the delinquents the Receptionist normally represents. He's back to his welcoming self while the bad boys are experiencing their Darkest Hour. If only he was there when the red flags popped out.
The downward spiral, the grim tone of the Teacher, the dark lighting of the establishment sign. All of it fits well with the new dark tone of the Episode as it lacks the usual comedy or light-hearted moments to focus more on the intense drama of Matakara's corruption.
The downward spiral of the sign gives the impression that everything is going out of control and the world is falling over it's head. This could parallel the current status of the three gangs that were featured in the story. All three were introduced as powerful, influential and fully of life and debauchery. But after everything that's happened, the once prosperous gangs have started to lose their power and came crashing down.
The NG Boys are no longer a functioning gang after the Gang War mixed with the Emperor losing his status among them. They're not even shown doing anything to keep their gang alive despite some casual hang outs.
Siguma Squad was gravely shaken by the loss of their leader Marito with several flunkies even worrying if the gang can still function without him.
And Minato Kai is at an absolute loss not only for Kenichirou losing to Matakara but by the fact that one of their own would turn rogue and brutalize everyone. And just like SS, there's no doubt going to be a power struggle over Kenichirou losing to one of his disciples.
All in all, the established order of the gangs is losing control and changing for the worst. While some of the bad boys are willing to endure the change (like Outa promising to keep SS afloat) there are some who aren't taking it very well (everyone else).
Part 2: Don't Lose Your Waaaay!
As for the Teacher's grim and creepy demeanor to Jasmine, it's the most puzzling to figure out and what it's supposed to represent/foreshadow. But in this case, I think he's supposed to parallel both Arajin and Matakara.
In regards to Arajin, it could be him showing concern over Matakara fighting the other banchos in the recent episodes. Though he isn't losing his mind over it, it is something that's worrying him and driving him to intervene to keep Matakara from losing his body to Ichiya. He doesn't even think about Mahoro or how badly he'll get hurt if he tries to intervene.
But the losing his mind could be a possible reference to him accepting the consequences of merging with Senya. While Senya did promise to give his body back to him, there's a high probability of death with Arajin using his full power to save Matakara from a similar fate only for it to happen to him at the battle's end. Something about giving up his body and soul for someone he loves and what not.
And for the Teacher is paralleling Matakara, the creepy and unsettling demeanor could fit with Matakara . While the Teacher was always seen as a sad, strange little man, he was ultimately a harmless guy with a kink for cats. But now he's become an obsessive creep who longs to make Jasmine his and his only. The same fits with Matakara once being a friendly sunshine puppy boy who only fought when provokes only to become a ruthless Punchy McFisticuffs who's driven to be as strong as possible in order to beat his former friend Arajin. Making Arajin "all to himself" fits with Matakara being driven by defeating his old friend once he finishes beating every delinquent in the area. And thanks to Ichiya's influence, he's equated Arajin as the source of his weakness that he must destroy to defeat the darkness.
He can't get him out of his mind/
Part 3: Together Forever Theory
As for you and me forever line, this actually feeds into a personal theory I have on how the story will end. Basically, Arajin and Matakara will become Honki People themselves. I say this for the following reasons:
Both boys shared a childhood dream training to become Honki People together. And with the series having such a tragic undertone, their original wish will be granted with them becoming Honki People being allowed to live for eternity and work on their respective issues. Paralleling Senya and Ichiya who've existed for thousands of years and still pursue each other (albeit for reconciliation and revenge). And while it's a stretch to say how two ordinary boys can become genies, it's worth mentioning that the series itself doesn't go into specifics with how they're made so it's always a possibility.
They have nothing to lose by becoming Honki People. There really isn't anything tying them to Honki City or having them want to continue being average high school boys. Arajin hasn't made any serious friendships with anyone on the show, he finds his mother to be a nuisance, and he has no dreams or aspirations apart from losing his virginity. While he would be saddened by leaving Mahoro, he'd be able to deal with it down the line. (Also remember that line in Episode 8 on how he expects Matakara to take responsibility for driving Mahoro away). As for Matakara, he doesn't have his older brother anymore, his adopted relatives don't really watch over him, he burned his bridges with Minato Kai and also has no long-term dreams past high school life. There isn't anything tethering them to the normal world so they'll eventually leave it to be "together" or have the time to find each other again. Kinda like that one fairy tale show with the gay leads.
If they do ascend to become Honki People, not many people would care about their disappearances or look into it. Siguma Squad viewed them as worthy adversaries and acquaintances at best. But they wouldn't be emotionally distraught if they were to disappear one day. While Zabu and Minato Kai would be saddened by Matakara's disappearance, he and the others would still move on and try to reconstruct MK. Especially since it's brought up that Matakara wouldn't have a place with them afterwards. They'd remember him fondly but would carry that heartbreak within them. And I'm sure Arajin's mom would just roll with her son leaving since he's giving his life for someone he loves/cares about. Plus she can always adopt the other Minato Kai boys as her children. She wouldn't mind the company and they'd definitely appreciate her more compared to Arajin. Another thing to bring up is how none of them know about Senya or Ichiya or what truly became of the boys after their final battle. They'll just think they were once old friends who had a fight and left as a result. Though Akutaro knows about the genie lore, I doubt anyone will care what he says nor will he make an effort to reach out to them or the original Honki People.
I'm reminded of Banana Fish, another BL anime that Hiroko Ustumi directed, and how it ended on a tragic note. No spoilers but many did not call it a happy ending. So it wouldn't be farfetched for Utsumi to create another tragic ending for the two leads that defies the status quo.
As for what will happen to the Teacher himself, the only thing I can think of for the last NNL segment is him deciding to call it quits and leave Jasmine for good. If my Honki People Theory turns out right, then it'll parallel the Teacher saying goodbye to Jasmine and moving on with his life. Though it could be argued that this can reference Arajin and Matakara ending their friendship, it can end on a hopeful note that they'll find a way to reconcile during their eternal lifetimes. I just can't imagine that the Teacher would still be wanting to come despite openly declaring that he doesn't want Jasmine to see any other man. Either he'll recognize it and make himself leave or the Receptionist will call security on him and regrettably ban him for being a threat to NNL's top workers.
And those are my thoughts on this segment and what I think can happen in the final episode. I hope it's to your liking anon. And what did you think of this? If you agree or disagree with anything I've said, please feel free to reblog this with your comments on the subject. Especially when it comes to how you think Arajin and Matakara's fairy tale will end and what will become of that wacky teacher and his love for Jasmine.
“Do you know? Do you know? Do you know how this ends?”
Is it odd that I even found meaning in Arajin serving the patrons the wrong dish at the restaurant but the patrons love it anyways? Perhaps he and Matakara are flawed sure, but they can still accept each other for who they are, which is what counts as being "pure" in being a genie.
when you're not quite what they wanted you to be but they love you anyway.....
thinking about that time senya talks about merging and brings up "starting a happy family" and thinking about how that's what matakara brings up in the episode, that desire for a sense of home with his brother and the fact that he includes arajin in this wish for the future...
i think when talking about bucchigiri, i dont want to shy away from using the word "love" over "friendship". like friendship is undoubtedly an important type of love, but the more open and encompassing nature of the word "love" itself feels more appropriate for what's going on
Have you noticed that the two post-credits scenes in Bucchigiri?! are similar? It may be obvious, but it is no coincidence, both are moments between friends, TWO FRIENDS, sharing a very personal moment together. Here we can appreciate some things regarding both friendships, they show trust, loyalty, sincerity and above all, equality. We could say that it's the type of relationship that Arajin and Matakara should share at this point if they hadn't separated, or in any case, if they had reconciled in a healthy way.
Arajin was so engrossed in how it made him feel to have abandoned his best friend and at the same time betrayed the foundations on which their friendship was based (the principles of a honki person) that he never asked himself how his friend felt about it. Deep down he worries about Matakara, to the point that just remembering what he did to him causes him physical discomfort. Wanting to push him away is not because he no longer cares, but rather an instinctive response of rejection of a trigger related to his trauma.
Matakara, for his part, has his own problems. The story has shown us that he always had a dependence on his brother as he was his only close relative, or at least the one he trusted the most. Then comes Arajin, the only person besides his brother that he allows himself to trust. During that time, Matakara puts Arajin on a pedestal, being (surely) his first true friend and first significant connection outside of his family, but eventually the incident we all know happens and Arajin abandons him. Matakara was most likely so heartbroken that he preferred to blame himself for what happened, reinforcing his feelings of inferiority, dependence on his brother and creating a (perhaps) subconscious fear of trusting other people again (something confirmed by Zabu's face during episode 10, surely realizing that he really didn't know his friend as much as he thought), while at the same time, Arajin's memory becomes more and more mythologized, which only gets worse in the fight between Arajin and Marito, which only confirms his own blindness, making the moment of confession much more painful for him.
Obviously neither of them was psychologically prepared for their reunion, because neither had the tools to open up about what happened, and when Arajin decides to do so, he doesn't do it with the intention of taking that necessary first step towards reconciliation, but rather as a way of distancing himself from the source of his trauma, at the worst moment and in the most hurtful way possible, totally blind to Matakara's suffering, who, seeing himself completely deprived of any support, begins his descent into the abyss.
Many talk about how Arajin must open up and allow himself to be vulnerable in order to save Matakara and reconcile, but that also applies to Matakara, who if we look at it, has strongly refused to do so. Although his friends in Minato Kai worry about him, his first reaction after his brother's incident is to isolate himself. He has always been someone strong, honest and reliable, he is that friend you trust in difficult times, not only because he is like that, but because it's what he feels is expected of him and what he demands of himsel. To be able to be like the Arajin he remembers, for his brother who believes he can become the honki person he wants to be, because he is the younger brother of the legendary former leader of Minato kai. All of this has created an enormous weight on him, which surely helped the shadows that stalked him to remain close to him, even when he seemed to be more stable.
This is where we return to the topic of the other two friendships., Marito and Outa for example. In Siguma, their positions as leader and second in command are clear, however, it's more than evident that between the two there is a relationship of equals, where we can appreciate a complete and unquestionable loyalty towards each other, having a fairly strong and solid bond. Kenichiro and Mitsukuni seem to have a similar relationship, the way in which the second one shares his future plans goes beyond a simple conversation between a leader and his successor, but between two people who understand and respect each other. Both are relationships where, although they do not say it explicitly, share great affection, which is what Arajin and Matakara should aspire to in the future. A friendship founded not on the childhood desire to become a honki person, but on the mutual appreciation and affection that they share.
something about the way zabu dismisses matakara's love for the honki people story while arajin also verbally bashes it but is still so clearly endeared by it....
it's interesting to me how merged arajin's punch winded marito for a moment, but merged matakara's kick took marito out of the fight entirely. really shows how large the power gap between ichiya and senya is!