#nakodo

[jessicausa]

The Complexities and Dynamics of Arranged Marriage: A Modern Perspective

Arranged marriage, a tradition deeply rooted in various cultures around the world, has long been a subject of fascination, curiosity, and sometimes even controversy. While the concept might seem archaic to some, arranged marriages continue to thrive in many societies, albeit often evolving to accommodate modern sensibilities. In this essay, we delve into the complexities and dynamics of arranged marriage, exploring its historical significance, cultural variations, societal impacts, and the evolving attitudes towards this age-old institution.

Understanding Arranged Marriage

Arranged marriage, as the name suggests, is a union orchestrated by families or intermediaries, where the individuals involved often have little to no say in choosing their life partners. Unlike love marriages, where individuals typically meet, court, and decide to marry based on mutual affection, arranged marriages are founded on familial considerations, such as social status, financial stability, cultural compatibility, and familial alliances.

Historical Context

The practice of arranged marriage can be traced back thousands of years, with its origins deeply embedded in cultural, religious, and socioeconomic norms. In many ancient civilizations, marriages were strategic alliances between families, aimed at consolidating power, acquiring wealth, or preserving lineage. The concept endured through the centuries, adapting to changing social structures and norms.

Cultural Variations

Arranged marriage manifests in diverse forms across different cultures, each with its own rituals, traditions, and expectations. In some societies, such as India, Japan, and parts of the Middle East, arranged marriages are still prevalent, with families playing a central role in matchmaking. Conversely, in Western cultures, where individual autonomy is highly valued, arranged marriages are less common, though they do exist within certain immigrant communities.

The Role of Family and Community

Central to the institution of arranged marriage is the involvement of families and sometimes entire communities in the matchmaking process. Parents, relatives, and trusted intermediaries often take on the responsibility of finding suitable matches based on criteria deemed important for marital success. This involvement underscores the collective nature of marriage, where familial interests often supersede individual desires.

Navigating Tradition and Modernity

In recent decades, the dynamics of arranged marriage have undergone significant transformations, influenced by globalization, urbanization, and changing societal norms. While traditional arranged marriages were strictly arranged by parents without the consent of the individuals involved, contemporary arrangements often involve greater agency for the prospective partners. Many modern arranged marriages incorporate elements of compatibility testing, courtship, and mutual consent, blurring the lines between arranged and love marriages.

Challenges and Controversies

Despite its prevalence and adaptation to modernity, arranged marriage is not without its challenges and controversies. Critics argue that the practice can perpetuate gender inequality, restrict individual freedom, and lead to marital dissatisfaction and even abuse. Additionally, the pressure to conform to familial expectations and cultural norms can create immense stress for those involved, particularly for individuals who do not wish to participate in arranged marriages.

Gender Dynamics

Gender dynamics play a significant role in arranged marriages, with traditional notions of masculinity and femininity often shaping marital expectations and responsibilities. In many cultures, women are expected to prioritize familial harmony and obedience over personal autonomy, while men are tasked with providing for and protecting their families. These gendered expectations can influence the power dynamics within arranged marriages and contribute to inequalities.

Shifting Perspectives

Despite its challenges, arranged marriage continues to endure, albeit in evolving forms. In some cases, arranged marriages are celebrated for fostering stability, commitment, and familial bonds. Proponents argue that the involvement of families can provide valuable support and guidance, setting the foundation for successful partnerships. Moreover, arranged marriages are often viewed as a means of preserving cultural traditions and heritage in an increasingly globalized world.

Marriage Arrangement Aamboku

Conclusion

Arranged marriage, with its rich history and cultural significance, remains a complex and multifaceted institution. While traditional practices persist in many parts of the world, arranged marriages are also evolving to accommodate modern sensibilities and individual autonomy. As societies continue to grapple with questions of tradition, modernity, and individual rights, the institution of arranged marriage will likely remain a subject of fascination, debate, and adaptation. Ultimately, whether arranged marriage is perceived as a binding tradition or an outdated practice depends on one's cultural perspective and personal experiences.

#arranged marriage #omiai #nakodo #marriage in Japan #Japanese culture #Japanese traditions #Heian period #Edo period #Meiji Restoration #gender roles #matchmaking #cultural identity #cultural continuity #traditional values #modern values #parental involvement #marriage evolution #marriage attitudes #marriage future #marriage trends

[spellboundspectre]

under his skin––chapter one

suguru getou x female!reader; 18+ only, minors do not interact

content: arranged marriage, lots of set-up and plot, dialogue heavy, trauma-bonding, strangers to lovers, found family, eventual smut, eventual pregnancy.

synopsis: all your life, you’ve put others before yourself and where has it gotten you? the zen’in clan breathing down your neck, and your mother pushing you to throw what’s left of your life away to protect your family. you’re not sure if he’s the devil or an angel; but suguru is offering you an escape route. and you’ll be damned if you’re not taking it.

word count: just over 4k

a/n: i’ve been working on this fic for so long and i’m so excited to share this with y’all!! yes it is very self indulgent but let’s keep that between us.

glossary:

Uchikake - wedding kimono Tsunokakushi - wedding headdress, equivalent to a veil Nakodo - “go-between” matchmaker Omiai - “look meet”; initial meeting between two prospective marriage partners.

Suguru realized he had bitten off more than he could chew from the moment he laid eyes on you. 

Just a week ago he was flipping through the dossier given to him by the private investigator he hired to look into you and your family line. There was nothing that stood out a signifying of cursed potential, most people would completely overlook you. 

But Suguru was smarter than most people, and of all the skills he’d mastered in his time in Jujutsu tech, the best of them all was his skill as a hunter. Technically, he learned to hurt curses, but hunting humans was far easier. 

And far more fun. 

Figuring out exactly what type of prey was the hard part. Suguru had a long list of attributes for his ideal target. Someone pliable, fertile, untouched by the filth of Jujutsu society and with enough raw potential to be shaped into a killing blade. 

As much as you tried, as elusive prey as you attempted to be; there was no escaping him. Not for your lack of trying, of course, you even went so far as to hide your cursed energy with a genuine stolen Zen’in artifact in the form of a thin gold ring on your right pinky finger. 

  Perhaps in his misguided youth, he may have understood your reasoning. But now as a hardened adult burned by  , he was puzzled by you. Lower yourself to the same level as human filth just to escape Jujutsu society.

But given the legacy of your family, Suguru supposed it made sense. 

It has been nearly a millennium since the Ryūjin family was considered a favored clan. Lead by powerful sorcerers, whose power was matched only by their cruelty for weakness. While the current head clans all hail from legendary sorcerers–all now sealed as curses–the Ryūjin claimed to be the descendants of the dragon-god Ryūjin, from whom they took their name. 

But like paper left out in the sun, the power of the Ryūjin clan faded to almost nothing. Several generations of non-sorcerers were born, and unlike the rejects of the Zen’in clan, they were not blessed with heavenly restrictions–and completely worthless in the eyes of Jujutsu society. 

With time, they were forgotten, only referred to as a warning tale of hubris and fate. Or more interestingly, in rumors. And rumors were always more interesting than truth. Suguru had heard a few over the years, most he disregarded as gossip, but there was one rumor in particular that had always piqued his interest. 

In a desperate attempt to restore her clan’s power, one of the mothers of the Ryūjin clan slit her throat shortly after giving birth, and cursed her own family line with her dying breath. The only skill non-sorcerers had were bringing curses into this world, after all. There had been telling signs of power returning to the clan, the odd sorcerer born every so often–your father for example–and Suguru had every intention of finding out if her efforts were in vain.

And so, he finds himself sitting in a tea room, dressed in a fine suit instead of his usual monk’s robes. Today was the omiai, and through the art of bribery, he was promised that he would be the first suitor you met. He takes small sips of the tea provided, passively nibbling at the edges of a cookie to pass the time. Despite his calm exterior, excitement is thrumming through his veins when he hears a soft knock at the door. 

The nakōdo introduces you with a bow and quickly exits the room. Even from where he's sitting, Suguru can see the distrustful, almost fearful, way she regards him from the corner of her eye. The sorcerer suppresses a chuckle, even scum who can’t see curses still have animal instincts that alert it to danger. 

Your eyes flit to the corner of the room, and with a wave of your hand–a gesture easily hidden by the sleeves of your kimono–the curse is exorcised and only dust remains. And all of this is accomplished before the nakodo could finish introducing you. 

How interesting, he thinks. For only a fraction of a second, he can feel the shift in the room, the sudden spike in your cursed energy has the hairs at the back of his neck standing on end. It disappears just as quickly. None of this shows on your face, your features remain stoic until your eyes meet his and you give him a small smile. 

“Pleasure to meet you,” you say warmly. 

“Oh no, truly the pleasure is all mine,” Suguru assures you. 

The two of you make polite conversation for a few minutes before Suguru’s eagerness gets the best of him. 

“Why would a woman like you want to get married?”

“A woman like me?” You ask hesitantly. 

“You don’t seem too excited by this,” he makes a vague gesture with his hand, “Whole thing.”

The smile you give him this time is a lot more genuine. 

“No, not exactly,” you sigh, your shoulders relaxing as you do, “But family duties are far more important than what I want.”

“What do you want?”

You seem taken aback by the question, and laugh to hide your discomfort. 

“I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

“It’s not a loaded question,” Suguru assures you, “I’m just curious about you.”

You look at him skeptically, pulling your lips into a tight line. He’s stepped too far, crossed the line and made you uncomfortable. Suguru gives you time to answer the question, but when you stay silent he sighs in dramatic fashion. 

“Can I confess something to you?” He waits for a nod of approval from you before continuing, “I was so excited to meet you, I did a little bit of research before our date today.”

Your cheeks warm and you avert your gaze politely. 

“That’s very kind of you to say,” even a fool could tell you’re lying. 

“Oh? You think so?” Suguru hums, “I researched your family registry pretty far back, you don’t share their name but you’re a part of the Ryūjin clan, aren’t you?”

The color from your face immediately drains at the mention of your clan. You almost look like you want to leave, but Suguru presses on, hoping to convince you to hear him out. 

“You must be brave, to defy the wishes of your family like that,” the tone of his words is playful, teasing even.

Suguru tilts his head as he continues to speak.

“How cruel,” he muses, “No wonder your father tried so hard to keep you hidden from your clan. He gave you that ring, didn’t he?”

He gestures to the thin band of gold on your pinky finger and you flinch instinctively. As you curl your fingers into a first, light reflects off the carved vines that wrap around the golden trinket. 

“The Zen’in clan is so fond of collecting cursed objects. So many toys, they probably didn’t know one was missing.”

As he continues talking, you tuck your hands under the table. 

“Odd though,” he continues, “Most of their cursed objects amplify cursed energy, but that ring? It eats it all up. That’s how you went unnoticed for so long, isn’t it?”

Suguru pauses to survey your reaction–or lack thereof.

“Then you can assume what kind of a predicament I’m in with them,” Your tone is precise, “And if you’re trying to butter me up, you want something.”

A sly smile spreads on his lips. How I love a direct woman. 

“Beautiful and perceptive,” purrs Suguru. 

You tap your fingers on your arm, waiting for him to get to the point. 

“Cut to the chase.”

Your eyes narrow and you lean back from the table. Again, the silence takes over. You cross your arms and stare at him, and Suguru can tell by your eyes that you’re giving equal consideration to listening to his offer and making a run for the door. 

“Jin Ryūjin, Genki Ryūjin, and Satoshi Ryūjin. Those were the three of the five clan elders that voted to execute your father.”

“They’re also the one’s trying to sell you to the Zen’in clan via marriage, your father stole from them and now they’re paying back that theft and then some so they can better the Ryūjin clan reputation.”

“So you hire a nakado, they can’t force you to get married if you’re already wed.”

“Get to the point, goddamnit,” you sneer as you pound your first on the table.

Suguru chuckles before pushing out his lower lip in a playful pout. All traces of forced politeness have left your voice, Suguru knows he’s pushed you as far as he can without you storming out of the room. He needs to win you over, and soon.

“I want you,” he states.

You scoff, “For what?”

“I need you, I need your anger.”

Once more your roll your eyes, “And what’s so special about *my* anger? Who wouldn’t be pissed off if a total stranger just recanted all of their family drama to them?”

Suguru tuts and shakes his head.

“No, that’s shallow rage. Barely even skin deep,” he says, dropping his voice an octave, “You and I share a much deeper anger than that.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s disgust,” Suguru breathes. “It’s shock, and terror and pure acrimony. I noticed that about you right away. You’re angry because of all the shit you’ve had to swallow over the years to save face.”

You refuse to meet his gaze, but you don’t leave.

“You dropped out of school,” he presses further, “You’ve worked three and four jobs at a time to keep a roof over your family’s head. And how have they thanked you?”

Faintly, you whine your denial.

“They rack up debt, your mother spends more time at a bar than she does her own home. And they have the audacity to push you into marriage to save their own skins.”

“I did—” you huff, “I’ve done what I had to so I could take care of my family, it was my choice,” your voice cracks as you insist.

In a flash, he leaps far enough across the table to grab you by the forearms and force you to look him in the eye.

“You’re used to telling yourself that lie, aren’t you?” He says in mock concern, “But we both know the choice was made for you. If you didn’t do it, if you didn’t step up, who would?”

Tears well in your eyes.

“But you’re right to be angry, you had to protect others who couldn’t protect themselves. And it took its toll on you whether you want to admit it or not. It makes you feel hollow, doesn’t it?”

You nod and let out a small sob. Suguru rubs his thumbs against your arms and shushes you softly.

“There’s nothing wrong with being angry, it’s a good tool if you know how to use it. How much has your clan meddled in your life? How much have they derailed all the plans you made for yourself?”

You don’t answer him. 

“There have been so few sorcerers born in your family for so long, do you know what they do when one is finally born? They sell them to the Zen’in clan to hunt curses and make money. Most of them die at the hands of a curse, drop dead from exhaustion, or get executed because of some made-up charges.”

“So I’m curious, what did they do to your father?” Your upper lip twitches in anger, “What did they threaten to do to you?”

Suguru can feel your pulse quickening under your skin.

“Who are you?” You hiss, “Why do you know all this?”

“I’m a friend,” he says, “I want to help you.”

“You’re lying,” you spit.

Pouting at the accusation, Suguru tilts his head. He relaxes his grip on you a little.

“Why do you think that?”

“A complete stranger,” you swat at his chest, “tells me all this super-secret information about my family and I’m supposed to believe they have my best interests at heart? No one’s that’s stupid.”

Suguru laughs, you raise a good point.

“I’m offering you revenge.”

“Revenge?” you repeat the word, blinking rapidly at his boldness, “Some perfect stranger is just going to solve all of my problems for me? Not without a price.”

Suguru shakes his head.

“I want to destroy this broken society of sorcerers. You’re fortunate to have not grown up within it, but I assure you, your father’s death is tame in comparison to the deaths I’ve seen–almost preferred.”

“They executed him like a rabid dog, after,” you cry, “How could that be preferred?”

Suguru sighs, stroking his thumb along your forearm. He goes on to detail the various horrors he’s seen curses inflict upon people throughout his years as a sorcerer. All the various friends and colleagues he watched suffer and be slaughtered in the line of duty. He can feel your pulse quickening as he continues to talk, but he doesn’t let up. 

“I get it, please stop. I’ve heard enough,” you try to cover your face, but Suguru holds you still.

“No,” he says, his tone grim, “You don’t. But that’s ok, because I want to make a world where none of this happens.”

“And how are you going to do that?”

“By creating a world where the strong aren’t forced to risk their lives to protect the weak,” states Suguru. 

“Okay,” you draw out the last syllable, “And how do I come into play? What role do I play in this master plan of yours?”

Suguru’s hands slide up your arms and above your shoulders, releasing you from his hold.

“I have two daughters in need of a mother, and I need a wife for appearances’ sake, among other things,” he replies. 

“That’s…. A little vague,” you say carefully. “Bold considering how obvious it is I don’t trust you.”

The sorcerer chuckles, “That’s more than fair.”

“What are you really asking me?” Your eyes are pleading with him. “If you need me so bad, you’re going to have to be honest with me or I will hand myself over to the Zen’in clan today and personally make sure I ruin all the little plans you’ve made.”

How easily you back him into a corner.

He doesn’t have to be truthful. Just easily, Suguru could make this happen against your will. May it’s because you has been so much fun that he finds himself in a giving mood. Maybe it’s the way you fight back even when he could so easily kill you.

Whatever the reason, the truth spills forth like bile.

“I need a child to further my legacy and I want you to be their mother,” Suguru says.

“Me?” You scoff, “What’s so special about me?”

“Because you have just as many reasons as I do to want to tear this world down and turn into something better.”

Your eyes soften at his words, and Suguru knows he has struck something within you.

“If you help me, I will free you from your family’s problems and avenge your father.”

“And what guarantee do I have that I won’t be discarded as soon as I serve my purpose?” 

*Because you’re too thrilling to let go.*

“Because you’ll be mine, and I always protect what’s mine,” Suguru retorts.

Chewing the inside of your lip, you weigh your options. Every moment you don’t answer him feels like an eternity.  

“What kind of revenge?”

Both of you have managed to turn the tables on one another. At this point, Suguru isn’t sure if he’s the predator or the prey. Whether he should be offering more or less.

He’s too giddy to care.

“What kind do you want?”

“I want them to suffer,” you say, determination burning in your eyes, “I want them to regret what they’ve done and die anyways.”

Your shoulders slump as you continue to consider him.

“When will you kill them?” You ask.

Gleefully, he hums.

“After–” you wave your hand in the air to cut him off. 

“After the wedding,” you assert, “Then I will give you a child.”

Suguru hums, straightening his spine at how you take control of the conversation.  

“I’ll consider it,” he lies, having already decided to do so. 

“I want all the elders to attend our wedding and look me in the eye. I want them to know they failed before they die.”

Your boiling rage was delicious to Suguru. 

He used to think it was so fun to play with his prey before killing it. Whatever you were was infinitely better than that. Your anger was palatable, it made all the air in the room feel heavy with tension.

“I’ll take it into consideration,” is his reply. 

The rap at the door signals the end of your time together, and only a few moments until the nakado re-enters the room. Soon, her head peaks through the door sheepishly, before her body follows suit. Before she can get within range, Suguru grabs your hands again and pulls your torso over the table and close enough to him that his face is mere centimeters from yours. 

“I paid her extra to remove your name from the registry,” he whispers, lowering his lashes as he gazes down at you. 

Your arch your brow, “That’s a little presumption of you.” 

“Like I said,” his tone is cocky, “I take care of what’s mine. I’d hate for the Ryūjins or Zen’ins clan to spoil our fun.”

Suguru gives you a week to consider his offer. You respond to him after only three days. The two of you are wed before the month is out. 

The wedding ceremony was a fairly simple affair. As Suguru expected, you had more guests than him–mostly your family and a few close friends. He smiled in all the photos, shook hands with everyone who approached him. The elders of your clan stood at the edge of the room, arms crossed and eyes narrowed at Suguru every time they caught his eye.  

He gives them a wide sneer. 

Nanako and Mimiko stood close by the entire evening. From time to time, he felt the pull of their hands on his hakama. They weren’t terribly excited about being surrounded by so many strangers. 

“Why her, Getō-sama?” Nanako asks in a hushed voice as she watches you chat with one of your siblings. 

Suguru can’t help but admire you as he watches, the way the corner of your eyes crinkle as you laugh at whatever your sister is saying. The uchikake you’ve worn today accents your features perfectly, cranes and chrysanthemums on bright red silk. 

“You’ll see, my love, you’ll see.”

His smile is genuine in all the photos your mother insists on taking, even long after you’re begging her to stop. 

“Mama, please,” you beg, “200 photos is more than enough and I think I’m blinking in most of them.”

She sighs dramatically and begins sorting through the images on her phone. After all the wine she’s been drinking, she’s wobbling to stand still.

“Well, forgive me for being excited,” she slurs, “I’m just happy knowing you’ll be taken care of.”

Judging by the way you roll your eyes, Suguru assumes being visibly drunk isn’t unusual behavior for your mother. Agitation knits your brow as she coos over the photos she’s taken that evening.

“Don’t worry ma’am,” Suguru smiles, wrapping his arm around your waist, “I plan to take good care of her.”

His fingers spread out along your stomach, stretching so wide his hand almost covers your waist completely. He feels a shiver run down your spine and Suguru fights the urge to laugh. 

*Are you already so afraid of me, darling?*

Odd, considering he hasn’t given you any reason to fear him, not yet at least. 

His daughters are absolutely restless by the time the reception has ended, he kisses them both on the forehead before sending them away with Manami. You watch him from the corner of your eye, visibly confused as you assumed you’d all go home together. 

It’s another hour before he ushers you into the car, and you’ve been drinking champagne too long on an empty stomach to argue. How long you were driving for you couldn’t say, having been in and out of sleep for a majority of it. You only realized you were driving in the first place when you awoke to the harsh glare of a street lamp. 

You meant to ask where you were going, but forgot by the time you awoke next. You finally sobered up by the time you woke up to Suguru carrying you through a hallway. One arm was hooked under your knees, the other supported your back. No signs of tiredness wore on his face, the man carried you like you weighed nothing. 

“Getō-”

“We’re married now,” he interjects, “You should call me by first name, or a pet name, even.”

“Where are we?” you ask dreamily. 

He hums. 

“Where are we, Suguru?”

He makes a delighted sound, somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. 

“Our honeymoon, of course,” he answers. 

“I’m not-” you groan as he passes an especially bright light, “I can walk.”

Suguru pouts, “But I *want* to carry you.”

He grins when he feels you relax in his arms.

“Besides,” he says in a reassuring voice, “I have your present waiting in the room.”

  It takes the rest of the walk to your room for you to completely wake up. Suguru manages to slide open the door to your room without setting you down, he simply adjusts the way he’s holding you to better slide the door open. Once stepping through the barrier with you in tow, Suguru slides the shoji door shut with the top of his foot. 

Lit by the dim light of candles, it’s hard to make out the interior of the room until your eyes adjust. The room is simple, yet luxurious; gold inlay meticulously painted in the art hanging from the walls, clean tatami mat floors and two futons laid side by side. The shoji doors opposite you were cracked, and beyond them was a private outdoor bath. 

In the corner of the room sits a large trunk, its leather is aged and worn. It stands out against the other furnishing of the room. You don’t know why, but just the sight of it makes your skin crawl. Suguru chuckles as you squirm unconsciously in his hold before he places you down right in front of it. Without thinking, you take a step back, only to collide against the firm chest of your husband. 

“Aren’t you going to open your present?” he asks in a whisper. 

His hands grip your shoulders, forcing you to your knees. Your hands are guided by his to open the various buckles and clasps that seal the trunk shut. For a brief time, the only sound is the clattering of brass and your own heavy breathing. When everything is undone, he interlocks his fingers around your waist and rests his chin on your shoulder. 

He hums, and the vibrato of it thrums through his body and creeps into yours. 

“Open it, darling,” Suguru purrs, “I know you’ll like it.”

You don’t need to open it, though, you already know what’s inside. But like the good wife you are–the good wife you became only hours ago–you listen to your husband. 

Your fingers tremble as they run along the surface of the trunk until your palms catch the edge of it and you push it up and over. The harsh clattering of the lid against the body of the trunk makes you jump, but Suguru gives you an encouraging squeeze. 

Wrapped in blood-stained rags are exactly what Suguru promised: the heads of the three Ryūjin clan elders, their faces forever frozen in abject horror. 

“Aren’t you delighted,” he says before pressing a kiss to the base of your neck, “I know, technically I killed them before the wedding. But I thought it would make for the perfect present.”

Even staring into their lifeless faces, not an ounce of fear radiates from you. Suguru watches gleefully as you stare into each other elder’s faces one by one, and leans even closer until his lips brush against the shell of your ear. His cock twitches when you tremble against him. 

“Now, I believe it’s time you lived up to your end of our promise.”

#🧄.musings #getou suguru x reader #reader x suguru getou #geto x reader #suguru getou smut #jjk smut #reader insert

[noroi1000]

Hi ! i love the commander series,could i request a ceremony of gojo n commander!reader getting married n having a grand ceremony of becoming emperor n empress while the musty losers who didn't support commander!reader burn in jealousy lol

Commander pt.4

You thought you couldn't look any prettier than when you and Satoru were at the masquerade ball.

Back then, a beautiful dress that wasn't traditional at all. Colors, decorations and a beautiful cut. Pleasant to the touch material.

But now you looked even more beautiful.

Traditional Japanese costume on your body. Traditional ornaments. A multi-layered kimono and a decorative bonnet – tsuno kakushi. It all came together so well. It looked expensive. It looked to burst.

It all just said, "I will be married to a crown prince who loves me. I will later be his empress."

Things that a woman is to receive from her future husband.

Especially when your husband will be someone from the Gojo family.

Wealth, respect.

You also got love, and you're not going to give it back.

You're about to have your shinzenshiki (ceremony)

Your wedding will look just like any other.

At a small temple where ancestors were prayed to.

When your face and neck were covered in light white paint, symbolizing purity, you felt different. Because you didn't feel clean at all. But you wanted to laugh about it.

You are a warrior who took lives. Is this supposed to be something clean for you? You're still the commander.

Until today, while you become the prince's wife and then Satoru's coronation as emperor. And you, his empress. You will be by his side.

And when you came out of the room where you were being prepared, you saw the decorated plaza between the buildings in their imperial palace. Flowers, ribbons. Everything is so richly decorated.

You knew that the elders of the Satoru family prayed for perfect weather for the two of you.

Their prayers gave you a warm evening with no clouds, no wind to destroy it.

As the candles and plates of wax were lit, the guests gathered.

Everyone sat down in their designated places.

Shinzenshiki was intended for important guests, for loved ones.

But then the whole country will celebrate.

As the door swung open for you, you slowly started walking forward. Taking care not to tip over.

So as not to spoil anything.

You were among the most important people.

Rulers of other countries. Strong clans. And also those closest to Satoru, and also yours.

You haven't seen your parents in so long.

You knew they'd be proud that you married a prince. That you, their only daughter, will be empress.

They were proud of you that you got into the royal army, which is what you dreamed of. Later they were even more proud when you became the captain of the squad.

Later your boyfriend was the Crown Prince.

You then became the commander of the elite of the elite. To then also become a commander.

And then the prince's bride. To become his wife now, and later that same day, empress.

Right after he becomes your husband, a moment later Satoru's father will give him the crown. He said so, and that's what he wanted. So that his son will take over after him when he marries the woman he chose as his wife. The one he asked for her hand.

If that happens today, he'll be even happier than anyone else in the world. Knowing that his son is responsible. That he's in love. That he is ready to take over. And rule with the woman he loves...

Had his mother lived, she would have been very proud.

His father shows his late mother that their son loves and is loved. That their son is someone you can't speak ill of.

You looked ahead to see Satoru wearing a black kimono with a white string. With gold woven into the cord.

Behind him stood the nakodo who will officiate your wedding.

As you grabbed Satoru's hand as you stood on the step, calm music began to play.

And then your ceremony began.  Only keywords for you were enough. Say yes. And that's the end of stress for you.

You are officially married.

As you turned around, you looked at the people who were clapping. There were over 100 of them on the finger. You saw people who were happy, but also those who were not so.

These were mainly princesses who always wanted to win Satoru's favor.

They were jealous.

Ever since you can remember, they said a prince must have a princess wife.

Today you proved to them that it doesn't have to be that way.

You weren't born a princess, now you're going to be an empress.

You have received the Emperor's blessing. Who has just now taken off his crown, and placed it on his son's head.

Your head was adorned with gold, symbolizing that as Satoru's wife, you became Empress. You have been accepted into the imperial family forever.

And let people envy you because you're not going to regret what happened.

You are proud that you fell in love with a man who turned out to be the future emperor.

You are proud that you could be by his side, even if you shouldn't be in such a relationship with a prince.

You are and you will be. Forever. Till death.

"There you are."

You heard a voice behind you. You turned around while standing on the balcony in a lighter kimono.

You took off the ornaments. You washed the paint off your face. You did everything to make you comfortable.

You looked over at Satoru who closed the door behind him as he slowly walked over to you.

"You don't drink with others?" You asked, laughing softly.

"Nah... I don't like alcohol as much as they do... I'll leave more for them." He leaned against your back, hugging you from behind.

"Who would have thought I had a better head for alcohol than a prince. Oh no. Sorry. Than an emperor."

"When I said I didn't like it, I meant I didn't like it. I prefer sweet. And you're sweet."

"We had to drink a shake anyway. So you've been drinking."

"I know I'm a little tipsy, and I'm also hornier that way, you know..."

"You're perverted as always. But I still love you." You giggled, stroking his hair as he kissed your neck softly.

"I wanted to undress my wife first, and then my empress. But well, I got two at once." he murmured into your skin.

"Come on, my emperor. Give me some rest. I just want to sit here and watch the sun go down."

"Anything for you. I love you."

Grabbing you tightly around your waist, he rested his chin on your shoulder.

"Do you want to enjoy this evening? You are my wife now."

You looked at the lights all over the city. It's getting dark. The whole city began to glow in lanterns.

It's going to be a long night, with lights and music.

As you watched the sun disappear below the horizon, you saw a shining, whistling point fly into the sky, only to burst into color later. And then the next and the next.

"People celebrate. Our marriage, and that they got the empress who walked between them for so long."

"They're also happy to have an emperor like you, Satoru. You will be a great ruler. Really." You turned around and placed your hands on his cheeks.

"I'm happy for only one thing." He laid his forehead against yours. "That we are and will be together."

He moved closer, and as he connected your lips, more fireworks exploded behind you.

You sealed your love while the fireworks that people set off in the air symbolized happiness and prosperity for you.

#jjk gojo #jjk x reader #jjk x y/n #jujutsu kaisen #gojo satoru #satoru gojo #gojou satoru x you #gojo fanfic #gojo x you #jjk #gojou satoru x reader #royal au #gojo fluff

[fredborges98]

Shi Pei Pu (Shangong, 21 de dezembro de 1938 - 30 de junho de 2009) foi um cantor de ópera e espião chinês.

Entrou para a história por ter participado de um dos mais estranhos casos da espionagem internacional, que serviu de inspiração para o show da Broadway, "Madame Butterfly" (1988), e para um filme de mesmo nome (de 1993).

Madame Butterfly.

Por: Fred Borges

Capítulo I.

Sinopse.

O Japão era um país quase totalmente isolado do resto do mundo, até que por volta de 1870 um presidente americano mandou uma expedição de reconhecimento a Sua Majestade Imperial, cujo intuito era forjar laços de amizade com o Império do Sol Nascente. Nas décadas que se seguiram, vários oficiais da marinha americana visitaram o Japão e contraíram matrimônios temporários com jovens japonesas. A história de Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly, ou Borboleta), portanto, se baseia em fatos, e descreve as trágicas consequências de um desses matrimônios contraídos com leviandade.

Ato I

Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, oficial da marinha dos Estados Unidos em Nagasaki, acaba de fazer um excelente negócio: comprou não somente uma casa na colina, com vista para o mar e o porto de Nagasaki, mas também leva de brinde uma gueixa, Cio-Cio-San, garota de apenas quinze anos de idade, que irá morar com ele na casa. Goro, o agente imobiliário e matrimonial, mostra a Pinkerton sua nova casa, quando chegam Suzuki, sua nova serva, aia de Butterfly, e Sharpless, cônsul dos Estados Unidos em Nagasaki. Pinkerton oferece um uísque ao amigo, e explica a ele o negócio que acaba de fazer. Sharpless o adverte, porém, de que seria um grande pecado machucar os sentimentos da garota, que parece acreditar na seriedade desse casamento e está perdidamente apaixonada por ele. Pinkerton, numa atitude discriminatória e ignorante, ergue um brinde ao dia em que se casará de verdade com uma esposa americana.

Chega Butterfly com suas amigas, que cantam um hino à beleza da paisagem e à ternura das garotas do Japão, enquanto Cio-Cio-San canta seu amor por Pinkerton. Chegam convidados, os parentes todos de Butterfly, com exceção do tio, um monge budista que se opõe a esse casamento. Butterfly, porém, confessa que visitou a missão americana em Nagasaki e se converteu à religião de Pinkerton - prova da sinceridade dos seus sentimentos.

A cerimônia de casamento de Butterfly e Pinkerton é interrompida pela chegada do tio bonzo, que ficou sabendo que Butterfly havia renunciado à fé dos seus antepassados, e lança uma maldição contra ela. Butterfly chora, mas é consolada pelo marido. Os convidados se retiram, e Butterfly e Pinkerton estão finalmente a sós. A noite cai. Segue-se um dueto de amor entre ambos.

Ato II

Pinkerton regressou aos Estados Unidos; prometeu, porém, que voltaria "quando os pintarroxos fizerem os seus ninhos." Já se passaram três anos. Butterfly chora, e Suzuki reza o tempo inteiro, ajoelhada diante da imagem do Buda. Suzuki diz a Butterfly que suspeita que seu marido não voltará mais. "Não se preocupe,minha amiga Suzuki,pois meu bem amado voltará.Será que você não tem fé?", responde Butterfly. Ela chora, mas não perde a esperança: Un bel dì vedremo - um belo dia veremos um fio de fumaça no horizonte - o navio de Pinkerton!

Chega Sharpless, que traz uma carta de Pinkerton para Butterfly, cujo objetivo é prepará-la para o golpe que ela vai receber, ao saber que ele se casou com uma americana. Butterfly lhe pergunta quando fazem seus ninhos na América os pintarroxos. "Não sei," responde Sharpless, "nunca estudei ornitologia." Logo após chega Goro, trazendo um novo candidato à mão de Butterfly: o Príncipe Yamadori, homem rico e perdidamente apaixonado por Butterfly. Butterfly o repele com zombarias, reafirma que está casada com Pinkerton, e manda o príncipe e o insolente nakodo embora de sua casa.

Sharpless começa a ler a carta, mas não consegue terminar a leitura, porque Butterfly o interrompe o tempo todo com manifestações de carinho e fidelidade ao marido, e ele também não tem coragem de revelar-lhe a rude verdade. Num gesto brusco, ele fecha a carta, a põe de volta no bolso, e pergunta a ela o que ela faria se ele não voltasse. Voltaria a ser gueixa, responde Butterfly; ou, melhor ainda - "me mataria." Sharpless pede a ela que pare de alimentar ilusões e aceite a proposta do rico Yamadori. Sentindo-se ultrajada, Butterfly mostra a ele o filho que ela teve com Pinkerton, cuja existência tanto o cônsul como Pinkerton ignoravam. Sharpless promete escrever a Pinkerton para revelar a ele a existência desse seu filho, e se retira.

Lá fora, Suzuki golpeia Goro, acusando-o de espalhar calúnias a respeito do filho de Butterfly, dizendo que ninguém sabe quem é o pai do garoto.

Ouve-se um tiro de canhão vindo do porto. Um navio guerra! Butterfly olha com seus binóculos e lê o nome do navio: é o Abraham Lincoln, o navio de Pinkerton. Suzuki e Butterfly decoram a casa com flores primaveris, para aguardar a chegada de Pinkerton

(Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio, o famoso Dueto das Flores). Sem poder dormir, Butterfly esperará a noite toda pelo marido.

Ato III

Butterfly, que não dormiu a noite inteira, canta uma cantiga de ninar para o filho, que adormece nos seus braços. Suzuki aconselha a ela que durma também; quando Pinkerton chegar, ela virá despertá-la. Exausta, ela por fim cai no sono. Falta pouco para amanhecer quando batem à porta; Suzuki vai atender, são Sharpless e Pinkerton. Pinkerton, ao ver todas as flores e ao ouvir de Suzuki como Butterfly o esperou todos esses anos, é tomado de um súbito remorso. De repente, Suzuki nota uma mulher no jardim, e pergunta quem é ela. Sharpless não aguenta mais essa farsa e conta-lhe toda a verdade. Suzuki leva as mãos ao rosto e diz: "Santas almas! Para a pequena, o sol se apagou!" Sharpless pede a Suzuki que vá ao jardim falar com Kate Pinkerton. Enquanto isso, este último, possuído por um remorso avassalador, por fim reconhece que foi naquela casinha pequenina que ele conheceu a verdadeira felicidade (Addio, fiorito asil). Pinkerton sai correndo; ele não tem coragem de enfrentar a jovem cuja vida ele destruiu.

Butterfly desperta e, ao sair do quarto onde estava dormindo, entra na sala e se depara com Sharpless, Suzuki, e uma mulher estranha. Suzuki chora. Num instante, Butterfly compreende tudo. "Não! Não me digam nada. Eu já sei. Aquela é a mulher de Pinkerton?" Kate pede a ela que lhe entregue o seu filho. "Serei como uma mãe para ele." Butterfly promete que o entregará dentro de meia hora. Sharpless e Kate se retiram, e Butterfly pede a Suzuki que vá buscar seu filho. Enquanto isso, ela retira de um baú um punhal, com o qual seu pai havia cometido seppuku, também conhecido como hara-kiri, um suicídio ritual japonês, e lê a inscrição: "Com honra morre aquele que não mais com honra viver pode." Suzuki volta com o garoto, e Butterfly pede a ela que a deixe a sós com ele. Ela beija ternamente o seu filho, e pede-lhe que nunca se esqueça da sua mãe japonesa. Venda os olhos do menino, dá-lhe uns brinquedos para que brinque, e enfia a faca no ventre. É o fim.

Entre a história de um espiã chinesa ou japonesa que se trajava ou se comportava como mulher e enganou um francês ou americano ou governo francês ou americano, prefiro ficar com o Oriente ao Ocidente ou junto aos americanos ou franceses, prefiro ficar ao lado do puro, sincero, leal, fiel,honroso e digno amor.

Mesmo que o amor se torne rancor, o primeiro sempre será amor,mesmo que haja a tragédia da separação, do abandono, da morte anunciada, ele ou ela viveu o amor.

O amor é para ser vivido e machucar- se, ferir-se, até morrer por ele é bem e mal necessário.

Quão linda é a interpretação de Maria Callas de " Um Bel Dì Vedremo" no segundo ato!

Quem não se machuca com amor, morrerá e viverá sem sua missão na vida e tardará a perceber quão importante e prioritário amar.

Nada é perfeito, somos e estamos em estado de imperfeição, errático é o caminho,por demais errática é o conceito de perfeição.

Como, por exemplo, homenagear ditadores da repressão e do ódio?

Francisco Franco, Augusto Pinochet, no Brasil Humberto Castello Branco, Arthur da Costa e Silva e Ernesto Geisel por Universidades Federais, brasileiras ou estrangeiras que nunca se deram ao trabalho de reavaliar o conceito desta laureação.

Títulos de doutores honoris causa concedidos a ditadores, homenagens por serem garantidores da democracia ou mesmo a juízes de supremas cortes?

Com a palavra: A Unicamp.

O amor é veneno que cura, faz cicatriz e somos obrigados a conviver com elas, negá-las é o intróito do fim, a início do fim da ópera- vida.

Indochina o filme me causou impacto, este quarteto amoroso parece em equilíbrio, mas não há equilíbrio no amor, o amor é desequilibrado, é loucura estabelecer racionalidade, utilidade, conveniência, vantagem, sem estabelecer a beleza do amor.

O mundo, mais do que nunca, precisa homenagear o amor, sem medos, sem temores, dores, hematomas, axiomas, leocomas na nossa visão, palindromos;

Socorram-me, subi no onibus em Marrocos!, amor que diverte, se inverte, converte, nos remete ao tudo e ao nada, simplesmente Butterfly.

[hamayumis]

kintsugi progress! we get to meet our beloved (mc's beloathed) nakodo very very soon

#hamayumis.txt

[msjokesgf]

Love Match-Part 10 (Shoto Todoroki x Reader)

Summary: You were hopelessly single. Between working full time and caring for your aging parents, romance was never much of a priority. That is, until your mother suggests seeing a nakodo, a traditional Japanese matchmaker. Curious, you agree, and are matched with none other than Shoto Todoroki, the famous Pro Hero. At first, you think it's a joke, but as you grow closer, you begin to wonder if a marriage between two strangers could really work.

Were you making a mistake? Or had you found your perfect match?

Word Count: 4,000

Ao3 Link | Masterlist

The days passed quickly and soon it was summer. Everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place. Only a few details remained, namely your dress and any alterations you would want done. You’d shopped around at several dress shops but nothing had caught your eye. Until Rei suggested going to some high end bridal boutique downtown. It was the kind of place where they served fancy snacks and champagne while you tried on dresses with price tags that looked like phone numbers. Your mother almost fainted when she saw one by accident but Rei just smiled and flashed Enji’s credit card.

From inside the dressing room, you could hear your mother and Fuyumi intently discussing a character from their favorite soap opera while the attendant finished buttoning up one of the many dresses selected. There was a tightness in your chest as you listened to them laugh and when the attendant instructed you to face the mirror, all you could manage was a small, sad smile. This should’ve been your fairy tale moment, but all you felt was emptiness. The dress fit perfectly and you could tell by the glint in her eyes, the attendant thought so too.

She clasped her hands together. “Ah, it’s beautiful! Surely, this is the one. You look like the perfect bride.”

Yes, but you didn’t feel like one.

You managed a quiet “thank you” and tried to force a bigger smile onto your face before you stepped out of the fitting room.

Fuyumi saw you first. Her jaw practically dropped and her gray eyes lit up the same way the attendant’s had.

“Oh, wow!” she exclaimed. “You look amazing. I think this one is my favorite. Don’t you agree, mom?”

Rei nodded. “I do. And I bet it’ll look even better on your wedding day.”

She smiled at you and all you could think about was how much she looked like Shoto. The knot in the pit of your stomach seemed to tighten. Everything reminded you of him lately. He’d been the only thing on your mind, for all the wrong reasons. Just thinking about him made tears prick at the corners of your eyes. You were barely able to keep it together until your mother rose from her chair and approached you.

“I can’t believe this is really happening,” she said, her voice cracking. “My beautiful daughter is getting married to such a fine, handsome young man. A Hero, no less! Shoto will be the perfect husband, I’m sure of it.” She took your hands in hers. “And when you marry him, you will become part of such a big, supportive family. I know you’ll be taken care of well after your father and I are gone. This is all I ever wanted for you. We’re so proud.”

By now, the tears were freely streaming down your face and your dam broke. You started sobbing. Kaasan hugged you tightly while Rei and Fuyumi looked on. They didn’t know these weren’t tears of joy. You let her hold you for a few more moments, taking in the warmth and comfort of her arms. When she stepped back, your mother smiled and quietly wiped the tears from your cheeks.

“I’ll take it,” you said, looking back at the attendant. “I’ll take the dress.”

“Wonderful! Let me help you undo–”

“No, wait, I-I need a few minutes alone,” you sniffled, already heading back into the fitting room.

“Oh, of course. Take as much time as you need.”

As soon as the door clicked shut, you crumpled to the floor, the fabric of the skirt pooling out around you. You slapped a hand over your mouth to muffle your sobs as they racked your body. What were you going to do? You couldn’t back out now, no matter how much you wanted to. Not after all the time and money spent arranging this whole extravagant affair. The invitations had already been sent out and most of the people coming were extremely important or highly influential. Anybody knew calling off a wedding at this point was social suicide, especially to someone like Shoto. Not only would it mean losing him, it also meant losing his family and the relationships you built with them. Rei, Fuyumi, even Enji, they’d never speak to you again.

And your parents. They would be devastated.

You lifted your head and saw your reflection in the full length mirror. Puffy eyes, red, tear stained cheeks, and a thousand yard stare you swore could see into the future. Is this how you would spend most nights, crying alone on the floor of your bathroom because Shoto hadn’t come home or you’d gotten into another pointless fight? After a time, would the home you’d come to share become more like a prison? A gilded cage you couldn’t leave because, deep down, some part of you truly cared about him and believed you could be happy together if he just tried …

You sniffed pitifully and took a few deep breaths to collect yourself, rubbing at your eyes with the back of your hand. No, you were spiraling again. If you didn’t focus on something else, your mind would conjure all sorts of worse case scenarios for you to fret about, on top of everything else. Still, these fears were not entirely unfounded. Shoto had always been cool and practical, very in control of himself and his emotions. However, it seemed like he grew more distant as the date of your wedding approached. Most of your texts went unanswered, you rarely saw him, and when you did, the conversations were stilted and awkward. You tried to talk about it, but he always brushed you off, giving some excuse about being busy with work. Instead of getting closer, he pushed you away.

It all took a toll on your self-confidence, slowly eroding it as you began to doubt the marriage entirely. But the final straw had been a particularly nasty fight at your apartment. Just thinking about it brought fresh tears to your eyes. The day had started off well, with the two of you going to some house showings. You didn’t get your hopes up, even when you found one you loved, because you knew Shoto would find something wrong with it. However, he was strangely quiet as you toured the house, making no comments or observations like he had before. You’d been so enthralled you didn’t catch him staring at you with a pleased expression until the end, when the realtor asked for your opinion.

“I love it! Definitely my favorite so far,” you replied. Then, shyly, you looked up at Shoto. “What do you think?”

You braced yourself for some scathing comment about the roof or something else completely inconsequential. Instead, Shoto took your hand and gazed at you fondly.

“I think we’ll take it,” he replied. “I can see it makes you happy and since you’ll be spending so much time here, I want you to be comfortable. It fits most of my criteria and I suppose renovations can be made if need be.”

Your eyes lit up and you squeezed his hand. “Oh, Shoto! That’s so thoughtful of you.”

He turned to the realtor. “I’ll take it at the asking price. How soon can we settle?”

“W-well, Todoroki-san, surely you must consult a bank or financial consultant–”

“No, that won’t be necessary,” he coolly replied, and you had to resist the urge to kiss him right then and there.

You walked hand in hand with Shoto back to your apartment, absolutely giddy with excitement. At the time, he seemed happy too, so when you entered your apartment and realized your parents were out for the night, you thought maybe the two of you could cuddle on the couch for a bit. The bedroom incident had been pushed completely out of your mind and undeterred, you sat on the couch and smiled at him.

“Shoto, come sit with me,” you said, patting the cushion next to you.

He blinked. “Okay.”

Shoto settled beside you and, without prompting, put his arm around you. It made you feel warm inside. Emboldened, you kissed him, and when you pulled back your faces remained close. You caressed his face, your fingers lingering on his scar.

That had been your first mistake.

Shoto tensed and suddenly pulled away. “Do you think it’s ugly?” he asked, not meeting your eyes.

The question had caught you off guard. “Of course not,” you answered quietly, brushing strands of red hair away from his face to see it better. “I don’t think anything about you is ugly.”

Another mistake. His face flickered through a myriad of emotions as he processed what you just told him. You remembered the wild beating of your heart. Even at the time, something about his reaction seemed wrong.  

“That’s a stupid thing to say,” he told you. “You don’t know all the ugly parts of me.”

“Because you won’t tell me anything,” you shot back bitterly, clenching your fists. No more vague answers. You were going to get to the bottom of all this. “So, let’s start with your scar. What’s the big secret about it, huh? What happened?”

He didn’t even bother to look at you. “Why do you need to know?”

“Because I’m marrying you,” you replied firmly, “and I know it’s not some simple accident because you would’ve told me by now if it were. But you don’t tell me anything and I’m not even allowed to ask.” Adrenaline coursed through your veins as you continued. “Nothing about your past, nothing about your family, I’ve never even met your friends. I’m not stupid! I can see there’s things you don’t want me to know. Why?”

“Because the past shouldn’t matter,” he snapped, turning to face you. “All that should matter is our future together. What’s the point in talking about the past? You can’t change it. Talking about this scar isn’t going to take it away or any of the pain that goes with it. So why bother?”

Surprised by his confession, you reached out for him. “Shoto, that’s why I’m asking. If you’re in pain, I want to help. Please, let me in.”

He stood up abruptly. “What could you do? You wouldn’t understand. You wouldn’t understand any of it. You’re an only child who’s spent your whole life being fawned over and doted on. Not everyone has parents like that. When my father wasn’t at work, he was a nightmare to be around, and my mother was absent from my life for ten years.”

“What? Why?”

“Because my parents were…separated and my dad held all the power. He kept me away, not just from her but my siblings too. For so long, I had no control of my own life. Everything was decided for me. But now, this is my chance to be free of it all. When I marry you and move out, it’ll finally be clear to everyone I’m my own person and my decisions are my own,” he ranted.

You just sat there, staring at him with wide eyes and trying to process everything he was saying. “Shoto, I-I didn’t know.”

“That’s right, you don’t know. So stop asking and stay out of it. We have an arrangement, you’re getting everything you want. So why don’t you give me what I want? Space.”

With that said, he turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him. You flinched at the memory. He was so mad he froze your doorknob and you had to use your Quirk to thaw it out. You hadn’t heard from him since and if you weren’t his fiancee, you would’ve taken that outburst as a break up.

A part of you wished he had broken up with you.

There was a knock at the door and the attendant called your name. “Are you ready?”

You rose and put on a brave face. It was all you could do now. Grin and bear it, live with the consequences of your decision to marry a man you’d known for less than a year. At least you could make everyone else happy, even if you weren’t.

-

After the fitting, you and your mother went back to the Todoroki estate with Rei and Fuyumi to celebrate and talk about potential floral arrangements. Rei loved flowers and offered to show you her wedding album for inspiration. The four of you were sitting in the garden, soaking up the sunlight and enjoying the summer weather when all of a sudden, a winged shadow descended on you. The air swirled around and next thing you knew, there was a man standing in front of you, his large, red wings spread out behind him.

“Keigo!” Fuyumi cried, throwing her arms around him. “You’re here!”

“Hey, babe,” he casually greeted before planting a kiss on her lips. “How’s my favorite girl?”

She beamed at him. “Even better now you’re here. We all got back from wedding dress shopping,” she said, separating from his embrace.

“Wedding dress shopping, huh? Is there something I need to know?” he teased.

“If only,” muttered Rei, “but all in good time, right Keigo?”

Keigo sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and grinned. “C’mon, I’m basically family already.”

Then, he turned to you. “So, this is the blushing bride, right? Shoto’s fiancée? Yeah, Fuyumi’s told me all about you. Can’t wait for the big party. Got my invitation pinned right on the fridge. I’m Keigo, by the way, Fuyumi’s–” He paused for a moment. “Partner? Boyfriend? Eh, we don’t really label it.”

Your mother was absolutely dazzled by him. “Oh, so handsome! He is worth the wait, I’m sure.”

Keigo flashed her a smile. “You know it.”

“What are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming,” Fuyumi asked.

“I wanted it to be a surprise. I’m helping out one of the local agencies on a case and figured I’d drop by on my break. Can’t stay long though,” he replied.

Rei rose from her seat. “Well, let me get you something before you fly off again, Keigo. I think I still have some of those iced coffee cans you like in the fridge.”

His face lit up. “Ah, that’d be great. Thanks!”

She started for the house before stopping and calling back over her shoulder. “I’ll grab some ice water for the rest of us. It’s hot out today.”

You sat quietly as your mother interrogated Fuyumi and Keigo about the future of their relationship when it occurred to you that Rei might need help so you got up to go inside when you heard her voice.

“Shoto? What are you doing, skulking around out here? Come say hi to your fiancée and her mother.”

Your heartbeat quickened. Shoto was here? You thought he’d be working today. After everything that happened, you doubted you could face him in front of everyone like this without breaking down. What were you supposed to do? Make an excuse to leave? You just got here and there was still business to discuss for your wedding. Maybe he wouldn’t come out at all. Even he had to know how out of line he’d been.

Shoto mumbled something incoherent before Rei continued. “You can shower and change after you greet our guests. Keigo is here too. It’s the least you can do after being so rude the last time. Honestly, not showing her to the door or getting her a snack. If I raised you, that behavior would be unthinkable. Now, go out there and take these with you.”

A few seconds later, the panel slid open and Rei stepped out, followed by Shoto holding a few drinks. You locked eyes immediately and swallowed. Certainly, you weren’t expecting to see him in such a state. Judging by his sweaty and disheveled appearance, he must’ve just finished an intense workout. His gray tank top clung to his impressively toned physique, showing off the well-defined muscles of his arms and chest. You’d never seen this much of Shoto before and there was a lot to admire. For a moment, you could only stare until you were brought back to Earth by the sound of Keigo’s voice.

“Hey, there’s the groom now. I was just talking to your lady, Shoto. You excited for the wedding?” he asked with a wink.

“Yes, I am,” Shoto answered, stoic as ever. He handed your mother one of the drinks. “But it feels so soon. Will everything get done in time?”

“Oh, Shoto-kun, don’t worry about that,” kaasan reassured him. “Everything is going according to plan. Rei and I are making sure this wedding is perfect. After all, I only get to celebrate my daughter getting married once in this life.”  

A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. “Thank you, I’m glad to hear that.”

He turned and offered you a drink as well. For appearances sake, you smiled and took it.

“Hi, Shoto,” you said softly, looking down at the ice in your water. “How have you been?”

“Busy.”

“Aren’t you always?”

You hadn’t realized how dry your throat was until you gulped down most of the icy water at once.

“Shoto, wait ‘til you see her dress. It’s gorgeous,” Fuyumi interjected.

“I’m sure it is.” He faced you. “Will you tell me about it?”

Shoto nodded towards the house and it clicked. Oh, he wanted to make nice now. That’s why he was lurking near the door. He must’ve heard you and figured this was his chance to apologize. You were tempted to decline, but the pleading look in his mismatched eyes made you think twice. Regardless of what happened, you were still getting married in September and he was still going to be your husband. It would be easier if you made up now before the wedding so you could start things off on the right foot. No point holding a grudge.

“Okay,” you sighed, setting down your empty glass.

He surprised you by taking your hand. “Excuse us, we need to have a talk in private.”

As Shoto led you towards the house, Keigo called out after you. “Alright, lovebirds, have a nice ‘talk.’”

You could practically hear the air quotes around that last word. Fuyumi chided him while you stared down at the ground, trying not to blush at his insinuation. That was probably the furthest thing from your mind right now, even if he did look like some kind of fitness model. Besides, the last time you thought Shoto was dragging you along to make out, you ended up reading manga in silence on his futon.

When you were inside and a fair distance away from prying ears, Shoto dropped your hand and bowed low, immediately launching into an apology.

“I’m so sorry. The way I spoke to you was completely inappropriate and I’m deeply ashamed of my behavior the other night. It was wrong of me to lash out at you like that. I don’t know why I did it. Something just came over me. I didn’t mean those things I said. Can you forgive me?”

“Shoto,” you started, taking his face in your hands, “yes, I forgive you, but you need to understand what you said hurt me very deeply. I won’t push about the past if it makes you that upset. But I do wish you’d be more open with me, especially about the things that hurt you. I want to know you. We’re getting married soon and you still feel like a stranger to me. I know our relationship isn’t the most conventional and that’s fine since it works for us. But I want to be closer to you and it feels like you aren’t even trying.”

He straightened and gazed at you softly. “I want to try. But I don’t know how.”

And that melted your heart. You pulled him into a hug. “Oh, Shoto, that’s okay. I don’t really know either. This is new for both of us. We just have to learn together.”

It took him a moment but then his strong arms wrapped around you and he nuzzled into the crook of your neck. You were suddenly very aware of how close you were and what he was wearing. This was the closest you’d ever been to him. You couldn’t help yourself. Your hand stroked his bicep, feeling the corded muscle underneath.

He pulled back a bit. “Sorry, I know I’m sweaty and very underdressed. I was doing a workout in the training room when I heard you guys come in.”

Your hand trailed down his arm. “Oh, I don’t mind.” You unconsciously bit your lip. “I don’t mind at all.”

He tensed beneath your touch. “Y-yeah?” he whispered and backed you against the wall.

You squeezed his arm. With these muscles, he could hold you effortlessly. His hands came to rest on your waist, fingers digging into your soft skin and the fabric of your light sundress. He swallowed and stared down at his hands caressing your waist, almost in disbelief. The faintest blush appeared on his cheeks as he let out a shaky breath. Your other hand came up and touched his firm chest, tracing along his collarbones and the tops of his pecs.      

“How could I ever think you were ugly?” you breathed.

Shoto pressed even closer. “Maybe if you knew all the ugly things I think about you,” he replied, licking his parted lips.

Before you could respond, he was on you, pressing fervent kisses to your lips. It took you a second to overcome your shock, but when you did, your eyes fluttered shut and you melted into his touch. He was so warm, almost hot, but that didn’t stop you from moving closer to him. You couldn’t get close enough. Every inch of his body was perfection. He was perfection. This man was going to be your husband? How had you gotten so lucky? Your lips moved against his with such ease, completely disregarding his surprisingly inexperienced technique.

Your tongue brushed against his mouth tentatively, to try and gauge his reception. He faltered for just a moment and then practically devoured you, catching you completely off guard. The wall pressed harder into your back as you let him take control, exploring every part of you. Was this just a preview of what your wedding night would be like? You fisted his top, wishing you could just rip it off. It already left so little to the imagination. Couldn’t you get married any sooner? Your heart beat wildly in your chest as your leg slotted in between his, earning you a low groan from the back of his throat.

“Shoto? Keigo is leaving, come say–oh!”

Your blood ran cold. You both stopped and turned to see Rei standing there, looking very shocked at the scene before her. While you were rooted to the spot, Shoto practically jumped off you, scrambling to try and put himself back in order.

“Um, mom, we were just, uh, she was–” he stammered, wiping the excess spit from his mouth.

Meanwhile, you tried to make yourself as small as possible, folding your arms over your chest and pressing closer to the wall. You wished you could disappear. Your future mother-in-law, one of the sweetest women on Earth, just caught you making out with her son in the middle of her house, like two horny teenagers. Not only that, but your own mother was outside and this gathering was in your honor.

Instead of saying anything, Rei simply smiled and hurried away, back in the direction she came from. You sighed and looked at Shoto.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get carried away like that,” you said sheepishly.

He didn’t reply, just turned away from you with an unreadable expression. You went to reach for him but he started to walk away. Everything about his posture screamed “don’t speak to me” and that cold, empty feeling returned. Only one single word came to mind.

Dread.

#bnha #mha #shoto todoroki #shoto todoroki x reader #bnha x reader #mha x reader #cross posted on AO3 #love match fic

[suguwu]

jjk masterlist

getou suguru

one shots:

🩸 maw ✬ n.sfw ✬ jjk spoilers

🩸 aftermath ✬ jjk spoilers

drabbles:

🩸 packing tape ✬ jjk spoilers

🩸 split ✬ flower shop event ✬ jjk spoilers

🩸 hollow things ✬ n.sfw ✬ jjk spoilers

🩸  my body a bottle decanted ✬ drabble series ✬ gothic romance au

🩸 favored ✬ royal au

🩸 wounded ✬ jjk spoilers

🩸 merman!getou

🩸 shatter

thirsts (all n.sfw):

🩸 satosugu + getting together ✬ threesome -> poly

🩸 dilemma ✬ predicament bondage

other:

🩸 flirting

🩸 soulmates (feat. gojo)

🩸 first kiss

🩸 mer!stsg

🩸 bridgerton!stsg

nanami kento

nanami kento masterlist

zen’in naoya

one shots:

🩸 rules of engagement ✬ arranged marriage au

🩸 anything, everything ✬ n.sfw

drabbles:

🩸 a fed dog

gojo satoru

one shots:

🩸 afternoon tea(se)

drabbles:

🩸 hollow things ✬ n.sfw ✬ jjk spoilers

🩸 lipstick

🩸 groceries

🩸 fae gojo

🩸phone storage ✬ n.sfw

🩸 offer

🩸 nakodo

thirsts (all n.sfw):

🩸 satosugu + getting together ✬ threesome -> poly

other:

🩸 flirting

🩸 mer!stsg

🩸 bridgerton!stsg

mei mei

one shots:

🩸 pinned ✬ n.sfw ✬ mei mei & nanami threesome

thirsts (all n.sfw):

🩸 being mei mei’s accountant

🩸 mei mei & nipple piercings

🩸 mei mei & utahime threesome

utahime

drabbles:

🩸me, not him

all masterlists

last updated ✬ may 5

#bee.navi #bee writes jjk

[petri808]

Can I request a one-shot of Akito and Shigure's wedding? :)

Sorry it took so long.  Here you go, I hope you like it!

To New Beginnings

It was a decision he’d left up to her of what type of wedding they should have, Shinto or western styled.  The latter was growing in popularity, and with Akito maturing and moving away from the olden ways of thinking, Shigure had assumed she would choose it.  So, it was to his surprise when she’d picked Shinto. You hate wearing suits, was her justification, and that was true.  Shigure preferred to wear a comfortable kimono, but he also knew that for the females, the heavier wedding type could be very cumbersome.  Akito had merely shrugged it off, saying she didn’t mind.

She chose a heavily brocaded red uchikake kimono over the pure white shiromuku type.  Both colors represent purity in the Shinto religion, but in her opinion, she didn’t deserve to wear white, which even in the western sense invoked a sense of piety and virginal goodness that did not fit her background.  He had to agree.  Akito has made many leaps in terms of gaining forgiveness, but not all of her sins have fully washed away in everyone’s minds.  ‘Yet,’ Shigure reminds himself.  Saying I’m sorry doesn’t fix a lifetime of pain inflicted, but considering every zodiac RSVP’d to the reception, it showed a promise of absolution.

With the help of the Sohma family staff, the wedding ceremony was set to be a very small affair with only the closest members in attendance, with a bigger reception planned for the late afternoon to host the rest of the family.  It was a big deal for the head of the Sohma clan to be marrying, but Akito didn’t want it to be blown out of proportion simply for her.  

“Who should we have as the nakodo?”  Shigure asks his fiancé, “the priest said we should choose someone to fill the role.”

“It’s stupid to have a fake matchmaker,” Akito responds.

He chuckles, “I agree, but it’s part of the tradition and you did chose Shinto.”

“I did,” she sighs. “Well I suppose Tohru might be the closest to match the description, if not for her coming into our lives, this may never have taken place.”

“You really believe that?” Akito nods.  “In that case, Tohru it is!” Shigure teases and kisses her on the cheek.  “I’m sure she’ll be honored.”

The eleven zodiacs with any significant others stand at the back of the room behind the tables of sake and fruits, watch the shinzen kekkon procession.  In the middle stand Shigure and Akito, while up front flanking the alter, a priest and miko call upon the Gods to bless the couple.  Everything is highly ritualized, and for a few in attendance, this was the first time they were seeing a Shinto wedding ceremony.

“Please,” the priest motions for Shigure and Akito to stand in front of the altar where three cups now sit.

As the husband-to-be, Shigure begins the san-san-ku-do ceremony, picking up the smallest cup. Sake is poured in and he drinks from it before offering it to his bride-to-be.  Akito now takes the second cup.  Again, sake is poured for her, she drinks, and offers it to her husband-to-be. And finally, the third cup and final partaking is first drunk by Shigure, then Akito, symbolizing an oath of sharing both the joys and sorrows between them.  

Once the sake portion is complete, the priest address Shigure.  “Your vow, please.”

Shigure takes Akito’s hands in his, smoothing over the webbing between her thumb and pointer fingers. He lowers his gaze, a light tinge of moisture filmed over his eyes, and a sunny smile perched upon his face.  “It had been an endless dream for so many years, haunting me ever since I knew of your existence.  But I knew, I’ve always known, that there would never be anyone else in this world that I could ever love more than I’ve loved you.  The first half of our lives were a struggle.  There were moments that I wanted to give up and times it was the furthest thought in my mind.  I’ve watched you go from a broken and angry man to a humble and adoring woman, whose raven-hair beauty now matched with the soul that resides within. I give thanks to the woman who helped to make this all possible,” he looks over, and Akito follows his gaze, “Tohru Sohma. Whose kindness and loving nature disrupted all of our lives, breaking through the walls around our hearts and opening them to receive love again.  It is because of you,” Shigure returns his gaze back to Akito, “that I get to marry the woman that I love.  To new beginnings my love, we shall write a new chapter of our lives from this day forward.”          

Tears gathered in Akito’s eyes as she quietly listened to Shigure’s vows.  All of the emotions, their lives and the journey that to led to this moment coming back.  She could honestly say, it was the happiest time in her life so far.  It was clear how much this man truly loved her.  He pushed her, struggled with her, and yet never gave up on her.  Shigure could have easily done so a long time ago when she’d been cruel, but because he stuck it out, she was now blessed with his acceptance.  

More sniffles ring out from the back of the room while the rings are exchanged, and the priest does his final prayers to Izanagi and Izanami.  “May the Gods bring you peace and balance,” the reverent older man prays as he places the ornamental evergreen upon the altar.  Shigure and Akito then place their offerings next to the altar, followed by their chosen familial representatives, Hatori and Tohru.  

“Kanpai!”  Once the offering symbolized a closing to the ceremonies, congratulatory tributes ring out from the gathered zodiac’s and Sohma family members.  “Kanpai!” Sake is poured and everyone, even those still under 19, get a sip to honor the new union.  Shigure and Akito give their thanks to everyone for being there to bear witness, then take their leave to change before the reception.    

In an adjacent changing room, Shigure kisses his new wife and gathers her in his arms.  “How are you feeling?”

Akito sighs, closing her eyes and resting her cheek against his chest.  No other words could truly describe how happy she felt.  “Just Blessed…”

Some info on Shinto weddings 

#shigure x akito #fruits basket #fruits basket fanfiction #shigure sohma #akito sohma

[silvermalkin]

"You’re leaving again, aren’t you?" with Mokuba and Kaiba?

I received this prompt in March. Haha. Well, here it is at last. There’s another prompt waiting in the wings so look forward to that in another ¼ year.

————–

This inn was exquisite. One of the best, which was only proper for the President of Kaiba Corporation’s meeting.  If only the people he was meeting with had half as much class as the shoji doors. Seto closed his eyes, trying to keep his composure as the people on the other side of the table prattled on without even giving him an opportunity to join in the conversation.

Finally, Seto stood. “I’ve heard enough,” he said, just managing to keep the frustration out of his voice. “I’m not interested and there’s simply no point in continuing.” He turned to leave.

The nakodo scrambled to her feet as well. “Kaiba-sama,” she simpered, “Please, I don’t think you’ve yet taken the proper time to—”

Seto looked back and pinned her with a glare. As expected, she faltered and looked away. “Just do your job and properly convey my refusal.”

“Hey, what’s the meaning of this?” bellowed Sugiyama from behind Seto. “How dare you insult Chouko like this, I—”

Not bothering to turn around, Seto scoffed as he opened the door. “Insult her? I’ve done her a favor. I’m sure the fact that she was accomplished enough to get me to come here in person is more than enough to ensure that she can meet with someone more in her,” he let the sneer into his voice, “class.”

There was a shuffle as Sugiyama stood. “You little—”

“Sugiyama-sama, please,” interjected the nakodo, but Seto didn’t hear any more because he had slid the door shut and was already partly down the hall, reaching for his phone to call the car.

“You’re leaving again,” said Mokuba as he passed a hallway, “aren’t you, Nii-sama?”

Seto turned smoothly, not surprised in the least to see him leaning against the wall. “You have class today.”

“Don’t dodge the question. Why do you even accept these omiai if you don’t have any intention of going through with an engagement?”

If Mokuba was here, there should already be a car waiting. Seto started for the door, tilting his head to get Mokuba to follow with him. “I accept them because it’s best for the company. And you.”

Mokuba jogged to catch up, but then easily matched Seto’s pace. He had grown quite a bit recently. “Me? How is it good for me to have an older brother who’s head is so far up his ass he can’t even make it through an entire introductory meeting? It doesn’t leave a good impression.”

Seto ignored the insult. “I’ve only worked this hard to ensure that you have the freedom to pursue the path you’ve chosen for yourself. If you continue your course of study to the end and don’t succeed the company, I’ll need to set myself up as a steadfast leader who can settle down and lead a family, as well as lead and properly pass on the company. The omiai are integral to that end.”

Frowning, Mokuba muttered, “I never said I wouldn’t succeed. But I am grateful that you aren’t pressuring me.”

They had reached the front of the inn, where the car was dutifully waiting. Seto ruffled Mokuba’s hair before climbing inside. Mokuba grumbled but looked happy as he slid in next to him.

Seto had thought that the discussion was over, but then Mokuba turned thoughtful. “You know, putting aside my decision on succession, I always thought that, rather than marriage, you’d just adopt. Why do you need to go through with a marriage? You’re not suited for it.”

Looking at Mokuba askance, he said, “What do you mean? I’m suited for everything.”

“Seto. You can’t even get through one meeting with a potential marriage partner. This is the seventh omiai you’ve walked out on.”

“And this is the seventh unsuitable woman. Do you really believe that the average person could put up with our personalities and lifestyle?”

“For you, maybe. Everybody loves me,” said Mokuba archly. “Although, I can’t deny that today’s omiai was rather underwhelming. Still, do you have to walk out in the middle? It’s outrageously rude.”

“As soon as I’ve determined our incompatibility, our purpose together is over. I’m not going to sit around and pander just for politeness’ sake. I have work to do.”

Mokuba watched Seto pull out his phone to begin an email. “Then back to my question: if you can’t find a suitable marriage partner, why accept omiai? Just adopt an heir.”

Seto kept looking at his phone but stopped typing. “The purpose of our own adoptions, and the lives we were forced to lead after that,” he paused, struggling to keep the simmering anger out of his voice. He was gripping his phone so tightly that his knuckles were white. “I won’t force anyone else to go through that.”

Mokuba drew back momentarily before leaning forward to enter Seto’s field of vision. “You aren’t Gozaburo! Seto,” Mokuba placed a hand on his arm to make sure he was listening. “Nii-sama, you would never let that happen.”

“Wouldn’t I?” Seto gave him a pitying look, deliberately relaxing his hand from his phone so he could set it on top of Mokuba’s. “Even I am aware of it: most people consider my attitude towards life twisted. I would be forcing my ideals onto the child before I knew it. You agreed, Mokuba, that the average person couldn’t put up with me.” Horrified, Mokuba opened his mouth to protest, but Seto continued. “You want to say that you won’t let me, right? Forcing you to watch over me doesn’t fit the definition of letting you live your life.”

Seto caught Mokuba’s gaze with feverish eyes. “That’s why I need the omiai, even if we end up adopting. Any child who enters my life will get the family that they deserve. The family that was taken from us.”

“I can’t believe it’s necessary to go that far. You love children, surely with one of your own—”

“Mokuba,” said Seto, “can you say with all certainty that I’d be a father and not just a live-in boss?”

Mokuba frowned. “You raised me and I think you did a pretty good job of it.”

“It’s different. We were family to begin with; you weren’t under my care because you were meant to be running the company someday. If I adopt an heir, I would be adopting an heir, not starting a family. That’s doing things out of order, and if I’m doing this, I’m going to do it properly.”

Mokuba sighed and dropped his head into his hands. “You really don’t do things half-way. Fine, then, if you insist on marriage then I’ll support you. But stop walking out on omiai. Any more than this and people will refuse to see you at all.” He leaned back against the seat, tilting his head up to stare at the ceiling of the car. “I’ll vet your potential partners and only set up meetings with the ones I’m sure are good enough for you. It feels like the least I could do since you’re going through with all of this for my sake.”

Seto raised an eyebrow before picking up his phone again. “And I’m supposed to depend upon your taste? I’ve seen the kind of girl you’re dating.” Mokuba grew red and sputtered. “I don’t know why you thought you could hide it from me.”

“We’re not dating! We’re just in the same club.”

Seto made a show of calming his snickers and putting on a serious face. “Oh, yes, of course, why didn’t I see that before? And clearly, those chocolates you received last month were obligatory.”

“They-they were! Obligatory.”

“Hm, yes, if you say so,” said Seto without looking up. “Well, make sure you put in the effort for her White Day gift.”

Mokuba had turned away and slid down in his seat. “I don’t want to hear about it from you, of all people,” he muttered.

Behind Mokuba’s back, Seto closed his eyes and worked on breathing exercises. By consciously varying the inhale and exhale lengths, he was finally able to grasp the roiling feelings that flowed through him and tucked them back into the small, ever-present knot in his chest. Lately, he needed to repeat this process several times a day. That didn’t matter; he would do anything to secure Mokuba’s happiness. This was just one more thing.

————

50 Random Writing Prompts

If you didn’t like how I handled this prompt, or want to see something else, prompt me again!

#prompt ask #yugioh #seto kaiba #mokuba kaiba #omg finally #writing #silvermalkin why are you like this #i tried to keep it from being angsty #it turned out a little angsty anyway #maybe? idk how to do angst

[eastraen]

Omiai

Hideyuki was talking a stroll around Tsurui, stopping occasionally at villager's house to see how his people live. When he arrived home, he found stacks of red envelopes. Raising his brows he sighs and opens them one by one.

Shaking his head, he wrote rejection reply one by one. When he's done, he gives them to Takeshi to be sent.

"My lord, what about that one?" the old retainer points at one envelope fallen on the side of the desk.

Hide sighs and chuckles "Let's meet this one then" he picks up the envelope and opens it. Inside is a letter of introduction written by a Nakodo

Fujiwara-Sama,

The daughter of Lord Sozen Kiyohara has become available for an omiai.

Please consider and contact me to arrange the first meeting and contact promptly as the candidate is eager to match swiftly.

Attached is her painting and rirekisho (resume).

Kiyohara no Miyuki

Age: 25

Health: Recently cured of lifelong illness, not inherited

Education: Highly educated by private tutors

Family: Kiyohara family, Daimyo of Fukushima

"Kiyohara? isn’t Sozen-Sama was Chichi-Ue rival when they were younger?" he looks intrigued, pondering for a moment before writing a reply

"Fujiwara No Hideyuki agrees to an Omiai meeting with lady Kiyohara. When the winter sun is at the highest peak of the sky, three days from now in House of Sparrows"

Three days later, The House of Sparrows

The meeting room is quiet and tranquil, only the faint sound of Shishi-Odoshi can be heard. Hideyuki had waited an hour after the appointed time. He sighs “Typical, probably did not actually wish to attend this Omiai”

He was about to leave when the sliding door opening can be heard. A Raen woman matching the depiction of the painting steps in. A black cat in tow.

Miyuki Kiyohara pulls back the paper door and enters the room. She turns and bows to him.

"Lord Fujiwara."

Her voice is smooth like velvet and her speaking is as expected of a noblewoman.

"I thank you for inviting me."

The black cat sits properly next to Miyuki as if also bowing.

After the tea ceremony, he hands over the paper containing his birth date, hour, and the auspice that govern the hour. Miyuki performed the same thing.

The Nakodo study and match the two papers. The Omiai will not continue if their birthday is not a good match.

Nodding in confirmation, Hideyuki starts to introduce himself formally

After both converses, they reach the conclusion that both really do not look forward to being tied in a loveless marriage. Moreso with Miyuki.

The Raen lord decides to leave first, so to spare Miyuki’s father shame had he known it was her daughter that requested for Hideyuki to reject her. While his unmarried status continues to become the gossip of Hinganshi, another rejection will not undermine his reputation further.

A voice stopped him when he was about to leave, Miyuki catching her breath and voiced her request. She seems to be keen to become a friend instead.

"I...could?" he replies with uncertainty

"But your father might think that we are tricking him if we meet again..? also what will the other nobles say about it. While I do not care for my reputation, I do care about yours" he smiles faintly

"In secret, perhaps...? Please understand, Lord Fujiwara. I have never had a friend beside Yozora before. I would like a chance to get to know someone like myself. Someone who understands." The Raen replies with a tinge of pleading in her tone

Hideyuki ponders for sometimes "How about this.... I usually would relax at Rakusui garden after my work for the day is done. I will be there at the hour of rooster. You can simply take your afternoon stroll and happen to see me there" he nods

"I do not mind to become your friend"

With few last words of courtesy exchanged, the Raen Daimyo step out into the snowy Hinganshi...

(thank you to @afreesworn for the RP venue. The House of Sparrow is magnificent! Also thanks to @frostedchrysanthemum  for the great RP!)

#rp #au ra #raen #omiai #culture #hinganshi #hideyuki fujiwara #great rp venue #everyone should visit

[hakuouki-history]

Saitou Hajime - 2010 Japanese Wiki Entry

From the Japanese-English Bilingual Corpus of Wikipedia’s Kyoto Articles . This is a translation from Saitou Hajime’s Japanese wiki entry, exactly as it was in 2010. It is taken from PNM00087 in that collection.

For information on the database and how to use it, please check this post.

Just like English wikipedia, none of this information is guaranteed to be accurate. It’s not a current version of the Japanese article either.

Saitou’s article is translated in the worst English I’ve seen so far in this database, but it’s readable. The names of organizations, either too literally translated into English, or not translated at all when they should be, make it way more complicated than it should be. 

It’s not hugely extensive, but there’s enough interesting information in it that I decided to make it the third entry in this series. I particularly was interested by the small paragraph on his experiences in the Seinan War aka the Satsuma Rebellion.

The translated sentences used in this service contain English contents which are translated by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) from Japanese sentences on Wikipedia. My use of these translated sentences is licensed by the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Please refer to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ or http://alaginrc.nict.go.jp/WikiCorpus/ for details.

HAJIME SAITO

Hajime SAITO (February 18, 1844 - September 28, 1915) was a samurai who was active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. He was an officer of the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party. He served as a leader of Sanban-tai troop or a grand master of the Gekken martial art in the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party.

In the Meiji period, he was promoted by Keishi-kyoku (a precursor to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department) of the Interior Ministry and became a commissary (as a police officer was then called). He held the rank of an assistant police inspector.

He served in the Seinan War as a member of Betsudo-Daisan-ryodan (the third stand-alone brigade), which consisted of commissaries.

Biography

His Place of Origin

He was born as the second son of Yusuke YAMAGUCHI, who had years of experience as a masterless samurai in the domain of Akashi and had become a vassal of Hatamoto (a direct retainer of the shogun), the Suzuki family holding 1,000 koku as its kokudaka (stipend). Some records state that he was from the domain of Aizu, but they are not considered primary materials.

Other materials state that when he was in Edo he would hang out in Isami KONDO's kendo training hall, the Shieikan training hall, but when KONDO had all the members of Shieikan training hall staying in Kyoto bring weapons to him, SAITO was not included among the members.

On April 27, 1863, a group of 13 people, including Kamo SERIZAWA and Isami KONDO formed Mibu-Roshigumi (the Mibu masterless warrior group), which was also called Seichu-Roshigumi, the predecessor of the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party. They belonged to the domain of Aizu, in which the lord of the domain, Katamori MATSUDAIRA, was in the office of Kyoto Shugoshoku (Military Governor of Kyoto) Title. On the same day, 11 people (including SAITO) joined the group.

Another legend states that he had been a cenacle along with KONDO since the years at the Shieikan training hall, and that he had gone to Kyoto with KONDO, but in any case SAITO's journey to Kyoto was separate from that of KONDO. However, the people who went to Kyoto with KONDO didn't take joint actions.

Later, SAITO, who was then 20 years old, was promoted to Fukucho-jokin (third-rank of Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party) in the election of the cadre of the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party.

While Soji OKITA may generally be considered the youngest man among the cadre of the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party, the youngest was SAITO (there are several different opinions about OKITA's date of birth). 

He became a group leader upon the organizational restructuring and served as a grand master of the Gekken martial art.

In April 1867, when Kinetaro ITO left the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party to form the Goryo-eji (guardians of Imperial mausoleums), party, he left the party with ITO, but eventually he rejoined the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party. Some theories assert that he stole the war chest from the Goryo-eji party or had originally infiltrated as a spy for the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party, but his acts during this period of time have not been clarified in terms of the facts and motives. Another theory states that the Abura-no-koji Incident, in which the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party assassinated ITO, had occurred based on the information given at the time SAITO returned.

In the Tenmaya Incident, which occurred on January 1 in 1868, he guarded Kyutaro MIURA, the feudal retainer of the Kishu domain, at the request of the domain. While the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party was holding an alcohol-drinking party with MIURA, they were beaten by an attack from members of the Kaientai (Japan's first modern corporation established by Ryoma SAKAMOTO) and suffered damage such as the deaths of Nobukichi MIYAGAWA and Kamataro FUNAZU as well as serious injuries to Katsunoshin UMEDO, which occurred in an effort to help SAITO, but the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party was successful in its effort to guard MIURA.

He continuously fought the Battle of Toba and Fushimi in January 1868 and the Battle of Katsunuma (Koshu Province) in March 1868. He fought on the front line in both battles.

After KONDO surrendered to the new government army in Nagareyama City, he separated from Toshizo HIJIKATA and other members who remained in Edo, and departed for Aizu, leading a number of officers. However, a different theory asserts that at this time SAITO was absent from the line of battle due to his injuries and was not in Nagareyama. According to that theory, the person who had departed for Aizu leading officers was either Masachika KUMEBE or Saisuke YASUTOMI.

After HIJIKATA injured his leg in the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle in April of the same year and therefore left the line of battle, he arrived at the castle town of Wakamatsu via Tajima and got together with SAITO and others. The Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party, including SAITO, came under the command of the domain of Aizu and fought in the Battle of Shirakawaguchi on the 26th of intercalary month of May, as well as the Battle of Bonari-toge on October 6. The Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party retreated to Tsurugajo Castle due to the defeat in battle.

Amid their retreat, the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party joined HIJIKATA in Inawashiro Town. Later, HIJIKATA departed for the domain of Shonai and a battery of former retainers of shogun, including Keisuke OTORI, went to Sendai to fight, but SAITO remained in Aizu and continued to fight against the new government army outside the castle with feudal retainers of the Aizu domain.

After the Aizu domain surrendered on November 6, SAITO continued to fight, but eventually, an envoy sent from Ｋａｔａmori persuaded him to ｓｕｒｒｅｎｄｅｒ to the new government army.

After his surrender, he initially lived in suspension in Shiokawa in the former domain of Aizu, but later lived in Echigo-Joetsu City, along with feudal retainers of the Aizu domain who had been taken as prisoners.

After the surrender, the Aizu domain fell subject to Kaieki (the samurai's forfeiture of rank and property), and the Matsudaira family became subject to Kamei-Danzetsu (forfeiture of the family name) but on November 3, 1869 was given the right to rebuild the family. The chigyo (fief amount) was set at 30,000 koku in Mutsu Province, and the Matsudaira family was directed to choose either Inawashiro or Shimokita as the domain territory. The former domain's cadre, including Hiroshi YAMAKAWA, had been taken prisoner in Tokyo and chose Shimokita without consulting with the feudal retainers who were held in suspension at Takada. It was newly named as the domain of Tonami.

SAITO departed for Shimokita Peninsula as a feudal retainer of the Tonami domain. SAITO moved to Gonohe, in the territory of the Tonami domain, and entered his first marriage, to Yaso SHINODA. The Shinoda family was an important family able to be acknowledged from "Shoshi Keifu" (retainers' genealogies) and belongs to highly persons as feudal retainers of the Aizu domain. SAITO was a member of Chu-Nibantai troops in Byakkotai suicide corps and was remotely related to Gisaburo SHINODA who committed a suicide in Mt. Iimori (Fukushima Prefecture).

Later, SAITO married Tokio TAKAGI with the support of Katamori as Ue-Nakodo (a go-between after the engagement) and Kambe SAGAWA and Heijiemon KURASAWA as Shita-Nakodo (a go-between from the marriage meeting to the engagement). SAITO and Tokio had three sons: Tsutomu, the eldest; Tsuyoshi, the second; and Tatsuo, the youngest son. All three sons married woman from the Tonami domain.

Later, he moved to Tokyo. He applied for employment with a commissary that had recently been established, and was hired. In February 1877, he was appointed to the position of assistant police inspector of Keishi-kyoku.

On February 15 of that year, the Seinan War broke out. He joined the Bungoguchi Keishi Chobotai (Bungoguchi Enlisted Commissary Troops) as a member of the "Army Cutting with a Gouge," and in May of the same year he took part in a battle. During the battle he suffered a gunshot, but he prevailed over the Satsuma warriors with his gifted sword technique and generalship. He played an important role, as it was even reported in newspapers of those days that he had captured two big guns.

In 1891, he retired from Keishi-cho and then worked as a security guard at Tokyo Higher Normal School, etc. 

He died of a gastric ulcer on September 28, 1915. According to one legend, he died while seated in an alcove. He was 72 years old. His tomb is located at Amida-ji Temple in Aizu-Wakamatsu City

Personal Profile

His school of swordsmanship is said to have been either the Itto-ryu school or the Mugai-ryu school, but the truth is not known.

There is a theory that SAITO was left-handed, but it has little likelihood of being a historical fact. He is described as left-handed in some of the fiction written by novelists, etc., in later years, but in the pictures produced by Nobori NAKAJIMA he was shown holding a sword in the same position as a right-handed person.

He was said to be one of the strongest swordsmen in the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party, along with Soji OKITA and Shimpachi NAGAKURA. NAGAKURA told his followers that "Okita is a swordsman of valor, but Saito is one of invincibility."

He used the name 'Hajime SAITO' from the relocation in Kyoto through the heyday of the Shinsen-gumi masterless warrior party. His first name was Hajime YAMAGUCHI. According to legend, his first name "Hajime" originated from his birthday (January 1), but there is no historical basis for this assumption.

In 1862, he ran away to Kyoto since he was involved in a sword-cut incident in Edo, and changed his name to Hajime SAITO. In 1867, he changed his name to Jiro YAMAGUCHI. During the period of his involvement in the Boshin War, he belonged to the domain of Aizu, and he identified himself as Dempachi ICHINOSE. After he moved into the domain of Tonami, he changed his name to Goro FUJITA. He was registered as 'Goro FUJITA' in Jinshin-koseki (family registries in Jinshin) in 1872.

While there is a theory that Hajime SAITO and Goro FUJITA were two distinct persons, currently the "different person story" is denied due to the findings that Goro FUJITA had signed invoices of government pension for his older blood brother, Hiroaki YAMAGUCHI, as his relative and that the writing of the 'Fujita Family's notes' belonging to Goro FUJITA's offspring started in the first year he identified himself as Hajime SAITO.

#Shinsengumi #Japanese History #Bakumatsu #saitou hajime #japanese 2010 wiki translations

[awintersromance]

Another interruption!

ARCHIVES - Lion Quarters - 2018-1-29 Yogo Yufei’s fiance from the Ikoma family has shown up, throwing the marriage proposal between the lovers into uncertainty. 

Akodo Susumu is there, sitting at his usual chair. He had expected today to be one of more excitement, but Yogo Yufei's family drama had muted any potential celebration of the examination provisions. He has just set his brush aside, carefully balancing on the inkwell.

Light steps skipping up the stairs, an accompanying jingle of tiny bells announces her presence as well as any servant. She slides the door open herself and bows, glancing around the yashiki. "Hello, Susumu..." a little smile on her lips under the silken veil.

His reserve melts away, as he hears the now familiar sound of small bells. He is nearly beaming by the time she enters. "Etsuaya. It is... always so good to hear your approach."

She laughs warmly, openly, and wraps her arms around him. "There are many reasons why I wear that hair ornament, and I must confess that is one reason."

He returns her embrace, and tries to be funny. "Oh? Is another to terrify your enemies, at the sound of your approach?"

"You have me exactly!" she exclaims cheerily, savoring the double meaning, her knees touching his; him seated, her standing, she leans in and presses her nose against his. Her thin, nearly transparent veil tickles his lips.

He holds her close and places his head against her shoulder, giving a contented sigh. "So, what mischief shall we get up to tonight?"

"I'm sure we can come up with a few ideas." She moves her silken veil with a finger and--

"Susumu-san, I ha-" The quiet footfalls warn them too late as Shinjiro wanders into the common room, the majority of his attention is focused on a scrap of parchment in his off hand. His gaze lifts to find his fellow Lion and Etsuaya caught in a tender moment then quickly averts his eyes then bows low. "Ah, my apologies."

Susumu quickly sits bolt upright and folds his hands in his lap. "Akodo-san, my apologies. I had thought you were still on the grounds. But please, come in."

He shoots an amused glance over at Etsuaya. "Despite appearances, we still have a tiny bit of decorum left in us."

"Ahem," she blushes to her ears and takes a half step back and and gives a bow, both embarrassed and frustrated to be robbed of her kiss. To Susumu, "Please tell me you've mentioned something of the arrangement we're seeking to them...?"

Shinjiro holds his bow for a moment longer....then straightens. The young Lion's expression is an object study of polite serenity. "Arrangement?" Shinjiro inquires as he approaches Susumu and Etsuaya.

"Ah," she gives a little smile and laugh, hand over her mouth. "There has been a match proposed."

Susumu nods again. "We have engaged a nakodo to arrange a marriage for us. There are present affairs to resolve first, of course, but we engage each other's company in the mean time."

She can't help but give a little laugh at his last clause, but this time her fan is there to hide it. Is that what we're calling it now?

Shinjiro smiles then bows his head in a nod. "What better way to pass the time than to become better acquainted?"

Susumu snorts. "What indeed, Akodo-san?"

"Ah!" her face lights up. "Susumu, you missed the afternoon a few weeks back when Akodo-san came with the other two from your delegation. I never did find out, or ask, if you sang or played an instrument!"

"This is very important information." Shinjiro informs Susumu with feigned gravitas. "I was somewhat unprepared, but it was a rare opportunity to enjoy an evening of music."

Susumu shakes his head and then winks. "I never really learned. Should I suppose, now, that learning to play will be one of the conditions you set forth?"

She catches his wink and passes him one of her own. "I think you may be acquainted with an able teacher now, so a mandate may well be in order. It would break my dear Gran's heart if you didn't try." She thinks a moment. "Dear Jizo, I should probably draw out my family tree..." she mutters under her breath.

"Do you play yourself, Akodo-san? Or sing, perhaps?" Susumu asks.

Shinjiro shakes his head. "I do not. To be honest I hadn't much interest in music, save to perhaps from time to time listen and enjoy what is offered. He nods a little to Etsuaya. "My time here has given me cause to reconsider my stance."

She gives both men a winning smile. "Oh, but every child can sing. The adults, well, sometimes they need to be reminded to stand straight, open their hearts, and let the sound out freely."

"Hmph. Perhaps I shall learn to play a drum, then, or something of the sort, so that I can provide a background for you."

"Anyone who has ever given a halfway decent kiai is capable of carrying a tune, even an Akodo," she says mock-sternly. "Besides, with lips like yours -- a hichiriki? No, I think perhaps the shakuhachi flute. I always found the embrasure a bit tricky, but the shape of your mouth is more generous, and the fingering isn't terribly tricky to learn." The opinion on his lips /was/ a strictly professional assessment, but even so, her cheeks are touched with color.

Susumu also blushes a bit as Etsuaya describes his lip. "I will, ah, consider your assessment, Etsuaya-san." He then turns to Shinjiro. "She is good at making us reconsider things, isn't she? I am glad I am not completely alone in this."

"And," she holds up a small hands, wiggling slender fingers. "Both of you gentlemen's hands are so much larger than mine. The holes of that flute are so very wide apart..."

Shinjiro slightly quirks an amused brow at Etsuaya's statement. The young Lion opens his mouth to say something, pauses then chuckles a little before offering a short bow in acknowledgement of Shosuro's observation. "A truth, from what I have observed." then he turns his attention to Susumu. "As am I."

"Ah, but if it were only so easy to charm birds out of trees, or treaties out of the brushes of those who say they were enemies," she smiles prettily, demurring the compliment. "Music is food for the soul, and doubly nourishing for those who play it, an easy thing to persuade inclination toward."

"Every journey starts with a single step." Shinjiro says this almost by rote then smiles. "I think there are few true enemies within these walls." The young Lion offers a small, easy shrug. "But to convince them of that..? That would be a true feat worthy of song."

"I concur entirely," she nods with a small smile. "And perhaps I'll write your song?" "But I'm afraid I cannot linger, and must cross the garden for an appointment. Akodo-san, would you give me a moment to say my goodbyes?"

Shinjiro bows low to Etsuaya. "Of course." Turning to Susumu he offers him a bow as well before turning and exiting the room.

Once Shinjiro is gone, Susumu turns to Etsuaya. "More clan business, I suppose? Best of luck in a successful resolution tonight." He will place the tips of his fingers under her chin, brushing up slowly to lift her veil.

"Just making sure we have a solid strategy to sort this mourning and marriage dispute out swiftly," Her arms are around around him again and she kisses him -- long, vibrant, sweet and slow.

He returns her kiss. He says nothing, words are unnecessary. Eventually, they must part. "May the ancestors watch over you, Etsuaya."

"I'll see you soon," she pulls back, kisses his forehead softly and departs.

[chiefyagamisoichiro]

What are the juicy details of your wedding ceremony with Sachiko?

truth serum! | ACCEPTING

“Only the ceremony?” He chuckles, somehow more youthful even as it shows the lines around his eyes—shows the twenty-one years it’s been since he was a young man on his wedding day.

“We had a traditional shinzen kekkon. Both our families were there—Sachiko’s cousin who introduced us came, of course, we thanked him in our vows as the nakodo. It was a wonderful ceremony, and the same priest who carried it out had overseen my parents’ wedding. When I first saw Sachiko in her wedding kimono, all I could think of was how beautiful the woman I was going to marry was, and that I was the most fortunate man alive.”

And he still is, though he’s not sure how well he’s earned it.

“My brother likes to tell the story that I was so nervous that I nearly spilled the first glass of sake when I passed it to Sachiko. If I was trembling, it was from happiness.”

He hopes he’ll be lucky enough to see both his children’s weddings as well. Light, dashing in a haori or a tuxedo, with a beautiful bride by his side. Sayu, all grown up, radiant in white and loved by a man good enough to deserve her. Both of them happy and loved as much as he had felt when he first laid eyes on his wife that day. They deserve it. They truly do.

#had to make you all sad about the yagami family #god he loves sachiko so much

[ao3feed-1x2]

by t_shirt

Duo’s unease over his fellow pilot’s lack of happiness in their new world of peace leads to a daring plan to rectify the problem.

Older fic again.

Words: 35934, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Gundam Wing

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner, Chang Wufei, Lucretzia Noin, Relena Darlian Peacecraft

Relationships: 1x2 - Relationship, 5+all, 3x4

Additional Tags: Fluff, sap, slight angst, mention of lemon

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #1x2 #2x1 #heero x duo #duo x heero

[itsartworkbylem-blog]

Japanese Film: Blog #12

Considering Ryosaikenbo, what aspects of relationships between Suzu and Shusaku in the film. Did you see Ryosaikenbo? Describe the scene/relationships and write the reasons why you think so.

Ryosaikenbo is seen in the fact that Shusaku works outside the home and Suzu stays home. She does all of the housework with the help of her mother in law and sister in law. Suzu tries really hard to keep her family together, fed, and happy during the hard times of food shortages. This shows an aspect of ryosaikenbo in the fact that Suzu is trying to be a good wife to not only Shusaku, but also his family.

Considering Danjyokankei, Suzu is traditional stereotypical Japanese woman. Find one example of her attitude and explain the DIFFERENCES between Suzu and stereotypical American woman. 

Compared to the stereotypical American housewife, Suzu is reserved and obedient to her husband. They don’t show affection towards each other in public or even really in private. When they do show affection, such as when they kiss in the rain and are caught in the act, they both act embarrassed even though it is normal for couples to act this way. American women are less reserved and more in control of their sexuality and relationships with their spouse. American couples generally express their love and affection for the other through spoken and unspoken interactions with others.

Considering Ikuji, the textbook mentioned “~the main principles of child rearing focuses on creating individuals who knew how to get along with others in the group” (p.135). Describe the scene that displays it well and explain why you think so.

Suzu is raised knowing that she has a talent for drawing and painting, but still works to maintain her role in her family. She helps her mother gather pine needles to burn when she is a child, helps her grandmother harvest nori when she is older, and after she marries Shusaku, she cooperates with her in-laws to run the household and provide food for their family. She teaches these things to Harumi by letting the child be free to roam and play while also teaching her how to cook, clean, and draw.

This was not reading assignment but considering Omiai (p.165), how did Omiai work in the film? Describe the process of Omiai in the film. 

In the film Suzu marries Shusaku through an arranged marriage. Shusaku begins the process of omiai with a nakodo, or the initial exchange of information between families. Shusaku and his father visit Suzu’s father and explain that he wants to marry her because Shusaku remembers her from when they were young. They do not exchange photos at this time, which is not traditional, and Shusaku and his father actually accidentally mistake Suzu for a crazy old woman before knowing who she actually is. After they finally meet in an omiai, the initial meeting, they decide to get married. Unlike in real life, the film skipped them spending time together periodically to get to know each other, which is typical in arranged marriages. In the movie, the couple marries after one meeting together. I think Suzu agrees to the marriage because she doesn’t think Mizuhara will ever ask her. She thinks Shusaku would be a good partner so she agrees to marry him.

Movie- What happened when Suzu and Haraumi found the unexplored bomb?

Harumi died in the blast and Suzu lost her right hand.

Movie-What happened Suzu’s sister, Sumi after the atomic bomb was dropped.  

They survived the bombing but her mother was killed in the blast. Her father becomes sick and dies, assumedly because of the radiation. Sumi also is sick with the aftereffects of the radiation from the bomb.  

Considering the relationships between woman and man in America, what is the biggest difference shown in this film? Is the relationship between Shusaku and Suzu (or Shusaku parents, Keiko and her in law family) to you or can you relate? Analyze and explain why you think so.

Suzu marries Shusaku even though she doesn’t remember him from the bridge because it would make a good match. She lives obediently with his family, cooking, cleaning, and helping around the house. In America, some families live together and work together to maintain the household in the same way. However, the relationship between Suzu and Shusaku is different from western couples. They love each other but rarely say it in person. Their actions speak to their closeness and feelings instead. He has the final say in what she does like when she wants to go visit her family, he has to give the okay or she can’t go. In American households, most women wouldn’t think to ask for permission to visit their families. It would be a given and the couple would work together to plan the trip.

What is advantage of anime describing the historical fact? Compare with “Eternal Zero,” write you opinion and the reasons why you think so. 

I think that advantage of using anime, especially in this instance, is that animators are free to use different techniques and design to convey certain feelings or display certain situations. When Harumi died in the blast, instead of adding a scene that perfectly showed the bomb exploding and Harumi dying, they made it more abstract to convey Suzu’s feelings during and after the event. The sketchy, crudely drawn scene felt more dynamic, more visceral because it almost felt like Harumi drew it herself, making it all more sad. The filmmakers were able to accomplish invoking feelings of death, despair, and hopelessness to the movie because they used animation instead of real actors. With Eternal Zero, filmmakers are using real-life actors so they feel the need to be subtler in the way they direct the characters, set up scenes, and speak dialogue. Anime studios do the same, but they are able to be freer in their storytelling, making the narrative reflect almost a sense of watching a otogibanashi. It feels like a folktale unfolding instead another wartime movie like Eternal Zero.

What Japanese key concepts that we have learned before (other than the current 3 concepts) did you see in this film? Compare with American culture and explain why you think so.

 Otogibanashi is shown in the movie when Suzu paints Mizuhara next to the sea. He describes the white caps of the waves as rabbits and she paints him watching the little bunnies jump over the water. Japanese folktales often use animals as a way to describe human’s connection to nature in a vague way.

 In the movie, the characters sometimes use honne to tatemae to communicate their feelings and motives. Suzu’s sister-in-law Keiko decides to stay with the family after Suzu marries Shusaku because she doesn’t like Suzu and wants to show her superiority towards Suzu. She suggests for Suzu to go home and visit her family in Hiroshima, even though Suzu wasn’t thinking of doing so. She utilized tatemae to do this by asking Suzu if she wants to go home. Suzu is surprised because she wasn’t expecting this, but goes anyway because she understands Keiko’s true intentions, or honne, which is for her to go home and really think about whether she should return to Shusaku. Usually, tatemae is used so that the person doesn’t hurt the other person’s feelings, but in this case, I think Keiko is doing it with bad intentions because she doesn’t like Suzu.

 The Ie Sytem is shown in the movie in the way that Suzu’s father meets with Shusaku and his father when setting up their arranged marriage. While Suzu helps with the decision if she will marry Shusaku, if her father decided that it was not a good match, then he could so no to the marriage. Once they marry, Suzu has to work hard in order to get along well with her husband’s family, and does so by thinking of ways to keep them fed during food shortages and doing chores.  

[carsonnethers-blog]

Blog #12

Nemawashi(p.159): Laying the Groundwork in Japan - “This is a clear example of a business situation lacking Nemawashi. What should the planning chief have done before the meeting?First, he should have met members individually, explained his ideas and asked for their support”. This is no different than the common tactics used in American business culture. I think that they parallel each other because regardless of culture difference making preparations beforehand always leads to a increased chance of success. In fact, in American culture there's a saying that says “give me six hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend four sharpening the axe”. I think this saying represents the similarities between this topic in our two cultures.

“First, the Japanese generally decide things by unanimous agreement. Although the boss has nominal decision-making power, in fact, everyone must agree” This is something that isn't quite the same in American business culture. Typically the people with the most superiority have the majority of the decision-making power and what they say goes. Normally everyone doesn't agree, but none the less a decision gets made. While both cultures try to do work in advance to get things together they do them for different reasons. This shows a difference in the cultures. While one does it to get total agreement, the other does it to get the top management on board which is enough to pass.

‘

Sempai-kohai(p.187): Seniority Rules in Japanese Relations - “The older people become, the more they earn or the greater their chances for promotion. Such seniority rules have deeply permeated all aspect of Japanese life.” While in the older periods of the American culture we might see some resemblance, not as much anymore. In today's time companies are beginning to become more focused on the results that an employee is producing rather their age. This is something that is starkly different in contrast with that of japanese culture. I think the difference lies in the fact that American culture does not respect people for simply their age, rather we respect them for what they have done or can do.

“It is common in sports clubs for kohai to clean the rooms, collect balls, and manage the equipment for their semapi..” Through my experience I can say that this is very present in American culture. I have played sports in junior and high school and never experienced such a thing. I think as a younger person in a sport we show a lot of respect to the older athletes but it seems to end their. I think the difference lies in the fact that JApanese culture values seniority more than American culture does.

Omiai(p.165): Arranged marriage in Japan.  “Not so long ago, people thought that men should work and women should stay home and care for the family, but today a large number of women are able to find jobs and make a living,”.This is the exact same thing that has happened in American culture. In the past women were expected to be stay at home mothers. That was the norm, but today that norm is completely gone. Women are no longer expected to do that and many are choosing rather to pursue careers. I find it interesting that Japanese culture has paralleled us on this topic, because from everything I have learned it seems that Japanese culture is a bit more rigid.

“To begin the process of omiai, a nakodo(go-between) helps make an initial exchange of information between two individuals and their families.” This is not something that is typical in American culture. In fact I find it a bit weird. To me it comes off more of a business type setting than finding love. I certainly wouldn't like this situation. But after learning about Japanese culture it kind of makes sense  that they would do this. Because of the formality and rigidness of said culture.

Haragei (p.103)An Implicit Way of Communication In Japan - “On one hand, one can “read other people’s minds” by using Haragei, or guess what others are really thinking , allowing it to be used as a kind of social lubricating oil to avoid arguments.”. This is a common practice in American culture. It’s something that I practice on a regular basis for the same reasons. It allows me to better understand people when they are providing me with enough information, as well as avoid topics that might cause a confrontation.

“On the other hand, there is a negative side to this concept in which people hide their real thoughts and feelings, and it is often said that Haragei is used in business and politics as a deceitful means of communication in which people hide their real motives in order to gain power and advantage”. This is something that is very common in American culture as well. In fact I would say that this subject is possibly more common in American culture than it is in Japanese, based off the limited knowledge I have of Japanese culture. A Lot of times Americans tend to be out for himself.”Taking care of number one” is a common phrase that represents this. People use this concept to make sure they prosper regardless of the others around them. I think it's something that all culture experience. Simply because their are always people out there who are selfish, regardless of their cultural background.