#also rewatching banana fish

[pancake-stray-doggo]

No bc when you liked River Phoenix anyway before finding Banana Fish and then noticed the similarities after watching and/or reading BF and you're sad about Ash and then you find out he's heavily inspired by River you have your two sadnesses become one Big Sadness that cannot be escaped and sometimes you'll remember either or both of these men and risk dying of literal heartbreak or loss of will to live

#banana fish #ash lynx #aslan jade callenreese #river phoenix #manga #anime #banana fish manga #river phoenix movies #90s movies #my own private idaho #mopi #running on empty #current two fave movies that ive rewatched recently #someone put it so eloquently in a diff tag- #banana fish is my comfort show but id never rewatch #and i iust think that's so true #the fact that river died on my birth date (not year) also doesn't help #bc ive loved him ever since i was smol bc of my mom #i am so unfathomably sad #this was sitting in my drafts #for like?? #3-4 years? #posting now bc it's relevant to my state of mind #fucking agony #shorter wong #okumura eiji #asheiji #shorter x ash #shorter x ash x eiji #can't remember their ship names lol sorry

[oddquake]

banana fish ruined my life

#/hj but also /srs #i will never recover #<—finished my 7th rewatch #banana fish #asheiji #quake rambles

[rosalinesurvived]

Nonono but I am fucking losing my mind over Abraham first seeing Griffin when he looks at Ash, after ten years still everyone in Banana Fish is haunted by the metaphorical ghost of this gentle boy who harm was done to.

#griffin callenreese my beloved repivotal ghost of the series #shitpost #banana fish #abraham dawson #ash lynx #aslan callenreese #also someone as deranged as abraham seeing griffin around him kills me literally murders me #yes im rewatching episode 9

[meowydoe]

My anime phase has forever changed the way that I see Mr Loverman

#^was a banana fish fan. if that helps explain it better #ginger.txt #but in all honesty though banana fish was good as hell i should rewatch it #i wasnt bored once while watching. disturbed & also very sad yes but i wasnt ever bored

[inspector-montoya-fox]

i made you a Chow Mei moodboard because i wanted to

#Chow Mei but she has celiac disease #honestly clock me. soon as i added the euphoria image i knew it was over #i'm at 67% prolly gonna finish it tomorrow but i'm thinking of doing the time trials too. then Sly 2 #but i still stand by only wanting to play the rajan and contessa levels lol #i got other things to do too like i want to play recipe for turnabout and finish teen titans. i want to rewatch Buffy AND i'm also READING #i found banana fish vol.1 in amsterdam and also balls-deep in Ottessa Moshfegh bibliography so yea #also had a good idea for a post. i'll work on it tomorrow #toodles

[moonlight-fawn]

not a day goes by where I don’t think of ash and jude ngl lol

#banana fish #a little life #okay but like I think banana fish hurts me more somehow ? #for two reasons #one being that ash had a shorter life #and two being that I’ve just been throw so much beef with a little life lmao #throw ? wtf bro through #ash was still a kid whose life was just starting to look up #Jude was able to make it 40 some years and spend time with the one he loved most #anyways i got a job interview in like 2 hours I might crap my pants tbh #it’s not even a real job #me ? a real job ? never lmao #also I’ve been getting so banana fish tiktoks on my fyp I kinda wanna rewatch it now heheh🤫👹

[tongueonsocket]

finished rewatching (binging) banana fish and i most definitely regret it. will that stop me from watching it again? absolutely not lmao

also as i was watching id like find the “appropriate point” to read the side stories bc i feel like doing that just gives the overall story that extra umph so for future reference, it’s great to read angel eyes after episode 10 and private opinion is great for after episode 18

#banana fish #i have. #a um #minor problem mayhaps #ash lynx #aslan jade callenreese #eiji okumura #sing soo ling #also i do not hate blanca #my rewatch made me realize this #reading private opinion also helped #like yeah he’s made some questionable choices #but blanca haters will be shown to the door #for anyone who doesn’t know abt private opinion it’s how blanca met ash #oh and angel eyes is how shorter met ash #for some reason people only talk abt garden of light and that annoys me

[guideaus]

SK8 shouldve been the gay sports anime

#personal #that anime at least had more of a focus on their sport i think #and the characters felt real. i remember thinking it was unique and a nice choice that the protag wasnt like mr. prodigy for skating #it also had anime tropes but not in an annoying way (though that antagonist was lol) #just how people on hear spoke abt yoi was really weird bc they praised them being canon but like. they have no flavor #they barely feel real and within 3 eps had a whole lot of weird scenes #its like the nicest possible version of a show for fujoshis maybe lol. definitely not a sports show #i can see how fans of yoi would also like banana fish #i gotta rewatch that scene in death parade maybe or reread real

[tender-rosiey]

you know, when you’ve saved the work of a writer here on tumblr or like have the link in case you want to reread that masterpiece

and you find out they changed their url?

that’s exactly why I am never changing mine because I have had to suffer not being able to make it back to my favorite fics after the writer changed their url 🥲🔫

#rose talk ✨ #my current predicament btw #also I rewatched banana fish because I didn’t want to study #big mistake

[seasononeklaus]

maybe i should start a tua rewatch soon

#sigh remember 2019 when i used to rewatch season one almost every weekend #i wanna finish my gomens rewatch first tho and with all my school work it’s been really hard to find time for even one episode #i did also promise i would watch banana fish this year i’m actually pretty excited too #yeah no it’s probably gonna be a while

[aaynkeijiwanttosleepsendhelp]

Me: should I rewatch haikyuu or sk8?

Also me: *plays Banana Fish instead *

#banana fish #sk8 anime #haikyuu #i just want to see my husband #im an idiot that loves to suffer ik

[skijjiki]

thanks for tagging me @sstrawbearies !! :D

last song: Saturn by SZA

fav color: it alternates but rn it's pink, blue and green!

currently reading: All Systems Red by Martha Wells, also going to try to start JJBA part 8 soon TwT. Apart from that, a couple of WebToons

currently watching: in the same boat as rawbe- Cherry Magic and A Sign of Affection (finished last night T_T). rewatched Banana Fish too

spicy/savory/sweet: I'd say savory! But my favorite taste profile is actually sour <3

relationship status: single

current obsessions: I'd have to say science fiction reads and Ace Attorney, maybe Legend of Zelda too! I wanna pick up learning ASL and other language learning but I wouldn't say that's obsession, prolly just interest lol

tagging: I'll poke @iernos @crabbarts @rainswolfs @sarunskale @seapasture @lightfulonion and @2dou and anyone else who'd like to do this! no obligations ofc o/

#tag game #mutuals #wanted to tag others but i saw a couple had already been tagged so! TwT

[shoujomangathoughts]

Shoujo Thoughts - Banana Fish

I decided recently to rewatch Banana Fish. I have a lot of thoughts on this series (it's in my top three, if not my favorite series) so I doubt I'll be able to go over everything that I could. This will contain spoilers for the series so here's the warning for that.

I won't spend a ton of time going over Ash and Eiji's relationship because I feel that's the conversational ground that others have covered the most. What I will say though is that I don't really see BF as a BL series or even really think that Ash and Eiji necessarily love each other in a romantic way. This series certainly inspired a lot of LGBTQ+ stories but I've always liked that Ash and Eiji's relationship seems to be in some sort of gray area; it feels ambiguous enough to remain interpretable. I don't want to take away from any queer elements that people may like about the story, but I also think it's sometimes important for media to display emotional intimacy between men, as I feel a lot of stories don't let this aspect exist unless they're romantically involved (or sometimes it's the setup for gay jokes). I like that this series kind of walks the line, though I'm sure many will disagree since BF has had a reputation for being a BL especially after the anime and it's modern popularity.

Something interesting about the relationship between Ash and Eiji for me is the "selfish" reasons they seem connected and how that relates to parts of their character arcs. To Ash, Eiji has an innocence that he tries to protect, as his was trampled on at an early age. It's interesting to see this shift, things like giving Eiji a gun in the beginning to refusing him one when escaping Golzine's mansion. This aspect of Eiji also grounds Ash in a sense - conversations they have like when Ash talks about his fear of pumpkins shows a more innocent side to Ash that can't frequently be on display because of everything around him, but it reminds us of how young he actually is (Ibe notices this as well). Eiji's perspective on things and his experiences are so vastly different that it helps balance Ash out. Eiji, on the other hand, sees Ash and his role in helping him as a way to not quit something. He quit pole vaulting after an injury that also led to some psychological barriers, and in some sense he sees the events that take place as a means of not repeating what he believes to be past mistakes. In some ways, it also comes across a little bit that Eiji almost has a hero complex when it comes to Ash. I don't mean this in a negative way at all, but I think it also demonstrates some of Eiji's naivety (albeit still good-natured) by thinking that it would be so easy for Ash to start over. Their relationship obviously has other layers as well, but I've always found these aspects interesting and they're not as often brought up when it comes to the nuance of the how the characters in this story feel very "human'.

Another aspect I want to talk about is the antagonists. I feel as though characters like Dino come across well and as intended, but some of the others don't or feel as though there might be a bit of missed potential. I feel like Yut-Lung didn't quite live up to his full potential; the way he acted in the beginning versus when he was working with the mafia is a bit confusing at times as he used to use secret techniques and trained moves but then ends up in a bit of a damsel situation. His motivations however are solid and show off what his role is well in my opinion. Fox is the other antagonist that people seem to have issue with. While I think his role is fine and does a good job at reinforcing the fact that Dino really does have connections in all sorts of places (and the parallels to Ash being legally 'dead'), his shift into essentially being the "final boss" doesn't work for some and I see why. He wasn't really built up to be that significant so it doesn't feel as satisfying as it should. Most of the other "villains" in the series are more interesting and end up being more memorable characters (Dino, Arthur, Yut-Lung, Blanca).

Something else that I appreciate in this story is the plot device of banana fish itself. The mystery of the drug is far more prominent early on, but I appreciate that as the story progresses, there is no magic cure developed that makes previous characters feel like they only had a case of bad timing. They outright say there is no cure for the drug and the story sticks to that, which is an aspect I respect. People also say that the plotline with the drug ends up taking a backseat, which I partially agree with, but it's also important to recognize that its role changes. At first, it's the core of the mystery and after that's uncovered, it turns into something that is more political in nature. I feel like some didn't like the change in role it had and that's why they say it's not important after around the halfway point. Not saying that the execution is without flaw, but the drug has a role, even if more in the background, throughout the whole series. The moment when Ash tells Sing to let the briefcase go is the moment Ash decides to let the existence of the drug die with the man that was at the head of it all (not to mention all the scientists and whatnot that had already been killed). It may seem unsatisfying, but Ash would rather just let its existence be wiped than deal with anyone else trying to do something with it, not to mention that he values Sing's life enough to help him even at the expense of something he'd chased the whole series, which shows that being around Eiji probably helped him open up and shows that some of his morals are in check.

The end of the series, while being somewhat controversial for some, is something that I still find myself liking. Honestly, the first time I watched the series I expected Ash to die; from the many moments of foreshadowing and knowledge of other mafia/gang series that show many of these people never being able to truly escape the world they're in. The story on a whole is about Ash and throughout the story he found solid people to love and trust, most specifically Eiji and Max (I'd also say he found strong allies in characters like Sing and Cain as well and Shorter was around before the series began). People always say they wished Ash could go to Japan to start over but I'm not of the opinion that an ending like that would suit the series. I've seen the ending being labeled as senselessly tragic or as some sort of cry-bait but I disagree. I know the mangaka made comments at one point about how at least part of her decision to end it with his death was due to all the death he caused, therefore claiming the ending was justified in her mind because of some sort of karma. I understand why people are rubbed the wrong way by this because of how traumatized Ash is, but I do think that's an angle that makes sense as well (keep in mind not all of Ash's killings were in self defense). Ash gets stabbed in a moment where he saw an opportunity to try again and is then reminded that he still has enemies. It reminds me of the look on his face when Dino dies; he doesn't seem relieved like he probably expected he would. Part of this is probably because he doesn't know what to do with his "freedom" because he's never allowed himself to think that far, but I think another part is that even though Dino is dead, he doesn't really feel free. I know some get upset that Ash gets fatally wounded by a "nobody" character like Lao (which some are under the impression that Ash wasn't fatally wounded and merely chose to bleed out due to a missing line from Lao in the anime), but I think it suits what Yoshida was going for and also reiterates the smaller, more petty enemies that Ash made throughout his life. Dino and some of the other big shot villains being killed did not automatically free Ash of being a part of this world. Ash gets to die knowing that there are people who care for him and that's a feeling that he'd never imagined himself having. He dies a person that experienced genuine care for him after having been starved of it his whole life. It comes across that he dies satisfied. I see why the ending doesn't work for some but I've always thought it made sense.

For now I'll stop here as these were just some observations I was making on rewatching the series knowing how I and others felt about certain aspects. I may end up making another post or something someday on BF because the series really means a lot to me. Thanks for reading!

#banana fish #anime #manga #shoujo #akimi yoshida

[kalfui]

Some Banana Fish rants lol

I think it's very funny when people say that Ash and Eiji weren't in love because they weren't sexually involved.

In my opinion, Ash wouldn't want to be sexually involved with anyone. I see him as asexual which is kinda not related since I do think he'd just not want to be sexually involved with anyone because of his trauma, so I guess it'd be more relevant saying he could be celibate.

Either way, it's canon they were soulmates, so I don't know what some people are blabbering about

Since the anime ending is left for interpretation, I just imagine a happy ending with Ash and Eiji, but the manga ending is so sad. Homophobia, I think

I know the creator said something along the lines,

"What makes people think Ash will be happy in Japan?"

A lot. I think it would take him a long time to recover from the stuff that happened, but I'm sure he'd feel happier not having to deal with gang stuff and just healing with Eiji. He isn't going to forget everything, obviously, but it's better than having to deal with your emotions, past, trauma, etc, while also having to deal with the harsh present.

I'd rewatch, but I think I've had enough of sad gays. Listening to Prayer X rn

#banana fish #ashxeiji #asheiji #ash lynx #eiji okumura #i hate angsty stuff so.. manga never happened. sorry

[cherishsscene]

Rewatching Banana Fish because what better way to celebrate pride month than to watch two bisexuals be stuck in hell on earth; also called New York City 

#banana fish #ash lynx #eiji okumura #asheiji #pride month #I need to feel emotional damage #this is my favorite way of crying #new york city is pretty much hell right? #maybe the entire state of texas idk

[achilleslyre]

tag some ppl you’d like to know better ^.^

tagged by @lycentropy :3 thank youuuu i love these hehe

3 ships: narusasu…… erm.. yahiko/konan/nagato (yahikonanagato?)…………. ehem 🧍🧍 why do i not ship anything…. ig kushimina or w/e their ship name is is cute enough for me to add it :p

first ship: literally just shoot me. it was percico alright. just. don’t mention it. LMAO

last song: guys this is an earth shattering groundbreaking moment……. i for once am actually not currently listening to music… last song i listened to was pink in the night by mitski… sns playlist :p

last movie: uhhhhhhhhhhh… i barely watch movies i genuinely don’t know… . i think it was m3gan ? altho i’ve been meaning to rewatch 9 again recently so i’ll prolly do that soon

currently reading: still banana fish agakhsjshs i have 3 volumes left and the next volume is a REALLY rough one so it’s been hard to find a good time for me to mentally handle that

currently watching: one piece :p i think i left off on ep 130? that or ep 126 i don’t remember :p

consuming: unless biting my nail counts (oops) nothing but i should go make myself smth to eat eugh

craving: gah. a hug ngl. also itachi stuff agakagsksh

tags: @szczek @grailskull @shades4dogs @kyueishin @kyghostly @coconutchai @mukkie @gayhokage @sunbackeddog @coybones

#i tagged some ppl out of my normal rotation so if u don’t like being tagged in these just lmk :p #also if i didn’t tag u but u do like getting tagged u can also lmk and i will tag u in the future :D #also lycentropy i meant to post this on my other blog bc thats what u tagged but i wasn’t looking when i saved this and i saved it here #and i cba to go rewrite this all/get my laptop open to copy and paste it so #its going here instead oops #jitter bugs u