#rkdd wall of text

[a-forbidden-detective]

Parallelism: On why RonToto is so real

On episode 4, before Amamiya fainted over the beauty of Ron Kamonohashi, she got a closer look in his eyes as the latter glanced at her doing his “yes, I solved who the culprit is” fwish-fwish gesture. His icy blue eyes shining, very exposed. She fell in love. (“So steaming hot!”)

During the first episode, Ron had a closer look at Toto. He was enamoured. How could be that this naïve police officer was determined to bring him back to detective business?

Toto, on the other hand, although he admires and respects his boss Amamiya, there is no desire involved.

This trope is called Eating the Eye Candy.

There's just something completely gorgeous about that other character. The character just can't help but stare and drool over their gleaming smile, sapphire eyes, or any other attractive features.

Akira Amano decided early on where the story is going. Series composition writer Wataru Watari is interpreting her vision. It is safe to say that the manga has never included nor focused on Amamiya’s eye. Meaning, the anime writers wanted to emphasise the significance of this trope to the possible pairings. We can rest assured who the OTP is in this series.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #akira amano #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #ron et toto #rontoto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #deranged detective: ron kamonohashi #rkdd #episode 1 #episode 4 #rkdd spoilers #wataru watari #rkdd wall of text #eating the eye candy

[a-forbidden-detective]

Curious add-ons, Episode 10 (Part 6), The Blush and other things

Like what I’ve mentioned before, Wataru Watari and co. edited out Akira’s dialogue and panels in the manga and added a few things that ante up RonToto’s relationship.

(If you listen to the RKDD voice actors, Youhei Azakami especially, they say RonToto when referring to their—his and EnokiJun’s— characters often during their radio show out of laziness, heh, and habit maybe.)

The blush after Ron notices that Toto is looking at him. Probably caught by his bashfulness, in the end, he smiles at Toto, but realises that there’s something off after Toto sighs loudly.

Honestly, this is so sweet. The anime writers are invested making use of Akira’s panels where Ron loves to smirk so we can hear him say “heh” with the movement of his lips and giving emphasis on the quiet moments where the characters can interact without words but still heavily imply that emotions are surging. I particularly like the scenes between Toto and John Grizzly where the BLUE instructor was interrogating Toto’s relationship with Ron. That was a minute of no dialogue only the reaction of their faces shown.

“So, that’s how much… she likes you” is replaced with this nicer statement from Ron. Anyone who treats his friend Toto nicely gets a star from him.

With the following scenes Toto has come out more dominant than in the manga.

And yesterday new merchandise had been unveiled just in time for the upcoming Jump Festa. Two of them are these images of the two. Ron is wearing a trendy attire with harnesses on his chest area and a dog tag. Whereas Toto is wearing a sort of street-smart urban outfit. The joke on X Twitter is who’s the “dog” and who is the owner.

Yes. It is all coincidence. And I am probably projecting.

They definitely removed Ron’s “I feel the same way” line and instead included the dialogue suggesting two things. 1)Ron sees that Toto is fond of ordering takeouts that it is implied that he cooks for the police officer from time to time. His recipes are mostly drenched with black syrup. 2) because Toto is not into cooking, he wishes that one day he does break this habit. Maybe because it is not healthy. This is where my head canon and speculation collide. Seeing that cooking is chemistry and Ron has been a hikikomori for five years and had lots of time during those times he probably had so many things tried and experimented.

From an outsider’s point of view, like Chikori, who has been wondering what the hell is the relationship between these two.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #wataru watari #deranged detective #deranged detective: ron kamonohashi #rkdd spoilers #rkdd #curious add-ons #episode 10 #chikori monki #rkdd wall of text #chapter 10 #chapter 11 #rontoto moment #rontoto #ron kamonohashi's forbidden deductions #rkdd anime

[a-forbidden-detective]

In defense of Totomaru Isshiki and the pitfalls of a John Watson-esque character

I am kinda frustrated with the way the fandom treats Toto Isshiki. This reminds me of the way the Sherlock Holmes fandom disregard Dr. John Watson. I’ve read some negative comments on Crunchyroll and see the lack of enthusiasm on Tumblr when it comes to Toto-centered gifs. Not a gripe, just an observation.

I can’t help it. I am a Watsonian by heart and will defend any JW-esque characters with the likes of Toto Isshiki, for example.

It is the same pitfall that befalls any adaptation or iteration that portrays SH and JW lookalikes.

People disregard the significance of a JW-esque character and elevate the SH ones, which of course understandable on the surface. The SH ones are flashy, eccentric, distant, aloof, but a genius. The JW ones are ordinary, insignificant. He’s one of us.

The adaptations I know that respect JW are the Granada Holmes, Elementary (in some aspects) and the early Sherlock BBC. And maybe, the mouse version.

Although, Ron’s attitude is miles away from the many adaptations of SH, he treats Toto as an equal as the latter has seen him at his lowest and the only one who succeeded in encouraging him to make a comeback, takes consider of the way Toto gauges people, in short Toto is his moral compass, knows that he’s in good hands with Toto around him, even in a dangerous situation. Ron also appreciates Toto’s empathy and feels humbled every time Toto admires his talent in deduction, which certainly feeds his ego. Most of all, in the manga, the two might have accumulated other friends, but they know that there are only the two of them together.

Lastly, culled from this thesis:

It is Watson’s regular function to register bafflement in the face of mystery and to express wonder as Holmes solves it. Perhaps it should be emphasized, however, that though Watson is a foil he is not a burlesque character, as the radio and motion picture dramatizations have portrayed him. His bewilderment is intended not so much to reveal him as the butt as to add luster to Holmes and his deductions. If Watson does play Sancho to Holmes’s Quixote, the joke, when there is one, is as likely to be directed toward the eccentric knight of the nineteenth century rationalism as made at the expense of his faithful squire. We may patronize him somewhat, but we also take our cue from him on how to react.

That’s also Totomaru Isshiki in a nutshell.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #akira amano #totomaru isshiki #ron kamonohashi #ron et toto #rontoto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #rkdd #sherlock holmes #john watson #jw #sh #rkdd wall of text

[a-forbidden-detective]

Curious add-ons: Foreshadowing and when subtext becomes text (Part 3)

Squeezing two chapters into one episode can be quite a challenge. One, the continuity is going to be broken. Second, the narrative is going to be rushed leaving some attributes of the characters out.

Where was that scene where Toto mentioned his grandmother bc it reminded him of Ron’s fave tv program or him (mis)stepping again on the cat?

But at the same time this is also a chance to edit out or fine-tune some panels that might not affect the whole story. Or probably make another story altogether.

Like this entire scene for example. It is amusing that the anime writers chose to make the shooting star invitation appear already in the beginning of the episode, which Toto forgot to tell Ron after seeing the latter’s pink grapefruit eyes. The bloodshot eyes deeply concerned him only to find out that the culprit was Ron’s discovery of the wonderful world of the TV.

Unlike in the manga, where Toto has no idea, who the sender was, In the anime he knows the sender but not well enough. So anime writers, what are you up to? It could be for logical reason. As a police officer Toto should not be trusting of any unverified letters sent to him, which the manga just set up bc Akira wrote it.

Or, hear me out, if you are reading the manga or have read this chapter, this is going to be another setup for Ron. Another angst-filled one at that.

Then the invitation appeared again during the last 10 minutes or so, without the disturbance of a TV crew who, in the manga showed up during the duo’s dreadful/anxious moments. Ron, immediately ceased the invite and decided from then on that they must go there. No time for verification.

Toto has the invitation all the time with him in the anime and is holding on to it till he finds the right moment.

At first glance, the premise is Toto visits Ron to ask if the forbidden detective wants to be his plus one. Isn’t that thoughtful of Toto? It sounds so romantic, isn’t it? But what if Toto has an agenda? Or someone has and is only using Toto to get to Ron?

I am curious of the next episode(s). There are five chapters in the manga alone for the succeeding arc.

Anyway, the dialogue in the last 15 minutes or so has changed.

From Chapter 8:

Ron: I... almost ended up killing you. If something like this happens again, and the person I’m solving a case with dies… Forget being a detective, Id be so overwhelmed with despair that I wouldn’t be able to go on living.

From the episode 6:

Ron: “Something like that”? I nearly killed you. If anything like it happened again, and you died I'd despair of myself and wouldn't be able to carry on.

The difference lies that the anime writer has edited out the flowery generalisation but immediately got on with the killer word “you” as in Toto Isshiki.

And this momentous addition:

Toto: Until you can believe in yourself, I'll stick with you! Okay?

So far, my RonToto heart is full. But hopefully, the writer will stick to it until the end.

PS: They might forget Toto’s mention of grandmother but they make sure that he is polite and has good manners saying his apologies again for Ron’s eccentric behaviour.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #rkdd spoilers #episode 6 #rontoto #ron kamonohashi's forbidden deductions #rkdd wall of text #rkdd speculation

[a-forbidden-detective]

Curious add-ons: additions and deletions, Episode 11 (Part 7)

A bit of a warning: photo-heavy post

Eleven episodes in, and it is safe to say that I love these versions of Ron and Toto. Don’t get me wrong Akira Amano hasn’t done anything wrong, it is just these RonToto are kinder and more codependent from each other that I am 110 per cent sure they’d compete with that kind of codependency from the manga RonToto, and anime RonToto would win.

They diminished Toto’s comedic childlike expressions on this episode removing the giggle on Toto’s part, for example, when he asked Ron if the latter had a friend. Junya Enoki, for his part, admitted that because Toto is a grown man and a police officer, he doesn’t need to act cute all the time. The reason this scene is much more tender than in the manga. The “what’s so funny?” question from Ron was omitted and instead the anime writers made Toto stammer with his “N-not even… one?” After hearing Ron’s answer that he considers Toto to be his friend, he replies with a much more humbled “I am glad to hear it” and not “Gee, thanks.” And then the blush on Toto’s face as if he is darn proud and happy because after all they have been through, Ron treats him more special than the others, that is being allowed to be closer to him by becoming his friend.

Truth be told, these instances of blushing from the main characters would turn me into mush.

Another passage omitted from the manga and the new dialogue has become a Sherlock BBC reference in the anime.

Kawasemi san: “If you want to hide a tree, hide it in a forest.” (Episode 11)

SH from Sherlock BBC: “If you wanted to hide a tree then the best place to do it is a forest, wouldn’t you say? People would just walk past it, not knowing - not able to decipher the message.” (Episode 2, Season 1, The Blind Banker)

Surely, one of these days I’d write a list of all these Sherlock BBC references: from the manga to anime, because they are so many. Of course, it could have been the translator’s choice in the end.

Continuity problems in the manga are explained in the anime.

a) the reason Ron eats dangos 🍡 on the train;

b) Constable Kimyou, whose surname doesn’t mean “strange”

c) Ron accompanying Toto was not a chance where he got an email from the neurology institute, but it was a planned or let’s just say a convenient way to ride with Toto on the train at the same time going to Aichi with a purpose.

The anime crew adding this scene. Toto’s joyful reaction upon seeing his friend again after witnessing Kawasemi’s slump in person. Probably Toto was relieved and had missed his friend so much after their abrupt and odd parting at the Nagoya train station, in which he had so many questions that were partly answered at the end of the episode.

Can you see the puppets and the No. 96 (Ron’s scar which has become part of him) from the shop? Not only they increased the price from ¥900 (in 2021) to ¥960 (2023) but Ron’s puppets Kamo-kyun (platypus) and Eli Pyon (frill-necked lizard) are on sale.

This ending that fuels a few questions. Ron was sort of refusing to look at Toto as he explained his meeting with Dr. Mofu and her subsequent referrals to the other medical professionals concerning his pathological condition to pressure the criminals to suicide. Instead he looked at his reflection on the glass train window, Toto’s delightful enthusiastic voice had become white noise. This Ron is more pessimistic and not so much looking forward to the therapy and its possible outcome. I wonder if the anime writers (Jackson Ou wrote the episode with a storyboard from Shingo Tamaki who were also responsible to previous Kawasemi episode) would deviate a bit from the manga.

Two more episodes and I don’t want it to end. There are so many materials available and it seems we haven’t scratched the surface yet. The tension is getting bigger. It would be nicer if they are given the second cour and end the first season with the Plateau Aubege arc. A perfect ending to establish a canon RonToto.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #deranged detective: ron kamonohashi #rkdd spoilers #curious add ons #rkdd wall of text #rkdd vs sherlock bbc #episode 11 #ron kamonohashi's forbidden deductions #kawasemi omito #rontoto #rontoto moment #long post #bbc sherlock

[a-forbidden-detective]

Another day, another discovery.

The blurry couple on the left will become Unno-san and Donzawa from the Observatory on Solitary Island arc.

The two men on the right will become Torage and his victim.

The femicide victim and her husband are already un-blurred while Kawasemi-san and Yamane still await their turn.

The young woman sitting on the bench’s arm support will become Onodera the photographer and John Grizzly behind her.

Culled from Episode 2, the Case of the Piggy Bank Murder

Much has been said ( @ecargmura ) on the opening song’s blurring of the people around Ron and Toto that has become clearer once these supporting characters have appeared from the episodes.

@plant-akki posted several gifs of these comparisons from episode 3 to the latest.

But have you noticed the man who’s running with the billowing black coat? Once he is seen running in the other direction, but most of the time Ron and Toto are chasing after him.

During Episode 8, the man on the left becomes Jumonji, the director of the observatory. But take a look at the man wearing a black coat running behind him.

He’s now in front of Toto. It looks like the duo is running after him.

He’s appeared now behind them of what looks like a rendition of the “Murder on the Orient Express.”

In the end, he’s pointed the crime scene to them from what looks like a scene from a Japanese detective TV series or mystery film.

The trench-coat wearing Ron is a direct reference to “Columbo.”

Take note that it is only Ron who wears different kinds of clothing, depends on the media he’s dreaming in, while Toto still wears his grey suit.

Anyway, it is none other this guy.

This guy here, Sherlock Holmes, and the man next to him, his John Watson, are fond of running after their suspects in this BBC series. This image is iconic.

It must be an homage, or a running gag (no pun intended), that Ron and Toto should do the same as Ron gets to live his dream of becoming a full-fledged detective like his ancestor with the help of Toto. Hence, Toto holding his friend’s hand who must be telling him, “Hey, slow down, I got you, you are all right. I’ll be here beside you. You aren’t alone now.”

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #deranged detective: ron kamonohashi #rontoto moment #rontoto #rkdd vs sherlock bbc #bbc sherlock #sherlock holmes #john watson #sh #jw #benedict cumberbatch #martin freeman #a collision 💥 of my old and new fandoms #rkdd wall of text

[a-forbidden-detective]

Curious add-ons: The Continuity, et al., Episode 12 (Part 8)

Unrelated to RKDD, but these words from voice actor Yuichi Nakamura during the JJK Jump Festa last Saturday best describes why anime fills the void of continuity in the manga. There are movements and moments that one can be explored in the anime.

That’s why I do appreciate the animators for adding more details to the scenes to patch the continuity in the series up that are not self-evident in the manga.

Toto didn’t appreciate the flying axe come to his way that he just shrugged it all off. In the manga, Akira didn’t show his reaction, but the animators made sure that they showed him really shocked and angry. Ron took a notice of it that it added to his conclusion of the case. The villagers do that to deter outsiders coming to their place.

Ron touched Toto’s shoulder and signalled for him how to get away from the mob.

Though it is strange to see Toto as tall as Ron here.

Languages. So @eiko-hoshino (thanks so much!!) sent me images of the original Japanese version of the anime and so far, the English translation is not at all so far off, compared to, say, the German version. I talked about the slight changes Wataru Watari and co. had done that Ron is not talking only for himself, but he included Toto to his endeavour. It is interesting to me that they made some alterations that greatly contribute to RonToto.

Japanese version

Subtitles in English

Translation is tricky. Some manga purists refuse to buy translated versions because according to them, reading translations is like reading someone else’s filtered lens. Localising the language used in translation is mixing social and political environments. Which I agree in some aspects. There are puns and idioms in Japanese that the translators completely altered to English or other languages. This has become a hot topic too after the Magus Bride/AI controversy wherein the mangaka was also citing the problems with pirated versions/fan translated scans.

Anyway, the above mentioned screen caps with EN subtitles were translated according to the original Japanese anime version.

Now that the first season is coming to a close and the official RKDD site is taking its sweet time to give us a preview, a peep, of the upcoming episode, I heard from the grapevine that some people are not satisfied with Diomedéa’s works. Complaints of anatomical and voice synchronization errors surface. If you are watching JJK 2 and following its animators’ social media accounts, you might have an idea what kind of criticism the artists encounter regularly concerning their works. On the other hand. MAPPA is not the most ideal company one ever has.

All in all, the RKDD anime is quite decent. (I do hope they are paying their staff fairly though.) On Crunchyroll it earns 4.8 stars. Also, the animators have given their all creating those killer backgrounds imbued with colours and details. Remember the onsen arc with the autumn colours? Or the raindrops and the countryside landscape in the recent episode?

Akira Amano seems to be satisfied with it. Of course there must be some other options and I do understand where these unsatisfied viewers are coming from, but I am just glad that they are animating RKDD. And, hopefully, we are getting a second season sooner than later.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #wataru watari #ron et toto #rontoto #deranged detective #episode 12 #the yadagami sama murder arc #rkdd wall of text #curious add ons #ron kamonohashi's forbidden deductions

[a-forbidden-detective]

Amamiya, Akira Amano’s favoured character

How to psychoanalyse Amamiya? How to determine her goals and her wishes?

“If Amamiya wouldn’t take Kawasemi, I’d take him gladly…”

I’ve read this a lot of times. Come to think of it, everyone mostly would take Kawasemi as well. He seems to be a good friend, perhaps an attentive yet thorough lover, who you can call when you need something. Even trivial things. He is nice to felines. He’s a talented investigator. True, he has some peculiarities, but who doesn’t have when one is a genius?

It is easy to say that Amamiya is blind. Kawasemi is so much available, but she only harbours animosity toward him. That would probably be the initial thought, that is if you look at her from an outsider’s point of view. Here she is, after more than 100 chapters, still pining for Ron, who is not really turning her down because she’s very useful to both of him and Toto, who is her subordinate, and perhaps Ron has grown fond of her as well. She’s a very beautiful woman, very much capable performing her job, well disciplined. But remember that she is Akira Amano’s favourite RKDD character. She’s probably her surrogate character. Amamiya is pinning her hopes and wishes to no one, but herself. She’s very independent and so intelligent and can choose anyone. She sees Kawasemi as her rival. To fall in love with him would be fatal. It is going to be probably her downfall because she thinks once she does he’d subjugate her, which in the first place she never prefers, and very possibly avoids all her life. Ron, although a genius and beautiful, is much younger. She could teach him a lot of things. When it comes to experience, she has much more to offer. This is the difference between Kawasemi and Ron Kamonohashi.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #amamiya #ron kamonohashi #akira amano #kawasemi omito #rkdd wall of text #rkdd spoilers #totomaru isshiki

[a-forbidden-detective]

On Boke-Tsukkomi versus RonToto

I don’t know how many times i watched this particular scene and was thankful that it got animated.

Comedic duos are predominantly popular both in the West like the legendary Laurel and Hardy and elsewhere. Japan, on the other hand, has had a traditional comedy called manzai, a double act stand-up, with its boke-tsukkomi exchange.

Boke and tsukkomi are generally translated as ”the fool or funny man” and ”the sharp man or straight man” respectively. The funny man is defined as a man whose job is to entertain people by telling jokes. ( x )

Youhei Azakami describes his Ron’s and Toto’s interplay in this two-part article.

Basically, Toto (Enokijun) is the tsukkomi and Youhei is the boke.

Director Shōta (Ihata) emphasizes the tempo of Ron and Toto's interaction, and I feel that he is looking at the boke and tsukkomi of the two in detail. Therefore, the direction from the director and staff is very educational, but not only that, Junya (Enoki), who plays the role of Toto, also gives me tremendous stimulation. I think Tsukkomi tends to be a pattern, but Junya-kun is very resourceful and "This is how you come!" A tsukkomi like that comes. (In the original manga) Toto is a character that speaks in big voice and straight, and is also cute and nice, but Junya breaks it even more and devise it so that the same tsukkomi will be different… So I'm excited about “what kind of tsukkomi will come here,” and I'm aware that my boke (laughs) …

Journalist : Completely fits with Ron (laughs).

That's right… You've received a lot of stimulation from Junya.

Junya Enoki is that sort of actor whose dedication to voice acting is top notch. He crawls, kneels down, goes to the floor to create a certain effect. Just watching the bts for a recording of “Jujutsu Kaisen” is already an emotional feat.

Journalist : What do you think Toto is for Ron?

Ron is a character who can originally deduce most things and predict the future development. He’s also a realist, and will never do anything inefficient. I think it was a surprise that a guy who had such behavior met Toto, whose ethos is to save others even if he throws his life away. Toto is the exact opposite of Ron. While he acts the way Ron doesn’t expect him to be, he wants to see more about Toto’s actions and know his thoughts. It starts with such curiosity and gradually turns into a friendship. At first, I think, it's a warm development that the two people who have joined hands for the reason that “their interests coincide each other” will build a relationship of trust little by little while solving the mystery together.

Journalist : I agree. Where do you think that turning point is?

Of course, I think the fact that Toto saved the criminal’s life in the first episode is one point. After that, Ron will be in a pinch in future episodes, but Toto will save his predicament and that Ron couldn't do it alone. That's definitely the turning point for them. I would be happy if you could look forward to it.

Very curious how Wataru and co. will analyze and interpret their relationship. Akira’s descriptions of it is scattered on the manga by way of explaining to the readers how the other characters perceive it. So it is up to the anime writers to put them into action.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #deranged detective: ron kamonohashi #rkdd #episode 5 #tsukkomi #boke #junya enoki #youhei azakami #rkdd news #rkdd wall of text #rontoto #I might have committed errors along the way by way of editing the article so please feel free to correct if the changes aren’t correct

[a-forbidden-detective]

Curious add-ons for Episode 3 (Part 2)

To make it fair as it was Toto who paid for his groceries, Ron suggested that he and Toto should play rock, scissors and paper, which the latter declined as he was still on duty. It was clearly defined on the anime.

Ron felt threatened when Spitz tried to impress Toto with his “deduction” concerning the police detective’s shoes and profession. Pissed at Toto’s reaction, he walked closer to Spitz hurting Toto in return with his luggage.

Ron, who still couldn’t forget what happened, left the reception while Toto said his thanks, bumping Toto once again with his luggage.

Toto: Did you wash your hands?

Ron: Yeah.

Just this tiny additional dialogue gives a new context to their budding relationship.

My head canon is that Toto was brought up by his grandparents, especially his grandmother, who taught him manners and spirituality (he goes to temples and says his prayer for the dead). Ron teases him saying he is a grandmother’s boy.

In these particular screen caps, Toto was scandalised with Ron’s behavior of disturbing the other visitors that compelled him to apologise profusely.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #ron et toto #rontoto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #rkdd spoilers #episode 3 #the benizome onsen murder arc #rkdd anime vs manga #rkdd screencaps #rkdd wall of text

[a-forbidden-detective]

The anime season 1 OP: an analysis

I have the strangest feeling that the context of the opening song’s ending scenes could be taken straight from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton.”

You know that famous “You aren’t coming!” “Then you aren’t going!” debacle between SH and JW that’s been dramatised, re-enacted and analysed throughout the years?

“Well, I don’t like it, but I suppose it must be,” said I. “When do we start?”

“You are not coming.”

“Then you are not going,” said I. “I give you my word of honour--and I never broke it in my life--that I will take a cab straight to the police-station and give you away, unless you let me share this adventure with you.”

“You can’t help me.”

“How do you know that? You can’t tell what may happen. Anyway, my resolution is taken. Other people besides you have self-respect, and even reputations.”

Holmes had looked annoyed, but his brow cleared, and he clapped me on the shoulder.

“Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared this same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing the same cell. You know, Watson, I don’t mind confessing to you that I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal.”

This Toto and his dominant side taking over. There’s more than meets the eye.

They aren’t holding hands, per se, but Toto is trying to prevent Ron from doing something stupid, or to do it all by himself. Because, they are partners now.

Hence, Ron’s reaction and a resolution that is going to work out in the end.

#ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #akira amano #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #rkdd opening song #fool logic #unison square garden #rkdd wall of text #sir arthur conan doyle #the adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton #acd canon #sherlock holmes #john watson #sh #jw

[a-forbidden-detective]

Stargazing on an island

Not much of a stargazer as the light pollution dissuades me from doing so, but the Leonid meteor shower in the series got me googling.

Using the placeholder 2020 wherein Akira Amano first published her manga as she based the date on this particular year. Toto and Ron could have attended the stargazing viewing party on a Tuesday to Wednesday.

As Leonids always happen in the month of November, reaching the peak on the 17th and 18th, they will happen this year during the weekend, which for the anime makes more sense as it will fall on a Friday to Saturday. Toto would take a dayoff on the next day.

This is the famous Leonid meteor storm in 1833.

Nandan Island could be the Nansei Islands or the Ryukyu Island.

Many Japanese people would associate sugarcane with Okinawa. Except for some areas in Shikoku, where the plant is grown, Tanegashima is the northern limit for the growth of sugarcane. Indeed, in Japan, sugarcane is widely grown on the Nansei Islands, including Okinawa. Although we tend to think that sugarcane is grown under the blue sky and against the blue ocean, it is harvested in the cold season, specifically during December to around April. ( x )

There are several islands (Okinawa Prefecture and the islands close to it) in Japan where stargazing is very popular.

If you have the chance to view the Leonids tonight then lucky you. It is raining where I am.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #akira amano #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #Leonid meteor shower #rkdd wall of text #stargazing in Japan #ron kamonohashi’s forbidden deductions

[a-forbidden-detective]

Curious add-ons, Episode 9 (Part 5): A minor theory

There isn’t much of a deviation from the manga except from some glaring additions and changes in dialogue.

Heimlich manoeuvre. Ron running to perform this abdominal thrust to Jumonji is much clearer than in the manga. That was a nice touch from the anime writers. Though I don’t know if it were counterproductive as Jumonji didn’t choke in the first place. The reason Ron didn’t bother as it was no more use and immediately confronted the culprit.

Slowly, I am beginning to ride again on the “what Toto is hiding” train. The what-ifs are piling up. Well, I didn’t discount the possibility the first time I read the manga (I even wrote a fan fiction about it last year, apologies for plugging), but this crazy additional scene is giving me some thoughts.

First you have Toto examined Jumonji’s cadaver. That’s fine. That there was a squash ball hidden underneath his armpit… didn’t he really see it or refused to see it?

Then you have this policeman, who immediately noticed that there was something odd about the “corpse” that Toto examined a while ago and had some nagging thoughts.

Only to be thwarted by this intimidating fellow, who discouraged him to raise that question.

The Leonid meteor shower viewing party invitation that Toto received and had been keeping the whole time… it feels like the anime writers would like us to focus on that. And then you have this scene, which gives the impression Toto is somewhat an accomplice to all of it. The members of the Moriarty Family are all over the place, you know? Does Toto’s grandmother even exist?

Okay, that is only my theory, but a theory nonetheless.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #totomaru isshiki #ron kamonohashi #akira amano #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #deranged detective: ron kamonohashi #rkdd spoilers #episode 9 #the observatory on a solitary island arc #rkdd speculation #rkdd wall of text #jumonji san

[a-forbidden-detective]

I am in love with this screenshot. In spite of the comic relief of the first scenes of the second episode, Ron’s histrionics and Toto’s stressed reaction, the anime has shown this other side of the detective’s true feelings concerning his predicament. Ron’s recollections of those fateful days (his education and detective license, his ethos, revoked and discharged because of something that he was accused of) brought him this melancholy and probably regret. Good thing, Toto brought him something to work on. It might be simple as “trash,” insipid task that still gives him hope despite Toto’s own unpleasant situation with his superior, Amamiya.

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #akira amano #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #episode 2 #rkdd wall of text

[a-forbidden-detective]

Hikikomori and Ron Kamonohashi

Not a long time ago I saw a documentary about the plight of hikikomori in Japan.

What is a hikikomori? “A form of severe social withdrawal, called hikikomori, has been frequently described in Japan and is characterized by adolescents and young adults who become recluses in their parents’ homes, unable to work or go to school for months or years.”

The reasons they withdraw from the society are varied. One thing that prevails is that they lose interest in it. Like failing to meet the society’s standards, a tragedy, or simply shunning the peer pressure.

The counselling rate in Japan is 6 per cent compared to 52 per cent in Europe and the US. When it comes to psychiatric help, the country, according to the experts, is backward.

“Japan, which has a large number of suicides among developed countries and has a low psychiatric examination rate, is a mental health backward country. At the root of it is a culture that tends to be a private service and painful. On the other hand, counseling is commonplace in Europe and the United States, and understanding of mental disorders is progressing.” ( x )

Hikikomori mostly afflicts young men. But recently, half a number of the hikikomori is women. “Women accounted for more than 52 per cent of hikikomori.”

Social workers are assigned to these individuals and they are patient enough to stay in contact with them. One social worker would not leave the house until she saw a sign of life from him. She would climb to his windows, bother his neighbours in order to find if he were still alive. There was an instance where one of their clients fell in love with the social worker assigned to them that it encouraged the affected person to come out of his shell. A few months later, they got married.

I am not going to oversimplify the severity of this condition to the premise of “Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective.” God knows how much stigma is attached to these individuals and their families. But the symptoms are there.

But I believe Akira Amano would like to tackle this phenomenon through her manga. In a way that people can recognise this social problem in Japan. Maybe she would like to reclaim these individuals through her work. I am only guessing. There has never been a write-up about her new oeuvre.

In spite of my personal head canons, she sent Totomaru Isshiki to encourage Ron Kamonohashi, a modern-day hermit, to join the society again by acknowledging the latter’s talent. That’s the start of their relationship.

In the end, we the readers (and soon to be viewers) are going to change our opinions (and probably recognise the problem) concerning these individuals and to pay more attention to them.

#akira amano #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #deranged detective #kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron et toto #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #rkdd analysis #hikikomori #rkdd wall of text

[a-forbidden-detective]

A head canon:

Mommy Kamonohashi met Ron’s father as she began to investigate a crime that she found out later connected to the Moriarty family, which in turn put Eliot forward to stop her. But instead of defeating her, she halting her investigation, the two fell in love with each other. That kind of love, the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet kind of love, love-conquers-all thing. Against the world, they formed a family. They probably eloped. If they got married was the question. Her parents would have been very disappointed. His too. But more. So they made Eliot promise one thing that they’d allow him to cohabit with Mommy Kamonohashi if he performed this one last mission (the prologue of the Auberge arc) as it was a huge undertaking. He did it, but he saved the scientist. The Family found out his betrayal the reason he was eliminated, which Ron had witnessed and for a while forgot. Mommy Kamonohashi knew this. She probably went underground for quite sometime. Then realised later that it was pure cowardice. So she and her parents to avenge Eliot’s death, they introduced Ron to the world by bringing him to the prestigious Blue Academy with devastating consequences. Perhaps Mommy Kamonohashi is still guilty to what happened to her husband and son the reason she’s out of his life, or is she bound by something else?

I am looking forward to meeting Ron’s mum, who according to Milo quit being a detective.

Come on. Mommy Kamonohashi, you’ve been mentioned quite enough. It is time to come out.

#akira amano #ron kamonohashi #totomaru isshiki #kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #rkdd spoilers #rkdd wall of text #rkdd head canon #elliot moriarty #mommy kamonohashi #eliot moriarty